Craft Centre

It’s a sunny summer morning on the 8^th of August and I have been frantically getting myself respectable after forgetting my hair brush once again at my boyfriend’s pad. It’s in preparation for a textile jewellery making workshop I booked myself on. An artist at the Urbis informed me there is a series of Saturday workshops at the Manchester Craft Centre run by crafty duo Magpie Arts. Me and an arty friend love going to the Craft Centre on Saturday afternoons to drool over all the beautiful handmade creations. Our ritual is to whinge about choosing the wrong degree courses and dream about setting up our own creative business enterprises. I grab a delicate jewel incrusted butterfly piece that broke off from a bracelet to take with me so that I can refashion it into something new. After all, the advert I read explained that you could bring along your own fabrics and materials to spice up your customised creations.

Craft studio workshop

 I settle down to drink the complementary orange juice and focus my attention on the demonstration. The brooch-making demo shows us the gentle art of twisting metal using pliers to create a badge pin. You have to bend it into a fish type shape where the ends join back together again and viola! It does indeed end up looking like a bit of a fish with its eye at the front sporting a filed down tail!

Here's one I made earlier!

The class is fully booked with friendly, chatty woman who genuinely seem to be excited about attending the class and passionate about engaging in the creative process, particularly as it really is a novelty to be able to select from the wide range of feminine fabric out on display. Girly heaven! Remember that feeling as a kid when you raided your mum’s jewellery box for the first time and found a feast of fascinating finds? Well it was a case of déjà vu cos the table was full of buttons, lace ribbons and vintage accessories: sheer eye candy!  I have to confess as I got a wee bit carried away.  When your visually led like me, it’s hard not to get a rush of excitement about all the shapes, colours and textures that compel you to match them all together at once into a fabric frenzy!

 When I’ve calmed down I choose a navy blue ribbon and found some black and pink lace that reminds me of the Burlesque Agent Provocateur style fashion you see in contemporary lingerie. Once I find my black finishing touch feather I am off in my own world folding the ribbon into a flower shape then sewing it together adding different fabric designs and textures. Magpie Art host, Zoe commented that she felt like a spare part as everyone was so quietly engaged in making their own masterpieces that no one was asking for her expertise. I am so pleased for them when I hear gasps of “ooohs and “aaahs” as the class is wowed by the chain-making trickery demo which features wrapping metal sting around a pen then splicing it with scissors to create individual chains.

Chair Chain Making

Magpie Art are so helpful and attentive to everyone, working the room exchanging hints and tips. Although I didn’t manage to refashion my butterfly jewellery, I did find the experience a delightful way to spend a Saturday morning in the tranquil ambience of a studio that has the vibrancy of an art gallery.

My sexy broche!

 I picked up some fab textile jewellery making techniques so I can continue making more pieces at home.  Now I’ve gradated, I can proudly sashay around town wearing my custom made sexy brooch of honour! Ooow get me!  Although let’s keep schtumm about my disastrous diminishing chain bracelet attempt or the fashion jury will shun me. The shame!

Craft Centre Interior