This interactive workshop will start with a discussion of the importance of colour in our homes, touching on the subject of colour psychology and how it affects our everyday lives.
Moving on to all participants working up a mood board to fulfil either a fictional brief or to help you with designing a room in your own home, as you prefer!
The morning will end with a brief discussion of how to solve a particular interior design problem that you may have. You are welcome to submit a photograph of a room in advance.
This course accommodates 6 people.
Find out more about Charlotte Reynolds and the other workshop leaders.
‘Inkspiration’ this workshop will give you a chance to explore and learn a new skill in a relaxed environment.
Judi Wymark, an experienced teacher and a practitioner of calligraphy and calligraphic art for a number of years and currently the official scribe to the Mayor of High Wycombe, will guide us in the art of Decorative Calligraphy where you will learn the skills to shape letters and create both a decorative label and a name card (perhaps as a gift for framing!), to take home with you.
All materials, paper, ink and nibs will be supplied and Judi will also have available packs of vintage nibs for sale.
You will be using ink and sharp nibs during this workshop, so we suggest that you wear an old overshirt and an apron to protect your clothes from ink stains.
This course accommodates 6 people.
Perhaps you have an event coming up or just want to learn a new and uncommon skill, this is a fantastic opportunity to create a beautiful hairpiece for yourself using millinery techniques.
Ellie Vandenbrekel of Ellie Vandenbrekel Millinery will take you through the process of designing and creating your very own, beautifully stylish headband, similar to the one pictured but of your own composition. Ellie has been working in millinery for 15 years, opening her own studio in 2016. She recently spent a year developing her craft in the Katherine Elizabeth Millinery Academy.
During this session you will be learning to work with silk abaca and how to create different shapes with this luxury millinery fabric which will adorn a padded velvet headband.
Pre-order your chosen velvet headband and abaca colours from the options provided. Beads, pearls and crystals in a wide array of colours will be available on the day.
Sewing skills are essential, as couture millinery is always sewn by hand. All materials will be provided (including a box to take your finished masterpiece home with you) but you may wish to bring an apron to protect your clothes
This course accommodates 8 people.
Find out more about Ellie Vandenbrekel and the other workshop leaders.
Floral Workshop on Tuesday 9th May and will be run by Gill Booker a Constance Spry trained florist and City and Guild’s Gold Medal of Excellence Winner, who has taught at Missenden Abbey and runs her own Bespoke Floristry business.
The course will start at 10am and run until 1pm. Starting with coffee and cake, you will make a table centre piece which you can take home at the end of the morning. All participants will also receive a goody bag and there will be a chance to browse the Studio Shop at the end of the morning.
All materials, containers, flowers and greenery will be included in the price along with refreshments throughout the morning. Booking and payment, by bank transfer, must be made ahead of the date.
The studio is based in the heart of the Chilterns, with fabulous views across the Pednor Valley. It is a light and airy venue with easy step free access and plenty of parking.
This course accommodates 10 people.
Perhaps you have an event coming up or just want to learn a new and uncommon skill, this is a fantastic opportunity to create a beautiful hairpiece for yourself.
With over 15 years’ experience in millinery, Ellie Vandenbrekel of Ellie Vandenbrekel Millinery will take you through the process of designing and creating your very own, unique fascinator, similar to the one pictured but of your own composition.
During this session you will be making a teardrop headband fascinator; you will learn how to plan a design, how to work with a staple millinery fabric – sinamay, how to curl feathers and position embellishments and, finally, how to bring it all together.
Pre-order your base and ribbon colour – adornment and embellishments will be available on the day in an array of matching and complementary colours.
Sewing skills are essential, as couture millinery is always sewn by hand. All materials will be provided (including a box to take your finished masterpiece home with you) but you may wish to bring an apron to protect your clothes.
This course accommodates 8 people.
Find out more about Ellie Vandenbrekel and the other workshop leaders.
Vegetable Gardening with Julia Parker will cover all aspects of what to plant now for both a late autumn harvest and planning ahead for Spring and Summer next year.
Including herbs, vegetables and flowers, Julia will give advice and demonstrations of what and how to plant and where.
Having worked with Alitex Greenhouses giving online tutorials throughout lockdown, running her own vegetable garden design business and having co-authored a gardening & cookery book for children, Julia is confident, enthusiastic and wonderfully encouraging to the novice and green fingered gardener alike.
So, if you, like us were tempted by tomato growing, basil breeding or potato picking during our long summer at home, come and learn the top tips and insider guide as to how to make your plot (even more) productive!
This workshop will take place outside, under cover, safely and socially distanced. There will be access to toilets, hand sanitiser and masks will be available, if required.
Includes homemade refreshments and goody bag.
This course accommodates 8 people.
Find out more about Julia Parker and the other workshop leaders.
Lampshade Making with Katrina de Toney of Lampshade Parade on Thursday 25th May. During this 3-½ hour course you will learn how to make your very own 30cm drum lampshade to take home with you. All the tips and skills that you acquire on the day will enable you to confidently recreate the steps at home to make more lampshades as and when you wish.
Katrina will provide all tools, equipment and materials required to make your drum lampshade.
The course is suitable for complete beginners as all steps will be carefully explained and demonstrated, along with all the short cuts, finer techniques and advice that will take your lampshade from amateur to professional!
This course accommodates 10 people.
Learn how to navigate and thrive through the Menopause and Beyond! And learn the key dietary and lifestyle changes during the Peri-Menopause and Menopause years and how not just to survive but thrive!
Angela Loftus will discuss the hormonal changes that occur during Peri-menopause, how we can best manage those changes and prepare for a “better” Menopause.
Angela will present key dietary and lifestyle modifications so that you can prepare for and manage your symptoms throughout this period by making informed choices.
The presentation will be followed by a Question and Answer Session.
Supplement recommendations, recipes and references to further resources will be also be provided.
This course accommodates 12 people.
Find out more about Angela Loftus and the other workshop leaders.
Have you ever wondered how to create a gorgeous arrangement from the everyday supermarket flowers that you pick up with your bread and milk? Or perhaps you have an abundance of lovingly home grown flowers picked from your garden, but are at a loss as to how best to display them?
Gill Booker is an award winning, City and Guilds trained florist who will demonstrate how you can transform the cellophane wrapped bunch of nondescript flowers that are your weekly supermarket purchase into a truly stunning hand tied arrangement, ready to be displayed in your own vase.
Spend the morning with Gill as she demonstrates two different approaches to hand tied arrangements. All flowers and foliage will be provided along with coffee and homemade cake on arrival and a goody bag to take home along with your two finished bouquets.
This would make the perfect Mothers Day present, book your Mum onto the course or come along together to make her the best personalised bouquet as her gift for Mothering Sunday.
This course accommodates 8 people.
Find out more about Gill Booker and the other workshop leaders.
Guest
Great ideas and a fantastic venue!
Guest
Very useful, helpful, great fun and enjoyable.
Guest
A great morning with lovely company, thank you.
Guest
A lovely morning, friendly and welcoming atmosphere and a very stimulating talk. I really enjoyed myself and it will give me a lot to think about.