Creative Workshops Summer School with Modern Makers Collective

Modern Makers Collective Summer School 20th, 21st and 27th, 28th July

Ever wanted to make your own jewellery or lampshade? Or fancied a go at printing or making a floral wreath? You can do all of these and more at Summer School, a series of creative workshops the Coaching Barn near Wallingford on the weekends of 20th/21st and 27th/28th of July.

The expert crafts people from Modern Makers Collective are offering a wide choice of techniques and materials so there is something for everyone, from beginner to the experienced maker trying new methods. There is jewellery making to stitching lampshades, textile printing and lino printing, or working with natural materials of willow, flowers and foliage taught by seven skilled designer-makers.

To welcome the joy of summer, you can learn how to make a reusable, natural moss wreath with Jane Body which can be used for all your summer festivities. Also working with nature is Louise Arthur who will help you weave willow into a gorgeous basket for collecting foraged foods or displaying in the home.

For those interested in textiles and interiors you have a choice of Aimée Alice Payton’s abundant fabric collection and she will guide you in making your own beautiful handstitched, gathered lampshade. Or you could learn how to design, cut a block and print your own fabric in Albert Harvey’s block printing workshop which will then be made into a cushion for you.

You can get creative with jeweller Kate Wilkinson and experiment with hammering and creating textures on copper and brass shapes and making them into exciting earrings and necklaces. While Charlotte Berry will be teaching how to make a set of silver stacking rings using traditional silversmithing techniques.

And if you would like to explore your inner artist, you can join Mark from Lino Lord who will be sharing his expert skills in how to cut and print lino and create a unique work of art.

All of this is taking place in The Coaching Barn which is at the heart of Littlestoke Manor Farm. It is filled to the rafters with inspiring books, artwork and objects making it the perfect space to bring creativity and learning together. With all materials and refreshments provided, with optional lunch from The Goring Grocer, there is nothing for you to do except enjoy a relaxing workshop or two.

Hand Stitched Gathered Lampshades with Aimée Alice Payton (Wiltshire)

20th and 21st July

Spend two days of meditative stitching with Aimée Alice Payton as you create a beautiful gathered lampshade. Aimée shares her knowledge and helps you achieve a professional finish to your lampshade.

Aimée is a lampshade maker and upholsterer based in Devizes, Wiltshire. Using joyful textiles to create statement lampshades and upholstery, her exquisite detailing and natural sense of colour make for beautiful bespoke items. With clients across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Wiltshire, Aimée also teaches much further afield, sharing her love of lampshade making.

Aimée studied upholstery for three years at the British School of Upholstered Furniture, where she now lectures on textiles. Her early career started in theatre design and moved into museums and textile research, working at prestigious institutions such as Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Ashmolean Museum. Aimée is a Journeyman of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers and committee member.

Aimeealicepayton.co.uk

Lino Printing with Lino Lord (Oxfordshire)

20th July or 28th July

An introduction into the art of lino printing with Mark AKA Lino Lord. Learn the beautiful process of designing, carving and printing a block to make a work of art or greeting card.

Mark AKA Lino Lord

Based in Watlington, Mark has been a professional photographer for 24 years and discovered lino printing in 2019 after photographing many creatives and longing to find a traditional craft he could turn his hands to. Mark's work combines his love for the coast and countryside with some retro chic thrown into the mix. His work can best be described as nostalgic; from his memories of growing up by the sea in Cornwall to the things he loves in life from music, coffee, bicycles and photography.

“My photography always returned to the idea of a good life: the artisans who still make and work in a natural, hands-on way. Fishermen, bakers, makers: I wanted to claim that analogue life for myself, and traditional printmaking offered me the opportunity.” – Mark Lord

linolord.com

Silver Stacking Rings with Charlotte Berry (Oxfordshire)

21st July

Create three beautiful stacking rings using traditional silversmithing techniques with award winning jeweller, Charlotte Berry.

Charlotte is an award winning jeweller with over 18 years of experience hand making gold, platinum and silver jewellery in Wantage, Oxfordshire. Specialising in the ancient methods of lost wax and sand casting, she creates exquisite collections of fine and modern heirloom jewellery using silver, gold, diamonds and sapphires. Her collections are reminiscent of unearthed treasures and precious artefacts and are rich in ancient mystery and natural beauty.

Charlotte is a Fairtrade registered goldsmith which means she uses gold that supports mining communities, fair wages, human rights, local environments and community initiatives.

Summer Party Wreath with Jane Body (Berkshire)

21st July

This fun afternoon will see the colours of an English summer garden wrapped into your very own wreath design. Under Jane's expert tuition you will make a sustainably sourced moss ring frame that can be used time and time again.

Jane Body is a maker with many strings to her bow. She combines her expert eye for design with her love of the natural world.

Having studied Art and Design at Chelsea School of Art , and Cheltenham School of Art, Jane has been an artist, photographer, teacher, and an over-enthusiastic gardener .

Much of Jane's foliage comes from her own abundant Berkshire garden which is then deftly arranged with freshly harvested material.

She exhibited for many years and ran Jewells Barn Artists, based in Stanford Dingley, which has since evolved to become The Modern Makers Collective.

Lino Printing on Fabric with Albert Harvey (Oxfordshire)

27th July

Learn the ancient art of block printing fabric using Lino in a day’s workshop with Oxfordshire based textile printer Albert Harvey. He will take you step by step through the process of turning your drawing into block printed fabric which will then be made into a cushion for you.

Albert’s designs are inspired by the English countryside, especially Oxfordshire, where Albert has his studio. His designs combine floral, leaf motif and seed heads contrasted with small scale geometric shapes. Albert skilfully carves his designs onto lino to create large blocks ready for printing which he does himself by hand so that each print is unique. A restrained colour palette combined with his naturalistic designs gives Albert Harvey’s textiles a timeless, contemporary feel.

Albert studied Textile Design at Bath Spa University and now teaches and exhibits regularly across the country.

Willow Frame Baskets with Louise Arthur (Hampshire)

27th July

Join Louise and spend the day weaving a beautiful, willow basket which can be used for storing and displaying items within the home or for gathering fruit, eggs, mushrooms and berries in the great outdoors.

Louise Arthur, AKA Rough Around the Hedges, is a basketmaker and teacher based in Liss, Hampshire. She combines contemporary design and heritage skills with her passion for the environment. Her baskets are hand woven from sustainably grown British willow and often incorporate hedgerow plants, foraged fibres and coppiced wood.

Louise’s work is seasonal from the winter work of carving, forming and setting frames from coppice woods, to the willow harvest in Spring. Summer is devoted to sharing basketry skills and techniques with others at festivals and courses and in Autumn she forages for weaving fibres.

Originally a performer, Louise fell in love with basketry and now teaches and exhibits regularly across the South. She is also a member of The Basketmakers’ Association.

Textured Metal Jewellery with Kate Wilkinson (Buckinghamshire)

28th July

A fun jewellery making day making Boho style statement earrings, and necklaces, An introduction to cutting, texturing and forming copper and brass shapes using a variety of tools and incorporate semi-precious beads, silver findings and lovely colourful ribbons.

Kate Wilkinson's jewellery is based around textured silver units that have developed through experimentation; gathering ideas at the workbench and observing details in nature and urban decay which influence the surface of a piece. These units are combined with semiprecious beads, climbing cord and cork to add colour and create mood. By altering the scale and pattern formation she creates simple earrings to elaborate multi-unit one-off necklaces.

Kate studied Jewellery and Silversmithing at Loughborough College of Art and Design followed by an MA in Jewellery at the Royal College of Art. She is now a key member of the Buckinghamshire Craft Guild.