Workshops
Workshops will take place on Thursday 14th May & Friday 15th May 2009 at Kensington Town Hall. There is a limit of 10 students per workshop *, so booking in advance is essential. You can now book workshops directly with our online ticket booking service below. Please contact us on 020 7812 9892 if you need any further information.

*Please note that workshops could be cancelled if there are not enough students taking part.

Scroll down for details of all workshops.

Thursday Workshops
Friday Workshops
Tours & Talks

Workshop 1T: Make a working Chandelier with Cilla Hallbert
Cilla will teach you how to make a beautiful, working  Empire Crystal Chandelier. All materials & tools included
10am – 2pm            £125            4 hrs

Workshop 2T: Creating a 1:24th scale room box with Penny Thomson
With the help of the highly respected papier mache artist Penny Thomson, you will create a room box focusing a country hearth. The fire will light up & you will make various accessories to add to the scene. All materials & tools included.
10am – 6pm    £105    8 hrs

Workshop 3T: External Decorating Techniques with Paul Wells
We are delighted that Paul will be teaching his popular course at the KDF. The perfect reference course for those wishing to decorate a dolls house. Learn a variety of paint finishes including brick, tile, slate stone etc. You will leave with an invaluable reference folder to help you with future project. If possible you will need to bring a steel rule, carpenters square, scalpel, pencil & selection of brushes.
10am – 4pm    £105    6 hrs

Workshop 4T: Assembling a Doll kit with Jill Bennett FULLY BOOKED
Jill Bennett is famous for creating real characters with her dolls. She has now brought out a beautiful range of doll kits & in this class she will show you how she makes her dolls special. She will show you how to paint faces & start on dressing your character.
2pm – 6pm     £95    4hrs

Workshop 5T: An Animated Diorama with Tanis Rushton SORRY CANCELLED
Tanis is back after her successful workshop last year to help you make a moving Circus or Fairground diorama scene. All materials & tools included.
10am – 6pm    £130    8hrs

Workshop 6T: Wiring a room box with Martin Butler of SWP FULLY BOOKED
Returning after a sell out course last year, Martin will teach how to wire a room box the easy way. Course includes a room box for you to take away. All materials & tools included
2pm – 6pm      £110    4hrs

Workshop 7T: Make a handbag with Jose M Gomez
The very talented Jose will help you make a beautiful piece of designer luggage. All tools & materials included.
12pm – 6pm    £70    6hrs

Workshop 8T:A sleeping sausage dog with Sally Brennan
Famous for her kooky creatures, this year Sally will be showing how to sculpt a sleeping sausage dog.  All materials & tools provided.
2pm – 6pm     £50     4hrs

Workshop 9T: Make a hat & hat boxes with Annette Shaw
Annette will show you how to make a straw hat, curl feathers & make roses, plus make 2 hat boxes.
11am – 1pm     £35   2hrs

Workshop 10T:George III Bracket Clock with Geoff Wonnacott
Geoff is back to show us how to make the original bracket clock, spring driven free of hanging weights. Starting with a prepared cutting list of timber students will assemble the main cabinet and mitre the mouldings around to form its elegant shape.  The door will be made and the glass fitted.  Brass fretwork and silk will be fitted to the door when forming the curved top.  With the case completed the brass clock face will be assembled and fitted into place.  The finish will be applied and the hardware fitted.  No provision is made to make this a working clock; however, students may wish to fit a small movement at home.  The clock face is guaranteed to be the right time twice a day!
Skill level - Some experience, a reasonable ability and steady hand will be an advantage along with a good sense of humour. This will be a busy day and completion is likely. All basic tools and equipment will be supplied, however students are welcome to bring small tool boxes with their own general craft tools. 
10am – 6pm      £125  8hrs

Wkshp 1F - 15 May £50.00 Wkshp 2F - 15 May £20.00

Phone number:

Workshop 1F: Paint techniques with Sue Cook
Sue is returning this year to show you how to use brush techniques to create interior surfaces including marble, polished stone. You will be able to select an item (fireplace, pillar, etc) to paint yourself. All materials & tools provided.
9.30am – 12pm  £50 + item you paint   2hr 30min

Workshop 2F: Make a smocked apron with Anne Walden-Mills of the MNS
With her years of experience, who better to teach you how to make & smock a gingham apron? All material & tools provided.
9.30am - 12pm £20 2hr 30min

Workshop 3F: 1:24 Chimney brest & cooking range with Fiona Broadwood FULLY BOOKED
Fiona will help you to make a chimney breast & cooking range kit & finish with different paint techniques.
9.30am - 12pm £25 2hr 30min

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Tours & Talks
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Tours
Miniaturist tour of East London - Thursday 14 May 2009  FULLY BOOKED

On Thursday 14th May, for the first time, KDF is organising a tour of some of the most interesting places in East London for dolls house & miniature lovers to visit. First, a must for all enthusiasts, a visit to Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, where we will be shown the fantastic collection of dolls houses on display by one of their experts. We will then visit the Geoffrey Museum in Shoreditch, where you can get inspiration on interiors from all periods in English History.  We are presently trying to organise a 3rd location but cannot confirm this yet. You will be transported via mini cab between locations & taken to an underground station at the end of the tour.

Meeting at 11am. £20 per person. Booking in advance essential

Take a break from the Festival this year. We have a great selection of half hour talks taking place thoughout Sunday. It is the ideal way to rest your weary legs. Take in your tea, coffee or sandwiches and listen to the stories of the craftsmen exhibiting at the show. Best of all these talks are free & there is no need to book, just ask our staff for more information when you arrive at the Festival.

The Royal Collections will be back talking about the famous Queen Mary’s Dolls house

Helina Pasierbska formerly of the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood, will hold a Q&A session & signing her new book “Dolls’ Houses”, about all the Dolls houses at the Bethnal Green Museum.

Paul Wells & Frances Winch talk about the conception & building of the beautiful “Scrivelsby Folly” & show 2 short films about life in this amazing dolls house.