Book your spot now for the next Knittaz With Attitude sesh, which will take place on Monday 1 November 2021 at the Upside Down on Edward St.
Join us for a relaxed session at Upside Down.
This month we’ll make mini wall hangings. We’ll explore a number of embroidery and tapestry techniques that combine the traditional with the contemporary and play with bold colour palettes, unusual textures and striking shapes. All equipment and materials provided.
October’s Session
Come and check out our new host venue and help us to plan projects for 2021. Got some ideas? Well bring them along!
Important bits
£3.50 (£2 for kids) – includes food, equipment, tuition & mint tunes 🙂
All food will be vegan, and you can buy hot and cold drinks. The coffee is ace!
TOP TIP: If you need to park a car, then there is plenty of free on-street parking on Edward St, Topping St and Church St (near the Brew Room) from 6pm.
Make! Craft! Live! is a season of nationwide exhibitions, learning events, fairs, and digital activities that celebrates the value of craft to empower, enrich and connect our society. Running from October 2021 to October 2022, this marks 50 years of the Crafts Council and will be delivered through craft activities taking place at venues across the UK such as craft studios, museums, galleries, schools and community centres.
Aunty Social is pleased to be selected as one of the Crafts Council’s partners. Working together we will prioritise the social and environmental value of making, and platform new voices and narratives that have been historically overlooked. Championing ideas of diversity, sustainability, and resilience, our activity on is a call to action to rethink the role of making as a vehicle for social change.
So what are we doing?
The Halloween Crafternoon Tea Party
Saturday 30 October 2021
Join us for a magical and relaxed Halloween gathering hosted by Harry Clayton-Wright.
A highlight of the afternoon is an inclusive ceramics workshop with artist Morgan Dowdall. Morgan will guide you as we create striking ceramic collages inspired by the theme of magic.
We’ll have plenty of tea, snacks, conversation and great tunes – all in a friendly, sober environment. Over the course of the afternoon, there will be two workshop sessions and you are very welcome to come and relax with us when you’re not taking part in the ceramics activity.
This October we’re catching up on a very eventful past couple of months. We’ll talk about the We’re Sew Done exhibition, how it’s done and what next?
Come along for some friendly stitching: We’ll have all the equipment and supplies for knitting, crochet and embroidery. We’ll also have our resident textile pros on hand to help guide you and offer feedback.
All equipment and materials provided
Beginners warmly welcomed
Come and check out our new host venue and help us to plan projects for 2021.
Got some ideas? Well bring them along!
**Important bits**
£3.50 (£2 for kids) – includes food, equipment, tuition & mint tunes 🙂
All food will be vegan, and you can buy hot and cold drinks.
Join an expert model maker from Aardman Animations for a fun, hands-on clay modelling workshop.
About this event
Join an expert model maker from Aardman Animations for a fun, hands-on clay modelling workshop.
At this session, you’ll discover how to make your very own model of inventor and Wallace’s best friend, Gromit which you can take home and keep.
Budding animators also get a rare chance to ask questions about the tricks of the trade from the Aardman studio, and learn about the animation process involved in the making of their award winning films.
We have a limited number of free places available for people on low incomes living in FY postcode areas. If you would like to request one of these tickets, please complete this short form. You will be asked to upload a photo/scan of evidence of your low income such as a mean-tested benefit or free school meals.
Q: Can I take the model home that I create during a workshop?
A: Yes, please do!
Q: Is there an age restriction for this activity?
A: This event is suitable for ages 7 years+.
Q: Where is the Old Electric?
A:The Old Electric is on Springfield Road in Blackpool. The postcode is FY1 1QW. Their telephone number is 01253 834175. For more information, please visit the website.
Q: Do parents need to stay for the duration of the workshop?
A:
– All children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop.
– Accompanying adults are not required to purchase a ticket, unless they wish to make a model too.
– Please ensure that any siblings that are too young to participate in the workshop are supervised at all times.
Covid 19 safety
Please sign in/us the QR code to check in when entering the Old Electric.
There are hand sanitiser points around the building, please make use of them.
If you are over 11years old, please wear a mask.
Social distancing of 1m+ applies.
You will receive your own set of materials/resources – you do not have to share.
Please make sure that you are not experiencing symptoms related to Covid-19 such as high temperature, lack of smell and taste and a new persistent dry cough. If you show any symptoms you should not attend the event.
Similarly, if you have been in contact with people exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms you should not attend the event. Please stay home and keep yourselves and others safe.
Join an expert model maker from Aardman Animations for a fun, hands-on clay modelling workshop.
About this Event
At this online session, you’ll discover how to make your very own model of Shaun the Sheep – The unusually bright and clever sheep who lives at Mossy Bottom farm.
Budding animators will also get a rare chance to ask questions about the tricks of the trade straight from the Aardman studio and learn about the animation process involved in the making of their award winning films.
This online model making workshop will take place on Zoom. One of Aardman’s expert model makers will guide you through the workshop as you create your very own Shaun the Sheep character out of modelling clay.
Types of ticket
You can choose from the following:
Workshop (stream) only: You only need 1 of these per household/screen – £10
If you live in a FY postcode area, you can orderclay kits that contain everything you need for the workshop. These will be hand delivered (contactless) and are only available to households in FY postcode areas:
Online Workshop with clay kit for 1 person – £12.50
Online Workshop with clay kit for 2 people – £15
Online Workshop with clay kit for 3 people – £17.50
Online Workshop with clay kit for 4 people – £20
If you are ordering a kit, you will need to place your order by Friday 12 February so that we can prepare and deliver your kit in time for the workshop. You can book the workshop only ticket up until 1 hour before the event.
We have a limited number of free spaces for those with low incomes. For more information on these, please see the FAQ section below.
FAQs
Q: Is there an age restriction for this activity?
A: This event is most suitable for ages 7 years+.
Q: Can anyone order a kit?
A: The clay kits are only available to households in FY postcode areas. We’re Blackpool based and our volunteer delivery drivers will not be able to deliver further afield.
Q: I don’t live in an FY postcode, where can I order the materials?
A: You will need to purchase materials for your household in advance of the workshop. Please buy these as soon as possible, bearing in mind delivery times for online orders. The materials you will need per person are:
White clay: 130g
Black clay: 70g
Toothpicks x 5
Worksheet (we will send this to you upon registration)
Baby wipes or a flannel / towel (to clean hands with when switching from black to white clay)
For the clay, we recommend using Newplast, but other types of modelling clay will be fine too (e.g. Fimo, Play-Doh, Plasticine). You can buy Newplast from Cowling & Wilcox, Hobbycraft or Fred Aldous. Our local supplier ArtDiscount currently has a 30% off discount offer on Fimo at the moment too.
There are also recipes online where you can make your own clay out of household ingredients, if you are feeling particularly creative!
Q: What do I get in the kit?
A: You will receive everything that you need to take part in the workshop, this includes specialist modelling clay.
About the online workshop
Q: Will anyone be able to see me during the workshop?
A: No, we will run the workshop using the Zoom webinar format. This will automatically switch off your camera and microphone. While you will be able to see the model maker giving the demonstration, the model maker won’t be able to see you. You also won’t be able to see any of the other participants.
Q: Can I Ask Questions?
A: You will be able to ask questions via the Chat tool. Please feel free to ask questions / make comments throughout the workshop. Likewise, if you need anything to be repeated please do let us know!
Bursaries
Model Making Workshop with Aardman Animations: Shaun the SheepWe have a limited number of free places available for people on low incomes living in FY postcode areas. If you would like to request one of these ticket, please complete this short form. You will be asked to upload a photo/scan of evidence of your low income such as mean-tested benefit or free school meals.
Check out our new project with Mint & Mamma and Betterstart Blackpool for children aged 0-4 years.We’re delivering art and craft packs to your doorstep alongside online tutorials:
We’ve created a series of craft kits to deliver to families, so that they can have their own art sessions in the comfort and safety of their own homes.
Each kit will contain:
All the materials needed to carry out the activity
Step by step instructions
A link to online video tutorials for those with a more visual learning style or those who may struggle with literacy.
We’re looking for 25 children to receive 1 pack a week over a 4 week period. There will be a mix of crafty activities, all of which are suitable for very young children. You’ll be invited to join a Facebook group so that you can chat to other parents, share your tiny person’s artwork and give us some feedback on the activities.
The packs (and delivery) are free, but places are limited so make sure that you sign up.
Macramé (making textiles using knotting techniques) has made a huge comeback, so we’re hosting a drop-in beginners sessions in Charabanc this Voluntary Arts Week.
Anyone can come and have a go at making plant hangers. The workshop is FREE and includes all materials and plants. You can take your hangers home with you too!
Come and see how much fun craft and making can be.
A chance to shop for locally made fashion and accessories at a Town Centre location on:
Saturday 8th December (10am-6pm) and
Sunday 9th December (10am-6pm).
Money raised from Handmade on the Highstreet will go to local community arts organisations Aunty Social and NWBaseline, so that they can organise more creative and cultural activities in Blackpool.
Stallholders
Stalls cost £15 per day or £25 for the weekend.
Your stall should sell 70% fashion and/or accessories, this includes handmade, customised or vintage.
If you would like a stall in this great Hounds Hill location, please email for a booking form or contact us via Facebook or Twitter.
Do come and visit Blackpool’s newest pop-up shop, Me&FYC. It’s an exclusive fashion boutique selling clothing, accesories and gifts for men and women. All of the products are handmade or up-cycled, made with love by talented local designers – either made in or inspired by Blackpool & Fylde.
We’ll be selling some lovely bags, badges, cufflinks, hair accessories and rings.
Open from Friday 17th August at 11am (Launch party 6-8pm)
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm until Saturday 1st September.
It’s been a while since the last post, but we have been ever so busy with planning activities for this month and beyond. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, we painted a gazillion faces and helped nippers make lots of pretty bracelets and necklaces at YOMOFO ‘Alfresco’ at Stanley Park Cricket Club. Despite the yucky weather, it was a grand day out, with plenty of activities, brill music and smiling faces.
Do come and visit Blackpool’s newest pop-up shop, Me&FYC. It’s an exclusive fashion boutique selling clothing, accesories and gifts for men and women. All of the products are handmade or up-cycled, made with love by talented local designers – either made in or inspired by Blackpool & Fylde.
Here I am! Here I am! How do you do?