Doll Making
Available Dates
All of our craft or activity holidays run for 5-nights from Sunday to Friday and start from £879 per person.
The above is based on single occupancy. A £100 per person discount is applied for art, craft and activity guests on a shared occupancy basis.
TESTIMONIAL
"I was searching for the perfect Doll Making tutorial online when I stumbled upon Gartmore House's residential Doll Making courses. What a fantastic discovery!"
Guest
About The Course
If you’re having trouble finding Doll making courses near you then why not come on holiday to Gartmore House and learn with the best?
This workshop is suitable for newbies or returners. Knowledge of basic sewing techniques are an advantage. Please note we are not making rags dolls, but art cloth dolls, the emphasis being on the art. Advanced knowledge of sewing, dressmaking and/or embroidery will most likely enable you to make faster progress and to display of your skills in the embellishment of the figure.
The course covers many of the basic doll making techniques, but will not include moving heads, complex joints, wiring or making a standing doll.
We start by orientating ourselves to the task and to the possibilities, by looking at books, images and Angela’s samples. Very quickly everyone will start to develop a vision of what they would like to make and can begin to identify their choice of body shape, joint type, colour palette, fabric, hair etc etc.
Using “skin” fabric we draw round the body, limb and head templates, then we stitch around each body part, by hand or by machine, before cutting out the pieces. Next, any further stitch is completed and each section will be turned and stuffed. With loads of samples and demonstration of techniques, Angela will support your work at every stage. There are tips and tricks to even the simplest of tasks that Angela will share. The stuffing can be the least exciting and most time-consuming part of the process, but it allows you to settle in, to relax, to get chatting and to get to know your fellow guests, or even watch TV while still busy with your hands!
At various stages there are optional extras for returners or for those who want to focus on one particular aspect or for those who want to push themselves to achieving a skill level above the basic eg wiring the fingers, needle-sculpting the face, drawing or embroidering facial features, and making a more advanced wig.
Finally, it all comes together when you will assemble the figure, attaching the arms, legs and head. True art cloth figures are decorated, adorned, even dressed as you go by applying fabrics, ribbons, beads, embroidery etc directly to the figure (and limbs) itself.
Basic sewing machine skills are helpful but not essential and some have even learned how to use their sewing machine while in this workshop. Hand stitching is, of course, a much more relaxing and meditative option, but progress will be slightly slower.
Angela will welcome a brief chat or E-mail exchange at least 2 weeks prior to the course which enables her to get an idea of what you are hoping for, to be optimally prepared to cover all your needs and to better bring to fruition your dreams for this workshop.
Course Inclusions And Coverage
This course is an all-in-one package which includes the following:
Tuition
Booking for this course includes 4 days of specialist tuition from Angela Neilson.
Equipment
All specialist equipment will be supplied but there will be a few essential items that you will need to bring. Please see our terms and detailed information section below.
Food & Accommodation
Full board catering and 5-nights accommodation are included when you book.
Transfers
Complimentary transfers are included when you book - subject to certain conditions.*
* Transfers from Stirling train station are available on the arrival and departure days (pick-up from the station at 15:30, departs Gartmore House at 9:15). Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports are available at an additional cost.
Picture Gallery
tERMS & DETAILED INFORMATION
If you’re coming on one of our holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. We also have a full programme of day trips and activities on offer for them. Please add them and day trips at the checkout stage.
How to book
To book online, please click on your preferred date above.
For any questions or to book direct please call 01877 382 991 or email mail@gartmorehouse.com
If you have any questions, you may like to take a look at our FAQs but if you have any further queries, please contact our team directly.
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF BOOKING
To confirm your holiday:
A non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
Payment of your holiday:
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
If you cancel your booking:
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
Your Course Tutor: Angela Neilson
Angela learned to sew her own clothes & embroider before she was 10 year old. A later formative influence was her Art teacher at secondary school who introduced her to batik and creative embroidery which she then rediscovered at a class run by Aberdeen City Council in the 1990s. She now has the grounding of more than 25 years membership of The Embroiderer’s Guild and has benefitted from the tuition of some of the “big names” in the creative textile world.
Her Mixed Media journey took off during her 4 years of Study at Moray College, UHI while working towards the City & Guilds Craft & Design (Embroidery). She was awarded the Certificate in 2013 and the Diploma in 2015.
The college course and degree shows at UHI gave her the confidence to exhibit on her own and she has been participating annually in North East Open Studios since. She has also exhibited with the Embroiderer’s Guild, in branch and regional exhibitions. Her machine embroidered prom dress was selected as a finalist in the Creative Upcycling Challenge at The Sewing for Pleasure Show in NEC in 2017.
In 1995 Angela was invited to become a member of Embroidery Textile Tutors Scotland (ETTS). She has been teaching creative stitch and mixed media textile techniques regularly since then.
Faq
Where can I find out more about the course?
If you need any further information about your course that is not on our website, please get in contact with us and we can provide you with the tutor’s contact details who can assist with your query.
What do I need to bring on my art, craft and activity break?
Your required kit list for your specific break is shown on each course’s webpage. Your tutor will also be in contact with you, prior to your course to confirm kit lists and questions you have.
Should you have any queries, then please feel free to contact us.
What is the art, craft and activity holiday booking terms and conditions?
To confirm your holiday a non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
Holidays are subject to availability and subject to change. There is a minimum number of guests required to run each course. If a course is cancelled due to low numbers, you may transfer any monies paid to an alternative date or a full refund will be issued. We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
What time do your transfer services for the art, craft & activity holidays operate?
We offer a complimentary transfer services to and from Stirling train station. Collection is at 3:30pm from the station on the day of arrival, and our drop-off service departs from Gartmore House at 9:15 am on day of departure.
The closest airports to us are Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. If you require a transfer to and/or from either airport, please select this option at the time of booking. Transfers to/from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are available at an additional cost. After booking your flights, please update your Customer Portal with the time you wish to be collected from the airport on the day of arrival and the time of collection at Gartmore House, returning to the airport, on the day of departure. Please allow 60 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Glasgow Airport, or 90 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Edinburgh Airport.
Can I bring a partner/friend to stay with me while I am on an art, craft or activity break?
If you’re coming on one of our art, craft or activity holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. Please add them at the checkout stage.
Spots on this course are limited!
Book your spot now and join us at Gartmore House. We are confident it will deepen your understanding of doll making.