Print & Make a Lampshade Workshop – David Parr House, Cambridge

Date

Saturday 25th October 2025

Start

13:00

Finish

14:00

£90.00

Details

Print & Make a Lampshade- David Parr House, Gwydir Street, Cambridge     

10.00-14.00 Saturday 25th October 2025 – 

Step into the extraordinary hand-painted world of David Parr — an Arts & Crafts artist who spent 40 years transforming his humble Cambridge home into a masterpiece of intricate design and pattern.

This workshop begins with a guided tour of the David Parr House, where you’ll explore the richly decorated interiors and gather inspiration from the very walls that David Parr painted by hand. Afterwards, you’ll head into the studio for a relaxed, hands-on session where you’ll create a beautiful, functional piece of art for your own home.

Using wooden printing blocks and linocuts, you’ll design your own pattern on cotton or linen fabric and then craft it into a 30cm drum lampshade. You’ll have time to test out ideas on scrap fabric, and all techniques will be clearly demonstrated — no experience needed!

In this workshop, you’ll:

  • Explore the historic David Parr House on a guided tour

  • Take creative inspiration from its hand-painted Arts & Crafts interiors

  • Learn block printing techniques to personalise textiles

  • Practise on test fabric before printing your final design

  • Choose from a variety of wooden blocks, linocuts, and colours

  • Make and take home your own unique handmade lampshade

Celebrate the spirit of David Parr by creating something beautiful for your own space — practical, personal, and proudly handmade.

David Parr House, Gwydir Street, Cambridge
Step Free Access and Ramp available at the rear of the property via the Gwydir Street Carpark.

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FAQs

Find answers to our customers’ most frequestly asked queries here

Workshop Types - Who are workshops suitable for?

There are 2 Basic Types of Workshop run by Lovely Lydia:

  1. Those where we use ready-made wood and lino print blocks to print onto fabric Fabric Printing Workshops and Print and Make a Lampshade fall into this category. 

If you can hold a print block, you can do this workshop- no other pre-requisites! 

  1. Those where you will create and carve your own print blocks from Lino and use them during the workshop to print fabric – Linocut for Textiles. 

This workshop involves using sharp tools to cut your lino so it does require a bit of hand dexterity. You don’t need to be able to draw. 

My workshops are open to all abilities and age groups. Workshops are generally aimed at adults but kids can come to – I also also “Family Editions” which are aimed at adults and kids together. For Linocut Workshops I generally suggest it’s suitable for kids over 8. 

All the materials you will need for the workshops will be provided including: 

  • Wood and Lino Print Blocks
  • Water Based Fabric Paints
  • Paint Trays, Sponges, Brushes, Pencils and Pens
  • Aprons
  • Scrap fabric to practice on
  • Blank Fabric or Fabric Blanks such as a Tea Towel, Tote Bag, Cushions Covers or Napkins
  • For Lampshade Workshops: all the materials to construct your lampshade plus a choice of white linen or natural cotton to print your shade. 
  • For Linocut Workshops: a piece of A5 Lino and cutting tools to use during class. 

Lydia will also bring along some examples of block printing to demonstrate and provide inspiration! 

If you would like to bring some of your own fabric or ready made clothing to print during class please do. Lydia may request a small extra charge for paint if the item to be printed is very large and requires a lot of fabric paint for your project. 

For each workshop venue detailed accessibility information will be provided in the event details. 

It is always my aim to provide at least the following for my workshops:

  • Nearby Parking and/or public transport available nearby. 
  • Nearby Cafes or Shops for Drinks and Snacks and/or facility to buy or make hot drinks during the workshop. I will let you know if you should bring a packed lunch or similar. 
  • Natural Light in the Workshop Space. 
  • Wheelchair Access to the Workshop Space and a Disabled Loo. 
  • Teaching with different learning styles in mind. 

If you have any access needs or considerations I will always do my best to accommodate you – please feel free to get in touch and discuss these with me. 

Workshops are a super way for a group of people to get together! And you really don’t need a lot of space to run them (and I can advise on that!). 

Please do get in touch if you would like to book me for a work team event, a birthday party, a Hen or Stag Do, or an event! 

As Venues and Materials need to be paid/ purchased ahead of the course going ahead, a full refund is available if you cancel up to 72 hours before the workshop. Thereafter it would be a 50% refund. 

If I cancel the workshop you would be fully refunded. 

Please note that when the workshop is being hosted by the venue (ie you book with them and not with me) they will have their own cancellation policies.