Furniture Design & Woodworking
Code: W0202-25
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Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Bulk, Bulges, and Raw Edges: Upholstery Basics
Jun 9 - 20, 2025
9AM-5PM
Concept
Restore furniture or enhance original designs with the addition of pattern, texture, and comfort in a workshop that explores the possibilities of upholstery. Starting with a basic chair, we strip the layers to discover how an upholstered piece is constructed, then reverse the process by installing webbing, springs, and padding with the final embellishment of fabric. Whether your interest lies in adding upholstery to your own furniture designs or renovating existing furniture, students come away with the knowledge of the basic tools, techniques, and materials of upholstery. Furniture to be upholstered must be approved by the instructor before the workshop starts.
Media & Techniques
Readymade furniture, webbing, springs, padding, fabric, sewing machines, upholstery sawhorses, steamer, hand upholstery tools, stripping, repair, build-up, upholstery.
Faculty
Tina Ortman
Tina Ortman has owned and operated Sturdy Stitching Upholstery since 1992. Upholstery combines her love of furniture, sewing, and restoration. She learns something new from each piece that comes under her care.
Tina Ortman, Diamond Channelback
Join Waitlist for Bulk, Bulges, and Raw Edges: Upholstery Basics
Thank you for your interest in the waitlist. When space in a workshop or program becomes available, registration will open on the website. Everyone on the waitlist will be emailed to alert them of the opening. This ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to register for the workshop or program.
Furniture Design & Woodworking
The Furniture Design & Woodworking program at Anderson Ranch draws upon the world of studio furniture, but pushes the boundaries of woodworking by mixing contemporary and traditional techniques and incorporating alternative materials. Anderson Ranch offers an inspiring range of workshops for all levels in topics such as cabinetry, wood bending, kinetics and carving.
The Maloof Wood Barn, divided into a machine room, assembly room, and bench room, provides participants the ideal workshop for realizing technical and creative goals. The machine room houses stationary equipment including SawStop table saws, jointers, planers, bandsaws, drill presses, edge sander, disk sander, drum sander, spindle sander, radial arm saw, chop saw, router table and multi-router. In the assembly and bench rooms, a library of clamps, hand tools, and hand-held power tools line the walls for student use to complete their woodworking projects.
The Furniture Society and Anderson Ranch are partnering this year to offer a scholarship for one BIPOC applicant to attend a workshop for the 2025 summer season. This opportunity includes tuition for a one-week workshop, room and board for a Furniture Design and Wood workshop, and a 1‑year membership to The Furniture Society. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a tuition discount* in summer one- or two-week adult furniture design and woodworking workshops** for Furniture Society members at the student membership level or above. Please email reg@
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
For general information about studio access, shipping, and more, please visit our info page.
If you have any questions regarding your supplies for your workshop, please contact Lane Preston, [email protected].
Provided by Anderson Ranch
Equipment
- 2 Industrial Sewing Machines
- 3 Large Garbage Cans
- 3 Small garbage Cans
- 6 Pneumatic Upholstery Staple Guns
- 6 Sets of Upholstery Sawhorses
- Banquet Table 72"x 30"
- Iron
- Ironing Board
- Needle Sizes 18/20/22/24
- Plywood on Benches Large enough to accommodate the 60" x 120" Mat
- Pneumatic Hoses with I/M Female Quick release fittings for each student
- Recycling Garbage Can
- Rotary Cutting Mat - 60" x 120"
- Steamer
- White Fold Out Table 72" x 40"
Supplies
- DB-92 Thread - Black/White/Beaver
- Size M Bobbins
- Staples 1/2
- Staples 1/4
- Staples 3/8
What you need to bring
Required Tools and Supplies
- 2 - 10" Upholstery Regulators (Osborne #306.5)
- Bronze Magnetic Hammer (Osborne #33)**
- Flexible Tape Measure - 120"
- Personal Dust Mask (N95 or higher) or Respirator**
- Personal Safety Glasses**
- Pin Cushion
- Pliers - Regular and Needle Nose
- Quilting Pins (Size 28 - about 1.5" long)
- Scissors - 1 Pair for Paper/1 Pair for Fabric
- Seam Ripper
- Singer upholstery Basics Book ISBN-0-86573-318-X
- Staple Puller (Osborne #120.5 or - #1066)
Optional Tools and Supplies
- Blue Masking Tape**
- Bubble Wrap**
- Camera
- Cardboard boxes**
- Erasers**
- Packing tape**
- Pencils**
- Personal Hearing Protection
- Sharpies**
- Sketchbook**
- Tools you own that you would be unhappy without
* Available for purchase in the studio.
** Available to purchase at the Anderson Ranch ArtWorks Store for 10% off. The store aims to stock comparable items, though specific products from the supply list may vary based on inventory.
Learn more about shipping supplies and artwork to and from the Ranch in the Student Handbook.
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
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Jan 5 - 23, 2026
Monday-Friday, 9AM - 5PM
Participants may register for one, two, or three weeks
TUITION is $1,255 per week or $3,765 for three weeks
January Studio Sessions: Furniture Design & Woodworking
Lane Preston
Tuition $1,255
Code ZSW0101-26
Anderson Ranch’s January Studio Sessions provide artists the opportunity to work on independent projects while receiving mentoring and critique sessions with Anderson Ranch artistic staff and interns. Each participant receives an assigned studio space, orientation, and access to equipment, as well as some morning group demonstrations and / or critiques. This program affords artists the experience enjoyed by national and international artists who access our state-of-the-art studios. Participants may expand their practices, take artistic risks, try new media or complete works for exhibition. *Studios are open 24 hours a day and on weekends for students enrolled in multiple weeks, with limited use of equipment due to safety requirements. The machine rooms are only available when monitored – weekdays 9 AM-5 PM. Evening monitoring hours are Mondays - Thursdays, 7 – 9 PM. IMPORTANT DETAILS: Students will be responsible for all material costs associated with their projects. Participants who register for multiple consecutive weeks will gain access to the studios on weekends (with the exception of the machine rooms due to safety constraints.) Private dorm rooms are available at Anderson Ranch for one, two or three weeks for an additional fee; click here to view January 2025 lodging options. TO APPLY: Applicants must submit project proposals or portfolios for approval. Contact Betsy Alwin to apply: [email protected]