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Archive for the "Classes" Category

11 Sep

Exciting New Space For London Craft Shop The Handweaver’s Studio

Posted by Lettice in Classes, Shopping No Comments

The Handweaver's Studio, London

If you’re one of London’s fashionable set, you’ll know that it’s quite the thing to sew and knit your own clothes and create couture on a budget. And in fashion tradition, now you’ve got used to the idea, it’s time to raise the stakes – you need to be spinning your own yarn and weaving your own cloth!

The Handweaver’s Studio can help. From bundles of sheep fleece, to cones of dyed silk, this shop meets all your fibre needs. You can buy a spinning wheel or weaving loom and take classes to learn how to use them. Weaving isn’t for hippies, it’s for your own handwoven Chanel-style jacket.

The Handweaver’s Studio has just reopened in Finsbury Park, selling everything a textile fanatic could ever need. The new shop is light and airy with a big space out the back for crafting. The Handweaver’s Studio is under new management but they’ve retained the great stock and best of all, kept all their knowledgeable staff. Happy crafting.

www.handweavers.co.uk

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28 Aug

Nike Women Outdoor Training Session

Posted by Siobhan Chapman in Classes, Dance, Open Spaces, Special Events, Sport No Comments

Getting active on the South Bank

“This is where you do your Beyonce flick” said our chirpy dance instructor.

There I was, amongst dozens of women that had braved a drizzly British summer evening to shake our booty on the South Bank, under the gaze of thousands of tourists in the London Eye.

The Nike women training club is not a traditional boot camp. There were no scary military instructors, no drill whistles and no push ups. Instead, we found ourselves entertained by a live DJ as the dancers in a blaze of colour and energy wove through the crowd busting their moves.

It wasn’t long before we were joining in, learning to groove, bump, grind and bounce as the DJ spun her tunes. I’ve never been that great with choreography – unless you count knowing every move in The Timewarp – and I felt a little self conscious at first. But all notions of British reserve disappeared with the Beyonce flick. There is no room for wallflowers in this class. And this was too much fun to be a workout. The rain was forgotten, and before I knew it, hey, I’d done the moves right. All in all, the Nike women class is a great way to challenge yourself, make new friends and learn new skills. The only downside was, like all good parties, it ended too soon.

The next Nike Women Outdoor Training Session is on 9 September. Visit www.nikewomen.com for more information.

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27 Aug

Learn to Crochet in London with Tea and Crafting

Posted by Lettice in Classes 1 Comment

Crochet Flower CorsageLearn to make a crochet flower at one of Tea and Crafting’s taster courses.

These new Central London evening classes have just launched and they’re the perfect way to try something new.

Each class lasts for one evening and you’ll take home something you made and the instructions to make more. I learnt how to make a crochet flower corsage which I finished off at home with a shiny button.

As there are only eight students to a class, it’s perfect for beginners. Tutor Jane was very patient, spending extra time with complete novices and suggesting advanced techniques for those of us with a little experience.

If, like me, you’ve been trying to teach yourself to crochet from a book, failed, thrown your knotty mess on the floor and then stamped on it, you need this class. I now know where my rows begin and end, how to hold the yarn and can read a basic pattern.

Classes lined up for September in London include beginners’ knitting, basic jewellery, crochet granny squares and crochet flowers. Find out more at www.teaandcrafting.co.uk.

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12 Aug

Seduction at the Met Bar: Cour-tea-san De-Light…

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Classes, Pubs & Bars No Comments

Cour-tea-san De-light“Is there an art to seduction? How does one become an artist, fluent in the many techniques that can be used to appeal to the senses?”

These are questions that you may never have considered before now but for guests attending ‘Cour-tea-san De-Light’ at the Met Bar on Saturday; it was the hot topic of the day.

The idea to host a series of sassy seduction classes was conceived over several cocktails enjoyed with Kelly Isaac, Founder of seductive lingerie brand, The Modern Courtesan. The classes are designed to present short s-educative experiences from leading experts in a more relaxed, social setting to be enjoyed by groups of friends or couples.

For those who are intrigued as to what happens at a seduction class – please read on.

Firstly, expect delightful sensations throughout the course of the afternoon to tempt ALL your senses! Guests were welcomed by a delicious Ginger & Watermelon Martini before taking to their seats to enjoy an aphrodisiac-inspired version of the Afternoon De-Light menu. Gorgeous cupcakes made with fresh ginger, strawberries and Champagne each topped with a rather suggestive cherry, plus chilli and chocolate macaroons (my personal favourite) to accompany the no-bread sandwich pots and light-as-a-feather scones.

After a brief introduction to Modern Courtesan and the “Seduction Boudoir” (which was later open to acquire weapons of mass seduction), the guest speakers were invited to the stage. Saturday’s guests included best-selling author, Suzanne Portnoy, who spoke on the subject of erotic writing and her fabulous memoirs, plus iconic British photographer John Stoddart whose famous collection includes “Peep World.”

The finale to the class was the gorgeous Pegah, who captivated everyone with her exotic dancing and treated guests to a 20-minute workshop. Sad to shimmy no more, it was time to depart and complete our homework…

The next Cour-tea-san De-Light is scheduled for 26 September between 3 and 5pm.

More classes and workshops in London

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4 Aug

Friday Night Laughter Lounge at Vinopolis

Posted by Lisa in Attractions, Classes, Comedy No Comments
Vinopolis Laughter Lounge

Vinopolis stages a comedy night called Laughter Lounge the last Friday of every month so my mate Jo and I went along to check it out. As neither of us had done a Vinopolis wine tour before and share a deep, rather uneducated passion for drinking (wine in particular) we thought we would sign up for the Grapevine tour as well.

Our Grapevine tour kicked off with a 20 minute lecture which was brilliant. We learned how to look, smell, slurp and identify the complexities, balance and age of wine. Then we were let loose on the labyrinth of regional wine rooms. Armed with tasting vouchers we put our new wine powers to the test.

The highlight was definitely the initial lecture, after which we sampled some lovely wines from Lebanon and Greece that we would never have bought from an off-license. The tour is an educational experience rather than an opportunity to get sozzled. That said, the final gin cocktail definitely put a spring in our step in preparation for the Vinopolis Laughter Lounge.

Located in another part of Vinopolis’s wonderful cavernous stone areas, the Laughter Lounge is a large room with a stage, bar and seats.

The evening was held together by MC Dan Atkinson whose self depreciating, political gags really did make everyone laugh out loud. Other acts included Matt Blaize and the brilliantly camp Topping and Butch whose fabulous, stupidly revealing rubber costumes and cheeky ‘Never Mind, Never Mind’ cabaret songs stole the show.

Although the seats are arranged auditorium style, it’s a pretty relaxed atmosphere that encourages everyone to make as many trips to the bar as possible. Which makes perfect sense, as it is a Friday night and Vinopolis is London’s shrine to wine.

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4 Aug

Survival Sewing at The Make Lounge

Posted by Jenny in Classes 2 Comments

Hemming a skirtWhat do you do when you rip your favourite black coat?

A: Throw it away and buy a new one?
B: Get out your needle and thread and bring it back to its former glory?

Despite having no sewing skills, I decided to embrace the make-do-and-mend spirit of the recession and have an attempt at B. Luckily, creative workspace The Make Lounge had just the right class to help me –Survival Sewing.

Survival Sewing teaches wannabe amateur tailors basic repair and alteration skills. We were shown how to take up a hem, sew on a button correctly (there’s more to it than you might think!) and given help from our tutor on how to fix the items of clothing we had brought with us.

It all takes place in the bright and welcoming space of The Make Lounge in Islington, where as well as sewing, you can chat with your classmates over a cup of tea, biscuits, and even a glass of wine.

Even with my non-existent sewing skills, I successfully completed what was apparently a fairly tricky repair job, thanks to the expert help of our tutor. There’s something really satisfying about fixing things yourself and I’m hoping to put my new hemming skills to the test soon – any willing trouser victims/volunteers?

If sewing doesn’t appeal, The Make Lounge runs all kinds of classes including cupcake decorating, crochet and jewellery-making.

More classes and workshops in London.

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