Christmas Watercolours Workshop
2023-11-29 09:45 - 15:00 (Europe/London) | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Ease into the festive spirit with this watercolour workshop. We will create seasonally inspired paintings that may be made into lovely watercolour cards. From festive wreaths, winter stags to robin red breasts – there will be something for everyone. The day of course includes lots of guidance, full of interesting techniques, colour mixing and a fun hint of sparkle!

A bit more detail
Join friendly and experienced Cheshire watercolour artist Allie. She will share her skills and give you guidance throughout your day, in the light and spacious studio space. All dates are suitable for complete beginners to intermediates. Includes art materials, a freshly homemade lunch and refreshments.

About the Tutor
Allie graduated with a BA hons degree in illustration and spent time pursuing her love of art in London. Allie says the “Drawing, painting and sketching is all about enjoying your topic”. Allie loves to paint in a garden or whilst on a dog walk – capturing the natural changing of the seasons whether it is summer with its delicate florals, insects fluttering around them, or sitting on a snowy hillside working on a landscape view.
Allie has had her work featured in many exhibitions including Young Illustrator of the year exhibition at Smiths Gallery, Covent Garden, The Association of Illustrators Gallery in London, The Arts Centre in Bollington, Cheshire. She has also exhibited paintings at ‘Summerfields’ in Oxford and at the Royal Collage of London in aid of the Art for Youth.

Timetable of the day
9.45 A warm welcome
10.00 Introduction and demonstration of sketching a range of festive-themed pictures, a beautiful Christmas wreath, a festive stag or a characterful snowy robin on a holly branch.
10.30 Allie will share a range of watercolour techniques, you will have time to practise, explore and have fun with what you have learnt.
11.15 Coffee
11.30 Continue with the workshop at your own pace, sketch out your masterpiece and lay your colour washes, Allie is on hand for guidance.
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Allie will provide watercolour-ready creased cards & envelopes to paint with your design.
15.00 Putting the finishing sparkly touches to your work for a finish at 15.15

What is included?

All materials & tools
Aprons are provided for the day if required
Refreshments & a delicious lunch
Free onsite car parking
The most important bit, your very own piece of art to take home

What do I need to bring?
You can bring your favourite brushes if you wish.
Experience level
We welcome all levels of experience from beginners to the enthusiastic professional!

Toolerstone Christmas Market Preview Evening
2023-11-30 18:30 - 21:00 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Following the success of last year’s event, we will be holding our Christmas Market on 30th November and 1st December.
Featuring local makers, artisan produce and a warm welcome for which we are renowned, it’s the perfect way to start to celebrating the Christmas season.
We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone so hope you can come and join us.
For 2023, we will be running the event across 2 days to ensure everyone has the opportunity to attend.
Tickets can be purchased for the preview evening or the day event, or both!
Preview Evening
Thursday 30th November
6:30pm – 9:00pm
£10 including mulled wine and mince pies.
As always, we are very grateful for the continued support we receive from our guests at Toolerstone. As a not for profit company, all funds received help us continue to offer free places to the care sector in Cheshire.

Toolerstone Christmas Market Day Event
2023-12-01 10:30 - 15:00 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Following the success of last year’s event, we will be holding our Christmas Market on 30th November and 1st December.
Featuring local makers, artisan produce and a warm welcome for which we are renowned, it’s the perfect way to start to celebrating the Christmas season.
We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone so hope you can come and join us.
For 2023, we will be running the event across 2 days to ensure everyone has the opportunity to attend.
Tickets can be purchased for the preview evening or the day event, or both!
Preview Evening
Thursday 30th November
6:30pm – 9:00pm
£10 including coffee/ tea and mince pies.
As always, we are very grateful for the continued support we receive from our guests at Toolerstone. As a not for profit company, all funds received help us continue to offer free places to the care sector in Cheshire.

Christmas Wreath Making with festive afternoon tea
2023-12-05 10:00 - 15:00 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
A door wreath is not just for Christmas! Wreaths make beautiful additions to your home in any season and you can now create your own in our Seasonal Wreath making workshop with Kayleigh, our in-house florist.
The unique and beautiful style that is reflected in the stunning arrangements are taught in this step by step workshop.
Your front door will most certainly be the best dressed in the street, you may even want to keep your wreath on display indoors so you can admire your own handy work!
The Workshop in detail
Join us for our creative workshop, where you will learn the skills to create your own seasonal door wreath. No experience is necessary as our florist, Kayleigh, will be on hand to guide you every step of the way.
We allow plenty of time for our creative students to prepare their wonderful wreaths, provide everything you need to create your unique door wreath and to keep you warm during the class we include seasonal treats, home bakes and refreshments as well as a delicious festive afternoon tea.
Using seasonal, fragrant foliage from traditional spruce or eucalyptus to more unusual foliage that you may well not have come across before, your seasonal wreath will be finished in style with a handpicked selection of cones, pods, gourds, quince, berries, fruit, moss and so much more depending on the season.
Experience Level
We welcome all levels of expertise from beginner to the accomplished.
Timetable of the day
10.00am A warm welcome to @:Toolerstone with coffee & pastries
10.30 Introduction to The Little Potting Shed team and wreath making & techniques used
10.45 Preparing your wreath base and picking your foliage
11.15 Coffee will be served
11.45 Continue with the workshop, working at your own pace, making the main structure of your wreath.
12.45 Putting the finishing touches to your wreath
13.30 Afternoon tea will be served in the refectory.
15:00 Workshop ends but your love of all thing creative will continue.
What is included on the day?

All drinks, refreshments and a delicious homemade afternoon tea are included in your day.
All materials and tools will be provided for you to use.
An apron will be provided you the duration of the workshop
Free onsite car parking
Your wreath is yours to keep and take home at the end of the day

Do I need to bring anything?
The floristry wire used can be sharp, as can some of the foliage (holly leaves especially!). If you have any gardening gloves we recommend you bring them along to protect your hands.

Christmas Willow Weaving Workshop
2023-12-06 09:30 - 16:30, 2023-12-13 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Basketry (or willow weaving as it has become known) is widely believed to be the oldest craft in the world, dating back ten to twelve thousand years and predating pottery.
Willow weaving in an ancient craft and evidence has been discovered that it was also practised in Roman times. Willow is still used to make functional items but it is also used to produce beautiful sculptures and amazing structures.
A bit more detail
The willow Sarah uses is from the Somerset Levels and is a renewable and sustainable crop. It is the ultimate green product absorbing carbon from the atmosphere as it grows.
The sculptures are made entirely of willow. Sarah’s workshops are run at a steady pace and are suitable for beginners. You will be expertly guided through every step to create a wonderful sculpture of your own.
In our festive 5 in a day workshop you will make a heart, wreath, angel, star and a robin from willow.

About the Tutor
‘Willow has a fluidity that can’t be matched; it can twist and bend and turn to be reworked into whatever shape I desire; I am literally drawing with sticks.”
Sarah Gallagher-Hayes is a local willow sculptor. She has been creating sculptures for over 20 years and has been commissioned to make sculptures for Kew Gardens, Chelsea flower show and RHS Wisley gardens to name a few.
Sarah will be running a number of workshops throughout the year here at Toolerstone. The workshops are suitable for beginners or people who have done willow weaving before. Choose from seasonal pieces or small animals and create your own sculpture in one day.

Timetable of the day
09:30 A warm welcome to @:Toolerstone with refreshments
10:00 Introduction to willow weaving & techniques used
10:30 Time to start your sculptures
11:00 Coffee will be served
11:15 Continue with the workshop and work at your own pace
13:00 Delicious homemade, lunch in the refectory
14:00 Putting the finishing touches to your work.
15.15 Tea and cake
16:30 Workshop ends but, you can take your festive sculptures home!

What is included?

All materials & tools
Aprons are provided for the day if required
Refreshments & a delicious lunch
Free onsite car parking
The most important bit, your very own festive willow sculptures to take home

What do I need to bring?
Gardening gloves would be of benefit as the willow can be tough on your hands.
Experience level
We welcome all levels of experience from beginners to the enthusiastic professional!

Lino Print for Christmas
2023-12-07 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Join us for a wonderfully festive workshop where you will learn the basics of lino printing with our tutor Kirsty Hall.

A bit more detail
Lino printing is a very relaxing pass-time, creating print after print with different inks. You will learn how to create your own lino block designs and use coloured inks to create 12 Christmas cards as well as gift tags and place setting cards. This lovely process is fun to work with and you can experiment with colour and composition.
About the Tutor
Kirsty Hall is an artist and print maker inspired by the natural world. Her personal work often uses animals and botanical forms as a starting point and she enjoys creating detailed illustrations and combining them with block colour in a graphic style. She is currently exploring screen and lino printing and loving learning more about these wonderful processes. Kirsty exhibits her work and sells prints and originals in her online shop through her business The Little Art House.
Kirsty is also an experienced Art & Design teacher with a background in A-Level teaching and it is this wealth of experience which inspires her to create innovative, creative workshops with teaching at their heart.
Timetable of the day
09:30 A warm welcome to @:Toolerstone with refreshments
10:00 Introduction to Lino printing techniques
10:30 Time to start your work
11:00 Coffee will be served
11:15 Continue with the workshop and work at your own pace
13:00 Delicious homemade, seasonal lunch in the refectory
14:00 More time to create your prints
15.15 Refreshments will be served
16:30 Workshop ends but, your love off all things creative will continue

What is included?

All materials & tools
Aprons are provided for the day if required
Seasonal refreshments & a delicious lunch
Free onsite car parking
The most important bit, your very own hand-made cards, tags & place setting cards to take home for Christmas

What do I need to bring?
Just a smile and a willingness to learn.
Experience level
We welcome all levels of experience from beginners to the enthusiastic professional!

Feel Fabulous Fridays
2023-12-08 09:30 - 15:30, 2023-12-15 09:30 - 15:30 | Cheshire
Our Feel Fabulous Fridays are all about taking time out for yourself in the beautiful, tranquil surroundings of Toolerstone House.
Book a class (or 2) and enjoy our Coffee Shop, which is open exclusively to those who have booked on to one of our sessions throughout the day. Have a light bite, a brew and enjoy the garden view. We will be serving from 9am until 2pm with last orders at 1:30pm. Please note that we will close at 3pm.
Please note that ALL bookings for Feel Fabulous Fridays need to be made directly with the tutors via the links provided in the details below.
We recommend you wear suitable attire and bring your own exercise mat.
If the weather is kind we will hold the classes outside on the lawn.
All classes are low impact and suitable for all abilities. As with all exercise please ensure you are fit & able to take part and if you have any concerns about this please contact the individual tutors as directed below.

Pilates – 9:45 to 10:45

Clare Curtis will be teaching our first session on Feel Fabulous Fridays. Pilates is a complete movement system to enhance overall well-being. To balance the mind and body, by optimising joint and muscle health, posture and breathing. Through control, the precision of movement, and awareness of alignment you rediscover an efficient, seamless and beautiful connection to movement. This promotes strength, stability, falls prevention, inner strength and confidence, mobility and flexibility and helps to reduce injury. Breathing will improve as you restore your natural posture. Muscle tension will ease and your energy levels will be enhanced.
Changes are gradual and subtle but life-changing, notice climbing the stairs, reaching, balancing, lifting and coordination all feel easier. Sports performance improves along with the quality of everyday life and doing whatever you love.

Click to book Pilates

PureStretch – 11am to 11:45am

Emma, of Emma Wilson Fitness, will be teaching PureStretch which
is a top to toe functional stretch class. Working on your balance and posture, relaxing our mind as well as our muscles! Effectively mobilising joints in a gentle way to improve their overall health and range of movement. Releasing fascia and connective tissue which gets stuck and contributes to us feeling stiff and sore. Allowing your body to move within it’s own limits, but working on your flexibility, core and strength. By connecting with our muscle groups in a deliberate set of movement, it promotes good pelvic health, happy hips, healthy hamstrings, shoulder and spinal mobility, so that your daily tasks and movement like stairs, balancing, lifting yourself on and off the floor or sofa, getting in and out of the car, your sports performance, playing with children and grandchildren etc are improved.
A unique fusion of Pilates & yoga and a wonderful way to give your body some self-love and care, helping reduce risks of injury, promoting recovery from daily life and of course aiding your confidence in your own body and it’s capabilities so you can live the life you love!
Restorative movement for your mind and body.

Click to book PureStretch

Hatha Yoga – 12 midday to 1pm

Clare Curtis will be teaching hatha Yoga which is a Mind-body practice that incorporates gentle flowing movement, balances, meditation, breathing techniques, and relaxation to quieten our busy minds, relax tense muscles and ease joint stiffness to promote physical and mental well-being. You will be welcomed with a smile in her weekly sessions, where all levels are welcome and you can leave your stresses and tension behind.
Clare has a BSc First Class Hons in Sports Science and over 23 years of experience teaching yoga to share with you. Through a slow, mindful yoga practice you can experience inner calm, re-energise and feel more balanced.

Click to book Hatha Yoga

Christmas Wreath Making with festive afternoon tea
2023-12-12 10:00 - 15:00 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
A door wreath is not just for Christmas! Wreaths make beautiful additions to your home in any season and you can now create your own in our Seasonal Wreath making workshop with Kayleigh, our in-house florist.
The unique and beautiful style that is reflected in the stunning arrangements are taught in this step by step workshop.
Your front door will most certainly be the best dressed in the street, you may even want to keep your wreath on display indoors so you can admire your own handy work!
The Workshop in detail
Join us for our creative workshop, where you will learn the skills to create your own seasonal door wreath. No experience is necessary as our florist, Kayleigh, will be on hand to guide you every step of the way.We allow plenty of time for our creative students to prepare their wonderful wreaths, provide everything you need to create your unique door wreath and to keep you warm during the class we include seasonal treats, home bakes and refreshments as well as a delicious festive afternoon tea.Using seasonal, fragrant foliage from traditional spruce or eucalyptus to more unusual foliage that you may well not have come across before, your seasonal wreath will be finished in style with a handpicked selection of cones, pods, gourds, quince, berries, fruit, moss and so much more depending on the season.
Experience Level
We welcome all levels of expertise from beginner to the accomplished.
Timetable of the day
10.00am A warm welcome to @:Toolerstone with coffee & pastries10.30 Introduction to wreath making & techniques used10.45 Preparing your wreath base and picking your foliage11.15 Coffee will be served11.45 Continue with the workshop, working at your own pace, making the main structure of your wreath.12.45 Putting the finishing touches to your wreath13.30 Afternoon tea will be served in the refectory.15:00 Workshop ends but your love of all thing creative will continue.
What is included on the day?

All drinks, refreshments and a delicious homemade afternoon tea are included in your day.
All materials and tools will be provided for you to use.
An apron will be provided you the duration of the workshop
Free onsite car parking
Your wreath is yours to keep and take home at the end of the day

Do I need to bring anything?
The floristry wire used can be sharp, as can some of the foliage (holly leaves especially!). If you have any gardening gloves we recommend you bring them along to protect your hands.

Christmas Willow Weaving Workshop
2023-12-13 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Basketry (or willow weaving as it has become known) is widely believed to be the oldest craft in the world, dating back ten to twelve thousand years and predating pottery.
Willow weaving in an ancient craft and evidence has been discovered that it was also practised in Roman times. Willow is still used to make functional items but it is also used to produce beautiful sculptures and amazing structures.
The willow Sarah uses is from the Somerset Levels and is a renewable and sustainable crop. It is the ultimate green product absorbing carbon from the atmosphere as it grows.
The sculptures are made entirely of willow. Sarah’s workshops are run at a steady pace and are suitable for beginners. You will be expertly guided through every step to create a wonderful sculpture of your own.
In our festive 5 in a day workshop you will make a heart, wreath, angel, star and a robin from willow.

About the Tutor
‘Willow has a fluidity that can’t be matched; it can twist and bend and turn to be reworked into whatever shape I desire; I am literally drawing with sticks.”
Sarah Gallagher-Hayes is a local willow sculptor. She has been creating sculptures for over 20 years and has been commissioned to make sculptures for Kew Gardens, Chelsea flower show and RHS Wisley gardens to name a few.
Sarah will be running a number of workshops throughout the year here at Toolerstone. The workshops are suitable for beginners or people who have done willow weaving before. Choose from seasonal pieces or small animals and create your own sculpture in one day.

Timetable of the day
09:30 A warm welcome to @:Toolerstone with refreshments
10:00 Introduction to willow weaving & techniques used
10:30 Time to start your sculptures
11:00 Coffee will be served
11:15 Continue with the workshop and work at your own pace
13:00 Delicious homemade, lunch in the refectory
14:00 Putting the finishing touches to your work.
15.15 Tea and cake
16:30 Workshop ends but, you can take your festive sculptures home!

What is included?

All materials & tools
Aprons are provided for the day if required
Refreshments & a delicious lunch
Free onsite car parking
The most important bit, your very own festive willow sculptures to take home

What do I need to bring?
Gardening gloves would be of benefit as the willow can be tough on your hands.
Experience level
We welcome all levels of experience from beginners to the enthusiastic professional!

Christmas Deer Willow Weaving Workshop
2023-12-14 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Basketry (or willow weaving as it has become known) is widely believed to be the oldest craft in the world, dating back ten to twelve thousand years and predating pottery.
Willow weaving in an ancient craft and evidence has been discovered that it was also practised in Roman times. Willow is still used to make functional items but it is also used to produce beautiful sculptures and amazing structures.

A bit more detail
The willow Sarah uses is from the Somerset Levels and is a renewable and sustainable crop. It is the ultimate green product absorbing carbon from the atmosphere as it grows.
The sculptures are made entirely of willow. Sarah’s workshops are run at a steady pace and are suitable for beginners. You will be expertly guided through every step to create a wonderful sculpture of your own.
In our festive workshop, you will make a stunning deer to decorate your home or garden.

About the Tutor
‘Willow has a fluidity that can’t be matched; it can twist and bend and turn to be reworked into whatever shape I desire; I am literally drawing with sticks.”
Sarah Gallagher-Hayes is a local willow sculptor. She has been creating sculptures for over 20 years and has been commissioned to make sculptures for Kew Gardens, Chelsea flower show and RHS Wisley gardens to name a few.

Timetable of the day
09:30 A warm welcome to @:Toolerstone with refreshments
10:00 Introduction to willow weaving & techniques used
10:30 Time to start your sculptures
11:00 Coffee will be served
11:15 Continue with the workshop and work at your own pace
13:00. Delicious homemade, lunch in the refectory
14:00 Putting the finishing touches to your work.
15.15 Refreshments
16:30. Workshop ends but, you can take your festive sculptures home!

What is included?

All materials & tools
Aprons are provided for the day if required
Refreshments & a delicious lunch
Free onsite car parking
The most important bit, your very own festive willow sculpture to take home

What do I need to bring?
Gardening gloves would be of benefit as the willow can be tough on your hands.
Experience level
We welcome all levels of experience from beginners to the enthusiastic professional!

Feel Fabulous Fridays
2024-01-05 09:30 - 15:30, 2024-01-12 09:30 - 15:30, 2024-01-19 09:30 - 15:30, 2024-01-26 09:30 - 15:30, 2024-02-02 09:30 - 15:30, 2024-02-09 09:30 - 15:30, 2024-02-16 09:30 - 15:30, 2024-03-01 09:30 - 15:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Our Feel Fabulous Fridays are all about taking time out for yourself in the beautiful, tranquil surroundings of Toolerstone House.
Book a class (or 2) and enjoy our Coffee Shop, which is open exclusively to those who have booked on to one of our sessions throughout the day. Have a light bite, a brew and enjoy the garden view. We will be serving from 9am until 2pm with last orders at 1:30pm. Please note that we will close at 3pm.
Please note that ALL bookings for Feel Fabulous Fridays need to be made directly with the tutors via the links provided in the details in the Event Details Tab.
We recommend you wear suitable attire and bring your own exercise mat.
If the weather is kind we will hold the classes outside on the lawn.
All classes are low impact and suitable for all abilities. As with all exercise please ensure you are fit & able to take part and if you have any concerns about this please contact the individual tutors as directed below.

Snowy Winter Landscape with Allie Pottinger
2024-01-16 09:45 - 15:45 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
This is a wonderful time of the year to sketch and paint the landscape, observing the delicate silhouettes of winter branches against a snowy back drop. This Winter wonderland workshop will explore lots of watercolour techniques for different changing moody skies, treatment of trees and beautiful snow scenes.

A bit more detail
Join friendly and experienced Cheshire watercolour artist Allie. She will share her skills and give you guidance throughout your day, in the light and spacious studio space. All dates are suitable for complete beginners to intermediates. Includes art materials, a freshly homemade lunch and refreshments.

About the Tutor
Allie graduated with a BA hons degree in illustration and spent time pursuing her love of art in London. Allie says the “Drawing, painting and sketching is all about enjoying your topic”. Allie loves to paint in a garden or whilst on a dog walk – capturing the natural changing of the seasons whether it is summer with its delicate florals, insects fluttering around them, or sitting on a snowy hillside working on a landscape view.
Allie has had her work featured in many exhibitions including Young Illustrator of the year exhibition at Smiths Gallery, Covent Garden, The Association of Illustrators Gallery in London, The Arts Centre in Bollington, Cheshire. She has also exhibited paintings at ‘Summerfields’ in Oxford and at the Royal Collage of London in aid of the Art for Youth.

Timetable of the day
9.45 A warm welcome
10.00 Introduction and demonstrations of watercolour techniques and outline of the day.
10.30 Allie will share her process for drawing & capturing winter skies, trees and snowy landscapes. You will have time to practise, explore and have fun with what you have learnt.
11.15 Coffee will be served
11.30 Continue with demonstrations and plan with Allie your ‘masterpiece’ for the afternoon.
13.00 Delicious homemade lunch in the refectory, with a chance to walk in the garden weather permitting.
14.00 Creating the body of work. More guidance and demonstrations including details and extra top techniques to give depth to your finished painting.
15.00 Putting the finishing touches to your work
15.45 The workshop ends, however; your love of painting will continue

What is included?

All materials & tools
Aprons are provided for the day if required
Refreshments & a delicious lunch
Free onsite car parking
The most important bit, your very own piece of art to take home

What do I need to bring?
You can bring your favourite brushes if you wish.
Experience level
We welcome all levels of experience from beginners to the enthusiastic professional.

Hare Willow Weaving Workshop
2024-01-17 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
The willow Sarah uses is from the Somerset Levels and is a renewable and sustainable crop. It is the ultimate green product absorbing carbon from the atmosphere as it grows.
The sculptures are made entirely of willow. Sarah’s workshops are run at a steady pace and are suitable for beginners. You will be expertly guided through every step to create a wonderful sculpture of your own.
About the Tutor
‘Willow has a fluidity that can’t be matched; it can twist and bend and turn to be reworked into whatever shape I desire; I am literally drawing with sticks.”
Sarah Gallagher-Hayes is a local willow sculptor. She has been creating sculptures for over 20 years and has been commissioned to make sculptures for Kew Gardens, Chelsea flower show and RHS Wisley gardens to name a few.
Timetable of the day
09:30 A warm welcome to @:Toolerstone with refreshments
10:00 Time to start your sculpture
13:00. Delicious homemade, lunch in the refectory
16:30. Workshop ends but, you can take your hare home!
What is included?

All materials & tools
Aprons are provided for the day if required
Refreshments & a delicious lunch
Free onsite car parking
The most important bit, your very own willow sculpture to take home

What do I need to bring?
Thin gardening gloves would be of benefit as the willow can be tough on your hands.
Experience level
We welcome all levels of experience from beginners to the enthusiastic professional!

Lino Print Workshop
2024-01-23 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Join us for a wonderful workshop where you will learn the basics of lino printing with our tutor Kirsty Hall. Lino printing is a very relaxing pass-time, creating print after print with different inks. In this workshop you will create a design of your choosing. It could be a wild hare, a fox, country scene, pattern or abstract landscape– the choice is yours!

Log Bottomed Willow Kindling Basket
2024-01-24 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
The perfect introduction to basketry & you will go home with an elegant basket made from beautiful willow & incorporating interesting traditional/contemporary weaves.
Working from a log section bottom the difficult job of ‘upsetting’ (putting in the upright stakes evenly spaced) the basket is already done for you. You will spend the day learning weaves & finish off with a chunky border. Handle holes or hazel handle may be attached if you wish. An easy start to learning the traditional craft of basketry. Please note for those who work at a slower pace there will be a simpler version of the weave/border.
Please note that this workshops assumes that you are able to move around the room/stand for periods of time & have good mobility in your hands/fingers. Should you need any assistance with this or need adaptations before the workshop please make us aware.

Gardener’s Willow Tool / Foraging Basket
2024-01-25 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
The perfect introduction to basketry & you will go home with an elegant basket made from beautiful willow & incorporating interesting traditional/contemporary weaves.
Working from a ply base the difficult job of ‘upsetting’ (putting in the upright stakes evenly spaced) the basket is already done for you- it also means that you have a sturdy base to put on the ground in your garden & know your sharp tools wont ‘escape’ through the bottom!
You will spend the day learning weaves & finish off with a trac border. Leather short strap or hazel handle may be attached if you wish. An easy start to learning the traditional craft of basketry. Please note for those who work at a slower pace there will be a simpler version of the weave/border.
Please note that this workshops assumes that you are able to move around the room/stand for periods of time & have good mobility in your hands/fingers. Should you need any assistance with this or need adaptations before the workshop please make us aware.

Botanical Vase and Coasters Pottery Workshop
2024-01-30 09:30 - 15:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Inspired by the beautiful gardens at Toolerstone we will be exploring nature to identify flowers and foliage that we will then use to create lasting impressions in clay.
Using your imprinted clay your tutor will guide you through hand-building pottery techniques to create vases and coasters. You will then add colour to the surface decoration enhancing the botanical theme and producing a range of items that will look stunning in your home.

Smart Phone Photography With Jane from Love Your Lens
2024-02-08 09:30 - 16:00 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Join us by the log burner in our cosy, chalet-style Brew Shed with our tutor, Jane, for a photography workshop that will show you how to get the most from your smartphone.
Do you wonder how people take such amazing shots with their phones when you are looking at Instagram and Facebook?
We all know smart phones have great cameras and can supposedly do all these wonderful things but where do you even start with it?
How do you know what to do with things like composition, depth of field, and what to do when the light is tricky?
If you ask such questions then this is the Smart Phone Photography workshop for you. Jane will take you step by step through the day and you will learn …

How to use all your phone camera features.
How to take photographs of a wide range of subjects and how to cope with different kinds of light conditions.
How to compose your image creatively.
How to edit your photos to enhance them and make them stand out from the crowd.
You will then edit a chosen image in Snapseed to create a beautiful card

Early Spring Flowers Watercolour Workshop
2024-02-13 09:45 - 15:45 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
In this relaxing and informative workshop our tutor, Allie Pottinger, will demonstrate many creative techniques, including how to capture the finer details of spring florals, textured background washes, creating your own beautiful, nature-inspired masterpiece.

Introduction to Leather Workshop
2024-02-14 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Our one-day leather workshop focuses on making premium small leather goods, such as a wallet, notebook holder, card holder or passport holder.
Join us for a wonderful introduction to leather in this workshop with Jason Stocks-Young of Diamond Awl. You will learn the core basics of traditional leather working techniques including marking & cutting, preparing leather for hand stitching, bevelling, burnishing and finishing. Make a leather item of your choosing and you can personalise it with your initials or you could choose the initials of a loved one as this would make a wonderful gift.

Hare Willow Weaving Workshop
2024-02-15 09:30 - 16:30 | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
The willow Sarah uses is from the Somerset Levels and is a renewable and sustainable crop. It is the ultimate green product absorbing carbon from the atmosphere as it grows.
The sculptures are made entirely of willow. Sarah’s workshops are run at a steady pace and are suitable for beginners. You will be expertly guided through every step to create a wonderful sculpture of your own.
