Get Creative

Learn to make this very useful round basket with a handle, perfect for eggs or fruit. Using traditional techniques and a variety of willows this little basket is a great introduction to further willow work

Do you have an old stool, chair or ottoman that needs some new life breathing into it? Bring it to Lesley Leonard’s Upholstery Weekend workshop. Here you will learn how to upholster an item of your choice. Lesley will provide all the equipment for the weekend all you will need to bring is the finishing fabric.

Using a sea-shell as the base of your creative work, you will add texture and detail through stitch, beading, wire and other ephemera to emphasis the colours and textures commonly found on sea-shells and in the shoreline itself. This will be achieved by either stitching directly into the shell or by using felted pieces to insert into the shell enabling areas of rich detail to be created. This is very much a 3D artwork which would suit being mounted on a plinth or stand, so the work can be viewed in the round.

The workshop will cover the outline technique using 100% pure silk and specialised French dyes. This is a basic course which can be followed up by an intermediate variation with different techniques/projects. A design of your choice will be achieved using the Gutta outline technique. (Imagine a stained-glass type of style). This workshop is suitable to beginners and the technique will be explained step by step in a very relaxed and fun way. At the end of the day, you will take home a unique piece.

Join Sue Kershaw on this workshop and learn how to create a high-quality mosaic plaque in a day to fix on the wall (e.g. house number) or lay in a patio/path or flower bed. Select from a huge choice of glass and porcelain tiles and a wide range of designs, or bring along your own design to fit a 22cm square base.

Create a fabulous life sized willow Sheep or Pig to adorn your home or garden! Alison will lead you step by step through the process and you will take home a new addition to the family. Some experience of Willow Weaving is recommended for this class.

You will learn to make one each of these lovely natural willow decorations for home or garden, they are a great introduction to working with willow and perfect for beginners.

Do you have an old stool, chair or ottoman that needs some new life breathing into? Here you will learn how to upholster an item of your choice. Lesley will be on hand to help at every stage and will have a full range of upholstery tools for you to use and materials to purchase. All you will need to bring is a piece of furniture and the top fabric.

Please note we advise you have previous upholstery experience as it can be difficult to complete a project in one day.

During the course of the morning, you will learn this useful willow weave creating a large Garden Obelisk. These add instant height to any garden and are perfect for your climbing tender annuals such as Sweet Peas. This course is suitable for beginners.

You will create and take home at least two pieces of work and will learn a random weave technique to build your work. The Spheres look great in a garden, as do the flowers, though they are equally striking on a plain interior wall. The nests are fun and can be used for all sorts such as storing wool or fruit or purely for decoration.

During the course of the morning, you will learn this useful willow weave creating a large Garden Obelisk. These add instant height to any garden and are perfect for your climbing tender annuals such as Sweet Peas. This course is suitable for beginners.

These willow birds are full of character and a great introduction to random weaving with willow. Make a pheasant or a chicken to roost at home or in the garden.

Create your own unique, hanging mobile with discarded card, household paint and found wood. You will paint abstract patterns and splashes of colour onto card that will be cut into shapes for the mobile. These painted shapes will be hung on found and painted pieces of wood. The finished mobiles will be equally at home in a living room, dining room or in a bedroom. This is a grown-up’s version of a nursery mobile. Although you can still make one for a child.

This six-week autumn course focuses on drawing techniques – using different materials and methods, as well as ways of looking at and seeing things in order to create observational studies or develop designs.

Suitable for those new to drawing as well as those who regularly make time for creativity and wish to further develop their skills, a mix of working from still life and 2d imagery form the subjects along with a variety of resources to inspire and inform.

Do you have an old stool, chair or ottoman that needs some new life breathing into it? Bring it to Lesley Leonard’s Upholstery Weekend workshop. Here you will learn how to upholster an item of your choice. Lesley will provide all the equipment for the weekend all you will need to bring is the finishing fabric.

Create two bespoke vintage china mosaics choosing from a wide range of cut-out bases including hares, hearts and birds. Select from treasured china, some over 100 years old! A truly original experience of creating your own unique mosaic.

Learn to make this very useful round basket with a handle, perfect for eggs or fruit. Using traditional techniques and a variety of willows this little basket is a great introduction to further willow work.

You will learn the process of lino printing, creating simple repeats and how to hand print your own fabric. You will then use your fabric to make your own lampshade which Hannah will demonstrate and support you through the making of it.

Workshop participants will make using sterling silver wire a “scroll ring” with two 6 mm diameter cabochons. The nature of the design allows for the ring to be adjusted in size.

Learn, develop and embrace your skills of working with ink and watercolour with Eleanor Tomlinson. Eleanor will be sharing a range or tips and techniques for drawing in pencil and ink fine liners before working with watercolour to create your own wildlife inspired original ink and watercolour artwork.