Welcome to the Craft Arena website!

The now larger Craft Arena sells needlecraft, knitting, crochet, mixed media and craft supplies, Brother sewing machines, haberdashery, beads, craft books, gifts and textile art. We hold regular workshops in a variety of crafts and showcase the work of local artists in frequently changing exhibitions at Alchemy, our dedicated Textile Art Gallery. Find us upstairs in the Barleylands Craft Village, Billericay, Essex., Studios 49 - 51

At Craft Arena we either use or personally recommend everything we sell. If you have a specific requirement please contact us and we will do our best to help. We stock a wide range of Brother Sewing and Embroidery machines and offer a full personal demonstration before you buy so that you get the right machine for your needs. We also give FREE training on most machines so that you can make the most of your new purchase.

Our regular newsletter contains special offers, details of upcoming workshops and everything Craft Arena. If you'd like to subscribe, simply click on the icon below. Newsletters are usually sent out weekly and we don't pass your email details onto anyone else.

I look forward to seeing you in the studio soon.

Workshops - coming soon

Basketweave Crochet with Sue

Friday, 25 August 2017 - 10:30am to 12:30pm

In the fourth of our crochet classes, Sue will show you how to crochet a square for your cushion using basketweave stitch. Future monthly classes will teach you more techniques that you can add to your repertoire. Materials included. You do not need to have attended previous classes in this series but do need to know crochet basics to participate in this class.

Price: 
£35.00

Machine Embroidery Skill Sharing

Sunday, 3 September 2017 - 10:30am to 1:00pm

A series of informal monthly sessions to help you get the most from your embroidery machine. A different machine embroidery technique will be covered each month. In this session we will be taking applique further.

Price: 
£10.00

Powertex & Mixed Media Vessels with Denise Friday

Friday, 8 September 2017 - 10:30am to 4:00pm

This workshop will allow you to create beautiful mixed media vessels in a variety of colours and take your skills with this versatile medium forward. You will use fabric, inclusions, paint and Powertex to make at least two vessels. All materials are included in this workshop, but please feel free to bring your own embellishments to add to your work. This workshop is suitable for those who have played with Powertex before.

Price: 
£65.00

Powertex & Mixed Media Vessels with Denise Saturday

Saturday, 9 September 2017 - 10:30am to 4:00pm

This workshop will allow you to create beautiful mixed media vessels in a variety of colours and take your skills with this versatile medium forward. You will use fabric, inclusions, paint and Powertex to make at least two vessels. All materials are included in this workshop, but please feel free to bring your own embellishments to add to your work. This workshop is suitable for those who have played with Powertex before.

Price: 
£65.00

Mixed Media with Denise

Monday, 11 September 2017 - 10:30am to 12:30pm

This is a free workshop which will be filmed for a promotional video to publicise Craft Arena. Due to the nature of filming, the workshop may be a little erratic and timings will need to be flexible but it will definitely be fun! We will use various mixed media to begin to create a panel which may or may not be finished on the day but you will go away with enough product to finish at home if necessary.


This workshop is now full
Price: 
£0.01

Intermediate Kantha with Mali

Friday, 22 September 2017 - 10:30am to 4:00pm

Take your skills with Kantha Embroidery forward in this workshop with Mali. You will be working on pre-printed cloth to make a wall hanging and will learn all the skills to complete your work at home. All materials are included but you may like to bring your own sewing kit (scissors, needles etc). This workshop is suitable for those who have tried Kantha before and those who have some experience with hand embroidery. The picture is a representation of the design you will be working with.

Price: 
£60.00