Get out to sketch the natural world around you. Connect with your surroundings in a different way by taking the time to really look and sketch what you see.

Looking at light and shadow, break down what you see to capture light in the pages of your sketchbook

Explore ways of sketching in nature. When taking a whole scene on can be too much, focus on smaller elements, explore similar colours, textures, sizes.

Learning the basics of one point perspective, vanishing points, measuring and view points. More advanced lessons in 2 and 3 point perspective.

Sketch on location, and record where you have been through sketching. Bring other skills together through a larger composition.

Learning to work with curvilinear persepctive is an advanced way to fit in loads of details about where you are, by stretching what you see to fit it all on your page.

Learn how to collect materials, which ones to collect and when and weave a small frame basket.

Make your own cordage using what you can collect from the fields around you.

Use common hedgerow materials to make art materials. Learn to make charcoal, charcoal holders and dip pens from willow, elder, bramble and feathers or bamboo. (Bamboo is not native but you might have a friendly neighbour with some!) Make a brush with goat hair, a feather and a twig. Make carbon black ink.

Beyond the Brigid’s Cross. Learn how to dry and rehydrate field rushes to weave crosses, tiny baskets and make cordage that will not shrink.

Criossana are a traditional Irish belt - a narrow warp-faced band, usually made in many colours. The 2nd and 4th belts from the top are based on belts found in museums from the mid 20th Century.

Make your own cards for this ancient form of weaving and weave a narrow patterned band. Tablet weaving does not require a loom or heddle so is a very cheap new hobby to take up. Tablet-woven bands have been found in Roscommon and other parts of Ireland. The dragon head design above was a based on Viking tablet weaving found in Dublin from the 10th Century.

Make your own peg loom and learn to weave with raw sheep’s fleece on it to create a tuffet - a thick woven cushion.

Learn a range of felting skills - wet and dry felt making and make flat felt wall hangings, jewellery, and sculpture. Wool is such a versatile material and felt making is pure magic - a way of making loose fibres come together without stitching. See my felting page for more examples.

Learn how to process fleece. From skirting a fleece, to washing, carding, combing and spinning on a drop spindle or spinning wheel to make a range of colours from natural coloured fleece.

I have been teaching creative workshops with children and families for many years in mask making, puppet making, lantern making, recycled sculpture and all sorts of creative work. I love working with adults and children together in particular, to create a space for them to play and work together, and to build confidence and connection.

Weave willow baubles and make wreathes and other decoration from the hedgerow

Learn the basics of book binding and make your own books using a variety of simple stitches and techniques.