2024 dates

Just updating the diary for 2024 so if you are after last-minute present ideas, or looking to take up a new skill next year, do get in touch. Prices listed on website are for 1 to 1 but discounted prices are available when booking 2 or more people so please ask about this.

CG CRAFTS, Colchester (booking 07847 098849) or click here

Sat 30th March – Encaustic Art

Fri 19th April – Silver Clay Beginners

Sat 20th April – Enamelling Beginners

Fri 26th April – Enamelling Beginners

Sat 27th April – Silver Clay Beginners

Fri 10th May – Flamework (Making glass beads)

Sat 11th May – Encaustic Art

Fri 24th May – Feltmaking – needle and wet felting

The Seasons art classes

I teach a 14 week class covering Drawing, oil pastels, watercolour and acrylics. The class currently takes place at The Oaks Golf Course, Rivenhall Essex. Click here to find out more on our Facebook page or call 01621 818 593

19+ Adult Learning at ACL

I am now teaching weekly Metal (Fine Silver) clay classes at Basildon ACL

The Thursday classes are accredited which means they are funded if you meet the criteria, plus you get a shiny certificate at the end. The listings are a little confusing at present as the courses are quite new but if you are interested and can’t find the course let me know and I’ll do my best to help.

Watershed Studio, St Osyth – 01255 820466 or click here

Sat 16th March – Silver Clay Jewellery

Sat 29th June – Felt Making Landscapes using wet felt

Sat 7th Oct – Enamelling

Classes to March 2022

Eek! Busy behind the scenes trying to get dates sorted and generally confusing myself left, right and centre. Don’t forget a booked class or voucher makes a great gift, it’s a day out and something made is something treasured (hopefully).
Once I am less confused I will post more about what I have been up to.

January
Saturday 22nd January – Beginner’s Silver Clay @ EJart
February
Thurs 10th Feb – @ EJart TBA
Tuesday 22nd Feb – Encaustic art @ CG Crafts
Thursday 24th Feb – Silver Clay Jewellery at the Sunshine Room – Pin Mill
March
PMC Silver Clay Camp 101 class – 4 weeks, 5 projects – Thursday 3rd March, 10th March, 17th March, 14th March
Fri 4th March – Flamework @ CG Crafts
Sat 5th March – Private Class
Tues 8th March – Flamework @ CG Crafts
Fri 11th March – Silver Clay Jewellery @ CG Crafts
Sat 12th March Enamelling @ CG Crafts – SOLD OUT
Tuesday 15th March – Enamelling @ Watershed Studio, St Osyth
Friday 18th March – Enamelling @ CG Crafts
Sat 19th March – @ Ejart TBA
Sunday 20th March – Flamework @ CG Crafts
Friday 25th March – Silver Clay @ CG Crafts
Sat 26th March – Encaustic Art @ CG Crafts

I also teach feltmaking.

Get in touch for more info about any of the classes.

Black Friday weekend Offer

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.

Unique silver jewellery

New ways to shop this Christmas

Are you feeling Christmas ready? I know I’m not! I am trying to think of where to hide the presents I’ve already bought, whilst stopping my kittens getting into the boxes and destroying the contents – they do believe a box arrives everyday in this house!

What I now need to do is tell you about what my small business can offer you for Christmas!

I teach small classes in Colchester – these are not your bog standard classes but more specialised crafts: Enamelled Jewellery, Silver Clay Jewellery (fine silver), Encaustic art, Felt making and Flamework (making glass beads). My workshop fits 2 people for a class (not including me), comfortably so if you are worried about mixing in big groups you don’t need to. I offer a gift letter for you to purchase a class but detailing how the recipient can book a date to suit them. These classes are intended for adult crafters who have already done the usual things and are looking for something a bit more challenging.
You can book class vouchers here, or by emailing me. I have a few handcrafted items on sale here too.

I also make jewellery for sale. My Etsy shop is up and running and you can buy items here – if you are local get in touch as I may be able to offer delivery rather than posting items out.

I also have items for sale at EJart Creative in Woodbridge – the sell online and will also be open for business from 2nd December.

Next week Colcheco will be opening and will have a selection of my work.

This weekend I will be taking part in A Handcrafted Business online fair which will give you details of lots of lovely handcrafted items – I’ll post the link later.

That’s all for now, never have there been more ways to shop from the luxury of your own home!

Keep safe and keep in touch. Toni

Nought to sixty

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


Wishing you well during unsettled times

I just wanted to wish all my fellow crafters a well, safe and creative time during this difficult period.

If you have a class booked and I haven’t already messaged you, please accept my apologies for not getting in touch but obviously given the current lockdown I will be out of action for a couple of months at least. I will postpone anything booked and we’ll reschedule dates as soon as it’s safe to do so. If you are interested in classes, I am happy to pencil in dates but for much later in the year.

I am planning to post a few videos on YouTube – which is a great source of crafting and other info so do check it out if you are looking for creative inspiration (not necessarily from me!)

This is the link to my channel

Do get in touch if you are stuck at home and have any questions regarding the crafts I teach but most of all keep safe and well and I look forward to seeing you on the other side.


Toni x
 

Craft fairs and gift vouchers

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

Open Studios

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

 

CG Crafts Summer School 2019 – Colchester

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

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