On the make

Last week, I spent one of the most relaxing evenings I have had in a long time. No, I was't being massaged by the latest go-to therapist, nor was I dining out at the restaurant of the moment. I was doing decoupage.

Decoupage - the art of decorating an item with images cut from paper - is surprisingly soothing. You become absorbed in the process of cutting, arranging and sticking, which allows you to totally switch off. And doing something hands-on is really satisfying, especially if, like me, you haven't done anything like it since you stopped watching Blue Peter.

The course was taught at the Make Lounge, a new venture in Islington, N1.

What the paper says

Amelia Coward, my tutor on the Make Lounge course, really knows her stuff. She set up her business, Bombus, a couple of years ago to create bespoke furniture and accessories decorated with decoupage. Reclaimed newspaper chair.