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Learn all you need to know about speed techniques for machine and hand piecing quilts.
Led by Jane Cobbett, whose vintage quilt collection Quilting Yarns the museum is exhibiting. Jane has designed day workshops that are inspired by the exhibition and explore the historical techniques and designs. You will start by looking at the quilts connected to the chosen workshop, you will also take home a selection of designs inspired by the quilts which you will produce during the day. During the afternoon you will also be given a personal tour of the exhibition in which Jane will tell you what she has discovered about the fascinating personal histories of the quilts.
Read more about our workshops.
Read more about the exhibition.
£20.00

Step back in time and meet characters from the Victorian needle industry as you are led around the mill in this interactive tour presented to you by Indigo Arts theatre group.
Meet the pointers and learn all about the harsh realities of their working lives. Listen to the women gossiping as they work. See the scourers at work in the original Victorian mill.
MUSEUM ENTRY APPLIES
Come and have a go at using a top of the range Pfaff embellisher. Learn all about creating those wonderful finishing and fancy touches to your fabric masterpiece! Machines kindly supplied by VSM.
Read more about our workshops.
MUSEUM ENTRY APPLIES

This workshop combines embroidery with patchwork for this Vintage American technique.
Led by Jane Cobbett, whose vintage quilt collection Quilting Yarns the museum is exhibiting. Jane has designed day workshops that are inspired by the exhibition and explore the historical techniques and designs. You will start by looking at the quilts connected to the chosen workshop, you will also take home a selection of designs inspired by the quilts which you will produce during the day. During the afternoon you will also be given a personal tour of the exhibition in which Jane will tell you what she has discovered about the fascinating personal histories of the quilts.
Read more about our workshops.
Read more about the exhibition.
£20.00

They were made for each other, it's just that nobody told them! Beatrice and Benedick appear to hate each other yet what real feelings are they protecting with their sharp as steel wits? Claudio appears to love Hero - is he more in love with being in love and social climbing? Don Pedro and Leonato hold high office and each other in high regard. They take great pride in the prosperity of their respective states and yet they seem blind to the plotting evil half brother of Don Pedro... Don John! And as for Dogberry and co... well! Confused? You will be. But it wouldn't be Shakespeare if it didn't work out alright in the end!
An entertaining outdoor production of this Shakespearian classic!
Tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting the museum.
£5.00 IN ADVANCE, £7.00 ON THE DOOR
Come and have a go at using a top of the range Pfaff embellisher. Learn all about creating those wonderful finishing and fancy touches to your fabric masterpiece! Machines kindly supplied by VSM.
Read more about our workshops.
MUSEUM ENTRY APPLIES

The museum on the move bus comes to Redditch to tell the story of the modern Olympic games from a local perspective.
Lots of objects to see onboard as well as some fun, hands-on activities to try.
MUSEUM ENTRY APPLIES

EVERY PAGE IS A STAGE: STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN
A storytelling session at Forge Mill Museum. Each month, children and their families will be treated to a feast of stories, sing-a-longs and magic with storyteller Big Dave.
During each session children will be able to make a prop to use during one of the stories.
Suitable for children aged 3 to 5 years. Ticket price includes one accompanying adult per child (extra adult places chargeable and subject to availability) and tea/coffee/squash.
Presented by The Palace Theatre Heritage Project.
To book, please call the Palace Theatre Box Office on 01527 65203.
Read more about our activities for children.
£5.50 PER CHILD

Step back in time and meet characters from the Victorian needle industry as you are led around the mill in this interactive tour presented to you by Indigo Arts theatre group.
Meet the pointers and learn all about the harsh realities of their working lives. Listen to the women gossiping as they work. See the scourers at work in the original Victorian mill.
MUSEUM ENTRY APPLIES
A day of fun archaeology themed activities for all the family!
Meet Grunal the medieval moneyer and mint your own coin. Try your hand at archery using longbows to fire at targets and play some medieval games. Find out more about the history of Bordesley Abbey with a free guided tour. Have a go at excavating, sorting and recording your finds in the archaeology hut and try out one of our special backpacks for budding archaeologists. There will also be medieval food tasting and themed children's craft activities.
ADULTS £1.50, CHILDREN FREE


Step back in time and meet characters from the Victorian needle industry as you are led around the mill in this interactive tour presented to you by Indigo Arts theatre group.
Meet the pointers and learn all about the harsh realities of their working lives. Listen to the women gossiping as they work. See the scourers at work in the original Victorian mill.
MUSEUM ENTRY APPLIES

All aboard this celebration of that infamous sinking ship! Meet Edwardian passengers getting ready to set sail, unaware of the fate that lies ahead of them. Meet our very own 'Leonardo DiCaprio' who is sure to impress the ladies and allow the atmospheric music famously played on board the Titanic wash over you. Enjoy the Titanic Honour and Glory exhibition and take part in themed children's craft activities.
Read more about the exhibition.
MUSEUM ENTRY APPLIES, CHILDREN FREE

EVERY PAGE IS A STAGE: STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN
A storytelling session at Forge Mill Museum. Each month, children and their families will be treated to a feast of stories, sing-a-longs and magic with storyteller Big Dave.
During each session children will be able to make a prop to use during one of the stories.
Suitable for children aged 3 to 5 years. Ticket price includes one accompanying adult per child (extra adult places chargeable and subject to availability) and tea/coffee/squash.
Presented by The Palace Theatre Heritage Project.
To book, please call the Palace Theatre Box Office on 01527 65203.
Read more about our activities for children.
£5.50 PER CHILD
A display by the guild of model wheelwrights set in the beautiful grounds of Forge Mill Museum.
Guild members construct and exhibit precision scale models of a wide variety of horse drawn vehicles and farm implements. Often included are models which have won major awards in national exhibitions.
FREE


A variety of themed days to entertain the children over the holidays. Suitable for ages eight to twelve.
Booking in advance is essential by contacting the museum.

'FABULOUS FOOD'
The Palace Theatre Heritage Project presents a series of storytelling sessions for children and families at Forge Mill Museum. Each month, children and their families will be treated to a feast of stories, sing-a-longs and magic with storyteller Big Dave.
During each session children will be able to make a prop to use during one of the stories.
Suitable for children aged 3 to 5 years. Ticket price includes one accompanying adult per child (extra adult places chargeable and subject to availability).
To book, please call the Palace Theatre Box Office on 01527 65203.
Read more about our activities for children.
£4.50 PER CHILD

Are you longing to reproduce a favourite holiday photo or postcard into a fabric masterpiece? Using landscapes or seascapes as your inspiration, this workshop will show you how to transform the image into a bonded, machine appliqué picture. Free machine embroidery will be used to enhance the final piece. Machine and free machine stitching.
Workshop led by Janice Gunner.
Read more about our workshops.
£20.00

A special workshop is led by renowned artist Alice Kettle.
This workshop will start with a simple drawing, putting together marks and lines. This will build into a collage, cutting and pasting to form an image which tells a story. Mainly using machine stitch, and primarily free machine embroidery, we shall explore the expressive potential of a line, seeing how to interpret the fluidity of a drawn line through stitch. This will develop into a narrative; a picture which tells a story in stitch.
Alice Kettle is a contemporary textile/fibre artist based in the UK. She has established a unique area of practice, consistently and on an unparalleled scale. She has extended the possibilities of machine embroidery: producing works the size of tapestries, exploiting the textures and effects made possible through the harnessing of a mechanical process to creative ends. She is a Research Associate at Manchester Metropolitan University and Honorary Fellow at the University of Winchester. Her work is represented in various public collections.
Read more about our workshops.
£30.00
Forge Mill Needle Museum and Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre holds many different events throughout the year.
These can link in with National Days or initiatives, seasonal themes or temporary exhibitions that are on display at the museum.
In 2009 the events programme is bigger than ever and includes all sorts of events: Medieval Festivals, Food Fairs, workshops, talks, puppet shows, outdoor theatre presentations and many more.
With such a variety of events there is something for everybody!