Furnished By Hand
Me

WELCOME TO FURNISHED BY HAND

I'm Abumchi
Think of me as a lover of all things related to 'bespoke interior design'. In particular, I love the uniqueness of hand-crafted upholstery and the way each piece gives a living space that personal touch. I usually create my pieces with a standard needle and thread and here's why.....

No machine, batteries or electricity

When all else fails, hand-stitching can be done anywhere and at anytime with minimal equipment.

No restrictions on what you can create

With hand-stitching, the sky really is your limit.

It calms & relaxes you as your creations unfold

It's one of those activities that's therapeutic AND allows you to be 'productive' at the same time.
How I learned to Sew
Growing up, I'd have random growth spurts which meant Mum had to supplement my wardrobe by creating new outfits quickly and regularly. Luckily for me, she was very talented and created bespoke items for me that my friends didn't have and couldn't get. I learned her hand-stitching techniques, including her 'when in doubt use this stitch' tip. So that's how I learned to sew and learned to love hand-stitching.
Interiors
Interior design has always been a passion of mine.  My family would watch lots of old classic films together and I'd be glued to the screen. I loved everything, from the sumptuous layered window-dressings to the exquisitely upholstered fabric and leather seating,  To me, it was amazing that people back then could make their homes look so luxurious without using machines.  Furniture was custom-made, each piece was 'the only one of it's kind' and completely unique. My dreams were filled with design ideas for living spaces; I wanted to recreate what I saw, in my own way.
My first home decor creation was a set of hand-sewn, lined curtains. I loved the process and I was determined to learn all I could about traditional home decor. I took lessons, workshops and worked my way through lots of very old publications. I practised by making upholstered pieces for our own home.
The tendency to reproduce or copy good old pieces of furniture should be encouraged, for only in this way may a student obtain a proper background, from which may be developed a new style. 

New ideas, derived from the best of the old, are likely to serve humanity in the best way.
EMIL A. JOHNSON, B.S., A.M.
Assistant Professor of Manual Arts,
Bradley Polytechnic Institute,
Copyright, 1919
Unlike machine sewing, hand-sewing is silent, so it allows me to sit in my favourite spot and keep up with my projects while binge-watching TV shows or face-timing.
Hand-stitching is very relaxing, and it can be combined with other activities. The great outdoors can be fun! Hand-stitching can be done in the park, by the river, on a boat, in the car, in fact anywhere with a seat.
Creating your own home decor allows you to truly brand your own living space. Here we will learn newbie-friendly, cost-effective alternatives to expensive traditional upholstery.  We'll design and create our own Home Decor Collections
two cushions with monochrome palm tree designs

Stay Motivated

My earlier hand-stitched creations were a bit higgledy-piggledy (read 'Not that Great') and that's fine. Nobody starts off as an expert or a 'guru'. The key: encourage yourself and just keep going - your skills will improve each time you practice and that is the same for everyone.  As the very creative type that you clearly are, please feel free to look around and stay in touch.

See you in there xx
Abumchi
Founder of Furnished By Hand
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