From wreath making and calligraphy to tablescaping, painting and cooking, these workshops and masterclasses will help you prepare for the festive season …
1. Christmas Wreath Making Workshop By Home for the Weekends
Where: Stable Barn at Borleagh Manor Estate, Co Wexford
When: December 3 & December 10, 2022, 12pm to 4pm
Price: €150
Book now: emma@homefortheweekends.com, Instagram: @home.for.the.weekends
Christmas wouldn’t be the same without beautiful festive decorations and it’s especially nice when you can make them yourself. Emma Stone from Home for the Weekends is hosting a Wreath Workshop where you will learn to create your own all natural foliage Christmas wreath to take home. On December 3 and 10, the class will be held from 12pm to 4pm at the beautiful Stable Barn at Borleagh Manor Estate in Wexford. In addition to the creative part, you will also enjoy a light lunch and festive drinks. That’s the (Christmas) spirit.
2. Modern Calligraphy Workshop
Where: The Fat Fox, 1 Trafalgar Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow
When: November 9, 2022, 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Price: €75
Book now: marieclairecalligraphy@gmail.com, Instagram: @calligraphybymcw
Calligraphy is fun and enjoyable but also a good way to de-stress in the pre-Christmas season. In this two-hour workshop for beginners, you will learn how to set up your kit and the tools you need, dive into the foundations of calligraphy as well as letter and word formation. Marie-Claire will be there to offer a one-to-one experience throughout the workshop and give direct feedback. Enjoy a drink on arrival and some ‘The Fox & The Flour’ cake as part of the ticket price as well as a personalised calligraphy kit. A handwritten message means so much more and always brings a little joy – especially at Christmas. Follow Marie-Claire’s Instagram page for additional Christmas workshop dates.
3. Hedgeroe Christmas Workshops on Floral Demonstrations and Tablescapes
Where: Hedgeroe Home, 1 The View, Carrickmines Manor, Carrickmines, Co Dublin
When: November 17 and 24, 2022, 6pm
Price: €35
Book now: info@hedgeroe.com, phone: 01 294 8932
Christmas decorations can also be made and used sustainably and that’s exactly what Hedgeroe’s Christmas Workshops will show you. The focus this year is ‘Waste Not’. Annie from AD Event Design will be showing you how to create a sustainable tablescape and demonstrating how to reuse pieces year around. Also, with this theme in mind, Rebecca will be showing her Festive Floral Favourites using vases which transcend year-round, as well as using a mix of foraged foliage and supermarket florals. All funds raised from the sale of tickets go to the Peter McVerry Trust. The reception is at 6pm on November 17 and 24, the workshop starts at 6.15pm.
4. Paint & Sip
Where & When: See dates on www.paintbythepints.com/tanqueray
Book now: www.paintbythepints.com/tanqueray
You’re at a loss for Christmas presents this year? How about a self-painted picture! Paint by the Pints is offering some exciting workshops throughout Ireland in association with Tanqueray Gin. On arrival you’ll be treated to an easy on the (painting) palette Tanqueray gin cocktail. To get your creative juices flowing, an artist will be on hand to inspire, support, and advise. You’ll learn lots of tips from getting the best brush strokes, to creating light and depth in your piece. A Christmas gift that may not be perfect, but definitely comes from the heart.
5. Christmas Cookery
Where: Crumlin College of Further Education (CDETB), Crumlin Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12
When: November 5 to December 3, 2022 (five weeks), Saturdays from 10.30am to 12.30pm
Course fee: €125
Book now: phone: 01 454 0662
Christmas is just around the corner – it’s time to work on your cooking skills so that you can prepare a delicious roast or Christmassy desserts for your loved ones. This five-week course covers festive bakes, starters and/or side dishes for Christmas dinner and party food for the festive season. Every class is practical and shortly before the start of the course you will be given a list of ingredients to bring to the first class. Also, you will need containers to bring food home.
6. Christmas Craft Workshop with Creative Genie for Adults
Where: Solstice Arts Centre, Railway Street, Navan, Co Meath
When: December 2, 2022, 7pm to 9.30pm
Price: €50
Book now: info@solsticeartscentre.ie, phone: 046 909 2300; www.solsticeartscentre.ie
Get in the festive spirit with Trisha from Creative Genie! In this two-and-a-half-hour workshop you will be making your own decorations to festoon your tree or gift to someone special. Have a laugh over a nice glass of wine and some nibbles while you stretch your imagination and give free rein to your creativity. This is the perfect way to escape the stressful pre-Christmas shopping and errands for a few hours and just take in the Christmas spirit. After having gone to the workshop, you won’t have to buy any more Christmas decorations or presents because you will have made them yourself. After all, personalised gifts are so much more special than presents bought in the shop.
7. Handmade Christmas Decorations Sewing Workshop
Where: Streamville Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13
When: December 3, 2022, 9.30am to 1pm
Price: €60
Book now: phone: 01 848 2217; www.donahiesadulted.ie
Sewing requires precise work and high concentration. In the process, you quickly forget about day-to-day life. Try it out this Christmas and create bespoke and sustainable Christmas decorations in a three-and-a-half-hour workshop at Donahies Community School. There will be a range of kits to choose from in cheerful Christmas fabrics – Christmas wreath, Bunting, or reusable crackers. The course fee includes a kit which will contain everything you need to make your decorations. If you don’t have your own sewing machine, just contact donahiesadulted@gmail.com in time to hire one for just €5.
8. Christmas Ornament Making Workshop (Clay)
Where: The Schoolhouse, Muckross Traditional Farms, Killarney, Co Kerry
When: December 10, 2022, 11am to 4.15pm
Price: free
Book now: No booking required, first come first served basis
In this workshop you can and will get your hands dirty. You will be making festive Christmas ornaments out of clay, which you can later use to decorate your Christmas tree and embellish your home to make it nice and Christmassy. The course is suitable both for adults and for children. So, bring the family and enjoy a creative family afternoon at Muckross The Schoolhouse in Killarney. This will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit.
9. Styling Workshop Marie’s Style Studio & Agité Closet
Where: The Fumbally, Fumbally Lane, The Liberties, Dublin 8
When: November 12, 2022, 2pm & 5pm
Book now: Instagram: @mariestylestudio
Not sure what to wear for Christmas Eve? On November 12, Marie’s Style Studio and Agité Closet are offering two styling workshops that will inspire you to find the right outfits for the festive season. There will be Prosecco upon arrival and throughout and some delicious antipasti. Marie will present her styling masterclass including tips on styling, best pieces to purchase, garment care and how to do a mini wardrobe detox. Have a look at the hand picked selection of preloved clothes from Agité Closet – Marie will be on hand for styling advice.
10. Make your own Christmas Elf Cape (Kids Workshop)
Where: Hugh Lane Gallery Parnell, Square North, Dublin 1
When: December 11, 2022, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
Price: €5
Book now: www.eventbrite.ie
While you’re doing the Christmas shopping and in the midst of all the holiday preparations, your kids might easily get bored. So, to keep them entertained during the stressful pre-Christmas season, you can bring them to this creative crafts workshop: Together with artist Michelle Hall, your kids will be making their own Christmas elf cape using lots of seasonal colours and shimmers. The children use their imagination and creativity and have lots of fun while making something of their own. What a lovely pastime for the ho-ho-holiday season!
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