Whether you’re a dab hand at crafting or you want to try learning a brand-new skill, Cirencester’s New Brewery Arts has a host of weekend workshops led by expert crafters, on everything from oil painting to jewellery-making.
SoGlos shares 16 different crafts to try your hand at in the Cotswolds, with workshops taking place most Saturdays throughout autumn 2022 at New Brewery Arts.
Contemporary hand stitching at New Brewery Arts
Sewing lovers can create their own contemporary hand stitch sampler under the expert guidance of Anne Ward. As well as learning the history of samplers, participants will have the chance to learn five different hand stitches, from French knots to hand couching, so they can play with a variety of techniques to create their unique sampler.
Contemporary hand stitching with Anne Ward takes place on Saturday 10 September and Saturday 19 November 2022 and costs £90.
Exploring colour with the heat press at New Brewery Arts
Clare Walsh shows how to use a heat press to disperse dyes and create unique prints in this one-day course, which allows participants to experiment with painting and cutting dye papers, using images and playing with textures like lace, fabric and leaves to create a range of unique samples.
Exploring colour with the heat press with Clare Walsh takes place on Saturday 17 September 2022 and costs £90.
Portrait drawing at New Brewery Arts
Budding artists can master the art of portraiture in this one-day workshop, suitable for absolute beginners. Working directly with a model, participants will use a variety of drawing techniques, with a focus on form, proportion and experimentation, to capture the human head.
Portrait drawing with Alexandra Woods takes place on Saturday 24 September 2022 and costs £90.
Freehand machine embroidery at New Brewery Arts
Embroidery enthusiasts will love this three-hour workshop on how to create freehand embroidered images using a sewing machine. Participants will learn how to set up their machine without feed dogs, have a go at drawing with thread and adding details with fabrics, to create a selection of sample pieces to take home.
Freehand machine embroidery with Meg Harris takes place on Saturday 24 September 2022 and costs £55.
Bag making at New Brewery Arts
Fashionistas with a flair for craft can learn how to create their own cotton and wax canvas shoulder bag with lining and pockets, as well as a small drawstring bag, in this one-day workshop. Suitable for absolute beginners, from learning how to thread a sewing machine to edge stitching, boxing corners and attaching a zipper, participants will create their own professional looking bag made from ready-cut materials, with a choice of two gorgeous fabrics.
Bag making for beginners with Lauren Holloway takes place on Saturday 1 October 2022 and costs £90.
Watercolour painting at New Brewery Arts
In this watercolour painting workshop, keen artists will study and paint beautiful dragonflies and damselflies in detail. As one of the UK's biggest and most mystical insects, dating back as far as dinosaurs, this workshop will explore how they fly, hunt and why they're so colourful, with participants able to use high-powered microscopes, specimens and macro photographs to study their anatomy, before having a go at painting them.
Studying and painting daring dragonflies with Cath Hodsman takes place on Saturday 1 October 2022 and costs £90.
Acrylic painting at New Brewery Arts
Artist Alexandra Woods invites participants to paint a canvas in a day in this fun workshop, where participants will create their own colourful canvas using acrylic paints. After making a collage of ideas, painters will learn colour mixing techniques to help them create their experimental, abstract images.
Paint a canvas in a day with Alexandra Woods takes place on Saturday 8 October 2022 and costs £90.
Jewellery making at New Brewery Arts
Providing the ideal introduction to jewellery making, Stina Richardson shows participants how to use sterling silver, pearls and semi precious stones to design and make their own unique necklace in a one-day workshop. Or for a more historical experience, have a go at making a Roman-style hammered or twisted copper torque bangle, inspired by the ancient jewellery unearthed in and around Cirencester - known in Roman times as the settlement of Corinium.
Make your own necklace with Stina Richardson takes place on Saturday 1 October 2022 and costs £55; while the Roman-inspired torque bangle workshop with Hayley Kruger takes place on Saturday 8 October 2022 and costs £90.
Ceramics at New Brewery Arts
Perfect for anyone making their first foray into clay, the introduction to wheel throwing weekend will teach budding potters how to throw on a potter's wheel, with step-by-step instructions on everything from preparing the clay to throwing cylinders and bowls to decorating and adding colour to your creations. While more experienced potters can enjoy getting to grips with throwing altered forms in a one-day workshop, where participants will create ceramic art using components they have thrown on the potter's wheel, before colouring and glazing.
The introduction to wheel throwing weekend with Miranda Wells takes place on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October 2022 and costs £220 for the non-residential option or £420 including a two-night stay. Throwing and altering with Emily Gibbard takes place on Saturday 8 October 2022 and costs £90.
Drawing at New Brewery Arts
For anyone wanting to master the art of still life, Alexandra Woods hosts a workshop on drawing proportion, where participants will use measuring techniques and use of line to observe and draw still life objects. While for the free spirited, Jo Beal teaches an experimental workshop on drawing the form, colour, texture and shape of plants and flowers using pens, pencils, chalk pastels and more.
Drawing proportion with Alexandra Woods takes place on Saturday 22 October 2022 and costs £90; while experimental drawing from nature with Jo Beal takes place on Saturday 29 October 2022 and also costs £90.
Kiln fired enamelling at New Brewery Arts
Committed crafters can take part in a two-day weekend workshop on enamelling on copper, where participants can try their hand at this ancient jewellery making technique to craft their own colourful designs. Suitable for complete beginners, Katie Sanderson will teach would-be jewellers how to make pendants, earrings, brooches and keyrings using the enamelling process to fuse tiny glass particles together using heat to form a solid layer of colour onto the base metal - with the chance to create up to 10 individual pieces over the weekend.
Kiln fired enamelling with Katie Sanderson takes place on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October 2022 and costs £220 for the non-residential option, or £420 with a two-night stay.
Travel journaling at New Brewery Arts
Whether you've travelled to every corner of the globe or love discovering new places regardless of where they are, Emma Leyfield's travel journaling weekend workshop shows travellers how to create their very own journal of their experiences. With an introduction to drawing and watercolours; book-binding; illustrating food and culture; and exploring the journey through landscapes, buildings and accommodation, participants will leave with their own, beautifully handmade travel journal - and hopefully a lasting love of journaling, too.
Travel journaling with Emma Leyfield takes place on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October 2022 and costs £200 for the non-residential option, or £400 with a two-night stay.
Macramé at New Brewery Arts
Enjoy a mindful morning of macramé as you make your own plant hanger in this half-day workshop. Suitable for absolute beginners, participants will learn popular knots and techniques before making a plant hanger of their own using soft, unbleached cotton for a rustic look.
Macramé plant hanger with Gilly Riddington takes place on Saturday 29 October 2022 and costs £45.
Needlefelt at New Brewery Arts
Bird lovers can craft their own needlefelt companion in this one-day workshop that's suitable for all abilities. Participants will start by needle-felting a practice piece before going on to make a sculptural bird of their choice, using undyed wool and dyed merino to create shape and colour - pairing their bird with a vintage bobbin to give it a unique personality.
Needlefelt a bobbin bird with Dinny Pocock takes place on Saturday 12 November 2022 and costs £95.
Colour mixing with oil paints at New Brewery Arts
For anyone interested in getting into oil painting, this one-day workshop gives would-be artists an introduction on how to paint with oils, as well as an understanding of colour and how to use it - with participants creating their own colour wheel and using it to mix a variety of paint colours.
Colour mixing with oils with Alexandra Wood takes place on Saturday 12 November 2022 and costs £95.
Weaving at New Brewery Arts
This weaving workshop will give participants a chance to create a modern, circular wall hanging for their home using a variety of fibres, learning how to wrap up a frame, wind yarn over the loom and use techniques including tabby weave, Soumack braid and fringing to create texture. The meditative practice is wonderful for wellbeing, too.
Make a woven circular wall hanging with Julie Hicks takes place on Saturday 19 November 2022 and costs £90.
