Beads And Beyond Magazine- January Issue!

Another fabulous issue is out !!
My project this month is called "Teenage Dream" , a quirky twist on kiddie friendship bracelets. These are definitely all grown up! I created a pair of handstamped aluminium bracelets, each with a single phrase that when put together form a song lyric. Of course the words used could be anything that has significance to you and your friend, as long as the phrase makes sense when split into two!
These earrings are the 'extra' to the bracelets, same lyrics split up, but this time stamped onto copper squares and turned into earrings with the addition of some handmade spiral findings!

I think they maybe I should have given them a polish before taking the pic! oops!

Its great fun thinking up lyrics or phrases that can be split in two! To see the latest Beads And Beyond Magazine, click HERE

Trish xx

Fairy Sister!

This is the little sister of the fairy who lives in the love potion box.........nope, not lost the plot totally! I enjoyed creating the fairy box that is in this months Craft Stamper magazine  so much, I made another one! This one has been created inside a hinged wooden box, and my fairy is the tiny version of the stamp, hence little sister!
I gessoed and painted the box with blue and purple paints, then added accents in turquoise. As the inside of the box was tricky to get at, I stamped the flourish and dots that decorate it onto tissue before using ModPodge to glue it into place.

Bit of an odd photo, the large rectangle with the purple flourish on it is the open door of the box! Looks too big for some reason!
Closeup of the fairy.....

I'm liking these boxes!!
Trish x

Craft Stamper- January edition is here!

And fabulous it is too!
Click HERE to go and see this latest issue!
My article this month is the Masterclass. I've used slide mailers for the projects, and I can honestly say that this was one of the best things I've done, in terms of having fun! Normally I have a very firm idea of what I'm going to create, and how it will look. This time, things seemed to evolve and change as I was playing, so the finished items look sooooo different to the initial 'in my head' plan. I'm going to try and be more 'free' in the way things go art wise, I think, as I really like the finished pieces!
Two little peeks to show you, firstly of the inside of the fairy box, so you can read all the words!

Secondly, a tiny bit of the shrine!

To see the whole article, including a 4 slide mailer turned into a book!, pick up a copy of the magazine. Available now from all good craft shops!!!! There is some fantabulous art in this issue, you don't want to miss it!
Trish xx

Last one of the year....

Workshop that is!
We were playing with Stampbord this morning, inking and embossing. A new surface to most of my students, so it was nice that I could show them just how fabulously well it takes ink and stamping. We made a Christmas decoration (well I suppose I had to do something seasonal!) and this card.....

Embossed acetate as well.....first time ever I've had someone manage to totally melt heatproof acetate, so that was er, interesting!
Now a nice six week break to recharge the teaching batteries and get properly organised for next year!
Trish x

All Wrapped Up!

Is the theme for the new December Challenge over at Crafty Individuals . I decided to make a gift tag...allbeit a large one!

I created a painty background using pale blue, purple and white paint. I stamped the Flourish in white paint along one side. The Tree and the Postmark were stamped onto tissue, then applied to the background using ModPodge. I added a load of eyelash fibres to give some texture!
Really enjoyed making this!
Trish x

Brrrr its cold!

Sitting here with a jumper on, unheard of!!!
Very apt though, the last ATC theme of the year (and sadly of the group) is Baby its Cold Outside. Too flipping right!
Here are the four ATCs I've made, with a close up of my favourite!

 

Ecoline drawing inks, lots of splatters then overstamped with white paint.

Just need to finish up the class prep for my last workshop of the year (will post a pic once the glue dries!), then onto inky painty playtime for me with no agenda! yay!
Trish x

playing with paper..

Not that exciting really, I play with paper rather a lot! BUT....this time I've been turning the paper into beads. Really really like the way they turned out, and I'm thinking the discs and rolls will end up stuck on a canvas sometime soon! Not just jewellery components, these have a fab look and will add some cool detail to larger art pieces. This is what I made.......

UTEE Workshop!

More prep for next years classes!
We will be creating a fab UTEE canvas on 28th January at Windmill Craft Centre .
My very favourite thing, a canvas. Something that's difficult to do in a workshop setting, only two hours doesn't give much time for things to dry! So its fingers crossed that the stamped tissue technique will be something I don't live to regret attempting! We'll also be getting out the Melting Pot to create embellishments for the canvas. So two things to stress over!
Here is the sample....

The drippy, runny embellishment is another of my new favourite things, a happy accident that gets re-used over and over!
Trish x

New jewellery workshop sample!

Now that the first few workshops for next year have been firmed up (have a look HERE to see all the workshop dates so far), I'm beginning to make up the class samples.
The first jewellery class will be on January 28th, and we'll be wireworking again.
 I'll be showing the students how to create a wire frame, then we will be wrapping crystals and beads onto the frame to create a fabulous pendant. Here's the sample:

The second pic shows the beaded wire wrapping in more detail!
This one is nice and chunky, and will be finished to whatever length the creator fancies! We'll be using aubergine suede thong for this. As ever, places are limited, so contact WINDMILL CRAFT CENTRE if you fancy having a go!
Trish x

Last jewellery workshop of the year....

Was last Saturday, over at Windmill Craft Centre . After the mental exertions of the last three wirework classes, I decided to teach a nice, calm, relaxing stringing class for a change! We made fabulous bracelets, using buttons for the clasps. Everyone chose a unique lampworked button as their first clasp. Each was different, so everyone ended up with stunning jewellery all to their own colour scheme. The buttons were created by the most wonderful Julie Fountain of Lush Lampwork Julie makes some of the most gorgeous beads you ever saw, and her buttons are just as lovely! Here is my class sample:  
We then made a long bracelet designed to be wrapped around the wrist a few times. My favourite kind of bracelet! Again, everyone chose their own colour scheme and their own button. This time, the buttons were a choice of vintage shanked buttons I'd picked up on Ebay. My class sample:

A great time was had by all!
Now looking forward to my 2012 classes, I'll be posting a peek of the next class soon!
Trish x