Workshops & Courses
Art Lace for Absolute Beginners with Jane Atkinson
Join bobbin lace artist and MAKE Southwest Maker Member Jane Atkinson to learn simple lace techniques that can build to a lifetime of enjoyment.
This revolutionary workshop shreds the notion that bobbin lace is complex and difficult to make your own, by being a face-to-face portal to exciting online support from some of the world’s best lace artists.
It can be as liberating for those who already make lace but wish to make it more personal, as it is for those with no experience at all. It uses only one pair of bobbins (which needn’t even be bobbins, but sticks, pens or pencils).
Participants will be given a short list of everyday items to bring from home to substitute for specialist equipment, encouraged to doodle their own design and shown how to use basic techniques to turn that into their unique first piece of lace.
They can then continue online by joining an international initiative with unique courses supported by an enthusiastic Discord community.
Participants must be aged 18 or over.
This workshop is open to complete beginners or participants with experience of lace making.
About Jane Atkinson:
Jane Atkinson has pioneered the transformation of traditional lacemaking into a contemporary art form over nearly 50 years.
Teaching will be shared with her West Country colleague Denise Watts – both are Mentors with The Adventurous Lacemakers, which has members of all ages across the world. They are the only UK Mentors – the other five are in Europe, USA, South Africa and Australia.
This is an unique opportunity to take the first of their revolutionary lessons for total beginners where one pair of bobbins gradually build in number as the course progresses, empowering students to draw their own designs and become lace artists, as well as work in the traditional way.
Jane and Denise have held solo exhibitions, a two-woman show in Spain and participated in other international shows, as well as participating in lace festivals across Europe. As mentors with The Adventurous Lacemakers, they exhibited as guests of honour at the first World Lace Festival in Slovakia in 2024.
Both have taught extensively around the UK, Denise to City and Guilds level and Jane in many countries abroad.
It can be as liberating for those who already make lace but wish to make it more personal, as it is for those with no experience at all. It uses only one pair of bobbins (which needn’t even be bobbins, but sticks, pens or pencils).
Participants will be given a short list of everyday items to bring from home to substitute for specialist equipment, encouraged to doodle their own design and shown how to use basic techniques to turn that into their unique first piece of lace.
They can then continue online by joining an international initiative with unique courses supported by an enthusiastic Discord community.
Participants must be aged 18 or over.
This workshop is open to complete beginners or participants with experience of lace making.
About Jane Atkinson:
Jane Atkinson has pioneered the transformation of traditional lacemaking into a contemporary art form over nearly 50 years.
Teaching will be shared with her West Country colleague Denise Watts – both are Mentors with The Adventurous Lacemakers, which has members of all ages across the world. They are the only UK Mentors – the other five are in Europe, USA, South Africa and Australia.
This is an unique opportunity to take the first of their revolutionary lessons for total beginners where one pair of bobbins gradually build in number as the course progresses, empowering students to draw their own designs and become lace artists, as well as work in the traditional way.
Jane and Denise have held solo exhibitions, a two-woman show in Spain and participated in other international shows, as well as participating in lace festivals across Europe. As mentors with The Adventurous Lacemakers, they exhibited as guests of honour at the first World Lace Festival in Slovakia in 2024.
Both have taught extensively around the UK, Denise to City and Guilds level and Jane in many countries abroad.
