Craft Workshops

 by Melanie Louise

New! Next Level Fused Glass Workshops

Beware, Fused glass is addictive!  I was first introduced to Fused Glass by the fabulous Alison Zwaard who runs Handmade in Netheredge

in Sheffield.  If you enjoy arts and crafts, delicious food and great company you must do one of her workshops.  I met Alison in 2013 when I was in the early stages of developing Crafts Afloat, my floating craft business.  Since then Alison has become a wonderful friend and business mentor.  Her openness to share her expertise, and her enthusiasm to support others to succeed is so inspiring.  After just a few hours in Alison’s beautiful studio, I was hooked on Fused Glass! The effects you can create, the colour, bubbles, sparkle and texture are just amazing.  Opening the kiln to see what magic has happened overnight never fails to excite me, I look forward to it every time.

Many of my workshop participants feel the same, so I developed the Next Level Fused Glass workshop for people who have completed my beginners class.  During this class you can create a hanging light catcher, a small slump dish and two pieces of float glass jewellery. As a final larger project, you will have the opportunity to make a bowl, a platter, an arched candle holder, a framed piece of glass or a set of four coasters.

These workshops are run once every two months.  Beware though, you’ll be buying your own kiln next!

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 by Melanie Louise

Guest Artist Workshops on the Crafts Afloat Boat

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Crafts Afloat has recently introduced Guest Workshops on the craft boat.  This has been a great opportunity for our regular guests to come back and spend more time being creative aboard the boat, and for me to beable to take part in the workshops too!

Pat Akerman from Big Hugz Handmade has led two workshops in Needle Felting.  Needle felting uses special barbed needles and a selection of carded wool to create 3D pieces of artwork.

During the first workshop we made Felted Faces, most of the workshop participants made a version of a Green Man.

The second time she visited we created animals, I made a moon gazing hare, whilst other people made miniature replicas of their own dogs.  The process of making these animals, building them up, limb by limb is fascinating.  Sculpting the wool with the needle is such a fabulous process.  The wool is so malleable, it magically transforms before your eyes just by being repeatedly stabbed with a small needle.  Beware though, it is a very addictive process!

Pat is a brilliant teacher who patiently supports the group through the various stages, allowing everyone to have their own input in the creative outcomes.

Check out her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/bighugzhandmade/

Upcoming Guest Workshops

Precious Mental Clay with Alison Zwaard from Handmade in Netheredge Saturday 3rd June (Fully Booked) – http://www.handmadeinnetheredge.co.uk/

3D Paper Cut Art with Heidi Vilkman Saturday 15th July (Places available) – www.heidivilkman.com

 

 

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 by Melanie Louise

Happy New Year – Make time for making and creating in 2017!

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Hello, I hope this blog finds you all well and ready for the New Year. I hope it’s a happy, creative and prosperous 2017 for you all.  Many thanks to all the fabulous, crafty people who took part in workshops in 2016, it was a busy year with over 250 visitors to the craft boat!  The positive feedback has been amazing and definitely makes all the hard work of running a boaty business worth it.

I have found it so heart warming to see the positive impact creative activities can have on people’s well being.  Workshop participants always comment on how relaxed and inspired they feel after being engaged in making and creating on the boat. Immersing yourself in creative activity is fantastic for the mind, body and soul, and is so important in today’s hectic world.  We should all find time in 2017 for lots of Creative Escapism!

Crafts Afloat continues to offer a range of exciting creative workshops aboard the beautiful craft boat in Hebden Bridge.  The Crafty Snail and I are taking some time in January to do some boat maintenance and prepare for a new year of workshops and events. Workshops start again in February, I have scheduled in all dates for the rest of Winter and into Spring.  See my website Events Calendar or Facebook Events for workshop dates. I am currently running workshops in Felting, Mosaics and Beginners Fused Glass.  I will be offering one workshop each month in the different crafts, with further dates for full boat/private bookings.

During 2016 I continued to grow the Social Enterprise ethos of Crafts Afloat Ltd.  In November I graduated from the brilliant School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) programme which has supported and influenced the direction of the business.  During the course I meet some incredible people, fellow entrepreneurs, speakers, mentors and course leaders who have inspired and motivated me. I highly recommend this programme for budding social entrepreneurs!

Crafts Afloat has now had the pleasure of working with some great organisations including the Basement Project, Calderdale Carers, Woodcraft Folk, Hebden Bridge Arts Festival and Hebden Bridge Open Studios.  I am looking forward to continuing this work, gaining further funding and developing relationships with community organisations and charities in 2017.

Crafts Afloat hopes to see you all for more Creative Escapism in 2017.  If you are keen to be made aware of last minute cancellations and bookings on my workshops, please request to join my Facebook Group – Crafts Afloat – Creativity Makes People Happy .  If you are a charity or community group who is interested in accessing creative opportunities that improve emotional well-being please get in touch.

For more information and images about workshops, students work and events, visit Crafts Afloat website and the Facebook Page.

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