London

Handbag-making
Leatherworker Katherine Pogson teaches the popular leather accessories course at Cockpit Arts. Her students often enquired about making bags so this autumn she’s introduced a new course on creating fabric handbags. Sessions are structured with beginners in mind, covering basic pattern cutting and construction techniques. Pogson provides three different bag designs, but also teaches how to design your own.
Other courses at Cockpit this autumn include felt-making (Oct 14 & 21, £155), and, at the Deptford site, acrylic jewellery (Nov 11 & 12, 18 & 19, £250). Designer Courses, Cockpit Studios, Cockpit Yard, Northington St, WC1 (0797 000 5120/ www.designercourses.co.uk) Holborn tube. Fabric handbag course Nov 6-Dec 11, Mon 6.30-9pm, course £195, plus £25 for materials; leather accessories workshop Nov 11 & 12, Sat & Sun 10.30am-4.30pm, £155, incl materials. Feature continues

International relations
This course at Birkbeck is designed as a historical introduction to the topic and examines events in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America from the end of WWII to the present, as well as the role of the UN in world peace.
International Relations, Birkbeck College, Malet St, WC1 (020 7631 6667/ www.bbk.ac.uk) Euston tube/rail or Euston Square or Goodge St tube. Courses last 24 weeks starting Sept 25, 26, 27 or 28, times vary. Course £200.

Massage
Learn the basics of massage in this short and sweet afternoon workshop, ‘Anytime, Anywhere Massage’. It’s taught without any clothes being removed, so is perfect for those less confident about baring all to strangers.
Anytime, Anywhere Massage, Morley College, 61 Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 (010 7921 8501/www.morleycollege.ac.uk) Elephant & Castle tube or Waterloo tube/rail. Oct 14, Jan 13, Apr 28, Sat 2-5pm. Course £25.

Understanding art
In this Saturday afternoon crash Course, ‘Unravelling De Sade’, Neil Fox of the University of Essex looks at the work of French philosopher the Marquis De Sade and the impact of his work on the Surrealists.
‘Unravelling De Sade’, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Whitechapel High St, E1 (020 7522 7888/www.whitechapel.org) Aldgate East tube. Oct 28 2-5pm. Adm £8, concs £6.50.