Whenever I look at art I'm always drawn to prints - mostly screen prints and lino prints, it's something about the clean lines I think. So I still dream of one day being a proper artist who spends all day printing beautiful prints to sell. I kind of think I will one day, when life… Continue reading Linocut Workshop
Category: Creative Courses
COVID-19 Day One of Lock Down
We knew it was coming but it still feels very strange being on lock-down in your own home. I have been out to walk Arthur the miniature schnauzer today but that's it. (The photo was taken yesterday, while I was cutting pvc for a lampshade, he likes to be wherever I am😍) Thank goodness we… Continue reading COVID-19 Day One of Lock Down
Henley-on-Thames School of Art…
I discovered The Henley on Thames School of Art last year - when I was looking for something creative to do that fits around working and making lampshades.
Thank goodness I discovered it! What a lovely place it is! It's a warm, welcoming, sunlit studio at the back of Hart Street, with a little courtyard. You'd never know it was there, unless you spot the little sign at the entrance to the alleyway...
Lampshade workshops – such fun!
Where does the time go?! Being a busy mum of two, working part time and running a small business means sometimes I tend to neglect my blog and end up writing for others instead of myself - which is all very good but surely I can do both? I know it's my own fault but… Continue reading Lampshade workshops – such fun!
7 vital ingredients of great craft workshops
I haven't been to that many craft workshops but I've been lucky that the ones I have attended have been fab. The ones that made me go W O W were at The Make Lounge (now sadly closed) and at Homemade London. I remember leaving with an enormous sense of achievement and satisfaction that I had… Continue reading 7 vital ingredients of great craft workshops
Something new…
Okay, last night, unlike most nights when I go to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, I really struggled to switch off. My head was buzzing. Firstly, because I just watched the brilliant Great British Sewing Bee - and then promptly booked myself on a course led by Tilly Walnes from tilly… Continue reading Something new…
gilhoolie in Craft Focus…
gilhoolie has been featured in the June/July edition of Craft Focus, the leading trade magazine for the arts, crafts and hobby industry! Have a look at the Craft Focus feature to see my instructions on making a drum lampshade and a comment from me on the benefits of running workshops. If you'd prefer to come… Continue reading gilhoolie in Craft Focus…
1-2-1 chez gilhoolie…
I have to admit I was quite nervous about my first 1-2-1 lampshade lesson today - there seemed to be so much to get ready to make sure it was perfect, especially as I was running it from my house. I had a big checklist to work through - garden tidy, check, house clean, check,… Continue reading 1-2-1 chez gilhoolie…
A lesson learnt…
It's been too long since my hand-stitched lampshade course and I'm only just finishing off my next project. Luckily I have some really good handouts from the course but I wish I had made another one straight away! I remembered how to do the outside fabric but really struggled with the lining, taking two attempts… Continue reading A lesson learnt…
Working through my ‘To Do’ list…
Yesterday was a bit of an admin day for me as it was the first day back at school and a chance to get my head round things again. Now I can start to work through my gilhoolie to do list (there's lots on it after a week off!) Today I have been busy getting… Continue reading Working through my ‘To Do’ list…
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