About Us
Hello! We are Sarah Rands and Holly Capstick and we are Thread and Press CIC. As two experienced and qualified teachers, we have years of experience working in schools, colleges and within the fashion and textile industries. We set up Thread and Press CIC in 2020 to bring our creative skills, enthusiasm and passion into communities. We love what we do and we get amazing feedback from our projects and workshops. As well as running creative workshops within communities, schools and for a wide range of organisations and groups, we also plan and deliver arts projects, working with collaborators and reaching new communities.
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We are proud to be a Community Interest Company. We firmly believe in providing greater access to creative opportunities within communities. By reinvesting any profits back into the business, we can expand our creative offer and work on further community arts projects which will allow for a wider creative participation in the arts.
Sarah Rands
Holly Capstick
​Here are our mission statements:
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To boost the creative learning provision in the East Riding, Hull, York and surrounding counties.
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To create safe, supportive and creative environments within local communities
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To teach the value of creativity and how it can be translated into many future opportunities
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To promote enterprise within creativity
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To promote creativity and provide contemporary workshops using equipment and facilities that schools or communities may not currently have access to
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To provide creative learning opportunities to all, including older children and teenagers, a currently under-provided market for creative extra-curricular activities
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To improve mental wellbeing with the power of creativity
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To promote creativity within schools and colleges and contribute to an increase of creative opportunities
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To encourage and achieve a wider participation in community arts projects within East Riding, York, Humber and surrounding areas.
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To use business profits to further enhance our creative offer within our community, to provide greater access to the arts within the community and to reach those within our community who may not normally have access to visual arts.
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From a young age I knew I wanted to work in the arts. I loved to sew and create, getting my first
sewing machine at 10 years old and enjoying making clothes for my toys. I studied Fashion and Clothing at Derby University, after which I moved to London to work in the fashion industry. I worked in industry for over ten years, mostly working for high street clothing companies such as River Island, Warehouse and Topshop. I later moved to Hull and have now been working as a Fashion Teacher for 14 years, teaching Fashion, Textiles and Art to learners of varying ages, including A level and BA students. I love teaching and helping to nurture new talent and the amazing designs they create.
I have taught both my daughters and son to sew, print and create expressive art work. I want to
bring the creative arts to people of all ages and I look forward to seeing your amazing designs.
I am an artist, designer and teacher with many years of experience working in schools, colleges and within the fashion and textile industries. I have a BA Hons in International Textile Design and Surface Pattern from Cleveland College of Art and Design. I spent time working as a clothing/print designer before setting up as a designer/maker and creating my own range of handmade handbags for Holly and Ruby. I also qualified as a teacher approximately 10 years ago and have been teaching at schools and colleges since. I now focus my personal creative projects on embroidered and hand painted artwork, taking inspiration from the natural world.
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Most recently, I have been developing my practice as a textile and mixed-media portrait artist. You can find my work on my Holly Capstick Art website here.
As a teacher I have worked in schools and sixth form colleges teaching multiple art disciplines to various ages. I have worked on a variety of projects involving Textiles, Fine Art, Fashion and Graphic Design. I have a broad range of skills and excellent subject knowledge.
I have three young children who love to be creative and I thoroughly enjoy working on creative projects with both adults and children. I am passionate about the arts and how they can improve our well-being.
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