Head & Hands is delighted to welcome Studio BAGRU on a rare visit from India to London. Delve into the rich textile tradition of India, learn how to block print, design your own tote bag and “upcycle” your preloved clothes in this 2.5 hour workshop with Studio Bagru founder, Jeremy Fritzhand.

The workshop will begin with a short talk by Jeremy on the rich history and cultural significance of block printing in northern India. He will share his story of how he set up a pioneering social enterprise in Bagru. 

After a demonstration of the technique, students will have an opportunity to use any combination of the 100+ hand carved wooden blocks travelled from India.

You will be provided a tote bag to print on and are invited to “upcycle” up to three items of existing clothing or textiles with bold and exciting new prints.

You can expect to:

• Learn about the history of block printing

• Explore how to effectively apply colour and match patterns

• Discuss the importance of sustainability and “slow fashion”

• Leave with your own hand printed tote bag with a small selection of Indian treats and up to 3 items of your own clothing refreshed with a new block print.

  Please bring:

• Up to three items of clothing or textiles that you’d like to print on in addition to the tote bag provided

• Wear clothing you do not mind getting a little inky, or bring an apron

About Jeremy Fritzhand

Jeremy first travelled to India in 2010 when he was awarded the Minerva fellowship to assist in setting up a social enterprise. Living and working alongside the Chippa people of Bagru, Jeremy founded Bagru Textiles with an aim of bridging the gap between block-printing artisans and consumers around the world. Located 30kms from Jaipur, the bustling and bombastic capital, Bagru village has remained loyal to its history, culture and craftsmanship and is now one of the last existing hubs for block printing in northern India. Jeremy now splits his time between managing his central Jaipur Boutique - Studio Bagru, running block printing tours and workshops and assisting up and coming brands with textile sourcing.

About Block Printing

Block printing is around 3000 years old, with Indian textiles referenced by Pliny the Elder and found in Egyptian kings tombs. The Chippa (literally people who stamp or print) revere the traditional materials they use and many regard their work as a form of worship. A designs life begins with the careful carving of printing blocks. One block is needed for each colour in the design and each block can take as many as two days to carve. 

Blocks are commonly carved from two types of wood in Bagru. Teak is used for its durability in background blocks and rosewood for its hardness and use in creating detailed and intricate blocks. Once the dyes are mixed and poured into trays, printing is ready to begin. Blocks are aligned by sight before the rhythmic “one-two” punch of the hands transfers the dye to the cloth.

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Spend the afternoon learning about how to work with natural dyes, utilising organic matter found in your home and garden. Explore the array of colours achieved using mere store cupboard ingredients such as onion skins, avocado skins and stones, and turmeric. You will then work with a choice of natural pigments to dye a vegan an organic cotton scarf, a timeless accessory to style and wear your own way.

You will learn about how to sustainable fabrics dyes from waste items found home, how to prepare your fabric so it's dye ready and a look at the equipment you will need. Charlene will also demonstrate ways to create repeat dye patterns using various found objects and Japanese folding techniques. By the end of the session you will have your own hand dyed organic cotton scarf to take home and an information pack with everything you need to know to start your own dye project at home.

Charlene Sandy is a Textile designer maker living in London. After finishing her degree in Textile Design for Fashion, she then worked as a fashion stylist working on editorials, TV commercials and advertising campaigns. In 2011 Charlene changed direction becoming a facilitator of creative workshops with adults and young people, using her knowledge of crafts to pass on and keep traditions going and to raise awareness to the perils of fast fashion. Charlene is currently in the process of setting up a business making items using natural dyes and sustainable materials.

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In this workshop you will learn about stems of dried flowers, how to work with them and explore colour palettes to suit your interior. Create your very own beautiful floral hanging to display and admire at home.

Beautiful dried flowers, ribbons and all the materials are included, however you are welcome to bring anything else that you would like to incorporate into your piece.

Sally has over seven years experience in floristry, working on weddings and events across the UK. With a passion for all things floral, she has a rustic and romantic style that lends itself to experimenting with new materials and ideas to create unique pieces.

£30

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Source:: https://dried_flower_hanging.eventbrite.co.uk

What can your handwriting possibly say about you? From your unique character traits to your deep-seated beliefs, from your skills and interests to your fears and ambitions. Your individual written expression provides all the clues, if you're curious to decipher them?

Graphology explores the structure and movement of the written forms - slants, angles and spacing are accurately measured and even the pressure is examined and magnified with the utmost precision. 

Handwriting can help us understand other people without ever needing to meet them, and can give us insight into lost family members, or people from history we never got to know. Our personal pen marks can assist with self-development, careers guidance, or even relationship compatibility.

In this fun introductory workshop, you will gain insight into what is involved in the process of handwriting analysis, and learn to recognise the basic principles of Graphology.

You can expect
 

• An in-depth introduction to the basic principles of Graphology from a leading expert
• To uncover the person behind a number of famous handwritten case studies 
• To use what you've learned to examine your own handwriting and samples of others in the group with guidance from a professional Graphologist 

We will unlock seemingly coded scripts of famous and infamous people. As we deconstruct and interpret the handwriting, you will be invited to guess who drove the pens.

We will then examine our own handwriting, unraveling the person behind each sample.

Tracey Trussell's background in graphology stems from a serendipitous moment over a decade ago. Now, a leader in the field, from just a couple of handwritten sentences, her work offers far-reaching insight into people, personalities, and behavior.

Handwriting is as rare as our DNA and fingerprints, which is why graphology is so valuable. Tracey's work provides insight into personality, behaviour, skills, motivation, potential and compatibility. Her areas of specialism are wide, shining a light on a broad spectrum of issues that confront us all each day. She is also an accredited tutor and mentor at the British Institute of Graphologists, the UK's professional body of handwriting analysts. She founded Handright in 2008, and began practicing professionally as well as taking students.

Her fascinating character analyses through handwriting have been commissioned for The Telegraph, Daily Mail, Independent, Mirror newspapers, as well as magazines such as Time Out, and Stylist.


If you wish, you may bring
 

• A pen you are familiar with using
• A sample of your handwriting produced naturally (without over-thinking) please note this is not essential as there will be an opportunity to produce a sample at the workshop

All attendees will receive a discount voucher for a personal global handwriting analysis from Tracey Trussell following the session.

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In this relaxing 2 hour workshop, you will learn the basic principles of tapestry weaving on a lap loom. You'll explore the different textures and weaves you can work with to create a beautiful and truly unique wall hanging for your home.

Weaving is a naturally absorbing and conscious craft which allows you to reconnect with yourself. The process is repetitive, tactile and beautifully grounding. The class is taught by Amanda, founder of Head & Hands. She set up Head & Hands as a curator of handmade products and experiences all focused on self-care. Amanda has long been fascinated by the healing remedy of crafting something beautiful and watching it unfold.

If you've ever liked the idea of a textural wall hanging over your bed, baby's crib, sofa or in the hallway - why not learn to create your own. Select your own palette from a range of textured yarns and colourful natural wool roving. Learn step by step how to warp the loom, weave and take off the loom for hanging.

The class is tailored to beginners and everything you need to get started with be provided, wool, beginners loom and basic tools which will be yours to keep.

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A bullet journal is so much more than your average notebook. It can be your trusty task planner, portable travel-log, solo study space, a vibrant vision board of collected ephemera, doodle pad or even used as a tool for manifesting your dreams. It's that reliable, forgiving friend that is never too tired to help you make sense of the world.

In this digital age where we are never far from a screen, re-connect with this tactile process of offloading your thoughts, worries, dreams, and wishes onto the page. The therapeutic value of journalling is immense, it's an invitation to slow down, tune in to the self and release. Let your bullet journal become a radical and creative form of self-care in the midst of constant noise and chaos.

“Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.” ― Christina Baldwin

“I journal my joy, and my joy expands exponentially forevermore. So be it.” ― Amy Leigh Mercree

"The journal is a vehicle for my sense of selfhood. It represents me as emotionally and spiritually independent."― Susan Sontag

Explore the creative ways to pour your thoughts and ideas into the page, in this journaling workshop with Olivia Rafferty of Inka Journal. Make thoughtful spreads, vision boards, planner pages and more and play around with Olivia's enviable pencil case of stationary and bag of collected ephemera!

Olivia regularly uses her bullet journal to organise her tasks, thoughts, memories and in conjunction with her tarot reading practice. She captures her monthly 'plan with me' bullet entries on her youtube channel with over 63k views. A fan of hand-rendered type, washi tape, drawing, painting, and collage - she will share with you a range of techniques that she uses to piece together the fragments of your day, week, month or to just help empty the contents of your mind.

Everything you need is provided, including a mini-journal to get you started.

This intimate workshop only has 15 places, so be sure to book early.

Olivia is a multi-faceted creator based in London. As a songwriter, illustrator, and writer, she’s always been interested in ways of documenting life, and started her first bullet journal in 2017. Since then she’s gathered nearly 10K followers on Instagram, has worked with independent stationery companies and is now hosting her first workshop on journaling.

In this class you'll learn to make decorative tassels to create your colourful and tactile wall hanging. And you'll come away with a striking creation to liven up your wall or window.

Head & Hands founder Amanda will show you how to use embroidery floss create impressive statement interior decor. Enjoy this simple and relaxing craft with friends, a cup of tea and some cake,

Head & Hands was founded on the art of slowing down. Amanda runs a number of slow craft workshops to help busy the hands and quiet the mind through crafting. Allow yourself to make time for you, tune into the therapeutic remedy of tactile crafts, to just simply tassel and chill.

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Join Helen Kathleen of Chant Malas for four and a half blissful hours of meditation, mantras and mala-making. This includes the design and creation of your own, fully hand-knotted mala to take away and deepen your meditation practices. 

The ticket price includes all the materials for creating your own personal set of mala beads, an introduction to crystal healing (the stones and their properties) and the origins of mala beads, as well as mantras to use with your mala and a few delicious Vegan snacks to keep your creativity fuelled.

Book here

We are always delighted to welcome visitors, and are actively looking for new members. Come along to see what you think!

Spend the evening learning about natural dyes. Explore how to create them, using items found in your home and garden. Use your artistic flair to decorate your own organic cotton canvas shopper bag which you can take away,

During the workshop you will use ink pastes created using concentrated dye and a thickening agent to create a beautifully decorated bag. You'll be fascinated by the colours achieved using store cupboard ingredients from onion skins, avocado skins, stones and turmeric. All materials are included.

You will also receive a natural dyeing information pack with info on how to get started and books to read.

Charlene is a London born textile designer and artist. After studying Textile Design in Bristol she assisted fashion stylists on shoots for men’s, women’s and children’s wear. She has styled for Lacoste, Hugo Boss and Kickers. For the last 5 years she has built a career as an artist educator, facilitating arts events across London for people to enjoy and interact with activities that bring people together.

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During this workshop you'll learn the traditional rope knotting technique of macrame by making your very own macrame plant hanger.

This class is ideal for plant lovers who want to create beautiful displays for their growing collection of houseplants.

Book here

We are always delighted to welcome visitors, and are actively looking for new members. Come along to see what you think!

We are always delighted to welcome visitors, and are actively looking for new members. Come along to see what you think!

In this workshop, textile and homewares designer Mariel Osborn of Covet Interiors will teach you a variety of stitches and different ways that you can use them to create beautiful contemporary embroideries. 

All materials are provided and you get your own hoop and needles to take home too, so all you have to do is turn up!

This workshop is suitable for beginners through to practiced stitchers looking for some new inspiration.

Working instinctively with materials, Covet's collection of interior creations each focus on different processes. Every item is handmade in small collections, so no two pieces are ever identical. With an interest in texture and bold colours, Mariel's work is always fun and distinctive.

Book here.