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Well, it’s been a funny old year so far. Sadly my mother-in-law died in February and this week was her funeral – those of you that frequent craft fairs will probably have met Jenny with her ‘Bags to Colour’. Later in the year her sister Sherrie, daughter Lou, nieces and granddaughters will be running a stand at Clare Priory in her memory and raising money for some of the cancer charities which helped her. I’ll post more about that nearer the time but given how time is flying that could be the week before it happens!
We’ve also had a missing cat (fortunately he came back within 24 hours) and my eldest daughter fractured her wrist just before she was to do two guitar performances… she took up left-handed tambourining (is that a word) instead…craziness is the new normality.
Speaking of normality I’m actually of to ExCel London tomorrow for the Creative Craft Show. I’ll be helping run the ‘have a go’ sessions with the Guild of Enamellers, so if you are at the event pop along and have a go. We’re in Halls S7 stand A25. I’ll post some pictures on social media tomorrow.
Don’t forget the usual classes are available to book here. I’m always happy to have a chat about tailoring dates and classes for you, for example this year I’ve run a silver clay class for a group in the host’s lovely home, ran a silver clay class for a group of 10 ladies celebrating a 40th birthday in a cottage hired for the weekend, and I am just planning a felt making session for a family. I now teach a weekly art session for a dementia group which features in some of the pictures below, as well as my more usual classes for adult creatives.
How many of you have become acquainted with the likes of Zoom over the past 9 months? I suspect quite a few. I’ve been working with Tapestry Care over the last few months teaching one of their regular groups but it has been quite challenging as I’ve had to do it remotely on Zoom! Imagine 1.5 hours of Toni talking nonstop – I feel like a stand up comedian! This steep learning curve has got me thinking about my students who either cannot get out due to the Covid situation, or live a long way away. What I am proposing to offer is some Zoom classes next year. At first they will need to be the more simple crafts that I teach, such as felt making as I think tools, supplies and technique should transfer over quite nicely. However, if you are someone who has access to a kiln, or a gas stove, or encaustic art equipment then I can do mini tailored classes for you too. I might even throw in the odd joke or two. Ooops I do now recall I did read some bad cracker jokes to the Tapestry care group. Ah well ’tis the season and all that.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone and don’t forget that I offer craft vouchers on my website a gift letter can be emailed out right until the last minute (I don’t need to post them) and make a great gift. Available on my book classes now page (including Zoom classes). If you want to fill up your new diaries there are also new class dates online. Keep safe and keep crafting, Toni
Oh go on then I will do an offer plus something new! I’m offering £10 off the price of full day class vouchers from Friday 27th November to Saturday 5th December 2020. Book now to avoid missing out. New for 2021! I’m now offering Zoom classes for 2021 – 2 hour gift vouchers available now.
Having been effectively grounded for a while it feels like I’m speeding into doing everything at once again! Anyone else feel like that? The weekly art class I teach at Bright Lives started up again unexpectedly – if anyone has ideas for art for the visually impaired I’d love to hear from you – it is challenging my brain at the moment – one of the others in the group has ADHD so I need something engaging for her too. I’d really love to give them a opportunities to grow their skills.
I am just printing out notes for the second of 2 part time classes that I am teaching at EJart in Woodbridge – this one is enamelling on silver clay – which I love to teach as it always astounds me what people create in such a short length of time. Plus the range of ideas people have! You can never go wrong with a partnership of silver and glass!
On Sunday I am welcoming in two ladies to have their first go at Encaustic art. The were gifted a voucher for this class as a thank you present for helping their children plan their wedding. I love the joy students get out of this artform – especially when they aren’t entirely sure what they have been signed up for! If you like the sound of Encaustic art – the next group class is at Simply Handmade in Sudbury on 17th October. See pictures below for ideas of what you can paint with molten wax (Encaustic art).
Plus there’s all the planning going on in the background – can you hear my head whirling…or maybe that’s the kittens getting up to no good! Best have a look.
Do get in touch if you’d like to book vouchers for Christmas or birthday gifts, or just want to treat yourself to a bit of creative time. Best wishes, Toni
Examples of student’s Encaustic wax pictures
Using a die cutter to create work from encaustic abstracts
Heated stylus work on rubber stamps
A student painting a landscape with the encaustic iron
Well it has been some time since I last blogged. I think like quite a lot of people, I lost my way sometime in lockdown and am slowly coming to terms with how this new World currently looks, including getting back to running my small business and getting my children into school. Still there are plenty of positives. My workshop is now happily saying hello to students again. I have visors, disinfectant etc, and am always happy to discuss any of your Covid concerns before you book a visit – although I may not be able to help with the furlough scheme, sorry about that.
What has changed
Some of my course fees may have changed as I look at options for advertising them. However, this is not all bad news. If you wish to book a tailored class with me and do this by contacting me directly this cuts down on my advertising costs and I like to reward word of mouth and loyalty! Email me if you want to book follow on classes, themed classes, dates to suit etc. I love doing those anyway and it gives me a chance to see if some themes would work for my regular classes.
Dates coming up soon I continue to teach classes here at CG Craft Colchester – mainly with dates to suit to keep numbers (and households) to a minimum so contact me to organise a date. I am currently working through the PMC (Silver clay) Certification levels 1 – 3 so have some new tricks to teach you as well as plenty of enamelling techniques, felting, encaustic art and flamework (glass rings) lessons for you to try. Email I have even printed my first greeting card collection which is on sale at the gallery shop at EJ Art,Woodbridge and also Pink Giraffe Pottery, Great Bentley. I also hope to add them online soon.
Greeting cards from original artwork by Toni Peers. Photo Credit Steve Ball
EJ Art, Woodbridge • Enamelling on Silver Clay – 2-part class 1st and 8th October – 10 – 1pm. Create a piece with recesses or texture to enamel. Book here • Silver paste leaf and coiled jewellery using silver clay sheet – This was a 3-part class (part one has been but it’s ok to still join us at a slightly reduced fee for part 2 (31st Nov) and part 3 (14th November). 10 – 12.30 Enquire
Coiled jewellery from silver clay sheet
Silver leaf work
Enamelling on silver
FSC Flatford Mill
• Jewellery weekend at FSC Flatford Mill My annual jewellery weekend class which includes Enamelling and silver clay over a weekend runs on 4th to 6th December. This is a great way to socialise and pick up lots of skills over a relaxed weekend – I say relaxed we do make a lot of jewellery. Book here
Student’s enamelled work
Student’s silver clay work
• (Christmas) Feltmaking at FSC Flatford Mill
12th December. 9.30 to 4pm. To be fair although Christmas is in the title, I am happy just to teach you feltmaking – needle and wet felting. You can make a Spring Wreath; a needle felted animal or simply learn how to wet felt a picture. Book here
If you have an outstanding gift voucher, or indeed want to book one for ….. the dreaded word a Christmas present. Do get in touch. As my home workshop only fits about 3 people and I am offering one to one (I really am great value 🙂 ) or a joint booking with your own approved bubble (i.e Family or friends) you can rest assured you are not going to mix with a lot of people in these classes and I am happy to put in any further measures (within reason) to help make you feel secure. If you want to hold on to your voucher to use at a later date, that is also of course fine – do get in touch as we may be able to pencil in a date for 2021 – it helps with my course planning but of course you will not be held to that date if the situation changes.
I look foward to seeing some familiar (and new) faces again very soon. Keep well and safe. Toni
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!
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
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
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.
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) jewelleryFine silver jewellery from silver clayFine silver jewellery from silver clayFine silver jewellery from silver clayFlamework (glass) beads
Want to learn how to make jewellery? Or perhaps you enjoy other crafts? If you are using a mobile click on menu and it should give you options to book, or find out more.
I am always amazed at how quickly time flies, especially at this time of year. One minute we are settling the children in after the summer holidays and the next minute, the planning for our families November birthdays and then Christmas events galore…it seems only moments ago I thought I had ages to get my prototypes made for Christmas fairs…to be fair for once I have actually made some Christmas themed jewellery but never in the amount I was planning….ah well there’s always next year!
I thought I’d share a few photos from some recent classes/events with you.
Last week I taught at the beautiful Flatford Mill (Constable country), we did a full day of Encaustic art and these are some of the resulting pictures. For next year’s classes at Flatford Mill see their website.
I also helped run some taster sessions at the Craft event at ExCel London, last Friday, resulting in some lovely enamelled pieces.
Plus there’s the classes in my garden workshop, recently I have done some Encaustic classes as well as a tailoring a class to a request for enamelling on silver clay and embedding stones. I really love the clock, which was made using a mould and an old piece of costume jewellery.
Don’t forget all of these classes can be booked either on my website or by emailing me so that we can tailor dates and times to suit. Prices per person are reduced the more people that attend, a perfect excuse to bring a friend or two. Gift vouchers are also available directly from me – I write you a gift letter, detailing the class and how to book.
