Kin Workshops

16/10/2026

*Rude christmas interlude* when we're only just acclimatised to crunching leaves under foot.

Would you love to spend a few hours of what my mum calls "TLC", creating and making in good company with delicious, freshly baked cake and warming drinks in a beautiful home studio near York? Read on...

We are hosting two workshops on 28th November. One for those of you up with the larks who fancy twiddling branches with your morning Harrogate tea, and an afternoon experience for those of you who'd prefer mulling over acrylics under dark skies.

The village of Bishopthorpe is picture perfect at Christmas and is so close to York - if a morning or afternoon with us and a morning or afternoon in York with twinkling lights sounds like the warm hug you need to start the festive season, then please do join us and share with family & friends.

Either way, its going to be so cosy and uplifting- the perfect slow down antidote to the racing busyness of December.

All wreath materials are home grown or locally foraged and reusable and your winter soulscapes can be gifted or framed.

www.emmajamesgallery.com
More details of our previous events on www.kinworkshops.com

15/10/2026

Cue to ask your 4 year old to take your picture while awkwardly twiddlying a bunch of Scabious black knight like no real person ever does ~ in the name of affordable Professional Representation, i'll take it.

She asked for one in return. I obliged. One dressed for the occasion, one did not.

Feeling super proud of Kin garden club this week. We've all been wiped out by the inevitable preschool freshers bug so there has been much much Tractor Ted on repeat and I was able to point out most vegetables that the kids have grown this summer from home. And that felt good.

Anyway, very late but very excited to share our autumn/winter workshops with you this week. The date is 28th November...there are two sessions....and I very much hope to see some of you there. Where you say? In York. (I know I know RV folk, but imagine YORK at christmas!)

Details coming soon xx

30/08/2026

Last Kin garden group session Wednesday 2nd September 2026 10 30-11 45 📍Castlewood, Clitheroe. DM to book. We will be sowing seeds for 2027, to bloom for new group sessions after a period of rest and reflection! Its been such a joy 🫶

There will be more Art and Garden wellbeing workshops with Emma Emma James Abstract Yorkshire Landscape *Artist* this year, as restorative for me as I hope they will be for you. We've had change of location - more on that soon!

And more weekly flower bunches 🫶

Autumn on the horizon for me feels so good.

21/08/2026

23/07/2026

For hours and hours every evening, I try to settle them into their beds, persevering with every trick in the book. A constant battle of wills. The hourglass tips - 'just one more' book for them equates to at least one task remaining on my ever growing to do list. One act of creativity, connection with friends, room to tidy....forfeited.

I struggled to hold back a burst of laughter tonight as my 1 year old tried everything he could to sneak past me, chortling. Swiped straight back to bed not the slightest bit perturbed. A dance we repeat over and over, all the while I wonder, 'now what should I do?'. No two chidlren are the same.

We eventually slump into defeat. Tears of frustration and desperation for physical touch inevitably follow. I know eventually I will give in.

The heart wants what it wants 🤍

These days are so magic and fleeting. All else waits yet another day as we fall asleep together. I'm very ok with that.

23/07/2026

Flowers thoughtfully grown from the garden £15.00 a bunch.
📍Ribble Valley, Lancashire
Please message me for orders and delivery/collection details.
Perfect for gifts, but personally I recommend treating yourself.

Please share to spread the word. Limited bunches available.

22/06/2026

These delightful moments come for free year upon year - they arrived as volunteers and I've helped them spread throughthe borders. At least I tell myself that - I know they would have anyway. I'm sure as the children grow these wild strawberries will always hold a special place in their hearts and minds. I know they will for me. The more we pick the bigger they get - gifts of reciprocity

29/05/2026

It's tomorrow! FLOWERFUL workshop in Ilkley... Few remaining seats left 🫶

We have a brand new workshop series starting tomorrow in Ilkley, 10am-1pm tomorrow Saturday 30th May. More dates available on our websites 📅

If you're not sure what to expect, here is what our previous workshop looked and felt like for the wonderful group who joined us at Emma's home studio in York. Swipe to see my favourite feedback at the end, and our favourite guest appearance 🐾

Message if you're interested in a last minute booking for you/friends/family or book directly online www.emmajamesgallery.com

Can't wait to see you!

Emma and Olivia xx

27/05/2026

'Will you quit your job and do this full time?'

The question asked of me this weekend by Helen, who was celebrating a special birthday in her garden with her good friend Ali.

Ali asked me to provide a garden experience for her friend as her gift. I jumped at the chance to bring together two friends in glorious sunshine listening to their stories of friendship and hearing why the canopy of a well pruned ceansthus rendered them giddy with 'in jokes'.

I brought buckets of flowers from my garden and tried to think of all the little touches that would help Helen feel as though she was on a retreat in her own home. I arrived to squeels of excitement, in their anticipation of time spent creating just for the sake of it.

The purpose of the morning was not to create a floristry level bouquet but to fall in love with flowers and pay close attention to colour and form. For two friends to spend a few hours mindfully creating together.

The highlight for me was an infectiously enthusiastic Helen ringing her son, who was sleeping upstairs, insisting he came to the window to see her creation. Sleepy eyed, he agreed to take photos from his bedroom window as she shouted up to him, 'best day ever!'.
He emerged a few moments later and was kajooled into making his own vase arrangement (picture 8). I noted a genuine flicker of enjoyment on his face as he left with them back into the house.

I smiled as I noticed the four of us together, unfurling from busy weeks, shoulders settling.

No, I won't be quiting my role in healthcare anytime soon. I am SO enjoying these events and see them as intrinsically linked to my vocation; health = spending quality time with people, exploring our creative selves, making things just for the sake of beauty and kinship with nature.

1. Morning after kitchen displays
2. Thalictrum & perennial cornflower
3. Hand on heart, feeling proud
4/5. Arms full
6/7. Kenzan for micro moments
8. Cow parsley & meadow buttercup
9. Helen & Fred - thank you so much.

19/05/2026

Inspired to share simple joys with you this evening by this with her majestic bowl of garden 'weeds'. I've been playing with wildflowers all week too, and while my tatty kitchen tiles do little to complement these dainty foraged treasures they have lifted my spirits each morning as I've waited drowsily for the pressure-released slurp and froth of the coffee machine filling my tarnished flask.

It's been a hefty few weeks, mental overload and emotional turmoil cumulating in unexpected clarity and calm. Children, dogs and oak leaves bringing me back into focus. Lots of honest conversation and gratitude for friendship.

I confess I've tuned into Chelsea updates this week, and enjoy more and more conversation about it's inherent flaws (see ) I did love learning from 's thoughtful garden (ft. exquisite 'hand rill') that the neurological symptom of 'freezing' in PD can be helped by observing movement in nature. 13+ years ago I ran parkinsons communication groups while studying for a masters in arts health, researching the benefits of social and therapeutic horticulture. At the time here was much less evidence about health and nature coexisting at a meaningful level....feels like beautiful progress to me. If only all healthcare settings could centre around these beautiful gardens.





wildflowers