Review: knicker making class in Bath

23rd August 2010 > Craft & Creative, Ooh.com Stuff

We’ve been on the look-out for bloggers to review some of the fantastic classes that people have listed on Ooh. One of our favourite bloggers, Gillian at My Tiny Plot, went along to take part in a knicker-making workshop in Bath. Over to Gillian to tell us about it…

Often I dream about having my own sewing room. A place filled with light, pile upon pile of ready-to-use vintage fabric, jars full of colourful buttons and sewing machines that don’t live in a cupboard but that are out on the counter and ready-threaded.

When I arrived at The Makery, a new creative hub for sewers, knitters and creatives in Bath, I felt like I had walked into my fantasy sewing room. It had everything I had dreamed about. Plus, some smiley people offering me coffee.

The Makery offers paid-for workshops in things like dress-making, furniture painting and upholstery and also a ‘Makery Cafe’ (Tuesdays 5.30-8.30pm & Fridays 10am-1pm, £5 per hour) where people can bring their creative projects to work on with others.

The ‘Intermediate Knicker-Making’ course was my chosen workshop and I was greeted with an array of sumptuous satins, ribbons and decorative knicker elastic.

There were also some ready-made-up knickers displayed on the table for inspiration. We were given a choice of fabric that had been pre-cut into different sizes (10, 12, 14) but other sizes were available too. Most of the fabric that was supplied was cotton and with a distinct vintage twist to it (think tiny flowers, or swirly Paisley).

I chose a nice stretchy fabric with some black trim and a rose button and set to work after Jenny, lingerie designer and course leader, had given us a demonstration in how to attach elastic in a neat and professional way. The three hours seem to fly by with a mix of sewing, chatting, drinking coffee, and digging through ribbon boxes and button jars. And by the end of it I was the proud owner of a new pair of pants!

The other attendees (three in total) all finished their projects within the workshop time and it was fun to see how different everyone’s knickers were, ranging from ruby red glam, to vintage-inspired yellow and purple.

I left the workshop, with my goodie bag and free magazine in hand, inspired to make more pants and determined to go on another Makery course, not only for the sewing but for the coffee and gossip too!

This class will be running again on September 8th, October 20th and November 24th. To read more about it and to check availability, click here.

  • Share/Bookmark

> 2 Comments

 

Ooh Recommends – ‘Free-Range’ graduate art and design show

7th June 2010 > Craft & Creative, Leisure, Ooh.com Stuff

There’s something brewing in the Art world… Enjoy some of  the best and newest art and design from home grown graduate talent.


> read more

  • Share/Bookmark

> No Comments

 

The sweet scent of success – this week’s winning listings

28th April 2010 > Ooh.com Stuff

Each week we pick our two favourite new listings on the site, and send the sellers behind them $100. Here are this week’s winners:

Take on the noses of Grasse…  The Fragrant Alchemist offers you a unique chance to create your own entirely natural perfume on a one day workshop.

> read more

  • Share/Bookmark

> 1 Comment

 

Start your own mini allotment

15th April 2010 > Leisure, Ooh.com Stuff
Tired of tame tomatoes? Want to put the crunch back in your cucumber?

We might just have found the way to add some “Ra Ra Ra” to your rocket with one of the latest listings on Ooh.
Two highly accomplished gardeners Tessa Allen and Jill Corrigan, who’ve been running Gardening Workshops for the last eight years, are offering a vegetable growing workshop for the 21st century.

Designed with spatially challenged gardeners in mind, this fantastic course costs £60, will teach you how to successfully grow vegetables and salad on the smallest plots and includes advice on what to grow and what to avoid.

So if you’re keen to go salad crazy this summer click here to book your space. 

  • Share/Bookmark

> No Comments

 

Discover your inner Desperate Dan or Minnie the Minx – make your own comic classes!

13th April 2010 > Ooh.com Stuff

Splat, Yum, Yoiks, Grrrrrrr. Everyone has one bursting to get out and at this workshop you can finally realease it – KAPOW, take that you pesky comic character inside us all…

Join this fantastic workshop and learn how to make your very own comic strips out of nothing more than a biro and a sheet of paper.

Comic book writer Matthew Craig runs a family orientated workshop from the Old Custard Factory in Birmingham and will make a Captain Planet out of you and yours in no time.

In his two hour workshop he will teach you how to create and draw a comic character for yourself, your friends or even your pets. You can give any situation the comic book treatment, from your latest holiday to a trip to the football.

A really unique afternoon for kids of 8yrs + that will only cost you a tenner – if you come with your kids you get in for free. To find out more and check availability, click here.

Don’t forget, if you run courses, classes, workshops and events, you can list them on Ooh.com for free. Just register and start uploading your listing. It’s that easy!

  • Share/Bookmark

> No Comments

 

Hammer, Tongs and a Sweet Ride….

17th March 2009 > Craft & Creative, Leisure, Ooh.com Stuff

We don’t want our readers misled into thinking we’re all about action and adventure here at Ooh. Actually, we’re interested in the endless variety of amazing things there are to do in the world. So, passing a thought for the technically minded, we secured this interview with Mike Coman, who can teach you how to weld, hammer, grind and paint your way to your newly restored classic automobile!

Mike prepares to respray his mini

‘I’d always been into Classic cars, minis mainly, and in 1998 decided to return to college and turn my hobby into my career… I just feel that Classic cars have got a ‘soul.’ They are an important part of our social history’ he says, noting how much better it is for the environment to restore a classic than to buy a new “green car”.

None of us at Ooh would know where to start operating on a car, but Mike assures us that classic cars are comparatively accessible: ‘take some sort of course to start you off, like the ones here at Leeds, and join an online forum…just beware online of the ‘pub genius’ types who don’t actually know much at all.’

Sparks fly as Mike sets to with an angle grinder

Mike’s currently restoring a Classic Mini with a 1.6 16v Honda engine in it: ‘that’s 150bhp’ Mike explains with glee. We think this sounds like duct-taping a display finishing firework to a shoebox. Mike’s been publishing the project’s progress, ‘or lack of it…’ in Practical Performance Car Magazine

We wanted to know more about the courses offered at Leeds College of Technology and Mike explains they cater for all levels of student availability, ranging from 1 day introductory courses, through ten week evening courses and 1 year diplomas. Students vary all the way through from young career starters to retirees wanting to start new projects.

students

‘Two ex-students are now working [for a car restoration business] in Switzerland – they both flew over to interview and were both given jobs!’ Mike tells us.

Finally, we wanted to know what it is that students find best about the courses. ‘Students usually say that it’s the little tips and nuggets of information that really form the best bits of what they take away from the course along sometimes with lifelong friends.’

Mike's finished mini

Mike is keen to share his passion for Classic car restoration and would consider setting up his own courses if possible. In the mean time feel free to tap into his wealth of knowledge by emailing him here.

  • Share/Bookmark

> No Comments