FABULOUS FREE-MOTION STITCHING with Kerrie Padmore, Living in Loveliness – 14.45

Join Kerrie from Living In Loveliness to learn the art of basic raw edge appliqué and stipple quilting during this fabulous free motion workshop.

Free motion can completely transform the most basic project and make any project from a simple zipped make up bag to a beautiful quilt looking absolutely stunning.

You will leave the workshop with two samples, a floral inspired free motion panel and your practice panel. You will be using batting to add a beautiful finish to your project allowing you to turn these panels into a wall hanging, cushion front or table centre – the choice is yours.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for over 16’s only. No previous machine embroidery necessary, although experience on a sewing machine would be useful.

Meet the Tutor

Kerrie Padmore – Living in Loveliness

Since launching ‘Living In Loveliness’ 11 years ago, Kerrie’s passion for teaching and super-cute fabrics has blossomed and grown even more. With sewing classes and sewing retreats from beginners to the more advanced sewers, plus her fabulous range of sewing kits and patterns.

Kerrie’s passion lies in bringing people together in workshops through their shared joy of sewing, and she looks forward to welcoming you to her wonderful world of ‘Living in Loveliness’ at Birmingham’s NEC.

AN INTRODUCTION TO MARQUETRY with Mike Roberts, The Marquetry Society – 13.45

Learn the skilled craft of Marquetry, which uses natural wood veneer to produce pictures and decorate boxes and items of furniture.

You will learn this traditional inlay technique by making two marquetry coasters using real wood veneer, whilst acquiring sufficient knowledge to allow you to move on and produce your own marquetry projects.

Advisory Note:

The course is suitable for anyone over 13 years old who is able to grip a craft knife; children under 16, must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Meet the Tutor

Mike Roberts

One of The Marquetry Society tutors is Mike Roberts, who has over 30 years experience of the craft and at this year’s International Marquetry Exhibition his marquetry picture titled A Christmas Carol was awarded the Rose Bowl for the best exhibit on show. The other tutor is Jean Robinson who is also a premier Marquetarian and has won many awards for her work.

BUSINESS START-UP: PERFECT PRICING FOR YOUR CRAFT PRODUCT with Annie Gianini founder of HUSTLEwell – 12.15

What if you that you could fund your burgeoning craft stash and take home some extra cash by turning your hobby into a side-hustle? That’s where Annie’s coaching skills come in.

This is a workshop for people who have, or are thinking about starting their own craft business. Students will learn how to price their craft products to include their fixed and variable costs, as well planning for the future by thinking early about wholesale and retail pricing. Students will complete a workbook for their chosen product as well as learning pricing tactics for better sales figures.

Advisory Note:

Not suitable for children under 16 years.

Meet the Tutor

Annie Gianini

Annie started her craft kit business STITCHFINITY, with her business partner, Alison, in 2015, while they were both working full time in the corporate world.

They learned everything the hard way, and if there weren’t two of them, keeping each other going, they likely wouldn’t still be in business.

Annie and Alison made all the classic mistakes, from not really having a target market, to giving themselves a complicated name that nobody could get right, to saying yes to everything that came their way, in the hope that it would bring more business (spoiler alert – it just brought more pains in the ass!).

They were self-funded and ploughed all profits back in, while trying myriad different things to pay themselves a salary, many without great conviction, consistency or joy. They called it a business, but weren’t convinced it was, until they started doing things differently, getting experts to help them work on their business, rather than just in their business.

Annie now helps craft business owners herself with HUSTLEwell, to make more sales and grow their businesses because she knows how it feels when you get to do what you love, rather than playing it safe and doing what you think you should do.

Annie’s programmes are based on her own experience as a craft business owner and her skills as a coach.

MYSTICAL DWELLING with Alex Hellawell – 09.45

Bring a little fairy magic into your home, with a beautiful woodland dwelling. In this 2-hour workshop you will be using Quick Cure Clay (QCC) to sculpt your own unique piece of magic and release your inner artist.

In this workshop you will sculpt your own dwelling with Alex’s guidance:

Wrap your jar base in QCC
Due to time constraints, you will be provided with a pre-decorated and pre-cured metal lid with shaped roof and QCC leaves
Once cured, paint your dwelling with acrylics
Finish off your dwelling with multi Led lights for that extra magical touch.

Advisory Note:

Intermediates recommended. Not suitable for children under 16 years of age (this is due to fumes the clay gives off). Open to ALL abilities.

Meet the Tutor

Alex Hellawell

Alex is a mixed media clay artist who creates whimsical, colourful, dark imaginative sculptures. She uses clay, paint, paper and found objects to craft sculptures and wall pieces, these can be playful, quirky and charming or dark and brooding.

IN THE MEADOW – Layer, Paint and Stitch with Wendy Dolan ALL DAY MACHINE EMBROIDERY MASTERCLASS

This Masterclass is inspired by the Meadow Flowers Project in Wendy’s book ‘Layer, Paint and Stitch’, during the day you will learn how to layer natural fabrics and trimmings, stitching them down with freehand machine embroidery to create a textured background. Fabric paint will then be applied to the layered surface before stitching into it creating a meadow of flowers and grasses. Enjoy learning how to ‘draw’ with your machine and develop skills, which you can put into practise on your own machine at home.

Under Wendy’s guidance you will:

Select some natural textured fabrics and arrange them on a background of calico.
Learn how to set up your machine for freehand embroidery and stitch the fabrics in place using white cotton thread.
Add natural/white flower trimmings for additional texture.
Use fabric paint to colour the background layers.
Have a short sewing practise creating foliage and flowers, and then you can enjoy stitching into your design with coloured threads, incorporating coloured sheer fabrics as you work.

Your beautiful flower meadow will come alive before your eyes, as you gradually build up the design.

Full day Academy Masterclass tickets include:

Lunch and refreshments throughout day, all equipment and materials including: fabrics, trimmings, paints, threads and any other consumables.

Academy workshop tickets also include a Complementary ticket to visit the main show on another day.

Important Note:

Suitable for all levels of ability over the age of 16 years.

Meet the Tutor

Wendy Dolan

Wendy is an experienced artist, tutor, and author inspired by landscapes, architecture and natural forms. She exhibits, lectures and teaches workshops nationally and internationally. Her wide-ranging work includes wall hangings, pictures and garments.

She is the author of the Search Press bestselling book ‘Layer, Paint and Stitch’, which covers stitching, layering and painting techniques and gives helpful tips throughout, as well as projects to create your own stitched textile designs.

Advisory Note:

Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable