We have a great selection of workshops coming up in March so leap into spring with a new skill! Book now as places on our workshops are limited – we usually have classes of 6 – 8 people which means you’ll get the attention you need to perfect your new talents. Drop us a line at info@theoakstudio.com for all bookings and enquiries. And don’t miss our vintage pottery pop up sale on Saturday 17 March and nab a unique gift for Mother’s Day, we also have a lovely selection of hand made items for sale in the Studio and a selection of cards for Mother’s Day – and beyond!
Introduction to Cake Pops!
- Sunday 11 March, 12.30pm – 2.30pm
- Thursday 22 March, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
The latest big thing in cakes! Make a selection of unique, fun and delicious Cake Pops – little orbs of cake on sticks, which you will ice and decorate in an array of fun designs, be as imaginative as you like – these fun mini cakes will charm your family and friends and they are also great as an alternative to cupcakes for kid’s parties. Our trained chef Leigh will guide you through and you’ll leave with a bag of delicious cake pops and all the recipes to make more!
Cost: £36 / Teacher: Leigh Koh (www.craft-cakes.co.uk)
Improve Sewing Machine Skills: Make a Cushion Cover
- Thursday 15 March, 1pm – 3pm
- Thursday 12 April, 1pm – 3pm
This workshop is suitable for those who can already use the sewing machine to sew straight lines (kids 10+ are welcome, if they are used to using a machine) and thread up a machine independently (if not please join a beginners class first). All materials included or bring a metre of your favourite fabric. Make a cushion cover with an envelope closure. You will also be shown how to create button holes, time allowing, so do bring some buttons or you can choose from our selection.
Cost: £45 / Teacher: Jennie Caminada
VINTAGE POTTERY – POP UP SHOP! Saturday 17 March, 10am – 5pm.
Private collection of Poole & Branksome twintone from the 1950s-1970s for sale.
Mother’s Day Fabric Bouquet with A Alicia
- Saturday 17 March, 11am- 1pm
Join the very lovely and talented Anna from A Alicia Accessories (aalicia.bigcartel.com) and create a gorgeous bouquet of hand-sewn flowers using vintage and fairtrade fabrics, vintage beads and trimmings – to decorate your home or give as a gift. A perfect workshop for Mother’s Day or just to treat yourself while creating something beautiful to keep and enjoy.
Cost: £30 per person (bring your mum/daughter – or a friend – and it’s only £50 for both of you) / Teacher: Anna Johnson
Using the Sewing Machine: Make a Tote Bag
- Saturday 17 March, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Have some basic sewing machine skills but want a reminder session, some extra practise or to hone your skills? Then this is the session for you. In this 2 hour sewing machine workshop you will use the Oak Studio sewing machines and make a stylish tote bag from scratch. You will learn about measuring and cutting fabric, making sturdy seams, strong handles and even a pocket if there is time. All materials are included in the workshop price.
Cost: £45 / Teacher: Jennie Caminada
Hand-painted Clay Easter Decorations
- Two part workshop: Saturday 17 March, 2pm – 4pm & Saturday 31 March, 2pm – 4pm
You’ll create gorgeous Scandinavian inspired hand-painted clay decorations, perfect for Easter or just to add a hand-made touch to your home. In the first session you will sculpt your clay shapes, then leave these to air dry ready to paint with Scandinavian inspired patterns in the second session. Once you have painted your clay shapes you’ll use vintage ribbons and fabrics to turn them into beautiful decorations to hang in your home or give as Easter gifts!
Cost: £48 for the two sessions / Teacher: Anna Johnson (aalicia.bigcartel.com)
An Introduction to Bookbinding
- Sunday 18 March, 2pm – 4pm
Join us at the Studio for this rewarding 2 hour workshop where you will learn the basics of bookbinding, you will make a small hardback case-bound notebook during the session and get an insight to the art of bookbinding, and the materials and equipment needed. You will also leave with a list of everything you need to make more books at home and with the new skills you need to make them!
Cost: £38 per person / Teacher: Yuko Matsuno
‘Easy to Read’: Help your child to love books
- Friday 23 March, 1pm – 3pm
Research consistently shows that having supportive adults at home makes an enormous difference to children’s capacity to learn at school. But although everyone wants to help, lots of parents feel that they don’t know how.
This is a lively and practical workshop that enables parents (or grandparents or indeed any other adult who reads books with children) to understand what the process of learning to read is like, be aware of the different roles of school and home, and discover new ways to make reading fun. We will focus on techniques to motivate individual children up to about 7 or 8 years old, rather than school-based schemes such as synthetic phonics.
Feedback from parents who have attended ‘Easy to Read’ workshops: “This session gave me some fantastic ideas and tips.” Mary J “Really good practical tips for encouraging reluctant readers… and calming parents!” Charlotte S
Teacher: Clio Whittaker is a qualified family learning teacher with 10 years’ experience of working with parents in primary schools in Camden, Islington and Southwark. www.ampersand-learning.com
Cost:£28 per workshop to include choice of a children’s book to take home.
Make a Vintage Plate Cake Stand
- Saturday 24 March, 10.30am – 12pm
Learn how to turn vintage plates into an unusual and eye-catching 3 tier cake or canapé stand in this immensely satisfying class. We supply a great selection of pretty vintage plates which you will choose from to create your bespoke stand, or please feel free to bring your own plates. You will then learn how to drill through your plates and fix them together using a cake stand fitting which is also provided, choose from gold or silver in a variety of styles. Extra fittings will also be available to buy on the day.
Cost: £35 / Teacher: Monica Russel
Introduction to Crewel Embroidery
- Wednesday 28 March, 10am – 1pm
Students will embroider an Oriental design inspired by the work of the renowned needlewoman Lady Julia Carew (1863-1922) using a variety of stitches, including long and short, satin, stem, back and French knot. 8 places, beginners welcome.
Cost: £49.50 (the cost includes a crewel kit work kit worth £15)
Receive a 10% discount if you book one or more embroidery classes
Founded by Lynn Hulse (textile historian) and Nicola Jarvis (designer), Ornamental Embroidery works closely with museums, art galleries and other institutions as well as private collectors to create an artistic range of kits and individual designs inspired by objects from their collections, using historically accurate fabric grounds and threads in a variety of stitching techniques. Ornamental Embroidery runs a series of one, two and three day workshops in historic and commercial venues across the UK. Students are introduced to the history of embroidered textiles and design through lectures and first hand study of antique examples, and are trained in a variety of stitching techniques, including canvas, crewel, gold work, silk shading, blackwork and raised work.
Dr Lynn Hulse has focused on embroidered textiles since 2004 and has lectured and written extensively on the subject. Former Archivist at the Royal School of Needlework, she is Editor of Text (the journal of The Textile Society), Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and Trustee of the Brangwyn Gift at the William Morris Gallery. She is currently writing a book on the development of Art Embroidery in the second half of the 19th century.
Sew a String of Bunting
- Thursday 29 March, 1pm – 3pm
Make a lovely string of bunting in time for spring and decorate your house, your kids’ bedroom, garden party, wedding, tent or to give as a gift. All materials are included. Suitable for those who can sew straight lines and thread up a machine independently (if not please join a beginner’s class first). All materials are included or bring some yardage of your favourite fabric if you prefer.
Cost: £45 / Teacher: Jennie Caminada
Celebration Cake Decorating
- Saturday 31 March, 10.30am – 1pm
Have a special occasion coming up that you would like to make a special and unique cake for? Then this is class for you, come and learn how to ice a cake with a professional finish using fondant icing and how to make flowers using sugar paste to adorn your cake with. You will also have a go at improving your piping techniques. The cake will be provided for this session and you will also be giving recipes and tips so you can perfect your baking and decorating techniques at home.
Cost: £46 per person / Teacher: Leigh Koh
Knit Night
- Every Wednesday, 6.30pm – 8pm
Our regular Wednesday evening Knit Night is in full swing – we are also inviting all you hand sewers and crochet masters out there to come and join us to work on your projects, meet like-minded people, use our equipment and enjoy a cup of tea, a biscuit and a friendly chat in the relaxed surroundings of the Studio.
Cost: £10 per person – advice given and we also have some needles and yarns available, as well as a fully stocked sewing box. Led by: Thea Ellis
