Adult Crafting Workshops
Creativity and inspiration...
Hello! At Birkhill House, we know that crafting is therapy. But it also provides the opportunity to unlock whole new worlds by learning new skills. There is so much on offer here to help with this discovery - whether that be through one of our seasonal crafting workshops (below) or something from our Crafting Directory. Have a browse and contact us if you would like more information.
Eco Wrapping & Ribbons
Friday 15th November 2024, 2-5pm
Learn Fukoshimi, the Japanese art of wrapping with fabric. There will also be a printing station set up for you to experiment with a couple of different techniques for creating prints - so that you can make your very own wrapping paper! We have plumbed the depths of our endless supplies and put together a collection of vintage and reclaimed materials, like wallpapers and bookbinding papers, from which you can choose. We have also been brushing up on our bow tying skills and have a few tricks up our sleeves to share.
This workshop is part of our 4th annual weekend-long Christmas Makes extravaganza. Alongside visiting artist-led workshops in the mornings, our staff will offer a vibrant selection of crafts focusing on sustainability throughout the afternoons. There will be refreshments available each day, a roaring fire pit and plenty of nosy animals to visit in between workshops.
£25, ages 14+, 12 people max, booking essential
Reusable Gift Bag & Label
Saturday 16th November 2024, 10am-12noon
Mairi Flood, Birkhill's chief stitcher, will teach you to make a reusable cotton gift bag measuring up to 35cm x 40cm, along with a felt & cotton gift tag. Included in the price is half a yard of cotton fabric, two metres of ribbon and also felt for your gift tag, along with an easy-to-use adaptable pattern. There will be an opportunity to buy fabric for more bags and labels on the day.
This workshop is part of our 4th annual weekend-long Christmas Makes extravaganza. Alongside visiting artist-led workshops in the mornings, our staff will offer a vibrant selection of crafts focusing on sustainability throughout the afternoons. There will be refreshments available each day, a roaring fire pit and plenty of nosy animals to visit in between workshops.
£35, ages 14+, 4 people max, booking essential
Linocutting
Saturday 16th November 2024, 10am-12noon
Create a simple linocut design to print onto a small edition of Christmas cards with Emma Jones. You can then take your design away to print at home on more cards, wrapping paper or whatever else you fancy!! No experience or equipment necessary. All tools and materials provided. Some design ideas will be provided, but please feel free to bring along images, sketches or thoughts to work from.
This workshop is part of our 4th annual weekend-long Christmas Makes extravaganza. Alongside visiting artist-led workshops in the mornings, our staff will offer a vibrant selection of crafts focusing on sustainability throughout the afternoons. There will be refreshments available each day, a roaring fire pit and plenty of nosy animals to visit in between workshops.
£40, ages 14+, 8 people max, booking essential
Festive Ornaments
Saturday 16th November 2024, 2-5pm
Let's get creative together, using natural materials and items destined for (but diverted from!) the bin. We will use feathers, beads, acorns and shells, along with coffee pods, corks and other treasures to create innovative ornaments and decorations. We will also demonstrate a few different options for folding origami ornaments for the tree, bunting or to give away as gifts.
This workshop is part of our 4th annual weekend-long Christmas Makes extravaganza. Alongside visiting artist-led workshops in the mornings, our staff will offer a vibrant selection of crafts focusing on sustainability throughout the afternoons. There will be refreshments available each day, a roaring fire pit and plenty of nosy animals to visit in between workshops.
£25, ages 14+, 12 people max, booking essential
Wet Felted Soaps
Sunday 17th November 2024, 2-5pm
Use British wool and hot water to turn plain boring soaps into colourful felted pebbles. The soap encased in the felted wool acts as a gentle exfoliant and it slowly shrinks with every use, until only a small, compostable wool pebble is left. They make lovely gifts: handmade, sustainable and easily personalised.
If you suffer from contact allergies (wool, soaps) make sure the workshop is suitable for you before booking.
This workshop is part of our 4th annual weekend-long Christmas Makes extravaganza. Alongside visiting artist-led workshops in the mornings, our staff will offer a vibrant selection of crafts focusing on sustainability throughout the afternoons. There will be refreshments available each day, a roaring fire pit and plenty of nosy animals to visit in between workshops.
£20, ages 14+, 8 people max, booking essential
Willow Stars
Sunday 17th November 2024, 10am-12:30pm
Carys Dawes, AKA The Willow Warbler, has been weaving all sorts of willowy items since 2012. She especially loves to teach others this wonderful craft and specialises in making simple but effective items that are beautifully useful.
All materials (including cake!) are supplied.
Old clothes are advisable.
This workshop is part of our 4th annual weekend-long Christmas Makes extravaganza. Alongside visiting artist-led workshops in the mornings, our staff will offer a vibrant selection of crafts focusing on sustainability throughout the afternoons. There will be refreshments available each day, a roaring fire pit and plenty of nosy animals to visit in between workshops.
£25, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential
Gifts Galore
Sunday 17th November 2024, 2-6pm
You will rotate round four stations set up to create spectacular handmade gifts for family and friends. We will be using found and reclaimed items to create prints for tea towels, painting sets of wine glasses, melting & pouring teacup candles and learning how to make Dorset button keyrings - all using beautiful donated and vintage items that we have collected with you in mind!
This workshop is part of our 4th annual weekend-long Christmas Makes extravaganza. Alongside visiting artist-led workshops in the mornings, our staff will offer a vibrant selection of crafts focusing on sustainability throughout the afternoons. There will be refreshments available each day, a roaring fire pit and plenty of nosy animals to visit in between workshops.
£60, adults only, 12 people max, booking essential
Pine Wreaths
Saturday 30th November 2024, 10am-12:30pm
Sunday 1st December 2024, 2-4:30pm
Thursday 5th December 2024, 6-8:30pm
Saturday 7th December 10am-12:30pm
Come spend a couple of hours making a traditional pine wreath with gardener Nicky Stevens. Fresh pine boughs, holly and ivy will all be available, alongside a selection of pinecones, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, feathers, ribbons and other embellishments.
Refreshments included.
These sessions are part of our special Wreath Week, seven days of festive themed wreath workshops, including pine, tartan rag, origami, willow, bracken and fleece.
£40, adults and accompanied teens only, 8 people max, booking essential
Bracken Wreaths
Saturday 30th November 2024, 2-4pm
Join therapeutic gardener Helen Foulkes and create a different kind of Christmas wreath made with bracken and natural foliage. The wreath that can be made in a fully sustainable way with locally sourced foliage . Add extras to create your own masterpiece.
You will receive a grape vine wreath base with twine and wire to assemble the wreath. All the bracken is dried in advance and is very durable even in the rain on the front door. Then visit the wreath bar to add your extras to create your own individual creation according to your taste.
To encourage sustainability anyone who returns their base to Helen Foulkes will receive £3.00 the next workshop booked with her.
Refreshments included.
This session is part of our special Wreath Week, seven days of festive themed wreath workshops, including pine, tartan rag, origami, willow, bracken and fleece.
£30, adults and accompanied teens only, 8 people max, booking essential
Willow Wreaths
Sunday 1st December 2024, 10am-12noon
We're keeping it simple with our willow wreaths this year and we would like to show you how! Join Lara Armitage, who will teach you how to make two small woven willow wreaths. There will be a selection of natural embellishments here to finish your creations or you can take your frames home and use them as bases for building your own homemade versions.
Dress warmly, as we will be working outside for at least part of the time, if the weather allows.
Refreshments included.
This session is part of our special Wreath Week, seven days of festive themed wreath workshops, including pine, tartan rag, origami, willow, bracken and fleece.
£15, adults and accompanied teens only, 8 people max, booking essential
Origami Wreaths
Monday 2nd December 2024, 6-7:30pm
Lara Armitage will show you how to employ the ancient art of Japanese paper folding in order to create a unique indoor festive wreath. Sitting fireside, you will learn to fold the intricate shapes needed to fashion these delicate wreaths.
Refreshments included.
This session is part of our special Wreath Week, seven days of festive themed wreath workshops, including pine, tartan rag, origami, willow, bracken and fleece.
£15, adults and accompanied teens only, 8 people max, booking essential
Fleece Wreaths
Wednesday 4th December 2024, 1-3pm
Saturday 7th December 2024, 2-4pm
We have been working with so much fibre recently that it has sneaked its way into almost all of our recent projects! Come along to join Lara Armitage in making a fleece wreath, using a variety of different donated fibres. Finish with natural materials, needle felted or fabric embellishment and ribbon.
Refreshments included.
These sessions are part of our special Wreath Week, seven days of festive themed wreath workshops, including pine, tartan rag, origami, willow, bracken and fleece.
£20, adults and accompanied teens only, 8 people max, booking essential
Tartan Wreaths
Wednesday 4th December 2024, 6-8pm
Friday 6th December 2024, 6-8pm
Join Sunshine Stewart in making your very own festive Tartan rag wreath. Materials will be provided and the fire lit for a festive and cosy crafting session ahead of the holidays.
All ages welcome; under 10s must be accompanied by an adult.
Refreshments included.
These sessions are part of our special Wreath Week, seven days of festive themed wreath workshops, including pine, tartan rag, origami, willow, bracken and fleece.
£15, all ages, 6 people max, booking essential
