Repair Week: Hammer Spa Day, Toothbrush Rag Rug and Woodwork for Wellbeing

Spa Day for Hammers: 10:00-12:00pm (Morning Session)

Book your place at Spa Day for Hammers here

Bring in your most loved hammer for a bit of TLC, with artist & founder of The Tool Appreciation Society, Linda Brothwell. To start the session people will share stories about their hammers, how and where they use it and what makes it special. Then there will be the important task of caring for it; a little face polish, a repair to or replacement of the handle, a new grip or even making a better fit for your hand. Come along and the Institute of Making will dive into why loving and caring for your handtools makes for a happy life!

Linda Brothwell is a British visual artist and founder of The Tool Appreciation Society. Her multi-disciplinary practice casts her as a maker and carer of objects, tools and publicly sited interventions. She considers what it means to make something by hand that takes ‘care’ as its core, to not only make the ‘thing’ but to make the tools to make the thing, to spend months or years immersed in the techniques, the materials and the stories of a place.

No experience or skill necessary, all welcome!

To take part in the session you will need:
- your hammer!

Toothbrush Rag Rug Masterclass: 10:00-12:00pm (Morning Session)

Book your place at Toothbrush Rag Rug Masterclass here

Learn the surprisingly simple art of Amish toothbrush rug making, reusing a retired toothbrush and waste textiles. Make your own rug making tool and mini rug. No sewing required. Rag rugs are a great way to reuse scrap fabric and are machine washable! If you have an old toothbrush or kitchen utensil ideally with a hole in the end, please bring it along to recycle.

Jessica Corlett is a London-based Arts & Events Coordinator with a career spanning film and television production, children’s fashion, social care activities, and costume design. Her specialism is textile-based craft techniques, the more novel the better. She loves recycling and reusing materials and is currently part-time teaching a furniture restoration course for a London charity on a mission to save as much furniture as possible from landfill.

No experience or skill necessary, all welcome!

To take part in the session you will need to bring:
- an old toothbrush or kitchen utensil ideally with a hole in the end (wood or plastic)
- old scraps of textile you'd like to add to your rug

Consultations with Woodwork for Wellbeing: 10:00-16:15

Book your consultation with Woodwork for Wellbeing here

In these consultations, Woodwork for Wellbeing co-founders, Alex and Paul, co-founders, Alex and Paul, will be on hand to talk you through possible repair solutions for your broken wooden objects. Alex and Paul will introduce techniques such as working with basic hand-tools and finishing materials to bring your wooden treasures back to life, in addition to teaching DIY carpentry methods for future repairs. For objects requiring more complicated repair solutions, Alex and Paul will provide expert advice on how to safely plan and complete restoration projects at home.

No experience or skill necessary, all welcome!

To take part in the session you will need:
- a broken wooden object in need of repair (no larger than carry-on luggage size) 
- 48 hours ahead of the event, please email three sentences about your repair project to events@instituteofmaking.org.uk 

With over 40 years of experience being a cabinet maker, repairer, tutor and youth worker, Paul will be able to guide you through the repair process. Alex Brooke, a woodwork tutor, facilitator, maker and handyman for many years will also be on hand too. Woodwork for Wellbeing runs various relaxed and open social woodwork sessions within the community, aimed at helping to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing through making and learning together. 

Spa Day for Hammers: 14:00-16:00 (Afternoon Session)

Book your place at Spa Day for Hammers here

Bring in your most loved hammer for a bit of TLC, with artist & founder of The Tool Appreciation Society, Linda Brothwell. To start the session people will share stories about their hammers, how and where they use it and what makes it special. Then there will be the important task of caring for it; a little face polish, a repair to or replacement of the handle, a new grip or even making a better fit for your hand. Come along and the Institute of Making will dive into why loving and caring for your handtools makes for a happy life!

Linda Brothwell is a British visual artist and founder of The Tool Appreciation Society. Her multi-disciplinary practice casts her as a maker and carer of objects, tools and publicly sited interventions. She considers what it means to make something by hand that takes ‘care’ as its core, to not only make the ‘thing’ but to make the tools to make the thing, to spend months or years immersed in the techniques, the materials and the stories of a place.

No experience or skill necessary, all welcome!

To take part in the session you will need:
- your hammer!

Toothbrush Rag Rug Masterclass: 14:00-16:00 (Afternoon Session)

Book your place at Toothbrush Rag Rug Masterclass here

Learn the surprisingly simple art of Amish toothbrush rug making, reusing a retired toothbrush and waste textiles. Make your own rug making tool and mini rug. No sewing required. Rag rugs are a great way to reuse scrap fabric and are machine washable! If you have an old toothbrush or kitchen utensil ideally with a hole in the end, please bring it along to recycle.

Jessica Corlett is a London-based Arts & Events Coordinator with a career spanning film and television production, children’s fashion, social care activities, and costume design. Her specialism is textile-based craft techniques, the more novel the better. She loves recycling and reusing materials and is currently part-time teaching a furniture restoration course for a London charity on a mission to save as much furniture as possible from landfill.

No experience or skill necessary, all welcome!

To take part in the session you will need to bring:
- an old toothbrush or kitchen utensil ideally with a hole in the end (wood or plastic)
- old scraps of textile you'd like to add to your rug

Important: the Institute of Making's COVID-19 policy for Repair Week

The Institute of Making has adopted some temporary measures for our in-person events during Repair Week, to ensure the safety of their team and to help everyone attending to feel as comfortable as possible.

Negative test result required:

All event participants coming to the Institute of Making will need to show proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of the event. You can either show your test result on your NHS app, or show text message confirmation of a negative test result. Unfortunately they will not be able to give access to anyone without a negative test result.

Links: Order a free lateral flow test / Register your test result on the gov.uk website

Face coverings:

At the Institute of Making's in-person events, all participants are required to wear a face covering. If you are unable to wear a face covering, please book onto their online events instead. Their staff are happy to help you find an online event or to work with you to work out a type of face covering that will enable you to attend the in-person event. Email events@instituteofmaking.org.uk with any questions.

COVID symptoms:

If you experience any COVID-19 symptoms, including a temperature, please cancel your event booking through Eventbrite and stay at home. We know it can be disappointing to miss an event, but it is important to keep everyone safe.

Do you have specific access requirements?

The Institute of Making would like to make sure that everyone can join their events and use their website as easily as possible. Please message them if you need any particular support or assistance while attending their space or using their platforms, so they can ensure those. They are also always interested in feedback to help them improve access to their activities. Contact Sara by following this link.