Congratulations Ruth Singer

Textile designer, author & tutor Ruth Singer, has won the Haymarket Shopping Centre's Big Idea competition to kick start her creative business. Her mission is to get Leicester sewing & making by opening a studio and running sewing and craft workshops.

To get to this stage, Ruth had to submit a proposal, get past the Dragon's Den style panel of experts and win the public vote. Ruth has won a month's rent-free shop unit in Leicester's Haymarket Shopping Centre and a cash prize of £1000 to spend on the business.

Ruth's Big Idea is to run a craft & design studio where anyone can learn new practical skills. Ruth will use this opportunity in Leicester city centre to run a month of taster workshops and activities for all ages to raise the profile of her studio in the run up to opening in its permanent home later in 2012.

The studio opens in the Haymarket Shopping Centre on 29^th March for a month which will include the following:

Free regular Learn to Sew taster workshops

Easter holiday activities for children 5^th April

A day of activities for local schools 25^th April

Customising clothes workshop tbc

Dressmaking classes 15^th April

Lampshade restyle workshop 1^st April

Fabric manipulation Masterclass 14^th April

Coffee & Craft Mornings

Open studio & Craft Cafe 8^th April

After school activities 18^th April

Handbag making workshop 22^nd April

Sewing machine hire by the hour

Private hire for groups

Full programme will be available online in March

There will be a small retail area with Ruth's own kits & patterns, vintage fabrics, sewing patterns, haberdashery and lots of books including Ruth's own Sew It Up and Sew Eco. Visitors to the studio will also be able to see and buy Ruth's work  including wall panels, customised clothes and small gifts.