CRAFTY NEWS DESK.....

Greetings from a Frosty News Desk......

Where did this snow and ice come from????

Hope you are all wrapped up warm where ever you are.

Well, I had my first real Christmas Market experience over the weekend in Marlay House, Rathfarnham and it was a great fun. Thanks to all the organisers.   I met some amazing people, including some of our etsy gang   designbirdie   spiralgodess   shop/dragonfly1760  and  helidesigns.      It had a marvelous choir on Saturday and a fairly steady trickle of customers but all markets across the country were hit by the bad weather.  Hope the cold snap improves soon.

News in this week:

• Christ Church Christmas Market, Dublin are offering a discount on stalls to Crafty Ireland Team members. Contact Lesley-Anne at lesley-anne@cccdub.ie and remember to include a link to your shop.  Refer to my earlier article for more details > link
• This week sees the National Crafts and Design Fair back in the RDS, 1-5 December  www.nationalcraftsfair.ie
• Christmas Fair taking place in the Silver Eel Bar & Restaurant, Grange, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon on Sunday 12th December from 1-6pm.  -spaces available @ €20 per table.  Contact Ursula on 0868534009
• Craft Market in Hollywood Town Centre from 11am to 4pm on 4 December
• Black Market in the Black Box, Belfast from 12 - 5 on 5 December

And back again we go to the running market list.  Who's up this weekend?

December
1-5 RDS National Crafts and Design Fair
4 ChristChurch Dublin
4 Christian Brothers School, Carlow
4 Holywood
4-5 Bray
4-5 Drogheda
4-5 Dublin Zoo
5 Inchicore, Dublin 85 Dunboyne
5 Slane
5 Adare
5 Punchestown
5 Black Market, Belfast
10-11? Westport
11 ChristChurch, Dublin
11 Letterkenny
11-12 Russborough House, Wicklow
11-12 Dublin Zoo
11 Glasnevin
12 Athboy
12 Leopardstown, Dublin
12 Loughrea
12 Souk, Belfast
12 Strokestown
15-19 Clonmee, Co Longford
18 ChristChurch Dublin
18-19 Dublin Zoo
19 Castleblayney
19/20 University Concert Hall Limerick

That's it for this week.  Hope you manage to stay warm and have a good crafty week ahead.
Cheers
Mo

CRAFTY NEWS DESK.....

Greetings from the Crafty News Desk.....

I can almost hear the sewing machines, knitting needles, jewelers pliers, glue guns, paint brushes and various crafting machines going at full steam as our Crafty Ireland Team members busy themselves making wonderful items for sale at the cornucopia of Craft Markets going on all over Ireland.

Latest Christmas Market news:

Marlay Craft Fair - 27th to 28th November 2010 - Marlay House, Dublin 16 (in Marlay Park)

Mandi from designbirdie and little ole me from huggleknits are just 2 of the team who will be in attendance. 

Call by and say hello - with me in Huggleknits you can get your hands on some knit and crochet accessories, greeting cards, the new Cozifone sleeve for your i-phone as well as knitting needles, wool, notions and beads to get you started on a new crafty passion.......  Are there any others from the team in Marlay? do let me know at the end of this articles so we can call and see you ....

28 November - Market Square, Bundoran Co Donegal
To book a table, email emma_m_corry@hotmail.com   or text/call 0851482304. Just let me know your name, your business name and the type of goods you will be selling if you are new!

4th December  - The Christian Brothers School, Carlow

Anybody interested in having a craft stall on the day can contact carlowspca@live.ie   or 0857225544/0873235947.

All proceeds will go directly to the welfare of the animals.

5 December - St. Michael’s Community Centre, Inchicore, Dublin 8.

Tables €25.00 payable in advance.

For application forms please contact Deirdre Coffey on 0863632462 or 01-4548329

4-5 December St. David’s Secondary School’s, Greystones, Co Wicklow

For further information on the event or stalls, please contact Veronica at 086 350 4997 or email stdavidsfair@gmail.com

And now for the running list . . . . .

November
26-28 Marley Park, Dublin
27 Ennis
27 Christchurch, Dublin
28 Ardee
28 Ranelagh, Dublin
28 Wicklow town
28 Ballinrobe, Co Mayo
December
4 ChristChurch Dublin
4 Christian Brothers School, Carlow
4-5 Bray
4-5 Drogheda
4-5 Dublin Zoo
5 Inchicore, Dublin 8
5 Dunboyne
5 Slane
5 Adare
5 Punchestown
10-11? Westport
11 ChristChurch, Dublin
11 Letterkenny
11-12 Russborough House, Wicklow
11-12 Dublin Zoo
11 Glasnevin
12 Athboy
12 Leopardstown, Dublin
12 Loughrea
12 Souk, Belfast
15-19 Clonmee, Co Longford
18 ChristChurch Dublin
18-19 Dublin Zoo
19 Castleblayney
19/20 University Concert Hall Limerick

That's it for another week.  Good luck to all with the rush for Christmas crafting.  Hope it goes well for all of you.  Don't forget to keep in touch.
Cheers
Mo
huggleknits

Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids

This year my family will be doing a Chris Kindle, and I know of many other families that are doing the same to save a few pennies. But we always make an exception for the kids, as we don't want to miss out at Christmas. We all buy presents for all of the nieces and nephews, so this year most of my shopping list is made up of kids toys. I wanted to show you guys some of the great things I found among the Etsy Ireland Team that would make great presents for kids and teenagers.

Bee Free Kids Clothing Company-Happy Owl Dress

MukkyMonkey-Baby's First Christmas Booties

Nice Day Designs- A-Z Magnetic Alphabet Set

Home Love-Fabric House-White Floral House

BabaraMurray1- Lovely Day Cushion

LolaDee-Purple Pom Pom Hairband

Beelicious Crafts- Iced Doughnut Keychain

Jolieart-A3 Folk Art Print

Handmade Spark Blog Feature

Last week we asked you to nominate your items to be featured on Handmade Sparks Holiday Gift Guide. A huge thankyou to everyone who commented, we have a great selection of items and any of them will be a great representation for the team if they are chosen.

Please vote for one item in each of the 5 categories below and ask your friends to vote too. Polls will colse at midnight on Tuesday 26th October and the top 2 in each category will be submitted to Handmade Spark.

Here are the nominees:


The links will be up on our Facebook page soon so you can see the pictures a little better and vote from there if you'd prefer. Best of Luck!

CRAFTY NEWS DESK.....

Greetings from the Crafty News Desk.
In this week's photo I am sharing the last summer strawberry from my garden with you. All we need now is some cream...mmmm!

~~~~~
Loads of activity on the blog in the last week. Love the Treasury Challenge and also the Handmade Gift Guide..... oh we have such amazing crafters in the group.

~~~~~
Latest news on upcoming Christmas Markets to add to our list:

Sunday 5th December Christmas Fair at the Castle from 12- 5pm Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa, Dunboyne, Co.Meath Cost €50 per stand – Pre Paid. Cheques made payable to Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa.
If interested please email Joanne Quirke jquirke@dunboynecastlehotel.com with the following details:
Company Name:
Contact Name:
Contact Details:
Phone No: E-mail Address:
Type of Product which will be on display/for Sale on the day:
For any queries contact Joanne Quirke – 01 6816529 or 086 8660262

~~~~~
The Holy Trinity National School, Leopardstown is holding it’s first Christmas Fair on Sunday 12th December. We’re looking for Christmas themed crafts & products.
Contact susanlynch18@hotmail.com if you’re interested in taking a stand.


~~~~~
WEST LIMERICK BOWLS CLUB ARE HOLDING AN INDOOR CHRISTMAS ARTS AND CRAFTS MARKET ON SATURDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 2010, FROM 11AM -4PM AT HALLA TADHG GAELACH (COMMUNITY HALL) TOURNAFULLA, CO.LIMERICK.
CONTACT JILL ON 0834355635. PRICE OF A STALL IS 8 EUROS

~~~~~
Clare Crafts Christmas Fairs - 2010
Nov 14th Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe, Co.Clare
Nov 20th & 21st Bunratty Hotel Bunratty. Co. Clare
Nov 27th (Sat) The Holy Family Hall, Ennis Co. Clare
Dec.5th Woodlands Hotel Adare, Co. Limerick
Dec 12th Lough Rea Hotel Loughrea, Co. Galway
Dec 19th & 20th (Sun & Mon) University Concert Hall Limerick
All fairs are from 11am to 5 pm, except UCH which starts at 12noon
ALL CRAFTS SOLD AT OUR FAIRS ARE 100% IRISH MADE
Free admission to all our fairs.
Any queries contact Karen English on 087 7439198

~~~~~
Market Square Shopping Centre’s next Craft Fair in conjunction with Glamour Girl & Little Angels’ first anniversary.
Date: Sunday 14th November, 2010
Time: 12pm - 4pm
Venue: Market Square Shopping Centre (Lower Floor), Station Road, Bundoran
Fee: €10 per table
Christmas stalls are more than welcome.
stalls are for locally produced arts & crafts, and craft suppliers only.
To book a table, email emma_m_corry@hotmail.com or text/call 0851482304. Just let me know your name, your business name and the type of goods you will be selling.


~~~~~
Ranalagh Multidenominational School, Ranalagh Road Dublin 6 - Christmas Fair, Sunday 28th November 2010 11-5pm
4ft table 35 euros, 6ft table 45euros
Contact: Katie Woollett 0868165722, Ann Turpin 0863761425
Please note all articles for sale must be handcrafted in Ireland


Now for the big summary of Christmas Markets already mentioned in this column.

November

7 Rosscarberry

14 Bray

14 Navan

14 Bundoran
14 Ballinasloe
14 Killaloe
20 Gardiner St. Dublin
20 TOURNAFULLA, CO.LIMERICK
20/21 Bunratty
21 Bray

27 Ennis
28 Ardee

28 Ranelagh, Dublin
28 Wicklow town

December

4-5 Bray

4-5 Drogheda
5 Dunboyne
5 Adare
10-11? Westport

12 Athboy
12 Leopardstown, Dublin

12 Loughrea
19 Castleblayney

19/20 University Concert Hall Limerick

There are also the regular markets in Limerick, Belfast and Dublin.

Thats all for this week. Keep the info coming.
Cheers till next week.

Mo
aka www.huggleknits.etsy.com

Introducing Sorcha Gillett

Hi there, my name is Sorcha Gillett. I was born in Dublin, in the month of October, making me the typical daydreaming libran that I am :) I now live in the South West of France with my lovely boyfriend, where I design girls surf prints for Rip Curl. In my own precious free time I live to paint and stitch. Mum always says I was a magpie of a child, hoarding all that was bright and shiny and silky and soft. My treasure chest grew with me. It inspired me during the years I spent studying fashion and printed textile design at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. After graduating it supplied me with the materials I needed while working as a freelance illustrator and handbag designer in both Dublin and France. Now it forms the basis for my first collection of one-off art pieces. My unique style incorporates transient inks, powdery acrylics and the gems, crystals, vintage leathers and antique lace I have accumulated over the years. Inspired by the animated beauty of wildflowers, I have threaded these elements together to capture the precious moments in a young girls life that mark the beginning of the end of girlhood. Please click on the movie window below to see a painting come to life from stitch to finish, turn it up loud, the song is the best part ;)



Now let me introduce some of the ladies! All the ladies delicate features have been hand-stitched in embroidery thread, their hair is appliqued leather and their backgrounds and flower detailing are antique fabrics from my treasure chest. All my ladies come in purse friendly prints, which are available in my etsy shop. And now especially in time for Christmas gifts, my prints have a buy 2 get a 3rd of your choice for free deal! Visit my website to see more lovely ladies.

Clodagh

Goodbye

Molly

Marla

Lily

Ava

Kate

Clementine

Conor Kissed Chloe

Fall's First Kiss

And now here's a little surprise... if you would like to win a print of your choice from my shop then pop over to my Dandelion Daydreamer blog, click follow this blog, or click add on the facebook link and then comment here and let me know what lucky lady you would like for your home sweet home. Thanks for looking everyone :)