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

HELLO 2018!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS!!!!!

May 2018 bring you lots of laughter, creative energy to try something new and good friends to enjoy both with!

We are happy to be back in business as of 9 January after a calm,
relaxing break with our families.

And...January is SALE TIME! Stock up on Christmas items for next year, birthday presents for kids on your list or just a little something special for yourself!

We look forward to seeing you soon! 

PS - we have some amazing workshops this month with hosts from Deux pois Deux Mesures and the Tea and Beauty Shop! Check out our Creative Calendar for more info!

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. 

Kids Workshops in November

We have lots of fun Christmasy workshops for the kids this month! Be sure to check them out on our calendar here.

Fall Fun Workshops

Wooohooo! Leaves are changing colors and falling off the trees, the first school break is almost here and before you know it, we'll be singing Christmas carols! But before we start singing Jingle Bells, we are excited to be offering a week of fun activities for kids during the first week of the fall holidays (10-12 October). Multiple workshops will be available for you and your child(ren) to attend to break up the day and do something fun and creative. 

All kids workshops will cost CHF 15.- per child which includes all materials and a small drink and snack. Children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Stop by or contact us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com to register for a workshop and receive a 15% discount on any purchases made in The Creative Café on the day of the workshop. 

Spring holidays

The Creative Café will be closed from 11 April through 1 May 2017 for the spring holidays! 

We look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday, 2 May with loads of new ideas and inspiration.

xx,

The Creative Café team

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

Happy New Year!!

Wow! It is hard to believe that 2016 is over and we are now into a new year!!

Do you have a word to describe what this year will be for you? Our word for this year will be "change".  Change can mean many things to many people. To us, it will entail a change in our team for 2017, which will lead to a change in products and services we offer. Change is good and helps us to focus on what it is we would like to achieve with our little shop and what our customers would like to have!

With this change, it is with sadness that we say good-bye to Nina (INDesign4U) as she has decided to pursue a different career in 2017. It was a pleasure working with her over the past year and a half and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours. In spite of her no longer working with us, we will continue to sell a limited supply of her home decor textiles.

We are looking for creative entrepreneurs to join our team. If you are interested, check out this post for more information!

We look forward to seeing you soon and hope you can sparkle and shine in 2017!

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!

Christmas Workshops in November & December

Mark your calendars now!!!! We have some awesome workshops coming up in November and December that you do NOT want to miss! They are all aimed at helping you add a little homemade touch to your gift giving this year. You can register by emailing us at thecreativecafe111@gmail.com or by stopping by the shop to see us!

We are also happy to do private workshops for you and your friends (minimum participants of 3, maximum of 5) if you would like to organise a night out with some of your friends or family (or both)!

Do you love giving beautifully wrapped gifts but need some inspiration on how to do it? Each participant will learn how to make and take home a handful of goodies, including:

1. Stamp one cotton drawstring bag and 3 paper bags. 
2. Make 3 gift tags 
3. See how easy it is to make decorative wooden clips 
4. Tassels and pom poms oh my !!! The perfect topper to any box. 

Lots of other supplies will be available to use including stamps, pattern papers, yarn, ribbons, washi tape, paper doilies ect. 
All supplies will be provide in the workshop, as well as beverages.

This course will be offered on: 

Tues, 7 December: Morning (10:00-12:00) / Afternoon (14:00-16:00) 

Cost: CHF 35 (includes all materials and refreshments) 

Join Sandra to create a unique, handmade Advent calendar for someone special in your life! There will be lots of goodies to choose from, including a wide variety of gold & glitter, sacks, clips, stamps and many more little bits and bobs!

This workshop will be offered on the following dates:

Thur., 17 November (time flexible between 9:30 to 17:00) 
Sat., 26 November (10:00-13:00) 

 Cost: CHF 40 per person (includes all materials & refreshments)

If you like to give handmade Christmas cards or add a special, handmade touch to your gifts, this workshop is for you! Julie will help you create four beautifully stamped cards and a few gift tags to jazz up your gifts.

Space is limited to 5 people at a time, so please register by 19 November if you are interested in attending any of the three workshops!

This workshop will be offered on: 

Mo., 21 November (19:00-21:30)

Tues., 22 November (9:30-12:00 / 13:30-16:00)

Sat., 3 December (9:30-12:00 / 13:30-16:00)

Cost: CHF 40 per person (includes all materials & refreshments)

Hope to get creative and crafty with you soon!

Tis' the season...almost!

Although fall is still lingering, Christmas has arrived at The Creative Café!

Check out our advent and gift wrapping corner

Loads of Christmas stamps, papers and accessories for your creative needs!

Beautiful shawls and wraps handmade in Nepal

We look forward to welcoming you and helping you find the perfect gifts to check off of your Christmas list!

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!

Mother's Day is 8 May...

Come see our selection of unique gifts for Mom - lovely lotions, bags, notebooks, cards and more!

Mother's Day is just around the corner - are you ready? We have some lovely items that any mom would appreciate. Choose from our selection of handprinted textiles, jewelry, bio skincare products, stamping and paper products and other handmade products. We look forward to seeing you soon!

We have a wide selection of specialty paper blocks, tin boxes, tags and other bits & bobs.

Pretty spring pillows, bracelets, word blocks and pin cushions

March news and events at The Creative Café

Hello friends! We hope you are doing well and are actively pursuing your passions in 2016! March is a special month for us because we will celebrate our one year anniversary of opening The Creative Café in Thalwil!! It has been an amazing journey that continues to evolve each day with new products, new collaborations and new ideas. And we have you, our customers and friends, to thank for making this first year so successful! Our dream really has come true and we want to celebrate with you on 12 March, so mark your calendar now! More information below! Who are the ladies behind The Creative Café? Top from left to right: Julie Blume (J Blume Bags, Tags & More), Rachel Izakowicz (Seize the Stamp), Nina Zetterberg (INDesign4U), Bottom: Daniéle Stalder (Jamais Vu), Jo Millar (Art Club Café) In the coming months, we will be profiling our Creative Ladies who run The Creative Café. For now, though, you can check out our "About" page on our blog. We are so thrilled that our little collaboration that started out at only being open two days a week this time last year has grown into a proper little business, with a wonderful selection of unique handmade items, art classes, workshops and a small café for those who just want to sit and enjoy a coffee and chat. We look forward to another exciting year ahead!  What's new in March?

New textiles for home decorating are here. Quilted cotton cushions and throws make lovely accents on your bed, sofa or chair. The texture makes the block printed pattern look really great. As always you can choose amongst a large variety of patterns and colors to create the look you like. Pop by the store and have a look. For more inspiration take a look at our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/INDesign4U

Easter will be here before you can say "Easter Bunny"!!!  Be sure to stop by this month to check out our new spring products, including adorable storage boxes, stamps and paper products, handmade cards, Easter bags for your little ones and much more!

New bio skincare products from Apoteka Havlik will be available at The Creative Café from 8 March! We have tested some of these products and they are amazing! Be sure to stop by on Saturday, 19 March and try them for yourself and meet Petra Peyer, the Swiss representative for Apoteka Havlik. She can tell you more about the products, how they are made and the benefits they have for your skin.

Workshops & Events in March

All events below can also be found on The Creative Cafe Calendar tab on our blog.

Pop Up Sale with DanishDesignKids: Sat., 5 March from 10:00 - 16:00  Looking for cutting edge kids fashion for your little ones at a reasonable price? Charlotte Bruun-Christensen from DanishDesignKids will be at The Creative Café on Saturday, 5 March and will have a selection of her adorable kids clothes for sale. You can find out more about Charlotte and see what she has to offer on her website www.danishdesignkids.com.

Birthday Card Workshop Thursday, 10 March (time is flexible during opening hours)   Do you have a new year's resolution to send handmade birthday cards to your friends and family in 2016? 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 9 March 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.

One Year Celebration! Saturday, 12 March from 10:00 - 18:00 We are so excited that our little shop has been open for one year this month and want to share our excitement with you! Stop by on Saturday, 12 March and share some bubbly with us while checking out some new products. All products purchased on that day will be 20% off!

Pop Up Sale with Petra Peyer, Apoteka Havlik: Saturday, 19 March: 10:00 - 16:00   The surrounding nature is the source of a great power. PhMr. Karel Havlík knew very well that strained and damaged skin would be best helped by Nature itself. In making their cosmetic products, Apoteka Havlik draws on pure natural resources while respecting Nature and trying to learn from it. Be sure to stop by to meet Petra and try out some of these amazing skincare products. You can find out more information about the Apoteka Havlik products on their website here.

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. Inspiratio for March will be drawn from the Swiss artist Paul Klee. You can find out more information on her website here.

EASTER HOLIDAYS: SHOP WILL BE CLOSED FROM 24 - 30 March 2016 The Creative Café will be closed from 24 - 30 March in order to spend time with our families for the holidays. We look forward to welcoming you back on Thursday, 31 March!