FELT EMBROIDERED HOOPS with Sonya Ellis, Exeter Craft Hub Saturday 14.15pm

90-minute workshop – cost £30.00

Join Sonya Ellis from Exeter Craft Hub for this enjoyable relaxing workshop using pieces of coloured felt, embroidery threads and beads to create your own beautiful small picture, or use your finished piece to cover a small book or needle case.

Embroidery hoops for framing are not included in the price of this workshop, but Sonya will have some available for you to purchase at a small additional cost, should wish to frame your piece on site.

Advisory Note:

This workshop is suitable for children over the age of 8 with parental supervision.

Meet the Tutor

Sonya Ellis

Sonya has been crafting all her life and as an adult around work as sports coach. Four and a half years ago she decided to also open Exeter Craft Hub in central Exeter to celebrate and support both local crafters to sell their items, but also run range of workshops in a relaxed and enjoyable way and hasn’t looked back. She promotes creativity in a range of mediums from decopatch, sewing, paper crafts and lots of colouring using acrylic painting pens. She is very keen to develop inclusive approach and feels anyone can be creative.

DORSET BUTTON DAISY BROOCH with Gini’s Dorset Buttons Saturday 15.45pm

60-minute workshop – cost £18.00

Join Gini, winner of Kirsty’s Handmade Christmas, and learn how to work the traditional craft of Dorset buttons with a twist. Create this gorgeous daisy button brooch and hear all about the history of this 400-year old craft.

Advisory Note:

This workshop is suitable for ages 16+

Meet the Tutor

Louise Armitage, aka ‘Gini’

‘Gini’ has been teaching and keeping the 400-year old traditional craft of Dorset Buttons alive for 33 years.

Originally taught by an old lady from Dorset, who’s family skill had been passed down through generations, and now had no one left to pass it on to. Gini made her a promise that she would teach other people and continue to pass on the skills. Gini has kept this promise and taught individuals and workshops all over the UK and around the world.

NEEDLE FELTED BUSY MRS MOLE with Steffi Stern, The Makerss Saturday 12.15pm

90-minute workshop – cost £25.00

Following on from the success of ‘Busy Mr Mole’, he has now found his match with ‘Busy Mrs Mole!’

Learn how to needle felt this adorable little lady, complete with a wooden crate and scrumptious cakes, using super-fast felting wool and felting needles.

Steffi will teach you techniques and tricks to needle felt basic shapes, build bulk and sculpt with wool whilst adding colours and features. Steffi’s style is supportive, encouraging and fun filled.

Take your cute little Busy Mrs Mole with her cupcakes home, together with an Eco wool felting mat, felting needles and full colour step-by-step instructions.

The finished size is about 10cm tall.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for total beginners, children 14+ with adult supervision.

Meet the Tutor

Steffi Stern

Steffi Stern, a seasoned needle felting artist, published author and founder of sustainable craft business, The Makerss -– brings nearly two decades of needle felting expertise to her craft. With a focus on creating lifelike and artistically crafted felted animals, Steffi’s artistic flair has forged exciting collaborations with beloved brands and characters. Her passion is to bring the needle felting joy to as many people as possible.

Craft Academy Half Day Workshop – MEHNDI DRAWING FOR WELLBEING with Parveen Kaur 9.30

09.30 – 12.30hrs
Price: £59.00
[Max 12 people]

During this fabulous wellbeing workshop, participants will learn the basic techniques of Mehndi drawing and have the opportunity to experience the benefits it offers, including mindfulness, relaxation and creative expression.

Mehndi requires focus, attention to detail and patience, but don’t worry you don’t have to be an artist or good at drawing to take part, if you can doodle then you can do Mehndi.

The morning has been designed with plenty of short breaks so that you won’t find the pace too intense, and as you start to meticulously draw intricate designs, you will find yourself becoming fully immersed in the present, allowing your mind to quieten and your senses to gradually awaken.

Under Parveen’s guidance you will:
• Be guided through a tutorial of beginner patterns and how to create a flower design
• Learn how to incorporate/blend different styles of Mehndi drawing to decorate a hand design and design your own hand on paper
• Take part in a discussion on Mental Heath and the importance of taking time out for wellbeing
• Follow up activity – creating a small affirmation card for another member of the group
• Decorate a ceramic bauble, incorporating Mehndi designs

Half-day Academy workshop tickets include:
Morning refreshments with luxury biscuits, all equipment and materials including: card, papers, pens and blank ceramic baubles.
Academy workshop tickets also include a Complementary ticket to visit the main show on the same day.

Important Note:
This class is suitable for everyone over the age of 16.

Meet the Tutor
Parveen Kaur
Parveen is a self-taught artist, tutor and workshop facilitator with over 6 years of experience. She’s passionate about making art accessible to everyone and specialises in creating learning materials that cater to diverse needs. Parveen fosters a welcoming atmosphere in her workshops, ensuring participants feel comfortable and supported as they explore their creativity.
Her work has taken her to various organisations, including support groups and notable institutions like Loughborough University, where she contributed to the Creative Wellbeing Series. Parveen has also collaborated with well-known brands such as John Lewis, organising engaging in-store events that bring art to life for customers. She has had the privilege to be featured as part of the “Everyone Welcome” exhibition at Leicester Museum and Galleries this June.

GROW YOUR OWN BUSINESS: PRICING with Annie Gianini founder of HUSTLEwell – Saturday 12.15pm

60-minute workshop – cost £18.00

Why is there never any money in the bank to pay yourself or grow your business? Find out why and learn a better way of pricing your craft product. A way that means you get paid and you’re not funding your business – it’s funding itself and you.

You’ll work through a pricing example and take home a workbook to create your own prices. There’s even a bit about future proofing your prices if you’re thinking of wholesaling your products.

Advisory Note:
Suitable for beginners, new to starting a business.

Meet the Tutor

Annie Gianini
Annie’s been running a craft business for the last 13 years, at first as a side-hustle and now part time alongside HUSTLEwell. Those years have been a huge learning curve and as a result she has a passion for helping others to make that journey much easier.

NIB CALLIGRAPHY AND BOTANTICAL GREETING CARDS with Emily Goodwin or Emma Cox, The Modern Calligraphy Co – Saturday 13.15pm

60-minute workshop – cost £18.00

Join this autumn-themed Calligraphy Card Making Class and learn to create enchanting seasonal designs. Combine lettering techniques with delicate drawings, to craft pretty cards using a pointed nib and inks. Beginner friendly.

Advisory Note: This workshop is suitable for adults and children over 12 years, but they must be accompanied by an adult

Meet the Tutors

The Modern Calligraphy Co

The Modern Calligraphy Co, run by world-renowned calligraphic artist Kirsten Burke and Managing Director Jill Hembling, has been running for 25 years, spreading their passion for Modern Calligraphy across the UK. Dedicated to making calligraphy accessible to everyone, they run workshops all over the country, including from their HQ on the South Coast.

2D NEEDLE FELTED FLUFFY SQUIRREL with Liberty Goodswen – Saturday 13.45pm

2-hour workshop – cost £36.00

In this workshop you will needle felt a 2D squirrel with his bushy tail as he rushes to catch the golden falling leaves.

The first stage is building up and sculpting the main shape with core wool and then you will add colour to the squirrel as well as ears, texture and character!

The falling golden leaves are added next and as many toadstools as you wish, using carefully selected different types of wool and fibres.

Liberty will show you when to use different gauge needles and how to achieve a fine finish to your felting. You will have the eco felting mat, needles and spare wool to take home.

Advisory Note:

Suitable for beginners and beyond, over the age of 15 years

Meet the Tutor

Liberty Goodswen

Liberty is an award-winning needle Felter -– you may have seen her win on the Channel 4 programme, ‘Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas’ with her Donkey Wreath and also spotted her tree full of felted animals again in 2023! Liberty has been a professional Felter for over 13 years both in Italy and England with lots of teaching experience and a gallery in Somerset, which has come to be known as Liberty’s Felterie. Over the years she has experimented and developed various techniques, which she loves to share so that others can really enjoy and progress their felting. Much of her work is based on birds and animals with an emphasis on giving them their own characters.

MODERN CALLIGRAPHY NIB ART QUOTES with Emily Goodwin or Emma Cox, The Modern Calligraphy Co Saturday 14.45pm

60-minute workshop – cost £18.00

Experience the soothing art of calligraphy with this introductory session where you will learn the basics of using a pointed nib, and delight in creating words and phrases using shimmering metallic inks. Take home the stunning, inspirational quote that you will complete, perfect for framing or gifting. Join this class and let your creativity shine!

Advisory Note:

This workshop is suitable for adults and children over 12 years, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet the Tutors

The Modern Calligraphy Co

BRUSH PEN CALLIGRAPHY CARDS (WITH GEL PEN DETAILS) with Emily Goodwin or Emma Cox, The Modern Calligraphy Co – Saturday 11.45am

60-minute workshop – cost £18.00

Brush pen calligraphy is popular for its accessible, easy-to-use nature. This fantastic workshop introduces you to brush pens, teaching basic strokes and letter formation. Learn to add details with highlights and shadows while working on a beautiful template to create your own greeting card. You’ll never need to buy a store-bought card again.

Advisory Note:

This workshop is suitable for adults and children over 12 years, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Meet the Tutors

The Modern Calligraphy Co

FESTIVE FAIRY Michelle Goodfield, Thimble Wood – Saturday 10.15am

90-minute workshop – cost £25.00

Join Michelle Goodfield from Thimble Wood to make an adorable Festive Fairy, perfect to adorn your tree!

You will learn the super fast technique to make a basic yarn doll and then how to add sparkly wings, tiny shoes and a glittery overskirt to complete your fairy, plus an accessory of your choice. Take home a full-colour instruction leaflet including any templates needed and your finished fairy!

The fairy is about 20cm (8”) from head to toe, not including the hanging loop.

Advisory Note:
This make is suitable for beginners and children 12+ with adult supervision. This project is fiddly rather than difficult, and includes some very simple sewing.

Meet the Tutor

Michelle Goodfield
A lifelong crafter, Michelle has been lucky enough to work in the craft industry for 30 years, initially designing rubber stamps, then writing articles on card making. This led to a career in craft publishing, writing 12 craft books and hundreds of magazine articles.
It was always Michelle’s dream to start her own business and so Thimble Wood was born five years ago where Michelle gets to design the things that she likes to make; small projects, something a bit different, sometimes quirky, often cute (even though they weren’t really intend to be) and always great fun to make. Michelle loves to make up her own techniques and find the easiest way to do things!