Weekend Morning Routine

Saturday depends on whether I'm working in the shop at Manchester Craft and Design Centre. If I am, then it's up and out on my bike to the studio. If I'm not in the studio I may well be running a workshop somewhere, like Fred Aldous for the Ministry of Craft. I often run in the morning too, distance dependent on whether I'm training for something. Porridge or eggs and green smoothies will be on the menu.

Actually I'm not a huge fan of routines, but I also think they're good for me. I've got a strange brain sometimes, it's full of conflicting ideas. I try to meditate everyday, weekend or not. I use the Headspace app as I'm not very good at staying focused without guidance. I very rarely have a long lie in, it's no fun on your own! I also feel too guilt-ridden and as though I'm missing out on some fun times if I lounge about too much. I usually try to make plans to see friends and do something interesting like attend Sunday Assembly, go to a life drawing class, or a nice long bike ride in the country. In the evening I like to go to gigs, parties and suchlike. Fun times please. Last Saturday I went to an amazing event called Drawn to the Beat at Victoria Baths.

Basically, I believe that life isn't happening at home.

Papercutting at The Whitworth

Last week I ran another paper cutting workshop at The Whitworth for the Crafternoon Tea Adult Learning Programme. I learnt a lot from the last one I did and had all-new cutting mats, fixed blade scalpels and lots of templates for people to use! I tried to keep things a bit simpler too and everyone produced some lovely cards and seemed very happy, so that was good!

I've got a busy month of workshops next month, some for the Ministry of Craft and one for FutureEverything, which is a collaboration with jewellery designer/maker Julia Roy-Williams (Wonderhaus). We'll be taking inspiration from the beautiful surroundings of the Victoria Baths and using a lasercutter to produce stencils for screen printing. Exciting stuff!