inspiring ideas
Supporting Irish Creativity
www.inspiringideas.com
20 Years of Inspiring Ideas
2015 A N N I VERSA RY
1995 - 2015
Two decades later and still here despite bank bail-outs and economic turmoil! Inspiring Ideas, a 100% Irish owned company opened its doors in 1995 in Abbey Street as a niche store offering unique craft and gift products with a personalised service. New crafts were brought to Ireland by Inspiring Ideas and introduced to an ever growing list of loyal customers aided by demonstrations and workshops. In 1999 we opened our superstore in Blanchardstown which gave us the space to introduce more craft products and showcase an even greater collection of gifts. The introduction of the Craft CafĂŠ enabled us to provide the finishing touch to the perfect shopping experience. The cafĂŠ has become a great meeting point for friends and crafters and twenty years on it is wonderful to see so many of the same faces. Our Like Minds craft group continues to meet once a month sharing ideas and skills and all are welcome. As the digital revolution hit we started a blog and developed our online presence on various other social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest which enabled us to announce upcoming events, highlight emerging craft trends and share projects and tutorials to an even wider audience . We also launched an online store www.inspiringideas.com and we sell a wide selection of our products there. Despite the extraordinary changes in our world today Inspiring Ideas has stayed true to its original ethos of providing a quality, professional service for shoppers and crafters in need of anything for a craft project or occasion. Our expert staff, many of whom are craft enthusiasts themselves, happily provide advice to our valued customers from near and far. We thank you all for your custom over the last two decades and look forward to welcoming you in the future. Alma Doyle
In this issue: - 20th Anniversary Events - Customer Reward Vouchers - Customer Memories - Inspiring Ideas History
20th Anniversary Vouchers: Our reward to you. To celebrate our 20th Anniversary we are showing our thanks to you, our customer, by offering you three incredible vouchers that you can redeem instore for the duration of our celebrations. 20 years pass by quickly and this opportunity to reward our customers is at the heart of our celebrations.
2015 A NNIVERSARY
1995 - 2015
Anniversary Voucher
Spend
Anniversary Voucher
€20
Spend
And receive a
And receive a
FREE
€20
meal voucher
FREE Newgrange Living Candleholder
for 2 in the Craft Café.
€14.99R.R.P
Valid 13th - 28th June
Valid 13th - 28th June
*One per transaction *Must be used in one sitting
€20
*One per transaction *While Stocks Last
Anniversary Voucher
Spend
€20
And receive a
FREE
Reeves Water Colour Painting Set €19.99R.R.P Valid 13th - 28th June *One per transaction *While Stocks Last
20th Anniversary Memories: Nicola Hurley
Kay Malone I work in Dublin City Centre and heard that a new craft shop was opening in Abbey Street. I remember the morning of the opening, I was so excited for my lunch break so I could pop down and see what it was like. I’ve been going ever since!
As I did crafts throughout my life I was always looking for new ideas The craft classes that were held in Abbey Street bring back fond and then I came across the memories, it was a great social gathering for crafters. Paul provided great food for us all too and some of the people I met during that time shop on Abbey St. There weren't many craft shops in are still my craft friends today. Dublin that had a variety of different crafts and as I was Tea Bag Folding and Polystyrene Shapes were pretty big back then. I doing craft fairs at the time also did a lot of 3D card making but you had to cut out the shapes yourself, nothing was die cut like it is now. I’ve always had an interest in Inspiring Ideas was a great crafts so since the area has expanded so much, I am now involved in a place to get ideas. The staff were very friendly lot of different crafts but my favourite things to do would be card and willing to help in any way making, patchwork, jewellery, knitting and crochet they could. It was mainly card crafting I did but I have My craft room is now overflowing with so many different die cutting enjoyed doing a lot of the machines, dies for card making and beautiful craft materials that courses in Inspiring Ideas over weren’t available to us here in Ireland twenty years ago. Books and magazines were full of helpful tutorials and resources but now you’re the years. I think crafting has never stuck for ideas as the likes of YouTube and Pinterest exist and so changed a lot over the years, die cut machines seem to be many crafters share what they’ve made online. One thing that hasn’t changed is the friendly staff and the warm welcome you get when you a big thing. walk through the doors of Inspiring Ideas. There is a wider range of different crafts available now and new ideas are arriving into Maria Bohan the store regularly. I discovered the shop in Abbey Street first and took a class in Ribbon Embroidery, it was something new Opening Hours: that I had never tried before but I have kept it up over Monday 09-1800 the years. I have so many memories, mainly of the Blanchardstown shop: lunch with my mother every Thursday, the classes with my daughter in Watercolour painting and Fimo, new product launches and demos and knowing that I will always get a friendly welcome
Tuesday
Like everything else each individual craft goes in and out of fashion. When the recession hit people turned to handmade, alterations and upcycling and anything handmade became the new must have. There’s now lots of new gadgets to make our lives easier too. I knit, crocheted and cross stitched before I discovered Inspiring Ideas but now it’s more like what don't I do!! - I still knit, crochet and cross stitch with patchwork, sewing, jewellery making, card making, embroidery and a bit of Fimo thrown in.
09-1800
Wednesday 09-2100 Thursday
09-2100
Friday
09-2100
Saturday
09-1800
Sunday
11-1800
Craft Cafe Opening Hours: Mon -Sat: 0900 - 17.30 Sun: 1100 - 17.30 Inspiring Ideas. Unit 417 Blanchardstown Shopping Centre Dublin 15 Tel: (01) 8219277
20th Anniversary Events: Instore Events: Saturday June 13th - FREE EVENT Polymer Clay 11.00am - 4.00pm Free Fimo Polymer Clay Demonstration with Special Guest, world renowned Bonnie Mc Gough. Sunday June 14th - Junior Ideas Beanie Lizard Key Ring 11.30am - 4.30pm Junior Ideas Children’s Workshop €5 per Child Sessions last 25 mins approx. 5+ years.
Instore Events: Saturday June 20th - FREE EVENT Skincare Demonstration 11.00am - 4.00pm Meet the Skincare Experts from Green Angel and experience an amazing hand massage. Sunday June 21st - Junior Ideas Magical Fairy Wands 11.30am - 1.30pm Suitable for boys and girls. Junior Ideas Children’s Workshop €5 per Child Sessions last 25 mins approx. 5+ years.
2015 AN N I VERSARY
1995 - 2015 Instore Events: Saturday June 27th - FREE EVENT Creative Paper Crafting 11.00am - 4.00pm Free Card Making Demonstration with Special Guest Ruth Hamilton. Sunday June 28th - Junior Ideas Get Creative With Foam Clay 11.30am - 4.30pm Junior Ideas Children’s Workshop €5 per Child sessions last 25mins approx. 5+ years. TM
2.00pm - 4.00pm Dance + Play with Fairy Clodagh from the Irish Fairy Door Company! Sent especially by the Fairy Council just for you.
Weddings & Celebrations Week:
Home Décor Week:
Let us show you what you can create to make your If you want to add a little flourish and flair to your home make sure to call in this week to see what occasion unique and extra special. you can do. Monday June 22nd - FREE EVENT Monday June 15th - FREE EVENT Call in and see what amazing cards you can create at home - See what unusual projects you can create with Mod Podge. saving time and money while creating a unique invitation! Tuesday June 23rd - FREE EVENT Everything you ever need to know about stencilling. Tuesday June 16th - FREE EVENT What accessories do you need? see our full range of favours, Wednesday June 24th - FREE EVENT albums, guest books and more. Repaint anything in your home with Home Décor Chalk Paint by Plaid. Wednesday June 17th - FREE EVENT Everything you ever wanted to know about Sweet Trees! Thursday June 25th - FREE EVENT Have a go at the Decoupage technique so you can revive Thursday June 18th - FREE EVENT any item in your home. Make your occasion extra special by adding a personalised touch to candles, tables etc. Friday June 26th - FREE EVENT Questions & Answers Day... Come along and ask us anything Friday June 19th - FREE EVENT Questions & Answers Day... Come along and ask us anything about decorating walls, boxes and cupboards etc. about creating a unique and special day and we’ll do our best to help you. TM
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