It’s been a bit quiet…

… on my blog for the past couple of weeks. That’s because I’ve been busy behind the scenes perfecting the art of casting and carving porcelain ready for final project pieces for college, applying and not getting a part time job, digging and planting the allotment, settling into the new studio, researching and buying fire safety equipment, public liability insurance and registering as self-employed from the beginning of next month!

College finishes with an exhibition at the end of the month, after which I’ll be able to post some pictures of my final project pieces, and from then on I’m freelancing. The timetable for the summer includes workshop planning, sample making and a couple of studio open days for groups I’m involved in.

In the meantime, I’ve posted the ‘small print’ for the workshops so that I am compliant with all the various guidelines for internet selling as well as being as helpful as I can be! They’re here if you’d like a read. If there are any workshops based on products or projects you’ve seen on my blog (or anywhere else for that matter!) then do let me know šŸ™‚

 

Another blog milestone reached!

In just over two years, I’ve had 200,000 views of my ickle bit of the blogosphere! Thank you all!

As promised, my next giveaway will be at 250,000 views, so keep checking in – hopefully I’ll have time to make what I have planned to giveaway before then… Also keep your eyes peeled for a new diary list of workshops in my new studio. It’ll be starting with a ‘Bottle Cap Memories’ session, so start looking out those precious moments.

 

‘Lilac Time’ Quilt

What do you get the man who has most things for his Christmas and birthday presents? Turns out that two quilting workshops are a very good idea! The first I went to was over six weeks in Jan-Feb 2012 at Quorn Country Crafts, where the lovely Margaret supervised the ladies and I in making a ‘Lilac Time’ quilt. The fabrics were chosen to fit into the spare room – which now needs redecorating… It’s amazing how much the costs mount – including all materials, wadding and backing as well as the workshop costs, this double bed sized quilt cost Ā£200 before my time was taken into consideration! Don’t ever underestimate the cost of a hand crafted quilt! This one isn’t for sale though… The petal quiltingĀ in the feature fabric is to my own design and the rest is stitch-in-ditch quilted.

Perfect Pearls – demo board

Hi all – I’ve been feverishly working away the last two days getting ready for my next demo/workshop day at Kim’s Crafts (Hinckley Branch) on 10th September. In the morning, I’ll be demo’ing all things Perfect Pearls (from Ranger) and this is the demo board I’ve just finished.

I’ve just found it’s next to impossible to photograph pearlescent finishes! But the board shows the basics of applying perfect pearls to medium, then painting on a pearl finish to spritzing with distress inks, stamping over distress stains and inks, and bottom left, applying to UTEE and watching it ooze.

Art Journaling Workshop

I’ve just spent a fab day being taught all things art journal by Anneliese Bates, certified Ranger educator, designer and mixed media artist, and real nice with it šŸ˜‰ The session covered backgrounds, layering, decoupage, doodling, writing, and what to write. Copious ideas and inspiration with all the materials required. I would recommend any future workshops – great inspiration and value for money. As to my work today – well pics of that may arise as the pages get ‘finished’.

More information on Anneliese’s workshops at her new website www.creativejourneyworkshops.co.uk