Christmas Makes 2023
Join us for a weekend of festive crafting...
At Birkhill House CIC is hosting a weekend-long Christmas Makes extravaganza, with seventeen workshops running over the course of three days. Come make Christmas decorations, cards and gifts in our festive workshop spaces. There will be refreshments available throughout the day, a roaring fire pit and plenty of nosy animals to visit in between workshops.
On Saturday 4th November we are having an open drop-in afternoon. Enjoy the brisk outdoor setting at Birkhill! Cosy up by the alpacas with a cup of hot chocolate, create a festive foliage centrepiece and warm your hands by the fire pit before having a go at weaving your own willow decoration with Katie Warner. Then head inside to browse the wares on the shelves here and see what Birkhill is all about. No need to book. Just come along!
Seasonal Monoprint
Friday 3rd November 2023, 1-3pm
Join Emma Jones of The Wee Blue Press to learn how to make expressive monoprints using winter leaves, feathers and other natural objects collected from the garden At Birkhill House. We will experiment with the shapes and textures of the objects to create original and unique prints in seasonal colours. The objects will be inked and printed with and without a press. A great introduction to printmaking and a wonderful opportunity to make a unique Christmas present.
£25 per person, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential.
Woven Festive Squares
Friday 3rd November 2023, 2-5pm
Learn to use the Schacht Zoom Loom to make festive holiday squares and create table runners, coasters, wreaths, scarves and more.
Lara Armitage will help you get to grips with the Schacht Zoom Loom to make festive holiday squares that lend themselves to table runners, coasters, wreaths, scarves and all manner of festive (or non-festive!) creations. Allow yourself the luxury of an afternoon spent getting to grips with this specialist loom, which is a step up from the humble pin loom. No weaving experience necessary but it is a bit fiddly so pack your reading glasses and let's have some fun.
£25 per person, adults only, 5 people max, booking essential.
Linocut Christmas Cards
Friday 3rd November 2023, 4-6pm
Create a simple linocut design to print onto a small edition of Christmas cards in this festive workshop with Emma Jones of The Wee Blue Press. 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.
£25 per person, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential.
Origami Christmas Tree Scenes
Friday 3rd November 2023, 6:30-8:30pm
Join At Birkhill House Director Lara Armitage in one of her favourite art forms: origami! Learn how to construct these gorgeously intricate folded trees and then mount them in balsa wood boxes to create charming festive tableaus. These look delightful hung on a wall, or on a sheltered or internal door in place of a wreath. You can continue with your festive folding skills at home to make Christmas card toppers, gift tags or decorations, or holiday bunting.
£20 per person, adults only, 6 people max, booking essential.
Knitted Bunting
Friday 3rd November 2023, 6:30-8:30pm
Samira Hill returns to Birkhill to spread the joy of knitting! Join her to learn how to make these adorable miniature bunting strands, which would be perfect as festive decorations over the mantlepiece or wrapped up under the tree for a craft-loving friend. Suitable for total beginners, you will learn a number of basic skills, including cast on and knit stitches and also how to decrease stitches.
£17 per person, adults only, 5 people max, booking essential.
Willow Star Decorations
Saturday 4th November 2023, 10am-12noon
Join Katie Warner for a festive weaving workshop, making your very own willow star. Ideal as a Christmas tree topper, hanging in a window or simply propped up on your mantelpiece - wherever it goes, your handmade star will be a stunning and sustainable addition to the Christmas decorations this year! No experience necessary. All tools and materials supplied. Please wear clothes that you don't mind getting scruffy.
£35 per person, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential.
Peg Loomed Pot Stands
Saturday 4th November 2023, 10am-12noon
Using selvedge or fabric strips, Nicky Stevens will show you how to warp a section of a peg loom and weave a simple pot stand, ideal to protect your work surfaces from hot pans or teapots. Perfect to keep for yourself - or give as a gift.
£20 per person, adults only, 5 people max, booking essential.
Embellished Textile Brooches
Saturday 4th November 2023, 10am-12noon
Taking inspiration from a workshop she attended with contemporary embroidery artist Jessica Grady, Mairi Flood (AKA Meandering Yarns) will lead participants on an upcycling journey to create bold textural pieces that will spice up any festive outfit or serve as an innovative gift for the funkier friend among us. If, like Mairi, you find yourself hooked on stitching these mini works of genius - fear not! We will have mini packs of materials waiting in the shop. Requirements for this workshop are basic sewing skills (stab stitch & over-sewing), a sense of fun, willingness to experiment and a love of colour and texture.
£16 per person, adults only, 6 people max, booking essential.
Crochet Stars
Saturday 4th November 2023, 1-3pm
It’s never too late to learn crochet and never too early to start crafting your festive makes! You can do both in this two hour workshop with Magdalena Sobula, aimed at both complete beginners and more advanced crocheters who would like to refresh their skills.
You will learn to make little crochet stars that make perfect tree or wreath ornaments, gift tags and even appliques for your Christmas jumper. Crochet hooks and a variety of yarns to choose from will be provided along with step by step instructions and as much support as you need to finish at least one little star and walk away with a skill and a pattern to make as many as your heart desires.
£12 per person, adults only, 5 people max, booking essential.
Wax Wraps
Saturday 4th November 2023, 1-3pm
A sustainable alternative to cling film, these wax wraps can be reused again and again, in a multitude of ways - from wrapping sandwiches to covering cakes and cheeses. Choosing cotton fabric from the Birkhill stash, Nicky Stevens will use wax from her bees and natural jojoba oil to coat the fabric in order to create two or three wraps of different sizes.
* There is plenty of fabric to choose from but if you wish to bring a particular fabric, feel free to do so. It is best to use reasonably dark coloured/patterned fabric that is pure cotton, so that it can be fully biodegradable at the end of its life.
£15 per person, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential.
Drop-in!
Saturday 4th November 2023, 1-3pm
Enjoy the brisk outdoor setting at Birkhill! Cosy up by the alpacas with a cup of hot chocolate, create a festive foliage centrepiece and warm your hands by the fire pit before having a go at weaving your own willow decoration with Katie Warner. Then head inside to browse the wares on the shelves here and see what Birkhill is all about. No need to book. Just come along!
Willow weaving priced individually, adults only, no need to book.
Mosaic Pendants
Saturday 4th November 2023, 4-6pm
Fancy gifting a loved one a hand made piece of jewellery this Christmas? BAMM artist Marion Ross is coming to Birkhill to lead this mosaic pendant workshop. A wide variety of coloured glass tile, beads, including Italian millefiori, and porcelain tile will be available to choose from. And of course as a selection of different shapes, sizes and colours of bases. All other tools and materials are provided. Everyone will go home with their very own personal piece that they have designed and made.
£30 per person, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential.
Festive Origami Centrepieces
Sunday 5th November 2023, 10am-12noon
Enjoy the meditative art of Japanese paper folding in this engrossing workshop. Join Lara Armitage to create a number of different origami models that can be used to dress a festive candle centrepiece. No previous skills or experience necessary - just patience and reading glasses! All materials provided.
£20 per person, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential.
Knitted Snowman Decoration
Sunday 5th November 2023, 12noon-2pm
Knit a wee snowman along with Lynne Sneddon to add festive cheer to your home or give as a handmade gift. This knitting workshop is suited to beginner knitters or those who need a little knitting refresher. No long and laborious scarves here! Make a cute little ornament from start to finish in the time allotted. All materials provided, along with a healthy dose of banter, as Lynne loves to chat about wool and foraging for bits of fleece in the countryside.
£18 per person, adults only, 5 people max, booking essential.
Dorset Button Christmas Tree Ornaments
Sunday 5th November 2023, 12noon-2pm
Dorset buttons date back to the 17th century and provided employment for nearly every woman and child in East Dorset until the Industrial Revolution. Today the craft is seeing a resurgence and is a great way to use up wool and tread to create a small snowflake or Christmas tree design for your tree. Join Susie Finlayson to try your hand at this nifty little craft. Absolutely no sewing experience required. The most difficult thing about making Dorset buttons is threading the needle - and we use one with a nice big eye!
£20 per person, adults only, 6 people max, booking essential.
Felted Needle Book
Sunday 5th November 2023, 12:30-2:30pm
Demonstrating the techniques of wet felting, Nicky Stevens will show you how to create a felted sheet from Birkhill's plentiful sheep wool and alpaca fleeces. Using a palette of natural colours as a base, there will also be coloured rovings as well should you prefer to add a splash of colour. Once the sheet has been created, Nicky will lead you through the process of cutting and sewing it to create a soft needle book to keep your sewing needles handy or give as a special Christmas gift.
£20 per person, adults only, 8 people max, booking essential.
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
Sunday 5th November 2023, 3-5pm
This blackwork Christmas Tree is one of Susie Finlayson’s most popular designs. Susie will take you through the patterns and techniques required to complete this design at home. The stitches and material used are quite fine and not really suited for complete beginners. If you use reading / magnifying glasses for close work you will definitely need them for this class!
£30 per person, adults only, 6 people max, booking essential.
Indigo Tea Towel Workshop
Sunday 5th November 2023, 3:30-5:30pm
Discover the magic of indigo and have a go at hand dyeing a linen/cotton blend tea towel to liven up your kitchen or give as a gift in this workshop with Sunshine Stewart of My Mama Knits.
One 78cm x 48cm tea towel, as well as Birkhill House home grown indigo, festive drinks and snacks are included in the offering.
We will be working with an iron indigo vat, so old clothes and marigold gloves are recommended.
- Additional tea towel blanks and dye supplies will be available from the shop should you want to make more at home or pick up some ready made to finish crossing off your holiday wish list.
£20 per person, adults only, 6 people max, booking essential.
