Inspired by nature in my art as well as in my life interests, my creative life began with the textile arts in 1980 and grew to encompass upholstered furniture design in 2007.
Working for many years alongside my husband, Chandler, we have remodeled historic log cabins and homes which incorporated unique custom-built elements. Much of this custom work began in the surrounding forests, where dead or fallen trees were selected, cut and milled into lumber. Although the fir forests of our youth are a long way from the hardwood forest sources we are currently using in our furniture construction, we have both developed a deep appreciation for the role of timber as a sustainable resource - a respect which carries into our current work.
The marriage of wood and fiber was a natural fit for me as I began work with Chandler in 2007 to develop a line of fine modern upholstered furniture. From the outset, my focus has been on health-conscious and eco-friendly materials and processes.
After two years in new furniture R&D, we began to notice around us all of the sadly worn, yet solidly built old pieces. We embarked on a rescue mission, beginning with pieces that were dumpster-bound, expanding to the not-so pretty finds at the local thrift store, eventually taking in sad chairs from friends' garages and basements. Restoring & re-styling old pieces in both organic and conventional materials has been our passion ever since.
In 2011, joining the budding revival of the little known craft of upholstery, I began teaching DIY students in my studio. Inspired by my experience with artisan mentors over the years, my dream is to help bring upholstery arts into a new light, making it easily accessible to those who wish to discover this exciting new medium of creative expression.
- Carla