News from the Workshop
October 2018
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Welcome to Mary's Chairs October newsletter. The Autumn nights might be drawing in but the Wood Centre is still a fabulous place to be. We are enjoying seeing the changing of the seasons in the woodland and being part of the many developments and activities taking place at Sylva. The construction of the new Education Barn is well underway, and the weekend launch of the House of Wessex project was a great success. Mary managed to squeeze in a holiday to Anglesea where Pip made some new bovine friends, but mostly we have been focused on commissions and tuition. |
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Caroline's Arts and Craft period carver chair, mentioned in our last newsletter, is now complete and resplendent with a new traditionally upholstered drop-in seat. Having completed her first project Caroline has got the upholstery bug and has now started on another Sue Ryder sales find - a carved dining chair to be covered with a beautiful wool fabric from Abraham Moon called 'Milan' and complemented with sea green Houle double cord. The processes on this chair will be similar to the drop-in seat but will add a stitched edge. This is a great way to gradually learn traditional upholstery as each chair Caroline is tackling is introducing more complex techniques.
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Hester's ironback chair is coming along well. After being fully stripped back, the metal frame was wrapped in strips of calico and the back covered with hessian and sewn onto the frame. This has then been covered in coir around the outside and the lumber area with scrim stitched over the top. This provides a firm outside edge, back support and a well which will enable the back to be deep buttoned. Once all the scrim is in position Hester will need to stitch a roll edge around the outside of the frame.
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Alison has finished her swivel office chair. The woodwork has been cleaned and nourished and the chair fully traditionally reupholstered and covered with a red faux leather fabric to replicate the original style.
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We have some new students who have joined us on a Thursday morning. Emma and son Albert have just started two very different projects. Emma is working on a large library chair which will be reupholstered traditionally. It's a big job and the stripping off has revealed several rather 'unusual' techniques from previous upholsterers including foam over the original stuffing, and carpet for padding! Albert is learning modern upholstery techniques to refresh a well used but worn out footstool. Albert is a printmaker and textile designer and hopes to cover the stool, and possibly the chair, in his own fabric. You can see his work on Instragram @albertharvey.
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Find out more about upholstery tuition here and don't forget to follow us on Facebook for regular updates on student projects.
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Threads has taken a bit of break over the last couple of months as many people have been on holiday and enjoying the glorious summer evenings. We are currently considering holding a special evening to give people space away from home to do their Christmas crafts and maybe make some secret presents, but for the rest of the year the regular Threads evening is on hold. We will let you know how Threads will move forward but we would like to hear your thoughts on this.
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Find out more about Threads, our Creative Community Group.
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Autumn Days
We love crisp Autumn days so it was slightly disappointing when we arrived to set up for the Harcourt Arboretum Autumn Fair on a wet and very windy morning. But a bit of wind isn't enough to stop us spreading the word of Mary's Chairs! Although we had a slight issue with a runaway gazebo, the sun soon came out and the event was very well attended. We enjoyed meeting lots of new people and had some lovely conversations with potential new students and clients. We will be eternally grateful to Colin Henwood, who as well as being an expert boatbuilder, also has skills with erecting gazebos and very kindly helped us to transport and set up our display. Neil Scott Furniture also exhibited at the event so the Sylva Wood Centre was well represented and we hope to attend again next year.
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This beautiful Victorian firescreen was another of our more unusual commissions. The silk backing had become badly degraded over the years and a piece of the wooden moulding on the front of the frame had been lost. Christine delicately removed the existing silk, backing paper and braid ensuring there was no damage to the intricately beaded embroidery. The paper backing, floral fabric and braid were then replaced, and a picture wire added to enable the screen to be hung on the wall. Chris Boreham carved a new matching section of front moulding and Mary coloured it to match the existing woodwork. A real team effort to preserve this family heirloom for future generations!
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This 1940's armchair has had something of a transformation! This well loved and used chair was showing signs of age with ripped fabric and a collapsed front edge, partly due to broken springs. The woodwork was also very dirty. The chair was stripped back and the woodwork given a new lease of life with a cleaning and nourishing treatment to bring out the grain and restore the gentle sheen. The seat was fully rebuilt utilising the existing metal framework to create a strong top edge shape, and the chair was covered with Romo 'Foley' fabric in keeping with the original style of the chair.
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Have you got an old chair in need of some love? Or a unique project that requires bespoke upholstery skills? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Click the link below to find out more.
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Don't forget our Made to Measure range. It provides the opportunity to have a bespoke upholstered footstool, screen or lampshades created especially for your home. Full details are available on the website or drop us an email to discuss.
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Piped Cushion Course
We ran our last piped cushion course of the year on Saturday 29 September. A fabulous group of five students had a productive day, learning new sewing skills and creating a beautiful and varied selection of cushions from our fabric collection.
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Meet The Team
Each newsletter we'd like to introduce you to a member of the Mary's Chairs team or community. This month, we've been talking to Chris Boreham of Chris Boreham Bespoke Woodwork. Despite appearances in this photo Chris is a skilled designer-maker creating bespoke furniture and cabinetry. Mary and Chris were both start-up incubation businesses when the Wood Centre opened so have seen their businesses and the Wood Centre grow together over the last 3 years. As well as producing beautiful bespoke furniture commissions Chris is also our go-to man for any frame repairs required on student or commission pieces. Chris also makes all our bespoke footstool and screen frames for our Made to Measure range.
What led you to a career as
a craftsman? 
I used to work for a company that sold high end wood work machinery. I'd occasionally get them to machine up bits of timber for me so I could play and try and make things I'd seen online or in books. When I left there I didn't have anything else that I was interested in, so I decided to get some actual training.
Where did you train?
I first did a City and Guilds qualification then a foundation degree course at Rycotewood college in Oxford.
Do you prefer using hand tools or machinery?
I'm not sure I have a preference....unless the task is sanding, then I prefer finding something else to do!
What is your favourite wood to work with and why?
I like oak and ash a lot. They're both strong grained woods. They always look pretty when left to be themselves.
And you favourite commission to date?
Probably one of the stranger ones. I was asked to turn an exhaust manifold from a V8 into a lamp, that was a lot of fun. I like the head scratchers, the projects that make me think.
If you could change one thing about your job what would it be?
The commute. I don't live far away but spending every morning and evening in traffic gets boring
What are the benefits of being part of the Sylva Wood Centre?
Too many to name, just about everything is better, or easier, or just more pleasant than in workshops I've worked in before.
What is your advice for anybody wanting to take up woodworking?
Start with a task or project you want to do. Don't try and learn everything all at once, just the bit that you need for what you're currently doing. Otherwise it can get a little overwhelming.
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Gift Cards
Our gift cards would make a fabulous Christmas gift for a friend or family member, or you could even request them for yourself! We sell gift vouchers that can be put towards any Mary's Chairs service including commissions, tuition, courses and Threads. They are available for any amount, valid for a year and come presented in a gift bag. We sell them year round so would make wonderful presents for any celebration. Please get in touch if you are interested.
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Coming Soon...
- On 27th October we ran our Liberty Patchwork Cushion course. This course teaches the basics of patchwork, quilting and inserting invisible zips using beautiful Liberty Tana Lawn fabrics. We'll show you some pictures from the day in the next newsletter.
- Our lampshade course on the 17th November is fully booked but we look forward to showing you all the creations and pictures of the day in the next newsletter.
- We are looking at changing how we run courses next year and possibly adding additional courses. We will give you an update in the next newsletter.
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Get in Touch
mary@maryschairs.co.uk
07809 730040
Don't forget to like us on Facebook!
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With love from Mary, Christine and Pip
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