RETROFIT RESTORATION, LLC

Cathryn Peters — Wed, 20 May 2026 02:55:00 +0000

Retrofit Restoration is a woman-owned, weaving-forward furniture restoration shop serving Boston and Central Massachusetts.

Owner Nora Whelan’s lifelong passion for vintage design and construction led her into professional restoration in 2021.

Following tenures at both Minnesota institutions, Ackerman’s and Danish Teak Classics, Nora moved to Massachusetts in 2026, where she works to bring modern weaving and grain-enhancing finishes to the Metrowest area.

In addition to chair caning, cording, and other weaving, Nora does reglues and small structural repairs.

She also does finish work from touch-ups to full strips and recoats, and limited upholstery on furniture, old and new(ish).

Nora believes every possible object should lead at least two lives; if you think your beloved heirloom or flea market find is on its last leg, think again and give her a call.

(TC-5/19-II)

Exotic Mission Furniture, LLC

Cathryn Peters — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:36:00 +0000

Exotic Mission Furniture, LLC provides seatweaving services and custom furniture. Our mission-style furniture is constructed from exotic lumber and features woven surfaces on seats, backs, and shelves.

Yes, we built the entry bench in the photo, and we would be happy to build an heirloom piece for you.

Our weaver, Tim, has been weaving chairs for 30 years. He works with hole cane, pressed cane, splint, wide binder cane, fibre rush, pre-twisted rush, Shaker Tape, and Danish cord.

He is also experienced with unusual cane weaves like Spider Weave, French Blind Cane, and cane-suspended medallions.

If your chair needs a little TLC, including making new parts if they are needed, Tim can handle that for you.

Tim can usually provide you with a general idea of the cost of your repair if you text or email him clear photos.

Of course, the final quote is always dependent on a physical inspection of the item.

(TC 4/2)

WALNUT HOLLOW CHAIR CANING

Cathryn Peters — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:17:00 +0000

Walnut Hollow Chair Caning, owned by April Greer, and located in Athens, TN, has been serving families and collectors for over 25 years.

I specialize in the preservation and restoration of antique and heirloom chair seats using traditional hand-woven methods.

Each chair is individually evaluated and restored using historically appropriate materials, including hand-woven cane (7-step and binder), pressed cane, splint, natural and fiber rush, Danish cord, French/blind cane, and specialty woven seats.

My work focuses on preserving and maintaining the integrity and character of family furniture rather than modern replacement or factory repair.

I also provide demonstrations and historical education programs for schools, museums, and living history events.

We are located in Tennessee and accept shipping and long-distance work by arrangement. Clients are welcome to contact me to discuss their chair before transporting it.

Call or text today to schedule your next restoration opening.

(TC-3/2)

TOLZMANN CHAIR CANING

Cathryn Peters — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 20:18:00 +0000

Tolzmann Chair Caning– I was born in St. Paul, MN in 1952. I was adopted as an infant by Raymond F. and Mercedes A. Tolzmann of Forest Lake, MN.

I worked under Raymond Tolzmann, a third-generation (at least) painting and decorating contractor, from 1966 through 1970, during all public school vacations, and again, full-time, from January 1972 to April 1972.

I opened my first furniture restoration service business in 1972 in Forest Lake, MN. I have also done this work in Idaho, Iowa, and California.

I received invaluable instruction in chair caning from Jim Widess of The Caning Shop in Berkeley, CA. My specialization is “hand chair caning”.”

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(TC-12/03/25)

MOSDEN'S ANTIQUE RESTORATION AND CHAIR CANING

Cathryn Peters — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 01:59:00 +0000

Mosden’s Antique Restoration & Chair Caning
Serving furniture lovers since 1970 – now in Longview, Washington

Kit and Sandi Mosden have been restoring and recaning fine furniture pieces for over 50 years.

What began in 1970 in San Anselmo, just north of San Francisco, continued for decades on the Mendocino Coast in Fort Bragg, and now continues in Longview, Washington, close to family in the Portland, Oregon area.

We are one of the oldest furniture restoration shops on the West Coast, with a long history of careful, hands-on work and loyal customers.

Specialties

Hand chair caning & prewoven cane installation
Seat reweaving
Antique furniture repair & restoration
Sensitive repairs on cherished newer pieces

Over the years, we’ve recaned more than 20,000 chairs, from everyday family favorites to museum-worthy antiques.

Quality, Care & Craftsmanship

Many of our customers are referred by antique dealers who have trusted us since we first opened in 1970.

As a small, owner-operated shop, we limit the number of pieces we accept so that every chair, table, or chest gets the time and attention it deserves.

Not every piece needs a full refinish. Often, a thorough cleaning, careful waxing, and a few well-done repairs are all it takes to bring back its original beauty.

In our workshop, you might see everything from 1930s Breuer chrome chairs in for recaning to a 17th-century walnut burl chest of drawers needing delicate veneer work.

Clients have included George Lucas & Industrial Light & Magic, Kate Wolf, Vivian Vance (“I Love Lucy”), and many others—from as far away as Canada and Alaska.

If you have a worn, wobbly, or tired-looking piece you’re not ready to give up on, we’d love to help.

Contact Mosden’s Antique Restoration & Chair Caning today to discuss your project or schedule an appointment.

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(2-TC-11/19/25)

WATTS WOODWORKING

Cathryn Peters — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:36:00 +0000

Watts Woodworking specializes in antique furniture restoration as well as general furniture repairs for your tables, chairs, rockers, headboards, dressers, trunks, chests, and more.

We offer stripping, staining, custom painting, and finishing services tailored to your preferences for indoor and outdoor furniture.

Do you need some chair seat weaving done as well? We painstakingly reweave chair seats to include hole-to-hole or lace caning, sheet cane, paper rush, and splint seats.

We love woodworking and specialize in building custom farm tables. Visit our photo library on our Facebook page for samples of our work.

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(TC-MO-11/15/25) (TC-12/1/25)

RODNEY'S CANING

Cathryn Peters — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:36:00 +0000

Rodney Stearns, owner of Rodney’s Caning, has recently relocated from Priest River, Idaho to Alliance, Ohio to be close to family.

With over 50 years in the seat weaving business, Rodney’s Caning provides a variety of seat weaving techniques such as; hand cane, machine cane, blind cane, reed and ash splints, Shaker tapes, slab rattan, Danish cord, and fiber rush services.

Rodney can also give your chairs, rockers, and couches a bit of TLC with light chair repair and re-gluing in the new and fully equipped workshop.

Reasonable rates and free estimates are provided through submitted photos with adjustments made after actual examination if necessary.

Call or text today to schedule an appointment to get your pieces back in tip-top shape so you can enjoy your furniture again!

(7/10-TC)

CITIZEN CANE CHAIR RESTORATION

Cathryn Peters — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 18:13:00 +0000

Citizen Cane Chair Restoration is a full service furniture restoration shop providing heirloom quality furniture restoration services including chair caning, rushing, wicker/rattan work, furniture refinishing and repair work including upholstery services.

We offer free inspections and quotes at our Westminster shop by appointment. We also operate out of our Kern River shop biweekly.

We are Frwy close to all southern California counties.

We service all areas by receiving shipped items. Removable seats for instance can easily by mailed to us.

Feel free to email us pictures and/or questions about your project to: 4citizencane@gmail.com

We look forward to meeting you and your furniture!

Thank you for your opportunity!

(TC-MO-12/19/23)

SCHULER REED FURNITURE

Cathryn Peters — Sun, 05 Feb 2023 03:46:00 +0000

Schuler Reed Furniture, owned by Morgan Schuler, is dedicated to quality repairs on cane furniture. Serving both Indiana and Ohio since we are located just ten miles from Brookville, IN, between Cincinnati, OH, and Indianapolis, IN.

My idea to start caning came from my grandparents, who had a shop in Cincinnati called Lewis Reed Furniture, and I want to continue that in my own way the best I can.

Self-taught with the help of many people from around the world, I intend to grow my business as large as I can in the coming years.

I specialize in:

hand cane
pressed cane
fiber rush
flat reed
binder cane
light wickerwork

I also do small repairs and if I have not done a particular type of repair before, I will typically try to figure it out so I can perfect it.

Color-matching wood repairs on chairs is also a service I can provide, and I am able to get those pretty close but have not taken on any large refinishing jobs. At this time, I am not looking to tackle that challenge.

Before reweaving the seat, I always round the edges of the opening and the cane holes to prevent premature failure in the future. I then tighten any loose joints that I am able to, and then after the seat repair I oil the wood to bring it back to life. This is all included in one estimate to make things simple.

The easiest method of getting an estimate is to send pictures through text message to the phone number listed. That estimate is typically very accurate, but in-person estimates may differ a little depending on damage unseen in photos.

If needed, I also offer a fee-based pick-up and delivery service, within a reasonable distance from my shop. See the website for further details and the gallery of furniture I’ve restored.

Thank you, and I look forward to bringing a new life to your cane furniture.

Corporate Member of The SeatWeavers’ Guild, Inc.®

(8/13/26 OH-TC) (2/3/24 IN)

ISLAND MAIDE

Cathryn Peters — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 01:52:00 +0000

Ellen Harford, owner of Island Maide, learned her craft at an adult education class.

Since taking that first class, which sparked her entrepreneurial spirit, Ellen has been providing chair seating in a variety of weaving techniques and materials for 30+ years.

Island Maide creates handcrafted seating to replace worn or broken chair seating. Services include traditional hand caning, pressed cane, half-round oval seatweaving and rush, extending the life of memorable family heirlooms.

Located on an island in Casco Bay in Maine, Ellen has made it her mission to help bring business and the arts to the island community.

She’s doing her part by adding chair caning and other types of seat weaving repair services.

Fee-based pick-up and delivery services within 50 miles of Portland, Maine are also available.

(10/05/MO-TC)

HSJ's SEATWEAVING

Cathryn Peters — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 22:23:00 +0000

Harry Johnston, owner of HSJ’s SeatWeaving has been serving the greater Canton, Ohio area since 2009.

Services that HSJ’s SeatWeaving provides are the following designs and/or patterns:

Seven step hole to hole cane in traditional hexagon, diamond and other patterns
Chair backs in snowflake and spider-web designs
Pressed cane
Paper fibre rush
Wide binding cane in herringbone and other patterns
Danish cord
Basket weave for chair seats

We provide the services of caning and seat weaving and also have the ability to stain and repair chairs if needed.

Contact today to discuss your project and set your appointment to get TLC for your cherished piece.

We do quality caning at reasonable prices!

(8/05/TC)

H P BASKETRY & CANING LLC

Cathryn Peters — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 16:07:00 +0000

For 30+ years, Karen Scott, owner of H P Basketry and Caning LLC located in Duncan, OK has woven baskets and provided chair caning services in the area and well beyond.

This quality business includes all types of chair seat weaving; hand caning and pressed cane webbing, Shaker tape and rattan in many patterns.

Wicker repair, basket repair, and minor structural repairs are also included, as is customer advice about the best stains and finishes to use on their heirlooms.

(6/23)

SILVER RIVER CENTER for CHAIR CANING

Cathryn Peters — Sat, 07 May 2022 01:39:00 +0000

Silver River Center for Chair Caning is operated by two chair nerds on a mission to cultivate and inspire a reverence for a worldwide chair caning legacy.

Our vision is to promote an enthusiasm for the craft through education, published work, restoration, and travel.

We are excited to announce the arrival of our new instructional book, The Woven Chair, published by Blue Hills Press in 2025! Purchase from us directly, or other small businesses like HH Perkins, The Country Seat, Peerless Rattan, or the usual online outlets.

Watch our @SilverRiverChairs YouTube channel for virtual tours, weaving guides, and lots of nerdy goodness.

We are excited to join Craft in America’s initiative Handwork 2026 – Celebrating 250 years of American Craft. Our first event will be an Open House on January 17, 2026, this will include hands-on weaving, and a book signing! Additionally, we added some new classes to encourage and grow our chair nerd community. NEW Community Classes will happen once a month from March-September on a Saturday and will include an oak footstool and all materials and tools to weave the project. Cost is $50-$150 per student.

After decades of attempting to dispel the myth that chair caning is a dying art, in 2024, we saw how quickly it can get swept away. The catastrophic flooding in the Appalachian mountains was devastating to our community, rich in craft. We are so grateful to the chair nerd community for reaching out and donating to our rebuilding efforts. We want to honor your generosity and kindness in our new location on Main St., Weaverville, NC, just 10 minutes North of Asheville.

Silver River is an official education center of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. We teach small classes at our shop as well as offsite at venues like John C Campbell Folk School (2-week mentorship August 2026) & Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts (Nov 2026).

Memberships include The SeatWeavers’ Guild, The Furniture Society, The American Craft Council, The River Arts District Association, and we are a heritage member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild (Brandy is a 4th Generation Chair Weaver). We are proud to honor a family tradition, the craft, and all chair nerds (past, present, and future) with Silver River Center for Chair Caning.

Silver River is open Mon-Fri 10-5 by appointment

MUSEUM UPDATE: One year after Hurricane Helene forced us to move locations, we have finally set up the museum! Enjoy our collection of corn shuck chairs, a green woodworking exhibit, #canespotting displays, historic WNC chairs, woven chair ephemera, mid-century and Scandinavian displays, and our new acquisition, a woven bench from the NYC Subway System! It feels great to have the chairs on display for the education of the masses.
Enjoy our ever-expanding reference library and educate yourself on ancient and global traditions.
We launched over 30 small chair weaving businesses during our 15 years in the River Arts District. We are excited to continue training and advising aspiring weavers in our new location.
Sales of chair nerd t-shirts, stickers, postcards, and bookmarks support the proliferation of chair nerd culture
Hire us to speak and demonstrate at museums, craft shows, schools, woodworkers’ associations, etc. A Brief History of Chair Caning is a slideshow timeline that covers 5,000 years and spans the globe. It is rich in historical images, astonishing displays of weaving materials, and contemporary makers with woven seating.
We love hosting field trips and group classes/demos/tours

Note: Our restoration waitlist is often at least 6 months out. Restoration inquiries should be emailed to SilverRiverChairs@gmail.com and should include photos of the chair attached to the email.

Corporate & Board Member of The SeatWeavers’ Guild, Inc.®

(4/1/NCHG)

THE CHAIR SEAT WEAVER

Cathryn Peters — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 23:51:00 +0000

Stephen Ambrose -“The Chair Seat Weaver” is a 4th generation professional chair seat weaver. After a recent move in early 2021 from York, Pennsylvania, where he lived and worked for many years, Stephen is now providing chair seat weaving services in Hanover, PA.

Stephen uses natural materials in the hand-weaving techniques of hole-to-hole cane or lace caning, press-in cane fabric or spine caning, and also does handwoven splint seats.

Stephen takes on minor furniture repair too, so if your pieces need some TLC in that area be sure to inquire about those services.

“Please call or email and I’ll get back to you to schedule your appointment and give directions to my shop. Looking forward to meeting you!” – Stephen Ambrose, The Chair Seat Weaver.

To put a face with the name, check out this Youtube video! Stephen’s chair caning talents were featured on the local TV station where he used to work as a broadcasting engineer before retiring!

Steve Ambrose-Retired Broadcasting Engineer now Chair Caner

A few years ago, ABC27, a local broadcast station in Pennsylvania, did a spot on Steve on their newscast, too.

Steve Ambrose, Pennsylvania Seat Weaver on ABC Channel 27

(10/22/TC)

PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERERS' ASSOC. OF MN

Cathryn Peters — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 20:48:00 +0000

The Professional Upholsterers’ Association of Minnesota (PUAM) is an organization of individuals and firms, joined together to advance, support, and promote the field of Upholstery in Minnesota.

We meet monthly to share and learn techniques that will help us better serve our clients. Our website lists our members so clients can find a business in their area. Also, each member’s listing focuses on their specialty to help prospective clients find an upholstery shop that fits their project.

Join our organization today so you can take advantage of these benefits that we provide for our members:

PUAM Newsletter with free classified Ads
Listing on the PUAM website
Networking Opportunities
Educational Presentations
Resource List of Services
Swap and Sell Meets
Group Marketing Discounts
Group Buys
Trade Show Participation

THE CROOKED RIM CHAIR CANING

Cathryn Peters — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 16:55:00 +0000

The Crooked Rim Chair Caning & Seat Weaving, located in Massillon, Ohio, is a home-based business owned and operated by the husband and wife team, Jeff and Robbin Huss.

Robbin has been weaving baskets and chair seats for over 30 years and Jeff has been weaving for over 15 years.

The Crooked Rim offers traditional 7-step hand cane, fancy cane patterns, pressed cane, woven patterns, natural and fiber rush, seagrass, splint, reed, and Shaker tape.

Pictures of your project can be sent via text or email for a rough estimate. A final quote will then be given upon physical inspection of the chair.

If you want to learn to cane your own chair seats, we also teach FREE classes in Cuyahoga Falls at the Quirk Cultural Center alongside Master Caner Janet Noall.

Members of The SeatWeavers’ Guild Inc.® (TSWG)

(11/4/TC)

LOST ARTS CHAIR CANING

Cathryn Peters — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 21:48:00 +0000

Lost Arts Chair Caning, located in Lisbon, New Hampshire, performs expert restoration of chair seats: hand caning in standard and fancy patterns, pressed web caning, porch rockers, binder cane, pierced fiberboard chair seats, embossed leather seats, splint weaving in a variety of patterns, hickory bark seats, Shaker tape, and wicker repair.

A price estimate will be given after physical evaluation. Structural repairs are available if needed, and will be included in the estimate of work to be done. We provide free pickup and delivery in a 10-mile radius.

After completion of repairs, all chairs are given a courtesy cleaning, waxing and minor joint tightening before returning to the happy client.

(4/1/23)

ANGIE REID CHAIR CANING & REFINISHING

Cathryn Peters — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 01:19:00 +0000

Angie Reid’s Furniture Refinishing and Caning preserves memories and brings old furniture new life! The business located on the border of Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, serves the Maritime provinces in both Canada and Maine.

I started my business after stripping and refinishing the stairs in my Victorian Era home. Shortly after launching my refinishing business, a neighbor brought me a cane chair in need of a new seat.

While learning hole-to-hole caning I discovered a talent and passion for seat weaving. I am proficient in hole-to-hole caning, sheet cane, French hand cane, Danish cord, rush and reed weaving.

In terms of refinishing, I restore heirlooms and breath new life into pieces with paint and/or stain. I specialize in custom colour staining and also wicker repair.

(2/1/23)

SEATS ON THE BEACH

Cathryn Peters — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 20:53:00 +0000

Welcome to Seats on the Beach. We are a small family-owned chair caning and seat weaving business, providing chair caning and other seat weaving services primarily in Charleston, South Carolina, and including the Midlands and Lowcountry of SC.

We work with most weaving media, rattan strand hand caning, press cane mesh, fibre rush, pre-twisted natural rush (which is a good substitute for cattail rush and bulrush), Danish cord, Kevlar cord, and twisted seagrass.

We provide basic chair repair services, such as replacing broken rails and rungs and tightening loose joints.

We also provide minor touch-up staining and refinishing, but we are not skilled in full refinishing.

We do not do upholstery and wicker, but will occasionally rewrap wicker joints on a chair-by-chair basis.

Call, text, or email today to schedule an appointment and discuss your chair seat weaving needs! Please include several pictures of your chairs.

We offer pick and drop-off service by arrangement or will meet the client at a convenient location.

We are a proud Cottage level member of The SeatWeavers’ Guild, Inc.®

(11/26/TC)

THIS OLD SEAT CHAIR CANING

Guest — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 16:40:00 +0000

If you are looking to refurbish that old chair and seat, look no further than This Old Seat Chair Caning. Restoring memories is our specialty!

Our services include traditional hand-cane and pressed cane; fibre and pre-twisted rush, hickory bark, ash and Shaker tape weaving. We also re-glue/repair chairs.

This Old Seat Chair Caning service is conveniently located in Southern York County in Pennsylvania. We are close to Baltimore, Lancaster, Harrisburg and Gettysburg. We have over 40 years of experience in chair caning and seat weaving.

For an estimate, please email a picture of the seat and dimensions.

Cottage Member of The SeatWeavers’ Guild Inc.®

(TC 8/10/25)

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