Some time ago I took part in helping inexperienced people to start their own businesses. This voluntary work helped me to realise that there are a lot of people who struggle with access to IT and knowledge required to be successful, especially as IT plays such a key role in any business, whether it is marketing your company, corresponding and invoicing customers, or finding a new way to sell your stock.
One of my passions is making things that are useful, pleasing and fun to make. I grew up in a family that made most household and clothing items. (There was not the choice that there is now.) My family had a wide range of skills from upholstery, artwork and furniture making to millinery and embroidery.
Nowadays many families don’t have the time or maybe the knowledge to make their own house-wares, clothing, gifts or artist decorations. Does this mean that the knowledge is not being passed on? Is craftwork a dying art form? Knowledge – it’s all about knowledge.
I would liek to see the revival of the skills that were part of our forefather’s lifestyles and, along with sport and computer gaming, our younger generation to find time and interest to learn a new skill. This is our heritage and we should work at encouraging those who want to learn a new sill to be given the opportunity to do so, whatever their age! So with this in mind, I have created www.craft-e.co.uk – an internet site dedicated to promoting and supporting UK Applied Artists and Design Makers. Visit our site and see the delightful handmade items for sale.
So with this in mind, I am creating anew training facility for a variety of skills and interst. There will be a series of sessions on offer. These sessions will be focused initially as taster sessions, where people will be able to try out a new skill. If they then wish to continue with that skill subject then they can opt for follow up group of classes. This will give people an opportunity to try out new skills, obtain information and knowledge, have a go, and the opportunity to meet other likeminded people.
The training will focus on skills that give the trainee a new skill, interest and provide useful insight into working with new materials to create useful and pleasing items for themselves, their families, their home or for sale. This could lead to further skills being acquired, further training opportunities and expanding career options.
We aim to sstart the courses in Autumn 2010 and have a number of courses being designed. These include:
Photography: getting the best out of your digital camera and computer, create your own calendar and family album;
Learn to paint;
Working with Silver – create beautiful accessories and jewellery;
Jewellery and tiara making – using beads, crystals, wire and stones;
Basic craft skills – learn to knit, crochet, sew, weave, embroider etc
Patchwork and Quilting for beginners – learn basic quilting techniques;
Cross stitch for beginners – learn how to use a pattern and create a card;
Card making – sumptuous paper craft;
And others to follow.
If you would like to know more details or indeed have a craft skill you would like to share with others, please contact us at enquiries@craft-e.co.uk