September was a busy month at the Art Flat.  As well as the usual weekly workshops, we had a week long celebration of Zero Waste Week, from the 3rd till the 7th of September, with special one-off classes, and an exhibition of work by the folks in our Silver Living workshops!

Silver Living participants were taught by designers and costumers, Susan McInnes and Steph Davidson, and got the opportunity to design and create a few cushions for their home.  They learnt how to sew a cushion together and add their own unique design – using stencils, screen printing and patchwork/embroidery.  All of the textiles and materials that were used, were donated or second hand!  These workshops were available to Broomhill Court residents and funded by the D’Oyly Carte Opera Trust, so they were completely free.

Zero Waste Week celebrations were kicked off on Tuesday the 4th of September with Clock-Making Workshops.

Using recycled milk bottles and coloured bottle tops, we have created cool and colourful melted plastic shapes that can be used in workshops to create interesting homewares, and in this workshop participants got the chance to make and design their own clock.  Talented artist Amelia Rowe led these workshops to help create these beautiful, recycled pieces for folks’ homes.

Broomy’s Bairns took part in Zero Waste Week by making a honeycomb installation at the Art Flat using donated egg cartons and pipe cleaners.

The final Zero Waste Week event was an eco-dying workshop!  Participants were dyeing donated fabrics and homemade paper, with natural dyes such as vegetables, fruit, flowers and foliage – with beautiful results!

Participants learned these valuable techniques alongside upcycling knowledge to help reduce textile waste and promote at home methods of creatively altering old clothing!

These Zero Waste Week events were all part of ‘Recycle Upcycle 3D’, that is funded by Climate Challenge Fund, Greener Scotland and European Regional Development Fund and so were completely FREE.

 

September was also a busy month for the folk going along to our Stained Glass workshop!

Over 8 weeks participants created a selection of stained glass 3D polyhedrons for an installation piece.  Each polyhedron tells the story of its maker reflecting the multitude of voices that comprise a community.  They used the copper foil technique, experimented with painting and slumping techniques and used beautiful reclaimed glass dating from 1850.  We can’t wait to see the piece installed!