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Leather working (2) – Winter 2024

12th December 2023

Leather is one of the most amazing materials to work with.

Our Two-day introduction workshop is aimed at beginners interested in gaining a good basic understanding of the leather working skills & techniques used in making a variety of small leather goods.

Over the two days, you’ll be making 2 or 3 items, such a card holder, key-rings and a belt or a coin purse, (specific items can be chosen on the day.) These will show you the different skills and techniques required for leather working.

During the course,  you will cover the following:

  • Different types of leathers and its uses
  • Tanneries and suppliers
  • Understanding the process of making leather goods
  • Intro to pattern making.
  • Cutting – Dying – Stitching and finishing the leather
  • Beveling – Creasing – Burnishing and other skills
  • Leather after care
  • General Q/A

You will be shown traditional methods and techniques which you will then use to make your own items and take them home. The skills and techniques learnt will help jump start your leather working journey, in addition to all tools and materials to use during the workshop along with course notes and information including recommended reading and a list of suppliers, with an opportunity to purchase a full beginners kit to take home with you (contain everything what need to get started, fixed cost of £100).

 

Class Dates (Saturday, Sunday):
May: 25, 26

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30

Price: £165 + £35 Material cost

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Ceramics – Winter 2024

This workshop serves as an introduction to ceramics sculpture, hand-built pottery, ceramics drawing, and ceramic jewellery. It covers the technological processes in ceramics, allowing participants to appreciate the transformation of objects at various stages – from flexible, easy-to-work clay, through a dry, fragile state, to the fired, solid object, all painted with special ceramics colours, engobes, glazes, and more.

This course is designed for both total beginners and advanced students.

I would be honoured to guide you through this exciting journey and look forward to seeing you soon!

 

Class Dates (every Thursday – *No session during half-term February 15th):
February: 1, 8, 22, 29
March: 7

Class Times: All classes start at 10:00 and end at 13:00

Costs: £140 (per course) + £25 materials (included up to 2.5kg clay, firing up to 5 small pieces or 2 average size).

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Introduction to Leather Work

13th August 2023

This two-day course is aimed at beginners, introducing them to basic leather work techniques and skills which they can then apply to a choice of small projects which can be made over the two days, including belts, keyrings, and card wallets.

During the course we will cover

  • Tanning, leather, and uses.

  • Equipment and suppliers.

  • Choosing leather for your projects.

  • Using hardware – poppers, buckles, and rivets.

  • Introducing basic pattern making, marking leather, and cutting leather.

  • Finishing processes including creasing, bevelling, burnishing, and dying.

  • Aftercare and cleaning.

All the tools and materials you will need for the course are supplied by the teacher. You will also receive a set of course notes, including equipment lists and suppliers, to help you continue your leatherworking journey at home. In class, we will cover the essential items you will need to create your leather working tool kit. Please be warned that leather working can be addictive.

 

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Stained Glass Sunday – Autumn 2023

5th August 2023

The idea of making pictures with coloured glass, balanced with shapes and rhythm has fascinated generations. This course will introduce students to this amazing craft. Students learn the handling of tools and materials. Developing confidence from straight lines to curves on coloured glass. Projects will introduce the students to the basic techniques such as to score (cut) glass safely, copperfoil and traditional leadwork. This is a hands on practical course, with aspects of design and soldering. As with the Applique technique the students will be able to develop their own design once they have mastered the basics. No previous experience in either art or stained glass is needed for this introduction – just a sense of play and adventure!

Advanced students are also welcome. Lilly will guide and facilitate the creative direction that they want to pursue.

Class Dates (every OTHER Sunday except during school holidays):
September: 24
October: 8, 22
November: 5, 19

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30

Price: £275 (Deposit: £100)
Note: Students are also expected to pay a material cost of  approximately £25

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Jewellery Making Autumn 2023 with Jude Karnone

22nd July 2023

If you are new to jewellery making, coming back after a break or a confident jeweller, this course is suitable for you. Over the six weeks you will be guided by Jude in making silver jewellery by using traditional silversmithing techniques such as sawing, filing, soldering, forming and polishing. You can choose to make rings, necklaces, bangles, cufflinks and earrings.  You will be introduced to the design element of jewellery making as well as top tips and advice on the best place to source your materials.

As this course if for all abilities and experience levels, you will work on your individual design projects and Jude will be on hand to demo each stage of making the pieces you choose. As well as your own projects, there is an opportunity to work on a group project which will look at particular techniques in more detail such as sandcasting, cuttlefish casting, gem setting, keum boo and etching.

The course fee includes the use of all tools and consumable materials. Additional costs will be for the metal for your designs and gemstones.

Please bring a sketchbook, an apron to protect your clothes and if needed, a hair tie and glasses for close-up work. As each session is 10-4pm, please bring your lunch. Tea and coffee are available at the Centre.

Classes will run from  Monday the 30th of October to the 27th of November.  All classes will start at 10 am and run unti 4:00 pm with one hour for lunch.  Note all prices include tools, incidental costs (consumables such as sawblades, polishing compounds, solder, gas, borax, pickle etc.) however the price of the metals is not included)

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Wood Carving Thursday Evening – Autumn 2023

16th July 2023

Beginner students will learn the craft of Wood Carving using traditional tools through a couple of challenging exercises, talks and demonstrations. Those new to Wood Carving will learn all the basics and will develop the basic skills to successfully carve objects in wood. They will develop an understanding of wood, how to use the basic tools, then how to conceptualise a final Wood Carving goal and how to reach that goal. More advanced students will continue to improve their skills by carving more advanced pieces.

Class Dates (every Thursday):
September: 14, 21, 28
October: 5, 12, 19
November: 9, 16, 23, 30

Class Times: All classes start at 18:00 and end at 21:00

Price: £275 (Deposit: £100)

Please note:  no refunds will be given if canceled 2 weeks or less before the class are scheduled to start.

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Woodcarving Club (Tuesdays) – Autumn 2023

This club is for advanced carvers who shares experience and work on their own piece.

 

Class Dates (every Tuesday):
September: 5, 12, 19, 26
October: 3, 10, 17, 31
November: 7, 14, 21

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 13:30

Price: £10 per hour

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Furniture Restoration Friday with Ernest Riall – Autumn 2023

In this course, Ernest will help students of all levels from complete novices to experienced restorers. All types of projects are possible (We do suggest you send a picture of the object if this is your first class with the school). All materials can be provided by the school (although a charge may apply). Ernest will carefully walk the student through every step of  the entire process of restoring their selected project.  Imagine the great feeling one gets from developing the hand skills needed to turn a warn piece of furniture into a thing of beauty.

With over 15 years experience running a very successful restoration business, Ernest is active with ICON (International Conservation) and he has a PhD centered around 18th Century  English and French Furniture.  This means that Ernest has proven himself to meet their very high standards in the restoration of antiques.

Price: £275 (Deposit: £100)

Class Dates (every Friday except during school holidays):
September: 8, 15, 22, 29
October: 6, 13, 20
November: 10, 17, 24
December: 1

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 12:30

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Chair Seating Club

Club is an informal group meeting monthly. We meet at the Wooburn Craft School on the first Friday of every month. Hours are flexible. Start when you want any time from 2.00 and finish when it suits.

We cover
• Chair caning in the well-known six-way standard pattern. Furniture suitable for this should have one or more panels with regularly spaced holes going all the way through the polished frame. A trapezium shaped bedroom chair is suitable for a beginner.
• More advanced chair caning. Recent projects have used patterns such as double Victoria, snowflake, or more unusual designs as well as more complex exercises such as different shaped panels, sunrise or medallion patterns, curved edges or curved surfaces.
• Blind caning where the holes are not drilled all the way through the frame.
• Double caning. This is usually worked on the arms or back of a chair or sofa. Both front and back of the panel are woven at the same time.
• Close caning. Usually done on the seat of a chair with unpolished rails drilled with widely spaced holes, and with raised corners.
• Rush seating using English rush in the ‘envelope’ pattern or a continental design. A small bedroom chair or stool is suitable for a beginner although a drop in seat is not recommended as a starter piece. For rushing, the piece should have solid unpolished rails around the seat with raised corners.
• Other materials. Projects using e.g. Danish cord or paper rush are also possible

In all cases students will need to bring their own furniture to work on, although it may be possible to purchase a suitable piece from the Wooburn Craft School. Any repairs should be complete before caning or rushing, as well as cleaning, painting or French polishing.

If you would like to join the group, please contact the Wooburn Craft School in advance to discuss your requirements and the suitability of your furniture.

Tutor: Christine Brewster

Class Dates (every Tuesday):
September: 5, 12, 19, 26
October: 3, 10, 17, 31
November: 7, 14, 21

Class Times: All classes start at 14:00 and ends at 18:00

Price:  £10 per hour

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Furniture Restoration Saturday with Ernest Riall – Autumn 2023

In this course, Ernest will help students of all levels from complete novices to experienced restorers. All types of projects are possible (We do suggest you send a picture of the object if this is your first class with the school). All materials can be provided by the school (although a charge may apply). Ernest will carefully walk the student through every step of  the entire process of restoring their selected project.  Imagine the great feeling one gets from developing the hand skills needed to turn a warn piece of furniture into a thing of beauty.

With over 15 years experience running a very successful restoration business, Ernest is active with ICON (International Conservation) and he has a PhD centered around 18th Century  English and French Furniture.  This means that Ernest has proven himself to meet their very high standards in the restoration of antiques.

Price: £275 (Deposit: £100)

Class Dates (every other Saturday except during school holidays):
September: 9
October: 7
November: 4, 18, 25

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30

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