For details of spring workshops go to the workshop page.
City & Guilds Fashion
It has been some years since adult part-time learners in this area have been able undertake creative crafts in City and Guilds but the good news is that Hull Adult Education Service will be offering City & Guilds Fashion to part-time learners from September 2008 with myself as tutor. Starting with Level 1, which is aimed at complete beginners and those with skills but who have not undertaken a formal qualification in this field before, it will roll over onto Level 2 and hopefully level 3 as well. The course will be held at the Avenues Adult Education Centre, Park Avenue, Hull.
There will also be the opportunity undertake other creative skills crafts such as soft-furnishing, patchwork and quililting with Louise Walker.
For more details and to register your interest please e-mail through the contact page or phone me direct on 01482 84071.
Newly Qualified Teacher Training
A phone call out of the blue from a newly qualified textiles teacher has led me down another exciting teaching path. A national shortage of qualified teachers is causing recruitment problems and some senior schools have taken textiles out of their curriculum because of this.
Art and design graduates from other disciplines are being considered for textiles teaching and I am helping with this teacher's training by brushing up her skills to enable her to provide a modern and inspiring programme for her pupils.
Stitchclub
Textiles and sewing in general seems to have suffered a bit of an image problem over the years with time for teaching real skills diminishing resulting in children that are now 2nd and 3rd generation 'non-sewers' with no one at home to help them.
With this in mind ex music-industry pr Alison McNichol, sponsored by Janome sewing machines, is spearheading a Save our Sewing campaign by appealing to those people with the skills to set up Stitchclub sewing classes for children in their area.
If you are interested contact Alison at www.stitchclub.co.uk, alison@stitchclub.co.uk or telephone 0208 208 4845.
Sewing World Magazine January 08 features The Northern College of Costume
One of my favourite times of the year is when I teach sewing skills for The Northern College of Costume in the summer in the lovely city of York -doing what I love passing on skills to those who want a career using their sewing skills.
The college and Pauline Chambers, the principal, is featured in January's Sewing World magazines along with beautiful photographs taken at various locations around York of the students in their stunning period creations. This short, intensive course is open to drama, theatre costume and fashion post graduates or anyone who has basic sewing skills. All the students who have passed through the course have been continually employed in theatres working on diverse productions from the Lion King to Fiddler on the Roof.
Do you fancy a career change or the opportunity to learn from the professionals? Contact Pauline at p.chambers@northerncollege of costume or go to www.northerncollegeofcostume.co.uk. which also offers one day courses in a wide range of areas such as corsetry.
New suppliers on the links page
I rely heavily on mail order services for my bespoke wear because of limited suppliers locally and have come across some new ones who offer a sample and mail order service - very efficient they were to:
The Dress Fabric Company, Cloth of Gold, Wootton Bassett. Sew Creative, Hoveton, Norfolk and Laughing Hen. Go to the links page fore more details.