Creative Workshops
View my upcoming workshops listed below. My events aim to bring about wellbeing through creativity and nature connection. Slow down and come into your hearts and hands for some playful, curious making and wild creativity!
Community Flax Planting
13:00 - 15:00 Tuesday 21st April 2026
Join me for a free community gathering of connection, remembering and spring rebirth as we sow flax seeds at The Acorn gardens. This beautiful plant has been grown by our ancestors for thousands of years and is interwoven in our human story for food, clothing, utility and decoration.
We can’t wait to watch her long stems grow and tiny blue flowers swaying in the summer breeze again. We hope to hold a flax harvest celebration and craft later in the year around the Earth festival of Lughnasadh.
Spring Slow Stitch
09:30 - 12:00 Friday 27th March 2026
Join me for a morning of slow stitching, a gentle 'no rules' craft that invites us make intuitive marks, patterns and shapes with a simple running stitch. We will each make our own fabric collage to stitch and transform into a small piece of textile art which can be hung for display full of spring colours and energy.
Extra threads and fabric scraps will be provided for those who wish to continue at home. No experience is necessary.
Winter Inks
10:00 - 13:00 Thursday 12th February 2026
Whether you're an artist, a nature-lover, or simply curious, this workshop invites you to slow down, reconnect with the landscape around you and explore the art of creating wild inks from plant-based materials. This winter session focuses on using bark, cones, roots, catkins, winter berries and even petals. Taking place at Hopewell Farm Studios in Knaresborough.
Winter Spiral Weave & Cacao
13:00 - 15:30 Tuesday 27th January 2026
Join me at The Acorn Retreat in Nidderdale for a gentle mid-winter gathering with warming cacao, meditation and creativity.
Co-facilitated with Katie Kavanagh we will bring in the symbology of the spiral as we emerge from the centre of winter before awakening to spring.
Crafting looms onto a willow frame, we will each create a spiral weave with natural materials, fibres and threads for a magical and restorative afternoon.
Autumn Inks
10:00 - 13:00 Friday 21st November 2025
Join Lou on this seasonal workshop creating natural colour with plant-based inks. You will guided through the relaxing and mindful process of making wild inks learning. Create dark and rich autumnal colours from foraged berries, galls and husks and learn how to shift these colours using modifiers. This is followed by creative exploration and experimentation with a variety of papers and mark making tools. Wild ink making is a beautiful practice that reminds us to slow down, connect with nature and enjoy the process of discovery. All paper, brushes and mark-making materials are provided but please bring your own apron.
Felted Fungi Samhain Craft
13:00 - 15:30 Friday 24th October 2025
Mushroom season is upon us as the days draw in. Join Lou for a fun and relaxing craft session creating our own needle felted fungi with a beautiful selection of colourful wool tops and fibres. This takes place at the beautiful Acorn Retreat in Nidderdale and is served with a nourishing witchy brew.
Wild Ink Making
09:30 - 13:00 Thursday 4th September 2025
This workshop takes place at Hopewell Studios in Knaresborough and will be a relaxing and hands-on morning. We’ll explore the art of making wild inks from local plants. Lou will guide you on a gentle foraging walk, gathering materials for ink-making in the studio.
You’ll learn simple techniques for ink-making and how to shift colours using natural modifiers. We’ll experiment on a variety of papers and fabrics. This is a playful exploration of natural colour focusing on process and creativity.
All materials are provided but you are welcome to bring some interesting papers along for experimentation and a few empty lidded glass jars. Please bring an apron, gardening gloves if you wish and weather appropriate clothing for a local walk. If it is especially wet, Lou will bring plenty of plants to the studio to make ink!
Harvest & Craft on Lughnasadh
10:00 - 12:00 Friday 1st August 2025
Celebrate the festival of Lughnasadh at The Acorn Retreat with our flax harvest and craft event. Lou will be showing us how to make corn dollies and together we will gather the flax that has been growing at the Acorn. This event marks the season of abundance and is rooted in past traditions, story and creativity, set in beautiful gardens. We would love you to celebrate with us - bare feet, drums and rattles are welcome!
The event is £20 person and there are eight spaces available. We are hoping for fine weather but please dress suitably and bring sun cream if needed. Refreshments included.
Weaving for Wellness
09:30 - 12:30 Tuesday 20th May 2025
A relaxing morning of craft, weaving beautiful threads and fibres on a hand loom to make our own unique wall hangings. Our weaves will be full of spring colour and incorporate natural yarns and fibres to represent the season.
Weaving is a tactile and mindful practice that invites us to slow down and be present. We will weave beautiful pieces that are full of meaning and intention, choosing our colours and intuitive patterns. It is awe-inspiring to remember that this ancient craft was practiced by our ancestors and even those not so long ago! It will be a lovely morning full of connection and creativity.
Please arrive in good time for a 9:30am start. Lou will provide the weaving equipment and craft materials. Refreshments included. Six places available.
Nature Inspired Slow Stitch
13:30 - 15:30 Saturday 1st March 2025
An afternoon of calming slow stitch inspired by nature. Create your own unique hand stitched piece of artwork using botanically dyed cloth and fabric remnants.
This workshop is for beginners and those familiar with a needle and thread. The practice focuses on the soothing rhythm of stitch and the colourful arrangement of fabrics designed for relaxation and mindfulness rather than technique. You do not need any experience with stitch.
The workshop will take place at FreshAir&'s tranquil studio in Nidderdale. Your ticket includes the two hour fully guided workshop and a drink from the Nourish Station. Book now to join us for a magical afternoon of nature and stitch.
Woodland Wellness
Throughout 2024, Lou facilitated a Woodland Wellness group for women in her local community, gathering on the ancient Earth Festivals for nature immersion, stories and wildcrafting. Watch this space for more events !
