Ella Doran began her Masterclass at Havering College with a fascinating talk about her professional and creative background, from student life to becoming a household name. Talking openly about her experiences, she offered plenty of interesting tips about how to make a success of being an independent designer. The warm-up task she set for the Club members was to make a bag out of newspaper; they enjoyed it so much that they decided to make another, using samples of Ella’s wallpaper designs.
Their main challenge was an upcycling project, using textiles of their own as well as plain canvas tote bags and samples of Ella’s brightly patterned fabrics. Having started off quietly, the group soon warmed up and tackled the activity with enthusiasm, sewing by hand and machine, and producing some really impressive creations. They were really proud of their achievements and thoroughly enjoyed their inspiring day.