Nationwide at Ennis Creative Arts Centre.

So the day finally came. Nationwide was coming to Ennis Creative Arts Centre. For those of you not from Ireland that's a TV programme that's on RTE which is a channel here in Ireland. Nationwide is a programme that comes on at around 7.30 in the evening and they show crafts, designers, art and lots of great interesting topics.

Its a programme that has always been on in my house and I always hoped that some day they would come and do a feature on ECAC. Well the day had come.

We had been planning this day for months to be honest. They had told me back in 2013 that they were coming so we started one Almighty clean up and a list as long as our arms of things that we wanted to do. Unfortunately between running out of time, Lack of funds and me falling and really hurting myself, we didn't get what we wanted done but to be honest, it didn't matter. I was delighted they were coming. I knew it would all be fine.

They were so nice to deal with over the phone that I knew it would all work out. So the day was upon us. the 1st March 2014. They had chosen a few classes that they wanted to cover and they had also gone through lots and lost of students who had set up business's and they had picked out ones that they felt would work with the piece.

I wanted to have everyone here. What a programme we could make if we had everyone here that ever came to a class. Wow now there is a programme.

So the camera man and reporter arrived and we immediately got started. They started off with some shots of outside and then we did a bit about Bridget's (Bailey Tomlin wearable art/ millinery) class.

Bridget did a bit of a demo and we had some students here for the filming.

Everyone was nervous but I think we all did a great job.

This was Bridget doing the demo. Anyone that has ever been to one of Bridget's class knows what I mean when I say - you could listen to Bridget all day.

After Bridget they did a feature on Krystyna Pomeroy and her Papier Mache Hens. Krystyna also teaches the "How not to be afraid of your sewing machine" workshop here at ECAC which is one of our most popular classes.

While all this was going on we had a full house of people either there to be students for the filming or they were waiting to be interviewed. We had a big group of ladies there on the day and the kettle was on constant boil and everyone got a bite to eat.
Here is Mary and Sharon waiting for round two of their TV debut. I was calling them the Shreddie ladies. Don't mind me I think it's really cool. These two ladies just learnt to crochet before Christmas. Look at their work. Isn't it fab.

The kitchen was full that day. It was just great.

Everyone helped out. xx

After Krystyna Pomeroy they then did a feature on Lilies and Pearls and Ann Maries class here on Cake Decorating at ECAC. They then did an interview with Ann Marie and her new range of Buttercreams. Ann Marie had some beautiful work with her to show the camera.

While Ann Marie was doing the feature on her class they told us to get the 4 ladies who had business's and who had attended ECAC to upskill or learn a new craft to set up their wares. We did this in our conservatory and it worked really well.

The light was just lovely and it just worked perfectly. Here is Nicola Brown bringing in her felted pieces.

Here is Amanda Byrne and Liga Liva setting up also. Liga has a polymer clay jewellery business and Amanda has a Millinery business selling Cloche hats.

The displays were beautiful. You would know the ladies had done this before.

Finally they interviewed Sharon Murphy of The Bead and Button Emporium.

Sharon makes polymer clay beads and buttons and here you can see she has launched a new range of stitch markers.

Finally it was my turn to sit in front of the camera. I have no idea what I said to be honest. I may have made a complete haims of it but anyway I hope it came across someway right.

So now after all that - all we need do is wait for the date which it will air. I am sure there will be a good few nervous ladies around that day. Anyway I gotta say well done everyone. It was a credit to us really and thanks so much to everyone who helped me. I really really appreciate it. From the cakes to the Garlic Potatoes to the chocolate biscuit cakes to the offers of cleaning, (which I didn't take but it was tempting), - what I want to say is THANK YOU.........

I am super proud to be honest and even if I come across like a complete god only knows what.......

I am still so happy that I got here.

Running ECAC is just so rewarding and I just LOVE MY JOB.

Thanks folks.

Cheers and hopefully we have many more years to go.

Love and Laughs.

Shirley