Update, and more shoes..!!

Ok, so we start with Saturday's workshop. The A - Z of me. I always knew this was going to be a hard class, as there was sooooo much technique in there. We had masking, inking, faux bleach, over stamping, paint effects, and that was only one side of each page..!!! Unfortunately I couldn't make it any less than 26 letters so it was a case of on your marks , get set, GO GO GO. I think I frightened the students because I didn't hear a peep out of them till at least lunchtime. They just got their heads down and i had to keep reminding them to breathe, lol.

L - R Ann, Pat, Anne Marie

Julie, Liz, Dawn and Sharon

Clair, Gemma, Amanda and Laura

Need to share with you this gorgeous artwork that Liz brought along to show me. She has been doing creative machine embroidery, but she also dyed the fabric herself as well. I was in awe, it is so beautiful.

Escorted Emmi into town to buy some new replacement shoes and somehow ended up with another pair for myself. I,m never quite sure how I do it really . pmsl...!! But you will be amazed to find out that they are not black. Oh yes. They are tan. Shocked aren't you .?? But they are high and they are strappy , so I haven't gone too much away from my comfort zone, lol.

Had overnight guests at mine last night. It was the annual rugby ball and so Ben and his lovely girlfriend Katie ( who by the way waltzed her way into that university place, You go girl xx) got ready here. Don't they look fabulous..??

I was also out tripping the light fantastic. Mind you this is probably the only photo I am able to show you, lol. Me and my mate Cas.

woke up with a hangover this morning, but 2 Red Bulls, 2 Ibuprofen, 3 97% Harrogate pork sausages, ^ Northern soul songs, and 3 cups of tea and I was raring to go. Finally started and finished the magazine article on Claudine Hellmuth's paints. I am such a night mare, everything is always right up to deadline..!!! Here's some sneaks.

I absolutely loved doing this article and it fired me up so much I spent the rest of the day playing at making art. What better than a clean , empty house, music blasting and paintbrush in hand..?? Narr, I cant think of anything either.

Enjoy..!!

Aaaarrrggghhh!!!

Ben's gonna kill me but I,ve run out of time again..!!!! I promise I will blog faithfully tomorrow. I have loads to tell so it will be bumper.

But before I go I need to do shoe watch.

These are Emmis best shoes.

Or rather , they were, lmao..

That was before her boyfriends, flatmates, ex-girlfriends (yes, its complicated)dog decided to eat them. Emmi says shes going to start a new trend in open toes...!!

Enjoy..!!

Just a quickie

Yet another busy day today. At last a smaller class. Just lately they have all been massive and although that always means great fun, it is always really hectic for me. So I was really looking forward to the calmer atmosphere. Well I,ve never had such a quiet class. They were concentrating so much that I had to remind them to breathe, lol. They still were capable of making a mess though !!. Just look at the tables...

From L-R Hazel, Jen, Jill and Angela.

L-R Jill, Julie and Dawn.

Then onto the kids classes. I just had to show you this pic of Claudia with her fabulous woman collage. Very Beryl Reid , don't you think..??

And Sophie has finally finished her paper mache course work. Its going on display in the main hall. And so it rightly deserves.

Finished early tonight so I am treating myself with my new collage books. Could be here a while...

Enjoy xx

Journalling with Fire!!

Well, really busy day today. First we had the beginners Art Journal course. Full class as you can see and today we were doing a technique class to decorate the covers.

From L-R, Ann, Janet, Pandora, Irene, Chris and Liz.

And L-R, Jane, Dawn, Annette, Janet and Pat.

I taught them 4 techniques, Crackle , altered book page, embossed pearl painting and clear tiling. These were all then attached to the front cover of their journals. Everyone started out with the same but every ones ended up totally different. Amazing how that always happens, isn't it?

Ann had made a page at home and brought it to show me. Imagine my surprise when I found it was all about me. Awww, I was really touched. Not so touched when I clicked on her blog to find a rather unflattering photo of me .Go HERE to take a look lol.

Need to tell you as well that one of my regular journal ladies has had her first article published in The Craft Stamper magazine. Unfortunately I,me sold out of copies but go and grab one as soon as you can. Kate is a very talented artist and I often point you all over to her blog, . Congratulations Kate sweetie, you did a fantastic job. xx

The lovely Pat brought me some of fave white lilies. Emmis comment "You are just soooooo spoilt" and its true. My ladies are the best in the world.

Bit of excitement during the kids teatime class. We had a fire alarm and had to hang around in the cold wet car park. But every cloud has a silver lining. We got 6 hunky fireman to ogle at. I even had to escort one of the up to my studio to check it out. The things you have to do in the line of duty eh...!! lmao

Then it was on to the regular Tuesday night ladies were we are all making garden canvases. You may remember that they have just finished silk painting. Jane has had hers framed and brought it along for me to see. Looks fab doesn't it??

Well that's it I,m absolutely knacked, and its same again tomorrow, 3 workshops in a row. ..Happy days...

Enjoy xx

Catch up

Just got back this morning from a fabby weekend away. I know I am late with the blogging of Friday and Saturdays classes but we had no internet and I was otherwise engaged!! LOL!!! Anyway, better late than never!! Friday's workshop was using the new alcohol inks. Ranger have released 12 new lght colours and 12 new bright colours to co-ordinate with 12 of the existing earthtones. We were having a panic because although I had plenty of the new colours ro use in the workshop we still hadnt recieved our delivery. Then yayy!!! it appeared at lunch. You have never seen people move so fast. Before we knew it half the stock had gone. If you want to get yours hot foot it over HERE now.

The first project was this stunning wall hanging. I was very privileged to be able to teach this, as it is the class that Tim taught at CHA. Cool isnt it. It shows off how to use the coordinating colours of the alcohol inks.

It was a hectic class but I was my usual proffesional self, lmao.

Heres some of the class hard at it. From L to R Sara, Janet, Pat and Ann

And Janet, Joyce, Clare and Jenny.

Heres the cards we made.

And some close ups

Saturday was Tags the Tim Holtz way. Two of my faves were on the workshop. Heres there feet. Think I need this pair!!!


Too strappy for me would catch my bunions, lol. Love the colour

Yes its the lovely mum and daughter, Jean and Suzy.

They never fail to turn up bearing gifts, and although it is not expected it is always so thoughtful. These tulips are gorgeous.

And they also brought me a fabby pink make up bag, full of Clarins and Lancome samples. Woop woop. I was really good and gave loads to my girlies, because on the wages I pay they can only dream of such things lol.

Heres some close ups of todays tags

Heres some of the finished samples

and more.

This is the state of just my desk at the end of the day

So you can imagine what the rest of the studio looked like cant you??? It took me and Em's ages to clear up, lol.

I,ve got beginners journals tomorrow, we are doing the technique covers. And on Wednesday we have the black and white tab book. It is a wooden book using the Black Market Paper Society papers and is decorated with Blonde Moments and Tims collages. We still have just a couple of places left I think. You can book HERE.

Enjoy xx