Street Art in Brazil's slum districts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13389594

Here's a link to a street art project in Rio's poorest areas. Its based around a project to create murals on some of the buildings and encourage tourism into the area. A fantastic idea, it just goes to show that art can really have a significant impact on people's lives.

This is a small report from 'the strand' an arts programme on the BBC world service. I have to admit I've not heard of this before, despite listening to some BBC world service programmes - I must check it out!

Funky Felting

I'm excited to be working with Fran, who produces some lovely felt items. If you've never had a go at felting - it's great fun. It gets really messy and you really can't do it wrong. Fran came up with the genius idea of a bowl and coaster which has no seams, it's all one piece! and of course you can embellish the bowl or coaster as you wish...

Back Again....

I can't believe its been over a month since my last blog entry (I must try harder). Things have been so busy here at Running With Scissors central. I have meet with lots of lovely new tutors, spent hours enthusing about craft and had lots of coffee and cake. As a result we now have lots of new workshops ready for booking. Lino Printing with James is in early July and you can get to have a go at this lovely, very simple, but very effective technique. I especially like James 'Meersbrook View' lino print and was very tempted to purchase a print of this image at James's recent 'open day' (as part of the open up event for Sheffield artists).

Our sewing workshops are going well and 'Sewing Machines for beginners' is still the most popular workshop. We have now followed this up with a zip and button tote bag with our new dressmaking tutor, Sharon. This workshop lets you have a go at inserting a zip and producing professional looking buttonholes and 'button sewing-on' using a machine, as well as the much requested A-Line skirt in a day (I can, and will, be composing a whole blog post on this!) Also we have Fran's lovely feltmaking workshop. I absolutely love the way she combines the colours in her work and I always say ..you can never have too many useful bowls.