If you’re a beginner bag maker, this Retreat is perfect for you. A whole weekend to immerse yourself in fabrics, stabiliser, professional techniques and tips to boost your confidence and your skills. Hopefully, there’ll be a lot of chat and laughter too! **This retreat is a little different from many others in that making a bag isn’t the point of the weekend, although you will indeed make one. The focus is on learning new transferable techniques and skills that you will be able to use on so many bags you make in the future. We have our own ‘Retreat Suite’ of rooms, including a spacious, light and airy sewing room which is equipped with a display screen so everyone can easily see demonstrations from a working viewpoint. We also have our own bathroom and kitchen facilities. If you wish, you are free to continue work after dinner and until as late (or early!) as you like. You will need to bring your own sewing machine, fabric scissors and any other favourite sewing tools, but everything else is provided. Come and join us in the exclusive Facebook group Bag Makers Retreat at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bagmakersretreat/ for all the latest retreat info, chat, gossip and more, plus a chance to meet other like-minded folks. If you have dietary requirements, please tell me before you book, so I can be sure we can meet your needs. All meal main courses are included in the retreat fee, as are Saturday and Sunday lunches and breakfasts. Starters, desserts and drinks with meals are not included but the meals are so huge you probably won’t want starters and desserts anyway!! Tea and coffee is available whenever you need, but you do have to make it yourself! If you’d like to stay an extra night or two, maybe to arrive on Thursday or leave on Monday if you have a long drive, let me know and I’ll check availability with our host. If you’d prefer to travel by train, we are happy to ferry you to and from the station, just ask. Please aim to arrive no later than 2pm as we have a lot of pattern cutting and fabric choosing to get through on Friday! Friday The fun starts here as you arrive at your weekend home-from-home – a beautifully refurbished, 4-star 18th century coaching inn with all the comforts you would expect. You’ll have time to settle into your own delightfully comfortable en-suite room which has all the anticipated little luxuries, before an introductory get-together with me and your companions in the sewing room at 2pm. You’ll be given your own copy of the bag pattern, which is very beginner- and domestic machine-friendly but which will incorporate a lot of features and techniques that are also in much more complex designs, making this an excellent springboard to any bag you want to make. Then you can wallow in the plentiful stash of fabrics to choose from, including some of my exclusive feature panel prints which aren’t available anywhere else. All the materials, interfacing, stabiliser, threads and bag hardware you need are supplied. As soon as you’re ready, you can start preparing and cutting out your pattern and some of the bag pieces so we can hit the ground running in the morning. After a superbly-cooked and substantial evening meal at around 6pm or so, you are welcome to continue working in the sewing room or to simply relax and chat there before bed. Saturday After an excellent breakfast, we can really start work adding to and adapting your bag pattern. You’ll work at your own pace from around 9am with no pressure – I want your weekend to be fun and not stressful! We will walk through the techniques together and I will be there the whole time to answer questions and troubleshoot any tricky bits. You’ll also have the chance to try sewing with faux leather , if you haven’t already, and we’ll explore ways and techniques to use and apply rivets. Refreshments are freely available all day and you can take a break whenever you wish. A light lunch (with homemade cake!!) is also provided and we’ll have a short break in the middle of the day. The rest of the day will be similar to Friday – sewing, dinner at 6ish and more sewing if you wish to before bed. Do feel free to have a walk or just sit outside for a breather if the weather is kind. Sunday How can it be Sunday already?? Breakfast over, we’ll get back to work. You will need to allow a few minutes to pack and check out of your room, as it has to be made ready for Monday’s guests. Apart from that, it’s uninterrupted sewing (with refreshments and lunch breaks!) until your bag is finished. We’ll be heading off for lunch at 12.30pm or so. We have the sewing room for the rest of the day. If you don’t quite get done, there’s absolutely no need to worry as you’ll easily be able to complete your bag at home. If you finish earlier feel free to head home whenever you’re ready. Amongst loads of other hints and tips, you’ll learn – Interfacings – what to use and not to use Using stabilisers – which is best and why How to create a zipped pocket the pro way Adding a recessed zipper main closure to almost any bag Installing hardware Incorporating a built-in key fob Installing a rectangular base Sewing the bag together and topstitching A sneaky way of getting your bag right-sides-out without ugly seams! An easy way to add a zipper pull without tools Working with different types of rivet machine Faux leather on a domestic machine You’ll have handouts on all the techniques to take home. And I hope you have a lot of fun and make new friends while you learn!! I never abandon my students at the end of the course so if you get stuck on anything at home, you are welcome to give me a shout on Messenger and we’ll sort out your problem together. The not-so-small print Book your place using the simple booking system below – just click on your choice of dates and go from there. The full price is £395.00. The deposit of £60 is non-refundable if you cancel but can, however, be credited towards a future retreat booked within the next 6 months. It is completely refundable if I or the venue cancel. The booking page only shows the Friday, but the course is running until Sunday. The balance of £335.00 is payable by approx 6 weeks before the retreat date and payment instructions will be sent to you in good time. Cancellations 4 weeks or less before the retreat date can only be refunded if someone on the waiting list can come instead. *Don’t worry that your booking confirmation may be headed Unicorn Studios – it’s just the site that I’ve run my booking system from for years… it’s not a scam!! *
The Art of Delegation and High-Impact Feedback: In-House Training Whether you are a project manager, an executive, or simply someone involved in leading or helping others, a critical part of your work must involve delegating and giving feedback. These two skills, however, are not as simple as they seem. How do you know what to Partcipant? What kinds of feedback should you give? Knowing this and practicing this are two different things. Ultimately, delegating and giving feedback are skills that must be done mindfully, strategically, and meaningfully. They must be done in ways that not only positively impact performance, but also inspire growth, engagement, and motivation. When done poorly, they can create significant problems. But when done well, they can generate value for everyone and benefit future endeavors. In this course, you will learn to think more deeply about the importance of delegating and discover how to give better feedback. You will have opportunities to apply best practices and methodologies that you can use in the real world, ultimately paying off for you and for others. What you Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain why common excuses for NOT delegating are short-sighted Identify what needs delegating by using a proven methodology Utilize best practices in real world scenarios, delegating in a way that benefits you and the individual to whom you Partcipant Summarize key lessons learned in brain science which enhance the feedback-giving process Recognize the critical connection between feedback and performance Apply a proven model to deliver feedback that inspires growth, engagement, and motivation Getting Started What is delegation? What makes delegation hard? What do I Partcipant and why? How to Partcipant effectively Feedback Exploring the feedback process Why feedback is hard to give...and receive Why giving feedback effectively is important Feedback models
Managing Stress and Building Resilience: In-House Training Stress has an impact on all of us at some point in our professional lives. Learning how to manage stress and build resilience will result in higher professional productivity, better health, and more sustainable living habits. It will also help us create a physical - and emotional - work-life balance. In this one-day workshop, you will learn practical solutions to sustain behavior change that can positively impact your life on both a professional and personal level. When you are able to reduce the level of negative stress that affects you, your performance improves, along with your health and happiness. The objective of this course is therefore not only to create awareness around emotional well-being in a work context, but also to help participants create a better overall balance between the investment they make in their personal and professional lives. This course covers how our perceptions affect our beliefs and how our beliefs affect our actions. You will learn a host of stress-reduction techniques, while exploring your own stress triggers and responses. Highly interactive, the sessions cover a blend of theory, discussions, and exercises. You will explore concepts with fellow participants within a safe environment where skills and habits can be developed, sharpened, and improved. What You Will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Identify what stress feels like and what the typical symptoms and reactions are to stress Analyze your own responses to stressful events and the consequences of those reactions Organize your work structure to reduce stress and build resilience Recognize activities that drain you and those that give you energy Generate relief from stressful events Cultivate a mindset of resilience Better manage your time, work commitments, and personal boundaries in order to be most effective at your job Getting Started What is stress? Beliefs and thinking errors Work-life balance Drainers and energizers Stress reduction techniques Time management Summary and Next Steps
If you want your employees to improve their customer service skills and deliver an amazing experience to your customers, feel free to check out my Training course focusing on telephone etiquettes, communication and behaviours.
If you want your employees to improve their customer service skills and deliver an amazing experience to your customers, feel free to check out my Training course focusing on delivering the best customer care.
Join our unique surf & yoga retreat in Cornwall for a weekend packed with energising surf & restorative woodland yoga. Whether it’s your first time in the surf or you’re looking to improve, our aim for the weekend is to simply have fun and share our surfing knowledge in a relaxed environment. With post & pre surfing woodland yoga sessions our unique space provides an ideal setting to unwind and re-energise whilst surrounded in nature. Highlights TWO SURF LESSONS Just bring a towel, shoes for the beach and something to wear under a wetsuit TWO YOGA SESSIONS Two 60 minute yoga classes TWO NIGHTS AT OUR PURPOSE BUILT CAMP Private woodland camping at our yoga retreat Cornwall. Bell tents, air bed, sheets & light blanket provided. What's Included LIKE MINDED PEOPLE Ideal for solo travellers, couples & friends. NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED Perfect for beginners – you can take it at your own pace. HASSLE FREE ADVENTURES Activities & unique accommodation all in one package. Just arrive ready for adventure. Activity Details FRIDAY EVENING - Arrival Day We kick our surf & yoga weekends off by meeting at our HQ in the centre of Newquay at 6pm for a warm welcome from your hosts for the weekend. After the hellos and introductions are done with the rest of your group, and the weekend plan has been set, you’ll head up to our camp for your first evening of woodland shenanigans! If you are planning to get to us by public transport, we can help you lift share with another adventurer! Your hosts will give you the camp tour and you then have the evening to settle in and become accustomed to Camp Living! After a quick introduction to the camp, you’ll want to settle into your shared Bell tent (air bed, sheets & a light blanket provided) before the evening activities begin. Complete with a hand-built games area, Axe throwing zone and sheltered communicable Fire Pit, you’ll spend your time getting to know everyone, and designating the camp chef for the following evening! SATURDAY MORNING Your first morning starts with a coffee and a camp breakfast of cereals and fruits as you prepare for your first day of activities. If you have personal dietary requirements or feel you’d need something more substantial please ensure you bring this with you. Your hosts are with you for the whole weekend, so if you have any questions about the itinerary they are only a shout away! You’ll head back to our HQ in Newquay to get ‘wet’suited and booted for your first surf lesson. As we are in the centre of town we have the choice of either Towab or Fistral Beach. Your location is chosen depending on the best conditions for the day. Whether you are experienced or it’s your first time, our surf coaches are on hand to offer advice and guide you throughout your surfing lesson. LUNCH You’ll have plenty of time between activities to grab some lunch, take a stroll around Newquay’s many surf shops or head back to our base and hang out in the garden. Newquay has a great vibe during the summer with plenty to look at, just ask us for some recommendations on where to go and what to see. SATURDAY AFTERNOON After lunch, you’ll head back up to our camp for your first yoga session either in our hand-built yoga barn if the weather isn’t on our side or by the side of our acre pond soaking up the sun! Your yoga session is tailored to ease those post-surf aches and spins away and guide you into a relaxed and zen state enabling you to slide into camp living effortlessly! SATURDAY NIGHT Once the day’s activities are finished the rest of the afternoon is yours to relax with a book, explore the camp, or even have a little dip in our pond! You’ll finish the night off with stories around the campfire, roasting marshmallows or one or two of your favourite drinks before sleeping soundly under the stars. SUNDAY - Day 3 Sunday morning starts with the obligatory tea or coffee and our camp breakfast. After breakfast, it’s time to wave goodbye to the wild camp and head back to Newquay, jump into a wetsuit and hit the Cornish waves one last time. Your second surf lesson builds on the previous day's experience – Today is all about having fun in the surf! After a general overview of surf conditions, and recapping the fundamentals it’s straight into the ocean to get the most out of your time in the sea – your coaches will as always be on hand giving personal feedback and goals to aim for in your surfing. By 1pm we are typically all surfed out, with your appetite for adventure satisfied it’s time to say fond farewells…
Introduction to Agile and Scrum This half-day course provides an overview of Agile principles and mindset, and the Scrum framework as a key Agile approach. It will provide you with the key benefits of an Agile approach, and its differences with the traditional Waterfall method. Lastly, as Agile is looked upon more frequently as an alternative delivery method, you will review situations where Agile can be adapted outside of software development, where it is most commonly used. What you will Learn At the end of this program, you will be able to: Explain the basics and benefits of using an Agile approach Describe the Scrum framework, its events, artifacts and roles and responsibilities Illustrate Agile approaches outside of Software Development Getting Started Introduction Course structure Course goals and objectives Agile Introduction What is Agile? Agile Benefits Agile Methods Overview of Scrum Scrum Overview Scrum Events Scrum Artifacts Scrum Roles Definition of Done Agile Approaches Outside of Software Development Agile in other environments Product Development Course Development Marketing Agile Project Candidates Summary What Agile is not... Concerns and Pitfalls
Public Speaking Courses That Work Our public speaking courses are refreshingly different and transformative. Mindful presenting is the key to the future of high impact public speaking training. In fact, we are changing organisations one presentation at a time. We do that by providing training that empowers and equips professionals to present with greater confidence, clarity and impact.