London Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Atelier Ray Clarke

Tent London/ Pure design event 2014 (18-21 September)

Written by Ray Clarke on 25/09/2014. Posted in News. No Comments on Tent London/ Pure design event 2014 (18-21 September)

Being Self-employed and spending the majority of my time working by myself, trips away from the workbench to see what the best of the rest are up to, and especially to trade shows like this feel like a mini-holiday. Tent London was “Just down the road” at the Truman Brewery in Brick Lane. This year’s show felt fantastic. It was wonderful to see Flock’s first appearance at the event. Congratulations on their show-stopping Cocktail chair pieces (This time created by Florrie & Bill- great work folks!)

Amongst all the great design talent on show the show that really got me all hot under the collar (It was baking hot in there!) was the Second Sitters stand which was literally like being in

Upholstery workshop-cum-laboratory where Hannah Stanton & Jude Dennis of Second Sitters presented the”20 Centimes Chair”,

which became an opportunity for visitors to get involved in a very special ongoing upholstery project…
I couldn’t help but leave a few written thoughts which by now I hope are secretly and securely stuffed (along with possibly hundreds of other contributions) into

Their memory chair .

Chatting to Hannah & Jude about the technical aspects of some of their wonderful furniture/art pieces was thoroughly inspirational!

Great stuff

Returned to sender: A reproduction Louis XIV in vintage French Postal Sackcloth

Written by Ray Clarke on 07/09/2014. Posted in Modern, Modern techniques & Materials on traditional frames, modern upholstery projects, News. No Comments on Returned to sender: A reproduction Louis XIV in vintage French Postal Sackcloth

To meet my customers’ budget , this reproduction French Louis XIV was rewebbed and resprung traditionally. The old degraded foams were completely replaced with a combination of rubberised hair, composite foams and a linen scrim-covered tack roll which was tacked in place for a much improved feel to the seat. The reupholstered fillings and suspension were covered in an F/R barriercloth before an original French postal sackcloth was carefully cut and fitted. Finally trimming the piece with a lush Lemonade velvet piping from Today’s Interiors.
Many thanks to Katy Chaytor-Hill for the rip down

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Ligne Roset Petite Siestre Armchair in Yarwood Hammersmith Moss Leather

Written by Ray Clarke on 23/04/2014. Posted in modern upholstery projects, News. 2 Comments on Ligne Roset Petite Siestre Armchair in Yarwood Hammersmith Moss Leather

before…

..After

While getting over a rotten head cold/feeling run down.. this became my first reclining armchair, a 12-year old Ligne Roset “Petite Seistre” in Yarwood Hammersmith “moss” Leather with mustard top-stitching. Challenges (apart from top-stitching ) involved sourcing the right colour and sized eyelets for fitting the head rest struts, and sourcing a new feet to replace the plastic ones (especially the one odd shaped one that was fitted as a replacement).

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Twin Ercol “Mirakels”…

Written by Ray Clarke on 22/03/2014. Posted in News. No Comments on Twin Ercol “Mirakels”…

Earlier this March as spring was beginning to show flashes of a little colour, I had the great pleasure in refurbishing and recovering a pair of Ercol’s in a lovely Svenskt Tenn Josef Frank original print from 1930’s called “Mirakel”for a wonderful customer in Walthamstow.. These took alittle longer than necessary as I added my own personal touch of stitching the seat and back cushions with a twin-needle effect in 6 colours. The final finish brought some much needed colour to the studio after the grey sky’s and torrential rain of the previous weeks.

They certainly brightened my customer’s faces upon delivery too!

before…

and after!

“Sweets for my Suite”…An Art Deco-style 3-piece in Designers Guild Richelieu Dusk & Aubergine

Written by Ray Clarke on 21/03/2014. Posted in News. No Comments on “Sweets for my Suite”…An Art Deco-style 3-piece in Designers Guild Richelieu Dusk & Aubergine

My sincerest thanks to Aine Sheehan for her french polishing, and finishing(hand-sewing)skills, Anna F for her pattern-forming & cutting and Ola (of Global Chauffeurs ), as well as Addison Lee vans for assisting me in the refurbishment,recover ,production and delivery of a 3-piece art-deco-style suite and complete set of 16 bespoke banquette seat cushions for a very patient high-profile client in Clapham, South London. A lot of stitching (particularly double-piping)went into this. Many lessons in time, human resourcing and project management learned.

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Pretty in pink (isn’t she?…)

Written by Ray Clarke on 21/03/2014. Posted in Creative Collaborations, modern upholstery projects, News. No Comments on Pretty in pink (isn’t she?…)

My deep thanks go out to Valentina Gonzalez Wohlers for giving me the opportunity to upholster her iconic Cactus chair

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Bespoke seating

Written by Ray Clarke on 28/02/2014. Posted in News. No Comments on Bespoke seating

Piped bench seating pads in Flocks Algate East Minor delivered to happy client At the end of February to SE22..
Sometimes pulling the all-nighter is worth it if nothing else just to see their faces light up when their bespoke items are delivered personally.

Refurbished & recovered

Written by Ray Clarke on 26/02/2014. Posted in Modern, News. No Comments on Refurbished & recovered

Using the customers own chosen fabric yesterday I refurbished and recovered these pair of barstools as part of preparation for a lovely apartment in Narrow street , Limehouse, London E14

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Greaves & Thomas Style Armchair

Written by Ray Clarke on 04/01/2014. Posted in Modern, News. No Comments on Greaves & Thomas Style Armchair

Happy New Year to you all!

Kicking off 2014, I repaired, refurbished and recovered this Greaves and Thomas style armchair for a family in Islington, London. The Fabric is a beautiful design collaboration between Bute Fabrics & Timorous Beasties in Scotland, called “Ramshead”. I finished it with “Eternal Sunshine” velvet buttons from Elitis .
(Hopefully the youngster whose room this will reside in will be kinder to this than before!)

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Festive feast Indoor Xmas Market @ Stoke Newington Town Hall, London

Written by Ray Clarke on 24/12/2013. Posted in News. No Comments on Festive feast Indoor Xmas Market @ Stoke Newington Town Hall, London

My deep Thanks go out to Hackney Ventures and Hannah Edy of Big Love Gallery for inviting me to share a table with her at the Festive Feast Indoor Xmas Market, held on the 15th & 16th December at Stoke Newington Town Hall, London N16
As it was my very first attempt to physically sell some of my smaller furniture items and soft furnishings I had nothing to compare it to. So I was totally overwhelmed with the response , and sales of some of my cushions on the first day, as well as selling one of my footstools on the second day. It was a great opportunity to connect with potential customers, give away loads of business cards & flyers and take some enquiries, which I hope may return to me in the new year to use my upholstery service.

For me, That event was the manifestation of a long held wish to be able to sell my work, which was a big wake-up call to me, as this time last year I had been working part-time as a market stall porter

@ Spitalfields outdoor market. The whole week was also an opportunity to come across a space in south London where, Thanks to Hannah, I may be able to finally rediscover and apply my printed textile capabilities.

Many thanks to all my friends who showed up on either of the 2 days to lend me their support.

Tag: London