Autumn has arrived
Workshops that make you feel good, whatever the season
Workshops Overview
Copper Christmas
Similar to Copper Creatures, but with a Festive Focus
Duration: around 2.5/3 hours
Fee: £47.50
Deposit £10
You’ll learn how to form copper wire to create cosmic swirls and to create a pleasing composition in a shape/frame of your choice using wire wrapping techniques. Adding colour will bring it all together and you’ll go home with a piece that will bring you joy for years. You can choose between copper or silver plated wire.
On the available dates the times are 14:00 - 16:30 or 18:00 till 20:30. If none of these times or dates suit you, please contact me and we'll sort something out.
If you prefer me to come to a different venue, drop me a line and we can discuss this.
I will need a minimum of two people to run this course, so invite some people to come with you and we'll make it a celebration!
In this workshop you will learn how to form, shape and wrap wire to make a copper ornament.
Minimum: 2 people
Maximum: 12 people (in the Colourbuzz studio, other venues might differ)
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All that Shimmers
Polymer clay and metallic waxes
This is a fun workshop and great introduction into working with the versatile polymer clay.
You will learn the basics of conditioning, mixing, forming, shaping, cutting, texturising and embossing of polymer clay.
You're welcome to turn this into a party with friends/familey/collegues!
You will go home with a selection of beautiful festive white ornaments with a metallic accent of your own choice.
Let me know if you would like a different colour to work with and I'm sure I can do that too.
Love Lino
Classic Christmas Cards
Duration: around 2.5 hours
Fee: £45 pp
Deposit £10 pp
Lots of people remember making lino cuts at school and love to revisit the experience.
You can this now without a teacher looking over your shoulder. Come to the Colourbuzz studio and have fun getting familiar with the tools, make a practise piece that works with a gift tag and then on to what will become your favourite 2022 unique Christmas card to impress loved ones with.
You'll be working with different coloured and sized paper and different colours ink.
If you want to use your own design, it needs to be no bigger than 9.5 x 14 cm. If you want, you can send it to me and I'll print it out (and make a flipped version, which makes life much easier).
I'll have a selection of pictures to choose from as well, so don't worry if you haven't sent me one.
I will need a minimum of two people to run this course, so invite some people to come with you and we'll make it a party complete with a festive hot drink!
Bring an apron or an old shirt to wear!
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Tree of Life
A Classic with a Colourbuzz Twist
Duration: 02.5-3 hours
Fee: £47.50 in person
Deposit: £10 pp
Minimum of two people
Choose a season for your tree or make up your own combination of wires and beads to create your unique Tree of Life.
If you prefer, you can make a sycamore to commemorate the beautiful tree that made Sycamore Gap.
This workshop will give you a feel of the different types of wires used in wire weaving and wrapping and it introduces you to the twisting and wrapping techniques typical to tree making, but also used in jewellery making.
No experience is needed.
Mokume Gane; Polymer Clay, Gift Making
An ancient Japanese technique with a modern twist
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Fee: £50 in person
Deposit: £10 pp
Minimum: 2 people
Mokume Gane is an old Japanese technique used with metals that is adapted to use with polymer clay resulting in magically beautiful pieces of art.
You will be guided through the steps and once you have created your own, unique sheet of Mokume Gane clay, you can make items of your choice with the help of templates and shapers.
You will be provided with the findings to make some key rings, pendants and templates for ring-dishes, but I'm sure you will come up with ideas of your own.
All items need to be baked in a conventional or fan-assisted oven.
It’s a great introduction to the versatile polymer clay and it is fun!
Maximum: 10 people (in the colourbuzz studio, other venues might differ)
All items need to be baked in a conventional or fan-assisted oven.
This is a great workshop to do with your friends, family members or as a group activity with colleagues.
Copper Jewellery
Duration: around 3 hours
Fee: £50
Deposit: £10
I'm very excited by the first workshop of the Playing with Fire series that I have been wanting to start for a long time.
Fire is the crucial element when working with copper, silver and gold.
Fire alone isn't enough, so you'll learn how to prepare, anneal, form and cut copper using a variety of tools and techniques.
You will make your own jewellery to take home!
It's an amazing feeling to transform a flat copper sheet into a three-dimensional piece of jewellery you will be proud of to wear or to give away as a very special gift.
With your new-found knowledge you will never look at a piece of jewellery the same way again!
This workshop is a great introduction to the age old craft of copper smithing. It lasts around 3 hours and as always the kettle is ready to boil.
A minimum of two people is required for the course and there's a maximum of four participants.
 Emma and annealing.jpg |  Katie hammering.jpg |  Celia working.jpg |
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 Tools 2.jpg |  Rings and dome.jpg |  Daniel.jpg |
 Celia set of 2.jpg |  Celia close up 1.jpg |  Mandy and Emily.jpg |
 Emily.jpg |  1.jpg |  2.jpg |
 3.jpg |  Emmas earrings.jpg |  Katies earrings.jpg |
Copper Creatures
A New Take on Wire Wrapping
Duration: 02.5-3 hours
Fee: £47.50 in person
Deposit: £10 pp
Minimum of two people
Come to my studio for a cuppa and to learn how to work with copper wire.
You choose a (animal) frame...
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- Hare/rabbit
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- Cat
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- Scottie Dog
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- Sausage Dog
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- Elephant
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- Flask (lab one) or
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- Hen
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(Feel free to throw a suggestion my way and I'll see what I can do)
...and the creative fun commences
You will learn
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- to make cosmic copper spirals
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- to secure a frame
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- basic wire wrapping using local sea glass
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- how to lash it all together
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- two ways to patina your work (make it look vintage or even antique)
Above all you will have a few hours in which you will enjoy the experience of creating. My motto!
I will need a minimum of two people to run this course, so why not invite someone to join you!
It's a great way to celebrate a special occasion or just to spend time together.
You can also book or contact me for an individual place and I'll put you on the waiting list and I'll run the workshop when I have two or more people.
Start a Silversmithing Adventure
Make a Silver Pendant
Duration: around 3 hours
Fee: 60 pp
Deposit: £15pp
This workshop offers you the chance to make a silver pendant from start to finish. It's a great way to learn about and use silversmithing techniques that form the foundation of almost all jewellery making.
You will be guided to create a design for a pendant (no drawing skills needed!)
Experince handling a torch to prepare your silver so you can create textures by hand or with a rolling mill.
Soldering is an exciting part of the workshop and cleaning your silver will surprise you with its various and unexpected methods.
After the session you will go home with a beautiful shiny silver pendant you will be proud of and that will last forever!
 j All 5 |  j Mitre 1x1 |  Mitre 3x4 |
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 j Hammers 1x1 |  j Annealing both |  j 4a |
 j 5b |  j 3a |  j 2b |
 j 2a |  j 1b |  j 1a |
Go with the Flow
A relaxing activity for all ages with great results
Duration: around 2.5 hours
Fee: £42.50pp
Deposit: £10pp
This workshop is for those of you who want to relax for a few hours and go away with a framed art work of your own making.
This is perfect for those visiting Durham as there are some Durham themed options to choose from.
It's a workshop that works for all ages! Well, from the age 6 and up.
It can also be adapted into a bunting making session for a baby shower, birthday, anniversary or hen night to make memorable decorations for a special occasion
A minimum of three people is required for the workshop.
Let me know your thoughts of what you would like to do.
 Rose Window |  Matisse |  Elephant in Blues |
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 Hen in reds |  Butterfly in Pinks |  Cat in pastels |
 At Rose Cottages |  Rose Cottages Gorgeous Results |  Anita's Elephant |
 Elephant in Pastels |  Matisse detail |  Rose Cottages |
Gift the Joy of Creating
Let me know which one you would like. I can arrange a gift card for any amount.
Idea: personalise the gift card with text of your choosing, take the amount away, make it for two persons or specify a particular workshop. Or maybe you want to do that workshop with the person you give the card to.
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What People Say
Joyous Dots
We spent a very relaxing and interesting 2 hours dotting away with a variety of tools and techniques. All equipment provided and Helga is a lovely tutor. I would recommend this course 100%
S and M
Plant pot Decoupage
Crafting without the commute! Really enjoyed this online course. I never felt rushed and learned some new techniques. The tutor was positive and encouraging. Was so easy doing the course from home and i thought the 'online' experience went well and a valuable way of spending time. I felt I got value for money as Helga gave me a prep session which was very helpful. I would recommend this course.
Barbra
Go With the Flow
The 'Go with the Flow' workshop I attended was very relaxing and fun to do. A real escape from day to day stresses. Helga’s workshops are a great way to spend an evening or afternoon. Highly recommended. I was so happy with the result that I had it framed.
Anita
Mokume Gane
I really liked the Mokume Gane workshop. It was soothing to manipulate the polymer clay and watch it transform into layers of colour. I managed to produce pieces I wanted to wear and of which I was proud, having no natural talent for crafts!
Nicola
PoIymer Clay Gift Making
I loved the whole process, from preparing the clay, the combining of colours to the surprising, astonishing end results.
I was guided, but not pushed over my own creativity/capabilities to bring about amazing results. It will take a few more workshops to get as much grip on the process as Helga has, but I loved the way chance did its work. So did my wife. She often wears the necklace I made for her!
Frank
