Nancy started In her first 8 week class with this simple side chair and bloomed Into a more Giant Rise Chair, which she has been working on In subsequent classes. She purchased her own Juki sewing machine and has fully Immersed herself In chair restoration and artistic upholstery.

Nancy’s Fancy Chair

Melissa’s Chair

Melissa had two of these channel back chairs to refresh..and so she did! Her enthusiasm and hard work made her fall In love with the process so much that she purchased a staple gun and sewing machine to continue her fun creative endevours. She quickly mastered 8 way hand tied springs, working with leather and keeping stripes straight on a cuvy chair. Now she Is using her skills to update her Therapy Room with new chairs for her kids, hoping to give them fun light-up colors to match their moods.

Leslies’ Pink French Beauties

Leslie is a fearless maker who works across many craft mediums and approaches upholstery with bold self-expression and care. As a single mom to a special-needs son, she makes intentional time to create spaces that feel joyful and truly her own. Her pink-upholstered French chairs suit her personality perfectly, and she brings a meticulous attention to learning every step the right way. I’ve loved watching these pieces come to life and have so enjoyed having Leslie in two different eight-week sessions. Her skill level—and our friendship—has truly blossomed into something beautiful.

Kaye’s Chair Yoga Chair

Kaye’s “chair yoga” chair is bright, joyful, and full of life just like Kaye! This simple chair is upholstered in fresh spring green with playful pink floral fabrics, and finished with fun beaded fringe, it brings movement and personality to a supportive yet functional design. This chair reflects both Kaye’s creativity and the confidence she gained, turning mindful practice into something colorful, uplifting, and uniquely her own.

Kathleen’s Upcycled Wedding Dress “EVER AFTER” Chair

Kathleen chose a sweet French side chair for her project, envisioning something deeply personal for her daughter, who will be married in the spring of 2026. She brought in her own wedding dress—an heirloom that had been quietly tucked away in a closet—and together we transformed it into an Ever After Chair, a beautiful and meaningful way to upcycle such a treasured garment. Though the dress offered very limited usable fabric, we carefully took it apart, thoughtfully selecting the lace and details Kathleen loved most. Her daughter adored the line of buttons down the back of her chosen gown, so we recreated that detail on the chair. Since Kathleen’s dress didn’t originally have buttons, we made them ourselves using my covered button machine, and she lovingly hand-sewed them in place. The finished chair back beautifully mimics the elegance of a bridal gown. A Tibetan lamb seat added a touch of luxurious whimsy that perfectly reflects her daughter’s personality, while subtle gilding wax on the wood highlighted every carved detail. On the underside, Kathleen signed a handwritten message of love on the dust cover—a hidden treasure. The reveal was nothing short of magical, like a “first look” all over again, shared with everyone at her daughter’s bridal shower.

Rebecca’s Rockin’ Rocking Chair

Rebecca’s chair began as a sad, forgotten rocker found on the roadside— and became her very first upholstery success. She transformed it into a fun gray and yellow contemporary statement piece, breathing new life and personality into the frame. Along the way, she learned pattern matching (and nailed it—great job!), proving that skill and confidence grow quickly when creativity leads the way. With her artistic flair shining and her cute chair-motif apron on, Rebecca turned a cast-off into a confident, stylish piece that tells a whole new story.

Christina’s Parker Knoll Chair

Christina’s Parker Knoll wing chair was truly unique in every way. Working on one of a beloved pair that once belonged to her mother, she patiently tackled the time-intensive process of removing layers of old fabric and staples—no small task with wing chairs. She reimagined the piece with joyful florals and rich green velvets, creating a beautiful blend of sentiment and fresh design. Her Scottish accent added warmth and laughter to the studio, and she happily joined me and another student on a field trip to an industrial sewing machine store in Hickory. Christina’s dedication, curiosity, and cheerful spirit made her an absolute joy to have in class.

Lucy’s Rocking Chair

Lucy brought a beautifully aged Arts and Crafts rocker that had been in her family for years—a well-loved piece with a patina full of history. After researching the Arts and Crafts era, she selected a classic artisan-style fabric from Spoonflower that suited the chair perfectly. Along the way, Lucy learned pattern matching and how to properly layer the seat for ultimate comfort, honoring both tradition and function. One day, when my van happened to be parked out front with my TCU license tag on display, Lucy rushed in excitedly—we quickly discovered we attended at the same time. Fellow Horned Frogs forever. It’s truly a small world, and I’m so glad our paths crossed here in Weaverville and that she chose my class to give new life to a cherished family piece.

Elise’s Upholstery Journey

Elise joined my classes on a last-minute whim and quickly revealed herself to be a natural, completing an impressive four projects in record time. From an oversized ottoman perfectly suited to her newly built home, to a beloved childhood chair reimagined for her frog-loving granddaughter, a tailored bench cover, and a sentimental rocker given a beautiful refresh—each piece reflected both skill and heart. A retired dentist, Elise’s steady hands and sharp eye translated seamlessly to upholstery, as she confidently mastered 8- way hand-tied springs, industrial sewing, and precise pattern matching. I feel truly lucky to count her not only as a talented student, but as a friend.

The Rose of Sharon

Sharon was ambitious and fearless when she chose to take on one of my Giant Rose Chair designs. Though she was new to upholstery, she didn’t let that stop her. Unbeknownst to her at the start, her simple wing chair held three layers of old fabric, making the tear-down both time-consuming and demanding. Through determination and hard work, Sharon transformed a $15 thrift-store find into a living-room showstopper and true statement piece. That satisfied smile says it all. She was an absolute delight to get to know, and I loved learning about her rich background in broadcasting along the way. I shared her post on the next page! I love when students finish with such JOY!

Melanie’s Haywood Wakefield Project

Melanie is an interior designer with a deep appreciation for classic furniture, and she chose a Haywood-Wakefield vanity stool for her project. The piece presented a real challenge, as the radiating seams resisted naturally straightening during upholstery. After exploring several approaches, Melanie ultimately hand-stitched a cord into each seam to achieve the clean, tailored look the design required. Although the stool is still nearing completion, her perseverance and attention to detail will truly pay off. Her wealth of design knowledge and thoughtful problem - solving enriched the experience for everyone in the studio.

Emily’s Project

From Vintage Find to Wild West Conversation Piece. Emily is the creative force behind Velvet Vault, her furniture-resale business, and she has a natural eye for reimagining pieces with bold style. She was an absolute pleasure to get to know—both personally and as an artist—bringing energy and creativity that inspired even me. This vintage tête-à-tête courting bench was transformed into a true Wild West conversation piece. Upholstered in hair-on-hide leather and finished with dramatic 6" fringe, nail-head details, and added wheels for extra height and movement, every choice was intentional and fearless. During her time in the studio, Emily upholstered three chairs and took to the craft like a fish to water. As a final surprise, she generously gifted me two of the chairs I had admired on her Facebook page—pieces I genuinely love. Her generosity, talent, and creative spirit made her student experience truly unforgettable. Note: Emily actually did 3 projects during the 8 week class!

Eva And Tasnim’s Mother Daughter Chair Business

Eva and Tasnim are a dynamic mother–daughter upholstery duo, sharing creativity, curiosity, and an inspiring sense of teamwork. Learning side by side, they supported and motivated one another through every step of the process, turning each project into a meaningful shared experience. Inspired by their progress, they decided to launch their own upholstery business and invested in professional tools to further their careers. They have a wonderful instinct for what looks great together, with a sharp design eye and an impressive attention to detail. With a strong focus on upcycling and reselling Mid-Century Modern pieces, they also love the thrill of the fabric hunt—seeking out southwest textiles, hair-on-hide, cowhide, and westernblankets to bring bold character to their work. I have truly loved mentoring them along the way; they chose this path to support themselves while caring for a sick loved one at home, giving them the flexibility to pause, show up, and give care whenever it’sneeded.

Susan’s ’Chairished” Story

Susan’s chair was a cherished family heirloom in need of a little love and a fresh perspective. She chose a bold velvet contemporary print that brought new life, pizzazz, and panache to the vintage frame—instantly transforming it into a fun, standout piece. With no prior upholstery experience, Susan learned quickly and embraced every step of the process. She even mastered the decorative nail gun like a natural gunslinger —nearly misfiring at us, which gave us all a good laugh. Her finishing touches of mini pom- pom fringe and decorative nail heads added a playful, unexpected twist to what was once an ordinary chair. Along the way, we discovered we grew up in the same hometown at the same time and even knew some of the same people in Boca Raton, making our time together a delightful walk down memory lane.

Peggy’s Rock Star Rocker

Peggy arrived with a sweet vintage rocker that was originally finished in dark brown, but with a fresh coat of Wise Owl One Hour Enamel in white and a rich blue fabric, it was transformed into a true rock star for her daughter. With a special-needs child at home, Peggy needed flexibility, so we created one-on-one upholstery sessions tailored to her schedule. This chair was the perfect piece for learning upholstery basics —taking it apart, layering it back together, and rebuilding it to feel better than new made the process rewarding, hands-on, and truly fun for us both.

  • Mary’s Queen Bee Chairt

  • Sarah’s French side Chairs

  • Cindi’s Queen Bee Throne

  • Joan’s Sweet Arm Chair

Weekend Immersion class January 2026

Weekend Immersion Class – In a Nutshell

Mary, Sarah, Cindi, and Joan traveled from near and far for a joyful weekend immersion filled with upholstery skills, creativity, and instant friendships. Each chair reflected its maker perfectly. Mary began feeling unsure but left thrilled with her striking Queen Bee chair—gold velvet seat, black velvet dots, and a queen that truly took center stage. She loved it so much she’s considering it for her business logo. Sarah proved a natural, confidently completing two chairs in one weekend with beautifully painted rich blue frames and crisp blue-and-white fabric, all while revealing the beauty of traditional craftsmanship beneath. Cindi, who works in the film industry and brought great stories with her, fell in love with one of my “orphan” chairs and transformed it into a true throne with hand-painted details, layered seating, and nailhead trim. Joan’s enthusiasm lifted everyone—quick to cheer others on, she steadily transformed a tired vintage chair into a sweet, delicate seat and even completed a ruffled footstool in rich cranberry fabric. All of the chairs were perfectly sized for the weekend, and every student learned the basics—and more. What a joy and privilege it was to spend this creative weekend with them.

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