Creative Workshops
Here’s a list of workshops I can run, the list isn’t exhaustive and there are many more crafts I can teach but these will give you some ideas. If you’d like me to create a workshop on a theme for a special event or a particular season (e.g. easter), please get in touch.
To arrange a workshop for your friends, family, work or youth group, email Lou at craftworkshops@silkworm.org.uk
Papercrafts
Fun printing
In this workshop we make printing blocks from foam, string, bubblewrap and other household items. Your printed masterpieces can be used to make unique greetings cards, notebooks and gift boxes.
Lino printing
This is a slightly more advanced printing workshop. You’ll create a design for an A6 card, use a cutting tool to carve your design in a soft polymer block and then learn to make multiple copies of your printed card.
Cardmaking
The following workshops all use different techniques for making cards.
Punches
They work like your normal office hole punch but they come in a huge array of shapes and sizes. Delve through Lou’s extensive collection of decorated card and paper and create cards using punched shapes.
Rubber Stamping
Most cards need a focal point and rubber stamps provide the perfect answer. Learn to ink up and stamp a perfect image. You can then colour it in or leave it plain! For a more advanced class, we can do heat embossing of stamps which gives a lovely glossy finish.
Fabric flower cards
You can create lovely vintage cards with frayed fabric flowers. Once you’ve learnt the process it can be adapted to adorn bags, coats, cushions & scarves.
Distress ink techniques
We’ll be using distress inks and ink sprays to create some fabulous effects on card. These are great for layering on cards and using as backgrounds.
Textiles and Sewing
Shaving Foam Marbled Notebooks
During this workshop we’ll be dyeing fabric with incredible marbled patterns using shaving foam as a medium. You can then use the finished fabric to make fabulous accessories, we’ll be using one piece to cover a notebook, you can take the rest home to use as you wish.
Felting
In this workshop we take unspun wool and create sheets of felted wool. If this were a full day workshop we could make felt vessels or bags using resists. However small pieces of flat felt can be made in a couple of hours. These can be cut into shapes, made into jewellery and small accessories.
Offcut Monsters
Make your own monster from offcuts of fabric. This is a basic sewing workshop. We’ll be designing our monsters and learning to turn that design into a stuffed toy.
Felt phone cases
We’ll be making perfect protective cases for our phones using laminated craft felt. This method can be adapted to make covers for all your gadgets!
Strawberry Shoppers
It’s a little drawstring bag that looks like a strawberry, except that when you open it out it’s a calico tote suitable for carrying groceries or transporting your knitting! This workshop is ideal for those who are starting out in machine sewing.
