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Glitz n Pieces

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I recently discovered, Glitz n Pieces, a new to me Irish-owned business while scrolling through my IG feed.

Photo from the Glitz n Pieces website

In 2013, Ellen and Grace from Dublin, Ireland created their ultimate dream of an affordable women’s online boutique with access to all types of women’s accessories under one roof.

Photo from IADT website

They are cool and hip 30-something entrepreneurs on social media selling handbags and accessories.

I followed them both on IG and TikTok, then only started to engage with them when a comment was made about their bags were made in China, right away they disclosed their bags were made from Italian leather in an atelier in Italy. This is transparency, one of the key elements on where I spend my money.

I was quite taken by their enthusiastic sales pitch, yet they were so down to earth.

I bought my first ever Glitz n Pieces handbag last month, a Kate Bag Mini in suede and leather, based on the many positive reviews.  I went with Burgundy, the colour of the season!

Kate Bag – Mini Leather & Suede

The quality is exquisite and the workmanship is so beautiful. It’s Italian luxury without breaking the bank. 

Use it as a handbag
Also comes with a strap and use as a cross body bag

Disclaimer: This is a non-sponsored post and I paid for this Kate Bag Mini myself.

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Knitmas Party !

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We’re kicking off the Yuletide Season with our Annual Knitmas Party on  Saturday 7th December at La Caverna Restaurant & Wine Bar from 1pm to 4:30pm.

And we will have a Festive Ornament Exchange. Crochet, knit, make, sew a Christmas ornament. More details later this month.

Some lovely prizes from some wonderful sponsors for the draw on the day.

La Caverna has put together a special 2 course festive Italian menu for our group with the option of dessert for anyone who wants it.  Everyone gets a starter & a main course for €34 which includes the 12% gratuity and the SumUp fee.  If you wish to have dessert, it’s €8. Payable to the restaurant. 

Starter & Main Course
More main course options
Vegan starter & main course menu

Tickets for the Knitmas Party are now available here

This is a very good price for a set festive menu in a Temple Bar restaurant. And only for our Knitmas Party.  Please note that you just need to choose your starter in advance. You will order your main course on the day.  This allows the restaurant to have the starters ready for 130pm for us to enjoy while our main courses are prepared.

And we have till 430pm which makes for a great afternoon of knitworking (crochet too). Catch up with old friends and meet new yarn-loving friends in our own exclusive room at La Caverna.

Drinks not included, La Caverna will be offering their selection of beer, cocktails, wine, coffee/tea for individual purchase.

The Sweater Weather Knit & Stitch Social
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The Sweater Weather Knit & Stitch Social

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Sweater Weather! Knit & Stitch Social

Join me with your latest knit or  crochet project at our November Knit & Stitch Social.

If you love Sweater Weather as much as we do, bring along your favourite warm and cosy FOs to exhibit at our Sweater Weather Trunk Show. Each person who brings an FO to exhibit will be entered into the prize draw. Details to be posted next week. It’s a great way to show off your makes in real life.

Enjoy this fabulous opportunity to meet and chat with knitters, crocheters and other yarn lovers in our own exclusive room at La Caverna.

Your admission includes choice of main course from the brunch menu.

Brunch Menu

There’s also a vegan option as well.

Vegan Menu

Drinks not included, La Caverna will be offering their selection of beer, cocktails, wine, coffee/tea for individual purchase.

Date: Saturday 2nd November 2024
Time: 13:00 – 16:00
Venue: La Caverna,
12 Fownes St., Dublin 2



Please note this is a social event and not a workshop.

Tickets available here

Blog · Dublin Knitwork · Knit Social

Yarn Swapping Social

villamakerLeave a comment

Hello Everyone,

Our enthusiastic Yarn Swap Committee, have organised our first yarn swapping social….

There will be two categories for yarn swapping:

1) Skeins, Cakes & Ballz

Full and hand-dyed, also 50g -100g balls of commercial yarns

Natural fibres or blended (no acrylic yarns)

2) The Leftovers.

All partial balls of yarn.

You can bring as many as you like, however, we do ask that you take home your yarn not claimed or you can choose to donate to ChangeClothes.

Let’s have fun switching up our yarn stashes while enjoying good food and the company of yarn loving knitters and crocheters.

Tickets for this event will be available this week.

Blog

Welcome Back! Knit & Stitch Social

villamakerLeave a comment

Hello Everyone,

A new season begins. Before announcing the details, I would like to give you an update. 

As you all know, the hospitality industry is experiencing tough times. Prices increases are happening frequently. Sitting for a few hours while just having a drink is not possible with many cafes/restaurants and with a large group, a deposit is often required.

The IFI has been our regular meeting place since September 2023 and it’s been a good experience. But, price increases meant that we were looking at €13/€14 per person for the platters. And they wouldn’t provide cutlery/plates. We provided the paper plates the last few socials.

I asked Greg to see what he could do as he has good relationships with a number of cafes/restaurants. And I can announce that we will trial a new venue for our Knit Social. I will ask for feedback/input at this event in terms of going forward. 

It is La Caverna in Temple Bar. A lovely Italian restaurant with a wonderful ambiance. They will be providing us with our own room from 1pm-4pm. It will be a sit down brunch at one long table with dining chairs and spacing so we can knit.

It is €17.95 for any main course from the brunch menu. The menu is available to view here: 

Please indicate your menu choice when your booking is confirmed.

Purchase your Knit & Stitch Social ticket here.

Hot and cold beverages are available for purchase at the Bar.

There will be some fabulous prizes provided by a number of sponsors which I will be posting in my stories. The Murphy Leaf will cover the service charge.


Full refund if cancellation is by Saturday 31st August 2024.

Looking forward to seeing many of you on Saturday 7th September.

Happily Knitting,

Diane

Blog

Leap to the Next Knit & Stitch Social

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Date: Saturday 24 February 2024

We’re leaping to the next Knit & Stitch Social.

We’re celebrating the extra day this month with a knit & stitch social hosted by Diane.

Date:  Saturday 24 February 2024
Time:  1:30pm to 4pm
Venue:  Mezzanine in the IFI Café Bar.

Ticket price: €8.50 per person (includes hot finger foods and gratuity )

Hot and cold beverages are available to purchase from the Bar.

Due to food being ordered in advance, a refund can only be issued if you notify us of cancellation by 10am Monday 19  February.

Link to booking your ticket.

Note:  Just a note to those buying a ticket to the Knit and Stitch Social that the price reflects menu price increases. I set the ticket price to cover the cost of food and gratuity. 

Blog · Journal

Knit & Stitch Social 2024

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It is a new year of Knit & Stitch Socials.

I am extremely fortunate to be able to use the Mezzanine of the IFI Cafe Bar once a month. As it is in the city centre, this is an excellent venue for knitters and crocheters to meet.

Although I am the host for these socials, my other half is the event planner and organiser.

January is a long month, so we choose to keep things cheap and cheerful with tea, coffee, mini cakes and pastries.

Enjoying the auditory, visual and tactile pleasures of knitworking alongside some incredible makers is an incredible experience.

In the coming week or so, I will make an announcement regarding our next Knit & Stitch Social.

Keep an eye on my Instagram, @diane.villamaker for the most recent updates.

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Let’s Knit & Stitch Together 2024

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Book online here

Happy New Year to you all and hope you had a great Christmas. Now, it’s time to get together for our Knit & Stitch social.

Going forward, the Knit and Stitch social will be monthly with a break in the summer.

I am absolutely delighted to be the host of our first knit and stitch social of 2024. A warm welcome to all knitters, crocheters and other stitchers, be it embroidery, cross stitch, etc.

I am mindful that it can be financially stressful for people right after Christmas. I was able to arrange something a little different for this social get together. And will arrange platters for our future monthly socials.

Date: Saturday 13th January
Time: 1:30pm to 4pm
Venue: The Mezzanine at the Irish Film Institute

Cost: €7 includes one coffee/tea and a couple mini desserts from a selection of mini cakes and mini pastries and gratuity)

Book online here

You can cancel and be refunded if notify me before 10am Monday 8th January.

Blog

Spin Me Round

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It’s been several years since I got myself involved with the Guild and when the call out for “fiber helpers” at this year’s Dublin Maker in Richmond Barracks, I jumped right in to help Máire set up the Guild’s demo area.

Boy oh boy, we were fortunate to be outdoors, under the big tent, what must have been the hottest day in September.

There were people and people and people who tried their hand at spinning and weaving.

It was so busy ( we heard thousands of people walked through the entrance!)  I really never had time to catch up with my fellow members Ailbhe, Liz and Máire.

If you have to opportunity to volunteer for any event with the Guild, I definitely recommend Dublin Maker (that’s only because I LOVE the souvenir lanyard and t-shirt we receive as volunteers).

Two weeks following Dublin Maker was World Wide Spin in Public. Another fine opportunity to get involved with the Eastern Region of the Guild. For this world wide event, we celebrated the day at a new to us venue in Dublin 12, The Green Kitchen & Garden Shop.

We had a lovely group of spinners arrive with their spinning wheels and drop spindles.

The curious arrived wanting to give spinning a try on a drop spindle.

What a lovely way to get my spinning mojo back, while catching up with my friends from the Guild.

While a song from the 1980s kept

spinning in my head,

You spin me right ’round, baby, right ’round
Like a record, baby, right ’round, ’round, ’round ~ You Spin Me Round by Dead or Alive

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So Udderly Cool!

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I took advantage of the Udderly Cool Leather clearance sale last week and got myself a new journal.

Better yet, I was actually at home when the package arrived thru our door’s mail slot this morning.

Unboxing was pure delight to find it was wrapped in old newspaper and waxed string.

It’s soooo nice!

An A5 notebook leather cover with two bookmarkers and 2 notebooks for my creative journal.