MMU Futures Talk on Upcycling & Sustainability

Upcycling is...

Some of my fabric selection for repurposing by the students

creative flow

Items to be Upcycled

Choosing fabrics 

Paper beads

I recently found out about Stitched Up in Chorlton, an Eco Fashion hub for swap shops, workshops and tutorials. After speaking to the ladies there, they asked me to come on board with a workshop they were delivering at Manchester Metropolitan University as part of their MMU Futures Events. The theme of the workshop was Sustainability & Environment, with an emphasis on Upcycling, across all platforms, fashion/interiors/furniture. 

The students had a talk from myself, from Sara Han of Stitched up, and from a representative from Innospace  the start-up business incubator hub at MMU. They were then let loose on the materials and supplies to begin to form their initial ideas for their Upcycled pieces. They will then work on their items over the next 6 weeks with an exhibition of their work going on display at the end of June.

I can't wait to see what their finished pieces are, and it has really inspired me to apply more upcycled elements into my own work - and to be creative again! 

Photos courtesy of Anca Asmarandei www.behance.net/asmarandei

Tres Chic Telephone Table Dahling!

For sale now in Blakemere Village Emporium  www.blakemerevillage.com

Blanket Boxes in Brights

Before....

...and After!   Ta Dah! 

Right at home in the Attic

Ready to fill with stuff! 

A Lloyd Loom restoration, Attic style! The paint colours are Hibiscus by Habitat and Chartreuse by Sanctuary at Homebase. The fabrics are from  Fabric Rehab. Perfect to stash away all those toys and books in a child's room or brighten up the corner of your kitchen, bedroom or office. Get in touch if you have something similar you'd like revamping: Drop us a line at info@laurasattic.co.uk.

Slipper Chair ReVamp

This was an old Laura Ashley bedroom chair that was looking a bit 90's and in need of some attention. The old fabric was stripped off, and replaced with a beautiful pink chenille spot and purple velvet fabric. Each of the buttons on the back is a different fabric, the piping is patterned on the back and the silver show tacks add a modern finishing touch.

Country Cottage Floral Chair: Before & After

Top to Bottom: Before - Stripped bare frame - Back on, working on seat - Getting the top fabric perfect - Finished! Available to buy from here: Etsy shop: Upholstery By Laura

Nice Legs!

Just finished this recent commission  - Stripey fabric from Simon Boyd and gold paint from Ron Hammersley's Hardware shop. I struggled getting the shiny stripes straight (try saying that quickly!) on the round of the chair, but think its come out a treat. Hope the customer is happy!

www.laurasattic.co.uk

SALE days 7 - 11

Turquoise Houndstooth Cushion £10

Vintage Rose Cushion £10

African print Utility Chair £45

Parker Knoll in Designers Guild Fabric, £165

Formica Coffee Table £45

 Next SALE additions...all going in the brochure to go out at the end of Jan. To add yourself to the mailing list drop me a line at info@laurasattic.co.uk.

SALE day 6: Bentwood chair

On the Etsy shop - SALE day 6: Bentwood blues chair, **Was £25 Now £10**

Before & After Custom order

This weeks before and after...a commission piece, a customer brought me their mother's bedroom chair and needed it revamping to suit their own taste. Shiny stripes in green and brown do the trick - I hope they like it!

The next Big Chair challenge

Now I've done a few smaller pieces and practised different techniques I'm going to attempt to do this quite large armchair. Probably biting off more than I can chew in attempting to get it done before Christmas.

 We stripped it down in one afternoon, and found all sorts of things hiding down the back; matches, sweet wrappers, sequins, pens, money, cat hair, peanuts....I have had to stress to Stu that this chair is not for muddy work clothes (him), crisp and nut munching (both of us) or red wine drinking (me). 

 OOooh its exciting, I cant wait to have it finished and be in front of the fire in it. (maybe I could have my red wine in a camelbak?)  Fabric choices are yet to be made but it probably will be something by Moon with piping in a tweed. Now if I can just finish the hundred other jobs I have on....

Willow Pattern Nursing Chair

From bleak to chic in 2 weeks. The mustard velvet has a certain charm but its not a patch on the beautiful willow pattern woven cotton and blue satin piping. Getting a nice round shape at the front was a bit testing, but it has all been done traditionally and the shape benefits from it.  I would love to keep it but alas have no room so it will be going on my shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/UpholsterybyLaura.
The great thing about this chair is that it could go anywhere, it would be lovely in a nursery or bedroom but equally at home in a bathroom or lounge.

Spring has Sprung

Third piece finished: a traditionally upholstered sprung dining chair, complete with retro yellow floral fabric, all the different layers and processes to get to this final look are documented at www.facebook.com/laurasattic
I am really pleased with my fabric choice, the colour brightens the chair and the pattern matches the lovely little floral shapes carved on the back. I'm so glad this chair was saved from being thrown away, and it just goes to show that everything has life left in it - Now she just needs a good home!

Serious Stripping

Victorian Balloon Back chair with traditionally upholstered stitched and stuffed seat.

The next piece on my course was a bit more challenging, a stitched and stuffed seat. Because the seat is part of the chair (unlike the drop-in seat which was separate) I had to treat the wood first. See the step-by step pictures in my album on facebook. The wood underneath the old thick Marmite-like layer of varnish was beautiful and came up a treat when stripped and re-polished with several layers of shellac and wax. 

 I used a cream and silver woven fabric for the top cover, which is tres glam! I just need to find an equally glam trim to cover the tacks now.

Turn On, Tune In and Drop In Seat

Drop - In Seat Dining chair, Traditionally upholstered

The first piece completed on my course was a Drop-In seat, traditionally upholstered using animal hair. See the full step by step pictures in my Photo album on my facebook page. I plan to strip the wood and re-polish with a dark shellac, to match the black in the fabric, giving the chair quite an oriental feel. The chair is one of 4, so I've got quite a lot of work still to do! But its definitely worth it, the finished seats look lovely and will last for a lifetime.

Escaping the Attic

After long deliberation and a LOT of  research, I have made the executive decision to become a properly qualified Upholsterer! Yeah! Taking the AMUSF (Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers) diploma course at the Traditional Upholstery Workshop in Carmarthenshire.

Its a course in 2 parts, each lasting 7 weeks. The first installment to start on Monday 18th July (Which is also my birthday- so it has to be a good start!)

Having never been to this part of the country before, I'm looking forward to spending some time there and discovering a bit more of Wales. 

I am going to document my progress and keep a photo diary, blogging about my progress through the course and the projects I'll be working on. 

Fingers crossed my accommodation has internet -  South Wales here I come!
 To Be Continued...

Beech Road Festival 2011 in Chorlton, Manchester

New items for sale...

I think she looks like a little sausage dog...what do you think?

Pink Cameo Frame, now on Etsy and Folksy shops.

Etsy shop is go!