Craft Classes – CG Crafts

Nought to sixty

September 30, 2020 ToniLeave a comment

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

Creativity Update

September 16, 2020 ToniLeave a comment

Ready for learning

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

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

• (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

Craft fairs and gift vouchers

November 25, 2019 ToniLeave a comment

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

November 3, 2019 ToniLeave a comment

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 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 6^th 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 1^st December 10 – 4pm

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

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

Classes at FSC Flatford Mill (01206 297110)

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

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

2020 dates

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

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

Fri 29^th Nov – Encaustic art

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

Tues 3^rd 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.

Summer juggling

August 29, 2019 ToniLeave a comment

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…

Welcome to CG Crafts

March 26, 2019March 28, 2019 Toni3 Comments

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.

Where does the time go?

November 24, 2017 ToniLeave a comment

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.

February Programme here at CG Crafts

November 6, 2017 ToniLeave a comment

Date	Class	Time	Cost for one	Cost per person for 2 attending	Cost per person for 3 attending	Other info
Saturday 3rd February	Silver clay Beginners	10 – 2.30pm	£95	£85	£75	10g of silver clay included in the price.
Saturday 10^th February	Jewellery Club: Enamelling the Basics	10 – 2.30pm	N/A based on minimum of 2	£60.00	£46.50	A further £5 discount per session if you book 3+ sessions for Jewellery club only
Sat 17^th/Sun 18^th February						Available for Class vouchers and dates to suit
Saturday 24^th February	Silver clay rings	10 – 4.30pm	£125	£95	£85	10g of silver clay included in the price.
Sunday 25^th February	Flamework – making glass beads beginners	10 – 1pm	£75	£45	N/A	Beads will be annealed and are then available for collection/to be posted out.
Weds 28^th Feb	Jewellery Club: Enamelling the basics	10 – 2.30pm	N/A based on minimum of 2	£60.00	£46.50	A further £5 discount per session if you book 3+ sessions for Jewellery club only

My pricing structure, is based on the more people that come the less you pay per person. If you want to have a one to one, or are happy to come on your own then you pay a little more – not as much as many venues but a bit more to reflect having total tutor attention. If you want to save costs, simply bring a friend or 2 and the costs per person go down. I am also happy to advertise any dates to suit, so that if you don’t have a friend with the same interests I may still be able to get more students to come to share the cost – I can’t guarantee this but I can try, you can also help by sharing the info so that others might join too.

All over the place

November 1, 2017 ToniLeave a comment

Life in our house is never boring, quiet, relaxed…

We’ve had a busy half term including trips to the seaside, halloween parties, visiting friends and of course crafting.

I am now back to normal (relatively) and planning the rest of the year and things for 2018. I am also just taking on some new writing work so we’ll see how that all fits in. Anyway the main point of this post is to remind you that November is PRICE FREEZE MONTH so if you’d like to book a class, or gift voucher for 2018 now is the time to do it. I have some dates pencilled in the diary which I will add to the website over the next week but if you are interested in what is on offer, or indeed want to book a date to suit, get in touch and we can have a chat. Happy crafting. Toni x

November price freeze and new pricing structure

October 22, 2017 ToniLeave a comment

I have been stressing about prices for courses for some time now. As a small business I really want to run classes whether there are one or three people booked but I do have to make these classes cost effective. I have now come up with a pricing structure, which I hope suits everyone. If you want to have a one to one, or are happy to come on your own then you pay a little more – not as much as many venues but a bit more to reflect having total tutor attention. If you want to save costs, simply bring a friend or 2 and the costs per person go down. I am also happy to advertise any dates to suit, so that if you don’t have a friend who wants to join you I may still be able to get more students to come to share the cost – I can’t guarantee this but I can try, you can also help by sharing the info so that others might join too. Hope this makes sense. I am happy to take your feedback and will be freezing prices in November so if you want to book a Christmas present or voucher, I will honour that fee (as long as it is paid now in full) for 2018. I will also be posting more details about the new jewellery club soon. Very excited about this.

CURLY GIRLY CRAFTS COURSE PRICE GUIDE
Course	Duration	Price for One to one	Price (per person) for 2 students	Price (per person) for 3 students	Other info
Silver Clay Beginners	4 hours	£95	£85	£75	10g of silver clay included in price
Silver Clay Rings	6 hours	£125	£95	£85	10g of silver clay included in price
More Silver Clay – including embedding and enamelling on silver clay	5 hours	£125	£95	£85	10g of silver clay included in price
Enamelling	5 hours	£95	£80	£65	Make up to 3 pieces
Flamework (making glass beads) · Beginners · Further · Sculptural	3 hours Price includes annealing and removal of beads	£75	£45	If there are 3 of you ask me for a price – I only have one torch though!	Make approx. 6 – 8 beads
Encaustic Art	5 hours	£85	£65	£50	All Encaustic materials included. Equipment available to purchase on the day.
Feltmaking – Needle and Wet felting	5 hours	£85	£65	£50	Both wet and needlefelting included. All Feltmaking materials included
Encaustic Art	2.5 hours	£55	£40	£35	All Encaustic materials included. Equipment available to purchase on the day
Feltmaking – choose either needle or wet felting	2.5 hours	£55	£40	£35	Either needle felting or wet felting

Toni’s Enamelling and Jewellery Club
Session info	Duration	Price for One to one	Price (per person) for 2 students	Price (per person) for 3 students	Other info
Enamelling/Jewellery Club	Various but approx. 4 hours	2 person minimum	£60	£46.50	A further £5 discount per session if you book 3 or more sessions. N.B the 2 person minimum still applies.