Such an intriguing title, we didn't know what to expect, but it turned out to be a fascinating story, sprinkled with humour, of Sue's life journey starting with working in hospitality and ending up running her own soft furnishing and upholstery business. She moved around a bit, and in Marlow met her husband, who was in the Royal Drgaoons. This entailed more moving around, a placement in Düsseldorf, and then Deepcut, Dunfermline and Scone. During these meanderings she took a City and Guild course in soft furnishings, learning how to make curtains etc. along with that course she did upholstery, and it became her principle love. She made the Victorian footstool below for the course, the fabric being crazy patchwork.
She particularly delighted in the old ways of the craft, using horsehair and tacks rather than foam and staples. The squab cushion below demonstrates how a piece of material can become a solid item when stuffed with horsehair and lots of stitching. Sue had brought along some of the tools of the trade.
Below are some unique chairs, the green one has a lozenge in the top of the frame which Sue replicated on the seat with trapunto. The white chair is the subject of the title. It is a spinning chair made with scraps from bridal gowns, and the tacks are all covered with pearls. There are two rows of pearls, as a nod to her husband's promotions, as apparently a captain's wife can wear a single string of pearls, but a major's wife can wear a double string!
Sue continues to run her soft furnishing and upholstery business, and also teaches upholstery.
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