Future Workshops

Working directly from a gorgeous seasonal flower, Karen Green, botanical artist, will guide you through observational drawing, pen work and watercolour techniques to create a finished illustration that reflects a botanical understanding of your subject and captures the beauty of the plant. Karen will ease you into the workshop with some playful drawing exercises. Leading on from this, through a little bit of flower botany exploration, she will guide and support you to create a detailed observational drawing, using pen work to show shadow through the ‘stippling’ technique. With one to one support and class demonstrations, you will experiment with watercolour techniques and accurate colour mixing to paint your chosen flower. During the session you will familiarize yourself with the materials and tools needed for botanical art and the techniques used, slowly building up layers of paint to create luminosity and depth. All Materials will be provided. All abilities welcome. About Karen: Karen works as a Botanical Artist, painting flowers and fruits and vegetables. She paints with intricate detail, retaining the technical accuracy of the plant but placing emphasis on the aesthetics and artistry. She explores themes of femininity, loss and healing through the botany and life cycle of plants; flower language and their use in medicine, folk lore and religion. After receiving a First- Class honours degree at The Arts Institute in Bournemouth, Karen went on to work as a Primary School teacher before resigning in 2011 to focus on her art career. She holds solo and shared exhibitions regularly and has been teaching botanical art workshops for over seven years. www.karengreenart.com fb/karengreenart insta/karengreenart

Enjoy a relaxed and fun printing workshop! Fabric designer Lizzie Mabley will provide everything you need to print a tea towel. Using Lizzie’s large collection of hand carved lino blocks and eco friendly printing inks you will experiment with pattern, colour and repeats to design your tea towel. This is a lovely taster session which will hopefully inspire you to continue printing! Please bring an apron as the ink we use will stain. About Lizzie I am drawn to pattern, colour and repetition. This is conveyed in my textile designs. I draw inspiration from nature, my garden and love of the coast.I always begin my designs using lino block prints which I then transfer to silk screens for a cleaner, more solid print that still tells the story of its handmade origin. More recently I have been exploring digital print and now selected designs are available by the metre, printed digitally to a high standard using eco-friendly processes.Block prints are so popular at the moment, many designers are using traditional methods and techniques and embracing the craftmanship behind them.I hope my designs make you smile, they are up-lifting, fresh and welcoming, I like to surround myself with colour and joy! I make lampshades, cushions, napkins and tea towels out of my printed fabrics, often using linens which produce a beautiful texture. You might have seen me recently on BBCs Countryfile! It was lovely to show presenter Joe Crowley around my studio and show him how to make a lino print. The show was based around Snowdrops, so we printed a snowdrop tote bag! The episode is available on iplayer.

In this workshop participants will understand that Slow stitch has nothing to do with the speed at which they sew! It is influenced by the international slow movement which aims for a more intentional approach to activities connecting with the materials and processes to add meaning and enjoyment to the activity. Slow stitch embraces mindfulness and can be therapeutic in our busy lives with the bonus of creating art works that can be put to practical use as well as being both meaningful and joyous. The workshop will include learning the principles of slow stitching to produce stitched pieces using traditional embroidery techniques in an unconventional way. The emphasis will be on using natural fabrics some of which may have otherwise have been discarded; this is in line with the slow stitch ethos of recycle and reuse where possible. During the session, you will each stitch pieces which will give you the basis to continue and develop the practice in the future. You can use a range of stitches but even if you can only do running stitch you can still produce some delightful pieces that may have a personal meaning. Materials will be provided but if there is a special scrap of cloth, lace, a button or anything else you would like captured in a stitched piece then it can be included.  You will leave the workshop with a delightful piece of stitching that can stand alone as a framed work or be used as a front for a card, a bookmark or to decorate a bag to name a few options. Slow stitching will bring you the reward of producing personal, meaningful pieces and offer an antidote to the speed at which we now have to live  in this technical and digital age. Bio: Liz has been a stitcher all her life and has enjoyed sewing in all its many forms. Liz graduated in 1978 with a degree in Art and Art History; her final degree show of textile sculptures and wall hangings confirmed her passion for using fabrics of all kinds in a creative way. After retiring from a career in business, Liz now concentrates on her textile art and follows the ‘Slow Stitch’ principles in her creative practice. Liz’s work makes use of natural fabrics and is inspired by patterns seen in the landscape, natural forms, gardens and special locations. Her work is largely abstract and is continuously developing but never loses sight of the repair, reuse and recycle philosophy that accompanies slow stitching.

This is an easy workshop suitable for guests with no sewing skills. A two hour session sitting around a table sewing together. You will create your very own scrunchy completely made by hand. All materials supplied. £30 per person with a minimum of 8 guests. Please contact anne@handmadein.uk for more information and to book.

Create a beautiful piece of bespoke photographic jewellery with a stamped tag on an 18" chain. All in sterling silver and made by you. More tags can be added at additional cost during the session. Everything will be provided all you need is a digital photo and you may a pair of magnifier glasses for closeup work!

Enjoy some creative fun at this candle painting workshop lead by Sophie from starlingpots ceramics. This immersive workshop will start with a design demo exploring different colours and decoration styles. Sophie will then guide you through decorating your own bespoke set of unique candles to take home. Let your creativity shine and discover the joy of making something truly beautiful at this fun and friendly workshop. Gentle tuition and all materials provided. Suitable for all abilities. This is a 2 hour workshop and you will be able to take your candles away with you on the day.