Toolerstone

Scandinavian Style Embroidery Workshop
2024-10-24 09:30 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | Toolerstone House, Norley Road, Sandiway, Cheshire, CW8 2JN, United Kingdom
Join Rachel for this slow stitch embroidery workshop. Inspired by Scandinavian simplicity and a limited pallet of neutrals and red you will be shown how to put the fabric into a hoop and use stitch as a decorative embellishment on a patterned cotton fabric.

Autumn Wreath Workshop
2024-11-05 10:00 - 14:30
A wreath makes a beautiful addition to your home at any time of the year and you can now create your own in one of our Autumn Wreath making workshops.
The unique and beautiful style that is reflected in the stunning arrangements are taught in this step by step one day 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!

Christmas Willow Reindeer
2024-11-07 09:30 - 16:30
Join us for a workshop with a festive feel! You will learn techniques that will enable you to make a willow reindeer to take away and display in your home or garden. Our tutor, Rachel, will guide you every step of the way and you will have a wonderful time in our Glass Room. You will be treated to festive bakes and a home made lunch served in the refectory.
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.

Ceramic Christmas Houses Workshop
2024-11-12 09:30 - 15:30
Inspired by the festive season you will be creating lasting impressions in clay and using cutting out techniques to make stunning ceramic winter-themed houses. These can be used as a candle holder so the warm light flickers through the windows or as a Christmas ornament. It would also make a wonder gift for someone special. Jeni, our tutor, will guide you through hand-building pottery techniques to create your masterpiece. You will then add subtle colour and detail to the surface decoration enhancing the joyful theme and produce a one off piece that will look stunning in your home.
Pottery has the potential for infinite variability through clay type, form and surface decoration. From vessels to making art, humans have been playing with clay for over 20,000 years. This tactile medium is wonderfully forgiving to work with and 3 dimensional forms are quickly produced.

Gelli Plate Printing Workshop
2024-11-13 09:30 - 16:00
Join us for a stress free and relaxing workshop here @:Toolerstone where you will learn Gelli Plate Printing techniques with our tutor Clare Cosens. Mono-printing on a Gelli plate is simple and fun without the need for a printing press. The gratification is immediate and each print is truly unique.
During this workshop you will explore a variety of Gelli Plate Printing techniques. You will create a number of prints exploring image transfer techniques using magazine and laser images. You can make festive designs to use on Christmas cards or create a piece of art for your home, the choice is yours.
Clare will support and guide you through this process and help you to achieve your desired results. This workshop is suitable for both beginners or people with more experience that are looking to develop their skills.

Ceramic Christmas Houses Workshop
2024-11-19 09:30 - 15:30
Inspired by the festive season you will be creating lasting impressions in clay and using cutting out techniques to make stunning ceramic winter-themed houses. These can be used as a candle holder so the warm light flickers through the windows or as a Christmas ornament. It would also make a wonder gift for someone special. Jeni, our tutor, will guide you through hand-building pottery techniques to create your masterpiece. You will then add subtle colour and detail to the surface decoration enhancing the joyful theme and produce a one off piece that will look stunning in your home.
A bit more detail:
Pottery has the potential for infinite variability through clay type, form and surface decoration. From vessels to making art, humans have been playing with clay for over 20,000 years. This tactile medium is wonderfully forgiving to work with and 3 dimensional forms are quickly produced.

Introduction to Leather Workshop
2024-11-20 09:30 - 16:30, 2024-12-04 09:30 - 16:30
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.

Abstract Winter Leaves & Trees With Essoldo Design
2024-11-21 09:30 - 16:30
Kate is an artist and illustrator based in Hertfordshire, her original artwork and high quality Giclée prints feature beautiful water colour techniques and metallic details. Kate set up Essoldo Design in August 2020 – she has sold pieces to over 14 countries across the globe and has successfully licensed her work in the UK, Europe and the USA
Why not join us for a workshop and create your own work of art for your home?
Based on organic shapes and featuring a palette of winter colours and metallics, you will learn how to create your very own, unique piece that combines watercolour, inks details, and accents of gold & silver.
Having gained a degree in textile design and surface pattern, life seemed to take Kate away from her art and launched her into a career in marketing. For many years any creativity was reserved for cake making and the odd craft project. Things changed during the monotony of lockdown 2020 when Kate decided to while away her weekends by picking up a paintbrush. Instantly her passion was reignited and she was soon creating custom artwork for friends and family. As commissions through her Instagram built momentum Essoldo Design was born!
Kate is inspired by nature, from flowers and greenery to gemstones and jewels. She is obsessed with embellishment so, her work features a myriad of dots, decorations and most importantly gold! (although silver, pearl, copper and gunmetal occasionally make an appearance!).
Kate is at her happiest while painting in her studio, listening to an audiobook and occasionally dipping her paintbrush absentmindedly into my cup of (builders) tea!

Little Winter Houses with Essoldo Design
2024-11-22 09:30 - 16:30
Kate is an artist and illustrator based in Hertfordshire, her original artwork features beautiful watercolour techniques and mixed media details in metallics. Kate founded Essoldo Design in August 2020 – she has sold pieces to over 18 countries across the globe and has successfully licensed her work in the UK, Europe and the USA.
Why not join us for Kate’s workshop and create your own piece of art for your home?
Based on simple geometric watercolour shapes, and featuring details in pen and ink, you will learn how to create your very own unique tiny town artwork that you can customise with a starry winter sky or crisp bright sunrise. You’ll learn a range of useful skills such as colour washes, wet on wet, and wet on dry techniques, as well as a host of different mark-making options and the use of embellishment to add finer details and highlights.

Christmas Wreath Making with festive afternoon tea
2024-11-26 10:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-03 10:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-10 10:00 - 15:00
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!

Lino Print for Christmas
2024-11-27 09:30 - 16:30, 2024-12-17 09:30 - 16:30
Join us for a wonderfully festive 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. You will learn how to create your own lino block designs to compose a Christmassy image that can be framed as a print or made into cards. You can even try your hand at making tags for presents. . This lovely process is fun to work with and you can experiment with colour and composition.

Christmas Watercolours Workshop
2024-11-28 09:30 - 15:15
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!
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.

Toolerstone Christmas Market - Thursday 28th Nov 6:30pm to 9pm
2024-11-28 18:30 - 21:00
This year we will be holding our Christmas Market on the evenings of Thursday 28th & Friday the 29th of November.
Be sure to book early as this is always a “SOLD OUT” event!
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. Hot food will be on sale as well as other festive treats and treasures.
We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone so hope you can come and join us.
For 2024, we will be running the event across 2 evenings …
Thursday 28th or Friday 29th of November
6:30pm – 9:00pm
£10 including mulled wine and a mince pie.
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.
We have a gravel driveway / path and a few steps on the approach to the house. We ask all guests to refer to our accessibility statement on our website.

Toolerstone Christmas Market Friday Afternoon 29th Nov 2pm to 5pm
2024-11-29 14:00 - 17:00
We have put on an extra session on Friday afternoon due to popular demand!
Be sure to book early as this is always a “SOLD OUT” event!
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.
Afternoon session on Friday 29th November
2pm – 5pm
£10 including mulled wine and a mince pie.
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.
We have a gravel driveway / path and a few steps on the approach to the house. We ask all guests to refer to our accessibility statement on our website.

Toolerstone Christmas Market Friday 29th Nov 6:30pm to 9pm
2024-11-29 18:30 - 21:00

Christmas Willow Weaving Workshop
2024-12-05 09:30 - 16:30, 2024-12-12 09:30 - 16:30
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.

Wire & Paper Christmas Decorations Workshop
2024-12-11 09:30 - 16:30
Join us in our glass room for a creative Christmassy workshop using wire, papers and embellishments to make your own Christmas decorations. Hang them on your tree or turn them into a hanging garland to decorate your home

Stained Glass Holly & Mistletoe
2024-12-18 09:30 - 16:30
This one day course will teach you how to cut, shape & solder glass together in order to make stunning stained glass festive hanging decorations . Working from a tutor pattern, as a starting point, you will design & make a stained glass festive foliage including holly and mistletoe using traditional methods. You will be using pre-coloured glass which is produced in the same way as stained glass in a church. We will also be using lead, copper foil & solder & traditional hand tools alongside modern grinders & soldering irons. An easy, but intensive introduction to the craft with plenty of hands on activity.
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.
As a precaution, those who are pregnant should not attend the workshop due to some of the materials used.

Stained Glass Robin & Festive Trees
2024-12-19 09:30 - 16:30
This one day course will teach you how to cut, shape & solder glass together in order to make a decorative stained glass robin and festive trees sculpture. Working from a tutor pattern, as a starting point, you will design & make a stained glass flower using traditional methods. You will be using pre-coloured glass which is produced in the same way as stained glass in a church. We will also be using lead, copper foil & solder & traditional hand tools alongside modern grinders & soldering irons. An easy, but intensive introduction to the craft with plenty of hands on activity.
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.
As a precaution, those who are pregnant should not attend the workshop due to some of the materials used.

Lino Print Workshop
2025-01-14 09:30 - 16:30
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 your own design. It could be a hare, fox, badger, a pattern or abstract design – the choice is yours!
A bit more detail
In the morning session you will learn how to develop a design inspired by the landscape, seasons, nature or just bring your own ideas! You will be shown how to balance your design to create a strong composition and then how to carve your lino using specialist tools. In the second part of your day with us you will learn how to skilfully ink and print your blocks by hand and will experiment with colour. You will leave with a range of prints and hopefully a love of lino printing to inspire you in the future.

Hare Willow Weaving Workshop
2025-01-15 09:30 - 16:30
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.

Botanical Vase and Coasters Pottery Workshop
2025-01-21 09:30 - 15:30
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.
A bit more detail:
Pottery has the potential for infinite variability through clay type, form and surface decoration. From vessels to making art, humans have been playing with clay for over 20,000 years. This tactile medium is wonderfully forgiving to work with and 3 dimensional forms are quickly produced.
What is included?

All materials & tools
Aprons are provided for the day if required
Refreshments & a delicious lunch
Free onsite car parking
Following the workshop your pieces will be dried, bisque-fired, clear glazed and fired again before being dispatched to Toolerstone for you to collect within 4 weeks.

Snowy Winter Landscapes with Allie Pottinger
2025-01-22 09:45 - 15:45
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.
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.

Frosty Winter Abstracts - Water Colours With Kate, Essoldo Design
2025-01-29 09:30 - 16:30
Kate is an artist and illustrator based in Hertfordshire, her original artwork and high quality Giclée prints feature beautiful water colour techniques and metallic details. Kate set up Essoldo Design in August 2020 – she has sold pieces to over 14 countries across the globe and has successfully licensed her work in the UK, Europe and the USA
Why not join us for a workshop and create your own work of art for your home.
In this workshop you’ll learn how to use organic watercolour shapes to form decorative botanical designs inspired by crisp winter morning in cool and frosty/ festive colour palette (or your own favourite colours if you prefer!). You’ll learn various watercolour techniques and decorative ideas to help you create your very own, unique piece that combines watercolour, inks details, and accents of metallics. You’ll use inspiration from the nature and Kate’s own portfolio of floral botanical designs and patterns.All materials will be provided but please feel free to bring your own favourite materials or brushes if you wish. This class is suitable for total beginners through to experienced artists

Abstracts Inspired by Nature - Water Colours With Kate, Essoldo Design
2025-01-30 09:30 - 16:30
Kate is an artist and illustrator based in Hertfordshire, her original artwork and high quality Giclée prints feature beautiful water colour techniques and metallic details. Kate set up Essoldo Design in August 2020 – she has sold pieces to over 14 countries across the globe and has successfully licensed her work in the UK, Europe and the USA
Why not join us for a workshop and create your own work of art for your home.
In this workshop you’ll learn how to use organic watercolour shapes to form decorative abstract designs in a colour palette of your choice. You will learn various watercolour techniques and decorative ideas to help you create your very own, unique piece that combines watercolour, inks details, and accents of metallics. You can use your own inspiration as well as Kate’s portfolio of abstract designs and patterns. All materials will be provided but please feel free to bring your own favourite materials or brushes if you wish. This class is suitable for total beginners through to experienced artists
