LeisureCourses.net – short courses & residential study breaks in great locations

Design and create your own beautiful stained glass panel at Alston Hall. You will be guided by tutor Bill Davies in all aspects of this fascinating craft.

Spend a relaxing weekend making beautiful beaded jewellery with just beads and thread. Your tutor, Olive, has an ever growing selection of easy to follow patterns for you to use, with explanation diagrams as well as words.

Your opportunity to learn the art of beautiful writing in a wonderful setting! This weekend course is designed for aspiring calligraphers to have fun whilst absorbing themselves in learning ‘roundhand’ and ‘Roman capital’ scripts. The ultimate goal is to understand the foundation strokes of calligraphy, to learn how to use the essential tools and materials to start creating beautiful writing. The importance of how design layout, colour, size and spacing of lettering can convey different moods and messages is also…

This practical Summer School in the traditional craft of woodcarving is designed both for complete beginners and for the more experienced who wish to advance their skills.

This practical Summer School in the traditional craft of woodcarving is designed both for complete beginners and for the more experienced who wish to advance their skills.

This course will introduce you to Linoleum Printmaking. We will discuss two methods of printing: Reduction and Relief, looking at various examples of each method.

This is the course for those people who love textiles and are looking for ways to expand into new areas. You will learn how to recycle cloth to make beautiful papers.

An opportunity to learn three basic felting techniques i.e. wet felting, needle felting and Nuno felting. This course will study the basic techniques, working sample pieces to a central theme: (e.g. autumn leaves).

On this course at Dillington we will be covering a variety of techniques incorporating old wires, beads, fabrics and threads, and needlelace stitches.

The Grange Ellesmere has two places left on its Linocut Printmaking course (11th - 13th July) with printmaker Ian Phillips. If you have ever marvelled at the beauty of linocut prints (and Ian's are particularly spectacular), this course may be your opportunity to learn. Ian has shown us what his beginners can produce after a couple of days and we have been amazed. There is one place on the Summer Bookbinding Course (25th - 29th July) - (for those with a little experience of the craft).

Spend a relaxing weekend making beautiful beaded jewellery with just beads and thread. Your tutor, Olive, has an ever growing selection of easy to follow patterns for you to use, with explanation diagrams as well as words.

Over a few days, it is your opportunity to construct garments of your choice that will fit you to a high professional standard.

On this relaxing one day course, you will discover how to design and create a beautiful hard-backed book with your own piece of batik on the cover.

This is a weekend course that will appeal both to those who just fancy a holiday weekend experimenting with a new world of coloured inks and papers, as well as to those who want to pursue a hobby or vocation in paper marbling.

On this four day mosaic workshop, students will explore all aspects of mosaic-making, from drawing up original designs, to creating a finished piece of work. No previous experience is required.

This course with Ken Burnley and Jon Ward-Allen will provide an introduction to the history of printing and will cover basic typography, design and letterpress techniques

This course will focus on non-adhesive bookbinding (i.e. without paste or glue used in their construction) and is perfect for those that want to produce beautiful books and booklets

Whether you are a beginner wishing to unearth the joys of lace making, or you are experienced in this traditional craft, here is the course for you.

In this one day workshop, we will look at producing vivid abstracts, fantasy pictures and landscapes.

Crewel work is a very old, traditional and historically important embroidery technique, which can also be used with great success in modern design. A course for newcomers and improvers.

The decorative motifs of different countries have inspired stitchers through the ages, and this course builds on that international inspiration.

This weekend course takes the skills of both embroidery and beadwork and combines them to achieve a unique piece of creative textile art.

Whether you are a beginner wishing to unearth the joys of lace making, or you are experienced in this traditional craft, here is the course for you

Join Jill Winch at Missenden Abbey and learn how to produce your own Christmas card with coloured pencils. Jill will also give advice on having it printed in order to send to friends and family.

Prepare all your Christmas decorations, including a door wreath ready for the festivities. New ideas and inspiration for new and repeat learners and an opportunity to cover a wide range of skills in a relaxed workshop environment.

Learn the techniques for making professional gifts that anyone would be really happy to receive as their Christmas present. All-comers welcome but please note you will need basic sewing knowledge, including the ability to use your own sewing machine, which you will need to bring with you.

This is an exciting course, with Aza Adlam, who will take you through all the stages of completing a ‘leaded’ stained glass panel – how to cut all kinds of beautiful coloured glass, how to lead and solder the panel together and finally how to cement and polish for the finished effect. All tools, lead and a large selection of coloured glass will be provided by the tutor for use during the course at an additional charge of £20. Suitable…

Embroider, wrap, twist, needleweave, include a simple beaded edging, add a tassel, incorporate the decorative technique of Dorset Crosswheel buttons .....and more .

Do you want to create one of your own designs and translate it into a picture using the combined techniques of fabric collage and both machine and hand embroidery? Then this is your course! Some experience using a darning foot is necessary.

Students will make a comprehensive set of samples by hand and machine- covering the following methods: cathedral window- strip patchwork- curved blocks- and the 'quilt as you go' method of construction.

An introduction to four techniques for making rag rugs

This is a course aimed at introducing you to the techniques achievable with coloured pencils. Using photographs supplied by the tutor you will be shown techniques such as colour mixing- layering- blending and sketching.

A further introduction to all sorts of glass colours and textures. Make your own panel or mirror using traditional stained glass techniques- but this time with more concentration on design.

Have you always wanted to make lace but are worried that it looks complicated? Are you a beginner wishing to continue to develop your skills in the art of bobbin lacemaking? This is the ideal course for you.

Discover simple patchwork techniques used to make attractive and sturdy bags. On this course we will be making a sturdy bag suitable for carrying files- shopping- craft work etc. The finished size will be 18

A course for everyone with an overlocker. Master the dreaded threading and understand tension. Learn how different feet can be used in functional and decorative techniques.

Learn some techniques from an English 17th century form of raised and padded embroidery. Bring your embroidery to life with a 21st century design using Monet

Spoil yourself. Have fun making a gorgeous bag- just for you- with pockets and compartments to suit your lifestyle- and decoration to reflect your personality.

Strip patchwork is a quick and easy technique to master- with great results- perfect for the patchwork novice.

Use watercolours to produce paintings in this delicate but expressive medium. A class for beginners and those with a little experience. Fun and enjoyment form an important aspect of the course.

Discover the world of goldwork embroidery and be introduced to a variety of techniques- either through set designs or by developing your own ideas.

This is a hands-on course where you will learn how to build a living willow dome for your garden

This introduction is aimed at absolute beginners and people who have a limited knowledge of stained glass work. You will make your own stained glass panel- which you will be able to take home with you at the end of the course.

If you have mastered the basics of modular knitting- this course will lead you onto experiment with other methods and shapes. Borders- shaping and fasteners will all be covered.

Come and learn how to paint a winter landscape.

An opportunity to design and create a beautiful piece of Blackwork using very simple stitches and only one colour of thread to produce a stunning tonal piece of embroidery.

Venturing into 3D in stone is not an impossible task- when you have a highly experienced tutor used to working with both absolute beginners and experienced artists.

This is a course that will introduce you to sketching winter scenes. You will be shown how to draw and sketch with black ink pen and how to combine this with painting with a watercolour wash.

Paper cutting is THE craft of the moment- seen everywhere on posters- book jackets and crockery. And now you can master the basics of this highly rewarding- low cost craft and amaze your friends.

Come and be inspired by the flowers and colours of spring and enjoy making floral designs for your home. Lets shake of the winter blues and enjoy the emerging spring flowers.

An opportunity to learn three different techniques and make at least three brooches.

Have you been on a silk painting course at Denman before? Or do you have some knowledge of the technique used in this wonderful craft? Try this follow on course and extend your skills repertoire.

Building upon the skills and techniques learnt during Watercolours for Beginners- students will extend their expertise by creating mood- atmosphere and depth in their paintings.

This is embroidery brought right up to date- combining traditional stitches with simple appliqu

Design and create a stunning embroidered sampler that incorporates lots of things that are special to you.

If you have attended Beading for Beginners and Beyond at Denman- or elsewhere- and would like to learn more techniques and stitches- attending this course will extend your knowledge.

Quilled designs inspired by spring flowers and colours will be the theme of this course. Designs will suitable for those with some knowledge of the craft. So come and roll- pinch- crimp and shape strips of paper into beautiful unique designs.

An enjoyable residential course where you will discover simple basket making techniques while you create unique willow creatures using different colours of willow.

This course covers traditional jewellery techniques such as saw piercing- soldering and polishing to enable you to produce beautiful finished pieces of jewellery.

This course aims to give students the opportunity to combine the traditional techniques of hand embroidery and beadwork and to encourage students to experiment with new techniques and develop individual ideas.

An enjoyable Day School where you will discover simple basket making techniques while you create unique willow creatures using different colours of willow.

An introduction to four techniques for making rag rugs

A real opportunity to learn the hows and whys of watercolour painting! We will tackle colour and textures. Plenty of demonstrations- personal care and attention.

Course participants will be introduced to the use of leather and associated techniques and will be able to complete a half-leather binding, a stronger and better binding than the case-binding of the beginners’ course