Earlier this year Lucy bought some bunting with lucky motifs and promptly emigrated with it. She sent this great photo with the message “Just to say thank you for getting the gorgeous bunting to me in time before we flew. We moved into our Chicago apartment with nothing but an inflatable bed, a duvet and your bunting, it was the perfect instant decoration and has indeed brought us much luck.“

Greg got in touch in September with the delightful idea of commissioning custom alphabet bunting to help him propose to his girlfriend Cathy. He chose the style that threads onto tape with a hem, so that he could assemble the letters himself and build a sense of anticipation! Plus the bonus of being able to rearrange them into amusing anagrams afterwards. Thankfully Cathy is now his fiancé, and Greg sent this photo with the news “Just to let you know that I finally asked and she said “yes”! Your bunting worked a treat. Everyone was very impressed!“. Phew! What a great idea, who could resist a proposal written in bunting, and someone sweet enough to think of it?

There will be examples of Gocco work, tips for getting the best results and ideas such as how to re-use damaged screens. You can also try out the squeegee printing method. Shepherds will be supplying fine papers to print on. You’ll take home your screen and prints.
Book via Shepherds 020 7831 1151 or matt@bookbinding.co.uk
£60, max 5 places.

Part two takes place at Xtina’s studio at Craft Central in Clerkenwell on Sunday 4th December, and promises a day of Gocco screen printing and experimentation. Make screens from your own artwork using the Gocco machine and Riso mesh. Stretch the mesh on a thin plastic frame, then print with a lightweight squeegee and water based screen printing ink.

Try out a thermofax machine to make a screen without using Gocco bulbs, and print with texture screens and hand cut stencils onto cards, paper, notebooks and fabric. Registration techniques and lots of tips will be shared. The screens you make are yours to take home. You can carry on printing with them later with supplies easily bought from art shops, and it’s ideal timing for making Xmas cards or gifts!

Sandwiches, tea and cake are included in the price.
£60, max 6 places


Full details & online booking via Etsy

We have only had a few glimpses so far, but are very pleased with what we have seen so far.  Over 60 step-by-step projects are included along with some inspiring interviews with craftsters and a handy how-to section which covers the basics of knitting, crochet and sewing.   The book  has been edited by Victoria Woodcock, who’s knowledge of the craft scene from her experience as the London Bust Craftacular curator really shows through.  As well as our crafty project, the book also features Gillian’s 1970s school bazaar inspired brooches.

There are some fab designers featured in the book and it is lovely to see so many of the familiar faces we have met at different craft events.  There are even some nice reviews out already, including this one by BrandNewKindOf.

The Seaside Sisters Get Crafty Onboard LV21 from Spaghetti Weston on Vimeo.

We had a lovely last day on Light Vessel 21 with Print Gocco workshops, more brooch making and treasure hunts and lots of sunshine on deck.  We also enjoyed the company of Bob making knots to create a fender for the ship’s little boat and the wonderful Colin and his morse code machines.  During the afternoon we were treated to the gentle rhythm of morse code messages being exchanged all over the world.  After a wonderful week we wave goodbye to LV21.

Here they all are, gathered in our shop….

And this is Woo, a very special owl who is living deep in the ship’s generator room.

As well as a full programme of workshops on board the LV21 we have the Seaside Sisters Shop. We are rather thrilled to have such a wonderful space to display all our seaside and nautical inspired wares.  We love the brass framed port holes. This is normally the signal room from which Colin sends morse code messages.  I wonder what the morse code is for Seaside Sisters?

We also made pennants specially designed for LV21. You can drop in any day this week to make you own Lightship souvenir.

We even had a coach party of children who came and took part in our Signal Flag Treasure Hunt.  Have you cracked the code yet?

Thanks everyone who visited!

And seeing who can crack the codes in our signal flag treasure hunt.

We are here all week, 11-5pm, Gillingham Pier. Just a 10 minute walk from Gillingham station or by car, follow the signs to Gillingham Pier off the A289 (near Dickens World and Chatham Historic Docks. We have lots of activities for all ages every day this week until Saturday as well as our Seaside Sisters shop and souvenirs.