Activities at Simsalabim
The different activities at Simsalabim are the following :
- Simsalabim workshops and courses
- Presentations and 'outside' workshops
- Conferences and seminars
- New activities and collaborations
1. Simsalabim workshops and courses
In the Simsalabim Studio, you are welcome to lace-making, weaving and needlework. Tables, chairs, looms, needles, threads, fabric and all the material necessary for workshops and courses are available.
Workshop activities take place twice a week at Simsalabim, and courses are regularly organised, sometimes also on a Saturday. During the workshops, you drop in whenever suits you best, you stay for as long as you want and practice the technique of your choice. Very often, several textile techniques will be present at the same time : one person will be learning Bayeux embroidery, while another one struggles with bobbin lace. This will give you a chance to discover the beauty of techniques that you do not yet know.
Below you will find the workshops and courses that are presently running :
| THEME | WEEKDAY | TIME | PRICE |
| Workshop (all techniques) | every Monday* | from 9am to noon and 2pm to 6pm | click here |
| Workshop (all techniques) | every Tuesday* | from 9am to noon and 2pm to 6pm | click here |
| Workshop (all techniques) | every Wednesday morning* (starting 9th August 2010) | from 9am to noon | click here |
| Mounting your embroidery | possibly in Winter 2010-2011 | to be determined | to be determined |
| How to start and finish your Torchon lace | possibly in Winter 2010-2011 | to be determined | to be determined |
| *times might change during school holidays, please check |
You will find the prices here.
Sometimes on a Saturday, beginners' courses are organised at Simsalabim. Tatting and also needle felting are appreciated whole-day courses. If you are interested in such courses, please contact Simsalabim or have a look at this page regularly.
Private and semi-private tuition
Private and semi-private tuition can be organised, from Wednesday to Saturday, during the day or at night. If this option seems interesting to you, do not hesitate to contact Simsalabim.
Other courses
If you belong to an interest group and your group wishes to have a course especially tailor-made for you, this is also possible. These courses can be held at Simsalabim or if you prefer, in your own meeting place.
A course in your town or village?
Naturally, courses and regular workshops can take place elsewhere than at Simsalabim. If you wish, I will come to your town or village to give you a course. I can travel anywhere in Romandie and also in the Swiss-german and Swiss-italian parts of Switzerland. You may also choose the option to organise a course over several days instead of just one day.
Groups of embroiderers, weavers and lace-makers can invite me on a regular or irregular basis. Every course and workworkshop is specially planned for your group and tailor-made for your needs.
2. Presentations and outside workshops
My university degree and valuable working experience in teaching permit me to elaborate other events than the work-room activities and courses. I can easily plan and compile programmes and events adapted to all types of audiences. These events may vary from simple presentations to longer workshops.
The 'outside' workshops include several elements : a theoretical and practical presentation of a certain technique and an active participation from the audience, as well children as adults. The visitors at an event will then be able to try a new skill with the help of a fully trained specialist.
Presentations rarely demand an active outside participation but can be purely theoretical or practical - or even both. A simple presentation of for example spinning will however be very useful and also most interesting in a specific context.
Over the years, I have participated at several occasions in different types of events, offering presentations or giving workshops on wool, needlework and weaving.
Such workshops in embroidery, spinning, weaving or lace making are in general very much appreciated by visitors. It does not take long to spin a 50cm woollen thread or weave 2cm on a doll's rug. Very often, such techniques are also unknown to most of the visitors and therefore they are quite curious to try them out.
On the 19th and 20th June 2010, I will be doing Goldwork at the medieval event in the Château de Gruyères.
3. Conferences, talks and seminars
Conferences, talks and seminars can be organised and are always elaborated according to the organiser's request. Conferences with needlework and textiles as a theme can be of great interest at General Assemblies, in museums and universities, gatherings for textile professionals and other interest groups. Seminars, that will have a more restricted subject and will include practical work, can also be suggested to different interest groups, to museums, universities and companies.
The theme of the conferences, talks and seminars can be chosen freely by the organiser within certain limits. Thanks to my capacities in research, it is possible for me to prepare a conference on for example 13th century Goldwork, on lace in 17th century France, on the difference between the Bayeux Tapestry and the woven Flemish tapestries, or yet on dyeing methods from medieval times up to today. All topics on textiles and needlework could be potentially interesting. Of course, certain topics might need more research than others. The duration of a conference can vary from 20 minutes to 2 hours or more.
4. New activities and collaborations
Simsalabim - Centre des arts du fil is a dynamic and innovative Studio. That is why I am always on the look for new collaborations in the textile milieu. Is that also your case? Perhaps you would like to collaborate with me? Then have a look at what we can do together :
- organize seminars for small groups on a specific needlework or textile topic
- organize conferences on a specific needlework or textile topic
- suggest workshops for children in museums and schools (during school vacations, for example)
- teach needlework and textile arts (theory and practice) in museums, schools, high schools, colleges, universities and textile institutions
- offer guided tours (castles, museums, exhibitions) with textile and needlework themes
- create exhibitions around textiles and needlework and participate actively in the promotion of the event
- create events and 'happenings' around textiles and needlework on a regular basis
- develop different projects around textiles and needlework
I am open to any ideas of collaboration and I would be very happy to help you develop common ideas on textiles and needlework together with you. So do not hesitate any longer : give me a ring (+41-(0)21-601 06 26) or send me an e-mail.
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