A few months ago I posted about a new craft workshop business that opened near my house in Angel called The Make Lounge. Not so long ago, the business relocated to Barnsbury and is now practically on my door step. Needless to say, I had no excuse not to try out one of their contemporary crafting classes. Their motto is simple "Meet people, make stuff"- I like that.

There are a variety of different workshops where you can make anything from a silk scarf to a japanese style stitched journal. I signed up for a workshop where I would be making an eco tote with corsage. For someone with absolutely no sewing skills, this workshop is a great introduction for important things like how to thread a sewing machine, fill a bobbin and pin fabric.

Just choose your favorite fabric and the instructor walks you through the process step by step and about 3.5 hours later you have your first sewing project completed. It's as easy as that. This was a fabulous introduction to sewing that left me thinking what can I make next?

The Make Lounge
49-51 Barnsbury Street
London N1 1TP

I love this bulletin board and I have been slowly pulling materials together so I can begin to make my own.

The Make Lounge in North London offers contemporary craft workshops for busy Londoners. The concept is simple: Meet People, Make Stuff.

I would like to think that I am creative but to be honest I don't have all that many creative skills. I would love to be able to sew and knit as well as so many of my friends. Perhaps, this is my best chance to learn.

Here's my short list of courses to try...

1. Knitted Mini Holiday Stockings
2. Bath + Body Products
3. Festive Wreaths

The Make Lounge - Angel Tube
5 Torrens Street
London EC1V 1NQ

Photo Credit: The Make Lounge

Here's a cute and colorful flower arrangement that I found today. To recreate, place a small vase with water and flowers inside a larger vase and fill the larger vase with jelly beans or candy of your choice.






Photo Credit: Martha Stewart

I find myself in the new position of having to brainstorm and come up with new ideas almost on a daily basis. Have you ever noticed that when you are worried about not being able to come up with new ideas, it becomes almost impossible to do so?

I started reading “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron about a week ago and I am entranced with her 12-week course in creativity.

There are two main parts to her program: the morning pages and artist dates. An artist date is a weekly block of two hours spent observing, sensing and experiencing. I’ve spent some time today jotting down some possible artist dates and here’s what I have so far:

1. Spend an afternoon in the children’s section of a bookstore

2. Go to the beauty counter at Harvey Nichols and experiment with different eye shadows

3. Learn to make French Almond Macaroons

4. Make a collage out of magazines

5. Go see a play or live music

6. Come up with a mood board for one of the rooms that I will be decorating in my home

7. Take pictures of Victorian architecture in Belsize Park

8. Draw, paint, write songs, play in clay

9. Visit a gallery

10. Go to the local farmers market, buy a bunch of produce and come up with a new recipe from the ingredients

11. Buy a variety of fresh cut blooms from Columbia Road Flower Market and design a couple of flower arrangements

12. Take a dance class…maybe ballet or hip hop

13. Fly a kite on Hampstead Heath

14. Make a pot of soup

15. Take an Improv Comedy class