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Supporting families across Dumfries and Galloway
Workshops

Upcycling & Remakery

Transform, recreate, and breathe new life into old items with Julie Stephen from The Artful Corner. Join us to learn sustainable skills and reduce waste through creative reuse.

About Our Upcycling Initiative

Transforming waste into wonder through creative reuse

Creative Reuse

At SHAX, we believe in the power of creative reuse to transform our community and environment. Our upcycling workshops, led by expert Julie Stephen, provide hands-on experiences that teach valuable skills while reducing waste.

For Everyone

Each workshop is designed to be accessible to all skill levels, from complete beginners to experienced crafters. We provide all materials, most of which are reclaimed or donated items that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Need Help Booking a Workshop?

Please try booking on the workshop cards first, then open this if you still need help.

If your chosen workshop is full or you are having trouble booking online, add your details here and we will contact you. If a cancellation becomes available, we can offer you a place.

Book A Workshop

Monday May 11th All Day Workshop – Recycled Paper and Wire Papier-mâché Animals
11/05/2026

Monday May 11th All Day Workshop – Recycled Paper and Wire Papier-mâché Animals

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Learn how to construct and build a wire and paper frame.
• Learn how to use Papier-mâché to layer and sculpt a woodland animal or favourite pet, using recycled paper and old books.
• Learn how use water-based paints to add colour and details to your model including; colour mixing, different brushstrokes to add a textured effect and deciding if you wish the text from the recycled paper to be visible or not.

Materials Provided:

All materials included

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm - Fully Booked
Monday May 18th Evening Workshop – Decorative Book Nook
18/05/2026

Monday May 18th Evening Workshop – Decorative Book Nook

Key Skills You'll Learn:

Key Skills:
• Using recycled materials such as mats, cardboard and frames, learn how to construct a decorative book nook to brighten up a corner of your bookshelf.
• Learn how to repurpose fabric offcuts, brick-a-brac and twigs to build a miniature woodland or garden.
• Learn how to add texture with a variety of materials to represent tree bark, moss or leaves.
• Add detail with paint and acrylic markers.

Materials Provided:

Julie will have examples available and lead you through each stage of the construction. Small battery party light will be available for each book nook, but must not be left switched on unattended for safety.

Available Slots:

  • Evening 18.30-21.30 - Fully Booked
Monday June 1st All Day Workshop – Decorative Book Nook
01/06/2026

Monday June 1st All Day Workshop – Decorative Book Nook

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Using recycled materials such as mats, cardboard and frames, learn how to construct a decorative book nook to brighten up a corner of your bookshelf.
• Learn how to repurpose fabric offcuts, brick-a-brac and twigs to build a miniature woodland or garden.
• Learn how to add texture with a variety of materials to represent tree bark, moss or leaves.
• Add detail with paint and acrylic markers.

Materials Provided:

Julie will have examples available and lead you through each stage of the construction. Small battery party light will be available for each book nook, but must not be left switched on unattended for safety.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm - Fully Booked
Monday June 15th Evening Workshop – Cocktail Glass or Vintage Teacup Pin Cushion
15/06/2026

Monday June 15th Evening Workshop – Cocktail Glass or Vintage Teacup Pin Cushion

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Choose from recycled fabric and felt offcuts to sew a practical yet quirky pin cushion.
• Choose from cocktail, crystal or wine glasses for a fun ice-cream sundae or cocktail inspired pin cushion. Or choose a teacup and saucer for a vintage design.
• Learn how to embellish and decorate your pin cushion with simple stitches, buttons, beads or recycled jewellery.

Available Slots:

  • Evening 18.30-21.30
Monday June 29th All Day Workshop – Cocktail Glass or Vintage Teacup Pin Cushion
29/06/2026

Monday June 29th All Day Workshop – Cocktail Glass or Vintage Teacup Pin Cushion

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Choose from recycled fabric and felt offcuts to sew a practical yet quirky pin cushion.
• Choose from cocktail, crystal or wine glasses for a fun ice-cream sundae or cocktail inspired pin cushion. Or choose a teacup and saucer for a vintage design.
• Learn how to embellish and decorate your pin cushion with simple stitches, buttons, beads or recycled jewellery.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm
Wednesday, July 1st All Day Workshop – T-Shirt Jewellery and Accessories
01/07/2026

Wednesday, July 1st All Day Workshop – T-Shirt Jewellery and Accessories

Key Skills You'll Learn:

Turn your old, tired t-shirts into quirky, unique and comfortable jewellery! Minimal sewing, lots of creativity and lots of fun. No experience necessary, all materials will be provided but feel free to bring along your own old t-shirts to upcycle too.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm
Wednesday, July 8th All Day Workshop – Make a Sewing Kit
08/07/2026

Wednesday, July 8th All Day Workshop – Make a Sewing Kit

Key Skills You'll Learn:

We'll spend a relaxing and creative day creating a basic sewing kit for ourselves; we'll make a needle-case and pincushion using upcycled fabric scraps, beads, buttons and imagination. You can then take your unique and personal sewing kit away with you ready to use at home. No experience necessary, all materials will be provid ed but feel free to bring along any fabric or embellishments you'd particularly like to use.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm
Wednesday, July 15th All Day Workshop – Tea-towel Totes and Aprons
15/07/2026

Wednesday, July 15th All Day Workshop – Tea-towel Totes and Aprons

Key Skills You'll Learn:

Transform old tea towels into useful tote bags and stylish aprons. We'll learn some basic construction techniques and play around with colour and pattern to create unique and personal designs. No experience necessary, all materials provided but feel free to bring along any old tea towels you'd like to repurpose.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm
Wednesday, July 22nd All Day Workshop – Fancy Frames and Noticeboards
22/07/2026

Wednesday, July 22nd All Day Workshop – Fancy Frames and Noticeboards

Key Skills You'll Learn:

We'll be transforming old picture fra mes into useful jewellery display boards or noticeboards using upcycled fabric and a bit of imagination. A perfect storage and display solution! No experience necessary, all materials provided!

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm
Wednesday, July 29th All Day Workshop – Poppy Seed Heads and Fabric Flowers
29/07/2026

Wednesday, July 29th All Day Workshop – Poppy Seed Heads and Fabric Flowers

Key Skills You'll Learn:

In this relaxing and creative session we'll be upcycling furnishing fabrics and offcuts to make a beautiful collection of fabric poppy seed heads and fabric flowers. There's a little bit of sewing, a little bit of wrapping and lots of fun! No experience necessary and all materials provided.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm - Fully Booked
Monday August 10th All Day Workshop – Crockery Mosaic Mirrors
10/08/2026

Monday August 10th All Day Workshop – Crockery Mosaic Mirrors

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Sorting, collecting and breaking recycled crockery into manageable mosaic pieces.
• Arrange tiles considering the design of your mosaic mirror.
• Learning how to glue, arrange tiles, mirror and grout to create a decorative mosaic mirror.
• Buff tiles to reveal ceramic colours, patterns and design.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm - Fully Booked
Monday August 24th Evening Workshop – Crockery Mosaic Mirrors
24/08/2026

Monday August 24th Evening Workshop – Crockery Mosaic Mirrors

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Sorting, collecting and breaking recycled crockery into manageable mosaic pieces.
• Arrange tiles considering the design of your mosaic mirror.
• Learning how to glue, arrange tiles, mirror and grout to create a decorative mosaic mirror.
• Buff tiles to reveal ceramic colours, patterns and design.

Available Slots:

  • Evening 18.30-21.30
Monday September 7th All Day Workshop – Decoupage Delights
07/09/2026

Monday September 7th All Day Workshop – Decoupage Delights

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Learn how to decoupage and decorate recycled bric-a-brac, coat hangers, jars, vases or trays.
• Select and choose 2 different items to decoupage throughout the workshop
• Decorate and embellish your decoupaged items with ribbon, lace, beads or buttons and paint.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm
Monday September 21st Evening Workshop – Decoupage Delights
21/09/2026

Monday September 21st Evening Workshop – Decoupage Delights

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Learn how to decoupage and decorate recycled bric-a-brac, coat hangers, jars, vases or trays.
• Select and choose 2 different items to decoupage throughout the workshop
• Decorate and embellish your decoupaged items with ribbon, lace, beads or buttons and paint.

Available Slots:

  • Evening 18.30-21.30
Monday October 5th All Day Workshop – Textiles- recycled T-shirt rug weaving
05/10/2026

Monday October 5th All Day Workshop – Textiles- recycled T-shirt rug weaving

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Sorting and selecting appropriate textiles for weaving bowl, trivet, mat or coasters.
• Choosing colour schemes and textures and creating own designs on paper.
• Weaving with the recycled textiles to make colourful circular bowl, trivet, mat or coasters.

Available Slots:

  • Morning: 10am till 12pm - Break - 12.30pm till 2.30pm
Monday October 19th Evening Workshop – Textiles- recycled T-shirt rug weaving
19/10/2026

Monday October 19th Evening Workshop – Textiles- recycled T-shirt rug weaving

Key Skills You'll Learn:

• Sorting and selecting appropriate textiles for weaving bowl, trivet, mat or coasters.
• Choosing colour schemes and textures and creating own designs on paper.
• Weaving with the recycled textiles to make colourful circular bowl, trivet, mat or coasters.

Available Slots:

  • Evening 18.30-21.30

Coming Soon

External Events & Collaborations

Non SHAX Events

2026-01-01
SOON

Keep your eyes peeled for events in the community

Non SHAX Events

What Our Participants Say

Amazing as always, really enjoy coming to these each month

Good to learn something new and meet new people. Would recommend to come along.

Met people i wouldnt normally get to and really had fun. Great way to spend a day.

Get In Touch

Connect with us and our workshop instructor

Contact Details

ADDRESS

Merrick House, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries DG1 4TA

Workshop Instructor

Julie Stephen - Workshop Instructor

The Artful Corner

Illustration & Printmaking

by Julie Stephen

SHAX gratefully acknowledges the support of: