Let's Celebrate!!!

WOOOHOOO! It's our birthday!! We want to thank you for all of your support over the past three years, so mark your calendars for next week (6-10 March) where we will have some awesome specials, free gifts and events.

WORKSHOPS IN MARCH We have sooooooo many fun workshops and events this month that this newsletter would go on and on and on.... SO, here's a little collage summary of them and you can find information on ALL workshops and events on our Facebook page, as well as on our blog calendar! See something you like but can't make the dates, contact us and we'll see if we can schedule a new time for you and your friends! WHAT'S NEW IN MARCH We have a more open, airy set up for Spring to show off some beautiful new products...including adorable MAILEG bunnies and gift items, new pottery from IZ Tableware Japan, Easter bags from Julie Blume and cool new stamps and paper products just to name a few. Follow us on Facebook to see more products during the month! EASTER HOLIDAYS We will be closed for Easter weekend from 30 March through 2 April. Have a lovely holiday! Contact us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com for more information on the above. Or stop by to see us during our opening hours: Tuesdays: 9:30-12:00; 13:30-17:00 Wednesdays: 9:30-12:00 Thursdays: 9:30-12:00; 13:30-17:00 Saturdays: 9:30-14:00

February Events

Hearts, love songs...chocolate! 'tis the month of LOVE! Show someone special how much you love them with a handmade card and gift! Join us to make a blooming soap on 3 February, a Valentine card on 7 February or learning to knit a nice present on 24 February... or maybe all three!!  Alternatively, grab some friends and book a private event with us where you can tailor what you want to make! The possibilities for handmade goodness are endless and we are here to help you.

WORKSHOPS IN FEBRUARY Discover all the secrets of natural beauty by  joining Zeineb from the Tea and Beauty Shop to make your very own blooming soap on Sat., 3 February. All materials are 100% organic and natural and will make your skin feel amazing! Course price is CHF 45.- and includes all materials and light refreshments. Make your loved ones a special Valentine this year! Join Julie on Wed., 7 February in the morning or afternoon to make a selection of 5 mini cards and/or tags (course price: CHF 25.-). Register by 6 February by emailing us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com.   Back by popular demand! Join Clementine from Deux Pois Deux Measures for her knitting course to master the fundamentals including the garter stitch, jersey and rib. Course price is 50.- and still has a couple spots open, so sign up soon! Find out more information on our workshop offerings for children and adults on our creative calendar here or on our Facebook Events page! Or maybe you want to book a private workshop to hang out with your friends or kids! We would love to help you with this and have loads of ideas on fun things you can make! Contact us for more information!   SPORT HOLIDAYS We will be closed from 10 - 17 February to enjoy the AMAZING snowfall here in Switzerland. We look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday, 20 February!

Events and Workshops for Adults in November

Check out what's new in November for all the ladies (and gentlemen, too)! Even if you think you are NOT crafty, that's ok! We do all the hard work...all you have to do is show up with a smile :-)! Organise a workshop with your friends for a Christmas outing or join one of our scheduled workshops below. Detailed information for the events and workshops can be found on our calendar here. 

Happily Handmade Market at The Creative Café

Workshops in April

April is just around the corner and we have some fun workshops to get you into the spirit of Easter and spring!

Sigrun Aeschbach will be offering two Easter decoration workshops (Sa., 1 & 8 April) where you will make adorable decoupage eggs using a variety of ribbons, lace and embellishments, as well as egg decorations using real eggshells and natural products like moss, feathers and sticks. What a great way to jazz up your table on Easter Sunday! Cost: CHF 39.- including all materials and refreshments (workshop in German).

In sticking with the Easter theme, Colleen will be offering a children's workshop (ages 8-12) on Wednesday, 5 April, making orange-scented sugar scrub packaged as carrots! What a great gift for a teacher, Gotti or Grandparent! Cost: CHF 20.- including all materials (workshop in English).

Finally, on 8 April, Colleen will be offering two workshops: one for smaller children (ages 4-8) making some cute spring flower pots using pasta and one for Mom's making a painted bead necklace. Cost: CHF 20.-/30.-, respectively, including all materials (workshop in English).

More info on all the workshops can be found on our calendar here. Just scroll down to the bottom and click on the workshop you are interested in!

We are looking forward to seeing you soon!
xx

December Events & Workshops

The countdown is on....Christmas will be here in a few weeks!!!!! Are you ready? Do you have all your gifts purchased and wrapped? Well, we are here to help you out!! This month, we will have: extra opening hours to allow more shopping time to find that unique gift DIY workshops to show you tips and tricks for gorgeously wrapped gifts and, for those of you lacking time or perhaps creativity, gift wrapping services will be available in the two weeks leading up to Christmas (Bonus: gift items purchased from us will be wrapped free of charge!) oh, and did we mention GLÜHWEIN and gingerbread? It's the most wonderful time of the year...and we can't wait to share it with you!

Events & Workshops - December 2016 All events and workshops below can also be found on The Creative Cafe Calendar tab on our blog. In order to give you a little more time to get in all that Christmas shopping, The Creative Café will have extended hours in December as shown above!  We will also be offering gift wrapping services from 11-22 December. Gifts purchased from The Creative Café will be wrapped free of charge - we will also wrap your other gifts, however, a fee will apply for items not purchased at The Creative Café.  Come out of the cold and warm yourself up with a cup of Glühwein or Christmas tea and some gingerbread on the following days in December:   Saturday, 10 December Saturday, 17 December Wednesday, 21 December Workshop: Last Minute Gift Card Packaging Saturday, 17 December (10:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00) Tuesday, 20 December (10:00-12:00; 14:00-16:00) Don't you hate giving gift cards in simple little envelopes? In this workshop, we will help you make gift card envelopes and little boxes to perfectly wrap those last minute gift cards or small gifts for the hard to buy for people on your list. All materials provided to make 2 envelopes and 2 boxes.  Cost: CHF 25 (includes all materials and refreshments)  To register, stop by the shop or e-mail us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com.

Christmas Open House THIS Saturday, 19 November!

Wooohooooo! Our Christmas Open House is in 2 DAYS!!!

We are so excited to welcome you to our happy little place with a nice, warm cup of Glühwein and tasty treat to help get you in the spirit of Christmas! Loads of new products have been made in the past couple of weeks that will help you tick off the names on your list. Additionally, Petra  from Apotheka Havlik, will be doing various demonstrations with the awesome bio skincare products we sell - think super, soft hands afterwards!! To keep the kids busy while you shop, we will also have a little gift tag making area for them to make some handmade tags for the gifts you buy!

Stop by anytime between 10:00 and 17:00. You really don't want to miss this event!

Here are a few sneak peeks to get you excited!

June & July Events at The Creative Café

Hello friends! Summer is on its way - hoorah! And with summer, comes TRAVEL, SUNSHINE and GOOD TIMES!   This month, we will have some travel-themed workshops and products to help you document your adventures, as well as hold all the essentials when going to the badi, beach or out in the city for the day!   Who are the ladies behind The Creative Café? Jo Millar, Art Club Café In continuing with "Who are the ladies behind The Creative Café?", we will both introduce and say a fond farewell to Jo Millar, founder of the Art Club Café, that meets at The Creative Café on Friday mornings (and some Tuesdays, as well). Jo will be leaving The Creative Café team in mid-June to start a new teaching job after the summer holidays. Thank you, Jo, for bringing your creative inspiration to our team and best of luck in your new adventures! What do you love most about being at The Creative Café? "I like being surrounded by all those lovely things. It even smells nice in there. It is a little sanctuary, which is all mine on Art Club days." How did you come up with the Art Club? "I love a sketchbook with snippets of ideas and observations. With the Art Club I can explore whatever pops into my head. I prepare visual prompts based on the chosen theme and then the Art Club ladies have something ready to inspire them. I often prefer their take on my kernel of an idea. So the Art Club is a little cycle of creative thought, along with a few laughs and a lot of chatter."

New in June We've got some lovely new items this month to add a bit of sparkle, as well as functionality to your summer travels! Workshops and Events in June & July All events below can also be found on The Creative Cafe Calendar tab on our blog. Join us for a ladies evening with Stella & Dot Stylist, Nadia Austin. She will show you the beautiful summer line of Stella & Dot jewelry, bags and accessories. Food and drinks will also be available so you will not want to miss this event! More information on Stella & Dot can be found on their website: http://www.stelladot.com.  Workshop: Adventure-themed Bookmarks Saturday, 4 June (10-12), Thursday 9 June (10-12) Do you know an avid reader? Join us to make two one-of-a-kind bookmarks using a variety of paper, punches, stamps and more! Space is limited to 5 people, so please register by 2 June or 7 June, respectively. Workshop will take approximately 1.5 - 2 hours. Cost: CHF 20 per person (includes all materials & refreshments) To register, stop by the shop or e-mail us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com. Workshop: Travel Journal Thursday, 16 June (9:00-12:00) & Saturday, 18 June (9:00-12:00) Are you planning to travel this summer and wish to have a little journal to take note of all the fun things you do? This workshop is for you! We will make a travel-themed envelope journal with space for pictures, journaling and pockets to hold little bits that you collect in your travels.  Space is limited to 4 people, so please register by 14 June. Workshop will take approximately 3 hours. Cost: CHF 40 per person (includes all materials & refreshments) To register, stop by the shop or e-mail us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com. Masala Chai - tea the Indian way Tuesday, 21 June (13:30-16:00) The lovely smell of Masala chai, the mixed-spice tea that you are being served on every street corner in India, will linger in the shop. While enjoying your tea, you have the opportunity to learn more about the work that is being done with our Indian partners, and to see some very special items brought home from Nina's recent visit. Bring your friends and come visit us! Location: The Creative Café, Alte Landstrasse 111, 8800 Thalwil Art Club Café Every Friday: 9:00-11:00 & 11:30-13:30 This is your last chance to meet Jo Millar and have fun creating with different mediums, such as pencils, paints and more!  The final dates of the Art Club Café are as follows: Fridays: 3, 10 June Tuesday: 14 June You can find out more information on her website here. Summer clearance sale & Apéro Saturday, 2 July (10:00-16:00) In order to clear out our stock before the summer holidays begin, we will start our summer clearance sale on 2 July with a bit of prosecco and snacks (and hopefully LOTS of sunshine)! First come, first serve on all unique sale items, so be sure to stop by before it's too late. SUMMER HOLIDAYS: SHOP WILL BE CLOSED FROM 18 July - 19 August 2016 The Creative Café will be closed for the summer holidays in order to enjoy time with our families. We hope you have a wonderful summer, full of adventure, sunshine and good times!   Contact us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com for more information on the above events. You can also stop by the shop during our opening hours: Tuesdays: 9:30-12:00, 13:30-18:00 Wednesdays: 9:30-12:00, 13:30-18:00 Thursdays: 9:30-12:00, 13:30-18:00 Fridays: Art Club Café from 9:00 - 13:30 (FINAL SESSION: Tuesday, 14 June, 13:30-17:00) Saturdays: 10:00-16:00 Have a great week and we look forward to seeing you soon!

Spring Open House & Apéro

We will be having a Spring Open House on 21 May with nibbles and drinks, so mark your calendar and grab a friend to come check out the spring and summer collections! 

We have 10 % on everything in the shop, except furniture and custom orders, plus additional offers on selected items. 

Hope seeing you there!

May news and events at The Creative Café

Hello friends! April showers are (hopefully!!) over, so now we can enjoy the May flowers! We don't know about you, but we LOVE spring. Trees blooming, flowers pushing up out of the ground, warmer temperatures, the promise of summer that is just on the horizon - we love it all!  This month, we will bring some new, brighter patterns and ideas to help you get rid of the winter blues!   Who are the ladies behind The Creative Café? Nina Zetterberg, owner of INDesign4U This month we will introduce you to Nina, founder of INDesign4U, unique products for you and your home. Nina has dreamt of a business of her own for many years and just needed an idea to get started. How did you come up with the idea for INDesign4U? "I always felt a strong draw towards beautiful, fun and unique things to decorate indoor and outdoor spaces. While living in India, I came into contact with lots of artisans and their handicraft - furniture, textiles and decorations. An idea was born when I came into contact with Spring Rythym and their lovely hand block printed textiles. Once my own home and garden was decorated, I thought it would be great if other people could have the opportunity to surround themselves with these beautiful home textiles as well. And INDesign4U was born." From India to Switzerland, how do you find it? "We always knew that our time in India was limited, so after 2.5 years it was time to move on. We arrived in Switzerland in August 2013 and it was definitely a huge change - calm, clean, beautiful and easy to adjust to. Even so, I still find myself missing the exciting, colourful life in India from time to time. That's why it is so great to have the business. It gives me the opportunity to stay in contact with India and still live a lovely life here in Switzerland." What do you love most about being at The Creative Café? "Even though I don't consider myself a "do-it-yourselfer", I love to be surrounded by creative people and their ideas. I also love meeting and interacting with customers, which also gives me the opportunity to work on my German! Being employed all my life, I noticed how much I missed having colleagues around - one of the best things is to work together with people and to be part of the lovely Creative Café ladies!"

What's new in May? May is a month to enjoy all the colors and beauty of spring and to prepare for summer because we all know that it will be here before we know it! Here are a few bright and colorful items you can find in The Creative Café this month! Workshops and Events in May All events below can also be found on The Creative Cafe Calendar tab on our blog. Nina will be showing her spring and summer collection in the café at Holmes Place, Seestrasse 97, 8942 Oberrieden, on Tuesday, 10 May. You can stop by for a nice coffee and browse after a hard workout at the gym! Don't forget to sign up to receive your free entrance to the gym, spa and classes: Sign Up form  Birthday Card Workshop Thursday, 12 May (time is flexible during opening hours) Do you like to send and receive handmade birthday cards? If you do, this is the workshop for you! Come any time during the day to make four birthday cards and a few tags if you have time.  Space is limited to 5 people at a time, so please register by 10 May so we know how many are coming and the approximate times. Workshop will take approximately 2.5 hours. Cost: CHF 40 per person To register, stop by the shop or e-mail us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com. Spring Open House & Apéro Saturday, 21 May - all day (10:00-16:00) We will be having a spring open house with free food and drinks, so mark your calendar and grab a friend to come check out the spring and summer collections! This is also a great opportunity for you to come by to check out the spring and summer INDesign4U collection. Purchases of in store INDesign4U products on this day will receive a 10% rebate*! *Note: rebate does not apply to special orders  MEchic Italian Design Pop Up Sale Friday, 27 May from 17:00 to 21:00 Summer holidays are going to be here soon and that means sunshine, beaches and pretty little dresses! Join us for an apéro with MEchic Italian Design to find the perfect little dress or bikini for your upcoming holidays. Apéro will be sponsored by the lovely Eva from Salottino Italian Specialties from Horgen, so you should mark your calendar now! More information on MEchic can be found on their Facebook page. Art Club Café Every Friday: 9:00-11:00 & 11:30-13:30 Looking for a way to release some of your creative energy or maybe learn something new? Jo Millar has openings in her Art Club Café that is held in The Creative Café on Friday mornings. You can find out more information on her website here. ASCENSION DAY (AUFFAHRT): SHOP WILL BE CLOSED FROM 5-7 MAY 2016 The Creative Café will be closed from 5-7 May for the ascension holiday weekend. We look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday, 10 May!  Contact us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com for more information on the above events. You can also stop by the shop during our opening hours: Tuesdays: 9:30-12:00, 13:30-18:00 Wednesdays: 9:30-12:00, 13:30-18:00 Thursdays: 9:30-12:00, 13:30-18:00 Fridays: Art Club Café from 9:00 - 13:30 Saturdays: 10:00-16:00 Have a great week and we look forward to seeing you soon!