2758 Recreational courses

The WSET Level 2 Award in Wines has full accreditation from OfQual as a Level 2 Vocational Qualification. Through a combination of tasting and theory you will explore the factors that impact the style and quality of wine and learn how to describe wines with confidence. Course Schedule: The 8 x 2-hour online sessions on -  What the course covers Wine tasting: You will learn how to taste and describe wines using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT) Food and wine pairing: You will learn the principles of food and wine pairing Wine service and storage: You will learn the correct way to store and serve wine and how to recognise common faults found in wine Labelling: You will learn how to decode and understand wine labels Factors influencing the style of wine: You will explore how environmental factors, grape-growing, vineyard and maturation options influence the style and quality of the wines made all over the world Grape varieties: You'll learn about the styles of wines produced by the key international red and white grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah/Shiraz) as well as the styles of wines made with 22 regionally important grape varieties grown in 70 wine regions (GI's) around the world Sparkling and Fortified wines: You will be taught how grape varieties and winemaking processes influence the style of wines in these two key wine categories. No prior wine knowledge is required however the course builds upon the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines course. It is not essential to complete Level 1 to join the Level 2 course but if you are a complete begineer you may wish to consider this option. We recommend you read the course specification document HERE for full details of the content, structure and assesment criteria. Any questions please get in touch. Course delivery The Level 2 Award in Wines online course covers the same syllabus as the classroom course and is delivered in LIVE interactive online lessons by one of our certified wine educators This course includes 16 hours online tuition in 8 x 2hr sessions and we recommend a minimum of 12 hours additional study Your tutor will give you a guided tasting of 12 wines on this course (for details of how to order the wines see below) You will receive access to practice multiple-choice revision questions specific to this course - FREE OF CHARGE Please note a reliable broadband connection is essential for the completion of this online course as are basic computer skills. Examination To obtain the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines Qualification, you will need to successfully pass the exam. The exam is made up of 50 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 1 hour. A mark of 55% is required to pass the exam. The exam is taken online via a Remote Invigilation service giving you the flexibility to take the exam at a time and date of your choice. More details will be sent upon registration. Please ensure you read the information HERE if you wish to take the exam online.  Whats included All WSET course materials posted to you at no extra charge including: Looking Behind the Label course manual, Study Guide, specification and SAT Tasting Card LIVE virtual interactive sessions taught by a Local Wine School WSET Certified Tutor Exclusive access to practice multiple choice questions provided FREE OF CHARGE WSET exam fee Remote Invigilation service Internationally recognised WSET qualification, certificate and pin for those who pass the exam VAT at 20% (VAT receipt can be provided on request) Course Wines It is recommended that at least 12 wines are tasted as part of this course, although this is optional and the cost of wines is not included in the course fee above. Our wine experts have specially selected wines for this course designed to demonstrate specific learning outcomes. We have negotiated a discounted price only available to our online students. Details of how to order your case of wines will be provided when you book your place. The cost is approx £150 including VAT and delivery.  Wine preservation advice is give so that after each tasting exercise you can reseal and return to the wines over the coming days. Special Educational Needs Please make the school aware if you have a condition which may mean that you will qualify for additional help during the exam such as dyslexia. Important dates Registration deadline: please book at least 5 days before the start of the course, to allow time to send materials and order the tasting wines.

The one day one-to-one freestyle course is tailored to your requirements and I happy to discuss your requirements before booking. If you have a specific project in mind and that you need assistance with then I am happy to guide you through the processes involved.

My Hollow form making day for intermediate students will give you the basic knowledge to make beautiful vases and bowls. Usually made from solid branch or trunk wood I will teach you how to choose and prepare suitable timber and use the specialist tools to carry out hollowing. (one-to-one only or maximum of 2 students)

The Three Legged stool making day takes each student through the process of making a small hardwood stool from start to finish. Stool making includes both spindle and faceplate turning techniques and gives each student a good understanding of the different tools and methods used for each. ( 2 students maximum )

The beginners 1 day course offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of bowl turning and gives participants confidence and a solid foundation to pursue this fascinating craft. Learn about wood preparation, aspects of design, tool sharpening and tool techniques.

Within this day you will learn how to mould a part of your/your partners/ your childs body in a safe, non toxic, water based material called alginate. You will then learn how to make a cast from that mould using a sculpture plaster. Once the cast is removed from the mould you will learn how to 'fettle' the cast in other words make it perfect, then you'll have the option of adding a colour to the cast or mounting it on a stand. What you learn during the course can be used to cast your children's hands and feet when you're back at home, I can supply all the materials you need to do this. I've been running this type of workshop for 25 years so I'm very experienced in the process. I cast my own mothers hands about a year before she died and they are my most prized possessions as they have picked up so much detail

During this class we will explore the creation of abstract sculpture starting with the development of ideas, shapes and forms, then we will use some composite sculpture material to transfer your ideas from a sketch to a 3 dimensional work. The material we use is rigid but very easily worked with rasps and reduction paper so you'll quite quickly gain confidence in working with it. We will supply a dust mast if requred You don't need any prior experience in sculpture or a background in art to enjoy this course, I'll take you through all aspects of the creative process. At the end of the day you'll have a piece of work to take away but we will also have discussed how to take your original to the next stage which will be moulding and casting to re-produce it in a hard wearing material.

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!! *

Two Day Hand Stitched Leather Bag Workshop Evancliffe Leathercraft

Our classes are friendly open & flexible in their scope, covering all aspects of stone carving for all skill levels.