Hello from the News Bureau – something that is special about attending upholstery classes is all the people you meet and the connections you make. This is a space to meet other people who have come to the Bureau and hear about what they do !
Lots of you will already know Carmen Rendell from Friday mornings where she most recently completed a very lovely Parker Knoll in a beautiful wool tartan. Previously, she completed a super smart footstool and she’s officially part of ‘the box cushion cover’ club – yay! Its been a total pleasure for me to have her come to upholstery classes. She definitely brings a sense of calm and chill to her area of the workshop. As well as wit and wisdom! And this is probably why…
Carmen Rendell and her partner Andrew Cuerden have created an amazing, holistic, well-being community called Soulhub They’ve brought together over 25 like-minded practitioners and specialists – the Soulhub team – of therapists, coaches, fitness and yoga instructors, dancers and nutritionists. They offer bespoke, well-being packages tailored to your needs as well as courses and events for individuals and businesses alike. Carmen is a qualified and experienced counsellor and currently practises and runs training courses in walking therapy in Richmond and West London. Andrew Cuerden is a former international competitor, performer and BBC Strictly Come Dancing Professional and now Metaphysical Dance therapist holding private and group classes in Richmond and around the UK.
If you want to restore yourself, connect with nature and generally feel better, I recommend you check out Carmen’s FREE community Soulwalks in Richmond and Kingston. See website for all the details. Not surprisingly, The Soulwalk community is growing!
You must check our their Dance Al Fresco events held monthly outside Tide Tables Cafe in Richmond. The next one is Sunday 7th May 2023 but check their website events page to confirm soulhub.co.uk These are wonderful, dare I say, ‘magical’, community ‘learn to dance’ events under the trees, looking out to the river. Cha cha cha or Viennese Waltz, Andrew makes everyone feel completely relaxed and you find you are picking up the steps in no time at all. Take a look at the video below ! See website and book your tickets via Eventbrite (Mike and I went to one where it poured with rain, but we danced to ‘Singing In the Rain’, it was a magic moment for sure…)
Carmen (aka Sisi) Martin Lopez very kindly agreed to being included on the News Bureau and lots of you know her. She did some truly wonderful upholstery and arrived every week with a bag of patchwork pieces and a huge smile. I used to pop in to see her work while she attended a Stained Glass class as well – and wow – she’s so talented. Thank you my Spanish Rainbow!
I always wanted to learn glass making and 5 years ago I started with Stained Glass. It was fascinating playing with light and colours! Later on I became more and more interested in the fusing techniques and it opened a new way to explore and express myself. I wanted to learn more and last year I decided to commit to the BTEC Level 3 Arts and Design in Glass. It has been demanding, yes! But I learned so much, even from my mistakes from which new windows opened. It is really a path of endless exploring, so much fun! My final project is inspired by nature and titled “The Four Seasons”.
So first up is Lulu Nana who some of you will remember from upholstery classes in Hammersmith a few years ago. You may recall that she had quite a headstrong but beautiful dog who leapt down the main road to greet some rather terrified people and consequently had to go to ‘dog Borstal’ for a little training. Recently Lulu came over to the Upholstery Bureau to take some photographs as part of her HNC in Photography. Her assignment was on ‘Decay and Evolution’ and she thought an upholstery workshop fit the brief perfectly. I think so! Other assignments were on ‘Eco Anxiety’ and ‘Abuse’ and I thought these were sooo good, I am sharing them here. Not surprised she was awarded Distinction. She is now clearing out her cellar to make a small dark room. If you’d like to be in touch with Lulu, let me know and I’ll forward your communication to her directly. Thank you Lulu and well done.
from Decay & Evolution – a few photographs from the Bureau
from her assignment on environmental issues and Eco Anxiety – ‘Bubble Bath’ and ‘Boxed-in’
And from her project About Abuse
