Workshops
Workshops will take place on Thursday 15th May & Friday 16th May 2008 at Kensington Town Hall. There is a limit of 10 students per workshop *, so booking in advance is essential. Although you cannot book workshops directly with our online ticket booking service, if you are booking tickets at the same time, please send us a seperate email stating the workshops you wish to attend & we will add this to your bill. A surcharge of £1/workshop place will be added if paying by credit/debit card. 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
1. Make a Victorian Pull along Toy with Sandra Morris of Tower House Dolls.
Sandra got the idea for this fantastic pull-along toy from a wonderful book of old Victorian toys. The realistic ride-on animal is elaborately decorated with vibrantly printed decals, tiny sparkling crystals etc and has a decorated saddle, stirrups and reins. He also wears a jewel-encrusted head-piece, with a plume of feathers.
He stands on a wooden platform, decorated with a colourful kaleidoscopic pattern. The chassis and wheels are constructed to allow the wheels to turn freely. Finally a carved and painted ‘pull’ is attached to the base of the wooden platform with a silken cord.
All materials will be provided but students are requested to bring (if possible)
Tweezers Fine & sharp scissors
10.00am 2hr 30min £35.00
2. Make a 3D Embroidered Knot Garden with Owen Davies from The Royal School of Needlework
You'll be amazed! We are delighted that Owen has found time to offer this fascinating workshop at KDF this year.
The day will start with an introduction to the embroidered miniature gardens. This form of embroidery has been popular for many centuries and Owen will guide you through the style and range from 16th Century to Modern day. Each embroiderer will be working the same design so design skills are not necessary for a 1 day course. Each kit will consist of enough yarn to start each area of the garden.
The design would sit comfortably alongside any 1/24th scale dolls house. The aim of the day is to teach all aspects of the kit which in turn will enable the stitcher to complete the project at home.
You will create fountains, clipped topiary and flower beds using traditional hand embroidery dating back centuries. Techniques include canvaswork, stumpwork, ribbon embroidery.
The kit will be worked on a fine canvas and the kit content is as follows:
Hand printed canvas
Needles and thread pack
Full instructions
To bring:
A notepad and pencil
Fine embroidery scissors and embroidery frames will be provided on the day for sale or loan.
10.00am 6hrs £65.00
3. Make a tree for your Dolls House Garden with Jacqui Parrat of Ceynix.
Make your own tree for your dolls house garden, standing about 14 inches tall, with full bark texturing and paint detailing.
All materials are provided but some small tools required:
Small scissors,
At least two small round paintbrushes, somewhere between sizes 00 and 2. Cheap children type ones are OK as the process does ruin them quickly – you can often get a pack of 10 for a pound.
A box and packing will be provided to enable you to take your tree away without damaging it.
10.00am 7hrs inc lunch break £115.00
4. Make a working miniature railway for your dollshouse with Tanis Rushton of Tadpoles
Build your own working model railway from engines connected to a custom built track and scenery that you will create. The scale of the engine is 1:900 which makes it close to the model railroad scale of OO for a 12th scale dollhouse. The train is powered by either a 9 volt battery or a 9 volt mains transformer, (all this is hidden behind the table) and can be operated at the flick of a switch.
Designs vary and the student will be presented with a number of scenic alternatives. All of the layouts can be made either as a floor display or with legs and the traditional "skirt". The workshop includes the basic layout with either the scenery or Christmas Tree with working lights. Please specify your choice when booking, or you may take potluck the day of class.
No tools required.
10.00am 7 hrs including lunch break £115.00
5. Make a Victorian Rosewood Dressing Case C1838 with Geoff Wonnacott
Geoff has taught many workshops in UK & USA and we are thrilled he is able to teach at KDF this year.
The dressing case you will make is a typical example of many produced around this period, this dressing case is a very elaborate small cabinet with a drawer, partitioned trays and a mirror in the hinged lid. Veneered in rosewood. The project will involve the veneering and construction of the main box. A drawer will be made and fitted, a separate tray will be constructed and partitioned to neatly fit typical dressing accessories, such as tiny hair brushes, combs, glass bottles, hand mirrors, etc. The cabinet will be lined in silk
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 however you will have all the information and materials to apply the finishing touches at home.
All basic tools equipment will be supplied, however students are welcome to bring small tool boxes with their own general craft tools.
10.00am 8hrs £110.00
6. Make a Floral Wedding Collection with Kathryn Gray of Fine Flowers in Miniature.
The floral wedding collection consists of a bride's cascade wedding bouquet, a bridesmaid's lace bound hand held bouquet, a lily corsage and a hand tied sheath of flowers plus three mahogany display stands. They are suitable for any period from the Georgian era onwards.
The workshop will include laser cut kits to make up to 36 main, accent and filler flowers & up to 30 stems of foliage plus posy picks for the two bouquets, toning silk ribbons and antique lace from France, three mahogany laser cut display stand kits, an introduction to the history of wedding bouquets pamphlet & a carry home box. All tools & materials you need will be provided. The flower kits will be available in three colourways with the predominant flowers in either Red, Cream or Pink. Please indicate which colour you would like to work in when booking your place.
Each person who attends my workshop will be given a 10% discount voucher which can be used once during the show, when purchasing any flower or our own brand of wooden laser cut kits & 'an introduction to the history of wedding bouquets' information pack.
10.00am 8hrs including lunch break £70.00
7. Make 2 pairs of leather shoes with Loi’s Mini Workshop. CANCELLED
NEW DESIGN & BUILD A FITTED KICHEN FOR YOUR DOLLSHOUSE WITH E.L.F
Liz LePla will help you to design a fitted kitchen for your dollshouse in the style of your choice. You will then learn how to assemble her easy-to-use kits to bring your design to life. You will need to purchase at least one of her kits at the workshop (prices from £5)
10.00am 6hrs including lunch break. £30.00 + kits
8. Make a Suitcase & ladies handbag with Jose M Gomez
“A weekend in London”. Learn from this amazing craftsman how to make a leather suitcase & matching ladies handbag. You will be able to choose from a selection of colours.
All tools will be provided
10.00am 6hrs including lunch break £85.00
9. Make & dress a baby will Sally Brennan from Miss Sally World.
After her success last year, Sally is returning to show you how to sculpt a baby from fimo. This will take approximately 1 hr 30mins, after which the baby will be “cooked” & left to cool while you have a break. You will then return to dress & position your baby. If you wish you can bring a crib or cot to place your baby in.
1.00pm 4hrs including break £45.00
10. Wiring Dolls Houses the easy way with Martin Butler of Small World Products
Finally, a workshop where you can learn the practicalities of lighting your doll’s house from the experts.
Learn the simple techniques ofquickly and reliably wiring doll's houses, using the Small World Products “Easy-Wire” round-wire method. The workshop will be strongly practical in nature, with everyone wiring a full-size shop box, which is theirs to take away in easy-to-carry flat-pack form afterwards, along with a “WoodnWool” light, power supply and special hand tools. No special skills are required.
You will learn how to:
* Design the lighting layout
*
Apply techniques for the installation of lighting: soldering; grooving timber; installing contacts; extending and joining wires and using plug-in backplates.
*
Choose and install a Power Supply
*
Choose a wiring system
*
Connect the wiring
*
Install plug-in lights and adapters
*
Consider safety & how to Test & repair the wiring when needed.
A shop-box and all necessary materials and special tools to wire thebox will be provided, along with the use of any other tools required.
2.00pm 3hrs £105
11. Apply paint finish to a plaster pedestal with a statue or Planter with Sue Cook.
Sue Cook must be one of the most recognizable names in dolls houses & we are delighted she has agreed to take her first ever workshop at KDF.
Sue will work with you to produce the effect of your choice and will demonstrate a number of other faux effects. These will include different types of marble, granite, stone, brick and composites. She will also cover distressing and ageing. You will be working with water based paints so be prepared to get your hands a little dirty and bring an apron to protect your clothes.
Please choose what item you'd like to work on from the list below when you book.
You can decide on the paint finish and statue at the workshop.
a. corinthian pedestal PE1 with a statue
b. ionic pedestal PE2 with a statue
c. doric pedestal PE3 with a statue
d. planter GP9
9.30am 2hr 30mins £40.00
12. Make a variety of Stationery with Tine Krijnen of Miniatuur Boekenbinden
Back again by popular demand. Tine makes her workshops such fun. She will show you how to make a selection of useful stationery. Elegant, sturdy, Victorian or Contemporary, the size is optional with many colours to choose from. Almost everything is possible!
9.00pm 2hr 30mins £30.00
13. Make an Old Fashioned Smelly Berry Cake with Andi Follett of the Miniature Cafe
Sponge, Cream, Berries, topped with sprigs of mint. A trusty old fashioned recipe that brightens all kitchens. Learn how to craft your sponge to add texture, make blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries, create realistic cream swirls and decorate your cake by layering up your handmade ingredients. You will also be shown how to add smell to your designs to create a lip smacking delicious piece you will really have to resist taking a slice of. You will learn: manipulation of clay, texturing, berry making, use of mixing clay and liquid materials to create textures and smells, construction of ingredients in minimal time.
You will be provided with everything you need to finish your cake & have the option of buying a 'Glasscraft' glass cakestand. Protective latex gloves and cleansing wipes also provided.
10.00 1hr 30mins £20.50 (cakestand £4 to pay at the class)
14. Assemble a furniture kit with Robert Longstaff
We are so pleased that Robert is back again to help you assemble & finish the kit of your choice. All tools are included, but you will need to choose which of the kits below you want to make, or if there is another of Robert’s kits you want to make, please let us know. Payment for the kit must be made directly to Robert at the Workshop.
a: Chippendale George III dining chair - £15.00
b: Rectangular dining table - £15.00
c: Georgian Bookcase - £17.50
10.00 1hr 30mins £18.00
15. Dress a Tiny Vintage Victorian Style Doll's Doll with Sandra Morris of Tower House Dolls
During this workshop session you will dress a 1 1/2” tall, jointed porcelain doll in the style of a Jumeau Bebe doll of 1890’s.
The doll will have: Silk underwear, cotton lace petticoat, fine lace socks, tiny silk shoes with leather soles, pleated silk and lace dress, hairstripe silk jacket, trimmed with antique lace and silk ribbon rosettes, elaborate silk bonnet trimmed with lace and silk ribbon rosettes & a fine ringlet curls wig. All materials will be provided but students are requested to bring (if possible) Fine, sharp scissors, Small sewing needles & Tweezers.
10.30 2hrs 30mins £35.00
Talks
Take a break from the Festival this year. We have a great selection of half hour talks taking place thoughout Saturday & 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.
Saturday 12th May from 12 noon
Fiona Broadwood of Petite Properties - I love 1:24 FioPetite Properties - Why I love 1:24 Fiona will talk about the benefits of a smaller scale, along with some tricks of the trade of making half inch interiors for a small budget.
Robert Longstaff - Tools, what do you really need?
Mulvany & Rogers - 25 years in Miniatures
Pastmastery - The Dummy Board Figure & their place in the Historic Interior
A brief history of the dummy board, illustrated with lifesized & miniature replica figures & slides of historic examples. How to use the dummy board in your own miniature interior.
Martin Butler of Small World Products - Lighting problems
Ann High Tudor & other early interiors
Ann will discuss Early Interiors & furniture, and suggest places to visit for inspiration, as well as talking about her work in miniatures.
Beth Clackett of the Royal Collections - Secrets of Queen Mary's Dolls House