If you think that Macrame is all hanging baskets, then think again!
Katherine Nelson has a background in Developmental Psychology, and she explains that there is scientific evidence to support the claims that creative activities can relieve stress, enhance brain function, boost your mood, and improve mental health.
Also, Macrame is enjoying a renaissance. Designers such as Jimmy Choo and Esteban Cortazar and the model Kate Moss are bringing back Macrame, working it into belts, bags and sandals!
During this workshop you will learn a little bit of history behind the art form and a look into the deeper significance of the Tree of Life.
Katherine will then take you step by step through the three simple knots at the heart of Macrame, to produce a Tree of Life wall hanging. Add a few more basic knots and the applications and creations are endless.
So, not only will you leave her workshop feeling more relaxed, you will also leave with a beautiful finished piece of Macrame that you can display and take pride in or gift to a friend or family member.
This course is suitable for beginners upwards and all materials and equipment will be provided as well as the usual tea and delicious home-made cakes.
This course accommodates 8 people.
Find out more about Katherine Nelson and the other workshop leaders.
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.
Do you love photography but find that you don’t always get the results you were hoping for? Perhaps you have a new camera but never manage to take it off Auto setting? If that sounds familiar then this course could be for you!
Taught by professional photographer Jenny Kaye, you will discover how to get the most from your camera and achieve great results. Learning about light, camera controls and composition will provide you with the tools to take great eye catching photos, whether your preference is family, landscape, product or other photography.
This workshop will be a mixture of theory and practical and you will need to bring either a Digital SLR or Bridge camera. (If you do not have a camera but are thinking of buying one we may be able to lend you one)
This course accommodates 10 people.
£58 per person
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.
Learn to craft your own drum lampshade, suitable for either a table or ceiling light, with Katrina de Toney of Lampshade Parade.
During this 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.
Please bring your own choice of fabric, 100cm x 40cm, all other materials and equipment will be provided.
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 8 people.
Find out more about Katrina de Toney 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.
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.
‘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.
In this workshop you will discover how to take fabulous photos with your smartphone.
We all walk round with a camera in our pocket these days and imagery is everywhere, so join us to discover how to stand out from the crowd and get the best from your phone.
The workshop will include taking photos, how to enhance them, lighting and composition as well as external apps and discussion about what you do with your photos afterwards.
This workshop would be perfect for business owners and those bloggers who use Instagram and Pinterest etc to promote their business as well as the casual photographer.
Jenny Kaye is a professional photographer and will share her hints and tips for creating stunning imagery.
This course accommodates 10 people.
Find out more about Jenny Kaye and the other workshop leaders.
Guest
It was a fantastic session! Katherine is amazingly talented and such a good teacher. A very relaxing and therapeutic activity. And wonderful hosting by Charlotte xx
Guest
Such a fab morning learning about macrame… and creating my first tree of life 😍 thank you Katherine & Charlotte 😀