Creative Open Workshops

For our Textiles taster we're going to jump right in and create a simple tote bag!

Choose from a range of heavy cottons for your outer and light cottons for your inner bag.

We'll go through measuring out the pattern, cutting everything to size and pinning right/wrong sides of the fabric together... and everything else that should happen to prepare for sewing!

We will rummage through a heap of fabric scraps to create a fabric appliqué for the front of the bag too. I've kept mine on the sample bag simple; 3 love hearts. But feel free to come up with your own design & give that some thought before the session ;) (then we can launch straight into drawing it out onto the fabrics)

When the appliqué is done, we will set to sewing the main bag shape. As we have kept it simple, this is very easily done! Then add the handles, turn everything inside out, sew the top...and voila! it's done!

All skills and abilities are welcome. We will take the time ;)

We have 2 sewing machines at our unit, but feel free to bring your own. We can help you bond with your machine through this project too ;)

If you have any fabrics you would particularly like to work with, do feel free to bring them along.

Also, if you have already got your own sewing kit (needles, measuring tape, fabric scissors etc.) do bring it along to the session too. You will be more familiar with your own set of tools & equipment.

As before, the £15 session fee will include all materials, equipment, drinks & cookies!

To book:

creativeopenworkshops@gmail.com

0121 224 8445

0789 655 9406

Francine x

Loading mentions Retweet

Hello!

Watch the blog closely, as we'll be revealing next weeks Taster workshops content!

First up in the spotlight: Felt-making

You will be introduced to the softness of combed wool fibres and a little bit about how it works and the history of feltmaking.

We will then get on to do a little sample of flat felt... just get a feel of the process.

And Hopla! We will jump straight into 3D/resist felting... just because it is so amazingly easy to do & the results are so stunning!

Using a plastic resist we will create a seamless piece of 3D felt in the shape of a little bowl. You may want to keep the end result as a decorative piece to sit on your coffee table/bookshelf/window sill or use it for something usefull like a mini sewing-kit (as shown on photograph).

The bowl will still be wet at the end of the session and will need (at least) a day to dry out properly, but after that it can be embellished with buttons, sequins and embroidery (sign up for our Taster Textile Session if you don't know a bean about sewing just yet! ;))

Places are still available for our Taster Felt-making session on 9th and 16th October 2009 and cost £15 each (incl. all materials, drinks & cookies!)

See you all soon!!

Francine x

Loading mentions Retweet

Oh Yes!

We just had such an amazing day at Handmade this weekend!

- Good weather
- Great visitors
- Fantastic stallholders
- oh, and an amazing 'cake guest list'!

We also had some newbies take part with their handmade creations:

Michelle Witcombe from Peewees set up outside with her work of brooches, felt bags, customized coat hangers, hair clips and other unusaual designed craft!
All of the proceeds of her work is donated to a charity in Africa, to support the purchases of medical supplies.
Unfortunately she doesn't have a website, but she has secured a spot for the next Handmade on 17 October, so you can see her work in real life then!

Gill Bourbage takes her inspiration from flower gardens. She started drawing whilst studying for a RHS Certificate in Horticulture. This was followed by a course in Botanical painting. She was busy all day sketching new flower arrangements in her notepad. Her watercolour flowers bookmarks were selling very well. Get another chance to see her work on the 17 October.

Eve Payne set up a half table with her quirky plectrum and stamp earrings & brooches. I am now the very proud owner of a Magenta British 6p stamp ear stud! her stamp jewellery was selling very well!

Lisa from Handmade by Tigerlily amazed everyone with the amount of handiwork she got done since the last time we saw her! She had a new range of felt accessorized cards, felt tablerunner, beautiful flower corsages and new bags. Lisa will be running our papercraft taster session on 10th October and was able to show visitors the range of products they'll be covering in the session! (Spaces still available for booking!)
Check out her work on www.handmadebytigerlily.folksy.com

Denise from Peeko Crochet had new additions to her line of wool & plarn (plastic yarn) creations and pretty much sold out of everything! A lady who came down to the Custard Factory especially from Somerset bought the crochet scarf/necklace Denise was actually wearing! Other corsages created throughout the day all went too. Denise will be teaching crochet on our taster workshops for adults too on 8th and 15th October! www.peekocrochet.com

My mum's work was out on display again today as well, with a few of her felt applique pieces selling early in the morning. And myself, I sold one little handbag to Liz Garlinge, who stopped by to combat her 'fear of craft'!

In saying that, we have had lots of lovely crafty people stop by this weekend, who have signed up to one or more sessions in our taster programme. It was great to welcome you in the shop and introduce you to the people who will be leading the sessions.

We had a very succesfull day, with everyone making sales with their handmade items as well as the chocolate cake, cupcakes and mini victoria sponges!

Look forward to seeing you at the craft workshops next week or at our next Handmade on 17th October!!

Francine x

             

Click here to download:

Handmade_26th_September_craft_.zip (5407 KB)

Loading mentions Retweet