A lovingly curated studio space and a passionate artist, dedicated to cultivating a creative community with slow craft, heritage skills and thinking with your hands.
Nestled on the Woodstock Road in East Belfast, the ASTRL Fibres studio is a lovingly curated home and dedicated space for fibre arts and heritage craft skills. Join me in person and immerse yourself in the experience of slow craft and thinking with your hands. Sessions run from 2 to 4 hours depending on the project, with small group sizes that allow plenty of time and attention for every maker. Whether you're picking up a craft for the first time or building on existing skills, there's a place for everyone. Come alone or bring a friend, all are warmly welcome. Browse upcoming workshops and book your place!
Looking for a creative craft experience to share with friends, family or colleagues? I offer tailored private workshops for groups of 4 to 8 participants in my Woodstock Road Studio in East Belfast ~ a relaxed and welcoming space to connect, slow down and think with your hands. Sessions run from 2 to 4 hours depending on the project, and are open to ages 12 and up. Please note that participants under 18 must be accompanied by an attending adult. Rates start at £40 per person (minimum 4 participants), with all materials provided. Pricing varies depending on the project and group size. Get in touch to talk through your group session.
Whether you're a beginner taking your first steps into macramé, looking to deepen your skills, or working through a challenging project, I offer personalised 1:1 tuition from my Woodstock Road Studio in East Belfast ~ a dedicated space to learn at your own pace, guided by my full attention and over 10 years of expertise. Sessions are £45 per hour and include use of all studio equipment. Materials are not included in this rate but can be provided for an additional fee, or you're welcome to bring your own. Get in touch to discuss your goals and put together a tuition plan.
A space for curious hands and creative minds ~ the Making Things Kids Club invites children aged 8 to 12 into a week of hands-on exploration, from weaving and macramé to fibre craft, paper craft and printmaking. Rooted in heritage craft and everyday materials, sessions run daily each summer from the ASTRL Fibres studio, kept intentionally small so every maker gets the time, space and individual attention to truly flourish. Summer 2026 is already taking shape, click to find out more.
I'm considering running sessions for young people aged 13 to 15, if your young person is interested, I'd love to hear from you.
Ready to bring your community together through craft? I'm an experienced community arts facilitator inspired by the diverse material world of fibre and textile arts. My practice weaves together handcrafted storytelling, heritage skills and creative curiosity ~ drawing on the materials and methods of macramé, cane & cord weaving, kumihimo, ply-split braiding and the endanged craft of passementerie. With experience delivering inclusive, wellbeing-centred sessions for organisations including the National Trust & Queen's University Belfast, along with national museums and regional councils, I tailor every session to the group and the space. Got a venue and a curious crowd? Let's make something meaningful together.
Watching craft come to life is a meaningful experience that opens a window into the stories beyond the skills. Rooted in the rich traditions of macramé, knot craft, braiding and cord weaving, I'm also training in the endangered crafts of passementerie, ply-split braiding and kumihimo ~ rare and specialised skills that I am passionate about sharing with new audiences. Whether for a public event, festival or private gathering, demonstrations are a wonderful way to spark curiosity, start conversations and bring the story of craft to a wider audience. Get in touch to discuss how an ASTRL Fibres craft demonstration could work for your event.
"A very inspiring workshop. Alison is an enthusiastic, knowledgable, patient teacher with an obvious love for her craft. The studio is a beautiful and calming space to work in."
"Spent a very enjoyable and creative two hours with Alison and left with a beautiful plant hanger. The small group was the perfect size to get help when needed and Alison was super patient."
"I had a fabulous time at an ASTRL Fibres workshop. Alison is very experienced and has a real passion for her craft. She also has the patience of a saint with rookies!"
"Alison tailored a workshop for my family, a challenge with ages ranging from 12 to 80. Alison's an excellent teacher, allowing us to work at our own pace while being on hand to support us when needed."
"Absolutely delighted and would recommend Alison's course to anyone interested in spending time in a positive space, creating beautiful and practical craftwork."
"Alison is an expert in her craft and will take you on a journey in helping you create your own individual masterpiece. A friendly, informative and high quality session!"
