Through innovative collage, appliqué, embroidery and mixed media art quilt techniques, you will develop a wide-ranging skillset and growing confidence in this addictive form of portable journalling. This calming, restorative workshop allows you to incorporate precious pre-loved materials, such as sentimentally significant cloth, along with methods for transferring images and ephemera onto fabric.

Learn how to add cherished family photographs to beautiful textile and mixed media art quilt journals alongside the stories you want to tell, while taking up very little storage space. Create living heirlooms to enjoy handling again and again. Your tuition in making these charming journals includes techniques applicable to many other creative applications, taught by internationally celebrated arts author and tutor Deena Beverley. Deena is renowned for her sensitive use of colour and texture, and her experience of working with vintage and found materials to create artworks with a strong sense of story.

Perfect for gifting or to keep and work on throughout the year, learn how to tell tales—real, imagined or both—in found fabrics, stitch, paper and more.

Suitable for all skill levels, from beginner to seasoned stitcher, Deena's person-centred tuition meets students at their individual level. Whether you have not picked up a needle since childhood, or you are a long-time maker wishing to expand your practice, Deena's expertise, patience and enthusiasm help make your next creative steps enjoyable and rewarding. From the soothing, rhythmic hand stitch of Japanese Boro and Indian Kantha to advanced three-dimensional embroidery techniques, Deena's courses are sought after for her deep knowledge and meticulous detail, all delivered in a warm and friendly environment. Her courses offer a creative retreat from daily life, bringing relaxation through mindful making. You will return home with renewed inspiration, new skills and completed pieces to treasure.

Included

You will be provided with a bespoke kit, comprising a carefully curated range of found and vintage materials from the tutor’s personal collection, including the antique bobbin on which your journal will be based, along with your tutor’s specialist embroidery threads, needles, transfer materials, prepared materials for image transfer and a selection of copyright free imagery exclusively for your own personal use.

What students need to bring

• Although it is possible to complete this workshop using exclusively the materials supplied by the tutor, enabling you to enjoy simply turning up with no need to assemble your own materials, if preferred, to make your bobbin boro diary truly personal, you may of course bring your own cherished scraps or fabric, vintage haberdashery, your own preferred threads and needles, along with photocopies of photographs and ephemera.

• If using photocopies of your own photographs and ephemera for incorporation into your bobbin boro journal, please ensure the copies are no larger than 15cm on their longest side. You are also welcome to incorporate actual photographs and ephemera and vintage memorabilia such as old buttons and jewellery into your piece.

• If bringing your own materials, the tutor recommends natural fibres for easier, more comfortable sewing and handling - notably, cotton, silk, calico, linen and/or mixes of these. Feel free to bring pieces you have already made or which you are working on which you would like to share with your tutor and class.

• A basic hand sewing kit comprising:

• Fabric scissors

• Paper scissors

• Pack of mixed hand sewing needles (specialist needles will also be available from the tutor for those wishing to experiment with more advanced hand embroidery techniques)

• Embroidery scissors

• Pins (large headed, long pins such as glass headed or flat headed ‘flower’ pins are recommended for ease of handling and visibility in the work)

Available to buy

Available from shop: List items to buy from shop

Available from tutor: If you wish to purchase more kits, the cost is £25.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 7.15pm for registration. Students arriving earlier are welcome to purchase dinner in the College Dining Room from 6pm.
Students meet their tutor in the Bar at 7.30pm prompt to go to studios.
First Teaching session: 7.30pm - 9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am - 5pm
Morning session: 9.15am - 12.45pm including coffee/tea break
Lunch break: 12.45pm - 2pm*
Afternoon session: 2pm - 5pm including coffee/tea break
Teaching finishes: 5pm
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm
Teaching finishes: 3pm

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am. Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

*Lunch can be purchased on campus, view options

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