The new year means new year's resolutions, which means we all take the moment to sit down and write our goals down in a bid to make this year the best year yet. But this year, rather than setting your usual goals, why not make it a goal to learn some new skills? With courses in everything from bread-making to weaving and pottery, plus ones catering for every age group, make 2019 the year the whole family learns something new...
1. Get creative and craft
Farnham Maltings
Fancy trying your hand at willow weaving? Or making jewellery? Or even animation? The 2019 workshop programme at Farnham Maltings has the course for you. Choose from half-day or full-day sessions – fly solo or gather a group together. There’s plenty too for children as the Maltings boasts a packed half-term calendar of events, including workshops in baking, animation and how to develop photographs.
Here are my picks:
- Make a suede body pouch (Jan 19, £95)
- Learn to sew together (Jan 19 & 26, £50)
- Weave your own willow chicken (Jan 26, £65)
- Create a wire bird sculpture (Feb 9, £45)
- Make a leather messenger bag (Feb 9, £125)
- Beginners silver clay jewellery (Feb 9, £80)
- Animate create a project (Feb 19 and 20, £50 for two days)
- Amazing photograms (Feb 20, £12)
2. Become a top-notch baker
1. Daily bread
Dates: Jan 6 and Mar 17
Book: £90 www.breadangels.com
Home-made bread is easy when you know how… Join award-winning Juli Farkas at her micro-bakery in East Sheen and learn how to bake wholemeal and white loaves, rolls and focaccia.
2. Simply sourdough
Dates: Feb 5 and Mar 5
Book: £50 www.howtocookgoodfood.co.uk
Find out how to make sourdough with a demo from former London chef Laura Scott, followed by a soup and cheese lunch. Laura also runs pop-up bake clubs for children throughout the year – visit her website for details of her February half term events.
3. Bread basics
Dates: Jan 19; Feb 2 and 16
Book: £90
The Epsom Bakehouse offers courses covering everything from bread-making basics to sourdough starters (Jan 24, £150). Owner Rhiannon Abbott also has sessions on how to set up your own home bakery business.
3. Learn to sew
Book: www.eli-be.co.uk
Got a favourite item in your wardrobe that you wish you could clone? Or would you simply love to know how to make clothes or perhaps like to teach your child to sew, but need a bit of a refresher yourself? Then head to Claire Watson’s Eli-B studio in Byfleet where, in private sessions, small groups (no more than five) join her for her ‘Hive Sewing Club’, where you can gain sewing confidence.
4. Have fun with flowers (and ceramics)
Book: www.thebluebellstudio.co.uk
Hand-tied bouquets, Easter baskets and vintage teacup workshops – The Bluebell Studio, home of Bloomsmith & Clay, in Horley is the place to go to make stunning gifts and centrepieces. Or head there with the kids for a spot of pottery painting.
5. Bring stories to life
Book: www.gattonpark.com
Bring your toddler’s favourite story to life at one of Gatton Park’s weekly Trails and Tales sessions, set in the historic parkland near Reigate. Sessions cost £7.50 and include the reading of a story, followed by a walk and crafting session. Betty and the Yeti by Ella Burfoot, Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson and Owl Babies by Martin Waddell are the books being covered in January.
6. Make lace
Book: 01372 451796
Find out what it takes to make lace at Tina Pedrick’s weekly bobbin lace classes (from Jan 10, £15) and monthly two-day workshops (£50) where she’ll be covering different styles of lace. Based in Effingham, class sizes are reserved to 10 people.
