Christmas ideas for Crafty people

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Greeting from Miss December!

Here is my work featured on the December page of the PMC calendar! It was so lovely to be chosen. 🙂

My goodness it has been a busy week consisting of 2 busy classes in Woodbridge, 2 Christmas market events and my usual weekly art session at Bright Lives and that’s just the work side! Today I merely have a commission to finish, a prototype commission to complete to check with my customer, setting up for tomorrow’s class….
Anyway that aside I just wanted to remind you of 3 ideal Christmas gifts you can get from me for yourself or a crafty friend.
1) A crafting gift voucher – I provide a tailored letter, it can be for a specific session, or you may want the recipient to choose – just get in touch and I can talk you through options.
2) I am continually added more unique items to my ETSY shop, so if you would like a piece of unique enamelled or silver jewellery please take a look.
3) I can now offer a service which converts our children’s drawings into silver jewellery – price will depend on how much silver is required but do get in touch to find out more.

Purchase vouchers online

Purchase jewellery on ETSY

If you prefer a real shop my jewellery can be purchase from EJaRT Creative in Woodbridge.

Merry Christmas! Toni

Make jewellery from your children’s art

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After my first successful order, I am now happy to let you know that I can turn your child’s art into silver jewellery. It’s very exciting as it’s something I’ve wanted to do for ages. So do get in touch if you are interested. Prices will vary depending on how much  silver I need to use, or you could even book a class and come and have a try at doing it yourself! Pictures are of some of the stages involved in creating Lily and Amy’s silver masterpieces. Thanks for your order (young) ladies! Get in touch to find out more.

Original picture is sent over – ideally it needs to be black and white and the white needs to show up more than this one.

Image is inverted
I make a stamp
Silver clay is used to create pendant and image is ‘stamped’ onto it.
Silver is fired (now 99.9% fine silver) and polished. Findings attached and it is sent off to its new home.

Craft fairs and gift vouchers

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Just to remind you that I will be at the following Christmas Fairs in the next week, where you will be able to buy unique jewellery and other items all made by me, as well as gift vouchers to use in classes. Everyone says they’d like to support small, local businesses, this is a perfect chance to do so!

• Colchester United Sports Stadium Events Christmas Fair – Sunday 1st December 10 – 4pm
• Fennes Christmas Market, Fennes, Fennes Road. Bocking, CM7 5PL – Weds 4th December. 3.30pm to 8pm

If you can’t make it do get in touch as I am happy to organise vouchers for you, or I can invite you over to take a look at what I have on offer. You can also purchase vouchers and classes online, or go to my Etsy shop to buy some of my handcrafted items. Many thanks, Toni

What’s been happening and what’s coming up

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Once again it has been a busy few months here at CG Crafts, catching up after the summer holidays and now getting ready for (gasp) Christmas! I thought I’d share some photos of what recent students have made and also list the next few events coming up…I am nervously revisiting craft fairs this year, so it would be wonderful to see some friendly faces there! If not there, perhaps you can buy me a wine afterwards to help me recover!!

Student’s enamelled pieces made at FSC Flatford Mill
Student’s enamelled pieces made at FSC Flatford Mill
Student enamelling at CG Crafts
Student’s felted picture made here at CG Crafts (wet and needlefelting)
Student’s silver clay pieces made at FSC Flatford Mill
Student’s silver clay pieces made at Simply Handmade

What’s coming up

TONI PEERS – CG Crafts  www.cgcrafts.co.uk  

Email: toni@cgcrafts.co.uk   Mobile: 07847098849

 Christmas Fairs

  • Colchester Bazaar, Firstsite – Sat 16th Nov. 21st Dec. 10.30 – 3.30pm
  • Colchester WIGS fair – Weds 6th Nov Wilson Marriage. 7.30 to 9.30pm
  • Fennes Christmas Market, Fennes, Fennes Road. Bocking, CM7 5PL – Weds 4th December. 3.30pm to 8pm
  • Colchester United Sports Stadium Events Christmas Fair – Sunday 1st December 10 – 4pm

2019 Classes at CG Crafts (you can also book dates to suit)

  • Sat 9th November – Enamelled Jewellery – £85 I space left
  • Weds 13th Nov – Making felt – Christmas wreaths & decorations £85
  • Sat 23rd Nov – Enamelling Beginners/Improvers – £85
  • Weds 27th Nov – Silver Clay (10 to 2pm) – £85
  • Sat 7th Dec – Enamelled Jewellery – £85

Classes at FSC Flatford Mill (01206 297110)

enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org (Book directly with venue)

  • 8th December 2019 – Christmas Feltmaking
  • 13th December 2019 – Enamelled Jewellery and Decorative items

2020 dates

  • 13 – 15th March – Enamelling weekend
  • Sat 6th June – Silver clay day incl syringe or sheet clay
  • Sun 7th June – Encaustic art day – beginners and improvers
  • 4- 6th Dec – Jewellery making weekend (silver clay and Enamelling)
  • 12th Dec – Feltmaking – Christmas decorations or presents

 

New venue EJARt, Woodbridge IP13 6HN. 01473 735007. www.ejartcreative.co.uk

Fri 29th Nov – Encaustic art

Sat 30th November – Silver Clay Jewellery (Christmas Theme)

Tues 3rd Dec – Enamelling

2020 info

Lots more info about classes and how to book dates to suit on my website. I also sell class gift vouchers, which are great for you or a friend for Christmas or birthdays! Book online at www.cgcrafts.co.uk or email me for details.

What’s coming up at CG Crafts

ToniLeave a comment on What’s coming up at CG Crafts

Open studios, Craft fairs and upcoming classes…

Just one of the enamelled pictures I’ll have available for sale at the fairs below. Each individual piece is made by applying a layer of glass on to copper and firing in a table top kiln, often many times but at least 3 ( for back, front and decoration) Here’s how another of my enamelled pictures was made – video

COLCHESTER OPEN STUDIOS (CG Crafts, Willett Rd, CO2 9AW)

Free to all, just pop along. I’ll be demonstrating Enamelling, Encaustic art or Flamework – you can even have a try of Encaustic art. I thought I’d give this a try but it has been quite lonely so far… a friendly face is always welcome.

  • Sat 28th Sept (2 – 6pm)
  • Sun 29th Sept (11 – 2pm)

 Fairs

  • Colchester Bazaar, Firstsite Colchester

21st Sept. 16th Nov.  21st Dec. 10.30 to 3.30pm

  • Colchester WIGs Shopping evening – Weds 6th Nov

7.30pm to 9.30pm – Wilson Marriage Centre (Gym)

  • Fennes Christmas Market, Fennes, Fennes Road. Bocking, CM7 5PL – Weds 4th December 3.30pm to 8pm

Classes at CG Crafts (you can also book dates to suit)

See website for dates at FSC Flatford Mill and other venues

  • Sat 5th Oct- Enamelled Jewellery – £85
  • Sat 12th Oct – Needle felted Pictures – SOLD OUT
  • Sat 9th November – Enamelled Jewellery – £85 I space left
  • Weds 13th Nov – Making felt – Christmas wreaths & decorations £85
  • Sun 24th Nov – Silver Clay Beginners – £85
  • Weds 27th Nov – Silver Clay (10 to 2pm) – £85
  • Sat 7th Dec – Enamelled Jewellery – £85

 Email  me for details on classes in Suffolk and dates to suit.

 

 

Open Studios

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This September I am taking part in Colchester Open studios.

What is Colchester Open studios you may ask?

It’s an opportunity to visit local artists (free of charge) and take a look at what they offer, this might be a show of their paintings, things they make, or demos of what they do…it might be a mixture of all three. No need to book. There might even be a chance for you to have a go at Encaustic art.

In the case of CG Crafts I have handcrafted items on display but I am also taking the opportunity to demonstrate some of the things I teach, in the hope that you, or someone you know, might like to book a class. I will be demonstrating a mixture of Flamework (making glass beads), Encaustic art (painting with molten wax) and Enamelling (making glass jewellery using a kiln). I also teach Felt making and Silver Clay jewellery.

Dates and times:

CG Crafts, 34 Willett Road, Colchester (CO2 9AW)

Sat 14th Sept (11 – 2pm),

Sun 22nd Sept (11 – 2pm),

Sat 28th Sept (2 – 6pm)

Sun 29th Sept (11 – 2pm). 

www.cgcrafts.co.uk

www.colchesteropenstudios.org

 

Summer juggling

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It’s been an action packed summer including visits to the Big Cat Sanctuary, Camping, Warner Bros studios (Harry Potter world), London trips, trips to the seaside, games days, visits from family and friends, 40 years of Madness celebration, crafting and much more and I’ve even squeezed in a few dates on request for craft classes. Here are few pics of things made in classes this summer. Rest assured normality will resume soon! Although my eldest daughter is starting secondary school and I am taking part in the Cuckoo Farm Open studio event in September so maybe not…

Enamelled (glass) jewellery
Fine silver jewellery from silver clay
Fine silver jewellery from silver clay
Fine silver jewellery from silver clay
Flamework (glass) beads

 

Summer school, radio madness – what’s going on with the weather?

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After all the excitement of being interviewed on Colne FM last week

(click here to listen – please note there is button to skip through the Frank Zappa!!) and 3 nights out in a row, this week has been a mixture of tidying the house (what on earth happened to it) and setting up for this weeks’ summer school. I still have a couple of limited spaces if you fancy booking in last minute. Email me.

21st June (Friday) – 10 – 2.30pm.

 

  • 10 – 12.30 – Encaustic Art. £55
  • 1 – 2.30pm Flamework taster – £30

22nd June (Saturday )– 10 – 3.30pm

  • Enamelling including cloisonné techniques – £85

23rd June (Sunday) – 10 – 1pm

Needle-felting: animals, flowers, pictures – £55

The aim of the summer school is to showcase all the classes I teach – don’t forget I also teach silver clay jewellery but if you can’t make it this time do get in touch and I can organise dates to suit, or tell you where else I might be teaching if you prefer larger classes.

 

I also managed to squeeze in a trip to the fabulous Stanley Kubrick exhibition – so now have a 5 film box set to plough through…but that will need to wait until all the forthcoming tennis has finished…unless of course we get more of this crazy weather stopping play.

Tailored Crafts – what do you want to make?

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My home-based classes are are for small numbers which means you get lots of individual attention and can then make something you want to make, rather than having what you make dictated to you. It also means there is less sharing of resources and less waiting around for tutor help if you get stuck, or have an idea that you want to try. This week I have run an Artclass clay class at the request of a student who wanted to try this unusual type of clay and I also catered for a newbie to Flamework, who wanted the chance to try making animals off mandrel. I am always happy to guide you in your learning. It’s great for me too as it means I am constantly updating skills and keeping my interest fresh. Email me to find out more.

Parrots in the workshop

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I’ve just had some lovely feedback regarding a recent class, which you can read here.  I always try to tailor a class to what my students make – this is one of the main benefits of teaching small classes here in my garden workshop. It is great to know that this is valued, it gets my brain working and it also means if you have a design in mind – in this case a felted Hahn’s Macaw – I can try to help you achieve it. Occasionally we’ll have to simplify but usually (as in this case) things work out brilliantly.