Thursday 9 - Sunday 12 May 2024

Workshops & Activities

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Below is a list of the workshops which were available at Living Crafts in 2023

Our workshops are opportunity for you to challenge yourself to learn new skills, practice existing ones or simply have some fun with friends and family. We have activities for all ages. See below for the full list of the pre-bookable and drop-in workshops and activities which were available in 2023.

This will be a fantastic opportunity to work with experienced and skilled tutors who will guide you with expert hints and tips - take home your own wonderful creations.

Remember to sign-up to receive our emails here for updates about the show.

Pre-Bookable Workshops

Calligraphy

Modern Calligraphy

Tutor: Jane Lappage

This have-a-go session teaches you the basics of modern calligraphy. You will script your name in the 'Laurel Wreath' design provided using metallic paint with practice sheets, nib and holder provided. Suitable for left and right handed people.

Time: 1 hour

Cost: £10

Earrings A

Sterling Silver Earring Workshop

Tutor: Emma Goodwin & Sally Andrews

You will have the opportunity to make two pairs of sterling silver earrings, one pair of drops and one pair of studs. Both made with texture using several different jewellery techniques including forging, soldering and filing. The workshop is not suitable for people under 16 years old.

Time: 1 Hour

Cost: £55

Lino Card

Introduction to Lino Cut on Paper

Tutor: Eleanor Mulinder

Print your own lino block by hand. You will learn how to design, carve and print your block and burnish your art. This includes an initial practice block for experiments and mark-making. Plenty of inspiration provided but you can bring your own image to work from. Please bring an apron!

Time: 2 Hours

Cost: £40

Enamelling

Enamelling

Tutor: Teresa Kent

Try the ancient art of enamelling by applying layers of vitreous glass powder onto copper shapes that will be fired in a kiln. A choice of a pendant or key ring or a matching pendant and earrings for you to make and take home.

Time: 25 mins

Cost: £25 - £40

Watercolour Poppy

Watercolour Flowers

Tutor: Meiru Ludlow

Paint a beautiful poppy flowers picture using wet-on-wet techniques and colour mixing. No pencil sketching required. You will be shown how to paint using easy to master methods. Suitable for 16 years and older.

Time: 1 hour

Cost: £18

Platter

Tension Platter

Tutor: Simone Siegan

Use traditional willow weaving techniques to create a Catalan style tension woven tray, a beautiful garden feature.

Time: 1 hour

Cost: £25

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Stone Carving

Tutor: Sebastian Rasch

Experience the joy of shaping and carving soft limestone. No experience necessary. Just bring curiosity and take home your own small creation. Facilitated with a relaxed and informal approach.

Time: 1 Hour

Cost: £20

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Batik and Silk Painting Workshop

Tutor: Shraddha Desai

Learn the ancient art of batik, a technique of wax resist dyeing. A colourful and creative experience applying wax to cloth and soaking in different coloured dyes repeatedly before removing the wax to achieve the desired result. Alternatively you can have-a-go at silk painting applying the dyes by freehand onto silk fabric.

Time: 2.5 hours

Cost: £40

Mindfulness

Creating Calm with Clay Coils

Tutor: Sarah Core

Discover the calm of clay coils with this mindfulness clay workshop. Learn to make a vase out of clay and allow your decorative vase to emerge from the process as you relax into your creativity. No experience necessary.

Time: 1 Hr 15 mins

Cost: £25

Marble Pottery Pendant

Marbling 4 Fun

Tutor: Craig Joubert

Marble onto a pottery pendant or ceramic tile, and make a matching marbled gift card print. Only three people per session so great to do with your friends.

Time: 15 mins

Cost: £5

Sunflowers Charcoal

Van Gogh Sunflowers in Charcoal

Tutor: Kathy Evershed

Have fun learning how to use the versatile medium of Charcoal and create your own version of the famous Sunflowers with Kathy's step by step demonstration. Perfect for beginners and suitable for adults and children over 6 years old.

Time: 1 Hour

Cost: £10

Chocolate making

Chocolate Making

Tutor: Yvonne Everest

Come and join us to make 12 delicious heart shaped Belgian chocolates! You will discover how to pipe ganache, use transfer sheets and stencils, handle chocolate and so much more. The workshop is aimed at adults or children age over 11 who are capable of working without adult assistance!

Time: 35 mins

Cost: £20

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Elephant Clay Sculpture

Tutor: Carole Sender

Learn to make an endearing elephant sculpture with Carole and Talia from 'Clay with Carole'. Model your lively elephant using pottery techniques such as coiling and pinching and watch it grow as you add surface texture, marks and design. No experience needed and suitable for adults and children aged 7+

Time: 2 hours

Cost: £35

Body Mug

Clay Body Mug

Tutor: Sarah Core

Learn to make your very own mug out of clay. Work with your eyes closed and bring to life your personal comforting mug from one piece of clay in this mindfulness mug workshop. No experience necessary.

Time: 1 hr

Cost: £20

Watercolour sea sky

Watercolour Seascape

Tutor: Meiru Ludlow

Take home a beautiful seascape with a dramatic sky painted in watercolours. You will use wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry and colour mixing to create a beautiful painting. No pencil sketching needed. Suitable for 16 years and older.

Time: 1 hour

Cost: £18

Candle Making

Candle making

Tutor: Vedia Osman

A fun candle making workshop to learn the basics from wicks to temperatures and more. Candles will be made from soy wax using the best fragrances and botanicals. Suitable for mature teenagers and adults

Time: 1.5 hours

Cost: £30

Dragonfly 2

Willow Dragonfly

Tutor: Simone Siegan

Create a beautiful willow dragonfly for your garden using traditional techniques.

Time: 1 Hour

Cost: £25

Graining marbling

Faux Graining & Marbling

Tutor: Dave Pullin

The imitation of wood and marble has been around for thousands of years dating back to the ancient Egyptians. The workshop will demonstrate these skills and give you the opportunity to practice and produce painted panels.

Time: 1 hour

Cost: £15

Bangles A

Silver Wire Bangle

Tutor: Emma Goodwin & Sally Andrews

You will have the opportunity to make a Sterling Silver wire bangle, using several tools and techniques. Including soldering and shaping. This workshop is not suitable for people under 16 years old.

Time: 45 minutes

Cost: £50

Watercolour morning woods

Iridescent Watercolour

Tutor: Meiru Ludlow

Use iridescent watercolours to paint a picture of a magical wood in blossom. You will be shown how to use iridescent watercolours to produce a colour changing picture with the colours and techniques giving an additional dimension to your work. Suitable for 16 years and older.

Time: 1 hour

Cost: £18

Lino Tex MR

Introduction to Lino Cut on Fabric

Tutor: Eleanor Mulinder

Learn how to carve and print your own lino block by hand and embelish your own tote bag. You will learn how to design, carve and print your block. This includes an initial practice block for experiments and mark-making. Plenty of inspiration provided but you can bring your own image to work from. Please bring an apron!

Time: 2 Hours

Cost: £40

Clay Owl

Clay Owl Sculpture

Tutor: Carole Sender

Learn to make a characterful owl sculpture with Carole and Talia from 'Clay with Carole'. Explore a variety of clay modelling techniques including coiling, pinching and sculpting and bring your owl to life with distinctive surface texture and relief. No experience needed and suitable for adults and children aged 7+.

Time: 2 hrs

Cost: £35

Willow Peacock

Willow Pheasant or Obelisk

Tutor: Simone Siegan

Weave a willow bird or garden obelisk. Create your own unique version of a pheasant (or peacock) for the garden using willow - legs will be provided. Alternatively take on the challenge of creating a willow obelisk for your garden!

Time: 2 hours

Cost: £50

Block Printing

Textile Block Printing

Tutor: Anna Weatherley-Hastings

Learn all about block printing and print your own tea towel or tote bag. You can choose from a vast range of blocks to create your own design or mark the occasion using a special 'Coronation Collection' block. Aprons provided.

Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Cost: £12.50

Longbow

Make your own Longbow

Tutor: Adam Jenkins

Learn the ancient art of bow making while you craft your own English Longbow by hand using the same methods as bowyers 600 years ago.

Time: 5 hours

Cost: £199

Pinch Pot

Pinch Pot Paradise

Tutor: Sarah Core

Connect with your creative flow in this mindful clay workshop working slowly to make a unique pinch pot for you to treasure. No experience necessary.

Time: 1 hr

Cost: £20

Willow Star

Willow Star or Heart

Tutor: Simone Siegan

Weave a beautiful willow heart for your loved one or create a star to hang in your garden using a mixture of naturally coloured willows.

Time: 1 hour

Cost: £25

Silver Clay Workshop

Silver Clay Workshop

Tutor: Helen Foster-Turner

Make your own beautiful real silver pendant in this fun workshop. Lots of shapes, textures and moulds to choose from to make it uniquely yours!

Time: 1.5 hours

Cost: £35

Around the Showground/Drop-in Workshops

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Marbling drop in

Marbling

Learn the ancient craft of marbling and make your own tile, book cover or pendant with expert Craig Joubert with easy to use, non-toxic, water based and quick drying marbling paint.

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Faux Marble

Graining & Marbling Workshop

Learn how to create faux wood graining and marbling and have a go yourself. A specialist from Altamira Training will guide you through this fascinating art form.

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Glassblowing

Glassblowing

Spectacular blowing demonstrations every hour in the Glassblowing Theatre.

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Raku 3

Raku Firing

Glaze your own pot and watch as the colours magically appear as the vessel emerges from the kiln. A great experience!

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Art in Herts

Art in Herts

Meet local groups from across the county and find out what's going on in your area, from feltmaking and embroidery and spinning and woodcarving.

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Felt making1

Feltmaking

Drop-in ‘make and take’ feltmaking workshops each morning along with demonstrations and displays of felt.

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Compton Verney Festival Sunday print res 149

Circus Skills Workshop

The Living Crafts Circus Skills Workshop is your chance to meet international circus performers and have a go at juggling, plate spinning, diabolo, hat tricks, hula hoop, unicycles and more. Suitable for all ages and abilities. Saturday to Monday only.

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K0011

Make a Mosaic

An introduction to mosaics in which you will make a coaster or letter. Working to a 'pixelated' grid you will only be using whole tiles. No tile cutting or grouting is required making the activity suitable for any age from four upwards. You can take your finished masterpiece away at the end of the day.

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Chocolate house

Drop-in Chocolate Workshops

Children's drop-in, chocolate making workshops. Come along and have some creative fun designing your own Belgium chocolate dinosaurs, hearts, cupcakes and more. It takes 5 minutes to create a masterpiece to take home to eat! (Min weight 100g). £4.50

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