Cabbage Rose
Situated within one of our lovely bright first floor rooms at the Foxlowe Arts Centre is the home of Cabbage Rose – a haven for all things creative where a multitude of fantastic workshops take place which are open to all. Cabbage Rose is home to a collective of artists and creatives who run adult and children’s art and craft workshops, as well as offer creative birthday parties, hen parties, baby showers and office Christmas / team building workshops. For the past seven years Cabbage Rose’s home has been the in Foxlowe Arts Centre. Apart from its core artists, Cabbage Rose also hosts a range of guest artists who run a variety of workshops. Cabbage Rose also works with schools and (SEN) schools, running four-to-six-week programmes and / or shorter sessions. Here we focus on the main artists and creatives who are involved with Cabbage Rose:
Caron Colbert
Caron started Cabbage Rose online in 2011 establishing a physical presence in 2013, running workshops from the Cabbage Rose shop premises in St Edward Street. Having studied design and pattern-making, she now teaches adult and children’s sewing workshops, ranging from beginners to intermediate to themed workshops. Caron started experimenting with other creative forms and teaches children’s creative workshops at Cabbage Rose and in schools. Caron has a BA (Hons) Open in Art History, German, and History and in her professional capacity, she works in the built environment and has worked on large creative projects in various schools and community groups in and around Staffordshire. Caron said: “Cabbage Rose was established to offer a diverse range of workshops with an emphasis on creativity, education and fun. Our strength lies in the wonderful artists who share their knowledge and teach new skills to people of all ages. As well as learning new artistic skills, people enjoy meeting new people and many come back on a regular basis bringing along their friends and family.”
Sarah Myatt Glass
Artist Sarah graduated in 2000 from the University of Wolverhampton with BA (Hons) in 3D Glass Design. Having learnt many different techniques from stained glass, casting and glass blowing, she fell in love with kiln forming and set up Sarah Myatt Glass. Sarah said: “I love everything about glass: the huge array of colours and patterns, the feel and the way light can completely change a piece. It can be quite an unpredictable material, but it keeps you on your toes. I primarily use bullseye glass and love the endless possibilities, colour combinations and flexibility. A natural theme runs through my work and my range mainly consists of sun-catchers that are perfect for windows, walls and the garden….Birds, Bees, Bunnies and much more.” Sarah added: “I want my work to bring a burst of joy, a burst of colour and to make you smile. I am a regular at the Sunday Supplement in Leek, the Treacle Market in Macclesfield and have my work in various galleries and shops around the UK.”
Jo Gardiner
Artist Jo studied social work and spent many years supporting survivors of domestic abuse. She has always had artistic leanings and enjoyed using art as a wellbeing tool in the women’s refuges she worked in. Jo said: “About ten years ago I started dabbling in art a bit more seriously and the opportunity arose to share studio space with a group of other creatives. I do not limit myself to one medium however, fibre art/needle felting has become my focus. I have a love of nature and wildlife, and this is reflected in my art work. I produce and sell fibre art, needle felting kits, cards, original artwork and giclee prints. I love to work with wool, textiles, pastels, pen, pencil and water colours.” Jo added: “I have been lucky enough to make art my full-time job and I sell my creations, cards and needle felting kits at various events and via my website. I run creative workshops at Cabbage Rose and other locations in the surrounding area.”
Debs Knowles and Tracey Cartlidge - The Happy Makers
Debs graduated in 1994 with a BAQTS in Art & Design and taught in primary schools until 2017 when she went on to privately home tutor individuals with additional needs. Tracey graduated from St Martin’s College with a degree in sculpture and has been practising her art for many years, as well as working as a one-to-one care support worker. Together Debs and Tracey run The Happy Makers which delivers children’s workshops at Cabbage Rose and tutor clients with ASD and PDA, and conduct bespoke, inclusive, sociable, and engaging creative workshops with individuals or groups of all ages with psychological, behavioural and physical needs. Debs also runs adult printing workshops at Cabbage-Rose, for birthday parties as well as creative workshops with various schools.
Kornelia (Nelly) Ferrari
Mandala artist Nelly is originally from Hungary but now lives in Stoke-on-Trent. She is a professional mandala artist and owner of ‘MandaLovebyNelly.’ She paints unique mandalas and pushes the boundaries in her art, combining different techniques, styles and designs with mandala inspired patterns. Nelly is the exhibition officer of the Society of Staffordshire Artists whose talented members also influence her work. She said: “My work is influenced by the colours of nature, flowering British gardens, and holidays by the seaside or in the mountains.” You will find her mandala inspired products in gift shops around Staffordshire and Cheshire. She also teaches mandala painting to adults and a variety of arts and crafts workshops to children.
Laura Stoker
Ceramic artist Laura is a self-taught pottery artist, she set up Folklaura Ceramics, a small ceramics business that specialises in realistic dog and animal sculpture commissions, sells her commissioned works worldwide. Laura is also well-known for her gnome workshops, inspired by Nordic folklore. As well as her workshops at Cabbage Rose she also teaches at The Ramblers Retreat Cafe in Dimmingsdale. Laura said: “I am a self-taught artist and love to teach others the beauty of clay and what they can create.” Laura is also a trainer at Restart Dogs and a trainer and behaviourist at Dog Training Revolution working across the Staffordshire Moorlands and surrounds.
