Dawn Turner Designs

Is lockdown getting to you?  Need to keep the children (or yourself) occupied?  Get some free activities for you!

Just before Christmas, I made this video for Erewash Borough Council showing you how to make a lantern from a jam jar and a few bits around the home (okay, I am the weird one who thinks having lots cable ties and twist ties is quite normal?)

I hope to bring you some more ‘how-to’ or easy make ideas that I’ve done with schools and community groups, when I can work out ones that will work as a video or step-by-step images, but for now, try this out – mine always go outside to light up the garden in summer, the stickers and glass/permanent marker pens are actually quite long lasting.

Here the link to where they’ll be posted, if you want to bookmark it and come back later: CLICK HERE FOR FREE ACTIVITIES IDEAS

And to make it easy, here’s the information

You will need a cleaned jar, a 30cm cable tie, 40cm garden/twist tie, peel off stickers, permanent marker pens.

Steps:

1. 1. The twist tie handle – fold each end under cable tie, and wrap ends around the twist tie
   2. Attach cable tie to neck of jar, pull it tight – tug hard on handle before cutting spare cable tie off
   3. Use peel off stickers to decorate jar
   4. Colour jar brightly with marker pens
   5. Pop a battery tea-light or fairy lights inside to make your lantern shine bright!

Pick & Mix Taster Sessions are back, at the usual price of £25 per person,,  Minimum fee is £50, and maximum number is four due to current goverment restrictions.

You can use the Eventbrite Ticket Portal to purchase a ticket (click on daytime or evening to see the dates available), or head over to my Facebook Page Events to find it there too. There is a choice of daytime or evening, children are welcome but MUST be accompanied by parent, guardian or responsible adult.

There is only one available per event to avoid any chance of mixed groups just happening to pick the same day – I am only running sessions for family groups and social bubbles for the time being, not mixed public.

Lots of measures are in place to comply with current guidelines for social distancing.  As well as no mixed public groups, there will be no back-to-back sessions.  This is to allow time to properly clean the workshop and communal areas.  The glass and tools will the steam-cleaned, and communal areas cleaned down thoroughly with appropriate disinfectant cleanser. There will be sanitising wipes near high touch areas; and plenty of hand sanitiser available, including an indivual bottle by your work areas

The studio has a new HOT water heater and paper towels.  Surgical gloves are available, and as per recent guidelines, please wear masks or visors (if you can). I have some disposables at the studio in case you forget yours.

I aim to still make these sessions relaxing and fun; absorbing and enjoyable;  to give you an opportunity to be lost in the creative moment.

Sorry, couldn’t resist that title.

A few months back, before all this lockdown malarky, I posted about a commission I had received from a delightful gentleman called Jon, who asked me to make some Spitfire themed panels for his ‘man-cave’

Jon kept to his promise back then and took some photos.  He couldn’t get them processed due to the pandemic and being isolated though.  He eventually had them done and sent them to me this week.

It is an understatement to say that I am thrilled to bits with the final result!  Hasn’t Jon done an amazing job of installation, and really setting a theme to suit.  He says the poster adds a bit of atmoshphere, I think he’s right and it’s fits the age perfectly.  The map to the right hand side of the door tracks Amy Johnson’s record breaking flight from the UK to Australia in a Gypsy Moth bi-plane in 1930.  And I just love the door plate for the room.

I love what I do.

Finally, lockdown is slowing down.  Have you been out to a cafe, pub or restaurant yet?  It’s all been a bit strange; but I think we’re all ready to get back out there, in one way or another.

A creative activity is a great way to relax and forget about the worries and pressure of the last few months. Lose yourself in the moment during a glass taster session.  Be absorbed while you get to make something beautiful for your home, or to give as a gift.  Taster sessions are easy going; no need to worry about learning to cut glass – just enjoy experimenting with colour and light.

What Will The Studio Be Doing?

This next week or two, I will be working hard at the studio to get it all clean and tidied and set up so we can receive visitors and students again.  I may, or may not have bought a transit van load of hand-sanitiser and paper towels.  We’ve got a new handwashing heater for the ‘smallest’ room, and I will be setting up two cleaning stations.  One for when people first arrive and for regular hand-washing in the bathroom just off the communal area.

I will space classes out so I have time to clean down before and after. I will be limiting to half capacity, and only offering taster sessions, so we’re not cooped up all day.  Only people within their own social groups – no mixed classes for the time being.

It’s not practical to clean down all the individual small pieces of glass. I am not sure if cleaner residue will affect the finish anyway, but I have a steam cleaner.  If steam sterilising is good enough for operating theatres, it will do me!  So another measure in place will be me steaming down all the glass as well.

When Will We Start Back?

Still working on the finer details, but we’re looking at beginning of August onwards, I won’t be offering any specific dates as all classes will be treated as private bookings.  You get to choose your day and time, all very flexible.  Are you itching to come along but aren’t 100% sure of a date that you and your friends/ family can do?  Why not use the class voucher option?  That way, you’re not going to feel rushed to book your session.

How Do I Book?

Voucher details can all be found by CLICKING HERE, or get in touch with me directly on the CONTACT ME page.