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Quirky Textile Courses & Workshops 2018 in Cumbria, the Lake District.We hold craft workshop in Needlefelting with Annis McGowan - Machine Embroidery workshop with Sarah Ames, Mixed Media Canvas courses with Priscilla Edwards, Felting craft courses with Marieke Tomlin ~ Intro to Batik workshop
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Needle felt your own Herdwick sheep Doorstop• Wednesday 15 November 2017(Easter) Monday 2nd April 18NEW extra DATE ** Saturday 12 MAY **Sun 12 August 18Wed 7 November 20189.30am - 4.45pm ish
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Materials Charges 2018 |
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There will be an additional charge of £18 payable on the day to Annis for the materials used. This covers not only the costs of materials but also the many hours Annis spends preparing each doorstop inner so that it is ready to be needlefelted - meaning a doorstop can be achieved in just one day. |
Needle Felt a Hare!Friday 1st December2017Sat 17 March 18 fullMonday 28 May 2018 (Bank Holiday) fullSun 24 June 18 full* Sun 9 Sept new date *Fri 30 Nov 18 full£68 inc a lovely lunch 9.30am to 5pm ishMake a lovely Hare of sitting height is approx 34 cm plus the ears . You can decide your own pose , either with ears up , or "moongazing" with the ears back .We will be using natural brown wools , all materials and tools are provided . A full day workshop learning new methods which will inspire you to make more felted creations in future! Materials in 2018 There will be an additional charge of £18 payable on the day to Annis for the
materials used. |
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with Annis McGowanNew for 2018Monday 28 May 2018 (Bank Holiday)£58 inc lovely lunch
choose hanging or wired. Be prepared to make 2 perhaps 3 birds over the day
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Material ChargesMaterials are charged at £5 per bird. Extra kits will also be available to purchase on the day |
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with Priscilla EdwardsNew for 2018Wed 13 June fullSun 19 Aug (new date)£82 inc lovely lunch
Using various fabrics, acrylic paints and machine stitch you will create a contemporary box canvas for your wall. During the day you will explore a range of techniques to enable you to produce a finished piece that is personal and will reflect your own ideas. This is fantastic workshop for anyone who would like to explore a mixed media approach to stitched textiles, no experience necessary just bring enthusiasm.
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Material ChargesThere will be a £5 materials charge payable on the day which includes your A4 size canvas, paints and fabrics etc. You are encouraged to bring your favourite materials scraps and any embellishments you may already have plus inspirational pictures or references you come across. .
Priscilla has been creating contemporary stitched mixed media pieces in 2D and 3D since completing her degree in Embroidery at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1997 |
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Sarah works from her small studio in a beautiful part of rural Cumbria creating lovely stitched shades, pictures and accessories supplying galleries and crafts fairs.
She has a MA and BA in Contemporary Applied Arts from the University of Cumbria and is also a qualified teacher.
She loves to show others how to form clever pieces through creative stiching. Suitable sewing machines are available to hire for these days.
'Applique & Stitch'Lampshades day
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Sarah will come with a host of ideas for you as well as some templates you can use if you feel unsure about your design. Please bring along any reference materials that inspire you. Please bring along your sewing machine in good working order and make sure it has an embroidery or darning foot – if you’re unsure please feel free to ask. If you are unable to bring a machine, there are 3 available to hire for a small fee on the day. Please enquire at the time of booking
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with Sarah Ames2018Thu 21 JuneSun 18 Nov
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Materials ChargeThere will be a £10 materials charge payable to Sarah directly on the day to cover the lampshade kit and extras.
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'Applique & Stitch'Discovering Machine Embroidery |
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Materials ChargesMaterials and a lovely 2 course Aga lunch are included on this day. Please bring any special pieces of favourite materials, inspirations, resources and bits and pieces you may wish to use in your design.
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with Sarah Ames
Tues 17 April 2018Sat 22 Sept
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A Hand Stitched Leather Bagin a dayWed 25th or Thu 26th July 2018 £75 inc a lovely Aga lunch
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You will learn how to:
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Bag making material costs will be £25 payable to Ruth on the day.Below ~ Leather Bags from our 2017 course
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Marieke is a very talented and largely self-taught felt artist who happened upon the history of felt and felting whilst examining the use of wool in sustainable living and her environment workshops. She loves the fact that many fleeces, now sadly discarded by farmers, can be reworked through felting into something equally beautiful and useful to last for many years, so creating a further positive impact locally. With roots in both of Holland and Wales, Marieke now lives in the Eden Valley and runs workshops in textiles, the environment and sustainability, taking inspiration from the beautiful village of Morland, where she lives. |
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'Felt Art' with MariekeSat 23 June 2018Sun 7 Oct 2018£68 inc a lovely lunch 9.30 - 4pmCreate your very own felt masterpiece. Click here to see pics of the July felt art day with Marieke or just click on any of these pics.
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Marieke will bring most things necessary with her on the day, however please bring TWO old towels, medium to large, which will get wet, and a bag to carry them home in. Thank you There will be an additional charge payable to the tutor on the day directly for materials used of £10. |
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Festive Felt GarlandsTuesday 21 November 2017
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An experienced spinner, weaver, dyer, knitter and crocheter as well as being a tutor and designer. Marion has taught many individuals and groups different aspects of hand spinning, specialising in producing exciting fancy yarns. Marion was also a founder member of The Wool Clip co-operative, and uses her hand dyeing techniques to make fine silk and merino woven scarves, yarns and clothing.
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Spinning Yarns, Wheels & Drop SpindlesTue 3 July 2018Tues 9 October 20189.30 - 3.30pm each day
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Marion provides all the equipment for this class including spinning wheels and drop spindles. However, if you own a spinning wheel, you can of course bring it along!
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During this fascinating day, Marion will teach you all about different types of sheep and their fleeces, their various merits and different uses with many samples to explore. You will learn about the meaning and importance of crimp and lustre and why some fleeces are easily spun, whereas others are not. You will learn how to prepare the fibres using hand carders and how to spin using a drop spindle and see the difference in the yarn that is produced from drop spindle compared to the wheel that you will use later in the afternoon. The rest of the day you'll be working on your own spinning wheel, learning how to use the Niddy Noddy and how to ply art yarns for wonderful effect. Everyone will go home with a skein or two of handspun yarn (as in the picture left - one with drop spindle and one with a spinning wheel); from a sheep's fleece to something you can crochet or knit in just one day! Marion Woolcott's courses are great fun and the studio becomes a haven of soft wool and laughter. The cats always enjoy it too and can often be found in a sleepy ball somewhere amongst the fleeces! Please bring an apron. All material costs are included in this class. | ||
This day also features in the Quirky Days page
Having spent several years working as a repeat pattern designer with the high end textile printers, Georgia left London to return to her home county of Yorkshire to start her own pattern design company. Since 2009 'Georgia Wilkinson Designs' has been offering innovative, fresh and unique hand printed textiles operating out of a cricket pavillion on her parents' farm, and her products are sold in shops throughout the UK as well as online. Her designs are fun, bright and uplifting with her fabric available by the metre or lampshade length.
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Lampshade Making short courseGeorgia is on maternity leave early in 2018 so the Spring lampshade making short course day is being run by craft interiors tutor Sonja Tilleard on Fri 6 April (Friday 6 April 2016 with Sonja Tileard click here)Friday 16 Nov 2018 with Georgia WilkinsonLampshade making morning 9.30am to 12 noonLampshade making afternoon 1pm to 3.30pm
£35 inc drinks and a quick light lunch either before or after your course as well asthe basic lamp making kit. See belowGeorgia will arrive with all the tools and equipment needed and during this short course you will have fun creating and completing a lovely drum lampshade to take home. She will bring a selection of her wonderful fresh fabrics from her Yorkshire studio and students can choose these for their lampshades or they can bring their own fabric. The course price includes everything required to make a smaller shade if you bring your own fabric. If you choose larger options or select some of Georgia's fabric, these will be charged a few £'s extra. See her website http://georgiawilkinson.co.uk/index.php/collections to choose a fabric if you have a particular favourite and contact Georgia directly to ensure she brings enough along. |
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Design & Block Print a Lampshade / Cushionwith Georgia WilkinsonThursday 9 November 2017Thu 15 Nov 2018 10am - 4pm ish
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Georgia will begin by telling you a little about her self and explaining what is possible over the day, with hints and tips for your design to be suitable for a repeat pattern. Once your design is finalised on paper you will learn to make block prints using a variety of mixed media tools and you will practise on paper before turning and printing up the cotton panama fabric she supplies. The material for the lampshade will be then cured and hand rolled and carefully finished into a lampshade. . You can choose to make either a small table lamp shade or a larger pendant ceiling shade - Georgia will advise on print types according to shade sizes. A further piece of fabric may then be printed fto make a matching cushion cover front to take home with you |
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with Sonja Tilleard
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Morning courseincluding a light lunchTues 26 JuneSun 23 Sept9.30am - 1pm£40 inc a light lunch (12.30-1pm) , coffee etc &paint/ stencils & 30cm shade kit
Sonja will bring various fabrics for you to choose from and a variety of stencils for you to use in create a variety of professional patterns in your chosen colours - learning & perfecting the finer points of stencilling. Included in the cost of the course is a 30cm shade kit.Please contact us if you wish to make two smaller matching shades andSonja will advise.
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The morning stencilling course on these dates is followed in the afternoon by the non-stencilling equivilant with Sonja of . . using some of your favourite fabric afternoon. |
Unfortunately, due to family circumstances, Caroline will be unable at present to give us a date for a Batik coursePlease let us know if you would like to be informed when one arises.9.30 - 4.30pm
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Paula has trained with a local upholsterer for several years and expertly transforms unwanted items into desirable pieces, using her upholstery skills and lovely fabrics.
A 'classy classic' to Build and UpholsterThursdayThursday 8 November ~ Wed 5 December 2018Build and Upholster your own unique footstool from scratch,using traditinional upholstery methods. Build up the frame then stain, paint or wax the legs, upholster the top seat layer by layer before finishing off in your favourite fabric. Give it as a beautiful Christmas present for someone special- or keep it as a treat to for yourself! Material ChargesThe Classic footstool measures 48cm x 36cm and the kit is available at cost for approx £65 TBC. Full payment for the footstool must be made directly to Paula within one month of the class date. This includes the cover for the footstool kit plus use of all upholstery materials and tools provided on the day. Just bring along 1 metre of your favourite fabric for the cover. |
£75 inc a lovely lunch 9.30 - 4.30pm
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Wed 27 June 2018 ~ Thu 20 Sept 201810.00 - 4.00pmMaggi is a fashion consultant and illustrator based in Cockermouth, previously she was in charge of Creative Design for Fashion BA Hons at the University of Central Lancashire and specialised in Haute Couture, which included Pattern Cutting and Fashion Design. She also ran the Contemporary Applied Arts BA Hons course at University of Cumbria teaching Millinery, Pattern Cutting and Textiles. Consequently she is more than qualified to answer your fashion and dressmaking questions. Maggi is particularly interested in helping people understand their body shape and learn to modify dressmaking patterns accordingly. She will encourage you to work with your own figure type to create stylish looks and perhaps act as a catalyst for change and allow you to re-frame the way you view yourself and your body. | Which are you?
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Understanding Basic Pattern CuttingMake a simple tunic shape to suit your figure type. This is a one day course where you get step by step instructions to create a very basic simple tunic, from which you can make other tops and dresses at a later stage in any fabric - no button holes, no zips - just simple creative fun, with lots of suggestions and advice on further adaptions at a later stage. What to bring: A long ruler if you have it, any rolls of brown paper or lining wallpaper and paper scissors will be useful but some paper will be provided. We also provide pattern masters, tapes, rulers and pencils . |
Emma is a self taught seamstress who started sewing a few years ago, and quickly became interested in sewing bags - items which showcase beautiful fabric whilst being very practical. Anyone who loves textiles, handbags and Facebook may already know Emma Redfern's very popular 'Hole House' Facebook page from where she sells her wonderfully unique and quirky bags.
Living just a few miles away from the Cycle Cafe with a background in art history and an interest in the Victorian Arts and Crafts movement, she believes that anyone can produce something beautiful and useful given a little instruction and some inspiring fabric. During these workshops you will learn how to make a professional looking bag or purse, unique to you in your chosen fabric using your own working domestic sewing machine.
Emma will provide zips and interfacing plus extra fabric for pockets, leather handles and a magnetic snap - all,included in price.. Please also bring matching thread, fabric scissors, pins, ruler and a hand sewing needle. You should also have a zipper foot for your machine in addition to a regular foot. Emma can show you how to change the feet if you are not sure! |
Leather Handled Tote Bag Workshop
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Boxed Clutch Bagwith optional strapSun 5 Nov 2017£72 inc materials & a lovely 2 course lunch etc 9.30 - 4pm
Make a smart box clutch featuring several compartments, to co-ordinate with that special outfit. The bag you'll make is slightly larger than the green lined one below, slightly slimmer & it sits in your hand more comfortably.
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Below blue box shows the improved, slightly larger and slimmer boxed Clutch top right..
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Clasp Purse & Applique Purse daySunday 3 Dec 2017 - 2 spaces available£68 inc all mats. & a lovely 2 course lunch etc 9.30 - 4pmAn opportunity as Christmas 2017 looms, to spend a day with Emma making both a clasp purse and an applique purse. Perfect for presents, even if only to yourself :) Just bring alng one fat quarter of outer fabric and another of lining, plus a zip if you want a precise colour match. Emma provides everything else.
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Enjoy a Nuno Felt Scarf making Day Perfect for Hen Parties for groups of up to around 15 people here at the Cycle Cafe making corsages and nuno scarves and foibles. |
Linda Chapman is one of the team behind the hugely popular WOOLFEST. She is also a member of the co-operative 'The Wool Clip' in Caldbeck. Linda came to Cumbria some 5 years ago and created her own felt making studio overlooking Blencathra in the Lake District. A talented all round artist, she has a fine art degree, with an original background in painting. Linda's work is sold in galleries throughout Cumbria and online from her website. Material ChargesApproximate material charges between £5 and £10 will be payable to Linda on the day depending on what is made. Previous
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Large Traditional Rag Rug Making Days with Emma Tennant 9.30 - 3.30pm each day
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Emma prefers using a fairly close weave hessian that gives a denser, longer wearing rug. Once booked with Emma you could start looking out for materials to bring with you for our rug. For a floor rug woollens works best as they clean easiest, wear well and don’t attract the dirt as much – ie tweeds, coats, jumpers, trousers, jackets, anything from charity shops as long as clean and dry – and if you know of any old fashioned tailors, they always have trimmings from wool garments they may be glad to give away. |
Notice the shading effect in her designs - which brings them to life. Emma Tennant lives in Roxburghshire, Scotland .She is widely held as an authority on the history of Rag Rug making. Emma spends her winters making and designing rag rugs which are made by a group of neighbours and marketed under the name Hermitage Rugs. She spends the summer painting flowers in her studio at the foot of the Cheviots Hills and is a member of the Council of the National Trust. | WHAT TO BRING?We will provide the frame and hookie tool to borrow or buy at the end if you wish. |
What to BringPlease bring a pair of embroidery scissors and don't forget glasses and a magnifier if you use one. Material ChargesThere will be an additional materials charge of between £15 and £40 depending on the design you choose and will include all wools, design printed linen, stitch instructions, along with a CD of images for students to take away and to complete their design. An embroidery frame will be available to borrow. The workshop will begin and end with a short talk about the history and techniques in crewel work and embroidery in castles in Cumbria and beyond. |
Traditional Crewel Work9.30am - 4.30pm
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Phillipa’s passion for crewel work and her talent as a designer and embroiderer afford her the privilege of researching and recreating some of the most exquisite historic crewel work in the world. She was involved in the recreation of HRH The Queen Mother’s Bedhead and Bedspread at Glamis Castle in Scotland and has been instrumental in launching a textile museum at Muncaster castle in the Lake District, England, both of which are testament to her dedication to this art form. |
Philippa's on going research among private collections allows her to bring you textile information from the historic source, including stitches and techniques long forgotten by current needlework stitch books. As such, her kits and retreats bring to life the designs, colours and techniques of the 17th and 18th centuries and are hailed as among the best embroidery experiences available. As well as developing their kit range, Phillipa and Laura work with castles, country houses and museums around Britain to ensure precious private embroidery collections are understood and appreciated by fellow enthusiasts. |
Quirky Workshops |