Master Western Upholstery With The Rusted Roan

In-Person Upholstery Workshops and Retreats

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Want to Bring That Old Piece Back to Life — or Start a Side Hustle Doing It?

You can — and I’ll show you how at our in-person Western Upholstery workshops and retreats.

Whether it’s your grandma’s chair, a flea-market find, or a bare frame you want to turn into a bold Western statement… you don’t need years of experience. You need the right hands-on guidance — and that’s exactly what you’ll get with me, in the room.

What you’ll learn (hands-on, step-by-step):

  • How to rebuild from the frame up: webbing, padding, tips for upholstering with leather and specialty fabrics, pattern-matching, and more

  • Working with leather, cowhide, fringe, and decorative nails

  • Design planning, material selection, and pro finishing details

  • (Optional at select retreats) Pricing and selling basics if you want to turn this into paid work

What’s included:

  • Small-group instruction so you get real feedback (not just watching a screen)

  • Tools & supplies on site (bring your piece or use a provided frame—varies by event)

  • Clear checklists and take-home workbook so you can repeat the process at home

  • Retreats often include lodging/meals so you can focus, and create (standard workshops do not include lodging/meals)

If you’ve spent hours pinning western-style chairs, this is where you stop scrolling and start building. You’ll head home with a finished piece and the confidence to do it again.

Imagine that chair sitting proudly in your home (or headed to a paying client) — not because someone else made it, but because you did.

And when someone asks, “Where did you get that?”
You get to say, “I made it.”

Spots are limited. Check dates and claim your seat.

 Want to Know What to Expect at a Workshop or Retreat?

You work on your piece from minute one.
No stage demo, no sitting and watching. I coach you on your project—step by step—so the technique is on your frame, not a sample piece.

What we’ll tackle (on your chair):

  • Upholstering with leather, hair on hide or fabrics of your choice

  • Making precise relief cuts around posts for a clean, professional finish

  • Foundations, padding, upholstery, and final finishes

What’s included on site:

  • A hard-copy version of the "Getting Started in Western Upholstery Workbook" with clear diagrams, tool lists, supplier contacts and upholstering instructions

  • Small-group format with 1:1 troubleshooting and guidance as you go

  • Reference materials you’ll take home so you can repeat the process with confidence

You’ll leave with a finished chair, a repeatable workflow, and the confidence to do it again—on your next piece or for a paying client.

Retreats often include lodging/meals so you can focus, create, and actually finish (while standard workshops do not)
Ready to dive in? Join the waitlist—seats are limited.

Video Poster Image

Imagine transforming your furniture with your own Western Upholstery skills.

Our workshops and retreats will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make this dream a reality.

Expert Guidance

From Sierra in addition to a hard-copy of the "Getting Started in Western Upholstery" workbook

Community Support

Many workshop participants leave with a handful of new friends who "get it".

Various Locations

We hold several upholstery workshops and retreats per year around the Western United States (and sometimes beyond)

Would you like to host a workshop in your location?

Workshop Hosting Requirements:

Indoor (fully enclosed) covered space. Smooth flooring preferred for ease of cleanup. Heat/AC depending on the time of year hosting.
Tables – approximately 7 tables for student chair frames and to cut fabric on.
Electricity and lighting – Enough amperage to run two small pancake air compressors and ample overhead lighting (and/or windows) for good visibility.
Bathroom for students to use during the workshop.
Food and lodging within a 10-minute drive or on-site.

Workshop participants receive a hard-copy upholstery workbook to take home.

Upholstery Workshops Costs per Student:

1 Day
$250 per student (one day workshops are limited to Northern California unless back-to-back one day workshops are scheduled in the same area, or a one-day workshop is held at the same location as a 3-day workshop). Limited to 5 students.

3 Days
In Red Bluff, California- $850, out of California $1250 per student. Limited to 5 students.

5 Day Wingback
$1850-$2200 per student (depending on travel requirements and location). Limited to 3 students.

Upholstery Workshops Host Benefits:

Hosts who host the workshop and workshop instructor lodging accommodations (RV space or private room/bathroom) receive 1 complimentary workshop student spot (up to a $1250 value).
Hosts who host the upholstery workshop only (no instructor accommodations) receive 50% off 1 workshop tuition spot (Up to a $600 value).
Local hosts who help coordinate a host location (but do not physically host the workshop or instructors) receive up to 25% off 1 workshop tuition spot.
If no workshop participant spot is desired, hosts will be compensated, as negotiated, for hosting the workshop and/or instructors.

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