ARGENTIUM SILVER TASSEL EARRINGS with Elizabeth Hunt – Friday 1st November 2024 – 15.00pm

60-minute workshop – cost £31.00

Participants will leave with a unique pair of tassel earrings ideal for the party season! They will learn to fuse, make silver tassels and join components – these earrings can also be made using beads so are a great piece to learn.

Minimum tools will be used to create these one-off designs, but all will achieve a professional finish.

Argentium is fun and fast to work with, making it a wonderful silver to introduce students to jewellery making.

Advisory Note:

All ages over 14 years with normal eyesight and dexterity (14 to 16 years with adult supervision only).

Meet the Tutor

Elizabeth Hunt

Elizabeth is a talented jewellery designer who specialises in creating unique pieces using Argentium silver. She is also a skilled tutor who has demonstrated her techniques on Jewellery TV and many live events. Her work is known for it’s high quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Elizabeth’s designs are both stylish and timeless, making them a popular choice among jewellery enthusiasts.

VIP: LAYERED PAPERCUT BAUBLE with Abie Arnold, Hive of Craftivity – Friday 1st November & Sunday 3rd November 2024

Workshop times: 13.00, 14.00 and 15.00

45-minute workshop

Abie from Hive of Craftivity will teach you how to make an eye-catching papercut layered Christmas decoration. You will explore papercutting in a totally new and exciting way using the revolutionary Gyro-Cut® Pro tool to create a 3D hanging decoration.

Abie says, “Really great results and beautiful designs can be achieved with the Gyro-Cut®, and I’ll share all my hints and tips with you too!”

Advisory note:

This workshop is suitable for adults and sensible children over 16 years.

NOTE: Workshop places are on a first-come-first served basis.

Meet the Tutor

Abie Arnold

Abie is the owner of Hive of Craftivity. After 20 years successfully teaching in Primary Schools, Abie’s business now allows her to follow her lifelong passion of crafting. Abie simply adores crafting and wants to help others discover this love too. Crafting is good for you, on so many levels!

Abie teaches a range of sociable craft workshops, Masterclasses, family craft sessions, events and parties across the West Midlands. Her promise is that once you try one of her workshops, you’ll be equipped with all the skills to practice and experiment at home.

VIP: CARTONNAGE CHRISTMAS DECORATION with Mark Vardy, Pinflair/Silvar Design – Friday 1st November & Sunday 3rd November 2024

Workshop times: 10.00, 11.00 and 12.00

45-minute workshop

Discover the basics of cartonnage and make this fabulous Christmas decoration. Mark from Pinflair/Silvar Design will guide you through this simple no-sew process.

Advisory note:

No experience is necessary. Over 16’s only.

NOTE: Workshop places are on a first-come-first served basis.

Meet the Tutor

Mark Vardy Pinflair/Silvar Design

Mark has a passion for jewellery making. He has a level 3 NCFE certificate in craft and is a qualified adult education teacher. Mark founded Silvar Design in 2004, teaching a vast array of techniques, and he covers everything from costume jewellery design, macramé and kumihimo braiding through to stringing techniques, enamelling on copper and silver jewellery. More recently Silvar Design has partnered with Pinflair Creative Crafts

BLOCK PRINTED CHRISTMAS CRACKERS AND CARDS with Anna Weatherley-Hastings, The Indian Block Print Co. – Friday 31st October 2024 12.00pm

90-minute workshop – cost £25.00

Join Anna from The Indian Block Print Co. and block print your very own Christmas Cards and Christmas Crackers. You will leave with a stack of tags and cards and a set of Christmas Crackers all assembled with a hat, joke and sweet treat.

Advisory Note:

This workshop is suitable for adults and children over 12 years, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet the Tutor

Anna Weatherley-Hastings

Anna has been part of The Indian Block Print Co. from the beginning. With over 10 years experience running block printing workshops she will share her in depth knowledge and tips with all things Block Printing.

GEL PLATE PRINTING with Hannah Blowes – Submerge Art – Friday 1st November 2024 14.00pm

90-minute workshop – cost £30.00

Explore a variety of Gel Plate Printing techniques. Experiment with layering colour and texture using plants, stamps, stencils and household items onto paper and fabric.

Gel Plate printing is simple and fun without the need for a printing press or for any carving or drawing skills.

The reward is immediate and each print is truly unique.

By the end of the workshop, participants should feel confident enough to use and experiment with the gel plate printmaking techniques in their own home.

Advisory Note:

This workshop is suitable for children over the age of 12 with parental supervision.

Meet the Tutor

Hannah Blowes

Hannah Blowes creates handmade prints from her workshop near Bude in Cornwall.

Having trained as a Theatre/Film Designer, Hannah then spent 15 years teaching Art & Design in secondary schools where it was magical to inspire students with a love of creativity and skill based learning.

Always drawn to the ocean, Hannah has been very fortunate to scuba dive in some amazing parts of the world and her artwork is inspired by her interactions with sea life. Hannah hopes to pass on her love of all things aquatic to you, as she really enjoys teaching printmaking techniques and runs workshops throughout the year.

CREATIVE THERMOFAX PRINTING with Alison Hulme, Eau Brink Studio – Friday 1st November 2024 10:00am

90-minute workshop – cost £25.00

Discover the captivating world of screen printing with Thermofax Screens in an immersive workshop led by the talented Alison Hulme.

Delve into the intricacies of this versatile technique as Alison expertly guides you through each step, from selecting the perfect pre-dyed fabric to bringing your designs to life through the magic of screen printing.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for all abilities over the age of 16.

Meet the Tutor

Alison Hulme

Alison Hulme, a talented textile artist hailing from Hampshire, UK, has made her mark in the world of stitched textiles. With a Foundation Degree in Stitched Textiles completed in 2013, Alison’s artistic journey has been filled with exhibitions, shows, and inspiring workshops.

With a passion for textiles that knows no bounds, Alison imparts her expertise through workshops, inspiring the next generation of textile artists. Alison’s journey highlights her talent, passion, and dedication to the craft.

MAKE YOUR OWN CERAMIC PENGUIN with Ros Ingram – Friday 1st November 2024 09.45am

2 hour workshop – cost £36.00

A unique opportunity to create a sculpted penguin using professional clays

All materials included, but off-site firing and return P&P available for a small extra cost, payable on the day.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for all ages and beginners, over the age of 16 only.

Meet the Tutor

Ros Ingram

Born in Stratford upon Avon, Ros Ingram trained in ceramics and print at Wolverhampton University. Ros runs ceramic workshops on a regular basis in Warwickshire. She has exhibited worldwide, currently showing at a number of galleries in the Cotswolds, Cornwall, and Germany. As well as undertaking commissions, Ros also works as a visiting artist in residence creating permanent ceramic installations and recycled art projects. One of her projects working with young children was on display at the National Gallery, London. Recently The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust commissioned Ros to create five unique ceramic murals of each iconic property for permanent display in her hometown.

MINI WILLOW CHRISTMAS TREES with Rachel Harwood – Friday 1st November 2024 12.15pm

2 hour workshop – cost £36.00

Join Rachel to make some sweet mini Christmas Trees. Using different colours of British willow you will learn how to create these lovely trees and mount them in wooden blocks.

They make a fantastic natural decoration or you can use them to decorate a tree or Christmas gift with and you can also decorate them with mini baubles and lights. We will aim to make three trees in the workshop.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for beginners and adults over 16 years

Meet the Tutor

Rachel Harwood

Rachel has been working with willow for over 10 years now and teaches many workshops mainly on decorative sculpture work for the home and garden. Rachel is a member of the Basket Makers Association. Her work is heavily influenced by nature and the outdoors. Willow is a fantastic material that lends itself to a variety of uses and its sustainability credentials make it perfect for today’s climate.

MIXED MEDIA SHROOM PINCUSHION with Alex Hellawell – Friday 1st November 2024 14.45pm

2-hour workshop – cost £36.00

Add a little woodland magic to your sewing table with this beautiful versatile pincushion that also has a holder for your small thread scissors too.

In this class you will be using mixed media to:

Create a Shroom stem with a tin foil armature, wrapped in Quick Cure Clay (QCC)
- Sew and stuff your pincushion head
- Paint your stem using acrylics
- Attach Shroom base to wooden slice using a hot glue gun
- Attach pincushion head
- Use tacky glue to attach moss to Shroom base.

Advisory Note:

Not suitable for children under 12 years of age due to the heat of the clay and hot glue. Adult supervision is required. Open to ALL abilities

Meet the Tutor

Alex Hellawell

Alex is a mixed media clay artist who creates whimsical, colourful, dark imaginative sculptures. She uses clay, paint, paper and found objects to craft sculptures and wall pieces; these can be playful, quirky and charming or dark and brooding.

[add Alex’s H&S image]

DRESSMAKING – SIZING AND PATTERN ALTERATIONS with Helen Rhiannon – Friday 1st November 2024 15.00pm

Based on Helen’s award winning book: Dressmaking. The Easy Guide, you will learn how to measure yourself accurately and how to choose the right sizes to work with.

Helen will then demonstrate how to trace off a pattern accurately before demonstrating how to carry out simple pattern alterations to get a perfect fit. This workshop is for anyone who wants to learn how to draft dress and top patterns for themselves, as well as alter commercial patterns.

Advisory Note:

This workshop is for anyone who wants to learn how to draft dress and top patterns for themselves, as well as alter commercial patterns.

Meet the Tutor

Helen Rhiannon

Helen Rhiannon is a successful Bridalwear designer, bestselling author, and sewing expert. Helen is best known for her bestselling book, ‘Dressmaking The Easy Guide’, which teaches the reader to pattern cut clothes that fit and flatter each unique person. The book has become a dressmaking bible for many. As well as dressmaking courses, an online course will be launched soon.