COURSE PROGRAMME 2018

*PLEASE SEE ALTERNATIVE DATES LATER IN THE YEAR*

With Tracey Bell

If you’re mesmerised by the beauty of glass beads you will adore this introductory class! You will make your own lampwork glass beads using a bench mounted oxygen/propane torch; learning the basic principles of working safely and understanding your equipment and materials. There will be ample opportunity to try several shapes of bead and work in your choice of colours, as well as some basic surface decoration.

£85 (Including materials)

With Sean Hellman website

We use spoons every day and usually give them little thought. They are wonderful examples of 3d design and art meeting function, with their almost infinite variety of shapes and form. People have carved wooden spoons since we began working wood, a tradition that is still alive today with more and more people taking up this practical and rewarding pastime. Spoons come in all shapes and sizes: eating, serving, cooking, sculptural, and love-spoons. This workshop will concentrate on serving spoons and ladles. Depending on your ability, you will take home at least one spoon and the techniques used in making, so you can continue making spoons to your own designs. Spoon carving tools will be on sale at the workshop. Beginners and improvers welcome. Techniques covered during this course are: What wood to use and what part of the tree to use. How to shape the billet of wood using an axe. How to use an axe and knife safely. Step by step tuition is given in each axe and knife technique. How to refine and finish the roughed out blank using a range of knives. Cutting out the bowl of the spoon using curved spoon knifes. You be able to try out various spoon knives and other tools for hollowing the bowl. How to finish the spoon: a cut finish versus a sanded finish, and what to oil your spoon with. You will be able to try out various commercially available knives and axes. We will also talk about and practice how to keep your knife sharp. You will also be able to take home at least one billet of wood to continue making spoons. Sean Hellman has been making spoons since a teenager and regularly teaches and demonstrates around the country including at Spoonfest, the largest international spoon carving festival.

£135 (including materials)

*COURSE FULL – Click here to join waiting list*

With Kate Semple of Kate Semple Sculpture

Join Kate Semple to carve your own Gargoyle inspired by the wonderful carvings we admire on churches and cathedrals. Kate will take you step by step through the ancient skills of stone carving, to create your own sculpture for your home or garden.

£135 (Plus approx. £25 materials)

With Paula Carnell of paulacarnell.com

The ancient craft of skep making is a must for anyone interested in beekeeping or traditional crafts. Paula will demonstrate and guide students in how to make a traditional straw skep for use with catching swarms or beekeeping (although you can use them as a bowl if you don’t have bees). Tools needed will be provided and all equipment needed will be available to purchase. You should leave the course with a completed skep and be competent in making future skeps in your own time after completing the course. The two days will be mindful and inspiring, where talk of bees and skeps will transport you to a feeling of better connection with nature.

£135 (plus materials approximately £10)

*COURSE FULL – Click here to join waiting list*

With Mark Snellgrove of Bakesdown

A traditional basket also known as a splint basket originating from west/north Devon and used by farmers and smallholders for planting and harvesting potatoes, apples, feeding stock, and a multitude of tasks on the land. Stave baskets are very hard wearing and give years of service. You will be making a ‘number 2’ sized basket with a handle, which was designed to hold about 20lbs of potatoes using cleft ash for the ‘bonds’ and handle and western red cedar for the staves. A very special course which hasn’t been taught for many years. If you would like to know a little more about the history of this basket and the last known producer Jack Rowsell of Tiverton you can read more in this wonderful research by Mary Butcher http://www.reading.ac.uk/adlib/Details/collect/6456 .

£165 (plus approximately £30 materials)

*COURSE FULL – Click here to join waiting list*

With Wayne Parrott

Wayne Parrott was trained in his craft in England and Germany, and now engraves from his London-based studio, specialising in Heraldic work, carving and seal engraving. He taught hand engraving at the Sir John Cass Department of the London Guildhall University (now the London Metropolitan University) for over 30 years. Wayne is a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths and teaches for the Hand Engravers Association. The intricate art of hand engraving on metal has long been used to add interest and beauty to decorative and functional objects. Finely applied craftsmanship can be found on thimbles, tableware, gun barrels clock faces and wax seals to name but a few. You will be introduced to the art of engraving on copper sheet, but the techniques learned can also be used on silver or gold. Choose your own simple design, or work from prepared ideas, which might be heraldic, flowing patterns, textures or lettering. Each student will take away the necessary tools to continue at home.

£145 (plus materials approx. £30 to include tools to continue at home)

*COURSE FULL – Click here to join waiting list*

With Julian Livingstone

Ever popular, this two-day class with a professional silver smith is aimed at complete beginners and improvers. Starting with sheet metals and expert guidance you will learn to cut, shape, solder, bezel set stones and polish to make small items of jewellery, a sugar spoon or other trinkets and keepsakes to your own designs. You are welcome to work in gold or other metals by prior arrangement.

£135 (plus materials by weight – guide approx. £1.95p/gm inc. solder, flux and consumables)

With Shane Whitehead of www.artofafinenature.com

This year’s course will focus on making original pieces in wax to be cast in Bronze using the ancient lost wax casting process. You will learn the techniques required to cast in bronze; starting with wax sculpting and creating a casting tree over the first two days, then casting your sculpture, finishing your castings and finally patination techniques the following week. This course is suitable for all levels of ability and experience.

£285 for four days (plus materials approx. £65)

*COURSE FULL*

Introduction to lead work and copper foiling with Ann Pengelly of Artemis House Glass Studio

Explore the diversity of stained glass panels – using copper foil & lead work. A voyage of discovery through these fascinating techniques culminating in a small panel or shaped piece. Larger pieces can be started but will not necessarily be completed in the two days. This class is suitable for complete beginners as well as improvers.

£135 plus materials as required approximately £20 to include practice glass, lead, foil and glass for a finished panel up to 12” square (further materials available if required)

With Quentin Smith of QJS Marquetry

Students will explore the construction of traditional marquetry motifs such as the compass rose and "Sheraton" oval. They will use these patterns to decorate one or more practical items such as notebooks. This course is intended as a "follow-on" for those familiar with the "window method" for pictorial marquetry, but is not beyond new starters with modest craft skills. Note: students may wish to bring other items (such as a box, tray or clock) into which to incorporate their marquetry. In this instance they are advised to contact the tutor beforehand to discuss details and confirm suitability.

£135 (plus materials approximately £10)

*COURSE FULL – Click here to join waiting list*

With Julian Livingstone

Ever popular, this two-day class with a professional silver smith is aimed at complete beginners and improvers. Starting with sheet metals and expert guidance you will learn to cut, shape, solder, bezel set stones and polish to make small items of jewellery, a sugar spoon or other trinkets and keepsakes to your own designs. You are welcome to work in gold or other metals by prior arrangement.

£135 (plus materials by weight – guide approx. £1.95p/gm inc. solder, flux and consumables)

*COURSE FULL – Click here to join waiting list*

With Murray Marks of www.marcovitchshakerbox.co.uk

Hand craft a set of two or three beautiful nesting shaker boxes in Cherry and Maple using Shaker materials and methods. A relaxed and gentle process using veneers, the copper tacks that hold the bands and the wooden pegs that pin the bands to the lids and bases are imported from America. Each stage and process closely follows the traditions. The Shaker lifestyle required a practical flexible storage system for household and workshop use. They adapted an English design of box which was almost round, and changed the proportions to the now classic oval design. The distinctive swallow tails of the joint were designed for practical purposes and with the beveled detail give a stylish hallmark to the finished box.

£135 (plus materials approximately £14 per box)

*COURSE FULL – Click here to join waiting list*

With Janet Waters of JW Blooms

A little festive inspiration with the wonderful Jan Waters of JW Blooms! Jan will guide you through making a festive wreath to adorn your home or front door, using locally sourced garden greenery and decorated with hedgerow finds. You’ll also make a rustic terracotta pot table centre, full of country charm. Natural simplicity using the colours and textures of the season.

£75 including a glass of festive cheer with lunch (plus materials approximately £20)