Seasonal Joy

This doll went to live with a little girl on Christmas Eve.
We hope she was happy and wish you all Seasonal Joy.


The Margie Team

Merry Christmas Everyone

These scenes, all photos taken by Margie, were used for our New Year Cards this year.

Merry Christmas to everyone who came to our workshops, bought our produce, and viewed our blog.

The Margie Team

Beautiful Handmade Wreaths

These beautiful wreaths were handmade by Clodagh and Rosemary, we here are Margie's Crafts are so pleased to have them on our team. They will have lots of these beauties at Castlefarm's Christmas Fair next Saturday on the Margie's Crafts Stand.



Clodagh is famous for her breads and cakes already, we think these wreaths will see her reach infamy.

The Margie Team

Midweek Crafting

Leiny and Margie are preparing for Christmas and the Craft Fair at Castlefarm on December 11th



Lots of pattern making and cutting in the afternoon



Heart shaped Christmas decorations (the same pattern used for Mel and Chris's wedding in 2009)


Christmas candy striped ticking and checks, with a bit of Cath Kidston floral as well



A Tilda doll cut out (this is going to make a little girl very happy at Christmas). Tone Finnager designs are so pretty.



Four seasonal pram quilts pinned and ready to have the panels sewn on.

Visit Margie's Crafts for snow photos and Christmas Time Magic for Christmas preparations.


The Margie Team

Tuesday through the window

Looking out at the snow today, it felt good to be in by the wood stoves, I have updated this post to join in Tuesday through the window over at Swedish House, you can click on the block letters and join in.



The snow was only an inch or so thick on the bonnet (hood) of the Landy.



Mimi and Mathilde loved their run in the woods and looked so dark against the snow.
Join in the Tuesday through the window or click the blog titles below and see more snow photos.

More snow photos at Margie's Crafts and on Christmas Time Magic


The Margie Team

Muzzy's Crafts

Muzzy spent some time relaxing and knitting in the studio today while Margie was catching up on some housework.


During the afternoon Muzzy wanted to try some sewing,she cut a small square, and then spent some time learning about the workings of the machine, the on off switch, threading the needle, the bobbin, the foot, the correct position of the fingers and hands, what to avoid to ensure safe use and finally the pedal and speed.



Before long she was sewing her first little lavender cushion.



She added a ribbon and a button and filled the cushion. She was so happy with her work.


When she grows up she wants to have a Muzzy's Crafts.

What a wonderful compliment.


The Margie Team

Doll making

Three (Two) little maids from school are we......

Knitting Group and birthday

One of our group members, Muzzy was 8 on knitting night this week. We had cupcakes and hot chocolate to celebrate.



Leiny is knitting a sublime organic cotton dk pullover in bean green.


Aoife joined us for the first time to revive her knitting skills and started by knitting a square for sitandknitabit.


Bernie too joined us for the first time and within minutes was knitting with confidence (she thinks it is 15 years since she made anything) in a strong red.


Sheila is knitting squares for a baby quilt in Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino.


Margie is still working on her Aran cot blanket.

Join us on Tuesdays from 6.30 to 8.00 pm each week.


The Margie Team

Baskets for sale

Handmade baskets in all shapes and sizes for sale on the Christmas Market in Vienna

Basketmaking at Chez Margie

Heike tutored the one day workshop with 8 participants,Leo, Annemarie, Val, Ana, Clodagh, Edel, Sophie and Bernie, all eager to learn a new skill.



It did not take long until everyone had a base made in beautiful contrasting colours (It seemed second nature to Bernie), the wonderful smell of the willow filling the room.



Edel and Clodagh moved outdoors when the uprights were added, just before Lunch.

Clodagh brought her fantastic brown bread, that was soon eaten up with cheese, meats and a good spread of Leiny's green tomatoe chutney. To finish off lunch, everyone went a little overboard with, pecan and banana bread, lemon drizzle and orange peel drizzle, cakes that Clodagh is now famous for.



The french rants were added to the structures directly after lunch and soon the baskets were taking shape.



Heike was on hand to demonstrate each step and Margie prepared the beautiful coloured willow bundles for everyone.


By evening there were 8 beautiful baskets complete, and 8 new very proud basketmakers pleased with their achievements. The group will have a re-union in February 2011.

Congratulation to everyone involved.

The Margie Team

Knitting and Stitching Show-UKHA-Knit 1 Pass it On

Leiny and Margie were volunteer knitters at the UK Handknitting Associations Knit 1 Pass it on Stand at the Knitting and Stitching show. Poor Leiny had severe back pain and was not sure if she would be able to attend, but a visit to the doctor on thursday left her ready to pass on some skills. The first item she made was a scarf with her extreme needles.


Fred was our contact person at the stand, we were under his watchful eye for the two days where we taught beginners and those who wanted to revive their skills.


Ana and Julie joined us to learn how to crochet, Margie had them both making chains in a matter of minutes. Well done both of you.

Ana signed up with Fred to be a volunteer knitter in the future.

Leiny taught Val to cable, she had not knit in years but picked it up quickly and was thrilled with her new skill.

We also met Ruth Jannsens from sitandknitabit who is highlighting the Centenary of International Womens Day, and asking everyone to knit a 6 inch square patch for a huge quilt that is being assembled in Glasgow for March 8th 2011, you can contact her at garterstitch100@gmail.com


We learned a new rhyme for knitting: it is suitable for today- the Halloween version
Stab it, Strangle it, Suffocate it and Throw it off a cliff....

Today we are resting up doing a spot of knitting in the studio.



The Margie Team

Ms Muffin is the winner of the Giveaway.

Congratulations Ms Muffin.

Deborah at my mom's work is the winner of the Giveaway over at Margie's Crafts. Congratulations Deborah.

Thank you to everyone who joined in. Sorry you could not all be winners.

Margie's Team

Giveaway-Now Closed

To celebrate the opening of our on line store Margie's Crafts Handmade Store and Craft Workshops we are hosting our first Giveaway (Cath Kidston purse and keyring, cards, ribbons, bows, fabric samples and wool) along with a €20 voucher to use at the on line store.

To be in with a chance to win all you have to do is leave a comment here and become a follower of this community blog or leave a message at the contact page on the Store website.

Closing date is midnight October 10th (GMT). Now Closed

Margie is also hosting a Giveaway over at her Margie's Crafts blog, why not join in there too!

We are looking forward to lots of community chat in this space over the coming months. We're also hoping to feature our Giveaway on Giveaway Scout (a great website where users can find updates on online giveaways!).

Best of luck everyone

Margie's Team

Workshops

Are you interested in making your own handmade

Christmas gifts?

Craft Workshops

Margie’s Crafts is a family of specialist artists and crafters with years

of experience. Workshops are for adults who want to learn a new skill

or revive an old one. The priority is to have a warm, relaxed

environment where creativity can thrive.

• Knitting

• Basket making

• Felt making

• Doll making

• Crochet

• Textile

Starting September. All levels catered for. Limited Space.