Louise Folkard runs the Cane Workshop in Alston and is an expert in the rare art of chair caning.
The art, which dates back thousands of years, has fallen out of fashion over the past few decades but Louise is determined to keep it going.
“I did a fine art sculpture degree, so I’ve always been fiddly and if I’m not making something, there’s something wrong.
“My mum had two of these bedroom chairs – the standard little ones that everyone has in their granny’s house – and she knew that there were canes, so she said, ‘I’m sure you can fix them’, so I got a book, and that was it.
“I did it for friends and family for many years before I was brave enough to charge a private customer and 15 years ago, we moved here and so I gave up the proper job and went full time doing this.”
Louise was featured in an episode of Antiques Road Trip and her workshop was visited by antiques experts Phil Serrell and Natasha Raskin Sharp.
“Having the shop means that the BBC and things like that find me quite easily.
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“Phil and Natasha were really, really nice. They were here for a good three hours or so and we just didn’t stop laughing the entire time.
“I never knew when I was getting filmed, so it was just totally natural the entire time.
“It was really funny, and Phil seemed to genuinely think that he I could get into this.”
Going forward, Louise is planning to start chair caning courses from her Alston studio so people can learn about the craft.Further details will be advertised in the Spring.
