Quirky Workshops Art, Craft and Heritage Skill Courses
Quirky Workshops at Greystoke Craft Garden and Barns is a unique creative venue offering an inspiring range of art, craft and heritage workshops from a C17th listed farmhouse in the pretty village of Greystoke. We're placed 5 miles equidistantly from Penrith, Eden Valley & Ullswater, on the northern fringes of the Lake District, west of Penrith, in beautiful Cumbria, north west England. We have been running around 1440 craft courses each year, since 2005.
During the lockdown of May 2020, we renovated an old hay loft and now host the majority our indoor courses and workshops in this wonderful, new, light, airy and spacious studio - 'the Swallow Barn’ ; although some tutors still prefer the cosy atmosphere and ground floor easy access nature of the original studio, 'Squirrel Barn'. Many of the courses (especially art and calligraphy) feature live streaming of tutor demos onto a large screen at the front, allowing students to watch closely, whilst seated at their desks. This practice was started during Covid but has been continued as very helpful with many workshops.
Please see our website https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/quirky-workshops-cumbria for full details of upcoming courses in date order.
Workshop days are relaxing, friendly and informal. They are delivered by hand picked professional and or expert tutors, many leaders in their chosen fields. Students often travel considerable distances to take part, staying in this lovely village of Greystoke or finding somewhere special close by . . .Keswick, Ullswater, Penrith and the Eden Valley are all within easy driving distance.
One, two or three day courses in:
- stone carving (relief or letter carving), wood carving, bird whittling, spoon carving, willow weaving and rush basket making.
- Lino cut printing, Fused glass, Stained Glass panels and Stained Glass mirrors, Sterling Silver jewellery and Silver Ring making courses, Porcelain plates and vases, and inspiring Mosaics
- Many textile courses including weaving, Needle felting Garden Bird pictures (robin/blue tit/wren) , Herdwick sheep and Pet Portraits, Felt art, Paint Print and Stitch, Felt Slippers, Ecoprinting, Leather Bag making, Learn to Spin and Lampshade Making, 'Hole House' bag making,
- Art courses : Introduction to Pen and Wash , Discovering Watercolours , Botanical and Wildlife illustration, Art courses with John Harrison, Frances Winder, Lyn Evans, Margaret Jarvis, Roy Simmons, Lis Bramwell, Calligraphy with Claire of byMoonandTide (our live streamed onto a large screen is especially useful for this course .. no more struggling to see the tutor demo close up from the back of the group!)
All day courses include tasty homemade lunch, fresh coffees and Aga cream teas. Drinks are served at desks do students may continue working Lunches to be taken at desks or in the garden during summer months.
Our workshop days are popular as gifts for special occasions. Quirky Open Vouchers make perfect and original presents and mean a lovely day can be shared together if preferred. Our Christmas Open vouchers are especially popular.
A full list of our courses can be found at https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/quirky-workshops-cumbria or please phone 017684 83984
We look forward to welcoming you here in Greystoke!
Location
We are in the picturesque village of Greystoke, just 5 miles west of Penrith/Junction 40 of the M6 and a few miles north of the A66 and Ullswater. Keswick is approx 15 minutes further west
Greystoke boasts several B B's, as well as self catering options and has its own website greystokevillage.co.uk We have a playing field, an outdoor heated swimming pool open from June through to August, a Castle, a church, a shop and post office and a cosy pub serving evening meals.
Two Day Sterling Silver Jewellery making Course Quirky Workshop
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
Sterling Silver Jewellery 2 days with Melinda Scarborough
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
10.00am – 4.30pm
£195 Lunch included
Material Charges from approx £25 in 2023
Sterling Silver Jewellery - 3 Silver Rings in a day - with Melinda Scarbrough
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
Loose Botanicals for Christmas ... with Lyn Evans
Lyn will teach you how to employ loose watercolour techniques, allowing the pigment and water combination to work their own magic without too much interference being necessary. You could also include other tools, such as pens, inktence pencils, watercolour pencils, salt and twigs, to be used along side your paints, to obtain the beautiful effects from the watercolours.
Although Lyn usually likes to paint her watercolours from life, (and you are welcome to bring specimens if freely available) we will be using references photos for this course as well. During the morning, Lyn will teach, step by step, the techniques she employs and builds on for different effects - and although some basic experience of watercolours is preferred, it is by no means essential, especially as the painting style is relaxed and loose. Students will need to provide their own materials as outlined below.
The iconic shapes of winter's Christmas foliage and flowers ... holly, ivy, berries, snowdrops, hellebores and pointsettia - along with their festive colours, make lovely subjects for this festive workshop. Your pieces could later be 'reproduced' (at the local print shop) and used along with 'blank card/ envelope sets' (widely available online) to make some really special hand painted Christmas cards this year.
At the end of the day everyone should have at least one lovely piece of work to take home.
Discovering Pen and Wash with Margaret Jarvis
Join Margaret Jarvis for the day and learn the various intricacies of painting in 'Pen and Wash'
This medium is also be known as 'Watercolour & Ink'. This day will touch on colour mixing and using watercolours and it combines the subtle variable nature of the watercolour wash with finer detail picked out in black ink pen, allowing the artist different effects in shading and textures. The type of ink pens used - its water solubility and also stippling intensity and textures employed can create a vast range of effects.
Hand Printed Christmas Cards & Tags in Lino Cut with Sue Rowland
A lovely, festive printmaking day with Sue, suitable for beginners or improvers, learning the basics of cutting and hand printing of your own unique lino design to create an edition of stunning Christmas cards on a selection of different coloured backgrounds and using different inks. Friends and family always love to receive handmade cards and they are fun to make!
You will also have the opportunity to create a range of hand printed gift tags to use on your Christmas presents. You can use your card design for this or if there is time you can cut a new image to use.
You will learn how to plan out your design and transfer this to a piece of lino approx. 15 x 15 cm before learning how to cut your design using lino tools. Sue will demonstrate importance of mark making and texture which you will use first in a sample piece and then in your own design. The close up demonstrations by Sue will be live streamed and projected to a large screen, meaning everyone will be abe to follow instructions from the comfort of their desks with ample spacing.
You will learn hand printing and burnishing techniques so that you will be equipped with the skills and confidence to repeat this process after the course at home if you like the technique. Sue will arrive with many ink colours, so you'll be able to produce both one colour and multicolour designs by varying the inking up. Plus there will be some exciting and festive metallic inks to use as well.
The course will be fun and informative and allow for developing your creative ideas.Please bring along some of your own Nature / Foliage based ideas, 'though don't worry if you're feelng uncreative, Sue will be able to supply some simple templates too.
Please note: People with arthritis in their hands/ arms or severely strained wrists or hands may struggle with cutting the lino and find this course difficult.
Willow Weaving ~ Angels with Phil Bradley
A lovely day with Cumbria's Willow master Phil Bradley creating a small Willow Angel
We are so happy that Phil runs several courses here at Greystoke, he has been teaching here since 2005 - his days are always popular, inspirational and relaxing. People find it hard to believe that, by the end the day, they will be taking away their very own willow creation. This course is one of the easiest of the Willow weaving courses often yielding the best and most effective results.
Angels are frequently kept in homes all year round nowadays and then for the festive season decorated with fine fairy lights and tinsel to make a wonderful additions to any Christmas room - especially in a fireplace. Phil will guide you expertly and patiently through the day and by the end of the workshop you will have created something quite unique to take home and last for many many years to come.
Your enquiry will be sent directly to Quirky Workshops Art, Craft and Heritage Skill Courses. Please fill in as much detail as you can.
Quirky Workshops at Greystoke Craft Garden and Barns is a unique creative venue offering an inspiring range of art, craft and heritage workshops from a C17th listed farmhouse in the pretty village of Greystoke. We're placed 5 miles equidistantly from Penrith, Eden Valley & Ullswater, on the northern fringes of the Lake District, west of Penrith, in beautiful Cumbria, north west England. We have been running around 1440 craft courses each year, since 2005.
During the lockdown of May 2020, we renovated an old hay loft and now host the majority our indoor courses and workshops in this wonderful, new, light, airy and spacious studio - 'the Swallow Barn’ ; although some tutors still prefer the cosy atmosphere and ground floor easy access nature of the original studio, 'Squirrel Barn'. Many of the courses (especially art and calligraphy) feature live streaming of tutor demos onto a large screen at the front, allowing students to watch closely, whilst seated at their desks. This practice was started during Covid but has been continued as very helpful with many workshops.
Please see our website https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/quirky-workshops-cumbria for full details of upcoming courses in date order.
Workshop days are relaxing, friendly and informal. They are delivered by hand picked professional and or expert tutors, many leaders in their chosen fields. Students often travel considerable distances to take part, staying in this lovely village of Greystoke or finding somewhere special close by . . .Keswick, Ullswater, Penrith and the Eden Valley are all within easy driving distance.
One, two or three day courses in:
- stone carving (relief or letter carving), wood carving, bird whittling, spoon carving, willow weaving and rush basket making.
- Lino cut printing, Fused glass, Stained Glass panels and Stained Glass mirrors, Sterling Silver jewellery and Silver Ring making courses, Porcelain plates and vases, and inspiring Mosaics
- Many textile courses including weaving, Needle felting Garden Bird pictures (robin/blue tit/wren) , Herdwick sheep and Pet Portraits, Felt art, Paint Print and Stitch, Felt Slippers, Ecoprinting, Leather Bag making, Learn to Spin and Lampshade Making, 'Hole House' bag making,
- Art courses : Introduction to Pen and Wash , Discovering Watercolours , Botanical and Wildlife illustration, Art courses with John Harrison, Frances Winder, Lyn Evans, Margaret Jarvis, Roy Simmons, Lis Bramwell, Calligraphy with Claire of byMoonandTide (our live streamed onto a large screen is especially useful for this course .. no more struggling to see the tutor demo close up from the back of the group!)
All day courses include tasty homemade lunch, fresh coffees and Aga cream teas. Drinks are served at desks do students may continue working Lunches to be taken at desks or in the garden during summer months.
Our workshop days are popular as gifts for special occasions. Quirky Open Vouchers make perfect and original presents and mean a lovely day can be shared together if preferred. Our Christmas Open vouchers are especially popular.
A full list of our courses can be found at https://www.quirkyworkshops.co.uk/quirky-workshops-cumbria or please phone 017684 83984
We look forward to welcoming you here in Greystoke!
Location
We are in the picturesque village of Greystoke, just 5 miles west of Penrith/Junction 40 of the M6 and a few miles north of the A66 and Ullswater. Keswick is approx 15 minutes further west
Greystoke boasts several B B's, as well as self catering options and has its own website greystokevillage.co.uk We have a playing field, an outdoor heated swimming pool open from June through to August, a Castle, a church, a shop and post office and a cosy pub serving evening meals.
Two Day Sterling Silver Jewellery making Course Quirky Workshop
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
Sterling Silver Jewellery 2 days with Melinda Scarborough
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
10.00am – 4.30pm
£195 Lunch included
Material Charges from approx £25 in 2023
Sterling Silver Jewellery - 3 Silver Rings in a day - with Melinda Scarbrough
Create your own beautiful jewellery with Sterling Silver, Pearls and Semi-Precious Stones
On this popular 2-day workshop you will use a variety of equipment to make as many stunning pieces as you can under Melinda's guidance. The number of items you make will vary according to your pace. Melinda brings all the tools and equipment essential for any proper silver jewellery course.
Once people become familiar with the tools the designs start flowing. Your design will be unique; you will learn cutting, forming, doming, soldering, texturing and polishing. You can work at your own pace and make the most your workshop time. All photos are student pieces from our Greystoke workshop.
Loose Botanicals for Christmas ... with Lyn Evans
Lyn will teach you how to employ loose watercolour techniques, allowing the pigment and water combination to work their own magic without too much interference being necessary. You could also include other tools, such as pens, inktence pencils, watercolour pencils, salt and twigs, to be used along side your paints, to obtain the beautiful effects from the watercolours.
Although Lyn usually likes to paint her watercolours from life, (and you are welcome to bring specimens if freely available) we will be using references photos for this course as well. During the morning, Lyn will teach, step by step, the techniques she employs and builds on for different effects - and although some basic experience of watercolours is preferred, it is by no means essential, especially as the painting style is relaxed and loose. Students will need to provide their own materials as outlined below.
The iconic shapes of winter's Christmas foliage and flowers ... holly, ivy, berries, snowdrops, hellebores and pointsettia - along with their festive colours, make lovely subjects for this festive workshop. Your pieces could later be 'reproduced' (at the local print shop) and used along with 'blank card/ envelope sets' (widely available online) to make some really special hand painted Christmas cards this year.
At the end of the day everyone should have at least one lovely piece of work to take home.
Discovering Pen and Wash with Margaret Jarvis
Join Margaret Jarvis for the day and learn the various intricacies of painting in 'Pen and Wash'
This medium is also be known as 'Watercolour & Ink'. This day will touch on colour mixing and using watercolours and it combines the subtle variable nature of the watercolour wash with finer detail picked out in black ink pen, allowing the artist different effects in shading and textures. The type of ink pens used - its water solubility and also stippling intensity and textures employed can create a vast range of effects.
Hand Printed Christmas Cards & Tags in Lino Cut with Sue Rowland
A lovely, festive printmaking day with Sue, suitable for beginners or improvers, learning the basics of cutting and hand printing of your own unique lino design to create an edition of stunning Christmas cards on a selection of different coloured backgrounds and using different inks. Friends and family always love to receive handmade cards and they are fun to make!
You will also have the opportunity to create a range of hand printed gift tags to use on your Christmas presents. You can use your card design for this or if there is time you can cut a new image to use.
You will learn how to plan out your design and transfer this to a piece of lino approx. 15 x 15 cm before learning how to cut your design using lino tools. Sue will demonstrate importance of mark making and texture which you will use first in a sample piece and then in your own design. The close up demonstrations by Sue will be live streamed and projected to a large screen, meaning everyone will be abe to follow instructions from the comfort of their desks with ample spacing.
You will learn hand printing and burnishing techniques so that you will be equipped with the skills and confidence to repeat this process after the course at home if you like the technique. Sue will arrive with many ink colours, so you'll be able to produce both one colour and multicolour designs by varying the inking up. Plus there will be some exciting and festive metallic inks to use as well.
The course will be fun and informative and allow for developing your creative ideas.Please bring along some of your own Nature / Foliage based ideas, 'though don't worry if you're feelng uncreative, Sue will be able to supply some simple templates too.
Please note: People with arthritis in their hands/ arms or severely strained wrists or hands may struggle with cutting the lino and find this course difficult.
Willow Weaving ~ Angels with Phil Bradley
A lovely day with Cumbria's Willow master Phil Bradley creating a small Willow Angel
We are so happy that Phil runs several courses here at Greystoke, he has been teaching here since 2005 - his days are always popular, inspirational and relaxing. People find it hard to believe that, by the end the day, they will be taking away their very own willow creation. This course is one of the easiest of the Willow weaving courses often yielding the best and most effective results.
Angels are frequently kept in homes all year round nowadays and then for the festive season decorated with fine fairy lights and tinsel to make a wonderful additions to any Christmas room - especially in a fireplace. Phil will guide you expertly and patiently through the day and by the end of the workshop you will have created something quite unique to take home and last for many many years to come.
Your enquiry will be sent directly to Quirky Workshops Art, Craft and Heritage Skill Courses. Please fill in as much detail as you can.