More exciting Giveaways

Have you seen the news about the new class from Shimelle Laine? Something from almost nothing?




We are pleased to announce that we have an amazing Give Away for our March crop, a free place in this new class for you AND a friend.

This is a fantatsic prize which will help you use up your older stash and learn some new tips and techniques.

Dont forget to email us if you want to come along on Saturday, we are finalising names this week.


eclectickeepsakes@googlemail.com

Want more for March?

Check in tomorrow and see what we have for you.

More super exciting stuff!

Want a March Giveaway?

We have a couple of super cool giveaways to make our very first date a little bit special. We are thrilled to be supported by Little Light Studio.



This is the brain child of two very talented designers. Wilna Furstenburg and Kayla Aimee.



In 2006 Wilna she won the CK Hall of Fame and the first Making Memories Idols contest. She currently designs for Making Memories, Jenni Bowlin Kits and creates her own digital kits which are available at Two Peas in a Bucket Digital Store.



Kayla has been published in several publications including Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers and Scrapbooks Etc. She has also worked with popular scrapbooking manufacturers, serving on design teams and designing product samples for trade shows. She currently designs for Pink Paislee.

Little Light Studio is a place where you can take part in classes, connect with fellow scrapbookers and photographers in the Community and create some beautiful artwork. We love the fact that all classes are super affordable and there are lots of FREE CLASSES which are way too cute.

There is something very different about Little Light Studio and that is art. Both Wilna and Kayla clearly love art and that shines through in the amazing projects and classes that they and their fellow tutor alumni have created.


We love the fact that Little Light Studio nutures talent and is as passionate about making beautiful things as we are.

So our first give away will be a free Coffee Album: Valentine Edition. This is an amazingly popular class and has even been featured on Ali edwards blog.





The 2010 VALENTINE EDITION of the class includes six exclusive handpainted inner pages and album cover. All you will need to do is print off the templates, add your own photos and embellishments, and follow the directions included in the PDF lesson handout to make this beautiful album in less than an hour!


Our second Giveaway will be a $15 gift card than can be applied to any self paced class at Little Light Studio. So you can take a class to improve your journalling skills, learn digital scrapbooking from scratch with Love Digital 101 or try something tactile such as the coffee shop mini album or handmade gifts.






We hope that you are as excited as we are, and look out for furture Giveaways and Support from this amazing team.

Talking April and March hasn't happened?

We know we haven't had March yet, but we are so excited about April that we wanted to let you know what we are doing. We hope that by letting you know early, this gives you chance to plan your diaries (and your photo sessions!)

We are still accepting bookings for March, so do contact us and don't forget to talk April!

PS Did we mention that this amazing photo was taken by Cheryl?

Eclectic Keepsakes Easter Saturday 3rd April event with SJ Dowsett and Cheryl Johnson.

We know its Easter weekend and traditionally its time spent with the family, but we hope that this year you can combine the both.

We are pleased to welcome our two very special guests for the day.

The ever so talented SJ Dowsett will join us to teach a special Little Musings class. This is going to be card class with a special, unique Little Musings image designed specially for us.

SJ is a member of Shimelles Digital Dozens, and a guest CT member for Kate Hadfield designs. She is the founder of Little Musings and creates the most beautiful hand drawn characters. (Also custom characters can be ordered).

Remember, if you are not a cardmarker, grab a class kit and we will help you create something a little different that can be added to a more traditional layout.

Check out her blog HERE for examples of her designs and work.

We also welcome the very talented photographer Cheryl Johnson who will be with us on the day. If you haven’t been lucky enough to have a little photo shoot with Cheryl before, now is the time to do it. She is a very clever lady and you can see some of her amazing photos at her website HERE .

We asked Cheryl along as we thought Easter weekend would be a great time to get family together for a special portrait session. Cheryl has put together two amazing packages for us:

Single Family Session Fee £90 Extended Family Sessions from £125

(includes CD with six beautifully enhanced high resolution images)

A regular session in studio with Cheryl starts at £250 with digital negatives, so these packages are an amazing bargain. In the first instance, contact us with your interest and we can send you a special flyer that Cheryl has produced outlining the packages.

Join us at Marks Tey Village Hall, April 3rd 2010, 10am - 6pm.

To reserve your place contact us at eclectickeepsakes@googlemail.com or telephone us on 07519 786611

£10 per event; and book your priority seat for out special National Scrapbooking Day event on May 1st. (Class kit and photographic sessions will incur additional charges)

Please remember spaces are limited, so contact us to reserve you space as soon as possible.

Event Address:

Marks Tey Village Hall, Parish Hall, Old London Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, Colchester, CO6 1EN

(20 mins from Ipswich and Clacton areas, 25 mins from M25)

April and May

Ok, we are simply bursting to tell you what is planned for April and May crops.

We have been busy working away to get some very talentend teachers down for these days.

The plan is to spill the beans at the end of next week, looks like Saturday will be the big reveal day, but we guarantee you will want to join us for National Scrapbooking Day.

Its not just a carrier bag, its my carrier bag

We are pleased to announce that A Trip Down Memory Lane will be attending our first crop and bringing with them lots of lovely goodies.

WE HAVE A SHOP!

Mel and Jill have kindly arranged to bring a fantastic selection of goodies for us to buy. They will be replenishing and adding extra products all through the day, so no need to worry about things running out! The only thing you need to do is bring along some carrier bags!

****Want free Postage and Packaging?****

If you place on an online order and pick it up from the Crop then you will not have to pay postage or packaging. Simply select 'in store pick up' from the delivery options and put a short note in the comments box stating Colchester Crop Order. They will be packed and brought along for you to pick up on the day.

****Cant make the whole day but still want to shop?****

Pop in and see us FREE OF CHARGE to browse, shop and say hello. We would love to see you there.

Check out the shop HERE and place your order now.

Keep an eye on the inspiration blog HERE

The Venue

Like every important event, we have thought long and hard about where to host it. We think this hall is perfect. In no particular order, here is why.

First, its hugely accessible. It is a stones throw away from the A12. If you travel past you can see it from the road. It's a few minutes from Colchester, 20 minutes from Ipswich and Clacton and about 25 minutes from the M25 turn off on the A12. We hope this will attract craft lovers from all over Essex and Suffolk. And beyond too!

Second, the parking. The car park is massive, we could fit several buses in it and it's in good condition - no pot holes or gravel for our discerning crafters/loving cared for craft totes. On a serious note, it is secure and well lit which makes us happy that you are safe.

Third, the grounds. The hall itself is surrounded by a large grass area. This means when you want to take a break you can go for a wander and it's somewhere nice to eat your lunch in the warmer months. Also, if you want to grab some photos of friends you will find some nice backdrops for your scrapping photos without having to travel or walk far.

Four, the hall itself. Its recently built, modern, clean and comfortable. The toilets are great. The caretakers and trustees are helpful. We have room to grow or hold larger special events, there are actually three halls here so we can hold these special events without too much drama/trauma. Its fully accessible for those with mobility issues and it will be easy to get in all our crafting equipment. There are a large amount of tables at our use, so lots of room for you during the day.

(BTW all tables will be put out for you and put away again at the end of the event. So all you have to do is turn up and create without worrying about etiquette or upset!)

Five, the cost. Its affordable folks, remember we are a not for profit event and we want everything to be ploughed back in to the events throughout the year. In the current economic downturn every penny counts and we believe that this crafters co-operative way is the way to go.

Six, the food. We will supply tea, coffee and biscuits for the entrance fee for you throughout the day. Ok, maybe a cake as well from time to time! There is a small kitchen for our exclusive use, a small fridge, food prep area, etc. There are lots of options for you at lunch should you not bring yours with you. A petrol station, local shop and sandwich shop are nearby. A garden centre a stones throw away in the opposite direction serves fantastic cakes and sandwiches. Sainsbury's is a 4 minute drive away (yup, we timed it). Frankie & Bennys and a whole host of food serving pubs are also along this road and would be perfect for a spot to meet up with family for a bite to eat at the end of the day.

We know you will be as pleased with the hall as we are.

And the little girl was born with glitter in her veins

So how did we come up with the name? And what are the words about?

Well we thought these words embodied the aims of the event, and this according to Wikipedia is why.....

Eclectic [i-klek-tik]
1. selecting or choosing from various sources.
2. made up of what is selected from different sources.

Keepsakes [keep-seyk]
Noun: anything kept, or given to be kept, as a token of friendship or affection; remembrance.

Oh yeah, and its also a mixture of our initials

The Announcement

Do you (heart) the handmade?

We are Eclectic Keepsakes and we are a strictly not for profit organisation dedicated to the handmade.

Join us for our inaugural meet
Eclectic Keepsakes March 6th 2010

Come join us in our new and exciting crafty group to be held on a monthly basis on the Essex/Suffolk border area.

Our emphasis is on people who love different types of handmade. Scrapbooking, card making, paper crafts, printing, sewing, knitting and more.

Join us for the day, creating alongside one another in a friendly and relaxed environment.

Bring your enthusiasm, tools and stash and by the end of the day hopefully you will have met new people and learnt new skills.

Throw some classes, teachers and exciting and NEW workshops in to the mix and there you have it.

Eclectic Keepsakes.

Join us at Marks Tey Village Hall, 10am - 6pm.

To reserve your place contact us at eclectickeepsakes@googlemail.com or telephone us on 07519 786611

We have a fantastic hybrid scrapbooking class lined up for our first event. This is a free class sponsered by Jen Martakis Designs. Jen creates her own digital kits and is currently a Two Peas in a Bucket Garden Girl.

(We have lots more news and exciting ‘stuff’ planned for this first crop along with future events. Keep an eye on our blog for sneak peeks. Well, you didn’t think we’d give away all our secrets in one go did you?!)
http://eclectickeepsakes.blogspot.com/

Event Address:

Marks Tey Village HallParish Hall, Old London Road, Marks Tey, Colchester, Colchester, CO6 1EN

(20 mins from Ipswich and Clacton areas, 25 mins from M25)