Skills Share

How I got into this? - after collecting / hoarding beads for around fifty years,  I realised that I ought to do something with them,  and decided that local fairs would be a pleasant and realistic way of ‘moving n’ some of the stock.    However,  as it was around 2008,  that coincided with a great many people looking to alternative ways of income because of the slump in the national finances.  So, not only was there suddenly much competition but also many event organisers began opening venues (and increasingly cramming vendors in),  and the public spent less and less as well... so I stopped,  and found myself with even more stock than when I started !

Then, my local church started fund-raising and asked for ideas.  The answers included dress alterations, cane-seating, and my offer of beadwork repairs (perhaps grandma’s broken necklace in the back of someone’s dressing-table drawer). Sure enough, business was brisk.

Now I have boxes full of made pieces as well as stock… and I'd be glad to share my skills with someone else who wants to learn. I am very willing to enable people to repair their own pieces, or even make adaptations, and learn in the process!

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You can email Penny at Penny@spackman.online

I've built a few bird boxes for me and my family, using off cuts from Milverton Sawmill, and I'm happy to help other people get started. Click on the link for instructions (Gardeners' World) and you're very welcome to email me if you’d like any support. My email is Chris_Montag@hotmail.com

Back when I was a newly qualified teacher I did an evening course in flower arranging - and I’ve kept it up over all the years since because flowers together are just so pleasing to the eye. I enjoyed making posies and button holes for my own wedding as well as for my daughter’s. We are a dwindling group who arrange the church flowers regularly and get together at Christmas, Easter and Harvest Festival to make the church look special.  We would love to welcome new volunteers and I would be happy to help anyone who would like to come along. If you’re interested in learning the basics of flower arranging then I’m happy to share my knowledge. 

Email me at margaret.jbrown@icloud.com

I’ve a background in engineering and one of the most rewarding aspects of my job has been mentoring apprentices. I’m very keen on cars and I just wish I could afford a decent one! Consequently, I’ve a lot of experience in fixing them up. I’d be quite happy to teach someone the basics of how a car works and how to look after it, particularly perhaps a young person or new driver. You can email me at andrebaker@btinternet.com

We’ve personal experience of renovating our homes with low carbon, natural materials, with good thermal properties. Because we’ve always lived in old buildings, breathability and insulation have been really important factors. We’re very happy to chat about what we’ve learned - you can email us at Tryphenahuntingford@gmail.com

I'm a self taught spinner, turning fleece into yarn for knitting and crocheting. I also enjoy needle felting to make children's toys and covered soaps, which is great fun and brilliant for gifts! I'd love to teach you my skills, if you're interested. Email me at Hannah.Montag@posteo.net

I've worked in ecology for over twenty years and have lots of experience surveying and supporting nature in domestic and business environments. I'm very happy to give advice and share my knowledge, whether it's helping identify a strange fungus in your lawn, to giving advice about roosting bats and nesting birds.

You can email me at Hannah.montag@posteo.net