The Feathered Edge

At the In Stitches podcast HQ, changes are afoot.  In this episode, our host Robbie Richardson gives an update on what's happening. 

In this week’s episode, Robbie talks to Rowena Murphy. After being housed round the corner from an upholstery shop, Rowena began her journey into the world of upholstery. From being homeless and living on other people’s sofas to working on the AMUSF course at Shoreditch, hear how upholstery helped to better Rowena’s mental health, turned her passion into her work, and how she found her love for the craft.

In this week’s episode, Robbie talks to Helena, Anna and Lucy who are in their second and third years of the AMU course at the Bristol Upholstery Collective. Despite creativity running in their families, neither one of this week’s guests planned on going into a career in upholstery, nor could they have predicted just how life-changing it would be for them when they started. From working in corporate roles to falling in love with the trade, hear how all three ladies swapped their 9-5 jobs for a place on a course at the Bristol Collective and how they’ve found their experience in the industry so far.

In this week’s episode of In Stitches, Robbie is talking to Susie Stanway, who has recently completed the BSUF's Advanced Traditional Diploma. During her school years Susie knew she wanted to do something to feed her passion for creativity but never considered upholstery as an option.  A successful career in fashion marketing followed but, after 20 years, she needed a change. Tune in to hear how taking a leisure class led to Susie falling in love with the craft and throwing herself in at the deep end, beginning her journey into a new career in upholstery.

In this week's episode Robbie talks to student upholsterer Debbie Cave. From being a teenager, Debbie always had a passion for crafting, initially wanting a career in cabinet making. Unable to study the relevant course to enable her to pursue her dream,  she ended up having a ten year career with NatWest and gaining a degree in Psychology and Counselling.  Tune in to discover how a chance find on Amazon's bookshelves led to Debbie finding Alex Law's course and beginning her journey in to upholstery, and why she thinks you shouldn't let anything hold you back from giving things a go! 

In this week’s episode of In Stitches Robbie is chatting to Aimee Payton, who is coming to the end of her studies at AMUSF. Even as a teenager, Aimee had a passion for textiles, going as far as getting a masters in the History of Design and Decorative art to pursue her dreams. Tune in to discover how Aimee had a 12 year-long career working at the Ashmolean Museum, before stumbling upon the world of upholstery, falling in love with the trade, and subsequently making the decision to see where it could take her.

Chatting to Robbie in this week’s episode of In Stitches is Paula Johnson, a first-year student at the AMUSF. In her teens, Paula was interested in art, textiles and food, and decided she wanted to pursue a career in food thinking it would pay the best!  Cheekily contacting BBC Good Food magazine to try and secure some work experience led to a career in food journalism working for some well-known and respected companies. So why did she leave behind a career she loved, what made her turn to upholstery and what’s it like being a student again? Tune in to find out!

Next up in the ‘In Stitches’ hotseat is Giuliana Cortese, who is currently a first year student at the BSUF. Although Giuliana always knew that she wanted to follow a creative career path, Upholstery was not her first choice. A successful work placement with fashion royalty, Vivienne Westwood, inspired a love textiles, shoes and accessories and Giuliana found a career in the fashion industry. When changes in manufacturing left her feeling deflated, she started her own business in Italian food but eventually found herself looking for a new path. We hear how she found Upholstery quite by chance, why she feels all students would benefit from being given an introduction to running a business, and the excitement of falling in love with something new.

In this week’s episode, Robbie is chatting to Helen Buckley, who is nearly at the end of a 3-year Diploma at the British School of Upholstered Furniture. Helen has always had a passion for fabrics and colours (and a bit of an obsession with chairs), so after being given a taster session with the well-known and respected Upholsterer Wendy Shorter as a birthday present, she was well and truly bitten by the upholstery bug! We hear how important the support of Helen's family and her fellow students has been whilst completing the Diploma, why it’s important to take compliments on board, and how taking a step back when you’re struggling can help bring things into perspective. It's fascinating insight into the life of a student Upholsterer!

It’s time for a new season of In Stitches, and this season we’re chatting to upholsterers whose introduction to the trade came much more recently than some of our previous distinguished guests. Up first, Robbie chats to Petra Gadsby of Gadsby Design.  Listening to how she came to be an Upholsterer and her reasons why she chose the trade, Petra’s enthusiasm and passion is inspiring. We hear about the journey she took from student to business owner, and Petra shares her thoughts on how students and established upholsterers can work together to ensure the longevity of the trade. Whether you’re a student, professional upholsterer, or just a hobbyist, Petra’s story is entertaining, inspiring and full of great tips. If you’re an upholsterer who is interested in sharing your story on future episodes of In Stitches, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us at: Hannah@richardsonandpaige.co.uk

In this week’s episode, Robbie chats to Iain Stephens, Senior Conservator - Restorer of Upholstery at The Royal Household With several degrees in subjects as diverse as Biochemistry and Inorganic Chemistry through to Biblical languages, Iain has worked in several countries and in a variety of roles but it’s his enthusiasm and love of Upholstery which shines through in this episode. There are some great tips from Iain for anyone wanting to pursue a career in Upholstery, as well as a fascinating insight into what fuels Iain’s passion and what he feels the challenges are in the trade today.

In this week's episode of In Stitches, we are delighted to have the honour of talking to Mr David James. Having started his career back in 1954 at the tender age of 15, David has seen many changes in the world of Upholstery and has a wealth of experience which he is still putting to good use now. David shares his story with us, from starting with G Plan as an apprentice through to becoming a published author of 7 books, one of which is still the go-to guide for Upholsterers today. We hear how working with students at Nottingham University recently gave him so much joy and David shares what he loves, and what frustrates him, about the trade. There aren't many who could rival his 67 years experience in the trade so David's story is both insightful and unique!

Michael didn't fancy following in his father's footsteps as a plumber, as (he openly admits) he didn't fancy unblocking other people's toilets!   But with a mum who made a living making loose covers and curtains, it's probably not surprising that he enjoyed his work experience in a seating company and it started him on the path to becoming an Upholsterer. In this week's episode, we hear how, despite enjoying his early experiences, Michael's true passion for the trade didn't really develop until several years later when he learnt the art of Traditional Upholstery and was in the company of upholsterers like Bruce Jack, making him appreciate why it's so important to surround yourself with 'the right sort of people'.    Michael also shares how he nearly left the trade around ten years ago but was inspired to carry on after seeing the innovative work of students coming through the British School of Upholstered Furniture.

This week, Robbie chats with the gentleman of upholstery, Mr Bruce Jack. Entering the trade at the tender age of 16 on a Youth Training Scheme (because it seemed more fun than working as a gardener in a stately home and didn’t require him to learn Latin!), Bruce quickly realised it was the perfect career for him.   Now, having been a member of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers for over 30 years, his experience speaks for itself. In this episode Bruce shares some golden nuggets of advice for all those just starting out in the trade but his story is fascinating for both novices and experts alike. 

In this week’s episode, Robbie and Alex chat about their experiences of having dyslexia, and how they haven’t let it stop them from carving out successful careers, despite the challenges it brings. We find out why Alex believes that Upholsterers are merely custodians of knowledge, on which they should make their own mark before handing it over to others. And we hear how an introduction to beach cleaning has resulted in some surprising (and environmentally friendly!) projects for Alex. If variety is the spice of life, you definitely won’t be disappointed with this week’s episode!

A self-confessed cruiser who likes to take a day at a time, Armand's life has seen him working in some unusual and interesting places, but things haven't always gone to plan! And with a black belt in Karate, Armand is the upholsterer definitely not to get on the wrong side of! This week's episode has a feel of 'two blokes in the pub chatting over a beer' about it, and with it comes with some great tips for anyone starting out, not just in upholstery but in business too.

This week, In Stitches goes International, as we are joined by the fascinating Bruno Paulin-Lopez, all the way from the USA!   With over 40 years in the trade, Bruno’s experience speaks for itself. His skills are frequently in demand around the world, but he hasn’t always been the Master Upholsterer he is today! Hear why his first paid upholstery job didn’t quite go to plan, and what made him move from romance and beauty of Paris to bustling streets of New York.  Also listen to why Bruno thinks the furniture has to approve of him when he’s tackling a piece with a long history.

With a great-grandmother, grandmother and mother who all excelled in making beautiful pieces of headwear/clothing, it was almost inevitable that Katerina Gibb would end up working creatively with her hands, but her road into Upholstery wasn't a straight one! From working as an Assistant Costume Designer in Ridley Scott's UK Production company to having a joint venture with the Jim Henson Company, it initially seemed that the film and TV industry was going to be Katerina's calling.  So what made her leave all that behind and why does 'peeling back the layers' fill her with so much joy?   Find out and listen to more of Katerina's story in this week's episode. 

In this, the first episode of season 2 of the In Stitches podcast, we hear how life the life of an Upholsterer can be tough! From doing piece work in a workshop in Edinburgh, to having to supplement his income by unloading articulated lorries, Greg's journey hasn't been easy but we hear how hard work paid off in the end, with perseverance and passion!

Welcome to another delightful episode of The Feathered Edge, where upholstery meets storytelling with your host, Robbie Richardson! This week, we're thrilled to chat with the dynamic duo, Tom and Harriet, who recently ventured out from the Bristol Upholstery Collective to carve their own path in the world of upholstery. These two may fly under the radar, but their journey and craft are anything but ordinary. In this episode, Tom and Harriet share: **School Days Shenanigans** From Harriet’s rule-abiding ways to Tom’s rebellious streak, discover how their early years shaped their creative minds. **The Art of Finding Upholstery** Neither planned on becoming upholsterers, but life had other ideas, leading them to discover a passion that combined art, history, and craftsmanship. **Crafting Connections** How a chance meeting with Leigh-Anne Treadwell at the Bristol Upholstery Collective became a turning point in their careers. **Balancing Business and Creativity** Hear about the joys and challenges of running separate upholstery businesses under one roof, and how they manage to share a workspace without cutting into each other's time (literally!). **Teaching and Mentorship** The duo’s commitment to teaching and helping the next generation of upholsterers, ensuring the craft lives on. Tom and Harriet’s story is one of creativity, resilience, and a love for bringing history back to life, one chair at a time. Whether you’re an upholstery aficionado or just curious about the craft, this episode is packed with inspiration, laughter, and a few quirky stories that you won't want to miss. **Key Takeaways** 1. The unpredictable journey of discovering a passion later in life. 2. The importance of mentorship and community in the world of craft. 3. How balancing creativity and business is both an art and a science. **Stay Connected** Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for updates. Enjoyed the episode? Drop us a review and let us know what you loved!