| And now its raining, I hope that everyone that complained about the heat is happy now!!!!! Although I must admit it was very hot!
August is a quiet month for us, with holidays and what not, but it has given us a chance to catch up with a bit of painting, drawing and expanding our own skills, as well as running a few classes.
Nigel has found himself up at the Harwich alotments, where flowers grow against a background of sea, truly inspirational (my idea) and he sneaked up there before me! but the results were so good I’ll let him off – as seen above. |
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News
We hosted another of our private events, with an enthusiastic group of dog groomers all of whom made a delightful little felted dog or two under the expert guidance of Felter Guru Rosie. |
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| Other Rosie business
She has been doing sculptures of various people in Harwich and has now done me – pretty amazing don’t you think. All it needs now is for me to make a rag doll body.
She really is very talented – Needle Felt Portrait workshop anybody? |
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Equipment and expansion.
Watch this space, we all had an amazing day with Textile Artist Lynda Monk, sadly this is the last one she will be able to do for the foreseeable, but on the bright side I bought her heat press, which brings me to the next news. I am expanding the sewing studio into the room behind to create an exclusive craft room: plumbing, lighting and plastering is underway as we speak. This will give me somewhere permanent to keep things like the press and kiln and an excellent, light, spacious studio dedicated to craft events. |
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| Work well under way, part of the ceiling has been returned to original height to get maximum benefit from the tall windows. |
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| We have also nearly finished the little single story studio flat which adjoins the bank. It will be available as a holiday rental very soon; perfect if you fancy a weekend course and need a couple of nights accommodation. It has a king size bed, walk in shower room, kitchen and sitting area, its really sweet (Nigel calls it a ‘bijou cottage’). Once it’s all done I will post up some pictures! |
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New workshops added for the Autumn
I’ve been busy and developed a few new workshops, hope you like them. Purses and Cards (Shhhh not ….cards) far to early to be talking to you about that, but it is on the website along with one or two other Xmas themed events.
I have also added in a full day workshop for November, making a lovely little zipped purse. |
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Bev Caleno
Rosie Posie Purse
Sunday 4th November
All materials and homemade two course lunch INCLUDED
more details
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This year I will be really sad to loose one of my most loyal and longest attending students. Rhona has been hugely supportive and been with us through thick and thin and sampled nearly every class we have put on. But she is embarking on a new adventure and we wish her and Daryl every happiness. She also assures me she is going to keep an eye on our programme and schedule visits to Harwich with Art and Craft “therapy”. It also means that there is a rare opportunity to join my Thursday AM sessions. These sessions are to follow your own projects and experiment on new things. The cost is £10.00 for two hours on a Thursday morning and payable by term. Text or email if you might be interested, they also talk a lot, drink coffee and bring in the odd cake. 07944 133902 |
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Patchwork and Quilting
Three spaces have become available on our long running monthly group. Whether you have absolutely no experience or are quite accomplished Maria Spiller or myself will be able to pitch tuition at the right level for you. This is a really friendly, social group, all passionate about their craft and willing to share their experience. The sessions run from 10.00 to 1.00 on the second Friday of the month. |
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Maria Spiller and Bev Caleno
Patchwork and Quilting
monthly sessions
Only 3 Places Available
Open to All Levels of Ability
more details |
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Amendment to programme
Machine embroidery and textile art (3)
I am shortening the textile and machine embroidery (3) it will no longer include the last Friday in August (this date was causing a problem). It will now run for 3 sessions, the fourth Friday in the month: Sep 28th, Oct 26th and Nov 23rd. This is a brilliant course for those experienced or new to machine embroidery because it allows for lot and lots of practice but doesn’t have to be really accurate. We will start with a bowl, then transparency and laminating (with the new heat press) and then a choice of projects, butterfly, fairy, flower, lots of fun.
more details |
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And finally……
Here is a reminder of what we have coming up at the end of the holiday period. Listed below are the events which still have some availability. |
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Tony Allain
Chasing the Light
pastel workshop
Thursday 30th August
more details |
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Susan Boddy
Convincing Figures
in watercolour
Saturday 1st September
more details |
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Ailsa Lyn
Beginners Mixed Media Collage
seascapes and harbours
all abilities – artists and crafters WELCOME
Saturday 15th September
more details |
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Anna Davies
Contemporary Flowers
using inks, acrylic and alcohol
all abilities – artists and crafters WELCOME
Sunday 16th September
more details |
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Alison Holt
Flowers and Foliage
A full weekend of silk painting and
machine embroidery
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd September
more details |
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No Banksy news
Other than he’s become a very enthusiastic and accomplished swimmer during the hot weather – as have we; enthusiastic anyway. |
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A drawing I did of the little fella during one of Nigel’s Drop in and Draw sessions on a Wednesday evening. Pastel pencils on coloured pastel paper.
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So if you have been lucky enough to enjoy a bit of holiday time either at home or away and have taken a break from your creative activities, perhaps these events will help you get right back into. Or maybe the beginning of the new ‘term’ is the time to get started on that Thing that you have been meaning to do for ages. Anyway it would be lovely to see you at the Old Bank; we have some great things to do and you know we’ll look after you.
Best wishes
Bev, Nigel and Banksy |
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Creative Courses & Workshops in Essex 
