Posts for December, 2024

This is a two-day workshop with landscape artist Shona Cammack covering the fundamentals of painting landscapes in oil. We will be learning how to create landscape paintings with depth, strong composition and beautiful colour in oil. The workshop will also cover the fundamentals of painting in oils, including how to use solvents and mediums, as well as techniques and application of paint.

Suitable for beginners or those who have some experience of painting in other mediums. We will be working outdoors from the landscape at Badaguish and the local area where possible so this is a great opportunity to try en plein air painting, with all equipment provided.

For more information and booking please visit
https://shonacammack.com/workshops/-workshop-landscapes-in-oil-20251

This is a two-day landscape painting workshop with artist Shona Cammack covering the fundamentals of painting landscapes in oil. We will be learning how to create landscape paintings with depth, strong composition and beautiful colour in oil. The workshop will also cover the fundamentals of painting in oils, including how to use solvents and mediums, as well as techniques and application of paint.

Suitable for beginners or those who have some experience of painting in other mediums. We will be working outdoors from the landscape at Badaguish and the local area where possible so this is a great opportunity to try en plein air painting, with all equipment provided.

For more info and booking please visit
https://shonacammack.com/workshops/-workshop-landscapes-in-oil-20252

Join us for a wreath-making workshop with Flowers by Annie at our Visitor Experience on Saturday 7th December. The wonderful Annie will provide you with everything you need to create a stunning festive wreath.

Annie will be on hand throughout the workshop to guide you every step of the way. Plus, while you indulge in the Christmas festivities, you can enjoy cocktails and canapes from our restaurant, The Gathering, to make the experience even more special.

Over 18s Only!

Unleash the full potential of your smartphone camera with our highly interactive practical Phone Photography Workshop.

What you’ll learn:

The kit: your camera phone, the best settings, how and when to use them
The light: how light will make or break your images
The lines: How to use composition to improve your photos
The edit: Which apps to download and how to use them
The details: files sizes and formats

The Festival starts with a classical concert starring Dmytro Morykit at 8pm, plus optional supper at 7pm, at the Speyside Hotel, Grantown on 26th . Friday 27th at 7.30pm a traditional concert starring Paul Anderson at the British Legion, Grantown. Saturday 28th fiddle and group competitions 10.00 at the YM Community Cinema; Workshop Concert 4pm YM Community Cinema, Grantown; workshops (singing, drumming, moothie, fiddle, waulking the cloth) throughout the day at the YM and in the Ben Mhor Hotel; Family Ceilidh at the Ben Mhor Hotel, 7pm. Sunday 29th Heritage Walk with Music, 10.30 from the Hub; Family Guided Walk with Music 1.30pm from the Hub, finishing at Grant Park for a Picnic with Music. Open sessions in the Ben Mhor Saturday. Musical treasure hunt along the High Street all weekend – forms available online, from the Hub and the YM Community Centre.

In this workshop we will be making the Pathfinder Vest from Twig & Tale – which is a great starting point for learning to sew outerwear. It can be made with or without hood, with different fastenings and pockets. There are also the options to include Animal Add Ons – a range of fun ears, tails & pockets to create Animal themed vests

This course is designed for those with basic machine skills – knowing how to set up, thread and sew straight seams.

During the workshop we will learn:
– How to read the pattern and cut our pieces
– Constructing the vest
– Adding ears, tails etc (optional)

What’s Included
– Pathfinder Vest pattern – Adult or Child
– Animal Add on pattern (optional)
– All equipment, threads etc

What you will need
– Outer Fabric – Wool, Wool blends, corduroy, denim, fleece or softshell (upcycled blankets work really well)
– Lining Fabric – cotton, linen, flannel, thin fleece
– You may wish to get a thread which matches or co-ordinates with your fabric (many fabric retailers offer a thread matching service)

Once booked we will contact you to discuss measurements & which size you wish to make & inform you how much fabric you will need.

For this course we will be using the Polychromatic pattern from Elizabeth Hartman – which contains instructions for the rainbow block pattern which you can then use to create a pillow case & small or large quilt. We’ll be making the pillow case in this workshop but you will go away with the skills for all the options.

This course is designed for those with basic machine skills – knowing how to set up, thread and sew straight seams.

During the workshop we will learn:
– How to read the pattern and cut our pieces
– Sewing together the rainbow block
– Construction the pillow case back pieces
– Attaching the batting with quilting stitches
– Constructing the pillowcase

What you will need
– Rainbow: 4 Fat Quarters (precise measurements below if you want to use scraps)
– Background Fabric: 0.5m
– Backing Fabric: 1m
– Muslin/Lightweight cotton: 1m
– You may wish to get a thread which matches or co-ordinates with your fabric for quilting.

For more details on fabric please see our website

Socks are a hugely popular knitted item. We will be using the free pattern from Tin Can Knits – the Rye socks. This is a great beginners sock pattern, with simple techniques & a nice garter pattern feature. The pattern has 7 different sizes and can be worked in 4ply, DK or Aran yarn.

We know everyone knits at different speeds so we will be knitting a baby size pair of socks, using Aran yarn – giving everyone the opportunity to finish at least one sock

During the workshop we will learn:
– Casting on & working the rib
– Creating a flap & turning the Heel
– Working the Foot
– Decreasing for Toe


What you will need
– Aran Yarn (80m, roughly 1x 100g ball max)
– 3.25mm & 3.75mm needles, either a set of 4-5 double pointed needles or circular needs (we recommend 40-60cm cable length)*

*Needles – these are the sizes specified for the pattern, but if you are knitting these socks only for the purpose of this workshop then 3.5/4mm needles will work just as well

This knitting skill opens up a whole collection of new patterns & techniques!

We will learn to cast on in the round & working both stoking & garter stitch to create a cowl

Then we will create a toddler size pair of mittens to learn increasing & decreasing in the round.

We will be working with free patterns from Tin Can Knits

You will need to bring
– Aran Yarn (92-165m for cowl, 65m for mittens, roughly 2 balls max)
– 4mm & 5mm needles, either a set of 4-5 double pointed needles or circular needs (we recommend 40-60cm cable length

Popular local artist Angus Grant is among 300 crafters and artists taking part in this year’s North East Open Studios. The event, which is in its 21st year, offers the public the chance to visit studios and workshops across the region and see firsthand the processes and equipment used to make beautiful artwork.

This is the first time Angus has taken part and he is offering the chance to see his pottery at the Spey Bank Studio in Grantown-on-Spey. He’ll be available to talk about making ceramics and maybe even demonstrate some of his making techniques.