What’s coming up at CG Crafts

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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.

CG Crafts Summer School 2019 – Colchester

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This summer back by popular request! Summer School – 20th to 23rd June

Thursday 20th June from 10 – 1.30pm

Silver Clay Jewellery for Beginners

Friday 21st June from 10 – 2.30pm.

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

Saturday 22nd June from 10 – 3.30pm

  • Enamelling including cloisonné techniques

Sunday 23rd June from 10 – 1pm

  • Needle-felting: animals, flowers, pictures

Fees including all materials – just bring your lunch

Silver Clay – £85 (including £25 worth of materials)

Enamelling – £85

Encaustic Art – £55

Needle Felting – £55

Flamework – £30

Book as many or as little as you want. 10% discount when booking 2 or more classes, contact me about this: 07847 098849. Spaces limited.  Book online or email me.

 

 

Classes at other venues

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I’ve become a bit more choosy about where I teach over the last few years. It’s got to be beneficial to my students in some way, or there is little point in me loading all my boxes into the car and driving somewhere else I may as well teach my small tailored classes in my garden workshop – those that have seen me pack up at the end of the day know exactly how many boxes I need to load up! One such worthy venue is Simply Handmade based at the Woodhall Business Park in Sudbury. It’s run by Debbi and Colin and Simply the dog who have a lovely premises which is full of colour, lovely handcrafted items for sale and garments awaiting adjustments. Included with your course is a freshly made lunch and a genuinely friendly environment. Oh and there’s lots of parking too. coming up soon is Enamelling (16th March), Silver Clay (20th July) and Encaustic art classes (11th May). All are now available to book on the Simply Handmade website – click on the links above to go directly to those classes. There is plenty on offer, I might have even booked on some of their classes myself.

Silver Jewellery classes using metal clay

Enamelling Classes

A student painting a landscape with the encaustic iron

Crafts beginning with E!

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This year I am trying something new at FSC Flatford Mill. A crafting weekend involving two unrelated crafts (rather than my usual jewellery weekend). So if you’ve set yourself the task of learning something new in 2019 this could be just the thing. Spend the weekend in lovely Constable country and benefit from good food, good company and learning not one but two new crafts! I will be covering Enamelling – fusing glass to metal to make several items of jewellery and Encaustic art – painting with molten wax to produce small paintings, it is also ideal for card makers. So what are waiting for? Book here.

1st – 3rd March 2019.  Residents and non residents prices are shown on the FSC website (click on the book here link above to take you there). Wish me luck getting all my equipment in the car!!

Any questions please email me.

 

Book a Craft gift experience (voucher/class) here

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Encaustic art

Enamelling

This year I have noticed an increase in the number of students who have had a class as a gift, the pictures included in this blog are just some of the wonderful items made in one of my classes. Vouchers have become popular mainly to the fact that there are so many people out there who love crafts, but also because lots of people simply don’t want more stuff! A class is the best of both worlds, you get to have a craft experience and go home wearing the items you’ve made. Some people even choose to make something for someone else….a very efficient use of a gift voucher!

Silver Clay

Flamework

I have a variety of craft classes available which I offer at dates to suit – the recipient just needs to get in touch with me, using details on the tailored letter provided and let me know when they’d like to come. Classes are available in Enamelling, Feltmaking, Encaustic art, Silver Clay and Flamework/lampwork (making glass beads). Everything (apart from lunch – please bring that with you) is included in the price and I have reduced rates per person for more than one booking.

More than your budget? I am happy to discuss arranging shorter, taster session

Needlefelting

vouchers for a reduced fee. Want to book a class? Or perhaps you want to purchase a gift voucher for a Christmas gift?  It has come to my attention that my website doesn’t work brilliantly on mobile phones. I will do my upmost to rectify this but in the meantime if you’d like to book a class, or get a gift voucher you can email me or click on this link to my shop.

You can also take a look at my Facebook shop, if you are looking for last minute handcrafted items (fine silver and enamelled jewellery).

Finally take a look at my webpage for dates I teach at other venues.

Have a fabulous Christmas – best intentions and all but I doubt very much I’ll blog again before the new year!

Toni