Ceramics Exhibition and craft fair

Had a lovely day today at my college Ceramics Exhibiton and Craft Fair.  The exhibition is on until the 14th December so another week and today we brought in a few extra things to sell and there were loads of other craft stalls.  Lots of people came in and had a look round.  We had very positive comments and things were even selling.  I sold some jugs and quite a few decorations.  So I was well happy.                                                                                                                                                                   

I used stencils made with my Cricut to decorate these bowls and mugs.

 The decorations were made from Stoneware and porcelain and glazed with oxide stencil decorations made by my Cricut.

I even made the tag with my Cricut and finished them off with some festive ribbon.

This is the College  gallery with over 8 artist works that are currently studying Ceramics this year. 

It has been a great experience and helped us to perfect our techniques for the final show next Summer.

Thanks for looking. 

Cricut Imagine Christmas Rocker Card made using a circle from the Basic Shapes and pattern and images from Snow Angel.  Very easy cards but look so lovely.  Thanks for looking. 

Heidi Swapp Color Magic Live day 3

I have really enjoyed this class with Heidi Swapp and the kit she sent us was amazing.  There are also extra's which is always a good thing so we can play with it after class.  It was a bit of a challenge to stay up till 2.30am in the morning to join in but wouldn't of done it any other way.  Was lovely to interact with like minded crafters and I a great time.  Our last project was a scrap book page and I used it for my holiday page.  Hope you like it..  Heidi, thanks for a great class and to Eric for all the techy stuff and your lovely media team. 

Heidi Swapp Color Magic Live Class 2

Well this is the 2nd class of the Color Magic Live online class and it was to make one of Heidi Swapp's Memory Files.

As I am not that into black I changed the main folder colour to Broken China Distress Stain from Tim Holtz and the inside folder I coloured Antique Linen, highlighting them with some Mica powders which gave it a lovely shimmer.  

I also swapped the folders over and had the Chevron folder as the main folder/ 

Heidi also taught us how to put a mini album together and sticking it inside the chevron folder so that there is loads of space to put photo's and memorabilia.  Instead of sticking the pages together as I was loathe to lose the pretty sides of the double sided papers I used my sewing machine and sewed them together apart from the first one which was glued down as Heidi instructed.  Then I just glued the rest onto the first page.. 

I love the photo captions with the large titles attached to a large shape.

I also added some acetate pages as in my previous folder.   I have found these so useful when you have a leaflet or something similar that is double sided and you  want to show off both sides.  

Not sure what I will be using this file for yet but can't wait to fill it up with photo's.  Thank you Heidi for yet another fabulous class.  Can't wait till Saturday for the next one. xx

Heidi Swapp Color Magic Live

Well I was one of the first in line to sign up for the Heidi Swapp Color Magic Live online class first of which happened last night or early this morning for me!  I had to get up early the day before and stupidly stayed up for the show which started at 2.30am ish here in the UK.  It was really great though to talk to other like minded peaple and totally awesome to see Heidi in action live and having any questions answered there and then etc.  Not that I had any questions, I was too busy concentrating and taking all the information in.  The following cards are what I made.

I used Cosmic Shimmer Irridescent Mica Powder in Summer Grass and Mango Orange to colour the Heidi Swapp color magic card.  The colours took to the card brilliantly and I was able to blend them how I wanted.

 The first photo is an envelope using the kit we were sent for the class and Heidi talked us through it step by step.  I got most of the cards done but just had to finish them off this morning.
Instead of the black mist I used the Summer grass which matched really well with the rest of the colours I think. 

This silver one is my favourite.  Love the matchbook design and the use of the ribbon and stars.

Thanks for looking.  XX

Appledore August Craft Fair

Am really happy today as actually sold quite a few of my word books and albums I had made for this craft fair.  Here are a couple of photos of my table.

I also sold a few cards and leaves as well.  The Teddy Bear (in previous post) that somebody had asked me to make also sold but not to the person that ordered it.  Not sure what happened to the person who ordered it but it wasn't claimed last month so might make another one. 

Craft Fair Tuesday 17th July at Appledore

Just to let you know I am at a Craft Fair tomorrow trying to sell my craft stuff.  Fingers crossed that if its rainy again that people will pop in and bring some money to spend too.  There are always a good range of top quality craft stalls.

Someone asked for a Teddy bear last time so I have made one so hopefully they like that and it sells.  :)


Thanks for looking.  Susan xx

Layout using Heidi Swapps papers and file.

Hi I bought some Heidi Swapp colour magic paper and files quite a while ago and now am ready to make something from them.  I can't keep them just to look at can I?  Well taking on board Heidi's style I made a file of a visit to 2010 to the Liverpool Art Biennial with my Ceramics class.

First off using my Color Box classic pigment cats eyes ink pads I coloured the file folder and pages to co-ordinate, which was great fun, I used bright colours.









Then I cut up a paper bag that I had with my purchases from Tate, Liverpool and used it as a double page, and an acetate page which is always handy if you dont want to lose the details of leaflets and means you can stick them in and see both sides.

I folded a scrapbook page protector up so that one side was roughly A4, and used a couple of the colour magic pages folded up differently so they indented down and sewed them all together.  I have Heidi to thank for getting me to use my sewing machine which was bought so that my Mum could make or mend stuff when ever she visited me.  LOL.  I've had it over 10 years so its probably about time I used it for myself.  Just dont tell Mum I am using it for paper.

I made a photo stack as we haven't got the real ones over here yet and put photos and postcards in of the places we visited and art work we saw.  I tucked tickets for the Tate exhibition and The Beatles story Museum in the smaller part of the page protector and in the bigger side I put a map and Itinerary of our weekend.  I even stapled the serviette from the Restaurant where we had our group meal.

I managed to get loads of leaflets and the programme of the Event on other pages along with more photo's, about 10.
I  put the bag from The Beatles Story Museum in as well.





We spent the night before boogieing to the Faux Beatles in the new Cavern club.  Good times!!  It is a good replica of what the club looked like.

Thing with me is I dont throw away anything and this is perfect way to get everything in a file together instead of bits here there and every where.  This is a substantial file but it easily just folds up and fits into my file storage box.  I also love that it is an A4 size and so its easier to keep on a shelf somewhere.  All in all a great reminder of a lovely trip.   Thanks for looking and I really appreciate your comments.  xx

RAKU Firing Day

My tutor from College invited my Ceramics group and I to a Raku Firing day.
Its a different way of firing pots once they have had their first firing.  You put on the special RAKU glaze and then they go in the Raku kiln and it only takes a couple of hours at the most to get it up to the right temperature when the glaze is glossy.  Then  they are taken out while still hot and put into a tub of wood chippings with a lid over them to starve them of oxygen.  This brings about some gorgous changes to the glaze depending which one was put on.  I came away with lovely turquiose blue and copper colour pots and one with white on it.  They all have the lovely crazed texture too.

We had a lovely day and were well looked after with tea and cake, thanks to Dave and his lovely Wife Alice and Debbie who bought a cake in to share too.

Hopefully we can go on his Kiln building course soon and then will have my own kiln to experiment with.

Unfortunately the leaf broke on the way home but it still looks gorgeous stuck back together with glue.

It is a most exciting process to see the pots changing colour before your very eyes.

This is Dave's Raku Kiln and he does workshops to make Raku Kilns from wire mesh and a special fibre.  http://welcombepottery.wordpress.com/courses/    A really fabulous day.  Thanks for looking.  XX

The Queens Diamond Jubilee

Well its almost The Queens Diamond Jubilee weekend upon us and its been lovely weather so far, I just hope that the weather holds up for it.  There are some celebrations going on in my town and in the Market Hall where I will probably go for some fun things.  Tomorrow will be my last day in College for a week so here is what I will be taking in.  I know a few people are also taking stuff in.  I already have my bunting up. 

 We were very excited to see the Olympic Torch Bearers come through our town as well.  Its a very exciting year.  There is so much craft stuff with the Union Jack on and I am getting as much as I can while I can. 

Have a great weekend everyone and Congratulations to The Queen.  Hip Hip Hurrah!!

Craft Stall

This is what my table looked like.  I made loads of stuff yet again and sold quite a few cards, jewellery and glass.  Not necessarily on the day but who cares as long as people appreciate them.  I love making things and it makes it all the more worth while as I said if people appreciate them, so thanks very much.

Its always a nice crowd at the craft fairs and even if we don't sell anything we usually have a good time nattering.  XX

Shadow box from Cameo Silhouette cut

My lovely friend very kindly cut out a shodow box template for me with her Silhouette and this is how I decorated it.

Considering it was just 5 sheets of 12 x 12 card I am really impressed how it came out.   If anyone has the Silhouette I would recomend to get this file which is available on the Silhouette website.  I also made another one for the Diamond Jubilee using the lovely Papermania Portobello papers.

 

Would love it if Cricut could produce a cartridge with cuts like this!

St Georges Day

Its St Georges Day on Monday and my brother is having a get together where neighbours of his all bring a plate of food and hang out together.  This year I have made some whoopie pies decorated in the style of the English Flag.  Hopefully it will be a better night than it was last year as it was a bit of a wash out!  So fingers crossed.

Hi 1st post of 2012

Well its April already and I have been AWOL from my blog since December so sorry about that.  I am going to try and post at least once a month.  I have been pretty busy to be fair.  My ceramics course is getting a lot more intense as I am almost at the end of my 3rd year so just one year left to go after that.  These are a few of the pots that I have been making on the potters wheel.  At the moment it doesn't feel like it is going to get easier but hopefully soon it will all come together.  Practise makes perfect as they say.   I have done some with handles on which I am very proud of too.  I hope everyone of my family will like their Christmas gift of a jug this year!  

I hope you all are having a good  year so far.