BEANS

Coffee Shop Gallery

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Dates for your diary

One of our artists, Steph Harvey, will be at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition at Ashover Parish Hall on Monday, 2nd May from 11am to 4pm.  Steph will be there with her books and silk printing – and there will also be ceramics, photography, papier mache and other work.  Pop in and see!

At BEANS, our next knitting afternoon is on Wednesday, 18th May from 1 -3pm.  Rose from Needles and Pins will be on hand to help you get started, carry on, cast off or learn some new techniques.  Bring whatever you’re working on – or would like to work on…. or just turn up and sample some of the yarns.  Free!

Coffee, craft and chat will be meeting again at BEANS on Monday, 23 May (10am -12pm).  £2.50 includes a coffee and biscuit.  Work on your latest project, share ideas and enjoy a morning out.

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Stained Glass with Cynthia Else

The Stained Glass Course with Cynthia Else actually became two courses.  There was a lot of interest and so we offered the event twice!  The first group came together on the 27th March and some fantastic work was produced.  We had everything from abstract shapes made up of squares to a flower and even an eye!  Where was my camera?????   I was more prepared for the second class on the 3rd.  Again, the group came up with some beautiful designs – one based on a piece by Eduardo Poalozzi which can apparently be found in a subway station in Barcelona (don’t ask).  And lunch – vegetable lasagne, salad, warm bread and CAKE!

 

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Recording Memories Workshop

Helen Hallows arrived laden with everything required and more to create a collage expression of memories past, present and future.  The workshop was held last Sunday (13 March) at BEANS and a good time was had by all. Thank you Helen!!!   Helen has written about the event on her blog at  http://helenhallows.blogspot.com/2011/03/recording-memories-workshop.html – with photos! Don’t worry if you missed it, Helen will be holding a second workshop at BEANS on 25th September.  Her second workshop is entitled ‘Ceramic Designs’.  There is still the opportunity to explore mark making with inks and other media and to use some of Helen’s vintage papers to create a collage – and to add stitchery to your piece…  but then, your work will be captured for a digital ceramic transfer which will be applied to a tile and posted on to you. You can order additional tiles if you wish – perfect for gifts!

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Electricians, new opening times and Open Evenings

A lot needs to happen for a damp, old solicitors office to become a coffee shop and a workshop space.  The emphasis so far has been on the inside – which is just about there (Except for a few decorating touch-ups required after everywhere gets a chance to dry out!).  The final work will soon be starting on the outside.  Chimneys need to be capped and rendering needs to be repaired.  So….  WH Buck and Son will be returning to finish off the last of the project.  We will remain open through the work – but maybe best not to look up when you enter the shop.

As well as Andrew Buck and his team, we have some other unsung heroes.  All those electrical sockets, new lights, alarms and fire exit lights didn’t just magically appear – though it felt like they did. If you’re looking for an electrician who can listen, make suggestions, get on with the job, solve problems and work in synch with your builder, I’d recommend KTN Electrical (Kip Trueman on 01159 300938). You can even have a socket under the stairs if you want one.

New Opening Times – For the winter, our new opening times are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 to 5. It turns out that paperwork takes longer than I thought (or I’m slower than I thought – or both) and I’m too old to stay up late and get up early in the morning. Eventually, the plan is for the new staff to run the shop between them a few days a week while I work from home – but while things are still settling down and we’re all finding our feet…  a break is required.

Open Evening Thursday 13th January (5.30 – 8.30) – In December we had an Open Evening with Cynthia Else. Cynthia showed some stained glass techniques and the evening gave people a chance to look around and enjoy some hot mulled apple juice and sweet potato pie. Our second Open Evening will be with Steph Harvey and there will be a chance to see Steph do some Batik work and perhaps have a quick go yourself. I believe there is still some mulled apple juice left and we’re still deciding on the nibbles – but there will be something!