Tuesday 10th January 2012

10am - 1pm

Cost: £4.50 per session, 2nd Tuesday of each month:
February 14th
March 13th
April 10th
May 8th
June 12th
July 10th

THE CRAFT GROUP - UNFINISHED BUSINESS

with Iris Marriott &
Jane Lockyer

Do you have projects hidden away that need finishing? Or an idea for a
project you haven’t yet started? Here is the opportunity to concentrate on
your work (in any medium) in a relaxed and informal setting.

Pay as you go. A call to reserve a space would be helpful.

Lunch optional

Friday 13th January 2012

10am to 4pm

Cost £35

Embellished A5 Sketchbook Cover

with Lyn Carr

Spend a day creating a beautiful A5 art journal cover. We will be using scraps of luxury fabrics with sheers and stitch – using free machining and some hand stitching.   To finish we will add beads, heavy threads or any glitz you have tucked away.

This will be a real play day, with a practical item for a gift or a present to yourself to take home. Cost of an A5 art journal is £2.50 each, (supplied by the tutor).

This workshop is suitable for beginners and for those with some knowledge.

Friday 27th January 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £38

Sketchbook and Journals

with Cat Rowe

Be inspired to start and keep a day journal to support any creative and visual practices. Overcome your fear of the white page and pick up hints and tips to help use sketchbooks as a visual resource and to use them on a daily basis. Bring a blank book or one that’s half started, shop bought or handmade, this day is for you to explore and play with ideas.

Monday 13th February 2012

10am to 4pm

Cost £35

Handbags

with Pauline Millar

Make your own 'perfect bag' with stylish looks, using up those fabrics you have made or collected.
Pauline will cover a variety of techniques throughout the day, these will include - designing a pattern, inserting zips, magnetic fastenings, gussets, pockets, making a hard base, straps and handles and the final embellishment. All this enriched with Pauline's hints, tips and secrets of the trade!

Wednesday 29th February 2012

10am to 4pm

Cost £32

Tapestry Weaving

with Julie Kline

Using a tapestry frame weave an abstract or pictorial image. You will explore rya knots, tufting, geometric and free form designs, dovetail joining and many other tapestry techniques. 

The tutor will supply each student with a tapestry frame for use for the class with the option to purchase at the end of the class at a price of £15.00 each.

Thursday 8th and Friday 9th March 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £80

Textile Travelling Boxes

with Angie Hughes

This course aims to show students how to make machine embroidered boxes from Angie's special glue impregnated interlining. The box designs are inspired by old travelling chests.

Students will learn how to prepare the interlining and colour it with their preferred colour. Then from a prepared pattern the box surface will be layered with collaged fabric and paper, print and machine embroidery. The whole thing is worked flat and finally pieced together.

By the end of the course you will be able to make different boxes as gifts for friends and family or for keeping hidden treasure!

Friday 23rd March 
OR
Saturday 24th March 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm Cost £38

Frame Baskets

with Carol Horsington

Framed baskets are made on hoops which are tied together with fine willow.  Ribs are then inserted into the basket and willow is woven across this framework. These are good baskets to make if you grow your own willow as both thick and thin willow is needed. 

The materials required to make this basket can be supplied by Carol at a cost of £7.50 per person.

Wednesday 18th April 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm Cost £35

Peg Looming & Knitted Waste Textiles

with Deborah Hastings

This course will show you how to peg loom and knit duvet covers into a useful and attractive cushion.  You will need to bring 3 x polyester duvet covers, scissors and 7mm knitting needles.  You will also need to bring needle and thread.  Tutor will provide the peg looms.

Friday 20th April 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £32

Soft Tassels and Cord Making

with Julie Kline

This is a great class to familiarize yourself with the wonderful world of tassel making. In this class you will make between 10 – 20 small and large tassels out of silk, rayon, cotton or wool and with your own unique handmade cord to match. Use them as key tassels or in miniature form to embellish textiles. You will be surprised how easy it is! The variations are endless, from plain and simple to over the top!

Friday 11th May 2012

10am to 4pm

Cost £35

“Impressions of Van Gough”

3D wall hanging

with Lyn Carr

Bring the sunflowers of France into your home with a 3D wall hanging.  Be inspired by the master Van Gough and take a modern approach and use your sunflowers to design an abstract wall hanging using a variety of techniques with both the sewing machine and incorporating some hand stitching.

A day to enable you to make an exquisite piece of wall art for your home.  Suitable for all levels of ability.

Wednesday 16th May 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £38

New York Beauty

with Marlene Chaffey

With lots of sharp skinny points and curved piecing on the outer and inner corners, you would think this block would be a quilting nightmare, but with foundation piecing for the pieced arc, it is a breeze and you will end up with beautifully accurate sharp points. The project features four different variations of block which can be put together in a variety of ways whether you want to do a small project like the cushion or a larger one like a quilt, the choices are endless. Not suitable for a complete beginner but anyone with a little knowledge of patchwork could do it quite successfully.

Friday 25th May 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £38

Wrinkles & Runkles

with Jan Tillett

Create amazing textures with shrink polyester and smocking thread.  You will make a selection of stitched samples that can be used to inform future work.

Students will go home with a variety of samples that could be pieced into a bag or provide inspiration for future work.  Jan will demonstrate bag making at the end of the day.

Monday 18th & Tuesday 19th June 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £84

Hard but Easy

with Frances Pickering

Learn an easy way to construct a hardback book using simple techniques and materials. Combine pelmet vilene with board to make the cover. Then incorporate windows, flaps, found objects, material, threads, beads and embroidery to create a richly embellished book.

Friday 22nd June 2012

10am to 4pm

Cost £38

Free Standing Structures

with Janet Edmonds

This is an experimental workshop that explores a variety of structures and aims to identify the various concerns relating to working in three dimensions.  It is for students who wish to explore methods of construction within a structured and supportive framework and who are willing to take a risk and be challenged. 

Students will produce a number of simple structures using paper, card, wire, fabric and thread. They will take away ideas that can be linked to their own personal themes and translated into three dimensional embroidered items.

Thursday 28th June 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm
Cost £38

Stone Story

with Yvonne Brown

Translating sculpture, stonework and fossils into textiles using a combination of cut and melted synthetic felt and synthetic sheers together with a collage of found textured pieces, stitched onto a firm background.  The whole piece is then painted with gesso and acrylic paints before finishing with surface decoration and stitch. 

Learn how to create your own unique pieces or wall hangings using these intriguing and unusual techniques.

Saturday 30th June 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £35

Nuno Felt Scarf

with Yvonne Blyth

There are many fabulous ways to decorate a length of silk chiffon using the Nuno technique and create a very special and beautiful scarf.  During the day we will be experimenting with various fabrics including wool, silk, velvet, ribbon etc., which will be gently felted.  Wonderful surface patterns will be achieved as the fabric is pulled and ruched as the wool felts – very exciting. 
A fun day suitable for all levels.

Friday 6th July 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £32

Fragrant Hardanger Potpourri Bags

with Julie Kline

Hardanger is a form of white work embroidery named after the area of Norway where it is found. This form of needlework involves counted thread stitches and drawn thread work. With guidance this is much easier than it looks - if you can count to 5 you can do hardanger!

In this class you should be able to finish a delightful little bag to fill with potpourri whilst learning basic hardanger stitches, ready to go on to more challenging projects if you wish, or make two bags to give to a special friend!

Wednesday 12th September 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £38

Dyeing for Colour

with Katy Choroszewska

Here is a chance to create your own scrumptious palette of cotton fabrics and threads.

Students will explore different forms of fabric manipulation and procion mx dye application to create a range of coloured and patterned cotton fabrics and threads which can be used for future embroidery, patchwork and quilting projects.

Fabric, threads, dyes and chemicals can all be bought from Katy at the class.

Saturday 15th September 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £38

Sari Bags
using manipulated Sari Ribbons

with Stef Francis

Create a bag from Sari Ribbon, by manipulating the ribbon and stitching onto felt. The bag was fitted with plastic handles which were also covered with Sari Ribbon. Some split silk carrier rod flowers and beads were added as embellishments.

Stef and Sid Francis will be bringing along their shop of natural threads and fabrics for students to purchase on the day

This workshop is suitable for all levels of ability.

Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th September 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £80

Working with “Crash” Fabric

with Isobel Hall

On this workshop we are working with Vilene Crash fabric to make items which are suitable for wearable art.  It is envisaged that we will make bags and/or jewellery.  This man made sheer crinkled fabric can be built up in layers to create a robust stand-alone fabric.  Used in conjunction with mixed media and stitch we will create unique items for personal use or gifts.

Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd October 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm Cost £80 (2 days)

Upcycled Denim Bags

with Ineke Berlyn

Recycle old pairs of denim jeans and turn them into roomy, versatile and robust bags.  Marry all those different colours of denim and use the seams and pockets.

Make a panel down the middle if you wish; print with thermofax screens or add machine or hand embroidery or applique to add a personal touch.

Ineke will bring a choice of patterns and sizes; and if time allows – you may be able to make more than one.

Friday 5th & Saturday 6th October 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £80

Patchwork Stained Glass

with Bryan Luxford

Create an 8” square panel of stained glass with design ideas from a patchwork technique, to hang in a window (pictured is an Amish diamond).  You will be using traditional coloured and leaded glass, with a selection of well-known patchwork patterns to inspire you.  There will be a small materials charge which will vary according to the amounts used. 
Suitable for all abilities.

Friday 12th October 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £38

Machine Knitted Felt – Landscape or Seascape Picture

with Marilyn Lott from Torbay Textiles

Students are shown the various techniques used for making a realistic or abstract picture using machine knitted felt.  The picture will be embellished with textured yarn and embroidery and there will be a demonstration of all hand stitches used in the picture.  A sewing machine is optional.  Students are given individual attention and gentle encouragement to try something new.

Wednesday 24th October 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £35

Cloth Sculptures - Halloween Witches or Christmas Angels

with Iris Marriott

Create your very own cloth sculptures using any cotton fabrics, cereal packets and hangers, broken necklaces, wool, bead, string etc.  You will create delightful figures using wallpaper paste and a little patience; they can be left the colour of the fabric or sprayed one colour; once dry they will last forever and create a stunning display at Halloween or Christmas.

Tuesday 18th September 2012

Cost £35

Apple Quilt

with Iris Marriot

Details to follow

Wednesday 17th October 2012

Cost £35

Gold Work

with Deborah Hastings

Details to follow

Saturday 3rd November 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £32

Stitched Christmas Cards

with Louise Nichols

Come along and have some fun making stitched Christmas cards.  There are 3 designs to choose from, or if you're feeling ambitious you can create your own.  They are made using paper and card with machine and hand stitched details. 

Easy to follow instructions & templates are provided so will suit all levels of ability, and ages including older children accompanied by an adult.

If you don't want to part with your creation you could use it as a book cover or mount it as a picture to keep instead.

All materials for this workshop will be supplied by Louise.

Friday 23rd November 2012

10.00am to 4.00pm

Cost £38

Christmas Textile Illustrations

with Cat Rowe

Make a charming Christmas fabric illustration as a gift or to decorate your home with this Christmas.
There are so many wonderful Christmas images to choose from so come along with a picture that you would like to turn into a textile illustration. Ideas could include reindeer, snowmen, robins or a snowy Christmas scene.

Working on a small scale we will make a Christmas inspired piece of textile art. This is the ideal project for using up scraps of fabric that you have been hording!  We will add the details and ‘drawn’ parts of our pictures by machine or hand stitching. You can also embellish your pictures with sequins and metallic threads. End the day by mounting your piece of work.

Wednesday12th December 2012

Special Foodie Treats for Christmas

with Wendy Thompson

Details to follow