Maker In Action: Meet Upholsterer & Basic Member Karina Ripper

December 13, 2011

Karina Ripper came to ADX this past summer as an NYC transplant. She’d been a member at a similar facility called Third Ward and was seeking a similar shared workspace environment where she could tackle her furniture restoration and upholstery projects. We were also lucky to have her participate in a recent photo shoot with Nicolle Clemetson featuring real-life lady makers in the shop. We can’t wait to see what’s next on her plate — each time Karina enters our warehouse it’s always with a fabulous piece she takes from dingy to high-design!

Name: Karina Ripper
Occupation: Upholstery Designer
Website: libraryandco.com

What’s your expertise and how many years of experience are under your belt?
I’ve been upholstering for a little under two years but I’ve always been interested in how things are made.

What led to your passion for upholstery work? Have you always been a maker in some fashion?
Honestly, my passion for upholstery all came out of a bad craigslist purchase. I found this amazing couch for super cheap but the fabric was in horrible condition. So I started researching how to upholster and eventually I was getting my hands dirty; I was up to my nose in couch guts. But it all turned out for the best, I immediately loved the process. I used to work as an associate producer for a TV series on National Geographic Wild called The Invaders. The job was full of adventures and obstacles but all the while I was longing for doing work with my hands.

What led you to ADX and why are you involved there?
Working out of an apartment is not ideal for upholstery; staple guns/air compressors are super noisy. So when I saw an ADX ad in the paper I thought to check the place out. At that time, I was looking for a space to do some small upholstery projects and meet fellow makers and creators.

Tell us about some of your favorite past projects.
The piece that I have enjoyed creating the most was probably my most recent set of mid-century chairs. I collaborated with my fiancé on designing a fabric for the pieces. We essentially took a photograph and repurposed it as fabric on the chairs. I like the idea of mixing photography and furniture designs.

What, exactly, do you do at Beam & Anchor?
I currently apprentice under Leland Duck at Revive Upholstery & Design. The work space is located within the top floor of the Beam & Anchor building. It’s the most amazing space to learn about my craft because it is also home to carpenters, artists, and a leather wielder. Leland is an amazing mentor and craftsman. He puts a lot of thought and care into every client’s piece; working with them to make something unique and well crafted. I actually found out about Revive Upholstery & Design at ADX.

Do you have any specific projects in the works?
I have a French slipper chair that I want to tackle next and then I have been watching craigslist posts for a vintage settee. I like to rescue old pieces and give them a new life.

What significance, if any, does collaboration have in your creative process?
Not so much right now. I’m liking upholstery and its design as a personal and generally individual process. It takes a lot of time to restore a piece, so it’s important to pick and choose wisely though. I definitely have some interesting ideas on how to collaborate on projects in the future and look forward to working on those. Stay tuned.

What’s your dream project you’d fabricate/design/build if you had the skills and materials at your fingertips?
I recently saw a gorgeous airstream trailer outside of the Portland Bazaar and it really made me want to reupholster and own one. That would be my dream project.

Check out Karina online or drop by ADX to see her at work on her latest project on one of our BYO-Tool Workbenches.