The kids are back in school, there's a nip in the air and the days are getting shorter, all of which can only mean one thing - evening courses. There's nothing quite like summer sloth to make even the laziest of us feel that a bit of self improvement is in order - and the choice of classes gets wider and more esoteric every year. Several courses on offer have instant appeal to anyone interested in interiors, whether budding DIYers, crafty types or would-be interior designers.
Anne Maher holds an evening class in Carrickmacross lace-making at the Marino College, Dublin. Originally from Monaghan, she started making lace as a child in Carrickmacross. "I used to make veils for my dolls; they weren't any bigger than the palm of my hand, and that's where my interest began," she says.
A very old craft, lacemaking is light, delicate embroidery that's more ornamental than hardwearing; it's often framed like a picture, as a work of art in its own right. The more adept can make lace tablecloths or wedding veils.
The emphasis of the course is to introduce people to the whole concept of lace-making; starting with a small flower, students learn the basic elements of the craft before they embark on more complicated designs.
The course lasts for 10 weeks and is held on either a Tuesday or a Thursday from 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. and costs £38.00 (€48.25).
Upholstery is another option, if you don't mind hauling your chosen project in and out to your course. Terry Quinn is a specialist in antique upholstery and teaches in Malahide Community School, Malahide, Co Dublin on Tuesday evenings between 7.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.
While some students are very determined to master the skill in a practical way, others are happy just to observe he believes. From fireside stools to three-piece suites, he's had every variation in his class over the years. "One of the most valuable aspects of the course is that people learn what to look for when buying furniture, either old or new, as they are taught to recognize the signs of quality," he says.
On the first night, students bring in their chosen project and get it measured; Quinn estimates the amount of material they will need to complete the upholstery and they are given a shopping list. He would usually allow students to borrow specialist tools, but expects them to bring basic necessities like hammer and chisel themselves. The course lasts for 10 weeks and costs £40.00 (€50.79).
For a course in picture framing, look up Inchicore College of Further Education, Emmet Road, Dublin 8. Not as straightforward as it might appear, picture framing relies on three technical pieces of equipment to ensure the quality of the final outcome.
The frame needs to be lined up correctly, then cut to size and finally stapled. All students will start by making a small frame themselves for which the basic raw materials are supplied and included in the cost of the course.
Once you have mastered the basics you can then bring in your own artwork and test your skills on more elaborate framing; of course you can always pop into your local hardware and buy a readymade frame but it's not the same as actually going through the whole process yourself. It's also a10-week week course, running on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p. m. , and costing £50.00 (€63.49).
If this all sounds too practical, how about throwing a shape at a Tiffany lamp-making class? Veronica Mooney is in her tenth year of teaching the art of working with glass at the Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, Co Dublin.
"I always start the students off on something simple, such as a small bird or butterfly or perhaps a light catcher - an ornament you hang in the window to reflect light. Then we move on to making a terrarium, which is a planter for indoors and finally finish with an 18" Sundown Tiffany lamp," she explains.
The hardest part is the actual cutting of the glass itself. Mooney tends to buy her stock from Dublin Stained Glass Supplies, where glass is sold by the square foot and you can buy any colour you want. Once the pieces are cut, they are bound by a special copper foil which is then soldered to bind the various glass shapes. A very popular course, students love to give presents at Christmas of terrariums or light-catchers, says Mooney.
The course runs on a Thursday evenings from 7.15 p.m. to 9.45 p.m. and costs £62.00 (€78.72) for 10 weeks -- materials are not included in the cost. They also run an improvers class after Christmas.
And finally, if you really want to indulge your artistic flair, there is a course in decorative tile mosaics. Joanne Conlon holds a class at Newpark Adult & Continuing Education Centre, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Here everyone starts by designing a mirror, a small piece usually made up of broken household tiles which are glued individually on to a base and then grouted. Once you've accomplished that you can move on to more elaborate designs, either a more complicated mirror, flower pot or a garden table-top.
As your talent develops you might then want to invest in more attractive tiles from mosaic specialists such as Mosaic Assemblers, Tile Style or the Dublin Tile Centre, all Dublin-based shops.
You can move as quickly or slowly as you like, either finishing projects at home or working progressively each week. Classes are held on either Tuesday or Thursday for a period of 10 weeks and cost £70.00 (€68.88), materials not included.
Guides to night courses include The Guide To Evening Classes 2001/2002 (Wolfhound Press £2.99) (€3.80); Dublin's Guide to Evening Classes (Oisin Publications £2.99) and 2001/2002 National Guide to Night Courses, a Today FM Guide (Kevin Brannigan £2.99)
