Monday, October 21, 2013

Wet felting Jewellery on the 19th Oct with Nicola Brown.

Our day began at 9.30 when all the ladies arrived at the studios and we began with a quick cup of coffee and a little chat to get to know each other. The class was full and students had travelled from near and far. Some of the ladies had been travelling since 6.30 that morning to get to us.


Wednesday, October 16, 2013

A small snap shot of some classes we have held here at ECAC.. xx

Well in the last few days as we are getting ready for the film crew coming here for the filming for the FBD Clare Business award cermony. I have been going through lots of old photos and some recent ones too of classes we ahve had here at ECAC.

Here are just some which I LOVE.
Myself and Nicola at the Polymer Clay workshop with Ronna Servas Weltman over the Summer.

Monday, October 14, 2013

"How not to be afraid of the sewing machine" class on the 12th Oct 2013.


It's so great when you know everyone went home from class happy. Last Saturday we had a sewing class called " How not to be afraid of your sewing Machine" and our class was with Krys. It was the first time we had arranged a complete beginners class and the class was full up. Lots of machines were brought down from the Attic for this one.

The class started off with us all learning about the machine it'self and I am happy to say that I think by the end of it we all weren't so afraid of our machines. We all learned so much.

We had old machines and new machines and the great thing is they all did the job the same way. We were able to tell the ladies if their machine needed a service and also we were able to offer them great websites if they were missing a part.
The hardest part of the day for us all was choosing the fabric we were going to use for our peg bags. I know many of them wont be used as peg bags at all as they were a great size so they could be used for anything really. Crochet or knitting bag, a bag for your IPad or just a book bag or lunch bag. Evereyones bag was completely different. No two bags were the same.

After a while all you could hear was the noise of the machines and it was great. As the day went on we were all getting more comfortable with our machines.
Our templates were all cut out.
We all also learned all about the different stitches and the tension of our stitches which is so important.
Before we started the sewing we all played for a while learning about the stitches and how the different size and tension made a different stitch.
Then once all the templates were picked and cut out we were off and there was no stopping us.
We had different designs to choose from and the room was awash with creativity.
There was such a great sence of achievement when at the end of the day we could all say. "I made that bag" and the great thing is most of us didn't even know how to thread the machine that morning.
We learned about applique also and everyone just loved that.
Aren't they all fab. So proud of us all I have to say.












Thursday, October 10, 2013

Crochet Bunting.



I had to share this beautiful make that I have just made. It's a really pretty pattern and you will find it in the recent magazine - Prima - Christmas Makes and it comes originally from the beautiful book - Hook Yarn and crochet.

I have changed the colours a bit to use mainly Christmas colours. It's a fairly quick make and is great for using up all the little bits of wool you may have at home.

You can also do the stars seperately and use as decorations.

Check it out the magazine is in shops at the moment.

Monday, October 7, 2013

The endless debate - "Do you Crochet or Knit"?, Either way lets pass on the tradition.

Well it seems to be you are either one or the other these days or so they say. I myself am of the opinion that you can be both but I do know there are plenty of die - hard knitters and crocheters out there that love one or the other and if you mistake their work for knitting when it's Crochet (or the other way around), well there could be hell to pay.


I think most of it is just light hearted fun myself. I happen to really LOVE crochet and I think it seems to be because I find it easier on my hands and also it's so much easier to rip back. But thats just my opinion and it still wouldn't stop me from doing the odd bit of knitting every now and then.

Knitting and Crochet was once viewed as a craft that only our Grandmothers did but in recent years it has become more and more popular with famous people either wearing the items or also seen crocheting in their spare time. Crochet I feel travels so well, so whether you are at the bus stop or waiting in the car for the kids. It is easy to pick up.




I started to crochet years and years ago. I am unsure where I learnt to be honest. I know I learnt to knit at school but crochet I actuallty I think I learnt from watching my Grandmother - Nana Bredin. She was a huge Crocheter. She made it look so easy. I remember sitting on her knee when I was a child and she always had a basket at her feet full of yarn and she was so relaxed about things, one of the dogs could be alseep in the basket and it never bothered her. I always loved that about her. To me she never seemed to sweat the small stuff. Maybe she did but to me she was so relaxed. So years on I would do some crochet from time to time but to be honest I didn't know what stitch was which and I couldn't read a pattern. I was basically making it up out of my head. So I went to a class and it was for Knitters and Crocheters. I started to learn the stitches and here I am only a few years on and I am TOTALLY ADDICTED.
I can't pass a Yarn shop now without going in and looking at all the colours and ranges I just want everything. There isn't enough time in the day to do all the projects I want to do and that is just Crochet. What about all the other crafts I enjoy.

A few years ago my very special (Pretty)Aunt passed away and she had lived in the Home house with my Nana. A few days after my aunts funeral I was at her home where she had lived alone and while I was there I said I would check the garage. The garage had no door on it and was really open to the elements but I said I would go and have a look.
In the garage was a dresser and it was all mouldy and damp. I couldn't not check what was in there. It looked like it had been there for many years. When I opened the drawers I found books upon books of Crochet and the most beautiful patterns.
I felt like I was meant to find them. I know she would be so proud of the crochet I do today and the fact I now teach it also. I have met the most beautiful ladies that come here to learn to crochet and I love the idea that someday they too will have their grand children on their knee while they crochet and that in some small way I passed on that craft to another generation.
These days I make lots and lots of different projects. Mainly small projects that can be done in a evening or two. I love making hats, decorations, Table mats, blankets etc. I find when I sit down to watch a bit of television in the evening or a movie at the weekends. I can pick up the crochet and I totally relax.
So go on. try it. Many of you may have done it years ago at school and may have never done it since. It's great and all you need is some hooks or kneedles and some wool and you are off. Perhaps go to a class or find a group that meets and you will just love it.

Check out our next class here at ECAC. Here are some projects we have been working on recently.
 A panel to a Holy Communion Jacket.
 Baby Booties.
 Table mat.
 Scarf.
 Tops for jars.
 Hangers.
 Blanket.
 Holy Communion Bag.
 Cushion.
 Hanger.
 Blanket.
 Hangers.
 Egg Cosy.
 Tea Cosy.
 Cushion.
 Lamp Shade.
 Blanket
 Blanket
 Booties
 Jar top.
 Hat.
 Tea Cosy
 Blanket
 Start of a Scarf.

Teddy Bear.