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

Stumpwork – A Bug’s Eye View

Imagine lying in a flower meadow looking through the grasses and flowers at the insects and bugs that are crawling up the stems. Using embroidery stitches, padding and raising, free standing elements and wires, learn to make these fascinating creepy crawlies. You will be taught to use iridescent silk organza and needlelace for wings and...

Stumpwork – A Bug’s Eye View

Imagine lying in a flower meadow looking through the grasses and flowers at the insects and bugs that are crawling up the stems. Using embroidery stitches, padding and raising, free standing elements and wires, learn to make these fascinating creepy crawlies. You will be taught to use iridescent silk organza and needlelace for wings and...

Dao Yin and Tai Chi

Spend a day enjoying a variety of flowing Chinese exercises and leave feeling relaxed. This course is suitable for men and women, for beginners and those with experience of Dao Yin or Tai Chi. We will work on a variety of Dao Yin exercises, including some from the Baton set and a section of even-paced,...

Bobbin Lace: Bucks Point Day Course

The course covers all the techniques for this type of lace and is suitable for those who are new to Bucks Point as well as for those who are experienced in making this beautiful type of lace. During the weekend you could start a new project or work on / complete an on-going one, learn...

Bobbin Lace: Bucks Point Weekend

The course covers all the techniques for this type of lace and is suitable for those who are new to Bucks Point as well as for those who are experienced in making this beautiful type of lace. During the weekend you could start a new project or work on / complete an on-going one, learn...

Botanical Watercolour Painting for Beginners

Learning and developing the skills of botanical watercolour painting can be a joy for anyone who appreciates the beauty of plants. This weekend course is designed for beginners, to introduce you to the skills you will need to get started. Everyone will begin with the same subject and will be guided through each stage of...

Midweek Woodcarving Workshop

This two day woodcarving workshop is open to all experience levels. If you are a beginner you will introduced to woods and tools and be guided at your own pace through the stages of carving a simple relief project. Practiced carvers are equally welcome, with tuition on-hand, there will be the opportunity for you to...

Two Elizabeths – A Tale Across two Centuries

Our world today is defined by politics, people and personalities. It was so in the Tudor period in a redefined country forged by Elizabeth I and populated with adventurers and a generation of explorers. We look at the England re-shaped by Elizabeth I more than 450 years ago and examine the way it was changed...

Canal Boat Art: Roses and Daisies

Canal Boat Art is the colourful decoration found on working narrow boats that travelled on the many canals that radiated out from the Midlands. It was the ‘Folk Art’ of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s that has now been adapted to suit contemporary boats found on our inland waterways. The traditional styles included Roses,...

Chinese Brush Painting

This midweek course will study a number of subjects such as flower, bird, fruit, animal, fish or landscape. Examples will be provided for use during the course, which will be taught in the traditional way of demonstration and practice. Learning will continue in the evening with a presentation on painting, culture or travel. This course...

Chinese Brush Painting

This weekend course will study a number of subjects such as flower, bird, fruit, animal, fish or landscape, all taught in the traditional method of demonstration and practice. Learning will continue on Saturday evening with a presentation on painting or travel for example. This course is suitable for both beginners and the more advanced. New...

Beadweaving: A Geometric Journey

Geometric Bead work is a fascinating technique and one that is actually fairly easy to learn. Students will be working with Japanese Delica cylinder beads which sit together perfectly creating a firm foundation. A working knowledge of basic peyote stitch would be an advantage for this technique. Help with colour combinations will be given. All...

Creative Patchwork

Come to Knuston and create your own Patchwork! Whether you already know what to do or whether you need to start from scratch does not matter I can get you going. You will go home with knowledge and enthusiasm to carry on sewing!

Creative Patchwork

Come to Knuston and create your own Patchwork! Whether you already know what to do or whether you need to start from scratch does not matter I can get you going. You will go home with knowledge and enthusiasm to carry on sewing!

Pyrography Workshop

The course wil be structured to allow the following areas to be covered: Introduction to the course; History of Pyrography; Demonstration of techniques and practicing a variety of basic techniques working on Leather, Veneer and making a Greeting Card. You will get to work with Getting to know the equipment and materials and produce small...

Canal Art with a Contemporary Twist

Canal Art, the colourful decoration found on canal narrow boats, is based on the traditions of the late 1800’s, early 1900’s, and now includes many contemporary designs that reflect the countryside, animals, places, film, television characters, etc. The traditional styles have been adapted to suit the many different types of boats now found on canals...

Canal Boat Art: Castles

Canal Boat Art is the colourful decoration found on working narrow boats that travelled on the many canals that radiated out from the Midlands. It was a ‘Folk Art’ of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s that has now been adapted to suit contemporary boats found on our inland waterways. The traditional styles included Roses,...

Antique Furniture Restoration

Marquetry

Massenet’s Cendrillon [Festi’Val de Musique Valois] (Cinderella)

Singing For Larks – Jazz & Swing Harmonies

Singing with others is an exhilarating and liberating experience that everybody can enjoy. Singings for Larks workshops, run by Faith Watson, are based on the tradition of learning songs by ear. This approach makes the joy of singing with others easily accessible to those who are new to singing, whilst offering more experienced singers the...

Bobbin Lacemaking – British and European

This is a practical course for all abilities of lacemakers from those who have a knowledge of only the basic stitches to those who wish to study advanced techniques in the British and European laces. Many of the continental laces are taught with the aid of a colour-coded diagram to help students continue their work...

Dillington String Quartet Coaching Weekend

The Coull Quartet will lead a further weekend of coaching for string quartets who play to a good standard. The Coull are one of the finest and most experienced quartets in the country and we are delighted that they are returning to Dillington for a weekend of serious music-making and fun. The course includes a...

Concert: Coull Quartet

The magnificent Coull Quartet offers a rare combination of maturity and freshness and we are delighted that they are once more returning to Dillington. For this year’s concert their programme includes Mozart’s Quartet in E-flat major K428, Shostakovich’s Quartet No. 11 Opus 122 and Dvořák’s Quartet No. 9 in D minor Opus 34.

Let the Train Take the Strain: Planning Your Own Travels Through Eastern Europe

This day course takes the form of a workshop for planning your own travels by train through Eastern Europe. This year Mike Shaw extends his focus to the Western Ukraine, Rumania, Bulgaria and on to Istanbul. He will explain the origins of each of the national networks, the resulting choke points and how to avoid...

Edward I & Queen Eleanor

King Edward I (1272-1307) is best remembered for his Welsh and Scottish wars, and his great series of castles around Snowdonia. Less well known, but more significant, were his promotion of law, parliament and currency reform, as well as his patronage of the arts. His wife, Eleanor of Castile was less well known, and this...

Pop-Up Tree House

Tree houses have fascinated us for centuries and here is an opportunity to make one yourself albeit a pop-up model of one! We make a 180-degree pop-up on a base comprising over fifty separate pieces all interlocked into the one structure. All-comers welcome.

September In Somerset

Dillington is located in a region that is steeped in history and has a rich and varied landscape, from moor to sea all within easy reach. Enjoy a three night stay in the beautiful surroundings of Dillington and be free to explore the wonderful counties of Somerset, Dorset and Devon. Return to a delicious evening...

Shakespeare 400

2016 marks the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and as part of the celebrations during this short course we are hoping to include a visit to Stratford to watch the magnificent Sir Antony Sher in his performance of King Lear (*see below). The course is designed to engage with some of the key issues surrounding...

News From the Fronts: August – September 1916

This standalone day course is one of a rolling series covering the centenary of events as they occurred during the Great War. The approach taken is broader than the conventional narrative treatment. Each course starts with a strategic overview of events across all Theatres of the war thus highlighting the immediate problems confronting the leadership...