Beginners Sewing: Fruitful Trees
Beginners Sewing: Fruitful Trees
Fruitful Trees
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Fruitful Trees

Join botanical illustrator and maker, Sophie Rawlingson as she guides you through hand-sewing your own fabric apple tree, perfect as a keyring, bag charm, or Christmas tree decoration in this v workshop.

 
What to expect:
 
You’ll choose your own fabrics, coloured threads, and decorative beads to create a finished quilted tree, celebrating the harvest season just passed and the end of the year ahead.
 
You will look at some previously made trees so you can see the possible variations.
 
Once you’ve decided what fabrics to use, you will get stuck into step one, where you will be cutting the fabric using the tree top and trunk templates.
 
Then Sophie will demonstrate each step as you go, making sure to move through the steps together.
 
When your trees are made, you will move on to adding beads.
 
Packaging will be provided so you can safely carry your tree home.
 
What to bring / wear:
 
All materials will be provided.
 
You will be sitting down for the duration of the workshop, so wear something you’re comfortable sitting in.
 
No prior sewing experience is needed as you will be using a simple sewing stitch, and the hand-made charm is what it’s all about.
 
Benefits:
 
It’s rewarding to make something with your own hands, whether you’re an experienced crafts person or someone wanting to learn a new skill.
 
Getting to sit down for a few hours and have an offline, hands-on afternoon with no distractions feels wonderful.
 
Who is your tutor:
 
Sophie Rawlingson is a botanical illustrator and maker based in Somerset, UK.
 
She works across branding, pattern design, and digital illustration for clients including Teen Vogue, Eastleigh Town Council, and Dulwich Picture Gallery.
 
As a workshop facilitator, she leads creative sessions for children and adults, using collage, natural materials, and textiles to create engaging, hands-on experiences.
 
Time: 2pm – 5pm
The base 

The Base opened on Friday 8 February 2019 in partnership with Greenham Trust and the Corn Exchange.

It became a registered charity in 2022 (charity no. 1199188) and is dedicated to improving access to the arts whilst bringing quality visual art to the local area.

Situated in a purpose-built arts and craft building, The Base’s £1.7M venue was designed by Sutton Griffin Architects of Newbury.

The space comprises of a 110sqm gallery, artists’ studios and a workshop for participatory classes.

There is also a café facility managed by Honesty Café group.

Striving to be a flagship visual arts venue in West Berkshire, The Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year 54 exhibition launched the inaugural gallery programme.

Displaying some of the best wildlife photography from across the globe, the exhibition comprised of 100 photograph across 7 categories and is renowned for attracting millions of visitors around the world every year. 

The Base is also home to 8 visual artists and craft makers as well as Open Studios West Berkshire and North Hampshire, who present their annual INSIGHT exhibition at The Base every May. 

GALLERY OPENING TIMES

The gallery opening times and days vary depending on which exhibition is being presented.

Please check the exhibition pages before you travel to ensure the gallery will be open.

Purchase a Base Pass and gain unlimited access to their Gallery for 12 months – find out more here

Honesty Cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 5pm and 9.30am – 4pm on Sundays.

From a fully accessible building to relaxed visit days, they are dedicated to making their venue and exhibitions accessible for everyone.

Please visit the Accessibility page for information about the facilities at The Base.

Tickets for all exhibitions and workshops at The Base can be booked via the Corn Exchange Box Office: 01635 522733

Their phone lines are open daily: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm (or until 7pm if there is a performance on), Sunday, 10.30am to 4pm

The Base Greenham, Greenham Business Park, Communications Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG19 6HN

Please contact admin@thebasegreenham.co.u

Base Pass
 

Throughout the year, The Base attracts high quality touring exhibitions from the likes of the Natural History Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and more.

They know that sometimes one visit just isn’t enough to take in all the talent on show.

So they bring you the Base Pass, enabling you to come and go as often as you like to each exhibition for a whole year!

Unlimited entry to The Base Gallery for 12 months*

10% off at Honesty owned cafes

PLEASE NOTE: Your new Base Pass card will be ready to collect on your next visit to The Base!

 Honesty cafe

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