On this workshop, gardener, author, broadcaster and Chelsea Flower Show exhibitor, Julia Parker will guide you through how, where and when to plant French climbing beans and Dwarf French beans, Fennel, Beetroot, Broccoli for the winter, Carrots and Salads to grow through to September along with how to keep a seasonal supply of Herbs throughout the year.
All this with a heavy sprinkling of Julia’s vast knowledge, top tips and handy sustainable gardening know hows. This will be an interactive workshop, so please do bring an apron and or thin gardening gloves if you would like.
Please arrive at 9.45am for a 10am start.
This course accommodates 10 people.
Find out more about Julia Parker and the other workshop leaders.
In this session Nicola Farrow from Mapletree Farm Flowers will help you arrange her locally grown, seasonal blooms using sustainable techniques for a relaxed “gathered from the garden look.”
This is a hands-on workshop where you will put together your own hand tied bouquet to take home for yourself or as a gift.
This course accommodates 8 people.
Find out more about Nicola 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.
Whether the place where you live is a mansion or a studio flat it is your ‘castle’, your anchor and your life under one roof. But does it currently feel like a place of welcome and comfort or more a functional collection of furniture?!
This short course, run by Charlotte Reynolds, aims to give a fun and informal introduction to Interior Decoration. Learn the principles of making the most of the space you have.
There will be a practical workshop putting together a sample/colour board for a fictional client.
Bring a photograph (if you would like!) of a room or area of your house that you feel doesn’t ‘work’, for discussion during the morning.
Refreshments, goody bags and all materials will be provided.
This course accommodates 5 people.
Find out more about Charlotte Reynolds and the other workshop leaders.
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.
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.
During your workshop, Hayley Farrelly, from Bramley Pottery, will take you through the process of making a matching pair of bowls in two different sizes with a patterned interior and decorative rim.
Once your bowls have dried she will fire them in her kiln and then glaze them for you in a celadon colour of your choice.
The bowls can be enjoyed every day; the glaze is food safe so can be used for serving food.
The pottery journey takes time, so expect to wait up to a month after the workshop to receive your pieces as this will allow time for them to dry, to be bisque fired, glazed and re-fired.
Once finished, your pottery can be collected from her studio in Ballinger, or they can be sent in the post.
Please bring an apron to the workshop and Hayley will provide all the tools you need to make your pottery pieces.
This course accommodates 6 people.
Find out more about Hayley Farrelly 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.
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.
Guest
Very useful workshop with lots of tips.
Guest
So inspirational and useful, practical advice, this has inspired me to start with confidence.
Guest
Enjoyable, sociable and so inspiring!
Guest
Have learned some very useful tips.