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.

Watch our latest video!

Workshops - coming soon

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.

Price: 
£60.00

Goldwork Spirals with Wendy

Saturday, 23 September 2017 - 10:30am to 4:00pm

On this workshop you will be stitching one of Wendy’s unique goldwork designs. Materials are included in the price of this workshop. This class is suitable for those who have basic hand embroidery experience and those wishing to extend their skills. Alternatively, you may wish to bring your own project for Wendy's help and advice.

Materials included.

Price: 
£60.00

Machine Embroidery Skill Sharing

Sunday, 1 October 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 sharing techniques for Free Standing Lace with a Christmas theme.

Price: 
£10.00

Working with Dissolvable Fabric

Wednesday, 4 October 2017 - 10:30am to 12:30pm

We will experiment with various makes of dissolvable fabrics to create textured backgrounds for further work and lace-like constructions to embellish and delight! Some experience of free machining is preferred but not essential. You may bring your own sewing machine (you must have an embroidery/quilting foot for your machine and be able to lower your feed dogs) or let us know if you would like to borrow one of ours. You will leave with several stitched samples plus examples of various soluble fabric to take home with you.

Price: 
£50.00

Powertex for Beginners with Denise, Friday

Friday, 6 October 2017 - 10:30am to 4:30pm

If you have not used this unique medium before, you are in for a treat! This workshop will allow you to create beautiful fabric works of art in a variety of colours and take your skills forward. You will use fabric, inclusions, paint and Powertex to make a textured panel. 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 beginners.

Although Denise is not an accredited Powertex trainer, she enjoys using and exploring the possibilities of this versatile medium, incorporating different media to expand and extend its potential

Price: 
£65.00

Powertex for Beginners with Denise, Saturday

Saturday, 7 October 2017 - 10:30am to 4:30pm

If you have not used this unique medium before, you are in for a treat! This workshop will allow you to create beautiful fabric works of art in a variety of colours and take your skills forward. You will use fabric, inclusions, paint and Powertex to make a textured panel. 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 beginners.

Although Denise is not an accredited Powertex trainer, she enjoys using and exploring the possibilities of this versatile medium, incorporating different media to expand and extend its potential

Price: 
£65.00