They Don't Want to Go Home

When I left ELEMENTS at 5.30'ish there were still people there - they do NOT want to go home.  That says a lot for the wonderful, enjoyable weekend we have all had.  Paddy gave out Evaluation Sheets and I was the one who collected them in - then she said she wanted tutors to fill one in as well.  I think one of the most valuable things I got from the weekend was "Friendships" - people I had never met are now listed as friends - everyone was absolutely lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend.  

Thank You from me to all participants for making it a huge success and a lovely, friendly weekend.

Last night after I had left the lovely Helen did her ELEMENTS Extra with those participants who wanted to stay on.  Today she has been putting kits together for all those who did not stay and instructing them on how to go about it.  This is Helen's own project which looks great at the side of her box.

 And this one was done by Dee

Good fun - and I have a kit to make one too

Today kicked off with Becca doing her second Fabric session

Look at all the fabulous fabrics she brought up with her.  Below are some of the ELEMENTS that people did in readiness for their boxes.

Even though it involved the "i" word it was enjoyed by everyone - here's Wendy busy at it.

Rita hiding behind that box

And my second Clay session.

Lou decided that, as she had done a border of stamping on her drawers, she would just do a centre panel.  That meant she could work a lot faster than the others and, bless her, Lou made lots of tiny embellishments for most of the people at the table.

Sarah had never used Clay before and she was quite worried about her work but I assured her it was fine and I loved the sunshine yellow she had used to compliment the rest of her box - isn't it lovely and sunny?

After a break it was the turn of Kay with her MDF - unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the finished pieces as by then I was busy helping in the kitchen.

and Paddy with her Metal 

Just as I took this Paddy was lifting her hair from her neck - looks like she is in despair - I can assure you she was not.

You can see the metal pieces that slot in to one of the sections of the box on this one.  Think it is Amy's.

This is Chris's box - love the way she has done her metal and I absolutely love the claywork - so different from anyone else's.

On this one you can see one panel still awaiting completion.

This is Lou's and you can see how her claywork is different - and she has added pieces to the section above. The atc's she had done in Kay's class are in the front and they were gorgeous.  Loved them!

I would love to have taken photographs of everyone's finished boxes but there were too many, they were in differing stages of completion, and were scattered about the place so it was impossible.  However, I must feature Lynns.  Lynn took hers home with her the night before to finish off her stamping - just look at this

The back of her box

One side

The other - isn't it beautiful!

Lynn, will you make me one please?

Before I leave you I must show you what was a hit of the weekend.  Food!  Today we did chicken breasts with fresh herbs and crispy bacon.  Then there were salads, pasta, thingy salad (you know, with orange segments in - can't think of the name - but I am tired) and garlic bread.

and to finish off

Vincent's famous Apple Crumble and cream, chocolate cake, fresh fruit salad, carrot cake and fruit loaf.  Oh the pounds I must have put on!

The afternoon was a repeat of Kay and Paddy's sessions and then Paddy showing how the tree had to be put on.  Me?  I was washing up in the kitchen (mountains of it) followed by my trying to be helpful packing things up for Paddy before I had to go.  I've brought all the stamps home with me to clean and put back on the indices for Paddy - something I can do at leisure with my feet up.

I just wish I could upload all my photographs but that would take too long so here's hoping you can get a flavour of what ELEMENTS was all about.

A fab weekend, as I said lots of friendships made and lots of cries of "when is the next one" and "can we have priority booking please".   Now to get my feet up ... and probably fall asleep!

Elements - What You Missed

Day One has been and gone and now I am all fired up ready to teach another workshop today for ELEMENTS!

Yesterday was a huge success with everyone loving the Project and some completing the PAINTING, the PERSPEX, the CLAY and the FABRIC.  The final session was the WIRE but I have no photographs of the completed pieces as these have to be affixed today.

Today I have another session with the other half doing clay, Becca has another session doing her fabric pieces then it is over to Kay for her MDF and Paddy for the METAL work.

Now you know why it was called ELEMENTS.

Enough chatter - how about some pictures?

This is my piece which is called Time.  As you can see I have used all Paperartsy stamps (think I am a fan?).  

This is my tree made from wire which has all the elements attaached to it in the form of small pieces.

A close up

My MDF book

Tags which go inside the book

My Clay covered drawers

This shows my Perspex with some of my Fabric flowers attached.

Here are some pictures of the ladies busy working on the various Elements.

All busy painting with Paddy

Doing claywork with me

Perspex with Sarah

and wire with Paddy.

Hopefully, another day I can upload some more photographs showing the other elements which went into this super weekend.  I must also mention that the food Paddy prepared was fantastic.  What I can remember is:  Chilli, Baked Potatoes with butter, Garlic Bread, Humous, Roast vegetables, Salad, Couscous, Cheese, Chocolate cake, Carrot cake, Cheescake, Fresh fruit (strawberries and lots of other berries, grapes etc) and Cream - there might have been more - the table was groaning.  That is not mentioning all the drinks that were there for everyone to get as they wanted, the biscuits and gorgeous chocolates.

How hard Paddy has worked for this weekend, and here I must mention Rita who has helped so much behind the scenes and Helen who has run herself ragged over the time of preparation as well as yesterday when she was back and forth for various things and  putting the finishing touches to her optional evening class - MIXED ELEMENTS.  I didn't stay for the class, sorry Helen, as I was 'beat'.  Perhaps if I still didn't have this cold I would have made it but I am sure I will have time today to have a go.

More tomorrow - and hopefully lots of completed boxes to show you.

Elements - Nearly There

Phew!  Got more done on my Project for the Elements weekend.  At long last I have settled down to my bit and am happy with it.  Spent half a day with Sarah when Helen and I got our Perspex section done.  Here's a bit of mine (hope I have not shown too much in this sneak peek).

I showed them how I had done two other elements so they then began doing those - hope Paddy will be pleased that the three of us have gone on so far ahead now.

When I came home I began pondering on my clay element and on Friday I sat down and made a concerted effort and got mine put to bed.  Not only that but I did my worksheet and sent it off to Sarah and Helen so that they could begin on that also.

Again I don't think I am sneaking too much of a peek.  My Project would not be complete if I did not include my little friend Archie so he had to feature in my work.

Here he is, with a little bit of bling.  I just love Archie.  Hope you do too and that this whets your appetite and makes you think of coming along and joining us.  Give Paddy a ring if you are interested (details on sidebar) or contact Helen at elementswithpaddy@googlemail.com to secure a place.

Before I go - have you checked the blog candy on my sidebar?  Stacey's ends soon so you need to hurry to join in - great candy!

More Sneak Peeks

As I said, I have been busy with my Project for the Stamping Weekend in September.  I have now only three elements to do - well 3.5 really as the wire is not complete yet.  I am so excited over that bit, it looks absolutely gorgeous and is probably going to be one of my favourite elements.  Don't let Paddy know but my own area has not been done as yet - will get this done today.

In the meantime I thought I would show you a couple of sneak peeks of the two areas done this week.

This is an addition to the original bit - a little "bling" is good for any girl and I can justify it on my project.

My photography leaves a bit to be desired.  My fabric bit at the top is rather blurred - couldn't get it right - but ...

This one turned out ok, now you can see a bit of another fabric piece and some more metal work.  I love playing with metal.  Wish I could afford (money and time) to work in it all the time.

A last bit of metal

If you have the time and the money to spare I do urge you to go to my sidebar and ring Paddy - this is now getting exciting and I know there are one or two places left.  A fab project and a fun weekend.

Late to Bed - "Elements" got in the way

What a great night I had, Paddy came over and we played a bit with the next stage of "Elements".  I have had it on my side bar for a while now but not told you anything about it.  Can't divulge much as Paddy wants the "surprise element" in it (sorry about the pun).

It is a weekend of fun where you actually complete one large project with an optional one on the Saturday evening.  In case you haven't seen a flyer or the ad in CS it is mixed media where you will work with wood, perspex, metal, fabric, wire and my bit, clay.  Put all these "elements" together and you have the finished product.  Each element will be worked on in a group with a dedicated tutor who specialises in that particular medium.

Time for a sneak peek at mine

 

As you can see mine is to do with "Time", a favourite subject of mine, and you will recognise lots of the stamps I have used as they are from Paperartsy (another favourite).  I just love my yummy colours and am so glad I chose those from the gorgeous Rainbow Glazes we are using on the wood.  (Oops! Let it slip that the substrate is wood.)  All of the tutors are making their own and all have chosen different themes and colours.  

Cannot say too much but the finished article will look good on your desk and it will actually be useful.

Here is a sneak peek at what we were doing last night - an addition to my end product and a bit of the metal element.

Now I am getting excited as I have also received the perspex and mdf pieces ready for me to work on.  Can see the next few weeks are going to be busy as we all need instruction from each other as to how we are to proceed with their special bit - and I have my clay to work out - help!

So where is this fab weekend going to be - in Prestwich.

When - weekend 18th and 19th September.

Cost - £200 which includes all materials, tuition, a goody bag and lunch on the two days (plus tea/coffee with cakes/biscuits at breaks).

Time - early start on the Saturday with registration at 8.15 am (groan) and a finish time of around 5.30 with an optional extra project that evening.  Sunday will be a later start of about 9.30 and an earlier finish of 4 pm.

Accommodation can be had at the Travel Lodge at Pilsworth (they did have rooms for £19 but they may have gone now) and there are Premier Inns at Swinton and Heaton Park which is nearby.  If you are interested you can ring Paddy (0161 798 5115) to find out more about it and ask about other accommodation.

Hope I have not divulged too much and will be back from time to time with other sneak peeks but also hope I have whetted a few appetites along the way as there are one or two places left.

A Weekend in September

In September (18th/19th) I am teaching one element of a project organised by Paddy in Prestwich.  Not sure how much I can disclose about it but there are some six tutors involved in the whole project each doing a different section/technique on the finished article.

There's Paddy, of course, who will be leading the project, then there's Sarah (perspex), Kay (paper), Becca (fabric), Helen (mixed media), Paddy (metal) and myself with clay.

I need to get myself up to Paddy's Stamping Place (Butterstile Lane, Prestwich - tel: 01617985115) to get my clay (it will be Makins I will have to work with) so I can get on with my own sample which is at the moment hidden away in a suitcase.

Hopefully, as time goes on I can tell you a bit more about it and maybe do one or two sneak peeks.