Homemade Weddings

Homemade Wedding Workshops

Ok, So I got a few more things sorted and now next year’s timetable has been released, some dates are still to be confirmed and bookings can take place as soon as I give the go ahead and put a payment section to the right. Here is the timetable here but a prettier downloadable one is available in the timetable page.

So it all kicks off on January 20^th 2013 with our Making the Dream a Reality, planning workshop:

2013 Dates & Workshops

Janaury 20^th

9:30am – 12:30pm

Making the dream a reality – Planning Workshop

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Pretty Pom Poms and Dreamy Decorations – Decorations Workshop

January  27^th

9:30am-12:30pm

Fascinate Yourself – Fascinator making workshop

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Timeless Tiaras – Tiara Making Workshop

February 3^rd

9:30am – 12:30pm

Fairy Sweet Cupcakes – Cupcake Decorating Workshop

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Icing on the Cake – DIY Wedding Cake Workshop

February 17^th

9:30am – 12:30pm

Inviting Stationery – Invitation and Stationery Workshop

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Something old, Something New – Vintage Themed Workshop

February 24^th

9:30am – 12:30pm

Brooches & Buttons, Bits and Bobs – Alternative bouquets and centrepieces workshop

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Sweet Tree-t Me – Sweetie Tree Workshop

March 3^rd

9:30am – 12:30pm

Make Up Your Style – Hair and Beauty Workshop

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Beautiful Bunting – Bunting Workshop

March 17^th

9:30am – 12:30pm

Beautiful Bouquets – Floral bouquet workshop

1:30pm – 4:30pm

Make a Statement – Floral Centrepiece Workshop

March 24^th

9:30am – 12:30pm

Shoot it Yourself – Videography Workshop

1:30pm – 4:30pm

TBC

March 30^th

Spring Wedding Fair

12 noon – 4pm

Book Workshops Here!

Guess what? I updated this blog so that you can book your workshop online! Wow, I may be creative with my hands but I think I may be getting this IT thing!! We will have to have a DIY Computer Class next! 

Anyway all tutors are booked and ready and we have the exciting new timetable for next year too. This will be updated on here as soon as possible ready to take bookings.

We are possibly considering at this time transforming our own premises for our Spring 2013 Term which will include a craft shop and wait for it....an all day wedding fair with local suppliers showcasing their skills much like they would at a wedding fair.

I am so excited about this project and I hope you are too! Progress for our winter wedding fair is coming along too so keep checking back for more information!

Don’t delay get booked, its not long to go and spaces are filling up!

See you there,

Liz xxx

We begin next month!!

Hello all,

After a long stint away from this blog...yeah I know its a blog not a website, I should keep u to date with these things! The first season of workshops are about to be delivered, not sure how they going to fair re: numbers but we haven't had a lot of time to advertise this season so roll on next season me thinks! Anyway this is how is is looking at the moment. 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 14^TH:

COST: £30 PER WORKSHOP OR £50 FOR THE DAY (INCLUDES DINNER)

9:30am – 12:30pm MAKING THE DREAM REALITY

A three hour planning workshop held by a qualified wedding planner. Learn how to budget, source suppliers, venues, advice on the type of ceremony, design ideas, checklists and legal obligations.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 21^ST:

COST: £30 PER WORKSHOP OR £50 FOR THE DAY (INCLUDES DINNER)

9:30am – 12:30pm BLOOMING BEAUTIFUL BOUQUETS

A three hour workshop held by a qualified event florist. Learn how to make a bridal posy using fresh flowers. This workshop will also touch on buttonholes for the groom. Bring your own flowers and greenery from gardens, florists or supermarkets, or bring artificial ones. Other materials will be provided on the day, no extra costs required unless flowers are requested as an extra.

1:30pm – 12:30pm MAKE A STATEMENT

A three hour workshop held by a qualified event florist. Learn how to make stunning floral centrepieces for your reception table.  Flowers and materials as above.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4^TH:

COST: £30 PER WORKSHOP OR £50 FOR THE DAY (INCLUDES DINNER)

9:30am – 12:30pm FASCINATE YOUSELF

A three hour workshop held by qualified milliner. Learn the basics on how to make your own fascinator. All materials supplied for this creative day which is sure to help you find your inner crafter.

1:30pm – 12:30pm TIME TO SPARKLE

A three hour workshop held by a reputable bridal jeweller. Learn to make your own beautiful tiara with pearls and jewels. Spaces limited to 10 – materials are added cost of £12 per person but your tiara will be yours to take home.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11^TH:

COST: £30 PER WORKSHOP OR £50 FOR THE DAY (INCLUDES DINNER)

9:30am – 12:30pm FAIRY SWEET CUPCAKES

A three hour workshop held by a reputable local wedding cake maker. Learn how to make and ice the perfect cupcake in a variety of styles.

1:30pm – 4:30pm MAKE-UP YOUR STYLE

A three hour workshop held by a qualified hair and make-up stylist. Learn how to do your hair or the brides hair and make-up on the day. Various hair styles for your wedding will be taught from curly boho styles to glamorous up dos. Also the workshop will look at how to palette your make-up for the day.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 9^TH:

COST: £30 PER WORKSHOP OR £50 FOR THE DAY (INCLUDES DINNER)

9:30am – 12:30pm DO ME A FAVOUR

A three hour workshop held by reputable wedding decor suppliers. Learn how to make the perfect wedding favours on a budget all to suit your own theme or style.

1:30pm – 4:30pm MAKE IT PRETTY

A three hour workshop held by reputable wedding decor suppliers. Learn how to make your wedding decorations such as bunting, hanging hearts and pom poms.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 16^TH:

11am – 4pm A FAIR TO REMEMBER – A WINTER WEDDING FAIR

COST: £1 PER PERSON ENTRY (KIDS FREE) NO BOOKING REQUIRED

A showcase of local wedding suppliers, with a hint of festive sparkle!

As you can see there are many exciting upcoming dates too for 2013. We are currently organising the same workshops plus:

• How to make Candy Trees
• Alternative Bouquets -including brooch, button, ribbon and feather. 
• Stationery - Invitations, table plans and place names.
• Videography - pointers on filming and editing your own video.
• Health and Fitness - have your own eating and fitness plan.
• Hat making
• Necklace and Hair Combs
• Plaques and Signage
• Bunting
• Jam, Chocolate and Liqueur Favours
• Full Hair Workshops
• Full Make-Up Workshop
• Icing the Cake - Budget Wedding Cake Decorating

Also we have dates for The Handmaid Home Workshop and The Handmaid Christmas Workshops for next year.

These include but are not restricted to:

• Home: June 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd
• Christmas: Nov 2nd, 9th, 23rd & 30th

More information can be obtained from info@elizabethanwhite.com

or ring 07891846194 to book.

Hello all! All been a little of you in any but hey I am writing for me! Well some more has progressed, yes it has! I have my first tutor onboard, that of Linda from Petal Power who will teaching the Flower Arranging and centrepiece workshop, she is also going to teach within that session alternative bouquets using buttons, ribbons, foam, feathers and dried or fabric flowers. Not one to be missed this workshop is likely to be the most popular. Here are a few examples of alternative bouquets (not Lindas I must add) and some of Lindas floral work! Hope you enjoy, in the next few days I will posting the actual workshops that will be taking place 11 workshops, 8 weeks. Thanks again xx 

Credits to a lady working in America for these photos, I will post the name and address and details shortly.

Well things haven't progressed much but then its only been 2 days!!! Anyway I thought that I would post a few picks of the type of items/projects I would like to introduce to the wedding workshops. Take a look and see what you think!? Short and sweet but until my meeting with Rural Arts, I can't say much to be honest.

Love these wrapping paper soaps. Cheap soaps and lovely lush paper in feminine colours, and stuck with printable sticker! 

Ordinary glass jar with lace and string glued upon it plus a craft flower. This is so simple, so chic to make and its a gorgeous accessory as a table favour tea light or decoration.

This has to be my favourite for some strange reason! Collect loads of bottle corks (you can buy a job lot from ebay or craft stores) Shave its bottom to sit flat, stamp with personalised rubber stamp (very cheap) or decorate with lace, wrapping paper or paint. Slit the top to add a name card for the person sitting at that space. Simple eco, place card holder! 

These are also a perfect simple make. Paper dollie bunting! All shapes and sizes can be cut from paper dollies to make paper chains, garlands or bunting. Simple, effective and VERY cheap! 

This is a perfect take on a confetti cone. Cut a dollie into quarters, stick into cone shape to make vintage style confetti cones! Cost will be a pack of dollies and some cellotape! WoW! 

I am beginning this blog in anticipation of my newest project and hopefully subsequent projects in the future. With the newest trend for 2012 of 'making your own' gifts, decorations cards and home ware I have decided to start a series of home-made workshops in my local area. Being in the wedding industry naturally my first eight week workshop focus's on the activities for the DIY bride. The workshop will include how to make your own stationary, centrepieces, bouquets, decorations, favours, cupcakes, wedding cakes with a planning workshop and nutrition guide too. At the beginning of the eight week, eight day, wedding workshop, I hope to explain that for over the duration of the course for the ninth week (non payable) they will be organising a wedding fair covering the other sections of a wedding which can't be handmade such as a dresses, venue, music, cars which will be open to the public with free admission and using there decorations and new found planning skills to operate a smooth wedding fair, with the obvious help of our Handmaids!

The 'Handmaid' Company is self explanatory really. I wanted to create a workshop company who specialised in running home/hand made tutorials. As I create the first logo The Handmade Co, it just didn't feel right at all. There are many companies and creative people who make handmade products for a living and that's not what our aim is, we are not selling handmade items nor do we intend to, so back to the drawing board again. I continued to explore homemade next which conjured up sweet aromas of my mums cooking and consequently all her sewing projects etc. Homemade does give the handmade term a more comfy, cosy appeal which is closer to home. Handmade after all could be handmade by someone else not the individual wanting something unique to them. So I tried 'The Homemade Co' which just seemed again like we were selling homemade delights especially food! So without sounding like I am repeating myself, it was back to design stages again! It was only when I asked my husband what he associated with the word 'handmade' that he said, whilst I sniggered' 'a sexy woman dressed in a servant outfit, helping around the home' I realised he had mistook the term handmade for handmaid, as in a female servant but the idea grew on me, surprisingly! So I tried 'The Handmaid Co - a helping hand at home-made' and it just seemed to work! The handmaids being my team of creative hand crafers who will help as a handmaid would to create homemade/handmade items! The name was born and with it came our first workshop The Handmaid Wedding Workshop.

I don't know how this project will pan out, if it will be a success or a failure. I dont know whether people will appreciate the silly pun on a name or that it was not to be offensive that the Handmaids were created, I am also aware that a majority of men are also crafters, some will be including in this company so I am not trying to seclude males from the company nor its workshops, on the contrary I would like more male figures to attend! I also am aware that I may get associated with naughty sexy servants 9as my husband pointed out), which is a risk, but the same for any company in business nowadays! I hope that this doesn't happen and people appreciate the name but in the words of Shakespeare 'what's in a name? Any rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' So keeping this in mind I am ploughing forward with the project in hope this workshops will spread over the country, helping budget busters to create one off's!

The workshops wont be expensive, I can relate that we must justify the means and the workshops are to help make homemade things which are cheaper than retail so it would be completely wrong if the workshops were in fact expensive and thus eliminating the fact that had they have bought retail without a workshop it would have been cheaper than doing the workshop and making handmade items! So cheap and cheerful they will be. They will also be open to entrepreneurs who have a creative side but don't know where to apply it, they can then take the workshop and maybe apply it to a business in the future selling their wares. I also forgot to mention that the workshops will also enable the customers access to great deals on equipment and materials required to make the items outside of the workshop from reputable suppliers. Also huge discounts will be given if anyone decided to buy or book with a tutor too instead of making themselves, if they find its not for them.

The workshops will also be partly filmed, each one with a tutorial from the Handmaid explaining how to do certain things. This will then be uploaded to YouTube and other social media platforms under our name so that those who want to know 'how to' can from home, and also get a taster of what's on offer if you attend a workshop. Each handmaid will be hand picked from local crafters, I already have a team here in North Yorkshire but elsewhere the search will begin in order to roll out the course all over the UK. These crafters must have experience and a good reputation in their industry so that the workshops can be deemed reputable too. I thought about contacting Kirsty Allsops agency in hope her handmade interest may attract attention to the company. This is something I will work on as I doubt a celebrity such as she will like to associate herself with something so new at the moment, this may be something for the future.

Anyway if any one comes across this blog, which may or may not make a good read?! I hope you leave a comment and tell me if you think this new project is a worthy one which you would like to be involved with either as a newbie crafter, a entrepreneur, a business or just to see how we do. Please leave me your opinions or let me know if a project like this would be great for your local area!

I hope to continue this blog throughout the planning process and during the actual workshops the business will do in order to create awareness and share the love of handmade!

Thanks for reading!

Love Liz White xxx

Founder
The Handmaid Co