Birthdays, workshops, craft fairs...it's all happening!

Well here is a bit of a mega blog post just to bring you up to date with all the latest happenings.

Countdown to new website going live......

The new web shop is almost there (as in almost days away). It has take some major hard work but the site is getting to a stage where we are happy with it. We discovered in the process of putting up the products that we hold more than 12000 products. I know, scary right? But I suppose by the time you add up sheets of paper, buttons, paints, brushes, beads its not an unrealistic figure. So we are not going to be putting 12000 products on line as that is just asking for trouble. We are instead going to take baby steps and the first month will be a test period for the new site so a few of your favourites and new lines will be going up and each day we will add a few more. Anyway I hope to be giving away lots more info on this early next week so I'm not going to give away too much now

Its our birthday!

3rd Birthday Celebrations. I cant believe the shop turns three this Saturday. From a personal point of view it feels like such a milestone as I remember when we opened we never new would we see year three as it seemed so far away. Well we are glad to say that we are still here and it is because of the loyalty, friendship and support our customers have shown us not to mention our staff (big shout out to Clare and Ebony). So year three I hope is going to be a good one and maybe even the year that some our "BIG" goals are realised. Again I am dropping hints but I just don't want to jinx any plans but needless to say watch this space.

So to celebrate our 3rd Birthday there will be of course some special offers in store Saturday and Sunday. We are also hosting a scrapbooking workshop on Saturday the 19th March from 12pm to 2pm. It is 30 Euros for a whole lots of materials so book by giving us a call on 0646630800

Sunday we are hosting our very own Crafty Alley Shop Craft Fair and we are inviting our amazingly talented customers to take a table and demonstrate and hopefully sell their handmade goods. No charge to participate or to attend but if you do want to take a stand on the day please give us a call so we can allocate space.

Upcoming Workshops

We have two very exciting workshops coming up.

April 2nd 2011, Colourway Knitting Techniques with Carol Fellers 

Carol is back with a very special knitting workshop especially designed for The Crafty Alley Shop. When I say especially designed I mean that Carol has actually written an exclusive pattern for the workshop!

(Sneak peak of Carol's exclusive pattern for the workshop)

Here is what Carol had to say "I’m having lots of fun putting together the colourwork class for you! I’m busy putting the finishing touches to the cowl pattern that should be a really good introduction to stranded knitting. As its knit in the round it is by far the easiest way to experiment with stranded knitting. (Plus you get an introduction to continental style knitting!) Intarsia and slip stitch colour pattern work will also get a mention."


This really is a not to miss workshop and we are thrilled to have Carol back with us. The cost is 40Euro for tuition and pattern. Yarn is sold seperately and we would appreciate it if the yarn has or is purchased from The Crafty Alley Shop. We are bringing in a new yarn especially for the class so more information on that to follow as well as needle requirements. You can read more about Carol here. Also remember that we stock some of Carol's patterns in the shop. 

......................................

April 11th 2011 Make a felt bag with Mairead Sharry

The second workshop we have coming up is with the amazing talented and inspiring Mairead Sharry.

This is the third felting workshop Mairead has taught at The Crafty Alley Shop and we are thrilled to have her back. Mairead will be teaching how t make a felt bag using the wet felting technique. 


Felting a bay with Mairead Sharry Monday April 11th 20100 10.30AM to 12:00PM 25 Euro including materials. 


One again we are taking booking for Mairead's workshop now s please call 0646630800 to book your place. You can read more about Mairead here. 


I hope that was not information overload but just had to get all the information out there. 


Will be back next week with some more news so in the meantime Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona Duit agus go raibh a mile maith agat (Happy St Patricks Day and Thank you). 


Cathy

Autum Workshops at The Crafty Alley Shop *Updated*

Hi all,

I just wanted to post the provisional Autumn Workshop Programme.

More details to follow.

***New*** Cathy's Handmade Christmas Programme
This is a new workshop I have designed to encourage people to make their own Christmas Gifts this year. At the end of the workshop as well as having beautiful finished handmade gifts, you will also have acquired new handmaking skills.

€20 per workshop

The provisonal programme is as follows

6th Nov - A Knitted Christmas Gift
13th Nov - Candle Making
20th Nov - Wall Art / Ceramic Painting
27th Nov - Christmas Cards (make up to 70 cards in two hours!)
4th Dec - Christmas Mini Book
11th Dec - Jewelry Making
18th Dec - Handmade Gift Wrap

Children's Autum Workshop Dates (11.00am to 12.15pm) €7.50pp

18th Sept
16th Oct
20th Nov
11th Dec

Adult Cardmaking Classes (2pm - 4pm) €20pp

18th Sept (finished)
27th Nov

Killarney Scrapbooking Crop

5th Sept (finished)
16th Oct (finished)
4th Dec

Dublin Crop (All provisonal dates)

11th Sept (done)
Next Dublin Crop to be confirmed

We will also be hosting a ten week Patchwork and Quilting classes by Nikki Foley, a Knitting Workshop on the 9th Oct with Carol Fellers and Oil Painting with Tina Reed on Tuesday Evenings.

(Captiva Wrap for Knitting Workshop with Carol)

I am also delighted to announce that Mairead Sharry will be doing a Felting Workshop on Monday 27th Sept from 11:00pm to 13:00pm for €20 including tuition, all materials and tea and coffee. Places limited and deposit secures place.

(Example of Felt Work by Mairead Sharry)

All of the above workshops are on a limited amount of places so book early to avoid disappointment by calling 0646630800.

Thanks

Cathy

Craft Club this Saturday 5th June

Hi all,

Just a reminder that the Craft Club is on this Saturday in June and I cannot wait for you to see what we will be doing. I have brought some fresh ideas straight off the plane from France and we are going to be doing some amazing layouts.

You will need to bring photos and we will be dedicating this class to 12x12's like you have never seen before!

Also a hint for one of the projects is that you will not be using adhesives but it will be a fully layered project so disarm your ATG guns and put that pritt stick away for w while while we have fun without our gluey friends. Don't worry if you have adhesive withdrawal symptoms even thinking about it you can use your favourite adhesives for the other projects we will be doing on the day!

So email myself or the shop if you want to sign up and see you Sat from 2pm to 5pm.

Cathy x

The Crafty Adult Craft Club New Format and Dates

New format and Dates for Adult Craft Club

Hi all,

Please note that these will be the Adult Craft Club dates for the summer are

Saturday 8th May
Saturdy 5th June
Saturday 3rd July
Saturday14th August

Craft Club will take place from 2pm to 5pm and will cost €30 inclding all materials.

The craft club is paper craft technique focused and will include tutorials that can be used in cardmaking/ scrpbooking/ altered art etc.

Places are limited so please book early!

Thank you

Cathy

February Craft Club

Hi all,

Well first of all I have to say I am loving being back in work and giving the workshops again. I have so much planned for the coming months and I can't wait to get started! The ladies who attend our craft club are all amazing people and I learn so much from them too. We love seeing new faces too so beginner or craft master - everyone is welcome!

We had such a lovely day at the Craft Club yesterday. First of all I worked with the ladies on Prima Paintables which although may have been daunting at first as it was all paintbrush work and not a scissors in sight I think the ladies really enjoyed it. It was a very relaxing class.The ladies also made some beautiful cards and I will try ang get some pics to post up. 

We worked with glimmer mists, prima flowers, dimensional pearls, watersoluable pencils, embosiing powder and marabu glitter liners and bling to transform the paintable from this

to this

I loved this project as it was something different and realy expanded peoples creativity by using art with craft. I think art and crafts should compliment eachother (and really are they not the same thing?) but I will leave that rant to another day!

We are now taking signups for the March club and places are limited as usual so email us or call us on 0646630800.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Cathy x

Beginners Craft Club.

Would you like to learn more about Scrapbooking and Card Making? Come and join us on Saturday 30th January from 2-5pm and see what all the fuss is about!

The cost for the afternoon is €30 and you will go home with a goodie bag full of stash!

This class is for total beginners and anyone who has been "dabbling" in papercrafts. Give us a call at 064 66 30 800 to book your place.

*** Please note due to weather conditions we have changed the date from the 9th of Jan to the 30th Jan ***

The Craft Club at Robyn's House

Just a little note to say a big thank you to one of our newest members of our Crafty Alley Shop Craft Club Robyn Correa who very kindly invited us over to take over her kitchen and make some beautiful cards. Robyn is a very gifted crafter and demonstrator and we had great fun making her designs. Robyn also demonstrated The Big Shot for us which was really interesting as we have just got it in stock and were amazed by all the different things you can do with it and how simple it is to use. Thanks also to Robyns daughter who made the most delicious chocolate cake for us! The Craft Club meets again this Saturday in the shop from 2pm to 5pm.