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Master Western Upholstery With The Rusted Roan

In-Person Upholstery Workshops and Retreats

Workshops for 2026:

Arizona -  February 23rd - 27th, 2026 near Wickenburg.

Idaho -  May 27th - 31st, 2026 near Caldwell.

Texas - October 14th - 18th, 2026 at Round Top (this will be a full retreat with multiple workshops (leatherwork, upholstery, jewelry, etc) and additional evening classes- hosted by The Cowgirl Art Collective

Virginia City, Nevada - Western mining town experience, multiple dates through 2026, private lessons and workshops. Additional fly in and ship your chair home options.

 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

*Only one workshop can be selected per form submission. If you wish to register for another option you can resubmit again.

 What you need to bring

1-Day Bench Workshops

Once you register, you’ll receive a shopping list and material guide to help you prepare.

Participants bring their seat base, legs, and fabric/finishes.

Your bench frame should be pre-cut to size and ready to assemble and upholster when you arrive.

This helps us make the most of our day together and ensures you leave with a beautiful finished piece!

                     ⸻

Chair Workshops

For these workshops, you’ll bring your own chair that has been torn down, repaired, and refinished or painted before the workshop begins (unless it's a workshop where the frames are provided).

All tools and supplies are provided. Participants bring their padding, frame, fabric, and finishes. 

After registering for a workshop, we will ask you to email us a clear photo of your chair frame so we can make sure it’s a great fit for the workshop timeframe.

This quick approval step helps confirm your piece can be completed during the workshop and ensures you have the best possible experience!

 

🪑 2-Day Workshops & Private Lessons

Perfect for beginners or anyone wanting one-on-one attention.
Private lessons and full beginner chair projects can be completed in just 2 days at our local studio or Virginia City, NV workshops. These are focused, personalized sessions designed to help you gain confidence and complete a beautiful finished piece in a short time.

đź’Ş 3-Day Workshops

Our 3-Day Workshops are like an upholstery marathon — fast-paced and focused entirely on your project. You’ll spend full days upholstering and learning techniques start to finish, surrounded by other makers who are just as motivated to get it done. It’s all about the work, creativity, and results.

🎨 4-Day Workshops/Retreats

Our 4-Day Workshops offer the same hands-on upholstery experience with a little more breathing room. You’ll enjoy shorter upholstering days, extra included activities (like a paint-and-sip class or photography mini-session), and plenty of time to connect, unwind, and make new friends.

Think of it as the same creative journey — just with more time to soak it all in.

 

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 Day Workshops
In Red Bluff, California- $850, out of California $1250 (without lodging costs) per student. Limited to 5 students.

5 Day Workshop Retreats
$2200-3000 per student (depending on travel requirements and location). Limited to 3-5 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.

REGISTER AS HOST