Spotlight on the Seller- Ages Of Elegance

Our first Spotlight on the Seller this year is our leader Dawn Wood, who when she's not trying to cover us all in gingham, works from her studio near the corn exchange in Leeds city centre, creating clothing as Ages Of Elegance

She trained during the last Millenium as a fashion designer, having always had a passion for clothes with the best dressed dolls around. Not just contemporary garments or from a fashion point of view, but also historical & and in it's wider socio-economic setting. Somewhere in the vaults of Huddersfield uni is a super 8 film of her talking about viking clothing aged 12 whilst a class project was being filmed.

This interest led to her moving into making costume for film and theatre, moving to London to work at two of the largest film costume houses, and the Royal Opera House before becoming freelance. She now also produces clothing for museums and collectors, specialising in military uniforms, 18thc clothing and corsetry, as well as giving costume talks. She has sent 16thc patterns in the diplomatic bag to Uzbekistan, created the 17thc bodyguard for the King of Norway, and dyed Phil Collin's underpants for the film Buster

Her move back to Yorkshire 12 years ago meant she started to produce her fashion label again alongside and she sells one off items from this in the shop as well as taking on bespoke work both fashion and bridal. She has been regularly nominated as best designer in Leeds and for her lingerie in the Leeds Retails Awards and was the featured lingerie designer in the 2006 Urban Fashion Awards

Her work is diverse and for both men and women so if you want a truly unique outfit you know where to come. She is also our main tutor and if you come for any of her classes you know you are being taught by a longstanding expert in her field

Learn new skills with Fabrication

Whether you have caught the sewing bug from Great British Sewing Bee, want to try an new skill like making a beautiful crystal tiara, or simply want to "tart up your tat" then Fabrication has a workshop for you.

Workshops are running through the summer for sewing, lampshade making, jewellery, perfumery, darwing, chocolate making... the list goes on and on.  Workshops are run by Fabrication's dedicated and talented craftspeople, each has a passion for and knowledge of their craft that is second to none.

You can find your perfect workshop and book on line at Fabrication's website. Booking is essential as class sizes are limited.

Learn a new skill yourself or treat someone to a gift card so they can pick their own workshop - a great gift for a loved one!

December at Fabrication

Dec 5th/6th Christmas Accessories and Vintage Glamour weekend

Saturday
Make a Fabric Scarf 10-12.30pm
Make a glamorous fabric scarf or shawl. Learn how to roll a hem and add bead trim
£20 + materials

Vintage Hair and Makeup 1.00pm-5.pm
Join burlesque bombshell Anna Fur Laxis for a vintage hair and makeup session. you will be taught how to do roll, curl, and flick getting you ready for the party season

Sunday
Make a fabric clutch. 10.30-1.00
You should have basic sewing skills for this class and know how to use a machine. You may bring your own to use in the class
Cost £20 + materials
Simple Bead Jewellery 2.00pm-4.00pm
Learn how to make simple bead jewellery, stringing and knotting techniques etc
£25 inc materials
Please note all our classes need to be prebooked
refreshments provided at each class
Book all 3 craft sessions and save £10, book 2 craft sessions and save £5

Dec 12th Credit Crunch Christmas, 10.30-4.30pm
Stuck for Christmas presents and want to give something more personal this year, we have a created a number of days where you can just come along and make pretty stuff.
Today we are making candles, bath bombs, lotions and potions using very simple recipes you can replicate at home. Make as many or as few items as you can fit into the day
Please note all our classes need to be prebooked
£35 + materials. Refreshments, but not lunch, included

Dec 19th Winter Flowers Bringing in the Green
3 sessions through the day:
9.30 - 11.30 Christmas Wreaths and Door Hangings
Learn how to make your own wreath or door hanging using traditional or more contemporary styles.
Price £25 including all materials

1.30 - 3.30 Make a traditional Christmas swag
For your mantelpiece, over the top of a door or hanging on the wall, a workshop to make a beautiful swag full of traditional Christmas greenery and colour.
Price £25 including all materials

4 - 5pm A Christmas Planter
Brighten up your doorstep or make a gift of beautiful seasonal colour - impressive, but quick and easy to do!
Price £25 including all materials

Book all 3 sessions and save £10. Price for all 3 sessions only £65.
Book 2 sessions and save £5. Price for any 2 sessions only £45
Our Club Nights
Crafty Club 3rd thursday every month 6.30-9.pm
Because we all have projects we want to start/finish/ stop being bored of but get distracted by the telly/kids/hubby once a month we can get together, get inspired and finally finish them all with the addition of cake and gossip.

This is not a teaching workshop for a specific craft but a fun creative night just getting on with stuff 3rd thursday every month. Cost £6 inc refreshments and cake
You will need to prebook this event so we have an idea of numbers
Crochet Club 1st Thursday every month 6.30-9.pm
There seems to be lots of knitting clubs around these days but what about those of us who want to crochet. Well we have the answer. Come along to Crochet Club and bring your projects, wool, cake, gossip and tea. If you Knit, macramé, lace make etc you are also welcome
Cost £6 inc refreshments and cake
You will need to prebook this event so we have an idea of numbers

Please note all these workshops take place in an upstairs room with no lift facility
All classes must be prebooked and paid for prior to the day. Places are ltd to 6 for clothes making classes so we can give you more attention
If there is a class you want to us to run then let us know and if enough folks also want it then we will try and organise it. If you really want to attend one of our classes but work weekends etc then we may be able to run in an evening if enough people want to

November at Fabrication

Nov 7th Make a basic pair of trousers
using your own machine
You will learn how to cut a trouser pattern, make pockets and a fly front fastening
Please note this is not a beginners class and you will need to know how to use your machine and have some basic experience of sewing seams, zips etc
Please note all our classes need to be prebooked
cost £35 + materials. Refreshments, but not lunch, included

Nov 14th/15th
Make a Regency Dress Learn how to cut, sew and finish a regency style dress with costume maker Dawn Wood
You will learn how to adapt a pattern from extant clothing information, to fit you and learn historical stitch techniques to get the correct finish.
You will then be given information on how to use this basic pattern to make a variety of regency style garments covering the period 1795-1815
The class takes place over 2 days.
£70 plus materials. Refreshments, but not lunch, included
Places are limited to 6 on this class

Nov 21st Credit Crunch Christmas, hand painted items
Stuck for Christmas presents and want to give something more personal this year, we have a created a number of days where you can just come along and make pretty stuff.
learn how to hand paint on glass, ceramics, papier mache and wood, etch, make a mosaic coaster the choice is yours, make as many or as few items as you can fit into the day
Please note all our classes need to be prebooked
£35 + materials. Refreshments, but not lunch, included

Nov 28th Dolls House Miniatures Furnishings
Learn to make needlepoint cushions and rugs, and fabric furnishings for your dolls house
Refreshments, but not lunch, included

To book the classes print off the booking form here or to pay by PayPal via the website
£35

Also Crochet Club 5th November and Crafty Club 19th November. Please let us know by the 4th if you are intending to come along to crochet club, as we are aware it falls on bonfire night so you may reschedule for this month


Some of you may also be interested in this competition, we are supporting
As part of their awareness raising campaign for Thyroid Awareness Week 2009, 18th-25th October, The organisation Thyroid-Disease.Org.UK have launched a Photography competition for 12 pictures to be used in our 2009 fundraising calendar. Cost to enter is £5.

This will be a nationwide competition and the final selection made by their members all photographers will be fully credited on the website for their photograph and it will also be up on the Thyroid-Disease website for all to see in a specially created gallery for the next year

If you are interested in entering please email photocomp@thyroid-disease.org.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for an entry form or download and entry form and poster here http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/photo%20comp%20entry%20form%202009.doc, http://thyroid-disease.org.uk/photo%20comp%20poster%202009.doc

See you soon

Dawn