Check out theWhat's New page for details of up-and-coming courses which are open to the public.
For further details and pricing, email Sarah now!
Workshops
& Talks
Sarah’s teaching background, her
flair for design and her depth of knowledge in her field and strengths in craftsmanship
all combine to provide an exceptional ability to enthuse her students and to develop their
talents.
Sarah has experience of teaching students
aged from 7 to 87 years, and of all abilities, from those with learning difficulties
through to professional development courses for teachers.
Course Philosophy
Sarah does not
believe in ‘cloning’. There is a strong emphasis in all Sarah’s courses on
inspiring the individual to develop their own interpretations of the methods that Sarah
has developed. Sarah aims to provide strategies to make each participant extend their own
creative potential. The target is for every student to complete the course with work that
they can truly call their own.
Stress is placed throughout each course on individuality of
design, craftsmanship and attention to detail, whilst assuring that the course is an
enjoyable and memorable experience
There are many ways of making felt, not
all of them good! In this course participants learn the basic principles of feltmaking and
learn sound and reliable methods of felting with minimum effort and maximum results.
Numerous ways of using wool fibres to create patterns and innovative techniques of felting
are demonstrated and used, making this course suitable for beginners and those with some
knowledge of feltmaking.
A course tailored towards the embroiderer
who may wish to use felt in her work. Basic techniques for quality feltmaking are
demonstrated and practised. Participants are introduced to a number of felting methods to
create surfaces suitable for further embellishment with stitch or dye.
The addition of silk to wool fibres in
feltmaking can enhance the finished surface in innumerable ways. Discover how to make the
transformation in this course. The end result can form a decorative piece in its own
right, or be further adorned with stitchery.
The course is designed for participants
to learn some new techniques that can be applied to their own work, but are tailored to
making small items of jewellery during this exciting course. No experience of jewellery making is necessary, just the courage to wear what you
make!
Looking at creative colour and texture possibilities
afforded by the use of beads, this course will show you how to make chains, beaded beads
and tassels.
Learn how to design and create a hybrid
felt wallhanging - combining felt with non-felting fabrics to create a seamless material
with great depth of texture and subtlety. The course is ideally suited to Embroiderers
wishing to widen their horizons and looking to try something new. Students design and make
their own fabric. The aim is to create a seamless transition between conventional felt and
woven fabrics and not to be able to see the join!
The course covers Sarah’s own
approach to pattern design, pattern image application to fabric and the process used to
incorporate non-felting fabrics into hand made felt yardage. This allows the student to
retain a high level of control of colouring and imagery and to produce a fabric that has
great depth of texture, yet still retains a high degree of drape.
No previous feltmaking experience is necessary, basic free machine embroidery is
desirable.
This course, of an advanced nature, gives
participants an insight into the amalgamation of pure embroidery techniques and the art of
felting. Emphasis is made on developing the student’s own ideas into reality with
help and guidance, through demonstration, practice and discussion. Emphasis is placed on
individuality of design, craftsmanship and attention to detail, whilst ensuring that the
course is a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
Confidence in free machine embroidery is essential for this course
Make your own handmade paper using recycled materials to
create highly decorative papers with minimal effort! Discover what to do with it. Simple
booking binding techniques are demonstrated
Sarah runs in-service professional development courses
for teachers. These can be tailored to your specific requirements. Please contact for
Sarah for further details.
Sarah talks about her life and work with anecdotes and
examples of her work. Sarah always brings a selection of her work and sketchbooks that can
be viewed and discussed.
