Make Japanese Gift Wrapping with Larkswold Creative Workshops

Best friends and long-time craft lovers Melinda and Emma founded Larkswold Creative in early 2020, after realizing they both held a strong desire to share their passion for making with others. 

So how do you launch a workshop business in times of COVID? In an outdoor marquee, of course! Determined to give their guests both comfort and safety, the pair set up a spacious marquee in the countryside and kicked things off with a lino cutting workshop. 

With the doors flung open in summer and kept tight and cosy in winter, they now spend their days teaching others how to master macrame, whip up wonderful wreaths and unwind with calligraphy from the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds. 

Firm believers in the fact that craft is a powerful wellbeing-booster, Melinda and Emma provide their guests with a soothing, warm, and nourishing environment for guests to simply learn to be creative. The creative duo is also insistent that freshly ground coffee and homemade cake are essential to the crafting process!

The first thing I ever made…

At Larkswold were linocuts. It’s just the coolest thing ever to create your own design, and then turn it into anything you like; framed artwork for your wall, a printed card for your bestie, a fabulous tote bag for your shopping… the list is endless!

The first thing I EVER made myself (that I can remember) was a hand embroidered pencil case in textiles class at school. It was my introduction to sewing and embroidery, and I loved the slow but steady progress as the stitches covered the canvas. I got totally absorbed in the process, and that’s what I still love about crafting today.

I’m on a mission to… 

Bring joy, happiness, and calm to as many people as possible through the medium of crafts!

When I’m working with crafts and textiles, I feel... 

Incredibly grateful that however financially poor I might be, I have the best lifestyle ever. Craft brings together really lovely people, and you get to surround yourself with such beautiful things; silky ribbons and fresh rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus when making wreaths, stunning patterns for lampshades, and wonderful essential oils for candles.  

The thing I have learned most about working with crafts is the importance of quality scissors. It makes all the difference and can bring real joy to your day when they’re super sharp and effective!

Teaching others has taught us... 

How much we really love people. They have great stories and constantly amaze us with new creative ideas and ways of doing things.  

Teaching gives you a wonderful sense of giving. It can be unbelievably hard when you realize you just DO things and when you try to break them down to show someone else, you realize you’ve been doing it on autopilot. But then it allows you to slow down, step back and become incredibly mindful about the craft.  

The holiday season smells like...

Larkswold smells delicious at Christmas. With plenty of real pine or fir trees and foliage for wreaths in the marquee, warm mulled wine, and freshly baked mince pies (with a dollop of cream of course!) ready for our guests, the Christmas scents fill the air.

This year I’m grateful for… 

The Larkswold family of guests, friends, and the community who have tirelessly supported us. Kindness from others makes us keep pushing to create the most magical space and experience we can for every single guest that arrives at our door.