Welcome to CG Crafts

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.

Creativity Update

Ready for learning

Getting the tools ready

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.


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
Coiled jewellery from silver clay sheet

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

2020 Class dates (so far)

Classes with Toni – 2020 dates

Just some ideas of enamelled pieces you could make in a class

Classes and class gift vouchers make excellent presents for crafty people and people who are hard to buy for/don’t want anymore ‘stuff’.

Classes at CG Crafts are bookable on my website or for external venues see details below.

JANUARY
Sat 25th Jan 10 – 2pm Silver Clay beginners £89 Per person CG Crafts – www.cgcrafts.co.uk
Weds 29th January 10 – 2pm Silver Clay beginners £89 per person CG Crafts – SOLD OUT

Contact me to organise dates (weekdays or weekend) to suit in January – 01206 973753

FEBRUARY
Sat 1st Feb 10 – 3.30pm Enamelling beginners Contact venue –
Simply Handmade, Sudbury
01787 827117
www.simplyhandmade.co.uk
Thurs 6th Feb 10.30 – 4.30pm Enamelling Beginners £90 EJart Creative (Woodbridge, Suffolk)
01473 735007
www.ejartcreative.co.uk
Fri 7th Feb 10 to 2pm Silver Clay 89.00 CG Crafts
My home workshop in Colchester where I also offer dates to suit.
07847 098849
toni@cgcrafts.co.uk
Sun 9th Feb 10 – 3pm Enamelling The Studio Ipswich
07521 665449
www.thestudioipswich.co.uk

Weds 12th Feb 10 – 2.30pm Feltmaking – needle and wet £85.00 CG Crafts – – www.cgcrafts.co.uk
Sat 15th Feb 10.30 – 3.30pm Encaustic Art 90.00 EJart Creative (Woodbridge, Suffolk)
01473 735007
www.ejartcreative.co.uk
Sat 22nd Feb 10 – 2pm Silver Clay £89.00 CG Crafts  – www.cgcrafts.co.uk
Sun 23rd Feb 10 – 3pm Enamelling – Cloisonne £85.00 CG Crafts – – www.cgcrafts.co.uk
Contact me to organise dates (weekdays or weekend) to suit in February – 01206 973753

MARCH
Thurs 5th March 10.30 – 3pm Silver Clay EJart Creative (Woodbridge, Suffolk)
01473 735007
www.ejartcreative.co.uk
Sat 7th March 10 – 3.30 Enamelling 85.00 CG Crafts
My home workshop in Colchester where I also offer dates to suit.
07847 098849
toni@cgcrafts.co.uk
Sun 8th March 10 – 3pm Encaustic art The Studio Ipswich
07521 665449
www.thestudioipswich.co.uk
13th to 15th March Weekend class Enamelling weekend incl Cloisonne FSC Flatford Mill
01206 297110
enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org
Sat 21st March 10.30 to 4.30pm Enamelling 90.00 EJart Creative (Woodbridge, Suffolk)
01473 735007
www.ejartcreative.co.uk
Sat 28th March 10 – 2pm Silver Clay Beginners 89.00 CG Crafts
My home workshop in Colchester where I also offer dates to suit.
07847 098849
toni@cgcrafts.co.uk
Sun 29th March 10 – 2PM Silver Clay The Studio Ipswich
07521 665449
www.thestudioipswich.co.uk
Contact me to organise dates (weekdays or weekend) to suit in March – 01206 973753

APRIL
Sun 5th April 10 – 3.30pm Encaustic art 85.00 CG Crafts
My home workshop in Colchester where I also offer dates to suit.
07847 098849
toni@cgcrafts.co.uk
Sat 18th April 10 – 3.30pm Feltmaking 85.00 CG Crafts
My home workshop in Colchester where I also offer dates to suit.
07847 098849
toni@cgcrafts.co.uk
Weds 22nd April 10 – 2.30pm Encaustic art £85.00 CG Crafts – www.cgcrafts.co.uk
Thurs 23rd April 10.30 to 3.30pm Enamelling on silver clay EJart Creative (Woodbridge, Suffolk)
01473 735007
www.ejartcreative.co.uk

MAY
Sat 2nd May Needle Felted Animals Twixt Time and Tide, Maldon
07712 420100
enquiries@nicolahughestextiles.co.uk

JUNE
Sat 6th June 9.30 to 5pm Silver Clay day FSC Flatford Mill
01206 297110
enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org
Sun 7th June 9.30 to 5pm Encaustic art day FSC Flatford Mill
01206 297110
enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org
Sat 13th June 9 to 1pm Silver Clay Simply Handmade, Sudbury
01787 827117
www.simplyhandmade.co.uk
Sat 20th June 10.30 to 3.30pm Silver Clay EJart Creative (Woodbridge, Suffolk)
01473 735007
www.ejartcreative.co.uk
Contact me to organise dates (weekdays or weekend) to suit in June, July, August and September – 01206 973753

OCTOBER
Sat 17th Oct 10 to 1pm Encaustic art Simply Handmade, Sudbury
01787 827117
www.simplyhandmade.co.uk

NOVEMBER
Sun 1st Nov 10 to 3.30pm Enamelling Simply Handmade, Sudbury
01787 827117
www.simplyhandmade.co.uk

DECEMBER
4th to 6th Dec Weekend Class Jewellery weekend -Enamelling and Silver clay FSC Flatford Mill
01206 297110
enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org
Sat 12th Dec 9.30 to 5pm Christmas Feltmaking FSC Flatford Mill
01206 297110
enquiries.fm@field-studies-council.org

Summer juggling

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

 

Another satisfied Enameller!

Sometimes going back to basics is just so satisfying. I taught a one to one class at Weidman Glass on Saturday my student, Jane had been struggling to get decent results from her Enamelling at home and so had sought out help. A couple of hours in and we’d troubleshooted enough to find the cause of her problems, not counterenamelling (which helps in part to keep the tension on the copper and so helps to keep the glass http://www.cheapambienpriceonline.com on!) Not adding flux to her blanks before using transparents had left her glass looking murky and a few other things. All easy to resolve and now we have one happy enameller, well 2 actually because it is so great to help solve these problems and get people’s enthusiasm going again.IMG_20160416_120738380_HDR