January 2014 Newsletter

Monthly Newsletter

Welcome to our first combined newsletter. Until now we have had different newletters and updates for the different components of Warren Crafts. We then came up with the idea of sharing what’s going on at The Warren since people who love small animals, may also like cardcraft or scrapbooking and vice versa, so here we go!

   Our Animals

January is the beginning of our breeding season, and we have a few rabbits with young litters at the moment, with more due to be mated by the end of the month. We also have our first guinea pig litter due 31 January, and a couple more piggies in the breeding pen. We do have some young adult rabbits and guinea pigs up for adoption. If you are thinking about adding a rabbit or a couple of guinea pigs to your family, then give us a call and pop along for a chat.

All our small animals go with a health check, a supply of feed, and an information sheet. More importantly, we offer Forever Homes, so should your circumstances change, we will always take back the animal you purchased and do our best to find suitable homes for them, or remain with us here at The Warren. We will always provide advice if you have a rabbit or guinea pig, whether or not you adopted the animal from us or not. We must stress this does not replace the advice of a vet, but with 20 plus years of breeding, showing and sharing our lives with these adorable animals, we have a wealth of knowledge that we can share.

Some of you will already know how excited we are about the pending arrival of a couple of Pygmy Goats! They will hopefully arrive in the spring, mother nature permitting. So we are busy making preparations for their arrival. We are having 3 small paddocks built, one of which is for the rabbit and guinea pig runs. We are also having a breeze block stable built, and much of the decking between the chicken coup and the rabbitry is being removed in place of concrete, making it easier to maintain, and safer to walk on.

For more information visit our websites:

http://taraxstudrabbits.wix.com/tarax-stud

https://www.facebook.com/KaimykCavies/

Small Animal Boarding

We have always offered a rabbit/guinea pig boarding service for the animals we rehome, but with the closing of the local small animal boarding business, we decided to make the boarding service into a more formal business and open to all. We have very reasonable daily and weekly rates (see the website link below). This has meant investing in new small animal housing blocks. The first of these are in place, and the last few blocks being built as we go to press. All hutches are painted, disinfected between occupants, with regular exercise for all our animal guests. There are requirements that need to be met before your booking can be confirmed (e.g. vaccinations, insurance etc), and details can be found on the booking form available from the website link below.

http://stevetoltonst.wix.com/the-warren

 

Handmade Wedding Stationary, Favours, Gift boxes and general Greetings Cards.

We offer two options when it comes to our handmade cardcraft products. You can either let us make up your order after agreeing on the design you want, OR you can make them yourself in a workshop, with family and friends, and us there to guide and assist you along the way. This makes the preparations for your wedding or other special event, even more special. Contact us to arrange an appointment and you can decide which option you want to go for.

 

Workshops:

Cardcraft & Scrapbooking

This year our workshops are  going to be more structured, in terms of planning – at least that was our intention when we made it our number one item on the New Year’s Resolution list! Each month we will be featuring a technique, plu s2 or 3 stamp sets.

January will begin with Dry Embossing as the technique and the stamp sets will be picked with the theme ‘Love is in the Air’. Even if you do not celebrate Valentine’s Day, love is why we hand craft cards and scrapbook pages, so do not be put off by the theme. The featured colours will be Black, Grey, Red & White.

We Offer workshops for:

 

1. Children aged  5 to 12 years
2. Teenagers, aged 12 to 18 years
3. Adults
4. Children and adults with special needs
5. The Bereaved & those with life limiting conditions
   Everyone attending any of our papercraft workshops between January and the end of March 2014, will be entered into a free monthly prize draw to win a bundle of Stampin Up products, and a copy of the new book, Fifty Shades of Rubber Stamping by Amanda Bartlett.
    
   
   We are also committed to making improvements to our Blog  
   http://stampinupatthewarren.blogspot.co.uk/
   We will be uploading a monthly card template challenge on the First Monday of each month & a Scrapbook Challenge on the Third Monday of each month. We will be asking you to send us pictures of your creation (by email, post or using a link on blog), within two weeks of the challenges going live, and a winner will be picked for each challenge. If successful, we will also look for sponsors to provide prizes for future challenges, but for now, we just want you to have fun. We are also hoping to keep the blog up to date with news, tips, techniques and projects.
   My Digital Studio
   MDS is Stampin Ups digital cardcraft & scrapbooking programme. You can download the programme for a 30 day free trial from my Stampin Up! Website http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampinupatthewarren/
   Let me know once you download the programme if you want to attend a workshop to get to know how to use the programme before you decide to buy. There are plenty of downloads available with new downloads listed weekly. For examples, visit http://www.mydigitalstudio.net/
    
   Sale A Bration
   This is an exciting time of year for all paper crafters as it is when Stampin Up gives you fabulous free products for every £45 you spend from the current Annual Catalogue, the Spring/Summer, Catalogue, and/or the Sale A Bration Catalogue. But hold off ordering immediately, as Sale A Bration doesn’t begin until 28 January. Free products include a choice of 3 stamp sets, a punch, an accessory kit, a card kit, 2 MDS downloads; an embossing folder and a pack of double sided patterned papers.
   If you have been thinking about becoming a Demonstrator, then give me a call and see if you think it is for you. You can even pop in for a cuppa! I do not normally push this side of things, but during Sale A Bration you get so much more for your money in your Starter Pack.
    
   
   OPEN HOUSE LAUNCH PARTY FOR SALE A BRATION
   TUESDAY 28^TH JANUARY 2014 11am-7pm
   Includes a make & take, and free catalogue
   Lots of new products to view
    
   You can now order your Stampin Up! Products online
   Via my Stampin Up Website:
   http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampinupatthewarren/
   Lastly, we must mention our Fabric craft!!
   We continue to make soft furnishing from quality UK manufactured cotton fabric. We always have some cushions, baby quilts, and doorstops made up, but we love making custom orders and you are welcome to come and browse the fabrics we have in stock.
   Our website is undergoing a makeover and overhaul, so bear with us. We have a digital swatch library via our website at www.warrencrafts.co.uk
   Kim has been working on refreshing her dressmaking skills, and is in the process of designing a range of children’s clothing from 0-5 years. She can also make children’s clothing of all ages to order. Watch this space for the launch.
   Machine Sewing Classes
   Would you like to learn how to make do and mend, or learn dressmaking or how to make soft furnishings? If so, drop us a line to arrange some sessions.
    
    Class/Workshop Fees:
    £15 for a 3 hour session
    £30 for 10am to 4pm session
    
   Contact us: Kim & Steve Tolton
   Telephone: 08432896848
   Text: 07759587004
   Email: info@thewarren.co.uk
   The Warren, Woodham Road, Battlesbridge, Essex, SS11 7QW