The Dusty Road

Oooh well, I used to be the PA for artist, David Bromley. I don’t know if you’re familiar with his work or his world but for me it’s was like falling down the rabbit hole and finding myself in Alice’s Wonderland. It opened my eyes to so many things, upholstery being one of them. He has a great love and appreciation for artisans, and the old trades.

He’d trawl the auctions and every antique store on the East Coast for interesting furniture, rip up an old canvas he’d painted, or a drop sheet he’d used in his studio covered in paint, call the local upholsterer and say “I want that, on that.” They thought he was mad, I thought it was awesome!  

And that-was-that, the love was born. Upholstery was going to be my thing.
I got an older couple in the hills to show me a few things (they got sick of me and my over enthusiasm), then very nervously and awkward walked in to the local upholsterer, Geoffs, and asked for a job, worked for $15 an hour which I was actually stoked about, travelled back and forth from Byron to Daylesford where the Bromleys had a little studio that I worked from, watched a lot of YouTube videos and did a lot of googling and here I am, 5 years later.

How has my style changed? Hmmmm, 5 years ago I would have reupholstered a dogs bed for money and experience.  Now I just do furniture.

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