Tag Archives: workshop

Makes on Monday: Candlewick Quilt

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I learnt a new skill at the end of last year – candlewick embroidery. Quorn Country Crafts were running a workshop, and it was something I’d not come across before, so I signed up with a friend. At monthly sessions from September to December, we whiled away several hours learning embroidery stitches with a patient tutor in Sue, and dutifully completed our homework. I took my second-ever embroidery panel with me on holiday, and it was the start of many conversations, not least as I was a male doing embroidery. Here’s the final result, finished earlier this month:

Candlewick embroidery quilt made as a sofa throw, featuring raised knotwork panels in neutral tones
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Friday Focus: Come & Craft sessions

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The Studio is open on Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm for ‘come & craft’. The aim is for attendees to work on their own projects alongside other artists and crafters. Over the years, there have been card crafters, gift wrappers, crocheters, art journalers, scrapbookers, jewellery makers, Bible journalers and painters. The joy of the session for me is seeing confidence grow, abilities improve and enjoying the chat and interactions between guests.

This is Laurence – he has been coming to the sessions for a couple of years ago and has been learning to paint planes in acrylics. Some learning has been self-directed and some pointers from me. He has benefitted from using my kit and materials – another bonus of the sessions. Below are his paintings, and I think you will appreciate his improvement across the four pieces of art.

Laurence's progress at Come and Craft sessions – acrylic plane painting
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Makes on Monday: String art cross (workshop)

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With the start of a more frequent posting schedule on this ‘ere blog, I’m kicking off with a workshop project that I led just before Easter. The brief was to have a craft project a group of retired men (70s-90s)would be able to complete in just over an hour. They are used to me bringing projects they are eventually proud to display, but are always nervous they aren’t artists and worried that they won’t get results I reassure them they will. In view of it being Easter, a cross was a suitable starting point and I decided on a bit of string art:

String art cross: gold pins in a clear acrylic cross shape with metallic silver and gold thread wrapped round making a starburst pattern.
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Bible Journaling: Secure in God (BJ-29)

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These five illustrations were used in this week’s Bible Journaling Session on Monday evening at The Studio to reflect on a loose theme of ‘secure in God’. At some point, I will need to find the confidence to do the illustrations myself from scratch, but for now, I still have an image in mind and then search for it online. For this month’s templates, I have also used text-to-image AI to generate some of the graphics – this takes just as much time to tweak the prompt and generate tens of possibilities to get the image I have in mind. Overall design, text and colouring are all done by me.

The templates are available as a free PDF download via my online shop here.

Bible journaling examples (5) on the theme of secure in God.
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Bible Journaling: some Old Testament goodies (BJ-27)

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Well, this evening’s Bible Journaling Session was due to take its inspiration from some Old Testament verses. Unfortunately, not enough people could attend today and the session has been postponed to Monday, 8th April. For those unfamiliar with Bible Journaling, using the provided templates and examples participants trace and colour into their own wide-margin Bibles, reflecting on the verse as they do so. There’s also a lot of space for chat, catching up and not forgetting a cup of tea/coffee/hot chocolate. The sessions are monthly, cost £5, and are suitable for artists and non-artists alike. More details are on my workshops page or by getting in touch with me. This month’s choice of illustrations are pictured below, and the templates are available as a free download from my online shop.

Old Testament verse Bible journaling illustration: Deuteronomy 4:39
Old Testament verse Bible journaling illustration: Exodus 6:7
Old Testament verse Bible journaling illustration: Leviticus 26:12
Old Testament verse Bible journaling illustration: Psalm 18:46
Old Testament verse Bible journaling illustration: 1 Samuel 2:1
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Arts in Worship: Be Still

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I was asked to run a craft table at a recent ‘Be Still’ community event at my church. The aim of the evening was to take the chance for attendees to have some ‘me’ time with massages, facials, mindfulness sessions as well as the craft table. I looked for all sorts of inspiration and didn’t really find any. I then stumbled on some photos of retro signage and decided to go with the theme. I created six different laser-cut wood signs, each with a typical self-affirming phrase often linked to mindfulness sessions. For each, I spent a long time finding a relevant Bible verse or passage to move it from self-centred to God-centred.

Be stil event affirmation signs

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Altered Art: Candy Cane Tree Decoration

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candycane

I’ve designed some hanging decorations for December’s workshop that slide onto a wooden split type peg. There are several designs, but this is one of the newer ones, and certainly the most complex to colour in… Using nothing more than five colours of ProMarker and a pencil, this candy cane tree decoration is ready to copy! There are spaces available, but please book in as soon as possible – I have a lot of cutting out to do…

I’ve also been playing with my Foldio360 bluetooth controlled turntable a little more. It’s recently had some new DSLR settings provided meaning that, finally, it remotely controls my proper camera for top notch pics, which I can then edit and stitch in Photoshop. Now to find a decent 360° viewer plug-in for WordPress so that I don’t have to save as a clunky animated GIF.

candycane

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New Art Journaling Session Announced @The Studio

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FB-ArtJournalI’m starting to plan more sessions and workshops in The Studio, and will be trialling a monthly Art Journaling Session from 7:30pm to 10pm on the first Monday evening of each month. It’s a time set aside for you to work on a visual journal, which might be a record of your day, or your experiments in artwork or sketching, a means to express yourself in a private way, or something to show off and share.

I have a number of Stampington Art Journal magazines and art journal reference books for inspiration, as well as a few of my own journals. As a taster, the first session in August will be free (but please still book so I know you’re coming) so that you can chat more about what art journaling is about and what might happen during the session. After that, each session will be £5 to attend, and will include use of some materials as well as refreshments.

Please book via the Workshops page (tab at the top, or click here). And do email or comment below if you have any queries.

 


Workshop and Giveaway News

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Remember this creation for Craftwork Cards that featured on Create & Craft TV a little while back? So many people asked how I made it that Craftwork Cards have booked me to lead a workshop at their head office near Leeds (UK) on Saturday, 26th April. There are still a few places available… I’ll show you how to use my templates and their fabulous papers to make your own dressform, from the base up to the Candi necklace. As a bonus, we’ll also be doing a couple of card projects to finish off the day. All materials will be included, you’ll just need to bring your basic craft kit.

This workshop is now taking place at my studio in Leicester – click here to book.

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And in unrelated news, this ‘ere blog is coming up to another major milestone – I’m getting near 500 posts. When I post my 500th post, it will be announcing a list of winners – my favourite commenters from now until then, anywhere on the blog. Prizes will be pieces of art, from ATCs to cards, a Distress Technique tag book or may be a piece of quilting – all of them created by me. So all you have to do to be in with a chance of getting a piece of my work is to comment (meaningfully please!). And of course, regular followers of my blog get a head start 🙂

Come & Craft / Stash Buster Clinics

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Facebook-stash-event-bannerI’ve just had a steep learning curve learning how to make Photoshop data merge to create date buttons… all in pursuit of allowing you to book to join my Tuesday evening craft sessions! A full list of dates between now and Christmas are now available to book online over at my workshops page.

And don’t forget I have an Open Studio over the bank holiday weekend, from 10am to 4pm each day. Just drop-in, preview the upcoming workshops, sign up and pay 🙂