Meticulous: Creative Upholstery Courses & Restoration

A few final pieces from my time at Bishton Hall — shared a little later than planned 😅

Each one completely individual — different fabrics, different stories, and different approaches. No two pieces are ever the same.

Always a joy to help restore and rework such a variety of furniture — pieces that are now back in use, lived with, and appreciated again.

Now everything continues from Spode Works, but the work itself remains the same — careful, considered, and made to last.

If you’d like to learn how to approach your own pieces, workshop spaces are open:
• BYO Saturdays (last Saturday of the month)
• Friday classes restarting 22 May
- link in bio 👆

The first projects in the new studio — and a very good start ✨

I spent the day with two lovely friends upholstering a modern curved-back dining chair and a footstool. Two very different pieces, both brought back to life beautifully.

What I didn’t expect was discovering that one of them and I go way back — we were on a graduate scheme together at Churchill China early in our careers. A small world 🤍 Rebecca Fitzgerald

They both did a fantastic job, and it was a real pleasure to host them here for the day. This is exactly the kind of work I love — sharing skills, good conversation, and seeing confidence grow. Check out that pattern matching BTW! 👏

If you’d like to spend a day in the studio, my BYO Saturday workshops run on the last Saturday of each month, and Friday classes restart from 22 May - link in bio�

I’ve moved… and settled into a new studio at ACAVA Spode Works 🎨

It’s a place full of history, creativity, and quiet industry — with an exciting future taking shape as the wider site is revitalised. It feels good to be working within that kind of energy.

I’m really looking forward to building on relationships here, and continuing to work alongside such a generous and inspiring creative community.

Lovely to be back near the — good timing as we begin scoping a new project together 🤍

A big thank you to my neighbour Steve at for the help with the move, and to Stu — who still showed up and got stuck in despite hurting his back the week before. 🙏

Workshops are continuing — if you’d like to join me in the studio, you can find all upcoming dates here (weekend workshops last Sat of each month) - link https://www.meticulous-restoration.co.uk/courses I can accommodate groups of friends too - just get in touch to discuss ......The first workshop was last Saturday - i'll be sharing the results soon ✨

I’m on the move again… returning to Spode Works in Stoke from mid-April 🚚

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Bishton, and to all the clients I’ve had the pleasure of meeting through courses and commissions along the way 🤍

There’s no change to existing commission arrangements — I’m not going far, just shifting base. If you have a course booking, I will have already let you know about the move.

Why the move back? Many of my connections remain in the north of the county, so it makes sense to be closer again. I’ve also chosen to return to a more traditional studio/workshop setting — without a shopfront. There’s a freedom in that way of working that feels right for me.

As Spode continues to grow, I’m really looking forward to rejoining its creative community — including familiar faces I’ve been lucky to stay connected with throughout ✨

💐 Mother’s Day Offer – Upholstery Day for £85
🪡

Looking for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift or a lovely day out together? I’d love to welcome you to my studio at Bishton Hall, a beautiful 18th-century mansion near Wolseley Bridge, for a relaxed, hands-on upholstery day. Bishton Hall and Gardens

🪑 Bring your own chair, footstool, or small project — no experience needed, just your enthusiasm!
Footstool frame can be provided for £35*

🗓 Last Saturday of this month | 28 March | 10am–3pm
💷 £85 Mother’s Day offer (full-day upholstery tuition)

You’ll enjoy friendly guidance throughout the day, tea, coffee and biscuits, plus 10% off at Sparrows Tearoom next door.

Small projects can often be finished in a day, and larger ones can be continued over future workshops if you wish.

⚡ Booking link: https://bit.ly/try_upholstery

It could make a lovely gift experience for Mum — or a creative day to enjoy together.
I’d love to see you there! 💛

The Courtyard at Bishton Hall

*Screw in legs to be purchased separately.

My distinguished gentleman after his nail trim at Bishton Barks, one of my lovely neighbouring businesses at Bishton Hall and Gardens. Sarah was so lovely with my boy, who hasn’t been well. He came out with a little trim of his foot floof and smelling lovely 🥰 …Not to mention his bow tie! Thank you Sarah! Highly recommended.

💛 I’ve Had a Last-Minute Space Come Up – Join Me This Saturday for £75
🪡 I’d love to welcome you this Saturday to my studio at Bishton Hall and Gardens, a beautiful 18th-century mansion near Wolseley Bridge, for a relaxed, hands-on upholstery day.

🪑 Bring your own chair, footstool, or small project — no experience needed, just your enthusiasm!
🗓️ Saturday 28 February | 10am–3pm
💷 £75 (usually £99 – save £24!)

You’ll enjoy friendly guidance throughout the day, tea, coffee and biscuits, plus 10% off at Sparrows Tearoom next door.

Small projects can often be finished in a day, and larger ones can be continued over future workshops if you wish.

⚡ Booking link https://bit.ly/try_upholstery

I’d love to see you there! 💛

Returning to my revisited work series — pieces that carry both memory and making 🌿

This footstool is a personal project. Originally made in 2012, while I was completing my City & Guilds qualifications, it was the very first traditionally upholstered, fully sprung piece I ever created.

I made the frame and legs, using solid oak offcuts from a larger furniture project, shaped in the workshop with the guidance of my furniture making assessor — as I wanted to understand every part of the process, not rely on pre-made components 🪵

The design leans into mid-century style, and the structure is still as sound as the day it was made.

Over the past fourteen years, this footstool has been recovered three times — not due to failure, but because it’s used every single day. This year, it simply needed fresh top fabric after the realities of everyday life at home - spills, feet, paws and bums!

This latest covering is Pompidou Multi by Abraham Moon, a beautifully rich 100% pure wool, whose colour and texture sit perfectly with the footstool’s mid-century character 🪡

Swipe to see the very first covering and me training at the bench looking a bit different than I do today — reminders of how much quiet learning sits behind people working in these trades.

This is why I’m so passionate about well-made furniture — thoughtful construction, honest materials, and pieces designed to evolve, adapt, and last.

Weekly whereabouts below 😁 In the studio tomorrow. I’m working through promised commissions and starting to get a little more head space in terms of planning future courses now…