by Peter Lawrence and Nathalie Jahn

When you come into the Craft Studio for the very first time, it is like entering a world of its own - a magical place filled with countless objects hanging from the ceiling or on the high walls, lying on top of shelves or hiding under tables. It is a labyrinth of colours and materials. When you look closer, you can find paintings, drawings, weavings, candles, knitting, cards, jewellery, woodwork, and last but not least hama beads. 

In the Craft Studio, it is all about arts and crafts. As long as you are creative and imaginative, the options are endless and as Simeon, the workmaster, likes to put it: “everything is possible”.  
At times the Craft Studio is a buzzing factory producing hama bead pictures. On other days, you can hear the constant buzz of the printer or the distinct woosh of wool being pulled through a frame loom.

The Craft Studio is a very social workshop with visitors coming in frequently, having a look around and even people from other workshops popping by. As it is one of the biggest workshops, it can easily get crowded during tea break, when everybody is sitting together and having a nice chat. 

We get many things such as tools, wool, fabric or old candles donated from visitors.
As Peter, an old hand in the Craft Studio, says: 
“The bits of old candles can be used for candle making. First we need to melt the wax in a special pot and add a secret ingredient to make the wax bright and colourful. Then I pour the wax into tins and wait until it is hardened. That’s when I can start painting the tins in different colours and decorating them. I also enjoy weaving and making earrings. But what is really nice about the Craft Studio is that you can do whatever you enjoy doing most. ”