18/09/2026
Hello, I’m Leanne 👋🏼 a upholsterer based up in Salford. Ever since I was a little girl I always had a project on the go with my Grandma. My knitting needles sat next to hers, and I started out knitting scarfs for my dolls. As I got older we progressed onto sewing projects. I loved going to Pendlebury Market on a Saturday morning paying a visit to the fabric stalls. We’d make all sorts, peg bags, draft excluders, quilted blankets, I loved spending time with her, there was nothing she couldn’t do. Like many people, a creative career initially didn’t seem viable financially which is so sad but true for me. I started a career in Media, planning campaigns for brands. This industry however was hard to work in with a family. Long hours, overnight stays, social nights out. I returned to work after having Oscar, but when twins Sidney and Bertie arrived, I was struggling and something had to give. I started going to upholstery night school, initially to take some time for myself, but it soon became a real dream that one day I could quit the big job and set up The Upholstery Lady. Project, after project, after project, learning all the time, I converted our garage and was good to go, what a moment! I won my first contract thanks to Emma Louise Kelly it was to supply Bents Garden & Home with large deep buttoned footstools, imagine! I was on cloud nine! Things really started to pick up, my confidence was building and the projects kept coming. Aldi UK Christmas TV campaign featuring my upholstered panels, Manchester City appointing me, it was so cool being at their Accademy. But then came my biggest opportunity, the guys at Money For Nothing got in touch and before I knew it I had filmed my first episode…. I’ve just filmed my 10th! I’m so proud to be part of the amazing talented artisan team on this show. In another crazy twist of events, George Clarke came to my workshop late last summer, I was working on a seating project that was featured on his show and he popped in to ‘lend a hand’…. He’s wasn’t that bad to be fair ☺️.
You need a medal if you read to the end of all that 😂
Leanne
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