out and about :: design geekery at the homegrown café

I have always dreamed of having my own café and shop. Somewhere that sells amazing coffee and awesome cakes, but more than that, somewhere that is the heart of a creative community. I have spent so long thinking about it, I can even tell you what colour the flooring is(!) but the key things that make up my dream shop are products from new and independent designer makers, studio space for new designers onsite, free wifi, a reference library of design books and creative workshops every evening from knitting and book clubs to screen printing, life drawing and illustration classes. Sounds fun, huh?!

Well, I am delighted to announce, that alongside the confessions of a design geek bursary, Home London has given me the opportunity to dip my toe into this dream with Design Geekery at the Homegrown Café.

Homegrown is the section of Home London for new and independent British designers, where the confessions of a design geek bursary shortlist stand and winner Fanny Shorter‘s stand will be. For the first time, there will also be a cafe and I have curated a series of creative workshops to take place within that space that will be run by two very talented designer-maker friends of mine.

Helen Lang is an illustrator and designer working from a London studio, who specialises in hand-lettering and decorative and character based illustrations. She will be running a series of illustration workshops, enabling you to make and take home your very own print in her beautiful and intricate style.

Zeena Shah creates screen printed and handmade accessories that bring colour and fun to your home – she recently appeared on Channel 4’s Kirstie’s Vintage Home, showing Kirstie how to print a kitchen blind. Zeena will be running a series of lino printing workshops, enabling you to design and carve your own stamps and use them to create a unique range of stationery and learn how to print fabrics at home.

Workshops will be running on the following dates and times:

• Sunday 12th Jan 2pm – 4pm: Helen Lang’s illustration workshop
• Monday 13th Jan 2pm – 4pm: Zeena Shah’s lino printing workshop
• Tuesday 14th Jan 2pm – 4pm: Helen Lang’s illustration workshop

You can book Zeena’s workshops here and Helen’s workshops here – and don’t forget that Home London is a trade show, so you’ll need to be a member of the trade (or press) to get into the show – make sure you register here as well as booking a place on the workshop of your choice. The courses are £55 each which includes all materials. We’re expecting both courses to be really popular and to sell out quickly – so get in quickly and secure your place!

I’m really excited about Home London this year, both about seeing the confessions of a design geek bursary come together in the flesh and about Design Geekery at the Homegrown Cafe – my first step towards a long held dream! I hope to see you there.

Further reading for the especially geeky:

• out and about :: home london
• coadg bursary :: the 2014 shortlist
• here’s one I made earlier :: yellow owl workshop

Thank you to Michelle Young for the photography of Zeena Shah’s workshops.