Preserving traditional decorative arts and crafts for over 100 years.
ATTENTION
Current and Prospective Upholstery Students
Looking for a project piece? We have pieces available at HCAC ready to be transformed
Interested in one of the available project pieces? Contact admin@holyokecac.org to inquire. We appreciate any donation you would like to make for an item. A few pieces will have a price on them. CASH ONLY!
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Storage space is limited, therefore, if you are not currently enrolled in a class, you will need to pick up your piece and bring home until your next class session.
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We plan to update this new gallery of available project pieces regularly. Continue to check back often for new additions.
HCAC students - have a project piece you would like to sell via this gallery please contact akhgolden@gmail.com to learn more.
Meet Our Instructors
Gary Clarke
Master Upholsterer
Gary completed his apprenticeship in upholstery at Dove & Distaff in Rhode Island and has been honing his craft for over40 years! He served as the Assistant Vocational Manager at Pioneer Upholstery (teaching upholstery to mentally challenged adults), which was a program of Center for Human Development (CHD) for close to 30 years. This program specialized in building institutional furniture for colleges and businesses. Gary is proficient in custom upholstery, window treatments, drapes and specialty sewing and teaches these skills as well. Gary has been with HCAC for 21 years. Pictured with Gary is, Stanley, the unofficial mascot of HCAC.
Jim Barrett
Woodcarving Instructor
Jim Barrett spent most of his teaching career as a woodcarving teacher eventually becoming an industrial arts teacher. He has done woodcarving for fun and for profit for over 30 years. He's experienced in relief carving, lettering (sign carving), caricatures and carving in the round. Jim graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in History and he spent his beginning career teaching that subject. Now retired, Jim is able to continue with his love of the art full time.
Janet Lyon
Sewing Basics, Soft Furnishings for the Home, Upholstery Basics Instructor
Janet is a gifted Interior Designer with a degree from Bay Path University. She owned her own interior design business in East Longmeadow for over 30 years, specializing in upholstery and draperies. Click the icon below to learn more about Janet's business.
Maria Daigle
Professional Knitter and Instructor
Maria has been knitting for a little over 20 years. One summer afternoon when I was 14, my mother decided to teach my sister and I how to knit for just something to do to pass the day. It was in that moment that I fell in love with the craft and have been knitting ever since. For the past decade, I have immersed myself into learning all I could about knitting. In that time, I have mastered colorwork, knitted cables, various stitch patterns, and so much more. I finally decided to try knitwear design and I have a few patterns in the marketplace for sale. Sharing my passion for knitting is my greatest joy and teaching at HCAC has allowed me to share that joy with others.
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Follow Maria and Mia Knit This on social.
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Annamarie Golden
Upholstery Basics Instructor
Annamarie discovered her love for upholstery during the pandemic. Annamarie is a wife and mother with a full-time corporate job. Doing upholstery for family, friends, and referred clients met her need for a hands-on creative outlet. Being invited to teach HCAC students upholstery basics has become Annamarie's passion project. She truly enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills with others who are eager to learn. Her classes are designed to be a fun, inclusive, and engaging way to learn a new skill that can be both practical and rewarding. Annamarie believes that everyone has the potential to be a great upholstery artist, and she is honored to be able to guide her students along that path.
