Get Creative

A wonderful free-motion machine embroidery workshop with textile artist Holly Capstick. Learn how to use a combination of paint and stitch to create mini artworks of places. Add a simple paint layer to fabric (no painting experience required) and add layers of free-motion machine embroidery.

You will be guided through the entire process, from choosing an image, preparing the image, transferring to fabric, painting, setting up and using a machine and stitching. Beginners welcome! 

Template options will be provided or you can bring your own images of a place (7 x 7-inch max). 

All materials and equipment are provided, including sewing machines. 

If a House Could Speak

The house in question is Baysgarth House in Barton. A family home for nearly 300 years, the house was gifted to Barton upon Humber Urban District Council as a memorial to the last private owners, the Taylor family.

During the Second World War it was used as a base for Air Raid Precaution volunteers and afterwards it served various purposes before becoming a local history museum which closed in 2019. Subsequently, The Ropewalk obtained the lease and instigated an ambitious renovation programme. 

This creative writing workshop will take a bold approach to the history of Baysgarth, exploring what stories might be told about the people who lived and worked there and perhaps even imagining what the building itself or one of its rooms might have to say! Participants will be able to handle artefacts from the house and view letters and photographs. An added bonus is that the workshop will be taking place in the Cottage at Baysgarth House with the Stable Café just a few steps away. During the workshop, which runs from 10.30-3.30, a series of writing prompts and exercises will encourage participants to write in whatever form they choose: poetry, fiction or script. This session is for anyone -experienced writer or absolute beginner- who’s interested in exploring a creative approach to a place of local historical interest.

This session is for anyone: experienced writer or absolute beginner.

Book two Creative Writing workshops for £65; Friends and Patrons £30, please book at the Craft Gallery

Learn the traditional bookbinding techniques of folding, sewing, pasting, creating a case and finally casing in to create your own bespoke hardback A5 notebook.  

You will choose from a range of beautiful endpapers and book coverings. 

There is no prior experience needed. 

All materials and tools will be provided.  

Create a striking, full size stag’s head in animal-friendly willow for your wall.  These also look great with lights.  

This course is suitable for beginners.

Please remember to wear full closed toe shoes. 

Explore the mindful practice of slow stitch, allowing the textures of the fabrics and rhythm of stitching to guide you to express your creativity.  Using Joelle’s collection of reclaimed fabrics which are dyed and eco printed using plants from her garden and kitchen waste. 

Learn to sew a log cabin patchwork and embellish it with simple stitches to create textual effects.  You will first practice the techniques on a sample coaster, before choosing materials and threads to make a textile wall hanging or mat measuring 15cm x 20cm wide.

All materials are included.

Learn various wire forming techniques and create a wonderful Christmas wreath designed to be treasured and brought out every year.

In the morning you will make the wreath structure decorated with pine, holly and mistletoe sprigs and berries. Time is tight, so you’ll be given your own pack of wires, so if needs be you can add to your wreath at leisure at home. 

In the afternoon you will make the wire robin and do any last-minute finishing to the wreath.

The workshop is a good way to learn basic wirework skills and Anna will guide you step by step through the making process. You’ll get a handout to remind you of how to do the basics as well as suggestions for suppliers so you can make more at home; you could make a wreath or a simplified version.

Please note, this is an intensive workshop and wire work can be repetitive and a strain on the hands if you’re not used to it, so please bare this in mind if you have any issues with hand strength. (We do not recommend this workshop if you have arthritis in your hands/wrists, carpal tunnel or similar).

The workshop is delivered by Anna Roebuck from The Making House in Burton on Trent; Anna has been delivering specialist workshops for over 20 years and will support you in creating your own amazing piece of artwork in a relaxed setting.

All materials are included.

Experiment with the shapes and colours of the festive season to create your own unique glass artworks using a variety of coloured glasses, wire and solder. This workshop teaches all the basic techniques needed to achieve beautiful and original finished works, including copper foiling, soldering and finishing.

How creative are you? In all probability, much more so than you thought! 

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun. So said writer Lou Cook and this workshop will cover all of the above, especially the having fun bit. 

Triggers and exercises will be used to help stimulate the imagination and loosen up the mind: we will look at barriers to creative thinking and how to overcome writer’s block. 

Suitable for beginners and all levels of experience.

Creativity is contagious. Pass it on. Albert Einstein

Book two Creative Writing workshops for £65; Friends and Patrons £30, please book at the Craft Gallery