Rural crafts courses, craft kits and handcrafted gifts

Your tutor will guide you through the process from selecting a log through to a completed spoon. Mark Saich Originally trained as a carpenter/joiner, Mark has worked as an eco-builder, sustainable construction consultant and trainer. He has a degree in Environmental Sciences, obtained a post graduate diploma at the Centre of Alternative Technology. He now owns and lives in 23 acres (the venue) of woodland practicing green woodworking and sustainable woodland management. The session includes: * Tool review - an overview of the various tools available for spoon carving and...

You can make a multi-coloured round shopping basket on this one day course. Learn ancient weaving techniques and take home your own creation. Jon and Becky are both qualified teachers and have been teaching basket making for 25 years. Basketiers sit or stand to weave at table top height. We have regular workshops teaching people to make their own coloured willow baskets using locally grown and Somerset willows. If you are a beginner and you want to make a large, strong and durable basket in coloured willow, this is the...

Learn how to make a lip-work straw skep.  You will make your skep from a long straw wheat with cane lapping.  The course tutor, Chris Park, will explain how to split bramble and willow as needed. You will be able to make about one third of your skep during the day, and take home the skills, tools, and materials to finish off at home.

This is a one-day introduction to spoon carving where we will work together carving a cooking/stirring spoon from a log using carving axes, knives and hook knives. You will start by selecting a suitable log and cleave the timber using traditional tools and techniques. After roughing out the blanks using a carving axe you will learn the safe and effective knife grips needed to carve the outline of your spoon with a woodcarving knife. You will then use a hook knife to hollow the bowl of your spoon. At the...

Hello, and thanks for your interest in taking one of my weekend classes on how to make a traditional leaded glass window. I hold regular classes throughout the year from my professional stained glass studio in beautiful rural Leicestershire. This is a fun and friendly introduction to learning all the skills you will need to design and make your very own A4 size coloured leaded window 21 x 29cm. Students can choose from a selection of designs, learn how to create a full size design on paper, how to identify...

An intensive course to get you started, explaining all about the honey bee, helping you choose your hive and equipment, how and where to set up your apiary, the bees management and pests and diseases. Not forgetting when and how to extract that lovely honey. An informal couple of days spent with others looking to keep bees. A wealth of information from a highly experienced beekeeper and a chance to see the different equipment available, along with a useful pack of course notes to take away. Where the bees and...

Since the mechanisation of farming the traditional trade of rake making has almost vanished. There are only a handful of traditional Rake Makers left and people like our selves that are passionate about keeping these old crafts alive. During the day you will make your own swallowtail rake to take home with you. The rake is a beautiful tool, which will serve you well in the garden. Whilst making your rake you will learn about the traditional methods used to craft this simple but very effective tool. You will also...