Papier Mache Bowl Class with Josephine Jagger-Manners

Some girlfriends and I decided to do something different last Sunday and we booked in for a papier mache bowl making class with local artist and thoroughly crafty person Josephine Jagger Manners.

We drove over to Molong for the class (just 30 minutes from Orange) and treated ourselves to a lip smackingly good gelato beforehand.

Molong Gelato is a fantastic little shop, that gives very generous portions of gelato unlike some of the more stingy gelato places in Sydney, that feel 2 licks are all you need.. I went with my current favourite of Burnt Caramel, the other top picks of the moment were Ginger and Fig, Watermelon, Lychee and Coconut and Blood Orange.

You can also buy the pastes that make up the flavour base for the gelato in the shop so you can go home and replicate the delights for yourself.

Having satisfied and cooled ourselves with gelato we then headed to Josephine Jagger Manner's beautiful home for our papier mache craft class.

The start of the class

Enjoying the lovely verandah and Rose!

We all got settled on the veranda, put on our lovely aprons and got to grips with the basics of papier mache.

Josephine in action

My little bowl

Josephine is an excellent teacher, who is extremely patient and encouraging even with difficult non artistic pupils, like ourselves.

Crafty concentration

All the materials we needed to make our bowls were laid out ready to go, we didn't have to do any clearing up and it was pure bliss to have four hours of uninterrupted crafty bliss. 

Drying Time Milly the Dog

There is a lot of drying involved in making a papier mache bowl which ends up taking up a lot of time. However, it gave us the chance to enjoy a wonderful afternoon tea and biscuits on the verandah and get inspired for the design of our bowls.

Painting the bowls was my favourite bit, although my bowl has turned out a bit more fluro green than planned, however as Josephine kindly put it 'We can always paint over it and start again darling!' Everyone walked away with something beautiful that had been hand crafted using every ounce of our creative skill. I'm definitely going back for more!

We all had the most relaxing afternoon away from the stresses and distraction of home. Josephine Jagger Manners holds classes every month at her home with the next Papier Mache bowl class on Sunday March 10th from 1pm - 4pm.

Orange Verandah Markets

Orange is at long last getting some quality art and craft markets, in perfect timing for the lead up to Christmas - which is getting scarily close! Decent markets have been one thing that has been sorely lacking in the area, especially considering the large number of artists and artisans producing fantastic work and with no one to see it or buy it.

The markets are taking place on the verandah of the Byng St Store, allowing market goers to browse the stalls and then enjoy a coffee or cake afterwards. The Orange Verandah Markets start this Sunday (11 November) and will be on every Sunday between now and Christmas so you can stock up on goodies.

Drop in between 11am - 2pm to the Byng St Store to see some of the beautiful hand crafted pieces that are available - it knows the socks off the Paddington Markets!

Stall holders include: Josephine Jagger-Manners selling papier mache bowls, hand designed tea trays, cards and tea towels. Amelia Herbertson with her etched bookmarks, cards, stationary and prints. Jumbled homewares and many more. For full details check out the facebook page for Orange Verandah Markets.