Artwork Show and Tell

In my last post I had intended to upload some of the art work that I had on display at the last Graphicus Open Days but Blogger was being bloody minded and turned all my photos on their sides... arghhh. Several people asked about future workshops with these items and I do intend to include similar techniques and projects in next years timetable.

I'm going to have another go and see if the problem has been resolved as I have quite a back log of art work building up.

Several hours later......
Well, the problem still exists but I've discovered that by going back to Blogger's old editor I can avoid the frustration of the turning images but it means I have to work in HTML and put up with the photos loading in an odd order all at the top of the post and broken links when I move the images around but at least I have images!

This is a deep edged canvas which has been collaged, painted, stencilled, painted some more then I've worked Golden's Light Molding Paste through stencils to give it lots of texture and depth.

The molding paste is one of my favorite mediums, it gives wonderful results when painted over with Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paints which just adds to the interest.

Then comes some additional embelishments in the form of a brass escutcheon, a handpainted flower with a metal centre, some feathers and a feather butterfly.

This is an image transfer onto Claudine Hellmuth's Sticky Backed Canvas. It is a brilliant technique and is totally foolproof, unlike many of the other image transfer techniques.

I finished the canvas by adding just a touch of Gold Metal Leaf to the edges, a decorative border of cut dictionary paper around all four sides, some decorative upholstery nails and a hanging wire roughly shaped like a handle to which I tied ribbons.

If you'd like to try working on canvas with some of these techniques, I have a work shop programmed for Thursday 18th November 2010 called 'On the Outside Looking In' and there are still some places available (well, there were when I looked last Friday before I started my week off). This is a fab workshop and we'll be using two canvas's hinged together and featuring a window to create amazing dimension and an interesting focal point.

The other pieces I have to show you today are the waxed collage boards. I watched Suze Weinberg demonstrate this technique at a trade show earlier this year and instantly fell in love with the idea of creating art from next to nothing.

It uses the Melt Pot and wax pellets, together with printed images and rubber stamps to build up and create texture in the wax.

Bedazzles and Stickles are used for accents and the wax is polished with Perfect Pearls which give the most stunning depth of colour and luminosity.

I really love working with hot wax, it is so relaxing and makes a great 'chill-out' therapy when you need some down time. I keep saying that crafting should be available on the National Health system, are you listening Mr Prime Minister? It could save a fortune in medical costs and therapy and you meet such lovely, like minded people who are all too ready to share in your obsession.



Well, the old Blogger Editor has worked, despite taking an inordinate amount of time I've finally got some of the photos up. There's a lot more waiting in the wings and I'll be back soon with the next update.

Until then, take care all and enjoy your crafting!

Workshops at Graphicus

Yes, I've been more than a little quiet on my blog of late. Life is hectic and there never seems to be enough hours in the day to fit everything in (not that I'm complaining, it makes life interesting). One of the things that's been occupying my down time has been planning my Autumn/Winter workshops at Graphicus.

There's a fantastic line up this time but some sessions are already sold out. You can link to my workshops through the 'What's On' category in the side bar on the right. There are also lots of other exciting workshops to choose from which are being taught by fabulous tutors such as Glenda, Judith, Lesley and Annette. Have a look here for the full programme.

We have a great time on workshop days with a fantastic camaraderie amongst our students. Many of them now know each other well from previous sessions and events at Graphicus but that said, they make new students ever so welcome and right at home from the onset. So if you're reading this and would like to come along, take the plunge  now. Not only will you learn a lot in a fun environment but you stand to make some wonderful new friends with like minded interests.

We had our Autumn Open Days at Graphicus last weekend and as usual, we had a thoroughly enjoyable time meeting new customers, catching up with our wonderful regulars, playing with fab products and sharing lots of product information and 'how to' tips (and they call this work)? I will get some photos up of some of the things I made whilst demo'ing but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I just tried photographing the samples and the lighting is dreadful tonight. Hopefully, we'll see the sun tomorrow and I'll be able to capture some reasonable images to show you.

Some of the artwork I had on display around my demo area was from previous workshops taught in the Summer (why does that word 'Summer' seem so dim and distant?) and drew lots of questions and interest. I promised I would put up pictures of the items and teach them again next year, so here they are........ or here they are NOT!!! Blogger is playing silly beggars and loading them all the wrong way round. I noticed when I signed in tonight that they have an outage scheduled for later this evening  to work on the photo upload facility, so with a bit of luck (my fingers, toes and legs are all crossed) they'll get it sorted and I'll try again tomorrow.

On a final note, Diesel has been  for his annual EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) health check earlier this week which he passed with flying colours. German Shepherds are prone to it and Diesel was diagnosed with it about four years ago. Derick, our vet, was absolutely delighted with his progress and seemed amazed that we are managing his conditions so well. Apparently, it is more difficult to keep it stable as they get older and talking of age, he was eight on Sunday..... Happy Birthday Diesel! He did get lots of cuddles on the day and a new ball to drive us insane with.


I'll try to upload those photos tomorrow, so until then..... play nicely and

Happy Crafting!

Spookin' Time

Well, I survived the Paradise Weekend Retreat! It's amazing to think that just over a week ago it was in full swing and what a weekend it was. It was fast and furious and came and went in what now seems like a complete blur. I will be posting some photos on the blog soon but I didn't get nearly as many as I had planned to.

Straight after the event it was back to work and with Halloween just around the corner you can guess what I've been spending my time doing? Yes, I am having so much fun with these new Elusive Images Halloween stamps and they complement last year's 'Twilight Zone' stamp sheet so well that I just pick'n'mix them all up together!

They are incredibly inspirational and I have lots of things already in progress for 'The Night of Spooks', from little gifts for callers at the door through to journal pages holding childhood memories of the costumes my brother and I dressed up in - always homemade of course (there was no such thing as Supermarket Fancy Dress departments in those days) and all the antics we got up to on All Hallows Eve, never too naughty as Mum was always close at hand!

I'm really getting into it this year and have also designed a couple of costumes... just in case we get invited to some Spooktacular Affair but if not, then I'll just have to wear them to work.

This months Tagtastic Technique in the Graphicus Guild newsletter also has a Halloween theme, although I'm not going to show it in its entirety on my blog, but here are a few sneaky peaks of what you can expect.....

....and if you want to see more and find out how to make it, your copy of the September newsletter should be with you very soon. If you're reading this and you are not a member then click here for all the info on how to join.

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I intend my blog to be a happy place featuring mainly my art work with interjections of life as it happens. It is also my diary and a record of memorable events and as such, occasionally those events will be sad ones.

However, there have been a few too many sad events of late and it is with a heavy heart that last Friday, I attended the funeral of my very dear friend Patti who died in the most tragic of circumstances on the 01st of September. It was the happiest and saddest event I have ever witnessed.

Patti and I have been friends for thirty nine years. We met whilst working on the ground at Teesside Airport in offices right next door to each other, then we joined British Midland and went through our cabin crew training course together...creating havoc as some may well remember! We flew together on many an occasion and boy, do I have some hilarious memories of some of those flights!

Later, Patti's husband Paul was a groomsman at our wedding and so the friendship continued. Throughout all the years I knew Patti there was always a four legged furry friend somewhere close to hand, she loved her pets and was a dedicated horsewoman throughout her life, be it with her own horses or those of her children. So it was fitting that when we emerged from the Chapel this is what we saw....

She would have loved this sight.

I have so many truly wonderful memories of Patti and the times we spent together laughing that I am going to work on an art journal containing my memories of her, where it will take me I don't know but I'm sure looking forward to taking this last flight with her.

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I'll be back soon with some more crafty stuff. I'm putting the finishing touches to the Graphicus Autumn/Winter Workshop Programme this week so hopefully, I'll have lots of new workshop dates to share with you all.

Until then, enjoy your crafting.... and laugh often!

It was a Spookylicious Christmas!

Well, you would have had to have been there for the title of this post to make any sense at all and if you were there, then you'll know exactly what I'm referring to.

Friday the 13th - yes Black Friday was the first of our Open Days at Graphicus and the day we chose to launch the most fantastic collection of Elusive Images Halloween stamp sheets. I am totally biased I'm afraid and totally hooked on these stamps and have lots of projects planned for them which I'll share as we get nearer to All Hallows Eve. As soon as I got my sticky mitts on the new stamps I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them....... a Spooklylicious Gothic Arch book for starters!

Front Cover (Copper Leaf on Acetate)

The back cover

I used a very delicate lace border stamp from another EI stamp sheet (Damask Squares) and embossed it with a twinkling black embossing powder to make a wrought iron fence in front of the haunted house.

Mischievous Cats..... love them!

Not all of the stamps I used are new, last years Halloween stamps are in there too together with others from EI.The whole book opens in one long string but I didn't have anywhere I could lay it out and get a photograph of it. I tried putting it on the carpet but Diesel thought it was for him and tried to lay down on it. I think he wanted to squish those cats!

I definitely knew it was Friday the 13th. Just before leaving for work I lost my glasses, couldn't find them anywhere and I need them for driving. I eventually found them hanging off the ironing board where I left them the night before and went to load up the car with all my demo gear. The weather was horrid, lashing rain, dark clouds, blustery wind (very typical of the 31st of October actually). I opened my drivers door to put a crate in the back and the wind took the door back into a concrete capped pillar on the drive resulting in a very nice (arghhhhh) dint.

It was a fun day though with lots of new faces at the event and lots of friendly familiar ones too, despite the atrocious weather!

Saturday was officially the launch of the Christmas stamps and they are so beautiful. There's such a lot you can do with them when you study each element and think outside the box. I'll be posting pics of the Christmas samples I made, but it will have to wait a while as I left them all at work and didn't photograph them... so I'll save them for later.

We had the brilliant Jean Hardy with us on Saturday, she does such fabulous work and I only wish I could have snook away to watch her demos. That's the only problem with demonstrating, you miss out on what everyone else is doing. Fortunately, Glenda was set up right next to me so I kept poking my nose in to see what she was doing. She had some fab demos and her samples were so festive. It made me want to get going on my own Christmas cards there and then. She also had some printed page samples of her free Artylicious downloads which are available on her blog. If you love beautiful papers go take a look... this one is my absolute favorite and I'm going to go snag it for myself. Glenda had printed it onto 12 x 12 pearlescent card and all I can say is WOW!

It was a brilliant two days and lovely to see so many people join us, many of whom had driven for several hours to be there not to mention the train journeys too. I am so looking forward to the next ones.... get your planners out now and make a note - 'be at Graphicus on Friday the 15th and Saturday 16th October, 2010'. We have Joanna Sheen joining us on the Saturday but more about that nearer the time.

The weather may have been gruesome on Friday but it did improve over the weekend and today I was out in the garden doing a bit of tidying (more like pottering) and had to run in to get my camera. The Buddleia bush was alive with Butterflies, most of them were Cabbage White's but there was one which was so rich in colour and it was huge compared to the others. By the time I got the camera and got back outside Diesel had disturbed them all, he was trying to chase the Bumble Bees, but the one I wanted to photograph was still fluttering around and it eventually settled on the guttering. I think it was waiting for Diesel to disappear so it could get back to work but it gave me a great opportunity to get some pictures, just wish I'd had a long lens camera.

Well, that's all from me at the moment. Before I go however, I would like to say a big thank you for all your kind thoughts and lovely comments on my previous two posts about Geoff. I really appreciate your comments on all my posts but these were extra special to Stuart and I. Geoff's funeral was beautiful. He had asked that no one wore black, he didn't want flowers and he wanted it to be a happy event. We did our best but it was hard to be happy. It was a wonderful turn out, so many friends and so many beautiful words. Thank you for yours!

Goodbye Dear Friend

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,  

the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.

Irish Blessing

Geoff quietly passed away yesterday morning at 05.35 am. Stuart has lost his very dear friend and his 'model railway' partner in crime. This gentle, sweet man will be deeply and sadly missed.

Shopping, Birthdays and Books

Life is incredibly busy at the moment, both at home and on the work front.

At home we have friends who need friends at the moment. My husband has two exceptionally good friends who mean everything to him, one he owes his life too, the other is fighting for his life being in the final stage of lung cancer. It's hard to see such a lovely man loosing his battle, it's also hard to believe that only five months ago he was fit and healthy.

And don't they say 'it never rains but it pours'? On Monday we were told that my husbands oldest sister had been diagnosed with breast cancer and Parkinson's Disease and she's in hospital at the moment. We don't know any more at this time as they are now doing more tests so we're keeping fingers and toes crossed that Joyce will have a good outcome.

At work we're really busy with a mountain of things going on and events in the planning and preparation stage. I taught a Bind It All workshop today and have another on Saturday which I'm really looking forward to... it's a canvas journal containing both canvas pages and watercolour paper. We're going to get lovely and painty and very creative - I'll try really hard to get some pictures of every ones creations that I can share with you all.

Glenda's brand new CD ROM 'Essence of Nature' arrived in the building today and they were  promptly re-packed and despatched to everyone who had placed advanced orders. This one's a beauty with gorgeous colours, inspirational designs and some lovely arty elements designed by Lesley. The class today got to work with some papers from the CD and the colour combinations they put together were fantastic.Thank you for a lovely day ladies, the art work you brought for me to see was totally stunning! Thank you for sharing.

Since my last post I have acquired a few new things as a result of a visit to York and  another trip out to the Metro Centre. I'm sure those of you who have visited Graphicus on our Open Days will have realised that I have quite a penchant for wire mannequins. Well, my collection has grown by four..... I have two that are designed to hang from the top of a door, a free standing one and a little beauty that Jill found for me to alter.

Here's one of the door hanging variety, I bought two (different designs) because one will be perfect for displaying some of my larger, articulated tag art and the other one will hang inside my studio for me to hang up my pinny's.

This one has a centre hook at the waist and several more hooks around the hem line. It looks a bit grey in this photo but it's ivory really.

I'm really pleased with this one.... it was another TK Maxx find..... love that shop! I also got a fab cream wire book stand that is perfect for displaying art canvases.

Another brill find that I must share with you is this....

I found this at my local Pound Store and yes.... it was £1.00. Brilliant for degunking my scissors and that little scraper is now in my tool kit as it is ideal for spreading texture paste and other such mediums.

My visit to the Metro Centre yielded this.... an amazing 'glittered' lap top skin. I actually bought two, the other is black and silver and features roses, a skull combined with a butterfly and sumptuous scroll work. So ME! I couldn't decide which one to put on first. It's getting a bit much when my lap top has a fashion wardrobe better than mine.

It was my Sister In Law Susan's 60th birthday a couple of weeks ago and she loves butterflies, so guess what her card featured?

These butterflies have been stamped onto acetate with StazOn and gilded with Abalone Metal Leaf.

I used a Tim Holtz Sizzix Die for the mount which is covered with Artylicious paper then stamped and embossed the beautiful corners with a glittering white embossing powder (all stamps by Elusive Images). I also made a matching box to house the card and she loved it (thank goodness).

And finally for this evening, I'll leave you with a little taster of a Piano Hinge Skewer Book that I taught on a recent workshop at Graphicus.

It's now getting seriously late and I'm always ready for some sleep after teaching for the day so I'll show you some more pictures of this and another one I've made, next time. For now......

Have fun, Happy Crafting .......create Beauty!