The Make and Do Studio

Want to come to our Open Craft Night?

If there is one thing I have learned whilst doing my workshops here at the Studio, crafting isn't just about learning a new skill, it is about connecting with people and making time to be social. And what better time to do this than during the Winter monthes when you start to feel like the days are just a bit too lshort?  

Make and Do have joined up with Coffee au Clay to offer a dedicated date in the crafting diary where folks can come and experience crafting and being creative in a mini workshop environment. The idea behind the Open Craft Nights is each session is an hour long mini workshop where a person can try something different - sessions in the pipeline include making a personalised kindle cover, creating a beaded bracelet, working with simple felt flowers and just in time for th diamond jubilee - making your own bunting!  

And for those of you that are knitters out there,at the same time as the mini workshops, we will also being running a much requested Stitich and Bitch session!. Beryl Woodcroft, our tutor at the workshop for the Fit to Knit workshop, will be overseeing those of you that know how to knit but maybe you need a bit more guidance or want to have a good gab while you knit and purl. Just bring your knitting with you and we will see what we can do to help out!

The first Open Craft Night will be the 26th of January, from 7:30 - 9:00PM and as this is a new venture, we thought it might be worth having an open house for the first session. All tutors who are involved with the Studio and the Open Craft Night will be on hand at Coffee au Clay to show what it is that they do and answer any questions that you may have about their specific craft. We also hope to have a full listing of what each subsequent monthly Open Craft Night will cover.

We really are looking forward to adding this event to our already growing list of workshops and activities. Our Facebook page and Twitter @MakeandDoStudio 

Winter isn't looking so bad now!

Meet the Makers day three - Beryl Woodcroft of all things felt

First of all, I have to say, I really liked writing that title as we often pick on Beryl about being a master felter - and just think of what her business card would read!

Beryl has a very special place in the development of Make and Do.  About two years ago, I took an ad out in a little paper that gets pushed through people's doors.  At that point, I was only offering sewing workshops but wanted to offer more workshops - but needed other people to add to the list. I am a sewer really, even though I have dabbled in knitting and I remember when I was little crocheting. But I knew my expertise was in picking someone to share their knowledge in this area....not to teach it!

At the bottom of the ad, for some odd reason, I put "if you have tutor potential, please get contact the studio"  - I have only put that once and have never needed to put it again because Beryl replied, saying that she thought she had skills that I would be interested in and could me chat.  

Thought she had skills? - this lady is crazy talented!  She knits small villages on the weekends, has passed her City and Guilds Embroidery Part 1 and recently passed her City and Guilds Feltmaking Part 2 and 3. She is a Member of TX – a North Cheshire Textile Group and is the Regional Coordinator for the International Feltmakers Association.  She is so passionate about her crafts that when she comes around for a chat - she opens my eyes to new experiences (we recently made compostable felt bowls which you can use as an outdoor planter and when left outside to the elements, it will slowly decompose back to earth - and the colours are to die for!). I am 100% certain I would never had been exposed to this if Beryl hadn't politely asked, in that British way, whether we should meet to discuss her skills. 

If you would like to see some of Beryl's creations, please come by our stall at the Stockton Heath Festiva craft market. If you want just have a go at basic feltmaking skills, please come along to the Make and Take sessions in the craft tent - we have several sessions which are great for the curious and creative!

Three down, two more talented Makers to go!

 

 

I wonder if I could knit a lined curtain?

We had two very busy workshops last week - one was Making Simple Lined Curtains (simple if you know how!) and Fit to Knit - our beginner knitting workshop.  It got me thinking - perhaps an alternative version of both workshops would be to have How to Knit a Simple Lined Curtain......I think not!

Anne has done a fantastic job with her workshops on both the blinds and the curtains - she has even agreed to come back for more dates- and has agreed to do a few night sessions for those that can't make days.

Debi and Beryl have a good look at her first attempt!

You should see all the stuff the comes out on the day - so much about the wool and all these lovely modern patterns to knit!

Tools of the trade for making curtains..

And one happy mug!

Here is to another creative week!

 

 

 

Where have you been?

I have been sooooo bad about posting the last six weeks!  It is not because I haven't been busy - I am getting married in two weeks and when the plans were first banded around about where to have it, I decided that since we lived on such a pretty street (especially in the summer) why not have it here!  So between the planning of that as well as having more workshops than expected, posting seems to have fallen to the wayside. 

We have had a few more firsts here at Make and Do - my first mother/daughter students (that does not sound right at all but that is the only word I can think of) who came to our Everything You Need to Know to Learn How to Sew workshop (the last one before we slow down for summer!)    

 

"Jasmine and I really enjoyed the sewing lesson. It was lovely to do a class together and we are now able to support each other... Your method of teaching was great and we felt very comfortable in such a relaxed but professional atmosphere. The muffin was lovely and as a coffee connoisseur I really enjoyed the coffee too. We now feel energised and motivated to start sewing, our cushions are amazing.  You will be seeing us again and thank you so much for a lovely morning.  Susanne and Jasmine

Back in June we had another first which was two classes held in one morning!  Our Fit to Knit workshop was in our front parlour (that sounds so posh, doesn't it!) and we had the second session of our Quiltmaking for Beginners workshop in the actual Studio. We met up in the kitchen for coffee and nibbles at half time, had a bit of a gab and then went back to our respective workshops.  

Other firsts included the first workshop on Cob Web scarf making - which I was lucky enough to attend due to a last minute cancellation.  I know that might sound odd but I don't often get to go to courses that Beryl teaches as either they are full or I am busy on other work related items.I had great fun and my scarf was so soft and lovely, I have added it to my wedding outfit - I might even post a photo of it on the day.

That is my cob web scarf, before it was a scarf (if you know what I mean).

Well, we are winding down for summer but the autumn schedule is all but done ( I am tweaking a few last minute dates) so I hope to add that in the next day or so.  I will post over the summer as I am looking forward to posting about some new topics - and new photos!