MONDAY 22 JUNE 2026 | 10am - 4pm
Join Justin Capp for a day of traditional leatherwork.
Working with time-honoured tools and techniques, guests can choose from three pieces to make, a belt, phone holder or notebook cover, each guided step by step by Justin. You will learn how to cut, stitch and shape leather by hand, alongside an introduction to decorative tooling, using pattern and texture to bring depth and individuality to your piece.
Justin has worked in leather for more than 25 years and is an experienced teacher as well as a skilled maker. Alongside his studio practice in rural Northamptonshire, he teaches at the Istituto Marangoni and the University of Northampton.
Lunch is served by The Blonde Beet, with a generous selection of seasonal salads, dressed hummus and one of their savoury pastries, celebrating the best of the season.
WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE 2026 | 10am - 4pm
Learn the fundamentals of leatherwork as you make your own leather wallet.
Guided by Charlie Laurie of Charles Laurie London, you will work through each stage of the process, from cutting and shaping to stitching and finishing.
Based in Rutland, Charlie's work is defined by clarity of design and a careful, exacting finish. The result is a simple, timeless piece, made by hand and designed to be used every day.
Lunch is served by The Blonde Beet, with a generous selection of seasonal salads, dressed homemade hummus and one of their savoury pastries, celebrating the best vegetables, herbs and flavours of the season.
WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE 2026 | From 6pm, for a 7pm start
Join Lucy Douglas of Green Machine Creative for an introduction to letterpress printing.
Choose your design and work with Lucy’s vintage presses to print your own set of greeting cards by hand. Personalise them with borders, lino blocks and stamps to create a finished set that feels entirely your own.
Letterpress printing is valued for the depth and texture it creates in the paper, with each print carrying the subtle variations of a hand process.
Alongside her letterpress practice, Lucy runs a contemporary design studio, bringing a strong eye for layout and composition. You will leave with your own printed cards and a practical introduction to letterpress and typographic design.
THURSDAY 25 JUNE 2026 | 10am - 4pm
A one-day workshop focused on the making of a contemporary rush-seated milk stool.
Led by Flora Scott of Summerfield + Scott, you will be introduced to the process of weaving with natural rush, building up the seat by hand using traditional techniques. Working at a steady pace, you will complete your own stool, designed for everyday use and made to last.
Set in the heart of rush-growing country in Northamptonshire, Summerfield + Scott are antique furniture restorers and repairers, working with rush as a renewable, locally sourced material for furniture making and restoration. Through The Rush Project, they are championing and reimagining this heritage craft, rooted in centuries of tradition and now finding new relevance in contemporary design.
Lunch is served by The Blonde Beet, with a generous selection of seasonal salads, dressed homemade hummus and one of their savoury pastries, celebrating the best vegetables, herbs and flavours of the season.
SUNDAY 21 JUNE 2026 | 10am - 12.30pm
An introduction to weaving on a peg loom through the making of your own woven wool mat, a decorative piece of character and texture.
Led by Beccy Fowler, this workshop follows the journey from fleece to finished piece, with a demonstration of carding and an introduction to the character of different wools. You will dress the loom, weave your mat and finish the edges by hand.
Beccy’s practice is rooted in a close relationship with material, shaped by her own path from keeping sheep to working with wool in its rawest form.
SATURDAY 20TH JUNE 2026 | 10am - 12 noon
Make a wooden bird box, designed for children and families to build together.
Led by JC+CO, a modern joinery studio committed to well-made, long-lasting work, this workshop introduces basic woodworking through a simple, practical project. Children will assemble and finish their own bird box, learning how materials come together along the way.
A straightforward object to take home, made by hand and intended to be used.
SATURDAY 27 JUNE 2026 | From 6pm, for a 7pm start
Join us for supper with Fern, set within the Notswolds Summer Makers Market at Claire Langley Antiques.
Aperitivo hour among the work of the region’s finest makers, before moving to a long shared table and a seasonal menu built around midsummer - fresh, zesty and made for long evenings.
THURSDAY 25 JUNE 2026 | From 6pm, for a 7pm start
An evening of food and storytelling exploring the history of the region through what has been grown, made, traded and eaten here.
Shaped by fertile farmland, market towns and historic trading routes, the Notswolds has a rich food culture, from enduring local specialities to a new generation of independent producers.
Matt from Hidden Food Tours leads a series of tastings exploring how landscape, agriculture and trade continue to shape the region today.
The evening includes a cheese supper from Rennet & Rind, with a thoughtfully chosen selection of British cheeses and accompaniments.
Listed by Observer Food Monthly as one of the best food tours in the UK and featured on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme.
A generous and convivial evening for anyone interested in food, heritage and the character of place.
SATURDAY 27 JUNE 2026 | 1.30pm - 2.30pm
Explore the art of block printing in a joyful workshop for children and their grown-ups.
Led by Isabela Streeter, founder of Haveli Diaries, this hour long session offers a joyful introduction to one of the world’s oldest printing traditions. From her Indian heritage and childhood years spent growing up in India, Isabela brings a deeply rooted connection to the craft and shares the stories, colour and cultural heritage behind it in a warm and accessible way.
Together, you will experiment with pattern, colour and simple motifs before printing your own design by hand using traditional wooden blocks. Each booking will create a block-printed greetings card to take home.
Alongside the making, the workshop introduces the beauty of handmade textiles, the value of slower processes and the pleasure of creating something together.
SATURDAY 27 JUNE 2026 | 10am - 12.30pm
Explore the art of block printing through a hands on workshop grounded in heritage and lived connection to the craft.
Led by Isabela Streeter, founder of Haveli Diaries, you will explore the full journey of creating a textile design. From her Indian heritage and childhood years spent growing up in India, Isabela brings a deeply rooted connection to the craft and will lead an authentic introduction to the centuries-old technique of block printing and the rich cultural heritage that surrounds it.
The workshop will focus on developing ideas, translating these into simple motifs, understanding repeat pattern and layout, and learning the fundamentals of traditional block printing. Participants experiment with colour, layering and composition before printing your own set of four napkins to take home.
Alongside the practical making, the workshop will introduce the heritage of textile craft, the importance of slow, sustainable processes, and how design decisions shape the final outcome.
SUNDAY 28 JUNE 2026 | 1pm - 3.30pm
Spend time working with clay as you make your own ceramic bud vase. Guided by Jess Ellis Ceramics, you will learn the basics of hand-building, shaping and finishing a small vessel.
With a background in architecture, Jess’s work centres on pieces for flowers and plants, with soft, feminine forms and subtle botanical references.
Your creations will be fired in the kiln at Jess’s Leicestershire studio and ready in 3-4 weeks.
SUNDAY 28 JUNE 2026 | 11am - 12noon
Immerse yourself in the ancient tradition of matcha in this intimate 1-hour hands-on workshop led by Leicestershire-based Goa Speciality Coffee. You'll journey through centuries of Japanese tea culture while mastering the techniques to prepare your own perfect bowl of ceremonial matcha.
This mindful workshop blends education with practice, leaving you with the knowledge and confidence to recreate the matcha ritual at home. You'll savour your own freshly whisked matcha and take away techniques you can use every day.
Goa is more than a coffee cart. It is a speciality coffee and matcha experience built around flavour, culture, stories of origin and the ritual behind every cup.
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THE NOTSWOLDS SUMMER MAKERS MARKET
A ten-day celebration of craft rooted in local making, the Notswolds Summer Makers Market brings together the leading independent artisans, craftspeople and makers from across the region. Full programme and ticketed events launched 19 April to newsletter subscribers.
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GOOD WORK BY GOOD PEOPLE Creating the makers market
Notswolds started as a way for us to document our life and work as a decorative artist and filmmaker across Rutland and the surrounding counties, bringing people closer to the makers shaping the region today. This summer, our first makers market opens in Stamford, with talks, workshops and gatherings for design lovers.
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THE NOTSWOLDS CALENDAR
A curated guide to what’s on across the Notswolds. Standout dates and regular happenings at some of our favourite venues, gathered to help you plan the months ahead in this corner of the countryside.