Upcoming workshop.....

Getting back to being organised......samples all done with plenty of time!
One of my upcoming classes will be an introduction to shadowboxes..... how to decorate and then fill in the little niches. We'll be starting with a box of shapes, so the before and after looks like this.....

Once the box is emptied, we'll be playing with paint and sponging techniques. Colour the box, then create a masterboard using lots more paint techniques. The masterboard will then be cut up to form the squares in the niches.

We'll be decorating a few of the flowers with paint and text paper, then putting a little bling in there too!
There will be a gorgeous antique gold chain attached so it can be hung proudly on display!

The leftover flowers are yours to do with as you wish!
Click the workshop link on the right hand side for more booking information!
Love Trish xx

Craft Stamper April issue...

Is here already folks!!! And you thought it was only the start of March!
Have a little look at the cover....

If you've got good eyes you can just about see my project this month on the cover ! woooo! Its the purple box using Mica sheets, bottom right hand corner. Its actually a masterclass on the Mica Sheets, so there are four more items in there from me using mica. Including one where I was holding my breath until I knew it had arrived safe and sound and not squished to death!!! Close up peek of the project on the cover...

The whole mag is packed to bursting with gorgeous projects, loads and loads of inspiration and eye candy this month!
Have at look at the Craft Stamper website to read more about the projects in this months issue.....!!
Love Trish xxx

WOYWW143!

Good Morning fellow WOYWW-ers! (and just as good morning to those that don't play, of course!)
If you have no clue as to what I'm on about, hop on over to Julias Blog and have a look at all the hundreds (yes really!) of crafty workspaces that are being shared today! Take a peek or play along, its great fun...
My desk this week.... it's the aftermath of a painty session....

I had finished a magazine project using colours out of my normal comfort zone....namely browns and creams with a smidge of pink thrown in. Actually found I really loved the combo, so carried on with the paint after the project was done to make things for me!! This is the mess afterwards....trial stampings, dirty sponges and all! What did I create? This........

Thought the dots looked a bit rain-like, so out came a stamp I haven't used before, this lady is a KatzelKraft image. Have to admit to altering it a bit..the original image has a big gap in the umbrella handle, so got out my fineline pen and joined up the ends! Do you do that? draw in extra bits to suit yourselves?!!

I also put a teeny point on the top of the brolly......!
Changing the subject..... Last week you may remember I showed you some jewellery sets I made for my friend to choose from? Well, true to form, the 'overwhelm the customer then they'll buy more than they originally wanted' selling psychology worked......she chose two sets! The black and also the dragonfly one which I think was most popular with you lot! Thank you for all of the lovely comments about the jewellery, much appreciated!
OK, busy busy.......lots of desks to go look at!
love Trish xx

Workshop Sat 3/3/12

Bit late posting the sample for next Saturdays class......but I'm up to my ears in deadlines.....not to mention the back to back classes this past weekend! Great fun, but can't deny I was in dire need of a sit down by Sunday evening!
This coming weekend its notionally a workshop to play with DMC Memory Thread. Fab stuff, feels like cord, but the flexibility and staying power of wire. Loads of good colours too! My problem came when I started planning in detail and realised that to accomplish the projects I had in mind, it would take up metres and metres of the stuff, so would work out waaaay too expensive for a workshop!! So, the class is now more regular wire and less memory thread! This is one of the things we're creating....

(Which also qualifies for my 'no paint this week' challenge I've set myself!!)
The turquoise petals are the memory thread! Inky background, tissue tape border, then the wire flower!

The centre is one of my new favourite things...... my boss at the craft shop ordered what were supposed to be wooden buttons, but when they came they had no holes. Bit useless as buttons frankly, but FABULOUS as centres for flowers if you cover them in text paper and tinted Glossy Accents!
We'll be making something else too......but until I've finished and posted two mag projects, I'm not even thinking about the other sample!!
love Trish xx

Mothers Day 'Non-Card'....for Calico Crafts

Another week, another DT project from me over at CALICO CRAFTS !!!
And another sneak peek because I'm mean like that...you'll need to pop over to the DT blog to see the whole thing!

I've made an accordian tag panel, with acetate and, of course, lots of lovely painty layers! Perfect for your Mum for Mothers Day, and to display all year round.
As usual, I've done a very thorough step by step for you, so you can see how it was all done.
Why not go and take a look?!
Love Trish xx

WOYWW142!

Good morning all those out there in WOYWW land!!! For those who don't know, that's Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday.....a marathon bloghop organised by the fabulous Julia over at The Stamping Ground . Post a link to what's happening on your creative space this morning...then go and visit the hundreds of others who have done the same thing! Great way to pass a few hours, taking a peek into lots of crafty spaces!
So..without further ado, my desk this week....

My jewellery desk, as I'm deep into panic-production -line mode! The necklace half made is part of a set I'm making for a friend. She wants a pressie for her Mother in Laws birthday....the brief was not too chunky, not 'bonkers' colours (booooooooo!) and something that will go with anything. I've made three sets, and she can choose which she wants.....which do you think? The set that the unfinished necklace will be part of....

Or..... a more neutral coloured set........

Or..... more brown and crystal-y with a dragonfly.....

Have to say all are a little too subtle for me personally, but of course the customer is always right! I'm taking them all round this afternoon (when the necklace is done!), so will find out then!
Until then....I'm off to look at all the fabulous creative mess out there!!
Love Trish xx

Look no paint!

A challenge to myself..... no paint for a whole week!
Cheating slightly in that I'm now up to my ears in jewellery stock making, so will have less time than normal for the messy side of things! However, I've started as I mean to go on.....

Spray ink background, purple and turquoise that have gone a very deep shade of blue that I wasn't really expecting when mixed together! Sprayed over a mask as you can see, then the mask was flipped over and used to print in sections. Regular ink (VersaMagic) used to stamp the dots/lines etc. The wooden star was covered with text paper then sprayed with the same inks...the colours have stayed a bit more true to how I thought they should be!

As I like to do, I've added a figure and some text....... I LOVE this lady, sadly available no more so I can't use her in published work. Which means that whenever I can, I like to give her an outing!
The word was done with a Dymo...and I have NO idea why the 'r' has jumped..... looks a little rude, don't know why!!

Stay tuned for more non-painty ideas this week!
love Trish xxxxx

Beads And Beyond Magazine- March Issue!

is out now!

 My project this month is all about feathers....1920s inspired feathered necklaces to be precise! For the main project I scaled down a flapper head-dress type thing and made it into a short necklace..... and for the variation I made this....

A long pendant... I cut the feathers to size (not a plan..the phrase 'spitting feathers' was very apt..they go EVERYWHERE!), then glued them together at the top. Lots of wire with crystals wrapped around to hide the glue, then attached to a large silver ring. Long ball chain to complete. Closeup of the crystals....

(and thats not glue you can see..its a feather bent in on itself! Bad pic, sorry!)
Have a look at the Beads and Beyond Magazine Website for more details!
love Trish xx

CR84FN48- Colour challenge time!

I do love these colour challenges (and not just because I made the top three with the last one.... woo!!)
I really like having a colour palette to play with that might not be something I'd go for by choice! Now with this one, those that know me might think its so up my street its silly. I mean, green and purple? together? oh yes...bring it on! But hang on......grey too? Now here is another shade I rarely use. So, its another challenge! Fabulous!
Here is what I made....

Very much a typical Trish creation! Painty background, stamped figure and an odd phrase! Lots of texture on this piece....

and the figure is a first time outing for one of some new stamps that just arrived! This one is an Art Journey image. Love the moodiness, she looks so grumpy!

To join in the fun, why not pop over to the CR84FN challenge blog and have a look at all the creations! So much variation in styles and interpretations of this theme, its fab!

Love Trish xx

Simon Says Stamp Challenge...Anything Goes!

Seems an age since I did a canvas...which is very odd as they're my usual 'what to make? a canvas!' medium of choice!
So...a canvas it is....but an out of my comfort zone colour combo...yes, still struggling with orange! Last time, Leandra suggested I team it with turquoise, so I have!

Nice chunky box canvas, which means the sides are a good size to play with too!
The feet are painted wooden beads, and the image is Stampotique. Just love her!

Loads and loads of painted layers, it's a difficult decision when to stop!!

I'm entering this into the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge....a bit late but there's still time!! Have a look HERE to get all of the details, and to see some fabulous art! Last time I looked there were over 200 entries, so maybe make a cup of tea before you start!!
Love Trish xx