Around a theme of 'A New Lease of Life' this course is an opportunity to utilise some of the treasured fabrics or sewing items you have kept and always wanted to use but couldn't find the application or inspiration. I will show you how to use hand or machine stitch on very unlikely items to create a richly decorated and very personal book.

Working from observation in the first instance, this workshop explores soft diffused lines. Using a simple single needle punch process, we will translate artworks into textile pieces with line and texture, ranging from fine to chunky. We will also work with gummy silk fibres and combine techniques to create further grounds or stitch. Your little book will be very fat with work and ideas.

Suitable for both watercolourists and textile artists, these workshops will focus on experimenting and exploring new ideas and techniques that will help loosen up your watercolour style. Mixed media watercolours, working with texture, wet-in-wet, using collage as a ground for your painting ... all techniques that can be adopted and used to help unlock some of the secrets to painting in a looser style. Working mainly from photographs, we will look at how an unconventional composition can work wonders, as well as considering working in different sizes and formats for a more contemporary look.

This is an ideal workshop for anyone wanting to screen print onto fabric for the first time. We will briefly discuss the history of screen printing, the equipment and materials used and explore the basics of creating cut and torn paper templates to use with the screen.

Come along to this exciting day with some plain fabrics and leave with a pile of colourful prints. During the session you will develop your own designs and pattern by printing onto the fabrics you bring. Because of limited space we will be working on smaller pieces of fabric which can be used to create a sample book, hanging or small quilt. If you're a non stitcher you can print onto T-shirts, bags, cushion covers etc or simply transform a pile of old clothes! All techniques use solvent free inks and A4 screens are supplied for use during the day. The emphasis will be on the experimental - easy, fast and fun, this is a great introduction to screen printing.

Whether aged and distressed or full of colour and life, you will create collages using image transfer and manipulation techniques. Then using distressing, glazing, bonding, simple stitching techniques and incorporating metals the result will be a surface which conveys a personal message. Images used can be selected from those provided, or they can be from your personal collection.

For those who have some experience, or have been on one or more of Suzy's previous workshops, but would like help and encouragement to practice your drawing and/or painting skills. You will build on techniques already learnt & explore, through a range of different subjects, new techniques in both drawing & watercolour. It is up to you whether you concentrate on drawing or watercolour, or whether you combine both.

Sharon Osborne takes part in lots of our workshops and many of the techniques learnt are incorporated into her work. She will be working in our gallery using different combinations of machine embroidery, embellishing, painted surfaces, bonding, transferring, distressing, etc, when she is happy to explain these techniques to visitors. The sessions will have a theme but Sharon will be working across a variety of techniques. Drop in for a cuppa and a chat!

Following the tremendous popularity of Clare's previous Nuno Day, we have decided to give this workshop another run! Nuno felting is all about the linking of wool and fabrics - making scarves is the best & easiest way to learn. You are always left with an elegant and beautifully textured result. No two scarves will be the same and everyone will want one!

Clare will be presenting a further felting workshop on 27th October.

Devoré - burn out - was developed in C17th France as a 'poor man's lace'. Today it's an exciting yet illusive textile technique. Having spent 14 years specializing in this particular process, Dionne has developed accessible techniques and a myriad of additional applications.

An experimental workshop, covering the basics yet moving quickly on to explore devoré's other attributes! You'll learn the basic principles of devoré, learn how to involve colour in innovative ways and how to use devoré in other areas of your textile repertoire. Achieve stunning results and discover novel applications for this intriguing process, it’s so much more than textured velvet. Expect to develop sample ideas as an ideal platform for personal progression.

Fabrics for devoré will be supplied as part of the materials charge.

Make a brooch in a day! Contemporary method of using papers and stitch to produce a piece of wearable art! Some are bold, others delicate and dainty. Embellished with baubles and beads. All completely personal and unique!

A mixed media workshop using paper, textile, print, dye and stitch to create pieces based on the 'land' and landscape or a theme of your choice. Looking at different ways of texturing and colouring surfaces a focus will be placed on stitching as an extension of mark making and drawing, and various means of layering.

Topics:

• Techniques of distressing & layering, which have been adapted from the use in Japanese textile and paper crafts. Building up a range of papers to work with.
• Layering paper and fabric, paste and colouring mediums.
• Stitching a line.
• Discussing ideas for working with the papers such as methods of layering, stitching together, seams, gathers, tearing, building towards textured surfaces.
• Creating own pieces using techniques.

A one day pastel workshop taster for those who are beginners as well as experienced pastel artists. We will warm up with big gestured mark making with charcoal and then quickly progress to soft pastels. The elements of colour, tone, drawing and painting techniques will be addressed as well as the construction of your painting. The day will encompass still life, landscapes and the exploration of some routes from representational to abstract.

Do you have a passion for stitched textiles, but want to know 'where do I go from here'?
Do you have numerous UFOs you would love to finish, but don't know how to progress them?
Have you tried free-machine-embroidery but come unstuck at the first hurdle?

Then this is your chance to get some help and inspiration from our 'expert in residence' Pauline Verrinder. There will be machines available for you to try your hand, so why not drop in for a while? If it's 'textile' related we will try to help! Tea & Coffee will be available.

Sharon Osborne takes part in lots of our workshops and many of the techniques learnt are incorporated into her work. She will be working in our gallery using different combinations of machine embroidery, embellishing, painted surfaces, bonding, transferring, distressing, etc, when she is happy to explain these techniques to visitors. The sessions will have a theme but Sharon will be working across a variety of techniques. Drop in for a cuppa and a chat!

This exciting workshop was a great success last year with students who have experienced printing, but as they said, not like this! Kim has created a workshop which incorporates three different types of collagraph textured printing. Printing from plastics, printing from delicate textile samples, and the stronger coloured multicoloured rubs. This is printing made very exciting, easy and accessible. Whether you have done it before or just want to see printing from a different perspective - this is a printing workshop with a difference.
www.majorgeorge.co.uk

Learn techniques for embroidering onto sheer fabrics with your sewing machine with a focus on fun! Create a range of samples with ideas of how they may be taken further. An inspirational class for those with some experience of machine embroidery.

See also Thurs 28th Oct

If you have some basic knowledge of silver metal clay, or have been on one of Sarah's introductory sessions, this workshop will help you develop your skills and creative ideas. The subjects covered will include decorative hollow beads, paste-work (eg covering organic materials such as leaves with paste to reproduce a silver version), setting fused glass or cubic ziconias into rings or pendants.
www.sarahlambjewellery.co.uk

Use your own imagery or sketches as inspiration when creating a hanging which will be built up from stitched fragments. Original methods of connecting your stitched fragments will be explored together with suitable materials and stitch. Your resolved piece is limited only by your imagination from which ideas can be taken into a further body of work.

Print on paper and fabric to create decorative surfaces that will be folded and formed into dimensional structures.

The workshop is in three stages. We will begin by printing onto coloured papers and fabric using simple print blocks made from card and hobby foam and then use the papers to explore the folded form. The designs will be inspired by simple dots and dashes to create texture marks.
Suitable fabrics will be fine-woven & non-woven - Lutradur, organdie, abaca tissue and fine cotton lawn - coloured and printed before adding delicate stitch marks to embellish the surface. Stitching may be hand or machine and consideration will be given to creating fabrics that can work from both sides.
The final stage will see the stitched fabrics folded in various ways using Japanese methods as inspiration to create small container forms or structures.

The Silk Sensation explains and explores the characteristic qualities found in the wide variety of silk and related fibres in their raw state. These fibres will be used on day one in a variety of combinations and permutations to produce original and unique textile surfaces commonly known as 'silk paper'.

On day two, using these surfaces, you will develop the distinctive features found in the individual fibres their lustre, texture and fragility to construct a whole cloth further enhanced with stitch. For beginners as well as the more experienced. www.christinebenson.co.uk (an old website, but with info & images).

Another chance to attend this inspirational and well loved workshop! This will not be an exact duplication of June's workshop so even if you've been before, you can come again!! Aimed at starting a sketchbook in an easy and fun way. We will be looking at all sorts of ways of recording and developing ideas and making some stitched samples to make our own ongoing resource.

Sharon Osborne takes part in lots of our workshops and many of the techniques learnt are incorporated into her work. She will be working in our gallery using different combinations of machine embroidery, embellishing, painted surfaces, bonding, transferring, distressing, etc, when she is happy to explain these techniques to visitors. The sessions will have a theme but Sharon will be working across a variety of techniques. Drop in for a cuppa and a chat!

This three day course gives a unique opportunity to create a book and start to fill it. Using just fabric for the cover and the pages, a touch of gesso and some fabric paint, then finished with machine or hand stitch. It would be a good idea to bring with you as a starting point some items of inspiration of your own choice: letters, photographs, scraps of fabric, interesting poetry or prose, books, your own drawings, etc. Themes could include: the beach, a favourite walk or place, travel, flowers, the garden, architecture, etc. www.stitchhost.co.uk/frannyp/

This workshop coincides with a major exhibition of work by Frances Pickering in the gallery.

Are you a magpie with a hoard of found items and personal treasures? This workshop will give you an opportunity to combine some of these with non traditional materials and stitch to produce individual decorative and tactile surfaces. www.lizard-dance.com

Flowers, birds, abstract designs etc all make wonderful embellishments for hats, scarves, wraps & bags. Design your own and make a wealth of embellishments to adorn your favourite items, or as a great little gift for a friend.

See also Fri 30th July

Learn machine embroidery techniques for constructing fabrics from threads, yarns and water soluble fabric! Create a range of samples with ideas of how they may be taken further. An inspirational class for those with some experience of machine embroidery. www.ginaferrari.co.uk

See Thurs 16th Sept for more details

Continuing the exploration of the marvellous world of metallic decoration. You will have the opportunity to work on a variety of surfaces handmade papers, textiles, plastics, Lutradur, etc., resulting in more intriguing metallic surfaces. Experimental use of layering and manipulated textures will produce a wide collection of embellished samples and you may also wish to bring your own projects/artwork if you wish to incorporate metallic elements.

Get to grips with the techniques used by Alysn to stitch into metal and metal fabrics in combination with highly textured surfaces created by heat reactive surfaces. Use these ideas to develop a panel or a 3-D sculptural form. www.flickr.com/photos/alysnmidgelowmarsden.

An informative course with immediate results which will illustrate that everyone has the ability to draw. You will producing truly exciting work in charcoal and pastel which you will want to have framed and hung on your wall. www.bobbybritnell.co.uk

To be aware of the potential of embroidery techniques at each stage of the felting process. In the layering of Merino tops and the bonding of stitched fabric and threads within the surface. The use of pre-felts for patchwork and appliqué, with further embellishment by hand stitch.

A taster workshop exploring layering and collage to integrate texture into art work. Referencing weathered and worn surfaces as an abstract source to develop personal material. Explore the creative potential of colour and texture to develop inspiring surfaces for stitch, collage and mixed media.

Stitch links with stitch to form structured and delicate webs. Discover the magical surfaces that can be created with only the thread in the machine, without any other visible means of support, in this workshop where you will take your first steps in falling for Romeo and other water soluble stabilisers . Combining basic grids, machine and other threads, fabric snips, non-free machining and some free-machining we will be making delicate open structures. Familiarity with your sewing machine is essential.

In this class you will learn how to create beautiful effects using various goldwork techniques with bridal accessories designer Lucy Reed. The aim is to gain inspiration and work on a design that could be used to adorn an accessory such as a handbag. www.lucyreeddesigns.com.

Suitable for both fine and textile artists, this workshop will focus on experimenting and exploring new ideas and techniques. Topics covered will include mixed media, quick pencil sketches, collages and montages, and there will be plenty of hints and tips showing you how to create beautiful sketchbooks you will be proud of.

We will be making a small album filled with a combination of ideas, colour and stitch samples relating to a simple theme. As well as being a personal reference for future projects it will be a lovely piece to keep.

Polymer clay is such a versatile and inexpensive material that can easily and quickly be transformed into stunning beads, jewellery and embellishments. You will be able to create a necklace/ring and take away additional techniques to explore later.

Explore several surfaces using acrylic paints and mediums combined with stitch and an assortment of fabrics, tissues and foils plus the usual smidgen of zapping, burning and melting - then go on to create a mixed media vessel piece from start to finish.

An opportunity for students to experiment with paper lamination; working with paper and sheer cloth to create a 'new integrated' fabric. The workshop will also explore ways in which the new cloth can be developed further with a ranger of additional techniques. www.parallelstextiles.com/sarah-welsby-textile-artist.html

Sharon Osborne takes part in lots of our workshops and many of the techniques learnt are incorporated into her work. She will be working in our gallery using different combinations of machine embroidery, embellishing, painted surfaces, bonding, transferring, distressing, etc, when she is happy to explain these techniques to visitors. The sessions will have a theme but Sharon will be working across a variety of techniques. Drop in for a cuppa and a chat!