Sewing & Baking Schools this Summer

Looking to do something more creative this holiday? Get your kids into their elements by letting them attend one of  our holiday school programmes for Baking and Sewing.

We love to Sew!

Age: 8+
Cost: $215
Length: 4 days, 2 hours each
Dates 20- 23rd January 9:30 - 11:30am
Includes: All Materials, The "We Love to Sew Book" worth $40 and a Drink & Biscuit each day
Full details & to book click here: Kids Sewing School

You will make a zippy pouch, skirt, name banner and a painted cushion cover, if there is time we will also make a flower felt brooch

A fantastically fun workshop for any child who loves to create! Come along and learn to sew things you will love. Included as part of the workshop is Annabel Wrigley's book, We love to Sew, which includes 28 fun modern projects to make worth over $35. Over the course of the term we will create 4 - 5 projects from this book (see the other photos), all materials included for making the projects during the class.

  

If sewing is not for them but they love to Bake then join our Cafe Chef Jaimie from The Cake Eating Company and they will have the most fun creating amazing things such as apple crumble, truffles, cupcakes, decorated cookies and lots more! We also have a junior baking school running this January for the younger baker - sure to be fun! 

Baking School 
Age: 8 -14
Cost: $175
Length: 3 days, 2 hours each
Dates 27- 29th January 10 - 12pm
Includes: All Materials, plus and apron and baking kit worth $70, drink & cookie served each day.
Full details and to book click here : Kids Baking School

Junior Baking School
Age: 4-6
Cost: $150
Length: 5 days, 1 hours each
Dates 27- 31st January 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Includes: All Materials, plus and apron and baking kit worth $50, drink & cookie served each day.
Full details and to book click here :Junior Baking School

Kids Learn to Quilt

Our amazing sewing teacher Treena has produced a gorgeous quilt for our learn to quilt workshop. If your child enjoys sewing and can do basic straight lines then this will be a really fun workshop for them! 

Age: 8 -14
Cost: $65
Length: 3 days, 2 hours each
Dates 21- 23rd January 12 - 1pm
Includes: Please see website for details.
Full details and to book click here :Learn to Quilt

A Post full of Elf Antics!

So things have been slightly crazy at Christmas in the cafe, so I have struggled to get to do our blog post every day on the wonderful antics of Charlottes Elf! However I can say we have sold over 60 fluffies so far this month! If you would like to make a donation, just do so by purchasing a fluffy in this month.

Charlotte was diagnosed this year with Leukemia, and we are selling fluffies to support her in the month of December!

An Elf Zip Line!

We have had a rough couple if days so our elf was not on form last night- she painted the girls noses red like Rudolf but it rubbed off on their Xmas pillow slips :( so we pretended in the morning it was a game to paint each other's noses. Unfortunately there is no photo of the noses as Charlotte wiped hers off!

Tonight we made a zip line across the lounge.... This looks awesome and is my favorite trick so far!

I have had a lot of questions from our 5yr old about the elf coming alive at night and what makes her come alive - my answer is if she believes in the magic of Christmas anything can happen. It worked tonight I just hope there are no more questions this year!

Pimp our Pool and Elfs Magical Recovery Kit!

Because Charlotte can not use public pools now due to the risk of infection we decided to upgrade our bucket of water for a real pool. Shortly after this photo Charlotte was rushed to hospital but is doing better now and on antibiotics for an infection. We got home a little after midnight so she was home in the morning to discover the pool and she loves it!






After they found the wet elf in the pool this morning Charlotte discovered a wire sticking through the elfs felt (panic moment!) so tonight sunny sunshine is in elf hospital with a letter from Santa explaining if the girls sprinkle over the magic dust sunny will get her magic back (and hopefully have a fixed leg or at least a note from the hospital explaining she will be in cast for the next 17 days).

Don't forget you can support Charlotte at the cafe this month with every fluffy you purchase all funds going straight to the Park family! 

Elf Catch up!

We need to do a quick Elf Catch up, Paula has been great in sending new posts everyday, but I just have not been able to load them up!

Sunny Sunshine made her own tree tonight, out of the gloves we have to use in the bathroom for Charlotte after chemo (this is going to cause uncontrollable giggles in the morning!) I just hop they stay up all night!!!

Donuts anyone?

Tonight I'm tired after a week of very little sleep. I was planning on baking these....http://pinterest.com/pin/129408189264508124/ but with the state I'm in they would probably end up burnt on some Pinterest fail website!!

So instead of a visit from the lovely Rolleston firefighters I decided to bling up our elf with earrings and a ring (as well as one each for the kids). 

And Christmas crackers- because who doesn't love that sound at 6am!

I'm hoping the children do not notice my lack of enthusiasm and promise to be back on form after a full nights sleep. 

Paula you are doing such great job! 

Fish & Chips

What a beautiful night for a fish!

The elfs version of fish n chips- robo fish and potato chips with sauce!!

Elf on the Beach

Our Elf Sunny visited the beach today and brought back a few souvenirs :)


You can support Charlotte & her family by purchasing any fluffy at The Make Cafe during the month of December. We are also looking for someone to make a small elf for our counter so people are more aware of it and we will also have a collection box up! Thank you for your support with this great project! Contact us at info@themakecafe.co.nz with any questions

The Night Before the Elf Arrived

I am super organised as we have a big weekend, our elf would of arrived to our house with a big elf breakfast but we have a dinner on saturday night and chemo on sunday so we are staying at my parents, hence Sunny sunshine the elf will be traveling. I have packaged her up in shredded paper and streamers with a santa bag of treats (about a tablespoon of m&ms and a balloon with string).

She will arrive on Sunday morning at Nana and Grandads so both girls can open the box then it gets tricky! Grace the eldest is staying on at nanas another night and Charlotte is coming home for chemo the next day.... What to do!!! Sunny will come home with us but appear after Charlottes chemo not in the morning (I may have to write a note or leave a treat explaining she was caught up visiting a neighboring elf) so when we get home with both children later in the day the first trick can be played.

and we received an after pic from Paula!! I reckon they know mischief is on it's way! 

A very special Elf!

I have known Paula, since I just got into crafting, she is a wonderful inspirational person and I knew that she had done the fabulous Elf on the Shelf a few times, so I thought it was only fitting to get her to share her Elf's journey with us during this Christmas, which will be a very special one for her family this year. 

This is how it all began! 

Our family elf came to us December 2011 from the North Pole. She was sent by the birds (who keep an eye out for santa during the year) as they had reported some naughty behavior coming from our house - mum was desperate!

The first year our elf came at night and was never seen......

There were footprints in the snow across our table, an elf picnic, graffiti on the mirror and even knickers on the christmas tree!

Our elf worked a treat and brought a lot of magic to the house in the few visits we had. 

The following year the elf returned....

The next year I decided we needed an Elf so out came the sewing machine and pinterest! 

There was a serious lack of cute handmade elves most were either scary or creepy. You can choose to buy an original Elf on the shelf but where is the fun in that! I added wire to the arms, legs and body so it was shapable then the next morning the girls awoke to a big surprise...

Their elf was real and had been sent by Santa to keep a close eye on them. There was a special letter from the big man himself (download here), an official elf passport (download here) which meant the elf had to have a name  - Sunny Sunshine (chosen by our 3 and 4 year old girls), a countdown calendar and of course and elf breakfast of mini red and green pancakes! 

I was so keen that we had 25 days elf mischief, here are last years highlights...

It was hard coming up with 24 ideas so I used pinterest a lot for printables and ideas (there are thousands!) and also had help from other friends posting their elf tricks on facebook. 

We are big time into celebrating in our house and there are 3 different countdowns as well as a mischievous elf so planning takes months and I often gather props etc in november and write lists of what will be happening so i'm not caught short. I always buy lots of cheap christmas things (pens, rubbers, lollies, rings etc) to put in our countdown box calendar but we also include activities like visiting the christmas lights, having a photo with santa and putting a present under the giving tree.

On the night of the 23rd a letter was left explaining the magic that was about to happen...

This year will be a very special christmas for our family - I can't actually type because it still brings me to tears to say it...

Our daughter was diagnosed with leukemia on August 22.

Christmas will be over the top like you have never seen before, everyday will be christmas day. Our elf will be naughtier than ever - she will be making her debut in the child cancer ward at Christchurch Hospital. Anything to get a smile for these brave young fighters.

So in Celebration of little gorgeous Charlotte every fluffy sale in the cafe during the month of December is going direct to her fund to help make this Christmas an easier one! 

Christmas Workshops

Well we are now 1 month away from Christmas and at The Make Cafe we have plenty of things to inspire you to get creative this month!

We had a message that our 46 boxes have arrived and are now ready for distribution, they will let us know which countries will be receiving these little bundles of creative love from all of you!

In the month of December I want to highlight that we will be having a special Crafty Christmas Nights in the workshop room, we have kits that you can purchase for $10 which includes a hot drink or you are welcome to just come along and enjoy crafting!

Our kits contain all sorts of things from making ornaments to stocking fillers. Full details online, come and join in the Christmas fun! A gift wrapping station will also be available on the evening for a nominal charge.

Click here to book onto a Crafty Christmas Night now!

Time to make your own stockings! In this workshop you will receive the gorgeous Kate Spain Panel which is jammed packed with Christmas and 2 stockings to make, worth $24. We will provide a tutor, all the materials and a morning of fun making up a stocking!

Date: Saturday 7th December 10am - 12pm
Cost $45
Click here to book onto this Saturday Morning workshop

Do you have some quilt gifts planned for Christmas? Make sure you are in the know with regards to layering, binding and quilting in this popular workshop, and as a bonus you get to make a pot holder which doubles up as a Christmas gift!

Date: 3rd December 7:30 - 9:30pm
Cost $45 all materials included
Click here to book onto this essential skills workshop!

Now if all you want for Christmas is to Learn to Knit, then come along on Sunday 8th December and join in with others who are also learning this fantastic skill. As part of the workshop you will receive a ball of yarn & a pair of knitting needles! Melanie who teaches this workshop is an experienced knitter as well as a pattern writer so you will be learning from a pro!

Sunday 8th December  9:30 - 12:30

Cost $35 includes all materials

Click here to book onto the Learn to Knit workshop

Now here is a Christmas Gift that is super quick to make, you will be sending everyone a pair for Christmas! On this workshop you will learn the art of Bezel Settings, included is a set of earrings and a necklace and you have the option to purchase additional supplies at fantastic prices during the workshop too.

9th December 19:30 - 21:30
Cost $45 all materials included
Click here to book onto the Bezel Necklace workshop

Time to let it snow!! Make a super cute Crochet Snowflake! If you are a beginner crochet enthusiast then this is the workshop for you. Up your skills slightly and have fun working on the pattern together.

10th December 7 -9pm

Cost $35 all materials included

Click here to book onto Crochet a Snowflake

Whatever the festivities bring this year, make sure your table stands out! On this workshop you can choose to make a table runner or a  set of 4 table mats & coasters. Included as part of the workshop is Kate Spains panel worth $24.

10th December 7:00 - 8:30pm

Costs $45 includes all materials

Click here to book onto the Placemats  & Coasters workshop

Create a Christmas Cake Masterpiece learning key fondant skills as you go, like mini figurines, covering your cake successfully and colouring fondant. All materials are included on this workshop and you get to choose from either a mud or fruit cake!

11th December 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Cost $80 all materials included

Click here to book onto this cake decorating workshop

Learn how to stencil your own designs onto fabric or clothing using freezer paper to create a unique gift for friends or family members! No drawing skills required! Please bring along an item to be decorated.

12th December 7:30 - 9:30pm
Cost: $35
Click here to book onto How to Stencil with Freezer paper

Love fabric but not too handy with a sewing machine? This could be the perfect craft to satisfy all those fabric addicts out there! Learn how to decoupage with fabric - a decorative technique which involves applying layers of fabric, glue and sealant to produce a finish which is a work of art in itself!

Saturday 14th December 9am - 5pm

Cost $75

Click here to book onto Fabric Decoupage

Learn the basics of candle making and make a lovely candle in a teacup, with a choice of delicious Christmas fragrances!

16th December 7:30 - 9:00
Cost $45 all materials included
Click here to book onto a Christmas Teacup Candle Workshop

Learn how to make your own lampshade completely from scratch! All materials provided – choose from our range of 250 quilting weight cottons; we have something to suit any interior!

17th December 7:30 - 9:30pm

Cost $75 all materials included

Click here to book onto Learn to Make a Lampshade

Work with a professional Bridal Jewelry Maker and learn how to make gorgeous fabric flower hair fascinators - if you have an older daughter this is the perfect workshop to do together this Christmas!

18th December 7.:30 - 10pm

Cost :$45 all materials included

Click here to book onto the Fabric Flower Fascinator Workshop

We also have a full range of  Kids Christmas Workshops, starting from $10 per child see below, these spaces book out quickly, so check the dates they finish school and book your slot!