We have teamed up with some excellent local artists to share their skills and crafts and offer you a selection of Arty workshops at Highway Farm.  All are one day courses except the Hazelwood furniture-making which is a 2 day course, small numbers and lots of attention, available for both locals and guests.   Workshop Gift Vouchers are a good idea too for those difficult loved ones!    Come and have a lovely relaxing day out and learn something new. If you have a small group of friends or colleagues interested then I can happily arrange a date to suit you and arrange a tutor and a home-cooked lunch.  Why not make it 'An Arty Break in Dorset'? Have fun learning something new, walk the coastal footpaths, try our local pubs, visit Bridport Market, and recharge your batteries!  We have 4 ensuite rooms but you must book early to reserve all the rooms and a tutor. Michael likes to work and paint outdoors and offers stimulating teaching sessions. His dramatic seascapes & landscapes have become much sought after, they capture the very essence of the forces of nature. In addition he has gained a reputation as a controversial prize winning “sculptor”; his work containing every kind of detritus found on local beaches. www.chappellstudio.co.uk Ann grew up in rural Kent, as a child she loved to study nature and illustrated stories about animals. She now tutors in watercolour & drawing technique, enjoys painting & sketching on location and works as a Natural History Artist in Uplyme. www.shadesofgray.org.uk Artistically, Bridport is to Dorset what St Ives is to Cornwall minus the Tate Gallery! The Town and local area has lots to offer and a good place to browse the many galleries and shops, and of course the busy Market Days too. During the August Bank holiday Bridport has its own Open Studio event featuring the work of over 100 local artist, potters and makers of furniture to fashion in 54 venues around Bridport and the surrounding countryside. The Bridport Arts Centre has a varied programme of visual arts as well as great music, drama and dance performances, and The Electric Palace Cinema which has been restored and re-opened offers a wide range of films and social events with bar and food facilities, which all add to its unique atmosphere. All in all it is a wonderful place to live and a great place to come for a painting holiday as there is something to inspire everyone with the sea, cliffs, harbours, rivers and wonderful landscapes all around.

Workshops and Courses 2009
At a glance……………….
28th February Rag Rugs - Tania Cash
8th March BIG BREAKFAST at Highway Farm for Cancer Research 9-1pm
Please join us for a full Highway Farm Breakfast or for the walkers, bacon baps to go!
12th March A Day in the life of an AGA. Cooking the aga way! Olivia Archer
14th& 15th March Hazelwood Garden Furniture – Peter Moors
28th March Wire and beaded Scribble Bangles – Fran Griffith
29th March Living willow Arbours Amy Ralph, morning
4th April Make a willow hanging basket, and plant it. Kate Bromfield
18th April Gypsy hedgerow baskets& woven table mats Petra Hughes
20th April Art Day, watercolours and sketching Ann Gray
24th April  Create beautiful wedding buttonholes Sylvia Dunsdon
1st May Baskets made the traditional way Andy Southwell
2ndMay Willow sculptures, birds and beasties! Andy Southwell
2nd May    Felt bags, creative, stylist and unique.  No sewing required Dennie Rose
8th May Willow garden supports and tepees Kate Bromfield morning
16th May Art Day, watercolours and sketching Ann Gray
17th May Gypsy hedgerow baskets & woven table mats Petra Hughes
20th May Pottery with the Symondsbury Potters
4th June Intro to Felt-making/create fibre landscapes Dennie Rose
20th & 21st June WOMENS ART FESTIVAL IN BRIDPORT
25th June A Day in the life of an AGA. Cooking the Aga way! Olivia Archer
27th June Fairy Sculptures for the garden – Tania Cash
17th July  Create beautiful wedding buttonholes and hand-tied posies. Sylvia Dunsdon
18th & 19th July Hazelwood Garden Furniture – Peter Moors
30th July   Fabulous Nuno – Floaty felt & chiffon scarves Dennie Rose
8th August Gypsy Baskets Petra Hughes
15th August Silk Bowls & Candles morning, plus soap-making in the afternoon Tania Cash
21st & 22nd August Hazelwood Garden Furniture – Peter Moors
22nd August Wire and beaded necklaces Fran Griffith
29th-31st August BRIDPORT OPEN STUDIOS 2009
12th Sept  New- Polymer clay Jewellery - Beautiful brooches and earrings
25th Sept Willow sculptures, birds and beasties! – Andy Southwell
26th Sept Baskets made the traditional way – Andy Southwell
14th Oct  A day in the life of an AGA. Cooking the Aga way!  Olivia Archer
18th Nov  Christmas with an AGA. Festive foodie flair with Olivia Archer
21st Nov Bath Bombs, Bath melts and lip balms – Tania Cash
27th & 28th Nov  Free workshop - Christmas wreaths.
TBA   AGA - Cooking for Christmas

The Workshop days begin with coffee and biscuits on arrival. If you would like a freshly prepared lunch please order when booking, additional £5. Payment due when booking. Please ring if you have any questions or would like to book.

New AGA Courses -A Day in the life of an AGA! tutor Olivia Archer
Thursday 12th March & Thursday 25th June. Wed 14th Oct and Christmas Day Wed 18th Nov. 10.30 – 3pm
Olivia will take you through a whole day of cooking, showing the basics of Aga cookery and how to make the most out of cooking and living with Aga! Yummy tasters, lunch and a glass of wine included. £40

WORKSHOPS WORKING with WILLOW. Such a wonderful local resource & lots of ideas.
Living Willow tutor Amy Ralph
Sunday 29th March 10.30-12.30
Come and have a go, learn to plant, weave & make beautiful living arbours, tunnels and natural screens. Guidance & instructions to take home so you can create your own living archways and fences. £20

Make a hanging basket, and then plant it. tutor Kate Bromfield
Saturday 4th April 10.30-2.30
Homemade willow baskets to decorate your home, under guidance from Kate, our local plants woman.
£35 materials and plants included.

Traditional Basket Weaving WILLOW WEEKEND tutor Andy Southwell
Friday 1st May 10.30 – 5pm
Saturday 26th September 10.30- 5pm
Relax and enjoy working with natural willow. Andy is a great tutor and you will achieve a beautifully handmade basket. £45 materials incl.

Willow Sculptures for the Garden tutor Andy Southwell
Saturday 2nd May 10.30 – 4.30pm
Friday 25th September 10.30-4.30pm
This workshop is always popular so book early. Come and make an exciting sculpture to take home; hopefully it will fit in the car! It can be a bird or beastie or anything you fancy. £38 materials incl.
Why make it a workshop weekend with Andy? *Free lunches if you sign up for Baskets & Sculptures

Tepees and plant supports for your garden tutor Kate Bromfield
Friday 8th May 10 – 1pm
Learn to make willow structures to support your plants with the help of Kate, garden designer.
£30 materials incl.

Hedgerow baskets tutor Petra Hughes
Saturday 18th April, Sunday 17th May & Saturday 8th August 10.30- 4pm
Make unique and beautiful Gypsy baskets made from natural materials gathered from the hedges woven with garden climbers. Also learn how weave tablemats and nests from rushes. Suitable for all ages. £35 materials incl.

Rustic Hazelwood Furniture tutor Peter Moors
14th & 15th March, 18th & 19th July and 21st & 22nd August 10-4.30
This is a two-day workshop. Try your hand at furniture making and be inspired and guided by green woodman and tutor Peter. Make your own unique garden furniture, its well worth the effort! Please sign up early, as there is a waiting list! £80 plus approx £15 for wood used.

CRAFTY DAY COURSES with talented tutors. Come on, anyone can do it!

Rag-Rug and more Arty Crafty with tutor Tania Cash
Saturday 28th Feb. 10.30am –4.30pm RAG RUGS
Have you ever fancied having a go at rugging? Well now’s your chance! Create a small rug or wall hanging, traditional technique, can be learnt in a day. £35 materials incl. Option to buy hook.

Saturday 27th June 10.30- 4.30pm Fairy Sculptures for the garden
And now for something different! Sculpt a figure, a fairy, angel or even a tribal figure,
Weatherproof, so your finished creation can take pride of place inside or out. No experience necessary. £35 incl. materials.

Saturday 15th August 10.30-4.30pm Silk bowls/candles/Soap making in afternoon
Create 2 beautiful bowls using a mix of silk fibres, let your imagination run wild. Then go on to surface decoration of candles using a variety of mediums and conclude the day making gorgeous soaps using natural ingredients. A truly indulgent day! £20 morning / £20 afternoon.*free lunch if do both.

Saturday 21st November 10.30-4.30pm Bath Bombs/Bath Melts & Lip Balms, Christmas ideas!
Using natural products e.g. shea butter, coconut oil, rose petals, cocoa butter & gorgeous essential oils, Bath treats for Christmas presents for those in need of a little pampering! £20 morning/ £20 afternoon.
*Free lunch included if you do both sessions. Materials included.

Beaded Jewellery tutor Fran Griffith
For all abilities, £35 plus charge for beads used
Saturday 28th March 10.30- 4.30pm Wire and beaded Scribble Bangles
Experiment with coloured wires, sparkling crystals & light catching glass beads! Make at least one original bracelet. Looks rather like scribble with ink blobs!
Saturday 22nd August 10.30- 4.30pm . Quick & easy bracelets & necklaces
Make in a day 2 new designs of Fran’s, Fondant Fruits & Juicy Berries & Liquorice Allsorts!
These pieces are worked with needle & thread. £35 plus charge for beads used.
Fran can change this workshop to the jewellery of your choice?

Felt-Making and some fantastic new ideas from…. tutor Dennie Rose
£35 plus small charge for materials
Saturday 2nd May  10.30-4.30pm Felt bags, creative, stylist and unique.
During the day we will make a durable seamless shoulder bag, incorporating the revealing Stitch‘n’Slash technique. No sewing required.

Thursday 4th June 10.30-4.30pm  Introduction to Felt-making
This therapeutic day experience the ancient techniques of creating fabric from fleece that can be from cobweb to carpet quality. ‘Painting with Fibres’ technique, used to create a beautiful wall hanging.

Thursday 30th July  10.30-4.30pm Fabulous Nuno – Floaty felt & chiffon scarves
A real felting treat with Dennie. Incorporating fibres into chiffon, create desirable individual scarves, and to complete the day stitch beautiful beads into the scarves for embellishment.

Saturday 12th Sept 10.30-4.30pm   Polymer clay Jewellery –hand-made beads
Another creative day where you will learn how to use this amazing medium. Make the most beautiful hand-made beads and create a very special piece of jewellery, individually designed, brooch or pendant

Flowers Arranging- Anyone can! tutor Sylvia Dunsdon
24th April 10.30 - 3.30pm
~Flower arranging workshop~Beautiful wedding buttonholes & tied-posies.~Flowers for Xmas~
We can offer half day or full day courses with Sylvia, please ask if interested.

Painting and Sketching Days tutor Ann Gray
Monday 20th April & Saturday 16th May 10.30-4.30pm
A relaxing and enjoyable day out for all, each artist will be encouraged to work at his or her own pace and in their own style. Beginners welcome, you will receive individual help in overcoming initial anxieties
£40. Easy to arrange other dates with Ann, small groups 3-5.

Pottery classes with The Symondsbury Potters
Wednesday 20th May 2.30 - 4.30pm
Afternoon with Miles Bell and Fenella at the Symondsbury Pot Shop.
It's £25pp. Small group, you get 2 tutors and try your hand at different pots and the potters wheel too! I think there is a small amount to pay for the clay used. Miles then fires and finishes your pots and will ring when ready to collect.  I can arrange this workshop for 2-5. Come in a group, book early if you need accommodation.

Flowers Arranging- Anyone can! tutor Sylvia Dunsdon
17th July 12noon - 5pm   £35
~Flower arranging workshop~Beautiful wedding buttonholes & tied-posies.~Flowers for Christmas~
Very suitable for wedding parties, Mother of the bride, especially!

Coarse Fishing Lessons tutor Jim Copplestone
Available on our lakes.Max 2 people,£15 per hr or £20 for doubles, age 5+ and adults too!

FREE WORKSHOP - Christmas Wreaths
27th & 28th November 10-2pm. A date for your diary!
Learn how to make beautiful Christmas wreaths to brighten up your door, or just come and join in the fun! Mince pies, coffee and carols to get you in the mood, use the space to make a mess!
The idea is that you make one wreath to take home, and another one for me to sell for charity.
Small charge for ring and moss, please bring greenery and xmassy bits and bobs to add.

Workshop Feedback
Rag Rugs
10 eager looking ladies arrived for Rag Rugging Workshop and gathered around the large dining table. Led and guided by expert textile tutor Angela Axeby. They were shown wonderfully unique samples woven by Angela  herself and taught techniques to weave old defunct garments into interesting and useable rugs.  Colourful assorted pieces of materials adorned the tables, with bits all over the floor!  There was a real community atmosphere and the opportunity to meet new people and exchanges news and views while rag-rugging.  It was busy and buzzy with the ladies all working extremely hard, they enjoyed a break for a nice home cooked lunch and then all completed their starter rug.  When these were all put together they achieved a super colourful carpet and we hope everyone went home happy and will be inspired to do more.  Pauline

Willow Sculptures

Hi Pauline,Just to let you know I'm the proud owner of a willow dome(started off as a tee pee!) constructed last weekend, all my own work! The kids love it, am hoping it will start to sprout soon, Best wishes  Lisa

 

Floral buttonholes and hand tied posies 

We spent a very wet and windy Saturday making wedding buttonholes around the kitchen table by the warmth of the aga.  Lots of wedding talk and with the helpful guidance from tutor Sylvia we made a wonderful variety corsage to brighten any wedding outfit.  Midday cooked brunch followed with a demonstration of how to make beautiful hand-tied posies which made wonderful Easter gifts. This was a small friendly group and a very productive day was had by all.  So at the next wedding, no excuses, hand-made buttonholes! 

 

 

                    

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Local Courses

Creative Appliqué    £45pp
At the home of Willemein Stevens.    www.creativeapplique.com

Why not get a party together and let me arrange your tutor and accommodation? Try Tutored Wine Tasting with Andrew Kindness, ceramics at Tony's studio, private guided fossil walks or fishing lessons with Jim Copplestone at £15 per hour or £20 for doubles, age 5+

From Jill Innis: "Just a note to say thanks for such a lovely weekend. I thought the idea of an art package with bed and breakfast was wonderful - and would be grateful if you could let me know when you are having another one. I just feel the package would be of interest to any one interested in art as its basically a short stay - you have two nights away - and several sessions of art tuition as well as supper with you, John and Michael which all helped to make it special. I really enjoyed my time with Michael - just thought he was inspiring, just what you need when you are trying to paint. Anywhere I go where I come into contact with other art people I will spread the word and give out your cards where possible."