Craft Arena 20 December 2019 No images? Click here WelcomeFirst of all an apology. I got so caught up in my knitting at Yarn Forward this week, I forgot to take any pictures! Sorry ladies. I promise I'll take some at our next meeting in February. Ray and I have an anniversary this week. It is 50 years since we got engaged - 20th December 1969! I wonder if he would have asked me if he knew what he was letting himself in for? Ray has been working really hard on getting the new website up and running, and we think we are there - it went live late on Thursday! Parts of the website are still being worked on, so please bear with us. There will be teething problems, I'm sure, so if you do find anything amiss, please let us know. We are hoping it will be a lot easier to use and more user friendly. One thing you will notice is that we no longer have an online shop, although you will still be able to book workshops online. We have found that most people prefer to visit the studio rather than buy online. It is also difficult to keep the website updated with our current stock levels - I hate it if anyone orders something that I haven't got and so have to disappoint them. Also, to be honest, I don't really want to be packing orders when I can be stitching, drawing or painting! I am more than happy to continue to post out orders, so if you need anything, please email or phone and we will do our best to help, This is our new front page: We will be moving our Blog over to the new website too, so expect some of the links we usually use to behave a little differently. As it is Christmas, we have not one, but three free Christmas crafting projects for you this week. See below for details. We are closed for Christmas from 4pm on Sunday 22nd December, but will be back for a two-day spell on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th December. If you visit us on those days, you will receive double Loyalty Card stamps on every purchase over £10. Have a very Happy Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you in the studio soon. Denise and Ray Free Christmas Crafting 1I thought these baubles were a good idea. A great way to use up your left over thread! Simply fill a plastic bauble with snips of thread and hang on the tree! I have some large baubles and may try this out for myself. Free Christmas Crafting 2For last minute gift ideas, we have a santa and tree for you to make. You could use them on a card or maybe applique them to a larger piece. In the StudioIt's been a while, but my bead display stand is now full of luscious metallic beads. These are great for both jewellery making or sewing onto fabric, or equally just for looking at! The beads come in useful containers, so they shouldn't end up in the vacuum cleaner! This beautiful book from Inspirations Studios arrived this week, which shows you how to stitch and make etui. Worked in counted thread techniques each etui is adorned with exquisite motifs based on themes including antique toys, Elizabethan caskets, pioneer samplers, fruits and flowers. The book contains a charming selection of small projects to match each etui including scissor sheaths and fobs, thread winders, needlebooks, pincushions and thimble cases. Eight captivating etuis with coordinating accessories are included, along with colour charts to guide every stitch. Detailed instructions are provided for every step from stitching to construction. I've also had more lino cutting tools arrive. I like using these as they have a comfortable wooden handle and an easy to change blade. They come in a sturdy box too! It is the last few days of our baby lock specials. The last day to order is Sunday 29th December. EnspireThe baby lock Enspire overlocker is on offer with £100 off the usual price of £899. You will also receive a set of overlock threads worth £89. You also get a £25 discount off our next 'Learn to Love your Overlocker' training when you purchase your overlocker from Craft Arena. Babylock Open Day 2020Our next Babylock Open Day is on Friday 27th March 2020. This will be free to attend, and you can book a time to come in if you wish or come in anytime between 10.30 and 4.00. Craft Arena are specialist dealers for baby lock embellishers, overlock, cover stitch and speciality machines. If you would like to find out more, please ring 01268 523780 or email us. What's On
We will be holding our annual workshop exhibition in March and I look forward to seeing all the work you have done which has inspired by our workshops. It doesn't need to be finished by the way, as our visitors do like to see the processes involved in the work. The application form is available here.
The theme for our 2020 Tantalising Textiles competition is MYSTERY. You can read more about the competition and get some ideas on our old blog. If you have any questions, please get in touch. The exhibition will be held in the Alchemy Gallery during April 2020 and the application form is available here. Workshops 2020Look out for news of our exciting future workshops here first! Online booking is now available, call the studio on 01268 5238 or pop in to see us. You will find more workshops on our brand new website. Beginners Zentangle® with CarolineSunday 19th January 202010.30am - 4.00pm £65 Caroline McNamara will be introducing you to the basic techniques of Zentangle® in this session. Your designs will be perfect for a stand alone work of art or translating into hand or machine stitch and mixed media work. The example shown here was made at a previous Craft Arena workshop Caroline is a certified Zentangle® tutor. THERE ARE SIX PLACES LEFT ON THIS WORKSHOP Group 2 Valentine Zentangle with CarolineFriday 31st January 202010.30pm - 4.00pm £65 For those who have been on one of our Zentangle® classes before, this workshop will take your knowledge further. Caroline McNamara, a certified Zentangle® tutor, will help you extend your skills. THERE ARE SIX PLACES AVAILABLE ON THIS WORKSHOP. Group 1 Valentine Zentangle with CarolineSaturday 1st February 202010.30pm - 4.00pm £65For those who have been on one of our Group 1 Zentangle® classes before (our longest running group), this workshop will take your knowledge further. Caroline McNamara, a certified Zentangle® tutor, will help you extend your skills. THERE ARE SIX PLACES LEFT ON THIS WORKSHOP. Machine Embroidery GroupSunday 2nd February 202010.30pm - 1.00pm £10A series of informal monthly social groups to help you get the most from your embroidery machine. A different machine embroidery technique will be discussed each month. Bring along any challenges or questions you have, and there will bound to be someone here to answer them. This month we will be focusing on Valentine’s Day. THERE ARE FIVE PLACES LEFT ON THIS SESSION Credence of Stitchers GroupSunday 9th February 202010.30pm - 1.00pm £10Join our stitching social group where you can stitch, chat and get a bit of advice if you need it! Any type of hand embroidery is welcome. You will receive a gift worth at least £5 when you attend, this will consist of hand embroidery related items - it may be threads, patterns or accessories or a combination of both. In case you were wondering, Credence is a 15th Century collective noun for a number of stitchers! THERE ARE EIGHT PLACES LEFT ON THIS SESSION Mixed Media with Nick KimberFive sessions on the Second Friday of each month starting 14th February 2020 10.30pm - 1.00pm £45 per session or £200 for all five This series of workshops has been compiled for students who are new to designing their own work or those who need a kick start because of a creative block, which all of us have from time to time! By the end of the course you will have ideas on how you can produce your own original piece of work from the designs and samples that you have done over the 5 month course. A requirements list will be provided but most materials will be available on the day. If there is enough interest, it may be possible to extend the workshop into the afternoon. THERE ARE FIVE PLACES LEFT ON THIS WORKSHOP Tambour BeadingSaturday 15th February 202010.30pm - 4.00pm £65 Join Angela Woodget for a whole day of Tambour Beading. This delicate form of beading onto fabric can be used to enhance garments, make accessories or pictures. Angela will start with the basics in the morning and show you more advanced techniques in the afternoon.This class is perfect for beginners or those who wish to refresh their skills. THERE ARE FOUR PLACES LEFT ON THIS WORKSHOP PE Design with LisaSunday 16th February 202010.30pm - 1.00pm £35 Join Lisa to learn more about using Brother PE Design Software. This class is for those who know the basics of PE Design software for Brother Embroidery machines. On this class Lisa will be showing you how to import and digitize. Ask about our next beginners class. THERE ARE THREE PLACES LEFT ON THIS WORKSHOP Yarn ForwardWednesday 19th February 202010.30pm - 1.00pm £10 Our regular Yarn Forward knitting and crochet social group. Bring your own yarn work along to knit or crochet and if you have any challenges, there will sure to be someone here who can help. Whatever your skill level, you can work that yarn and chat at the same time, and you always leave with a free gift! THERE ARE FOUR PLACES AVAILABLE ON THIS SESSION Mixed Media Sketchbook with DeniseSaturday 22nd February 202010.30pm - 4.00pm £70 On this workshop you will decorate a sketchbook using Powertex and mixed media techniques. Suitable for beginners or those who have used Powertex before, we will start the day making an emblem for the front of your book and then paint and distress the book before adding the finished emblem to create a unique book for a gift or to keep for yourself. THERE ARE SIX PLACES AVAILABLE ON THIS WORKSHOP Goldwork with WendySaturday 7th March 202010.30pm - 4.00pm £65 Join Wendy on her latest journey into the wonderful world of goldwork embroidery. You will be stitching one of her exclusive designs. Suitable whether you are a complete beginner or wish to refresh your skills. THERE ARE EIGHT PLACES AVAILABLE ON THIS WORKSHOP Spinning with MicheleThursday 12th March 202010.30pm - 4.00pm £65 For those who are new to spinning, Michele will provide some prepared fibre and teach you to spin using a drop spindle. You will then be shown how to prepare your own fibre. After lunch you get to start spinning what you have prepared, and will have a little time on a spinning wheel. THERE ARE FIVE PLACES LEFT ON THIS WORKSHOP Babylock Training 2020We are again offering our 'Learn to Love Your Overlocker' training on Thursday 30th April with Jan Wright from Babylock. On the following day, Friday 1st May, Jan will be holding Advanced Overlocker Training. Both these sessions are between 10.30 and 4.00 and will cost £50 each, with a £25 reduction on one session if you have purchased a Babylock Overlocker from Craft Arena (and not already had a discounted training). Places are going fast, so don't leave it too long to call 01269 523780 and book your place. THERE ARE FOUR PLACES LEFT ON EACH OF THESE CLASSES Alchemy GalleryOpenings, the 9th exhibition from the Minerva Textile Group,is now on and runs until the end of January 2020 - see our website for Christmas opening hours. What people are saying about our exhibition:
Future ExhibitionsMarch 2020: Craft Arena Workshop Exhibition April 2020: Tantalising Textiles 2020 May 2020: Denise Gannon - Inspired By September 2020: Liz Neave October 2020: Denise Gannon and Wendy Mansfield - Print & Stitch November 2020: Emily Johnson Innov-is F420 is £599 with Free creative quilt kit worth £149.99A favourite with sewers and crafters around the world, the Innov-is F420 offers an abundance of features in one simple, easy-to-use package. This versatile machine gives you the flexibility and dexterity you need to successfully take on a variety of projects. Features include:
More details of on the Innov-is F420 To take advantage of this offer or find out more, contact us or pop into the studio. The current Brother promotions finish at the end of December and you can read more about them on our Brother blog page where we also have information on any ex demonstration models available. Ring me on 01268 523780 if you would like any more information. Don't forget I offer a consultation to help you choose the right machine for you plus free training with all machines over £200. Contact us to book a demonstration or for more information. |