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Made in Felixstowe
Made in Felixstowe
Unleash your creative spirit with a visit to the seaside town of Felixstowe this June.
Beautiful watercolours, unusual pine needle weaving and intricate fused glass… every weekend (4-26 June) this month, a range of our talented artists are opening their studios to the public, as part of the county-wide Suffolk Open Studios. Follow the special ‘Felixstowe Art Trail’ to see work in progress, talk to the artists and perhaps purchase something unique. Download your copy of the trail sheet from the Visit Felixstowe website at www.visitfelixstowe.co.uk
Feeling inspired? Then why not get hands-on by booking yourself onto an arts and crafts course in town. Create beautiful stained glass in the company of Naomi Brangwyn, or try Saori hand-weaving with Cherrie Stevens at her seafront workshop. Fancy designing and making your own clothes? Fashionists should head to the Felixstowe Sewing School, where Amanda Bowden can teach you everything from making vintage frocks and Christmas stockings to adding a zip or two on her year-round events.
At The Thrifty Thistle in Hamilton Road, you can make gemstone jewellery, play with clay and create shabby chick flowers during June. Whilst just across the road at Crafty Coffee, there is fun ceramic painting and decopatching to enjoy for adults and children alike.
This area of Felixstowe (around Hamilton and Orwell Road) is our very own ‘lifestyle quarter’ - a great place to explore and pick up some fabulous gifts and locally made hand-made crafts, such as at Winnie and Daisy’s, Suffolk Living, Tea and Kate and The Thrifty Thistle. With your shopping done, head to The Cliff Top Cafe overlooking the newly restored Seafront Gardens. The cafe holds a programme of changing art exhibitions to enjoy whilst you munch down on home-made cakes.
Like-minded local artists come together as part of the Felixstowe Art Group which holds regular meetings where members can hone their skills and share ideas. Visit their gallery on Bent Hill to see their works, and later in the year (Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 August), don’t miss their annual Art Exhibition held at the Trinity Methodist Church.
More art-based events coming up in June... magnificent Landguard Fort is holding ‘Sea Change’ as part of this year’s Felixstowe Book Festival (Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June). A thought-provoking journey in the historic casemates by sound artist Lily Hunter Green. Next door at the Felixstowe Museum, families are invited to join in the ‘Touching the Tide’ Art Workshop on Sunday 5 June. Run by artists from the Tidal Margins project, create colourful paintings based around the exciting world of paddle steamers at Felixstowe and their role in the community in the 19th C.
Finally, mark your diaries for one of our most popular events - Art on the Prom is back on the seafront on Sunday 4 September. Over 100 artists will be displaying and selling original artwork in a wide variety of media, including paintings, ceramics, glass, photography and textiles. There will also be free art activity tents, live music and entertainment. A great day out for all the family.
Stephen Rampley, Felixstowe Marketing and Events Co-ordinator said:
"Felixstowe is becoming a real artist’s hotspot. Our beautiful coastline, seascapes and historic buildings provide a wonderful inspiration to artists alike. We invite you to come and explore our Art Trail in June, then book yourself onto one of our fabulous and inspirational art and craft workshops".
For more great ideas, please visit the comprehensive Visit Felixstowe website at www.visitfelixstowe.co.uk, where you can download the Felixstowe Art Trail leaflet, plus browse our ‘What’s On’ guide featuring upcoming art and craft based events throughout 2016 and beyond.