The Craft Session Workshops and Retreats

The Craft Sessions Annual Retreat is on hiatus at the moment - due to all that is going on in the world.

In the meantime, to get a taste for what we offer then please have a gander out our previous year's workshop pages starting with our 2018 Workshops. And then take a wander back through what we’ve offered in previous years 2017 Workshops, 2016 Workshops, 2015 Workshops, 2014 Workshops and 2013 Workshops.

We run workshops in domestic handcraft such as natural dyeing, knitting, weaving, sewing, patchwork, quilting and sometimes have classes in things like spoon carving and spinning.

You can see photos of past retreats on the blog here and I've included some photos below to give you a bit of a snapshot.

We also sometimes offer special one-of retreats like Slow Stitching In The Barn.

Join our mailing list to be kept up to date about what we have coming up!

Embroidery from the Natural World with Melissa Wastney.

25 colours from one natural dyepot with Julia Billings.

Pastries from Baker D.Chirico and Loafer

April 19, 2022

Making Fast Fashion: Some More Of The Grey

So I wrote last week a post asking “Is my making fast fashion?”. And then I did a video on Instagram discussing similar topics in a slightly different way. And as always, you lovely humans have helped me clarify some of my thinking with your thoughtful, clever commentary.

And while I think there is so much more to discuss, here are four key possibly-more-meta ideas that have come up for me out of those conversations.

In using the quote last week that suggested that there was no single answer, and suggesting that this was freeing, I really did mean that we should sit in the grey. Not that the lack of “an” answer to this question should mean we get to ignore the question but rather that the lack of “an” answer means that we need to keep asking bigger more beautiful questions. And keep asking them.

Is my making fast fashion?
Am I living my values or merely thinking them?
And how can I make those two things a little more aligned in this moment?

These are my big beautiful questions.

Yours might be different.

And importantly this leads to point 2.

April 12, 2022

Is My Making Fast Fashion?

We all have the capacity - and often the desire - to deny truths that show us engaged in things we know aren’t ideal. To minimise, avoid, distract and rationalise our way to feeling OK with our choices and our behaviour.

And it makes sense. It’s human to avoid the hard stuff, especially when that hard stuff involves us changing behaviours we enjoy. I do it. Regularly. And I’ve been doing it regularly in my making, for many years, in many ways.

“The term fast fashion refers to ….speedy production of ….clothing, ….. in order to meet the latest and newest trends.”

I do this. I produce things in a speedy way in order to meet the latest and newest trends.