Happy Leap Day! Here is a very quick newsletter for the Makery.
First of all many, many thanks to Todmorden town council for funding us towards our core costs of rent, insurance and materials etc. The town council were are first funders back in 2021, and while are have been very lucky to get generous donations from our members, we still rely on this support. Many Thanks Again!
New Timetable
Here’s our new timetable. Men in Sheds is now weekly.
Other Projects
Tech and Tea is happening March 1st – so tell your friends if you think they would benefit. We are also still collecting old phones and tech. That’s going really well!
Members meeting soon!
We usually have a members meeting a few times a year to get your ideas and help people get involve in the project. We’ll be having one soon in March. But if you have ideas please just reply to this email with your ideas.
In September to November 2023 we ran the following workshops for Todmorden residents with help from the local Ward council who paid for resources and workshop leaders and CFFC who provided support via Nicola our volunteer coordinator.
For quite a while we have been finding new homes for older laptops that people have donated. We wipe the hard drive put on low power operating system and make sure it works well enough to browse the web.
We are now widening this out to phones and tablets. They are tricker to fix so we are also doing a partnership with St Augustine’s refugee project who can fix the devices that we can’t.
To back up this offer we are also going to do monthy Tech and Tea events to support people getting online. If you could help us by donating devices or volunteering at Tech and Tea please do get in touch on todmordenmakery @ gmail.com.
The Makery has been a fantastic project to get involved with. As we come up to our second birthday we now have 6 weekly drop-ins and other regular Men in Sheds and Women in Workshops sessions. These are great spaces for doing repairs, getting on with your making projects or getting help to do particular project. These sessions are now usually thriving and lively. It can be a bit hectic for some. We now have a dedicated quiet session on Wednesdays at 1.30.
We also have one off workshops which are a great way of getting involved in the project. Have a look at the flyers below for more information.
Recover and Remake is a series of creative, sustainable textile workshops in a relaxing and friendly environment designed to support the mental wellbeing of Todmorden residents. Feel free to ask us any questions.
Do you think this would be a good thing for you or someone you know. If so please do get in touch.
We’ll get in touch on the week of the workshop to confirm. If we can’t offer you a space you should still be able to complete the project as we’ll provide materials and some guidance at our drop in sessions. Come in and ask about out project boxes.
The Makery as a welcoming and supportive space.
We want to try to make our workshop as welcoming as we can for many sorts. The sessions above are especially aimed to help people’s wellbeing. We have found that one off guided workshops are really good at getting new people involved in the Makery. Especially for people that may find the drop in sessions a bit hectic or are not sure how to get involved.
Also each of these workshops aims to create a project box which will contain materials and pictures and where appropriate instructions. These boxes will be stored under the main tables of the workshop making it easy to get them out and have a guided project to get started on.
One job that needs doing is to test out a Project Box and check that it is easy to to use. You could then give feedback or if you want to go further improve it with photos or simple instructions. Just get in touch on todmordenmakery @gmail.com
Drop In Sessions Tuesdays 6.30 – 8.30 pm Monthly on First Tuesdays Makery Workshop – Tod College, Burnley Rd
“Build, brew & bond”
Upcoming dates Tuesday 5th September
Tuesday 3rd October
Come along to Women in Workshop at the Makery (Todmorden’s Community Workshop project). At these sessions you will have access to the tools and materials available in the workshop. Wood, Textiles and DiY etc. What happens? It’s an informal learning space. Women come to work on their projects or to ask for help with specific ideas. Sometimes there are demonstrations of specific skills. If you have questions feel free to get in touch on todmordenmakery@gmail.com
Elaine and Christine ran a fantastic workshop on making decorative repairs. You can come into a Wednesday or Friday drop in in the days if you want to try to get help doing the same.
Ben Duxbury ran this workshop which managed to fit in making stools into a very short timeframe by carefully planning the workshop to allow different pairs of participants to make one piece each which slotted together at the end.
We invite you to the Makery community workshop to use some of our equipment and materials at these workshops. These Events are kindly supported by Todmorden Town Council.
You can book in the following ways
Pop into the college and sign up at reception
Text your name and the date of the workshop to 07763395917 – we’ll text back to confirm
Email us on todmordenmakery@gmail.com
Follow us on facebook and message us there
If you have questions feel free to get in touch at todmordenmakery@gmail.com
We are open today Wednesday but closed on Friday the 17th March 2023. Then it’s back to normal service.
Secondly – you are invited to an event at the Makery next Friday
Come share ideas with us Every now and then we have a Meet Up & Eat Up to share food and ideas for project, events and other things at the Makery.
All welcome to this open Meet Up & Eat Up gathering
Friday 24th Mar 11-12 Makery Workshop – Todmorden College – Burnley Road
Finally, you are invited to a Photography Exhibition by Chris Foster – who made the photo frames with the support of the Makery and it’s volunteers.
1-31 March 2023 – Todmorden Information Centre – 15 Burnley Rd, Todmorden OL14 7BU
As the Covid 19 pandemic forced us into lockdown the word ‘gathering’ became synonymous with something we could no longer do, something which was in fact illegal. Yet, while we were forced to wave to each other from different sides of the street, to talk through windows, or to meet in some new virtual capacity, nature carried on without us. Perhaps even celebrated our absence from places we had previously dominated.
Forced to stay local, to be still, and seeking the connection I could no longer find with people, I began to wander areas I had not yet given attention, often due to a lack of time. As a commercial photographer it seemed that my work had dominated my creative output. The pandemic, it seems, forced many of us to slow down, to ponder, to reflect. As the weeks became months, and even years, I became the observer of these gatherings in nature; places where starlings chattered amongst the branches, badgers collected in the evening light and rain drops congregated on leaves and webs.
Now we once again gather, enjoying each other’s company and revelling in the closeness of each other. We come together for events, for groups, for company. Nowhere is this celebration of each other, of community more evident than in the Saturday Makery, where young and old gather to create, to talk, to share. In fact, it was in the Makery that I built the frames which hold the prints you see. As such 20% of all profits from sales will be donated to this group to ensure that we can continue to gather.
A recent free workshop led by Matt Davies on screen printing looked great. Let’s hope, it can be the start of on-going work on Screen Printing in the Makery. Screen Printing is a perfect project which could bring together all the different areas of the Makery and suitable for all ages.
Come and grab some bargains and declutter your unneeded fabric and haberdashery.
Bring your unwanted fabric, thread, knitting yarn, buttons, zips, knitting needles, patterns, bits and bobs, swap for something you’ll use. And give a donation if you can to help keep us going!
Inspired by Stitched Up’s Fabric Yard Sale and Bring and Buy Sales too. Image from Stitchup.coop
Buy fabric and craft supplies to start, or finish, your project / repair job / slow sew. Refresh your supplies and support the Makery.
This is more than a Sale: The Makery is also a friendly community of makers. Share a cuppa and hints and tips to start a new soothing, calming piece of knitting or sewing, or learn how to take up a hem, make a door curtain and matching draft excluded, patch an elbow. To find out more how to join the makery to get updates see this page. If you want to support us with a one of or regular donation have a look here.
15th June – 4.00 to 6.00 pm Makery Workshop – Todmorden College – Burnley Road
Are you interested in: Technology and textiles, games, robots, buggies and other fun creative projects. If so come along! All Ages Welcome. Free Event
This Month – Make something fabulous with textiles and technology. This could be something wearable or woven. It may flash, make sounds, spin or do something really useful.