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

Summer Rest-ival

Make space for rest and renewal with mindfulness, writing, meditation, painting and more!

Create a Singing Bowl Summer School

Generations of smiths and coppersmiths have dedicated their work to the search for the one perfect all-transcending sound. Under Ton’s friendly, professional supervision you will learn the technique of forging to create your own singing bowl. The rhythm of metal work, the heat of the forge and the alchemical process of shaping your own instrument...

THE FOUR SEASONS in Music and Painting

Our weekend will explore the inspiration painters and composers have drawn from the seasons of the year. The featured artists will include Botticelli, Breughel the Elder, Monet, Turner and Friedrich, while there will be music by Vivaldi, Haydn, Delius, Tchaikovsky and others. Abingworth Hall occupies a country estate that dates back some seven centuries and stands beside its own lake...

THE SYMPHONY IN THE 20TH CENTURY

This weekend, the second of two such events, will explore aspects of the rich legacy of symphonies from the 18th century until around 1900. Various great symphonies will be featured, and our music examples using CD and DVD will be played on excellent hi-fi equipment. The BEST WESTERN PLUS Wroxton House Hotel is set in the beautiful thatched village...

MENDELSSOHN

With his unique blend of classical poise and romantic feeling, Mendelssohn was one of the great composers of the 19th century. His music has a special appeal and personality, and we shall explore some of his best loved works, as well as some wonderful music that is less well known. The music will be played on excellent hi-fi equipment,...

GUSTAV MAHLER: Two Great Symphonies

In his symphonies Mahler was concerned to explore the essential issues at the heart of man’s existence: the conflict of the life-force and the death-force. In this ambitious pursuit his Third and Sixth symphonies employ vivid imagery with magnificent orchestral assurance. To complement the symphonies we will also consider aspects of Mahler’s extraordinary life and career. The music examples...

Exploring English Music

We will explore the varied repertoire of English music, featuring compositions by celebrated figures such as Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Bliss, Finzi, and Bax. There will be full programme notes and music examples on excellent hi-fi equipment, as well as a live recital by one of Britain’s leading pianists. The Dumbleton Hall Hotel is a splendid and traditional 19th century...

Watercolour painting holidays in the Limousin, SW France

We are very pleased to announce 2 NEW watercolour painting holiday courses with artist Nicola Blakemore this September and October at De Tout Coeur Limousin. Learn the Magic of Painting with Watercolours on this holiday for people at all levels. about Nicola: 'her teaching approach and philosophy really come through—she invites students to put aside any “limiting belief”...

Watercolour painting holidays in the Limousin, SW France

We are very pleased to announce 2 NEW watercolour painting holiday courses with artist Nicola Blakemore this September and October at De Tout Coeur Limousin. Learn the Magic of Painting with Watercolours on this holiday for people at all levels. about Nicola: 'her teaching approach and philosophy really come through—she invites students to put aside any “limiting belief”...

Quilting, corded and stuffed work

Silken Soutache Braid textile weekend course

Weekend textile course making Cockades

Mixed Media Textile Weekend

Usui reiki level 1 workshops

Usui reiki level 1 workshops

Residential Photography Workshop Weekend SW France

Bangle Weaving

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Pattern Ref Book

Here is a weekend for anyone with a love of pattern and who enjoys creating their own using a range of pens, pencils and crayons, paper and paste to embellish basic shapes and to inspire stitch. During this course you will use a variety of coloured papers, to cut and tear simple shapes with added stitch...

Soutache

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Bead Weaving

Over this weekend you will discover how to create beaded bezels for cabochons, as well as bead-weaving and bead embroidery techniques to create a bracelet, brooch or pendant encrusted with a host of wonderful beads and crystals. Starting with an overview of bead embroidery, Sally will show you how to consider various aspects of design,...

Hand quilting

Here is your opportunity to develop your hand quilting expertise with one of the best tutors in the field.  On this weekend you will discover all the essential steps to produce beautiful hand quilting, including how to mark out a cushion-sized pattern using one of Barbara’s exclusive designs. Barbara will show you the correct way...

Shadowlands

Drawing inspiration from ideas surrounding the landscape (gardens, plants) or abstract interpretations (Sonia Delaunay’s Orphism art, Cubism) using found materials as a resource, you will explore direct approaches for creating colour and movement in cloth. A whole range of techniques will be covered such as transfer printing with plants and stencils, simple resists methods, stitch and...

Enamelling on Silver Clay

Silver clay is magical stuff. It is a mixture of tiny particles of pure silver mixed with a binder. *            work with silver clay and enamel *            create your own original jewellery *            embellish your work to make it unique to you *            ideal day course for all, whatever your skill level The clay binder enables you to mould the...

Batik

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. *            create a unique piece of batik *            learn formal book binding *            use your batik as a cover for your book *            suitable for beginners and more experienced crafters You will begin...

Creative Textiles

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Drawing for the Terrified

Are you terrified of drawing but have a secret longing to learn how to do it? Then this is the course for you. *         Secretly longing to draw? *         Not sure where to start? *         Discover how to truly SEE objects *         Monochrome and colour techniques Your tutor, Richard Box, will guide you through certain processes slowly, gently and step...

Creating a pattern reference book

*            Create your own pattern reference book *            Mark making, layering, collage and much more *            Explore pattern as a precursor to stitch *            Ideal for anyone who wants to develop their techniques Here is a weekend for anyone with a love of pattern and who enjoys creating their own using a range of pens, pencils and crayons, paper...

Beautiful Birds

Treat yourself to a weekend doing the craft you love along with like-minded people – and try out some new techniques into the bargain. *            discover a new slant on patchwork *            try out new techniques *            extend your skills with numerous patterns *            ideal for beginners and accomplishers stitchers Birds provide the soundtrack to our lives, and all the...

Picture it in Collage and Stitch

Have you ever wanted to create one of your own designs and then translate this into a work of art using the combined techniques of fabric collage with both machine and hand embroidery? *         Long to create your own designs? *         Combine fabric collage and embroidery *         Both machine and hand techniques *         Ideal for beginners and experienced Under Richard...

Upholstery

This course offers the opportunity to learn the basics of upholstery, or develop those you already have and at the same time produce a useful piece of furniture in a fabric of your choice.  Beginning with the application of webbing and base hessian, then going through the stages of various filling materials, we...