A very belated Happy New Year, I am sorry that this is so late, I have been busy dealing with some family issues and some health issues of my own, but all is well now …Spring is springing and i am watching the sparrows and robins being busy on the feeders .. I have been working on some new classes for the autumn, but first of all I have had an unusual number of late cancellations for upcoming classes, which, while unfortunate, may provide an unexpected opportunity for someone to take a place.… further details of these courses may be found in the classes section of this website. do please let me know if you are interested because when this newsletter arrives, the spaces will probably go very quickly.

21 and 22 March Natural Dyeing £120 2 spaces tutor Caroline Bell
Students will learn the basics of natural dyeing using natural dye extracts, preparation of fabrics, the correct use of mordants and methods of modifying those colours to achieve a whole rainbow of samples thus debunking the myth that natural dyes produce only muddy or insipid results which do not .
Further classes from Caroline with spaces this year are
23-24 May Indigo £120 1 space  tutor Caroline Bell
18 & 19 July Eco Printing Masterclass £120 2 spaces tutor Caroline Bell

23-26 March Exploring Place £420 3 spaces tutor Debbie Lyddon
It is very unusual for spaces to come available for Debbie’s classes. late cancellations have provided an opportunity for what students have described as a life changing experience. This is the only time Debbie will teach here this year.
Discover new ways of inspiring your creative work by using all of your senses to observe the world around you.  Part of this workshop will be spent outside – looking, listening and touching – to collect information from the environment. This material will be documented with drawing, sound recording and writing. Back in the studio your collections will form a starting point for experiments with paper, cloth, stitch, mark-making, collage and printing to create a unique and personal record of your exploration of place.

27 & 28 March Nuno Felted Needlecase £150 3 spaces tutor Clare Bullock My needle case is very special to me, it contains beautiful threads, pieces of work ready to stitch, quotes that inspire, things that I have found, and photos etc. It’s my working journal and I feel totally lost without it. Join me in making your own personal Nuno felted needle case, maybe using special fabrics, photos and any other items that hold meaning to you. Further classes from Clare this year are 17 & 18 April    Sketchbooks, Let’s Keep it Small £150 5 Spaces tutor Clare 14 & 15 August   Urban Decay  £150  1 space  tutor Clare

I am sad that cancellations are on the increase, and, while I understand that things do happen, especially when a lot of you book in so early, it makes life very tricky with such small classes. if I fall below 4 or 5 students I am operating at a loss which I can ill afford of course.. so, I must remind everyone that the half fee deposit is non refundable and non transferrable, this gives me a little more leeway in being able to run a class and not let other students down. On the other hand, if a class is full, it is always worth putting your name down on a waiting list because of this cancellation rate

Later in the year we have a sprinkling of spaces on other classes as well as the four tutors previously mentioned. I have introduced a new section in the website which gives a quick look at the upcoming classes and an idea of where the spaces are.. if you go to the classes section of the website http://www.granarystudio.com the first paragraph gives you a link to ‘A Quick Look’ which lists the classes in chronological order with the current situation regarding spaces. I hope you find this helpful.
Meanwhile here is a flavour of the classes offered by the remaining tutors… and do read to the end because there is news of another new tutor visiting the granary later this year!

28 & 29 May A Little book of Leaves £175 2 spaces tutor Amanda Clayton
Using traditional hand stitch techniques and extreme contrasts of neutral cloth and thread we will explore running stitch, cutwork, layering, applique and inlay using leaves and other natural forms as a means to inspire and produce a personal cloth book. Amanda returns next year to teach her workshop ‘Fragile Forms’

24 & 25 June Collage, Stitch and Sketchbook  £180 4 spaces   tutor   Sue Dove
27 &28 June Nuno Felt into Stitch  £180 4 spaces   tutor   Sue Dove
Back to back workshops from this inspirational tutor. Sue teaches her colourful quirky techniques using collage, applique, sketchbook ideas, and nuno felt.  Sue keeps saying these are her last workshops, so don’t miss this opportunity

Classes from Amanda Hislop with spaces are 
2& 3 July  Seascapes Unfold  £150 2 Spaces tutor Amanda Hislop
26 & 27 September  Exploring Trees as a Theme £150 2 spaces  tutor Amanda Hislop

16 & 17July Inspired by Klimt £175 1 space tutor Wendy Dolan
Enjoy two days exploring the patterns and colours in the work of Gustav Klimt. You will be layering fabrics, machine stitching and then burning away areas with a soldering iron. Gold and Silver leaf (imitation) will be applied to areas of the design

25 & 26 July Mosaics  £165 + £35 materials  2 spaces  tutor Susie Chaikin
A 2 day course designing and making 2 beautiful mosaics. We will mosaic  a pre-cut heart shape to hang on a wall, making this piece you will learn the techniques of cutting and placing  the mosaic pieces. For your second piece you will design, draw up,  and produce your own design in mosaic. We will be working  with an array of beautiful mosaic jewel like pieces. You can incorporate your own China and memorabilia into your mosaic making it personal to you. So start collecting pieces of crockery that you like,  China plates, tea cups,  birds,figures, flowers (little pots of a cluster of flowers like our grannies had on their sideboard are perfect), badges,  jewellery etc, carboots and charity shops are great for these.

8 & 9 August Masterclass, Colour, Fabric and Form  £170  3 spaces tutor Stewart Kelly
During this masterclass,you will explore the possibilities of combining drawing, colour, mixed media, paper as fabric,and stitched textile techniques.This will be an experimental workshop,focusing on exploration, and the process of discovery through making. Therefore, I would encourage you to come with an open mind, willing to try new things and enjoy yourselves

And last but not least I have just booked Alice Fox to come and teach at the Granary Studio

28 & 29 October Botanical Colour £195 3 spaces tutor Alice Fox
Explore techniques for capturing natural colour on cloth and paper, bringing colour, mark and hand stitch together. Using gathered materials and plant matter we will make our own botanical inks and experimental mark-making tools, as well as eco-printing on paper and cloth. We will bring these organic marks together with hand stitch in simple but unique hand made book structures.

wow, what a lot of information … and here is a bit more…
The Granary Studio is going to the ICHF show, ‘Fashion and Embroidery’  at the NEC 19-22 March! We have a great line up with Clare Bullock, Jenny O’Leary and Susie Chaikin teaching workshops and Sue Dove, Amanda Clayton and Me,Susan Chapman demonstrating.. we have some exhibiting space too, so, if any students have some finished work as a result of any of the workshops they have attended here, and that you would like to exhibit at the show, please do get in touch.
If you can get to the show, do please pop by and say hello.

The last word … I have finally written a book to accompany the new body of work I have been working on all winter, and will be exhhibiting at the Quilt Festival in Groningen, Holland in mid June… it has mostly gone to the publisher now apart from the intro and a few photos, so, exciting times for me.
I look forward to welcoming lots of you to the studio this year and am working hard to bring some new and exciting classes for the Autumn, and Spring… thanks for listening x