Sunday 5 October 2014

Mixed-media journal and catch up

I bet you thought I had disappeared never to return again? 
I've got this crafty thing running through my veins, I'll never leave! 
I live in Teesside but I've been working down in Cambridge lately, and it looks set to stay that way until Christmas at least. I come home on the weekend though so I can stroke my crafty stash at least once a week. :)

I've done a few crafty classes over the past year which I'd like to share on the blog at some point.
But here is a project that was a class I taught in Cambridge at It's Crafting Time

If you live near Cambridge you gotta get yourself down to Nina's shop because its amazing, I wandered round for hours just filling up my basket. I like a good mooch. There is so much great stock there, all of Tim's range, lots of mixed-media paints, mediums and canvases, card making products and scrapbooking papers galore! I can't wait to go again, I need to take photo's! Nina has amazing bargain bins too, I was rooting for ages and came home with tons!

You can find Its Crafting Time here at:-
Unit 8, Dunsbridge Buisess Park, Royston Road (A10), Shepreth SG8 6RA
However the post code on the sat nav takes you to the garage on the opposite side of the road! 
Drive into the business park, through some big open gates and Nina's shop is on your right as you go in. You won't be disappointed. :)

Here is the class project I taught, a mixed-media 7 gypsies journal.



It started life as a black cardboard folder.


But then I covered it in torn up bits of paper and book pages


I painted over it with gesso and paint then did some stamping, stencilling and some transfer rub-ons too. I distressed the edges with vintage photo. I used my own family photo on the front and added some die cuts from my favourite Tim's honeycomb die too. 


I glued a button on with hot glue for an anchor for the ribbon to tie round.


I made an insert for the inside to attach all my ephemera and photo's to.



Then I started to fill my pages up. This was the best part playing with Tim's ephemera packs and adding scrapbook page elements. Loved just playing and adding things. I want to make another one!




I used acetate here with Stazon ink








The ladies at the class were so lovely, and creative I love seeing what other people make. 
Thank you Nina for being so wonderful, well organised and the perfect host and thank you for putting me up for 2 days, you are a wonderful person, and a fab cook! Love the lasagne!
Hopefully I might be able to squeeze another class in at Cambridge if I'm not too shattered.

Take care everyone, be back soon
Michelle xxxxx 


Wednesday 23 July 2014

Last few classes

I really do need more hours in the day!
Do you?

After thinking long and hard I have decided to stop teaching after my last class on the 6th of September 2014. (UPDATE ** I'm back teaching in 2015:))
Work is pretty demanding at 50 hours per week, and I'm finding it harder and harder to get into the craft room, when all I want to do is get into bed!

I haven't made anything that was not for a class in ages. 
So I'm hoping this move will give me the freedom to make more for me and the blog :)
So watch out for the return of some walkthroughs and some general ramblings. x

My next classes are:-

On Sat 26th & Sun 27th July (this weekend!) at Wynyard in Teesside
Two mixed media projects
Some sneaky peeks below







There are a couple of spaces left due to cancellations so if you'd like to join in, then please come along, I'd love to see you there. 
Contact me on shelleygeo@googlemail.com or Sue Tucker at sue.tucker1@btopenworld.com and we'll get you on one or both the days.

Also check out the Art Workshops Facebook page for other classes being held at Wynyard, in Teesside

******************

Altered Book workshop

On Saturday 2nd August is my Altered Book workshop at Art from the Heart in Harrogate

Turn those old Reader’s Digest books into something more interesting to look at! Alter them with lovely layers of paints, inks, fabric, ephemera and findings. This may look like a book on the shelf but when you open it, there is a hit of colour and lots of creative interest to look at. You’ll learn how to glue all your pages together and cut out the inside, adding paint and mediums to change the look of the book pages. Then adding some crafty bits n bobs to hide in the cut outs. A wonderful keepsake to hide on your bookshelf.



****************

Colour Theory Workshop


On Saturday 23rd August 

Colour Theory Workshop at Art from the Heart in Harrogate

You’ll learn all aspects of colour theory which can be applied to all you’re crafting from card making to painting mixed-media and journal pages. We’ll make a colour chart and learn all about their hues and shades, make our own colour wheel, and understand what analogous and complimentary colours are. We’ll then put all this knowledge into practice and make some creative samples too, for you to keep and refer back to. You’ll never be stuck again wondering which colour to use, or how to make a colour you don’t have.  



****************

Mixed Media portfolio


On the 6th of September at It's Crafting Time in Cambridge
No pics yet, will do soon. :)

***************

Really looking forward to meeting you if you're coming along
Michelle xxxx

Sunday 1 June 2014

Pretty PaperArtsy Canvas and Crafty Goings On.

It's been far too long since my last blog post, so I have lots to catch up on.
Now might be a good time to grab a cuppa :)

Yesterday I was teaching at the Craft Box in Barnsley, it's in the Heritage centre at Elsecar, its lovely there and the shop is a joy to walk around, full of amazing crafty stash and fabric. I'm gonna buy me a jelly roll next time I'm down there.

I was teaching this lovely canvas using the new JOFY stamps from PaperAtsy, and the new limited edition paints and stencils.


There's lots of lovely layers of interest from the background papers, stencilling, texture paste, stamping and treasure gold


Here are some of the lovely ladies in the class, everyone finished their canvases and they were all stunning too :)





I had a fabulous time and I can't wait to go back and taste Vicky's gorgeous cakes, and see Julie's mad as a hatter personality again :) xx
Thank you ladies it was a lovely day.

***********************

The She Art Class went super well at Art from the Heart in mid-May. And Sandra came up from Hull to join in too. Me and Sandra started this crafty journey together way back in March 2012 when we first visited Art from the Heart and had a life changing experience. So much has happened since then, and boy have we changed our crafty tastes. No more peel-offs!

        

 I love a messy studio!


Here is everyone's canvases, don't they look amazing?!
I love she art canvases, they just make me feel happy :)





*********************

Look what Ellen Vargo has sent me!!! Can't wait to use them on my canvas backgrounds, they are going to be well used thats for sure. They'll be perfect for making texture layers. You can get them from PaperAtsy here. :)


**********************

On another note I'm busy not only working full time as a geologist but also trying to make lots of paintings for a new Mexican restaurant opening in Stockton on the 7th July. 
So far I've only been able to get this far with a Mexican tree of life! It stands 3 foot high and 2 feet wide.
I've painted the flowers in gesso first before I'm painting the colour on, so the colour stands out better.
I've been mostly using Dina Wakley's new paints on this too. They are wonderful and bright!
Hopefully I'll finish it this week. I want to do an ornate day of the dead Mexican skull next. Maybe a Frida Kahlo one.


Here's one I made earlier for the restaurant a while back.
Its based on Huichol Yarn Folk Paintings They are so colourful, I love them.


Well no rest for the wicked. I'm off to Welsh Wales tomorrow to Llandudno for a little jolly with Helen..
Hope the weather stays sunny for us :)

Have a great week
Michelle xxxxx

Friday 9 May 2014

Latest Classes, Sneaky Peeks and new Paints

Went to visit my Grandmother in Burnley yesterday which means I have to drive through Harrogate to get to Skipton. Which means I had to drive past Art from the Heart! Sacrilegious I hear you cry! So I popped in on the way home instead, Ha Ha! It would've been rude not to really. :) I had to go stroke some of the new Dina Paints anyway! Of course they just jumped into my basket, those lively little buggers. I bought 5 to play with.



I'll be back into Art from the Heart on Thursday next week on the 15th of May as I'm teaching my She Art canvases class (pics below). Lots of gorgeous layers in the background I love it. I'll be providing templates of 6 girls all hand drawn by me with interchangeable heads!




I've discovered a new product that I love too, I don't know why I've only come across them now, but I LOVE them! It's the Faber Castell Big Brush Pitt Pens. Now I thought these were just big felt tip pens last year and I didn't really give them a chance. But after playing with them this week, they are much more than that, and a mixed-media artist's best friend. You can move the ink around with your finger and get amazing results. So we're going to be using these too to have a play with them on Thursday, so if you want to come and join in there are a few places left HERE

****************

It's sneaky peaky time. 
Below is a sneaky peak of a canvas I'm teaching at Barnsley on the 31st of May at The Craft Box, playing with all the latest PaperArtsy paints and JOFY stamps. Looking forward to finally meeting Lynn who runs the shop too :)


**************

Here's another very close sneaky peak of the canvas I'm teaching on the first day of my Mixed-Media weekend at Wynyard Teesside on the 26th and 27th of July. This one makes me very happy. It's a place I always like to be at! Any guesses where it is?

You can book your place on the Art Workshops page on Facebook (just send them a message), or email Sue Tucker on  sue.tucker1@btopenworld.com to secure your spot.



I'll have another sneaky peak for the Sunday's project when I've finished it :) xx

I have lots to be getting on with these next few weeks as its Preview Day at Art from the Heart on the 14th of June and I need to get the new class projects finished (time is running out and I'm back at work on Monday! eeek!) then prep the preview day taster class too. It's a corker!

Oh and fill a restaurant full of paintings too.
I like to be busy! Or crazy maybe 
Have a great week
Michelle xxxxxx



Saturday 26 April 2014

Give your heart the wings to fly class

Today I've been teaching my angel wings canvas at Art from the Heart. What a great day, loved seeing everyone again. I just love being there it makes me feel instantly happy and creative.
If you've not been before then give it a go, everyone is welcome :)

Here's Gemma and Donna in the naughty corner again.
Little Ella is just brilliant, she has no fear and just gets stuck in.


Ruth, Marilyn, Pam, Dawn


Lovely messy workdesk!


We ran out of time today and didn't quite finish the wings. 
I said I would put up pictures on how to finish it.

After you've stuck on your feathers start putting on the top shorter feathers.


Here's a closer look. I've painted some dark brown on the feathers under the next row to add some shading. I also painted some gesso and gold paint on top of the fabric.  


Paint your heart and stick it to the canvas with gel medium, or glossy accents or even Pinflair.


Cut out your words and distress the edge with Evergreen Bough distress ink.
I've used a crackle stamp with some gold pigment ink to crackle the words too.


Hope you can finish your canvases xxx

See you soon
Michelle xxxx
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...