Ardington School Of Crafts

2019 term opens this week! - https://mailchi.mp/ardingtonschool…/new -term-opens-this-week We are SO looking forward to welcoming students back into the classrooms for more lovely arts and crafts. With a few cancellations in March, you now also have a last minute chance to join some of the most popular courses. See you soon!

In our 2019 #wellbeing study, we asked how many prefer traditional crafts versus contemporary crafts. Over 75% of you feel there is now a place for both. New techniques include modern quilting, polymer & precious metal clays, iPad art. Read more https://buff.ly/2TZz3NI

It's the LAST DAY of the calligraphy exhibition Saturday 2nd March. It is open from 10am to 3pm, free entry. Then it's all off to Sunderland! We wish the pieces safe and happy travels, we have loved having them all on display at Ardington. This piece in slate is by Lida Kindersley

Our final posting of the CLAS exhibits. Gaynor Goffe's #calligraphy piece is entitled 'Hopi Art of Living' and is full of soft colour

A #calligraphy piece from Denis Brown hangs in the CLAS exhibition at Ardington. Four sheets of #engraved and #acid-etched glass over painted and #gilded paper

Upcycled Lobster Shells are Transformed into Functional Planters and Packages https://buff.ly/2EpR8z1

Upcycled Lobster Shells are Transformed into Functional Planters and Packages https://buff.ly/2EpR8z1

50,000 Photographs Combine to Form a Detailed Image of the Moon and Stars https://buff.ly/2VfRoGq

More #calligraphy to feast your eyes on, this time from Mary Noble, Julia Baxter and Linda Lewis. The CLAS exhibition is on until March 2nd and there are almost 100 pieces to see!

One of the charities we support - programme featured today on BBC and can be picked up on iPlayer

We even have #interactive #calligraphy! This piece appears when you warm it up, either with your hand or in this case a hair dryer. Exhibition open until March 2nd

We are delighted to launch the results of our latest #wellbeing study. A big thank you to all our 2019 participants. Arts & Crafts are good for you! Read the full details in our new blog.

Can you guess what these are? https://buff.ly/2IjUJmt

So many different styles of #calligraphy on display in the CLAS exhibition on at the school until 2nd March. The stone carving easels came in very handy for display!

If you ever wondered what a perfect N looked like, this is one. Cut in #slate by Lida Kindersley and at the CLAS exhibition at the school until 2nd March #lettering

Great opportunity for younger crafters

It takes a second and third glance to get your head around this #embroidery #computer That lovely #goldwork is functional circuitry https://buff.ly/2BEv1TX

Ten out of ten for impact we say. Beautiful piece of #calligraphy in #linocut by Michela Antonello, Chair of CLAS (teaching this class for us in June this year!). On display at the school until 2nd March

Look out for one of these through your letterbox, if you get real letters any more that is #davincidrawings https://buff.ly/2S5WKlA

What a wonderful day I did the beginners landscape course and being a complete beginner left feeling inspired and confident to do more. Michelle, the tutor was brilliant, the lunch was lovely and Simon's carrot cake was yummy. Can't wait to do another course.

What a brilliant weekend at Arrington for Yves Letermes 'Accidents will Happen' workshop. Inspiring, playful, intense. Great workshop in a fantastic venue. Can't recommend this place highly enough. Thank you!

Well run craft workshops by top tutors in a small and friendly setting.

The warmest of welcomes, excellent catering and superb facilities in a stunning setting.

Such a wonderful day at Ardington last Saturday. It is a beautiful location and so inspirational and SImon and Yvonne were incredibly welcoming and encouraging and are obviously very passionate about giving their students a great experience.Really refreshing to find that there are places where old fashioned values still exist. Looking forward to going back for another course before too long.

Spent a fantastic 2 days on The Jewellery & Metalwork course. Pauline is a talented & accomplished tutor! Really enjoyed the course.

The venue is lovely and the lunch and tea was yummy!

Would recommend the course & the venue.

Lovely venue with an excellent variety of courses. Very well organised and run by Simon and Yvonne who also provide lovely home cooked lunches, cakes and biscuits. A real treat for all the senses.

Just finished a brilliant weekend at Ardington learning about Lino Reduction Printing with Laura Boswell. Absolutely delighted with the results. Great food too - thank you Simon.

I love Ardington (under both previous ownership and new). It is a special place and every one of the courses I have done have been fantastic. The quality of the tutors is excellent and you are very well looked after when there. I look forward to many more visits.

I Like it like to see more

Had a wonderful time taking part in the 'Japanese Inspired Pail Vessels' hosted by Debbie Page. We were met at the door by the owner Simon who showed us around the school and pointed us to where the freshly brewed coffee and home made biscuits were located (To say I went back for seconds is an understatement). Lunch was provided and very tasty, a great little selection with vegetarian options for those, like my partner, who don't eat meat.



The course itself was highly enjoyable. Debbie was very patient and kind, talking me through all of the steps required and offering help when I elected to start again as I was unhappy with my attempt. My second attempt turned out far greater than I could have hoped and the finished product currently sits in my living room.



Everyone that attended quickly got over the usual awkwardness of sharing a class with strangers and fully embraced the task at hand, happily helping out those (like myself) who struggled in certain areas.



The day was wonderful and had me heading straight to the website to see what other courses were available and how quickly I could get myself on the next one.

Had a great time on the Silver Clay course today everyone very warm & welcoming. Lovely setting Great tutors... learnt a lot... Thank u x

Had a brilliant day on the 'willow hare' course with Linda Rees. I was given a warm welcome and the day started with freshly brewed coffee and home made cookies. Linda was a brilliant instructer, very patient! There was a lovely atmosphere (I went on my own but everyone was friendly). Lunch was delicious sandwiches and crisps and we had home made chocolate cake for tea. When finished all the hares looked slighty different, all with their own characters. I was very pleased with my hare and will be proud to display him in my garden. The school is in a lovely setting with some short walks on the doorstep, although we didn't really have time to explore.

Fabulous, Great place! I was on Hazel Everett's 'Gold Work' course.

I didn't want it to end, had a lovely time! Hazel was brill! Simon was so nice, food was really good too!

Will return later this year for two different courses, can't wait!!!

Fabulous day on the Lino print Christmas card day yesterday - incredible to see what you can achieve in just 1 day!

Food was lovely and we were very well looked after

Beautiful Victorian school buildings in pale green, big windows for natural light. Enough off road parking. My first course there, British Wildlife in Watercolour Pencil was most enjoyable and the tutor Jonathan Newey was not only an excellent artist but a skillful tutor. The light lunch was sufficient. The homemade biscuits on arrival and the square of chocolate cake for afternoon tea were tasty treats. £85 not cheap but it was money well spent.

An excellent School of Craft with talented tutors and fantastic facilities. Highly recommended.

A great weekend with Clare Clensy, making a 3 dimensional piece of embroidery. Lovely location. Simon is a great host - food is very tasty, homemade biscuits/cakes and sandwiches daily and tea/coffee unlimited through the day. Excellent facilities. Thoroughly enjoy the weekend - thank you to all 😊