We’re really pleased to see so many people listing their craft classes, courses and workshops on the site. There’s no end to the creativity around the UK, and no excuse for the rest of us not to book up and have a go! 

Time to highlight some of our favourite craft things going on in March:

1. Skep making

Bees are big news, and this skep making day at Westmill Farm in Oxfordshire will teach you how to make a traditional skep for bees, or use the same skills to make a basket. Spend the day with craftsman Chris Park as you practise the ancient craft of lipworth using grasses, briars and withies, and we think the day is a woodland snip at £33. 

2. Sewing

Itching to have a go at making clothes but (like me) don’t know one end of a sewing machine from another? Help is at hand in the form of expert seamstress Ann Haughton and her individual sewing classes in Suffolk.

3. Furniture restoration

There must be great satisfaction in restoring an old piece of furniture to its former glory, and that’s exactly what this five day furniture restoration course in Norfolk will teach you to do. Bring along a piece of furniture such as a small chair, a jewellery box or a caddy, and let expert furniture restorer and cabinet maker, Philip Hodge, teach you the traditional methods you can use to fully restore your pieces.

4. Furniture painting

Let expert Annie Sloan teach you how to give furniture a new lease of life with French, Italian or Swedish paint finishes. This one day course takes place in Perthshire, Scotland.  

5. Upholstery

We think this 2 and a half day upholstery course with Stuart Bottomley is a bargain.  Working in the workshop at Kendal Upholstery in the Lake District, you’ll spend the long weekend learning the skills to upholster a piece of furniture such as a dining chair, footstool or piano stool. At £180 per person for your tuition (plus materials) this is great value and a skill for life that you can develop and enjoy over time.

7. Digital photography

Also taking place in the Lake District in March is this digital photography course for beginners. As part of a small group of just 5 people, you’ll get lots of one-to-one advice from professional photographer Mark Elliott. Save time wading through your camera’s operating manual, and instead get out into the stunning scenery of the Lakes and learn how to take fantastic photos.

8. Gift wrapping and card making

A present is so much more than a present when it’s wrapped beautifully, and it’s even better when accompanied bya beautiful handmade card. Jane Means has people travelling from as far as New Zealand to join her workshops, and this one day course in Lincolnshire will leave you feeling inspired to start wrapping with style! 

9. Rag rugging

Rag rugging is immensely satisfying as you can make progress quickly. Join tutor Kath Evans of the Waterways Craft Guild for this one day course at Audlem Mill in Shropshire. During the day Kath will guide you through the basic methods of rag rug making, including the different materials and tools used for the various techniques.

10. Jewellery making

Spend two days with professional jewellery designer, Yvonne Chadderton, working in her studio overlooking the stunning Blackstone Edge moors in Lancashire. As well as learning basic jewellery making skills such as piercing, filing, soldering, melting, rolling, textures, polishing and wire making, you can also bring your own gold and silver to melt down, turning an unworn heirloom into a new contemporary treasure.

This list could be so much longer, and there are many, many more things going on around the UK next month. If you’d like to receive a monthly email update from Ooh about all the CRAFT AND CREATIVE things going on in the UK, email me at emma@ooh.com.