Maker's bio

Hello — I’m Harriet, the maker behind Hare in the Chair, a Bristol-based studio specialising in restoring antique furniture and teaching traditional upholstery and soft furnishing skills. Although I have only recently joined Craftcourses.com I have been a maker and teacher for many years. Teaching in schools and Upholstery centres. I am a fully certified member of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers and have taught on AMUSF Upholstery diploma courses, bringing both professional craft and pedagogy together in my work. I was delighted to be nominated for Tutor of the Year at the 2024 Heritage Craft Awards. My approach is rooted in sustainability: wherever possible I use natural materials like wool, linen, horsehair and coir, and traditional methods to reduce waste and extend the life of each piece. I aim to source and use the best quality materials and fillings that will last for the longest time possible - I aim to pass on this knowledge to all my students so they can do the same. Beyond my commission work for high end antiques firms, I run hands-on, small group workshops in my studio, where students can learn upholstery and cushion-making in a supportive, tailored setting. Currently I run a small group.upholstery class on. Friday morning and one off cushion and draft -excluder courses. Based at Hillside Studios on the outskirts of Bristol (5 minutes from Junction 17 on the M5) the studio is easily accessible from North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, South Wales and Bristol. I welcome students of all levels — whether you want to begin your first piece, tackle a restoration, or hone a specific technique. To see more of my work please visit my website www.hareinthechair.com