Artist and designer Amelia Rowe, is leading classes in how to turn difficult-to-recycle materials into useful and decorative objects!  The first in this 12 week series of workshops, on Thursday the 14th, was a great success in beadmaking for jewellery.

Amelia brought along some of her own fantastic work to show participants what could be done with such a simple process.

All we needed to make these beads were –

Plastic bottles, permanent markers, nail varnish, BBQ skewers, thin-nosed pliers, scissors and tealights.

We decorated strips of plastic bottles with the permanent markers and nail varnish in different patterns, then wrapped the strips around the BBQ skewers and pinched the end with the pliers, holding it gently over the tealight until it melted together.

Participants made enough of the beads to make into bracelets or necklaces on fishing wire.

Plastics such as carrier bags and crisp packets are hugely difficult for our local councils to recycle so Amelia is going to use them to share skills with participants in how to make items such as jewellery, woven baskets and wallets.

Classes will take place every Thursday at the Broomhill Art Flat from 3.30pm – 5.30pm – new members always welcome!

Come on the day to the Broomhill Art Flat (to gain entry, press number “12” on the keypad to be buzzed into Broomhill Court),
12 Broomhill Court, Ann Street, Greenock, PA15 4ET

These free workshops are suitable for all ages, but under 14s should be accompanied by an adult.