Felted Flowers Workshop at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery

Here are just some of the wonderful felted flowers created by the participants at the Saturday afternoon workshop at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery.

Here the participants are beginning to build up layers of marino wool in different colours.

This 2.5 hour workshop was taught by Aga of 'Knit Spin Felt' who came with a great selection of colours and a variety of interesting extra fibres for embellishment.

For more information on craft workshops at Le Grá Craft Studio and Galllery phone 087 6193870.

Crafty Kids! Snuggly Sock Animals workshop

Smiles all around at the end of a busy workshop making snuggly sock animals on Saturday!

Take one sock....and learn how to cut it to shape.

Take a needle and thread...and learn how to sew a running stitch.

Take some stuffing to fill the head and body...

Watch your snuggly sock animal come to life!

For more information on upcoming 'Crafty Kids' workshops phone 087 6193870.

Children's books at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery

Mairéad Sharry's latest children's book is now available at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery. A wonderful story suitable for readers of all ages with fabric collage illustrations.

Lynsey De Burca jewellery at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery

A range of contemporary jewellery made in silver
and incorporating semi-precious gemstones.

Linsey's pieces offer traces of inspiration from fishing net patterns
to boat chain compositions.

Each piece is organic in form and fluid in nature; each piece
moving with the wearer.

All of LInsey's pieces are handcrafted and include neckpieces, bracelets, earrings
and more.

'Crafty Kids' workshops: Snuggly Sock Animals workshop at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery

A Saturday morning workshop on Saturday 25th February from 10.30 to 12.30 (€17) for children of 8yrs and over. Make your own snuggly pet sock-animal!

Crafty Kids Workshops at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery

Print-making with Norah Brennan. Just one of the 'Crafty Kids' workshops available at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery.

For more upcoming children's workshops phone 087 6193870.

Get creative in 2012!

A new schedule of workshops at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery is now available.

Book your place now for beginner's patchwork, drypoint printmaking, felted flowers!

A new and exciting crochet course starts on 29th Feb. 5 classes for €75 (to include a hook and ball of wool!). Over the course of these 5 classes you will learn a range of stitches and pattern-reading and complete 5 different projects (incl phone cover, teacosy and baby blanket). Book now!

To book phone 087 6193870.

Click on the 'workshop schedule' page for a full list of available workshops

A celebration of Art and Craft at Presentation College Headford

Applied Leaving Certificate students together with their art teacher Ms. Martin held an exhibition of Art and Craft at Presentation College Headford on Thursday 26th January 2012.

Transition Year Students also exhibited a wonderful selection of hairpins and brooches produced by their newly established company 'Layla Pearl' - fabulously Kitsch vintage-inspired handmade accessories. See www.laylapearl.weebly.com or follow them on twitter @layla_pearl.

Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery displayed a selection of items including Chirpy Bird brooches by Joanna McGlynn, Butterfly, Bird, Fish and Flower brooches by Grace Light, 'I love Galway' buttons by Berni McCabe, hand-thrown pottery by Helen Griffin, hand-built ceramics by Living Ginger Designs, crochet hairbands by Josephine Fahy, handmade natural soaps by Dr. K. Soaps, painted glassware by Denise Hogan, illustrated children's books by Mairéad Sharry and more.

The event was well attended by staff and pupils of the college who were also treated to a wonderful selection of baked treats and snacks prepared by the nine ALC2 pupils.

Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery was delighted to be invited to collaborate with Presentation College Headford to highlight art, design and craft as career choices to second level students and we look forward to seeing some new craft-enthusiasts visit us in Claregalway soon!

Beginner's Patchwork Workshops: Every Tuesday evening and Friday morning

Ever wanted to learn how to make a patchwork quilt? Every Tuesday evening from 18.30 to 20.30 and Friday mornings from 10.30 to 12.30 we have Beginner's Patchwork Classes...choose whichever time suits you best (16 Euro per class).

This week we will look at the traditional technique of 'piecing over papers', a hand-sewing technique that is easy to learn and doesn't require a lot of fabric or equipment.

Bring along some 100% cotton scraps, needle and cotton thread and you're ready to start (we also have some free scraps available to share or a nice selection of 'fat quarter' fabrics priced from €1.50 each).

Just phone Ester on 087 6193870 to book your place.

"Crafty Mornings" every Tuesday at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery

One of the great things about the classroom space at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery is seeing it put to good use by the local community. Every Tuesday morning from 10.30 to 12.30 there's an open invitation to all local crafters to bring along a current project and share ideas and chat over a cuppa. This week we had some knitting, crochet and patchwork around the table. And newcomer Noreen brought along some lovely crochet books and showed this crochet case she recently made to hold crochet hooks. All very inspiring. Why not join us next Tuesday?

And speaking of crochet....watch this space as we'll be announcing some cool crochet classes in the coming weeks as soon as dates are finalised.

Kathrina Hughes: felt brooches, keyrings, hairslides, neck wraps and scarves

We have a wonderful mix of colourful felt accessories by Kathrina Hughes at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery. Kathrina is a registered craftsperson with Crafts Council of Ireland and also a member of Feltmakers Ireland.

Some places still available at Tuesday evening Patchwork for Beginners class (16 Euro)

In this week's beginner's class on Tuesday at 18.30-20.30 at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery we will look at a technique to make 2 x half-square triangles at a time. 12 of these can be put together with 4 plain squares to make a variety of star blocks. The technique is suitable for machine or hand-sewing.
There are still some places in this Tuesday evening class. To book, phone 087 6193870.

Tuesday's 'Crafty Mornings'....drop in and share ideas!

Whatever project you are currently working on (knitting, crochet, patchwork or other craft-work) bring it along to Tuesday's 'Crafty Morning' at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery. Perhaps you have a new technique to share or perhaps you are wondering what you are going to do next? This is a free drop-in session providing the community with a chance to use the classroom space and share ideas.

Happy New Year! Happy new stock! Happy new workshops!

Welcome to 2012 at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery!

Re-opening on Monday 9th January, 2012 with lots of exciting new stock from Irish artists, craft-makers and designers.

New brown and cream glazed pottery soup-cups from Roger Harley of Absolutely Pottery, Westport.

Framed fine-art prints by Galway artist Mary Geeleher.

'Feather' a new range of pale green glazed pottery by Roger Harley of Absolutely Pottery, Westport.

Fantastic new selection of 100% cotton 'Fat Quarters' for patchwork from Rags for Linda, Oughterard, Co. Galway.

And coming soon...a new list of craft workshops such as patchwork, felting, pottery, jewellery-making and lots more.

Last chance to get your raffle ticket into the box at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery!

Tomorrow Friday 23rd of December is our last day at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery before we close for Christmas. To celebrate Christmas we have a fantastic hamper of Galway craft worth over €150 to give away. All you have to do is drop into Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery and fill in your details on our free raffle ticket. The draw will take place on Friday 23rd at 5pm.

Felting fun at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery

A full class at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery with Agnieszka Rupnik. This was such a popular class and we have others on our waiting list for the next one. We hope to get Aga back soon in January 2012.....so ring 087 6183870 as soon as possible to add your name to the waiting list.

Aga brought along some of her own beautiful feltwork like this jacket to show us the potential of felting.

Hands at work, rolling the flowers to give them shape.

And here's a bunch of colourful flowers made by participants!

Christmas is coming!

Knitted Nativity scene being made by local knitting enthusiast, Noreen!

Christmas is almost here and excitement is mounting at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery. We have a felt-making workshop on 17th December where you will learn how to make a felted flower brooch....a perfect gift for someone special!

Don't forget to call in soon to be in with a chance to win our Christmas Hamper filled with gifts from the gallery worth over €150!

Felted Flowers workshop on Saturday 17th December from 12.30 to 3pm

Feltmaking is such fun, especially when Aga arrives with a fantastic selection of merino wool fibres in great colours. You're sure to make a flower brooch in the perfect colours to match your favourite outfit! Although this class is fully booked, you can book your place on the next felting workshop with Aga by phoning 087 6193870 or email esterkiely@gmail.com

Patchwork for beginners on Friday 16th December 10.30 to 12.30

Every Friday we teach a new patchwork technique at Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery. The workshop is relaxed and suitable for all beginners, no previous experience necessary. Why not join us for 2hrs from 10.30 to 12.30 (€16) including tea and biscuits! Get started on that family heirloom quilt you've been thinking of!

Learn print-making with Norah Brennan on Wednesday 30th November 10.30-12.30

Norah Brennan returns to Le Grá Craft Studio and Gallery on Wednesday 30th November to teach a Dry-Point Printmaking workshop. These classes are great fun as with a few simple steps you can create your own prints based on a favourite drawing or image. To book your place just call 087 6193870 or email esterkiely@gmail.com.