8 Fashion courses in Gainsborough

If you want to bag-make with genuine leather but are nervous of trying it, this weekend is ideal for you. It will give you the confidence to make your own leather bags at home and you’ll make some fab friends along the way! VERY IMPORTANT! Before booking, please check that your machine can cope with sewing at least 6 layers of faux leather or vinyl. Flat sewing is fine – if the machine can do that, we can manage lumps and bumps!   **This retreat is a little different from many others in that making a bag isn’t the point of the weekend, although you will indeed make one. The focus is on learning new transferable techniques and skills that you will be able to use on so many bags you make in the future. We have our own ‘Retreat Suite’ of rooms, including a spacious, light and airy sewing room which is equipped with a display screen so everyone can easily see demonstrations from a working viewpoint. We also have our own bathroom and kitchen facilities. If you wish, you are free to continue work after dinner and until as late (or early!) as you like. You will need to bring your own sewing machine, fabric scissors and any other favourite sewing tools, but everything else is provided. We’ll have a good selection of fabrics, vinyls and leather for you to browse and purchase if you wish, at retreat-only prices.  Come and join us in the exclusive Facebook group Bag Makers Retreat at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bagmakersretreat/ for all the latest retreat info, chat, gossip and more, plus a chance to meet other like-minded folks.  If you have dietary requirements, please tell me before you book, so I can be sure we can meet your needs. All meal main courses are included in the retreat fee, as are Saturday and Sunday lunches and breakfasts. Starters, desserts and drinks with meals are not included but the meals are so huge you probably won’t want starters and desserts anyway!! Tea and coffee is available whenever you need, but you do have to make it yourself!  If you’d like to stay an extra night or two, maybe to arrive on Thursday or leave on Monday if you have a long drive, let me know and I’ll check availability with our host. If you’d prefer to travel by train, we are happy to ferry you to and from the station, just ask. Please aim to arrive no later than 2pm as we have a lot of pattern cutting and fabric choosing to get through on Friday! Friday The fun starts here as you arrive at your weekend home-from-home – a beautifully refurbished, 4-star 18th century coaching inn with all the comforts you would expect. You’ll have time to settle into your own delightfully comfortable en-suite room which has all the anticipated little luxuries,  before an introductory get-together with me and your companions in the sewing room at 2pm. You’ll be given your own copy of the bag pattern, which is very beginner- and strong domestic machine-friendly (see note in bold at the top of the page), but which will incorporate a lot of features and techniques that are also in much more complex designs, making this an excellent springboard to any leather or other bag you want to make. Then you can wallow in the plentiful stash of leathers and fabrics to choose from.  All the leather, fabrics, interfacing, stabiliser, threads and bag hardware you need are supplied. As soon as you’re ready, you can start preparing and cutting out your pattern and some of the bag pieces so we can hit the ground running in the morning. After a superbly-cooked and substantial evening meal at around 6pm or so, you are welcome to continue working in the sewing room or to simply relax and chat there before bed. Saturday After an excellent breakfast, we can really start work learning some new skills and beginning work on construction. You’ll work at your own pace from around 9am with no pressure – I want your weekend to be fun and not stressful! We will walk through the techniques together and I will be there the whole time to answer questions and troubleshoot any tricky bits. You’ll also have the chance to try sewing with faux leather , if you haven’t already, and we’ll explore ways and techniques to use and apply rivets.  Refreshments are freely available all day and you can take a break whenever you wish. A light lunch (with homemade cake!!) is also provided and we’ll have a short break in the middle of the day. The rest of the day will be similar to Friday – sewing, dinner at 6ish and more sewing if you wish to before bed. Do feel free to have a walk or just sit outside for a breather if the weather is kind. Sunday How can it be Sunday already?? Breakfast over, we’ll get back to work. You will need to allow a few minutes to pack and check out of your room, as it has to be made ready for Monday’s guests. Apart from that, it’s uninterrupted sewing (with refreshments and lunch breaks!) until your bag is finished. We’ll be heading off for a lightish lunch at 12.30pm or so. We have the sewing room for the rest of the day.  If you don’t quite get done, there’s absolutely no need to worry as you’ll easily be able to complete your bag at home. If you finish earlier feel free to head home whenever you’re ready. Amongst loads of other hints and tips, you’ll learn  – * Choosing and handling leather * How to make professional quality rolled handles * Creating and applying custom bag feet * How to create a zipped pocket the pro way * How to use edge paint and get a professional finish with it * Sewing the bag together and topstitching * Reducing bulk with leather * A sneaky way of getting your bag right-sides-out without ugly seams! * An easy way to add a zipper pull without tools * Working with different types of rivet machine and loads more. You’ll have an exclusive pattern, created just for the Retreats, which includes comprehensive mini-tutorials and full instructions. And I hope you have a lot of fun and make new friends while you learn!!  I never abandon my students at the end of the course so if you get stuck on anything at home, you are welcome to give me a shout on Messenger and we’ll sort out your problem together. The not-so-small print Book your place using the simple booking system below – just click on your choice of dates and go from there. The full price is £465.00. The deposit of £65 is non-refundable if you cancel but can, however, be credited towards a future retreat booked within the next 6 months. It is completely refundable if I or the venue cancel. The booking page only shows the Friday, but the course is running until Sunday. The balance of £400.00 is payable by approx 6 weeks before the retreat date and payment instructions will be sent to you in good time. Cancellations 4 weeks or less before the retreat date can only be refunded if someone on the waiting list can come instead. If you book, pay and attend without pre-checking that your machine can sew the required thicknesses, as detailed in the note at the top of the page, I’m afraid no refunds will be given if it proves that your machine can’t cope during the Retreat. I may have a machine available to lend, but can’t promise one. *Don’t worry that your booking confirmation may be headed Unicorn Studios –  it’s just the site that I’ve run my booking system from for years… it’s not a scam!! *

I often buy clothes and accessories spontaneously. This results in a wardrobe full of pieces that don’t pair with anything. “I have nothing to wear….” I hear you say. A handful of treasures just hanging in there before progressing into a charity giveaway bag. Not if you know your true colours that will elevate your look and mood as well as save money and the environment. Based on this colour analysis we can create a capsule wardrobe using your existing pieces and follow your colour chart to purchase matching items in future. Whatever fashion dictates, buying less and more consciously will reduce waste, save money and creates a wonderful wardrobe you can be proud of! The analysis is based on inherited tones as well as personality. Based on 4 seasons: spring and autumn being warm and summer and winter cool in the colour spectrum.

If you’re a beginner bag maker, this Retreat is perfect for you. A whole weekend to immerse yourself in fabrics, stabiliser, professional techniques and tips to boost your confidence and your skills. Hopefully, there’ll be a lot of chat and laughter too! **This retreat is a little different from many others in that making a bag isn’t the point of the weekend, although you will indeed make one. The focus is on learning new transferable techniques and skills that you will be able to use on so many bags you make in the future. We have our own ‘Retreat Suite’ of rooms, including a spacious, light and airy sewing room which is equipped with a display screen so everyone can easily see demonstrations from a working viewpoint. We also have our own bathroom and kitchen facilities. If you wish, you are free to continue work after dinner and until as late (or early!) as you like. You will need to bring your own sewing machine, fabric scissors and any other favourite sewing tools, but everything else is provided. Come and join us in the exclusive Facebook group Bag Makers Retreat at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bagmakersretreat/ for all the latest retreat info, chat, gossip and more, plus a chance to meet other like-minded folks.  If you have dietary requirements, please tell me before you book, so I can be sure we can meet your needs. All meal main courses are included in the retreat fee, as are Saturday and Sunday lunches and breakfasts. Starters, desserts and drinks with meals are not included but the meals are so huge you probably won’t want starters and desserts anyway!! Tea and coffee is available whenever you need, but you do have to make it yourself!  If you’d like to stay an extra night or two, maybe to arrive on Thursday or leave on Monday if you have a long drive, let me know and I’ll check availability with our host. If you’d prefer to travel by train, we are happy to ferry you to and from the station, just ask. Please aim to arrive no later than 2pm as we have a lot of pattern cutting and fabric choosing to get through on Friday! Friday The fun starts here as you arrive at your weekend home-from-home – a beautifully refurbished, 4-star 18th century coaching inn with all the comforts you would expect. You’ll have time to settle into your own delightfully comfortable en-suite room which has all the anticipated little luxuries,  before an introductory get-together with me and your companions in the sewing room at 2pm. You’ll be given your own copy of the bag pattern, which is very beginner- and domestic machine-friendly but which will incorporate a lot of features and techniques that are also in much more complex designs, making this an excellent springboard to any bag you want to make. Then you can wallow in the plentiful stash of fabrics to choose from, including some of my exclusive feature panel prints which aren’t available anywhere else. All the materials, interfacing, stabiliser, threads and bag hardware you need are supplied. As soon as you’re ready, you can start preparing and cutting out your pattern and some of the bag pieces so we can hit the ground running in the morning. After a superbly-cooked and substantial evening meal at around 6pm or so, you are welcome to continue working in the sewing room or to simply relax and chat there before bed. Saturday After an excellent breakfast, we can really start work adding to and adapting your bag pattern. You’ll work at your own pace from around 9am with no pressure – I want your weekend to be fun and not stressful! We will walk through the techniques together and I will be there the whole time to answer questions and troubleshoot any tricky bits. You’ll also have the chance to try sewing with faux leather , if you haven’t already, and we’ll explore ways and techniques to use and apply rivets.  Refreshments are freely available all day and you can take a break whenever you wish. A light lunch (with homemade cake!!) is also provided and we’ll have a short break in the middle of the day. The rest of the day will be similar to Friday – sewing, dinner at 6ish and more sewing if you wish to before bed. Do feel free to have a walk or just sit outside for a breather if the weather is kind. Sunday How can it be Sunday already?? Breakfast over, we’ll get back to work. You will need to allow a few minutes to pack and check out of your room, as it has to be made ready for Monday’s guests. Apart from that, it’s uninterrupted sewing (with refreshments and lunch breaks!) until your bag is finished. We’ll be heading off for lunch at 12.30pm or so. We have the sewing room for the rest of the day.  If you don’t quite get done, there’s absolutely no need to worry as you’ll easily be able to complete your bag at home. If you finish earlier feel free to head home whenever you’re ready. Amongst loads of other hints and tips, you’ll learn  – * Interfacings – what to use and not to use * Using stabilisers – which is best and why * How to create a zipped pocket the pro way * Adding a recessed zipper main closure to almost any bag * Installing hardware * Incorporating a built-in key fob * Installing a rectangular  base * Sewing the bag together and topstitching * A sneaky way of getting your bag right-sides-out without ugly seams! * An easy way to add a zipper pull without tools * Working with different types of rivet machine * Faux leather on a domestic machine You’ll have handouts on all the techniques to take home. And I hope you have a lot of fun and make new friends while you learn!!  I never abandon my students at the end of the course so if you get stuck on anything at home, you are welcome to give me a shout on Messenger and we’ll sort out your problem together. The not-so-small print Book your place using the simple booking system below – just click on your choice of dates and go from there. The full price is £395.00. The deposit of £60 is non-refundable if you cancel but can, however, be credited towards a future retreat booked within the next 6 months. It is completely refundable if I or the venue cancel. The booking page only shows the Friday, but the course is running until Sunday. The balance of £335.00 is payable by approx 6 weeks before the retreat date and payment instructions will be sent to you in good time. Cancellations 4 weeks or less before the retreat date can only be refunded if someone on the waiting list can come instead. *Don’t worry that your booking confirmation may be headed Unicorn Studios –  it’s just the site that I’ve run my booking system from for years… it’s not a scam!! *

DEVOPS TRAINING COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is an introduction to DevOps. The course emphasizes communication, collaboration , integration, and automation to improve the workflow between developers and IT operations professionals. Improved workflows lead to more opportunities to design software and services in a more agile fashion. This course is a basis for discovering the most important DevOps concepts and to understand the principles and methods behind this. The course will leave you with the inspiration to be the advocate of change. WHAT WILL YOU LEARN * Explain DevOps principles. * Describe the relationship between Agile , Lean and IT Service Management ( ITSM). * Describe methods for automation and technology factors. * Describe considerations when changing. * Describe challenges, risks and critical success factors. DEVOPS TRAINING COURSE DETAILS * Who will benefit: IT development, IT operations and IT service management. * Prerequisites: Introduction to data communications & networking. * Duration 2 days DEVOPS TRAINING COURSE CONTENTS * Why DevOps? Introduction DevOps Goals DevOps Added value of DevOps Proven Results DevOps for businesses DevOps principles (The Three Ways) * DevOps and other frameworks DevOps and Agile DevOps and Lean DevOps and IT Service Management * DevOps culture Characteristics of a DevOps culture Organizational Considerations DevOps DevOps stakeholders DevOps roles DevOps teams DevOps organizational structures * DevOps methods Continuous Integration Continuous delivery Continuous deployment Value stream mapping Kanban Theory of Constraints Improvement Kata Deming's quality circle ITSM processes DevOps and Automation * Methods for DevOps automation Longevity and tools categories DevOps applications Transitioning to a DevOps culture. * Implementation Challenges, risks and critical success factors Measuring DevOps successes

DEVOPS DEMYSTIFIED TRAINING COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is an introduction to DevOps. The course emphasizes communication, collaboration , integration, and automation to improve the workflow between developers and IT operations professionals. Improved workflows lead to more opportunities to design software and services in a more agile fashion. This course is a basis for discovering the most important DevOps concepts and to understand the principles and methods behind this. The course will leave you with the inspiration to be the advocate of change. WHAT WILL YOU LEARN * Explain DevOps principles. * Describe the relationship between Agile , Lean and IT Service Management ( ITSM). * Describe methods for automation and technology factors. * Describe considerations when changing. * Describe challenges, risks and critical success factors. DEVOPS DEMYSTIFIEDS TRAINING COURSE DETAILS * Who will benefit: Non-technical staff involved with DevOps. * Prerequisites: None. * Duration 1 day DEVOPS DEMYSTIFIED TRAINING COURSE CONTENTS * Why DevOps? From a business perspective From an IT perspective Stereotypes of Dev and Ops: perception and reality * What is DevOps? Introduction DevOps Goals DevOps Added value of DevOps Proven Results DevOps for businesses DevOps principles (The Three Ways) * DevOps and other frameworks DevOps and Agile DevOps and Lean DevOps and IT Service Management * DevOps culture Characteristics of a DevOps culture Organizational Considerations DevOps DevOps stakeholders DevOps roles DevOps teams DevOps organizational structures * DevOps methods Continuous Integration Continuous delivery Continuous deployment Value stream mapping Kanban Theory of Constraints Improvement Kata Deming's quality circle ITSM processes DevOps and Automation * Methods for DevOps automation Longevity and tools categories DevOps applications Transitioning to a DevOps culture * Implementation Challenges, risks and critical success factors Measuring DevOps successes

Learn to use 3D printing software to design and create your own pendants, earrings, rings and bracelets. The course is on a one-to-one basis. If you want to be in the jewellery trade as a designer and seller of modern jewellery or you simply want to create designs for yourself and your family then you should be learning how to create your own designs using apps such as Fluid Designer for 3D Printing.

Project management can seem scary and rather intimidating. The whole aim of this programme is to give people a simple and straightforward way of dealing with projects without having to use complex and confusing systems. This two-day course is designed to introduce the apparently complex world of project management in a simple and practical manner. The programme is for anybody who has to run a project of any nature. It has been attended by people from as diverse fields as events management, fashion, charities, oil companies and so on. The programme is run without using any IT project management systems although an introduction can be given if required. At the end of the programme participants will leave understanding: * What a project is and why projects are so important today * The roles of a project manager * Some key language and concepts * A simple 5-step model for organising projects * How to make sure you understand what your 'client' really wants * A set of three simple tools to plan the project * How to make decisions * What to monitor when the project is running * How to close the project 1 INTRODUCTION * What is the aim of this programme? 2 BACKGROUND THINKING * What is a project? * The project manager's eternal triangle (cost-quality-time) * What are the characteristics of successful projects? * Who are the key characters in a project? * What are the roles of a project manager? 3 THE PROJECT PROCESS * Why have one? 4 PROJECT INITIATION * What is the aim? * Identifying key information * Key skill: mission analysis * Initial risk analysis * Document and sign-off 5 DECISION-MAKING - 'STOP, THINK, ACT!' * The 'Stop, Think, Act!' technique * Recognise the opportunity to make a decision * The 3 Cs - making sure we understand the decisions we have to make * Identifying options * Making your decision * Taking it to action 6 CREATIVITY 7 THE PLANNING STAGE * Identify all discrete tasks * Sequence and dependencies * Time line - critical path * Resources * Project base-line 8 EXECUTION STAGE - DELIVERING THE RESULT * Monitor * Evaluate * Adapt * Control * Review 9 THE PROJECT CLOSE * Review * Documentation * Have we delivered? * What have we learned?

We communicate daily in many ways, including email, phone, text, Zoom, Teams, Google Meets, Slack, and even that old-fashioned thing, what was it now... oh yes, talking face-to-face. But, when we look at communication closely and really drill down into what we are doing in conjunction with how our brain works (neuroscience), how internal, organisational, and social politics control what we believe we can say, how hierarchical positioning impacts our honesty and how the lack of psychological safety means we say what we know others want to hear rather than what they need to hear…. It is oh so complicated! This workshop not only explores the concept of excellent communication, but we also want to hear what you believe it is too. We also delve into how organisational culture influences our perception of speaking up. Factors that hinder open and honest communication, and we work collaboratively towards removing these barriers to achieve a communication style that fosters trust and transparency, creating psychological safety.   This workshop is particularly relevant to our Emotional Intelligence workshop (EI and Me). We firmly believe that developing emotional intelligence is the key to unlocking Clean Communication, a skill that is crucial for all of us, regardless of our roles and responsibilities, so that we thrive in our professional environment. If you want to see if we are correct, why not have us facilitate a workshop for you and see what you get by the end of it?  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LENGTH 1 Day NEXT WORKSHOP START Let's chat and confirm a date. COURSE DELIVERY Self-Paced Online, In Company -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUITABILITY - WHO SHOULD ATTEND? WHO SHOULD ATTEND AND WHY? Who? - Perhaps think of this another way… who shouldn’t attend to ensure we can manage Clean Communication? There’s your answer. Why? - Every person needs to understand what we are saying above about how we get trapped in this organisational formatting which changes how we communicate and how it prevents us from communicating cleanly. EVERY organisation has this, despite what our values profess. And 'Values', that’s a whole other story. TRAINING COURSE CONTENT * Using the 'Moccasin Approach'® to clean our personal and organisational communication * LaPD’s Communication Cycle and what we must consider. (Can you work out what the ? represent above? * Accountability and Responsibility raises its head in Communication. It has to. * Bias, unconscious bias and its impacts on our communication. * The conundrum of communicating with others and their styles (The TRAP). * How would my perfect Manager/Leader communicate with me? * Nonverbal communication (body language), rapport, Clean Communication. * Negative communication can go viral (Self-Fulfilling Prophecy). * Reflections, findings and goals (individual and team). * Meeting our workshop objectives by listing five areas for development. COURSE DELIVERY DETAILS This Workshop is usually one day in duration, focussing solely on how we communicate with each other. It can also be a two-day event incorporating aspects of Emotional Intelligence (EI) with group, and individual activities to allow discussions about the various communication we need in your organisation. When you consider the content we deliver, we are sure you will understand why we always prefer to deliver our workshops, courses and programmes face-to-face. Face-to-face workshops and courses can be held at a location of your choice or, if you wish, a central UK location, at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham, located directly across from the Birmingham New Street train station. We can deliver our workshops, courses and programmes online, although this will mean splitting elements into manageable learning events to suit the online environment.