Crafty Monkey’s Birthday Party

On 21st July 2011 Crafty Monkey: Pottery Painting, Build a Bear and Craft Studio turned one!

In some resepects the last year has just flown by but in some it feels like it’s been much longer than a year.  To mark the occasion and to say thank you to a lot of people who have been a part of Crafty Monkey’s success, a party was held.

In true monkey style there was a few things going on to keep people entertained:

• We had ‘Pin the tail on the Monkey’ with the winner Nicola Town receiving a Crafty Monkey gift voucher.

• We had the Monkey Photo Booth and ended up with some fun pictures which we have put on the Crafty Monkey facebook page.

Great Monkey Face Elizabeth!

• There was the signing of the Crafty Monkey 1st Birthday signature platter which after I’ve worked out how to hang it and after it’s been glazed and fired it will be on display in the studio.

Crafty Monkey 1st Birthday Commemorative Signature Platter

• There was also the free prize drawer where 18 people have won the prize of painting a tile to be on display in the customer toilet!

Zia served up his Serious Sausages to guests and there were other nibbles including of course Monkey Nuts and wine and fruit punch to wash it all down.

Zia cooking up a storm with his Serious Sausages

Also like all good birthday parties there was fabulous cake and cupcakes made by my friends mum who is a total star and she even managed to get the Crafty Monkey logo onto the cake!

Crafty Monkey 1st B'day Cake and Cupcakes

Thanks to everyone who attended and all you naughty people who brought cards and gifts and thanks to all the lovely people who come and paint at Crafty Monkey!

Double page spread write up about Crafty

Double page spread write up about Crafty Monkey in @popularcrafts – complete guide to kids crafts http://ow.ly/5lJvi

Ooooh Crafty Monkey has made it onto pag

Ooooh Crafty Monkey has made it onto page 2 of the St. Neots edtion of News & Crier http://ow.ly/5dCS9

The Crafty Tea Party write up complete w

The Crafty Tea Party write up complete with pictures http://ow.ly/58eud

craftABILITY – Art & Craft Workshops for Adults with Learning Difficulties

Crafty Monkey is very very excited to finally announce the birth of it’s new baby:

Craftability - An arts and crafts programme of workshops for adults with learning difficulties

It’s been a long time coming and we hope it was worth the wait!  Crafty Monkey is all about focusing on what you CAN do rather than on what you can’t, about enabling rather than disabling and we want to make our workshops ‘Learning Easy’ rather than ‘Learning Difficulties’.

We have put together a series of workshops designed to be both fun and educational, covering a range of different mediums and techniques that are suited to people with learning difficulties.  The workshops will be run in term time in small groups and are instructor led and the techniques will first be demonstrated.  Help and guidance will be at hand.

Art and Crafts offers an ideal opportunity for self expression and can be extremely therapeutic and nurturing. Arts and Crafts also encourages creative thinking, helps develop fine motor skills, reduces stress and offers a sense of accomplishment and achievement. Having a finished product
can help build a person’s confidence in their ability and enhance self esteem.

Crafting is a haven to let your imagination run wild and when self-expression is the goal, success is guaranteed, and art is an excellent way to express feelings that might be difficult to put into words.

With our craft workshops, there is no such thing as right or wrong. It’s the making of the item and not the end result, that is important. And everyone will come away with their very own masterpiece.

Our workshops will not only encourage people’s creative streaks but they will also be great opportunities to socialise and meet new friends. Spaces on the workshops will be limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. For Further Information contact Chrissy on 01480 219222 or
info@mycraftymonkey.com

Craftability – Workshops 2011

Friday 10th June 1pm to 2.30pm – Father’s Day Change Bowls: Does your dad or grandad leave their car keys and loose change all over the place? Well, come and paint dad a change bowl for Father’s Day! £10 all materials included. Items will need to be collected a week later.

Friday 8th July 1pm to 2.30pm – Decopatch Workshop: Come and join in with this fun workshop where you will be applying funky colourful papers with glue to a small boxes. £7

Friday 22nd July 1pm to 2.30pm - Sponging Plates: During this fun workshop you will learn the technique of sponging – a way to apply paint without a paint brush and create an effective design on a plate. £12. Items will be ready a week later as we need to fire and glaze them.

Friday 9th September – Fingerprint Painting: Together we will be painting a picture onto a mug with our fingerprints! Lots of fun and very effective. £12 including all materials. Items will be ready a week later as we need to fire and glaze them.

Friday 30th September 1pm to 2.30pm – Glass Decorating Workshop: During this fun workshop you will decorate a glass object with beautiful brightly coloured glass gels and pens. Price £7.

Friday 21st October 1pm to 2.30pm – Autumn Leaf Tile: Come and learn the technique of ‘scratching out’ an autumn design on a tile to create an effective finish. The tile’s make perfect coasters. Price £7.

Friday 4th November 1pm to 2.30pm – Guy Fawkes on Canvas: Create your very own sparkly fireworks display on canvas! Price £7.

Friday 25th November 1pm to 2.30pm – Christmas Decorations: Paint your very own pottery bauble to take pride of place on your Christmas tree. Price £9, all materials included.

Friday 16th December 1pm to 2pm – Build a Bear Workshop: You are never too old to love teddy bears. Come and join in the fun making and adopting your very old cuddly friend from the Crafty Monkey Animal Sanctuary. During this workshop you will pick, stuff and personalise a t-shirt for your furry friend before the important bit of making a birth certificate and the official adoption ceremony! £10 per person, all materials included.

All workshops need booking and paying for in advance. Bookings can be made either on our website using paypal, over the phone using a credit card or by visiting the studio. Depending on numbers we are happy for support workers to book onto our workshops too after all the benefits of art and crafts mentioned above apply to everyone!

Let us know your thoughts and suggestions.  Is there any workshops you would like to see?  Any comments for feedback gratefully received.

Charlie the travelling Crafty Monkey

Apologies again for not keeping up with all the Monkeying around news at Crafty Monkey.  Just so much has been going on that unfortunately it hasn’t left any time to report it on the blog!

I think the most exciting thing (well to me anyway as I am just a big kid) to happen is the birth of Crafty Monkey Jnr!

Meet Charlie Jnr...

He is just so cute, supersoft and very cuddly.  Charlie Jnr, although only a young monkey, loves meeting new people and really wants to get out and explore the world.

If you are going on any adventures or you want Charlie to come and live with you and your family for a weekend, a week or a longer period then just get in touch.  It doesn’t cost you anything, you just need to provide pictures and let us know what Charlie is up to.  He has his own facebook page which you can go to which will let you know what Charlie is up to – if you LIKE it then you will be updated with his travels in your news feed.

Do you want to borrow Charlie for the weekend?

Customers have been very kind and invited Charlie to go on adventures with them already.  At only a day old, Charlie packed his suitcase and went off to stay with Jenna.  I visited Charlie after his first night at Jenna’s as he had forgotton to take his t-shirt only to find him out for a pub meal sat on his own chair!  Jenna was doing a great job of looking after him and was certainly giving him lots of hugs.

First stop Singapore before hitting Perth Australia

The next day Charlie left with Jenna and her family for Singapore where he will be doing sightseeing before off to Perth Australia!  What a lucky monkey, his first trip away from home and it’s downunder!!!

Charlie was slightly disappointed I forgot to pack his surfers outfit but I’m sure he’ll find lots of other things to do instead.

Jenna’s mum Joanne has already posted pictures on Charlie’s facebook page of Charlie at Heathrow and Charlie on the plane getting ready for his first time in the air!

Next stop – Somerset

Charlie is going to be one tired monkey because as soon as he arrives back in blighty he’ll be heading down to cider country with Lewis and Leyton.  Lewis loves monkey’s and both boys are very excited to have a new friend to take on holiday with them.  Not only will Charlie be going away with the boys and their mum but they also built a bear – well actually a gorgeous black cat at Crafty Monkey who was named Sooty.  Sooty is a bit of a rock chick and has the latest rockers outfit with pink cowboy boots.  Charlie has yet to meet Sooty but I’m sure they will get on fine.

Perth again but this time in hopefully sunny Scotland

Christopher in his kilt destined for Scotland with his new sister Angel

After having a quick rest when arriving back from Somerset, Charlie will be heading up to Perth in Scotland with his best friend Christopher.  Christopher the Bear was also made at Crafty Monkey and he recently came in to buy himself a kilt outfit especially for his trip to Scotland.  He also bought himself some new trendy trainers.  Christopher’s mum has also recently made a purple bear called Angel to keep Christopher company and she will be going away with the boys!  I hope she can keep up with them.

Charlie was made using one of our build a bear no sew kits at Crafty Monkey and we even made him a special t-shirt with the Crafty Monkey logo on. |We sell all sorts of bears and animals including outfits so check it out at www.makeabearkidsparty.com If you would like Charlie to come on adventures with you then get in touch by emailing info@mycraftymonkey.com or call 01480 219222.  You can also LIKE him on facebook or check out his diary.

New Toy Safety Regulations July 2011

Hiya

It’s been busy busy busy at Crafty Monkey but this week has calmed down a bit so attempting to get through my never ending ‘To Do’ list – obviously that isn’t going to happen overnight so thought I’d take a little break to post what I think is useful information – well it is if it affects you!

I’ve actually cut and pasted the below from Best Years website, they are wholesalers of  gorgeous knitted toys and fair trade items – worth having a peek at their website!

Anyway, they have gone through what I’d only assume to be a tedious directorate and pulled out the main points which are below.  As they state, they have no particular specialist knowledge on toy safety and can not advise on this legislation, same goes for me.

The Main Gist

The new toy safety directives aim to ensure that safety is designed in to the product rather than being something which is tested for only after a toy has been manufactured

For this reason every toy will have a technical file which details all the components used in the manufacture of the toy and the tests which these components have had.

The technical file will include the bill of materials, safety assessment, test certificates and a declaration of conformity.

It is the responsibility of the toy manufacturer to compile this technical file. If you name and address is on the sew in label you are the manufacturer. Every toy coming in to Europe must have a European address on the sew in label

It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that this information is up to date, complete and correct. Importers distribute toys which are either made in the EU or have an EU address on them

It is the responsibility of the retailer or distributor to ensure that all toys they sell have the CE mark on them and that the toys are kept in such a way as not to potentially damage them

Some changes to the regs which will probably be of particular interest to retailers are as follows

• Toys meant for under 3s must be washable not just surface wash only.

• If you have an internet shop then any warnings on the toy must be detailed in full under the description of the toy

• If a company shows a product at trade show without a CE mark, there must be a sign up indicating that it doesn’t comply now but will comply when its physically sold.

• The product must comply with regulations for the products lifetime and not just for the day its sold therefore when doing safety assessment, you must take into account use and abuse of product.

• Requirements are also extended to include products which, whilst not promoted as toys, are attractive to children and have play value. Obvious examples include child appealing key-rings, Christmas novelties and decorative attachments to children’s garments

Hope that helps.  I’ve just checked all my build a bear stock and it’s all fine

Bear Making Website Launched

Finally, the Crafty Monkey Make a Bear Kids Party website is in a fit state to show the world. Still not finished but I guess websites never are!  It’s therefore a work in progress but it’s at a usable stage (fingers crossed very tightly!).  Please feel free to have a browse and report feedback – spelling errors, functionality problems or maybe even to say you like it!  Positive feedback always lovely to receive but negative feedback very important so I can put right errors.

The website should have been launched much much sooner but time has been spent on monkeying around with other Crafty Monkey projects.  The reason for building this new website is to allow more customers to enjoy the fun of our extremely popular build a bear activity.

More and more children are coming to Crafty Monkey to make a bear or even having a build a bear party.  It’s always a great feeling seeing the look on children’s faces when they get to choose a new furry friend to adopt (we have a selection of different animals, not just bears), stuff the skin, make a wish, decorate a t-shirt, fill in a bear birth certificate before the all important pledge the child makes promising to look after and love their new furry friend.  Most take this pledge very seriously and parents have commented that their children form a bond far stronger with their build a bear than other toys.  I often get children coming back to visit with their bears to buy them an outfit and tell me what they have been up to with their new bear.

This new website will allow people to order our DIY make a bear kits, bear clothes, and party kits from anywhere in the UK.  Also, existing customers will be able to browse the site to look for new bear outfits or see the range of bears we have.

Unfortunately, I have so far only uploaded the small bears and outfits and am yet to upload the large bears – can I just say we have some really cute big bears and outfits.  Much more choice than the small bears but you will have to wait for these or if local pop into Crafty Monkey to have a look.

I hope you enjoy the website and please get in touch on 01480 219222 or info@mycraftymonkey.com if you want further information.

Latest going’s on…

Blimey, where do I start?  Maybe if I updated my blog regularly I wouldn’t then have 101 things to say each time I go to write an update.

Lots going on at Crafty Monkey at the moment and I’ve been working on putting together some great new workshops that I hope will be popular.

New workshops introduced this week are:

Ceramic Painting Workshops

Project One - Chequers and Hearts

 

This will hopefully run on a regular basis and we hope to create a friendly and fun group where you can get together on a monthly basis and learn new techniques for pottery/ceramics painting or even try pottery painting out for the first time.  It will be a different project each time so you can just do the projects you fancy.  It will be a two hour instructor led class and you will be guided through the steps to get to the final design.  No artistic talent or pottery painting experience is needed and you can simply follow the steps or let loose your creative flair and personalise the piece to your taste.

In our first workshop which is on Thursday 10th March at 7pm, you will be painting a mug, plate or bowl with the design shown in the picture, obviously you can customise it by using your favourite colours and change the heart into another shape to suit your taste.   The workshops will be run on Thursday evenings.  Book your space now on the workshop.

The mug in the picture was painted by one of our customers Othelia after she consulted our design books to get idea’s.  The mug has not yet been glazed and fired so the results will be a lot shinier when complete.

If you have never painted pottery before then I highly recommend you come down and try it out as it is incredibly enjoyable while being relaxing and therapeutic.  It’s also a great way to spend quality time with friends and partners.

If you have a group of people who would like a bespoke or workshop then we can put on workshops for your group.  We can also do team building workshops.

Card Making and Paper Craft Lessons

Card Making and Papercrafts

Introducing another new workshop to Crafty Monkey.  Card making and paper crafting has become increasingly popular over the past few years.  You only need to go into the crafts section in Tesco’s or other big retailers to see how their craft section has grown. While you would think card making seems to be a fairly simple craft that you can learn yourself at home, there are a variety of specialties within this fun hobby and lots of techniques to learn.  This class will look at perhaps the more elaborate one of a kind cards you could make and also other items you can make with card and paper such as small gift bags.

If you fancy your hand at card making or currently make your own but want to learn some new skills or perhaps meet like minded people to share ideas then this class is for you.  There will be different projects each month kicking off with a card and gift bag that would be suitable to give mum on Mother’s day – this is just an idea and you can use for whatever purpose you want.  This class will take place at Crafty Monkey Pottery Painting and Craft Studio at 7pm on Thursday 24th March and will cost £12 for a two hour session.  All materials included. Book your place now!

New workshops that I hope to launch soon so watch this space:

Cupcake Decorating

Really Wild Workshop

Fancy Pants – personalise a pair of knickers (great fun for a girly night out or hen do idea!)

Felt Flowers

And there’s more but you’ll have to keep checking back or why not subscribe to the Crafty Monkey Newsletter and we will update you with the wonderful new workshops we launch.  We promise not to bombard you with emails and generally email out about once or twice a month.

Until next time…

Chrissy the Crafty Monkey!

Alternative Valentine’s evening!

Do something different this Valentine’s and bring your partner to Crafty Monkey Pottery Painting and Craft Studio in St. Neots, Cambridgeshire where you can each paint each other a personalised piece of pottery.  We promise not to play slushy music or bring roses to your table.  It’s just a fun way to spend quality time together and mark Valentine’s day while avoiding the slush you can find at some places!  You also get something to keep and treasure at the end of it – a reminder of your fun evening painting.  Don’t worry you don’t have to paint love hearts all over the piece if you don’t want to!  Please feel free to bring a bottle of wine to help with the creative juices! Cost: There’s a £4 studio fee per person plus the cost of the pottery you choose (pottery starts at £5 with most pieces costing between £9 and £20)  Book your tables in advance by calling 01480 219222 or by email info@mycraftymonkey.com.

Or perhaps you want to paint a Valentines gift in advance of the day to give to your partner?  We have all sorts of ideas to help you create something really personal.

We are also running a Valentine’s Felt Hearts Workshop on Saturday 12th February 2011. Come along and make one for yourself!  It doesn’t have to signify Valentines.