Spring Time!
Workshops that make you feel good, whatever the season
Workshops
On request
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Playing with Fire; Create Copper Jewellery
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Mokume Gane; Polymer Clay Gift Making
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Trees of Life; Wire Twisting and Wrapping
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Copper Creatures; Wire Forming and Wrapping
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Go with the Flow; a relaxing activity for all ages with great results
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Introduction to Metalsmithing; Sawing, Piercing and Soldering
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Wire Pendants;
No experience is needed for any of the workshops.
Workshops run on demand, typically starting at 2pm or 6pm. Not on Mondays and Fridays.
For organisations/charities/schools, please contact me directly for creative activities aimed at feeling good and for any age.
I focus on projects whereby people immerse themselves in an activity that needs no previous experience. I have developed a variety of activities that use materials that are easy to get hold of and don't involve a great expense for people to further engage in at their own time.
Proud to work with:
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 |
Go with the Flow
A relaxing activity for all ages with great results
Duration: around 2.5 hours
Fee: £40pp
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 |
Mokume Gane; polymer clay, gift making
An ancient Japanese technique with a modern twist
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Fee: £47.50 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
