From oil painting to metal working, willow sculpture to book binding, there is a creative course to suit everyone and taster days are an
excellent chance to dabble before committing to a proper course.

Our morning started with the all important introductions, and it was easy to spot our tutor Liz in the hall, who was wearing a giveaway bead necklace.

With everyone gathered we strolled up to the light-filled studio where there was a stunning display of her work, including various tassles and rings, which must have taken hours to complete. Thankfully our task would be a lot easier, she explained.

Our project for the day was to make a bracelet featuring a daisy flower pattern, decorated with a beaded flower and leaf centrepiece, no mean feat.

She assured us that it was a very manageable project, but I was sceptical.

The beads were so tiny I was wondering how I was going to see them, let alone complete a bracelet.

We all gathered round to watch Liz work her magic during a demonstration
of the first steps, her nimble fingers deftly working the beads into a peyote stitch.

Spreading the beads on the table she said that all we had to do, using the needle and thread, was to (wait for it), pick up five background colour beads, then go back through the third coloured bead and go back through the third bead from the needle then pick up one bead and go through the first bead!

Back at my table I just about managed to pick up five beads, but after that I was completely lost. As everyone else beaded away with ease, I was still stuck working out which bead I should go back through, and the chart I had didn't seem to be helping either.

As I wondered how on earth I was going to get started, let alone finish, the lovely Liz was over in a flash.

She explained that the key was holding the work properly, which makes
the actual beading much easier.

"You will get it," she assured me, as I looked blankly from the chart, to the beads then at my work and back to the chart.

While everyone was speeding ahead, with five inches of bracelet already
completed I was just getting the hang of it.

With much encouragement and patience from Liz, I found I was gathering pace - by jove I had it - Liz had been right. I felt such a sense of achievement, despite having completed an inch so far, but no sooner was I getting the hang of it, then it was time for lunch.

Refreshed and raring to go, the afternoon session was much more successful. I had the pattern down to a tee and I was chuffed to bits when I managed to correct a mistake without any help.

As the rain battered down on the roof, it felt nice and cosy being inside, beading away merrily. After the stress of the morning session, I found it to be a very relaxing and enjoyable activity.

Rather than start on the rather more complicated flowers, I decided to press on with the main bracelet, and do the flowers at home.

As well as learning a new skill, taster days are a great way to meet new
people. The atmosphere in the group was very relaxed, with everyone always willing to help each other.

Liz was just the right kind of tutor, chatty, patient, full of humour and smiles and just as pleased as we were when we were doing well.

I still haven't finished my bracelet yet, but I'm getting there, and if it hadn't been for the taster day, I wouldn't have discovered such a lovely activity.

For more about taster days and the new range of short courses, contact West Dean College on 01243 811301, email or see its website.