New Studio Space!

I've been in my studio in Nooch for nearly 9 months now. I loved my space - working and teaching in there. It's been fabulous. Yesterday I moved across the shop into a bigger, brighter space.  It's got a hard floor so I don't have to worry about getting the floor wet, more windows so plenty of natural light and more space so I can fit more people in for workshops! 

I'm really looking forward to working and teaching in my new space!!

I've Got a Studio!!

As the title says, I've now got a studio! It is soooo exciting and why I've not posted for a few weeks.

I moved in about 2 weeks ago, into a small studio space in Nooch (a Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free grocery store) in Wigan.  I've been selling my items in there for a few months and, when Ged suggested I get a space to work in, it seemed like a great place to be.

I've got room to work, teach workshops and sell my creations, as well as storage space for my supplies.  I've spent a lot of time making it look great and I've still got things to do - like putting up my bunting.

I now feel like a real artist and have even taken the big step of changing my job title on Facebook to Textile Artist.

To go with my studio, I've now got a website with details of my workshops on.  In time, there will also be a shop on there to - www.thegingerbreadbunny.co.uk 

To celebrate, I'm having an open studio day on the 16th August where you can have a peek try your hand at felt making, enjoy some refreshments and 10% off all purchases (including workshops) on the day.  If you live near a Wigan then it would be great to see you.

Keep popping back for more photographs. 

Felting with Children

Last week was awesome! I was lucky enough to spend the entire week working with Lowton Junior and Infants School in Wigan on an enormous felt wall hanging.

The theme was New Beginnings, as they had just had a large amount of building work done, and the hanging was for the new entrance to the school. We decided to create a garden with flowers and insects in lots of beautiful bright school, some sparkle and beads.

I worked with every child in the school to make individual pieces for it. We made various flowers, bees, butterflies, caterpillars, snails, leaves and even a frog! Reception did a follow me style workshop while Year 6 worked from photographs, identifying shape and colour.  Year 5 and 6 also helped to blend the background using drum careers - they found this very exciting - and to put it all together and felt it.

I took it away to dry (which took some time) and then to add a bit of stitching and a few beads to enhance it (I was very careful not to do to much as I wanted it to be theirs).

I went in yesterday to hang it and it looks so beautiful, Working with the children was amazing! They loved the process, getting wet and making bubbles. They all made a piece they where proud of and can now spend hours hunting for their little work of art.  It is such a tactile piece and I'm pleased to say that the children will be encouraged to touch it - if we want to they surely will! 

Here are a few photographs of the children's work! 

     

      Fabulous flowers by Year 3 and 4

     Bees and ladybirds by Reception

    Flowers by Year 5 - working from photographs 

    

    Beautiful butterfly by a very talented Year 6 child

    Such a little character!

    

     The completed wall hanging - the collective work of 150 creative and talented children

5KCBWDAY7 - Looking Back, Looking Forward

As they say, better late than never.  I've been away this weekend on my felt course and didn't get back until late last night.  Anyway, the post for the final day of Knitting and Crochet blog week is to look back at this same post from last year and to look forward to what I hope to have achieved by next years.

Looking Back

Tunisian Crochet - Although I have continued to explore tunisian crochet, which I love, I have yet to make a large item with it.  I do however have a few clothing patterns that i hope to create one day!

Workshops - Well, I have definitely achieved this goal.  Since the last blog week, I have taught private workshops in crochet and am now teaching as part of the adult education programme. I can honestly say that I love it.

Design - Probably my biggest goal last year was to write up some of my crochet designs.  I have written up 2, my crochet Christmas wreath and my sock pattern.  It is a real challenge writing patterns as it is so important to keep it simple and easy to follow.  This is something I wish to continue with.

Looking Forward

By next years Knitting and Crochet Blog Week I hope to have:

1) Made that tunisian cardigan I love so much

2)  Learnt how to broomstick crochet

3)  Conquered the World with my range of upcycled skirts and clothing using crochet and felt

I wonder just how many of these I will have achieved by next years knitting and crochet blog week?

As ever, it's been so much fun joining in with #5KCBW and I want to send a great big thank you to the awesome Eskimimi Makes for planning it all and creating some wonderful topics.  If you want to read my other posts from this week, then follow the links below.

5KCBWDAY1 -  A Day in the Life
5KCBWDAY2 - Dating Profile
5KCBWDAY3 - Experimental Photography
5KCBWDAY4 - Conversations between Workers
5KCBWDAY5 - Something a Bit Different
5KCBWDAY6 - Views of Others, Views of Yourself

You can also read everyone elses posts by searching for the tags below (there are some brilliant posts out there).

Teaching Crochet - Be Prepared!

In the words of the Scouts, 'Be Prepared'. 

This week saw my third session teaching my beginners crochet class and it really made me realise how important it is to be prepared for just about anything that might happen in your class.

As a very teacher, with over 8 years experience teaching children and adults, I know only too well the need to be prepared for just about any eventuality that may occur. Obviously, you can't be prepared for everything - you'd spend hours planning if you did - but it helps if you can think on your feet and improvise as required. For example, this week I left my new set of stitch markers, bought especially for the session, on the coffee table at home so we had to improvise with bits of coloured yarn!

There are, however, a few things you can be prepared for:

1) The High Fliers
In any group of students, there will be a wide range of abilities. There will be those who need a bit more support and those who whizz through the planned task in half an hour with over an hour of the class.left! To keep this group engaged, you need to plan extension tasks. This task will vary depending on your lesson; if you are teaching granny squares then have a few patterns for different motifs available for students to try, if it's changing colour then set students the challenge of changing colour.using the stitches they know. 

2) The Inquisitive
I love students who ask questions - it is a sign that they want to learn more! If your subject knowledge is good, then you should be able t.answer most questions that you're.asked.
But what if you can't?
Do not panic! Be honest! Do not try to make up an answer! Nobody knows everything about everything and it is perfectly acceptable to say I don't know. You can offer to find out the answer by the next session or set your students the challenge of finding out for themselves. Point them in the direction of books or.websites that might be able to help or, if it's  a practical question, ask them to try something out and see what happens. 

3) The Forgetful
There will always be times when students attend and forget their.hooks, scissors and yarn. It's always good to have spare few of everything that you and your students might need just in case they forget or, if you are providing materials for your workshops, in case something breaks or doesn't work. When I'm teaching crochet, I always have a range of hooks in different sizes and yarn of different weights to help with getting the right tension and being able to see the stitches.

It is never possible to be prepared for everything, but thinking ahead can save you a lot of stress and help to ensure that you and your.students have a great workshop.

#4KCBWDAY7 - Looking Forward

I've done it! I've reached the final day of the fourth Knitting and Crochet Blog Week and I've published every single day.
The final task of the week is to look forward to what I hope to have achieved by Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2015.  Here are my 3 things to do:
1.  Tunisian Crochet
I have already started to learn tunisian crochet and know 3 stitches! By next year, I hope to have mastered more stitches and to have made a large project, an item of clothing or a throw, using it.
2.Workshops
By next year I want to have taught crochet workshops!
3.  Design
I have already designed quite a few crochet items. These are born from ideas in my head which I then crochet up, adapting as I go along. However, I've never written them down properly (they are all recorded in 'Sarah Speak'. By next year, I hope to have written up one of my patterns, had it test crocheted and published it.
So, this time next year, will I have achieved any of my goals?
Do you have any craft goals you hope to achieve by #5KCBW?
Until next time,
Sarah x

Busy, Busy, Busy!



Look what I've been up to - Oswald the Owl

As the title suggests, I've been rather busy lately. My creative mojo is most defintley present and my head is full of crafty ideas for The Gingerbread Bunny. 

I have been planning my newest venture, Crafty Parties for children and workshops for both children and adults and am currently checking out venues to hold these in.  I am really excited about these as teaching is what I do.  I love sharing my knowledge and passion with others and empowering people to be able to do it for themselves.  I am hoping to hold my first workshop before the end of the year and then, come the new year, I can really get stuck into them.

I have also been working on some funky applique designs.  This all came about because I wanted a t-shirt with a russian doll on and I couldn't find one anywhere. So, I decided to have a go at making one.  I bought a vest and used the internet to find a suitable template and then set about using up scraps of fabric in my stash, some bondaweb, embroidery thread, felt and Suzie the sewing machine to put it all together.  I really enjoyed making it and loved the finished product.  My Mum thought I'd bought it! From this, ideas came into my head for other designs, including ones for bellydancers (my alter ego!) and it has taken off from there.  I have developed 4 designs so far, Rita the Russian Doll, Oswald the Owl, Fatima and Tania the Tribal Bellydance Doll.  There are plans in process for a Gothic Doll, a lotus flower and a yarn themed design.  So far, I am creating vests, tshirts and tote bags but again can see project bags for knitters and crocheters, children's tshirts and even babygrows in my applique future - if it stands still, it is in danger of being appliqued!

Rita the Russian Doll

I am still crocheting as well and have just completed a custom shrug for my aunty to wear to a wedding.  I used some lovely orange Sublime bamboo and pearls yarn which is so soft and has a beautiful sheen to it - ideal for a wedding!  The design was very simple and, to add a bit of something special, I bought 2 beautiful bamboo buttons from the Textile Garden which had branches and orange flowers painted on - they really finished it off.  I would highly recommend the Textile Garden for buttons, shawl pins, clasps and even funky ribbon. 

The new term brings lots of new courses to.  At the end of September I am starting a City and Guilds Felting Course with Artybird in Carnforth.  It involves me attending 1 weekend a month for around a year and I am so excited about it.  I have always wanted to learn how to felt and this is a great course.  At Woolfest examples of work and projects were out to look at and, I have to say, it was amazing.  I only hope my work is as good.

I am also hoping to do a 6 week dressmaking course starting in November.  My aim is to be able to make an A-line skirt out of the beautiful Amy Butler fabric I bought in the sale from John Lewis last month.  I am far to scared to take the scissors to it at the moment so this should, hoepfully, help me turn it into something I can wear.

And finally, at the end of November I am returning to The Tribal Sleepover (a bellydance event in Huddersfield) to teach 2 crafty workshops in Fabric Flowers and Art Journaling.  I have some exciting ideas planned and I am really looking forward to sharing my love of craft with others.

To add to all this, the full time day job has returned.  The summer holidays are officially over and my crafting has to fit in with my job as a primary school teacher.  For the time being, crafting is limited to evenings and weekends although change is on the horizon and 2013 is definitley bringing new starts and challenges for myself.  Watch this space!

Wonderful Workshops!

Tribal Bunny and Mum

I'm back!  The past few weeks have been manic with Christmas shopping, making and festive frivolities!  You may recall that a few weeks ago I was off to the Tribal Sleepover in Huddersfield to teach some workshops, eat cake and dance!! Today's post is all about what was an amazing weekend.  The Tribal Sleepover took place at the most beautiful Victorian house in Huddersfield and belly dancers from across the country came together to dance, drum, eat cake and be crafty.  The whole weekend was amazing and I taught my first ever crafty workshops; Feathery Hair accessories and Art Journaling for Dancers. 

We (my Mum and I) arrived on the Friday night and were greeted with cake, always a good start to any weekend I think!  In the evening I taught 2 lovely ladies how to crochet.  I have to say that they did extremley well and picked it up very quickly.  I think they are hooked!


Saturday saw my Feathery Hair Accessories workshop.  I had around 13 lovely ladies on this workshop and they produced some amazing clips and hairbands to wear whilst performing (I even saw one being worn at the hafla (show) on the Saturday night!)  There where plenty of feathers for people to choose from and sparkly bits to decorate the clips with. 




One of the beautiful hair accessories made on the workshop!



Look at what we made!!!

On the Sunday I taught Art Journaling for Dancers.  There were around 12 of us playing with paint, stamps and spray inks and some beautiful journals were begun.  Some of the ladies are now addicted to art journaling and have been out and bought more resources to journal with!




Busy, busy



I love this page

Sharing my love of making through the teaching of these workshops was amazing!  The feedback I have received from the individuals on them and from the fantastic organsiers, Asif and Pauline, has been great!  In fact, I have been asked to teach at next years Tribal Sleepover! How great is that?

Belly Craft!

This weekend is a rather exciting one and I am writing this post while I wait for my Mum to arrive so we can drive over the Pennines to Huddersfield in Yorkshire! We are off to The Tribal Sleepover hosted by some wonderful bellydancer teachers and I am teaching! Squeal!
It is a weekend if dance, drumming, craft, cake, chilling out and drinking (vodka in my case!) Earlier this year I was asked if I would teach some crafty workshops and I jumped at the chance! It is a great opportunity for me to develop this part of The Gingerbread Bunny, which I really want to do as, well, I am a teacher!
So, I am running a crochet-a-long later tonight making zill muffs and flowers, tomorrow I am teaching a feathery hair clips workshops and on Sunday morning it is all about the art journaling!
The bags are packed and the car is ready to go. All I need now is my partner in crime!!!

Beautiful Backgrounds

A good few weeks ago now, I attended a journaling backgrounds workshop, with my Mum, at the fabulous Art from the Heart in Harrogate.  The workshop was taught by Kate Crane, who has been featured in Art Journaling Magazine, and was fantastic!  She taught us 2 techniques for creating backgrounds for journaling.

The first technique involved lots of layering up acrylics using a card to apply them.  We then added spray inks, stamps and shapes to build it all up to create a gorgeous background.  Finally, we journaled on top.  I added some cut out stamps of houses on text taken from old books, putting them on top of some ripped sheet music to ground them. 

The second technique Kate showed us involved finger painting!  Very messy but lots of fun and it created an amazing background!  Again, we layered it up with spray inks, stencils and stamps and then journaled on top.  I picked the lady above, stuck on with tape, and a giant bug which made me think of Doctor Who! 

During the workshop, I had the opportunity to use pastels, which I've never worked with in my journals before, to highlight areas.  Very effective.

Of course, when I got home I had to have a go at these techniques, to make sure I hadn't forgotten how to do them, and I experimented with using fewer colours, different stamps and adding other layers. 

We really enjoyed the workshop, took some great ideas away with us and had the chance to do a bit of shopping (I took cash and no cards!) And of course, we had a lovely dinner in the cafe downstairs, bagel with cream cheese and a giant piece of coffee and walnut cake, mmm! 

(If you go to Kate's blog, there are some photo's from the workshop and you can just see the top of my head, I look very busy!)

Wrap me up!

There has been much journaling going on this week in the warren.  On Saturday I attended a journaling workshop based on The Artists Way by Julia Cameron.  It was being hosted at a local high school and, for £11.25 for a full day and your dinner, it was an opportunity not to be missed. 

I'm not really sure what I expected from it.  I was hoping that it would help with the writing aspect of my journaling as this is the part I always find the hardest.  The art bit, the painting and decorating pages, sticking sparkly bits on and generally having arty fun is easy and rewarding but when it comes to writing I often get a block.  What do I write about?  What have I got to say?  

Writing we got!  The lady running the course announced that she wanted us to write for 1 hour!  Yes, you heard me right, 1 hour!  My initial thoughts I will not print here but needless to say I did not feel good.  I felt intimidated by  the blank pages in front of me and  the prospect of sitting like a pudding for 1 hour with nothing to write about. 

So, in true teacherly fashion, I wrote the date and title, underlining them to!  It instantly took away the blank page, it was no longer as intimidating.  I then began to write about what had happened that day and then it just flowed.  One thought led to another and another and before I knew it I was writing.

Now, being completley honest, I have never sat down and just written before like I did then.  I never made myself do it.  It was a block, a barrier I had given myself and I chose the easy way out, to paint a pretty background.  As I said in my last post, ecourses like Andrea's and prompts from the Art Journaling magazine have helped me to write and record but, that 1 hour yesterday morning made me realise that I could write!

So, on to the title of my post, 'wrap me up'.  As you may have ascertained I love my art journal.  It is precious to me.  It is me as an artist and my thoughts and feelings and day to day happenings in my life.  It is my creative outlet.  It was sat there on my crafty work table, as beautiful as it is, but I felt it was missing something.  It needed to be kept in a special place, in a special way.  I decided to make it it's own special wrap! 

My beautiful journal and wrap.

I made the wrap from strips of fabric cut into rectangles and sewn together.  Some of the fabric is from old clothing I had, like a gorgeous silk skirt that no longer fitted, there is part of my wedding dress on there and other fabrics I had in my stash.  I then added ribbon and ric rac to cover the seams and used a zig zag stitch to make it look more decorative.  Finally I added a button (one a got from the Textile fair) and some pink ribbon to fasten it.  There was no pattern, it was just an idea and I played around until it looked right. 



Flat wrap

  I enjoyed making it so much I made one for my Mum, who loves her art journaling to, and have decided to make some for the Gingerbread Bunny Folksy shop when it is launched. 

Mum's journal wrap