Handmade New Years cards

Despite Margie's ill health, she managed, after four attempts, to make a dozen embroidered snowflake New Years cards. The materials used included felt, hard card,glue dots, and red embroidery thread. 

Wishing you and yours health and happiness during the holiday season 

The Margie Team 

Preemie baby knits

The knitting group completed 90 preemie baby hats just in time for international prematurity awareness day November 17th 2012. Well done everyone.

The Margie Team

Living Willow Workshop

The six person crew, Clodagh, Rosie, Teresa, Des, Sandra and Marc along with Heike and Klaus, arrived one fine sunny saturday morning, braving the thin north wind. The willow had been collected by Margie, Leiny and Marc a few weeks before. The preparation began at 10.15 after tea and Clodagh's homemade cake.



It wasn't long before the uprights were in place and the job of weaving them across began. The crew worked hard until lunchtime. A big bowl of salad and a cold meat and cheese platter was set ready to accompany Clodagh's homebaked bread.




After lunch Isla went out to put the finishing touches to the new structure with Klaus.




Meanwhile Heike set the group to making spanish trays, the fresh green dogwood was so beautiful, it looked like sea weed.



By four thirty Isla had moved in, leaving her wellies by the entrance, she settled in for a spot of reading with baby doll.

The Margie Team

knitting group

Knitting, a warm stove, chat and a nice cuppa, all make a perfect knitting group session. This was the scene at Chez Margie last season.


Some had been knitting for years and others were beginners. Either way everyone enjoyed the night.


This season the knitting sessions continue at Sheila's place on monday evenings from 6pm. Hope to see you there.

The Margie Team

Lunch time knitting

Leiny, Margie, Edel, Teresa and Andrea engaged in a spot of lunch time knitting last wednesday. Needles were clicking at a rate of knots as old skills were revived and remembered.

The Margie Team

Make your own Knitting needles

At one of the Tuesday knitting sessions we had a "make your own knitting needle" workshop, (Aoife demonstrates), we gathered our required materials, selected the lenght and width required.




The cutting was done, sanding, sharpening and sealing, all that is left is for Aoife to glue the ends in place.

Two pairs of needles complete and ready for action.


The Margie Team

Another successful basketmaking session

Chez Margie was the venue for yet another basketmaking session with Heike in May. Eilish joined the crew for the first time and really got into the experience totally, completing a beautiful basket with handle.


Heike, our master tutor, at work in the kitchen at Chez Margie


Clogagh gets to grips with the willow and the weaving, she made a shopper with a handle. She also ensured the day's success with her excellent culinary skills, providing the scones, jam, bread and cakes.


Sheila, too, is at ease with the craft,completing a beautiful shopper with a handle, she has now completed three sessions.

Margaret got straight in to the weaving at her first sessions, making a basket with a handle also. Visit Margie's Crafts to see the finished baskets, by right clicking the underlined blue title or by clicking here


The Margie Team

Arpon making

Apron making got underway at Chez Margie on tuesday evening (not before tea and Queen cakes in honour of the Queen's visit to Ireland). Once the measuring, cutting, and ironing of the Cath Kidston fabric was complete, the sewing machine was put to good use, Val was first up and was delighted with her improved sewing ability.


Bernie surprised everyone with her sewing machine skills, skills she has not utilised for years.


It did not take long before the aprons were complete and ready for the first fitting.


The finished apron looked so modern, with a touch vintage style achieved by adding lace trim.

Both Val and Bernie were so proud of their achievements, and rightly so.

The Margie Team

Sewing and Knitting

Margie was really pleased to spend time sewing with Aoife and Val last tuesday at Chez Margie.

Aoife took to the machine very quickly and was sewing her first ever project in no time. Just look at how beautiful her fingernails are.


Val brought along her new sewing machine and quickly set to work making a log cabin square.


They had a wonderful evening of threading, measuring, cutting, ironing, Bernie too joined in while she was knitting her socks, all laughing and having fun.

Looking forward to the next evening in two weeks.

The Margie Team

Basketmaking in Spring

Another great saturday of Basketmaking at Chez Margie, Heike was in full swing with the crew

Sheila and Aoife set up for the lovely lunch, sheila provided the scones, Margie made the fruit salad and

Bernie brought quiche (one fish and one meat), they were transported in her own hand made basket.

Heike soaked the cane to make it pliable for the bases

The oval bases were absolutely magnificent

Rosie started her first basket

and was putting in the uprights in no time.

Anne marie turned the work into a performance!

Bernie and Sheila were back in action helping each other

First basket complete

Oval shopper with handle

Thank you to Heike, Margie, Bernie, Sheila, Aoife, Annemarie, Edel, Rosie, Des and Sandra for making the crafting day a total success.



The Margie Team

Basketmakers

Basketmaking with Heike started off with an informal chat about willow, its qualities and capabilities. Before long everyone was working on their base.

By tea break (time for Clodagh's scones)everyone had a base complete


Befoe long the uprights were in and everyone was building up their sides.


Margie had to remind everyone to break for lunch all home baked by Clodagh. Pictured here are Annemarie, Edel, Ber and Sandra chatting and enjoying the day.



Then back to work building up more, Ber created this fabulous shape on her first ever basket. Clodagh was weaving intently, took her time, and measured her work carefully. Sheila seated behind, is creating a great shape on her first basket.



Val weaved a beautiful shopper carefully measuring and remeasuring.



Sandra made this beautiful shape on her first basketmaking attempt.


Thank you to Val, Annemarie, Heike, Edel, Clodagh, Sandra, Ber, Bernie and Sheila for all the beautiful work. Eight wonderful baskets all tutored under Heike's expertise.
Check out the lunch menu at Margie's Crafts blog.


The Margie Team