Warrington workshops!

Okay so I'm a little bit excited, I have the opportunity to teach some one day card making, general crafts and jewellery making workshops in the centre of Warrington. I have a venue confirmed and these classes would be full day events giving me the freedom to teach a whole range of techniques, if anyone wants any more information please email me at egundry@Warrington.ac.uk.

I'm off to find some thermals...no seriously I am it's so cold and I'm assured it's only going to get worse...I'm not good in the cold...a red nose and purple hands is not a good look!!!


Take care
Love
Est xx
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Mixed media

I'm getting to be a lazy blogger again, not because I can't be bothered but because I'm working most evenings during the week so don't have the chance to fill you in with my waffle...thankfully I hear you all sigh!!!

I've been having a play the last couple of days, using what I have learnt in Jeanne Oliver's online class, which I am loving, I'm still only halfway through watching all the videos but each time I do watch one I'm inspired to have a go at something different, which can only be a good thing however my hands and nails are constantly covered in mod podge and paint, I'm currently sporting a rather pretty brushed corduroy distress ink and gold acrylic paint finish...I think I could be starting a new trend!!!

So I've just finished this...

Was nice to try something different, although still working in the same colour scheme...I was chatting with one of my students on Wednesday evening and she finds she does the same too so I'm not the only one...although I did try a red colour scheme for this little box and canvas....






I love mixed media at the moment!!!

Off to watch a few more videos online and maybe to wash my paint covered hands!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Thank you Mr Branson...

...Well I finally started my online course today, run by Jeanne Oliver, now I have Internet again...had to call Virgin this week because my Internet kept disconnecting, not helpful when I'm trying to send emails and poor Harry couldn't access his xbox live account...so we were without the world wide web for four days and you would have thought the world had ended...poor kids!!!

Anyway Old Richard sent a very lovely engineer yesterday who took one look at my set top box, which I think was made in the 70's, and told me he was going to replace that and the modem...woo hoo...we now have a brand spanking new box that pauses and records...ask me if I know how to use it yet!!!

So I have watched two of the videos so far, the course is called "Creatively Made" and is a journey of art and discovering the gifts you possess, bit spiritual but very inspiring, so the videos I viewed today were altering a hardback book to make a journal and altering a readymade journal...

I've done the first...Altered hard back book...book covers were removed and used as a front and a back and I've filled the inside with watercolour paper so I can create more art...I loved doing this, I love to create from scratch, although I'm very messy and my fingers are stained with distress inks again!!!

And the second is in progress on my desk...might finish that later, but then again after I've eaten Sunday Dinner which is very slowly roasting as we speak I might just veg out on the couch and watch crap TV.

In my mixed media class this week we were using wax, melting it in the melting pot and using it to "age" stamped images and apply direct to canvas to distress...this was my sample..with a scrunched up tissue paper background...


I'm loving vintage and browns at the moment can you tell?

Off now to perfect my roast dinner.

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Red Bull...

Really does give you wings...I had to resort to drinking a can before work tonight and I'm a bit hyperactive now, I kept falling asleep on the couch before my evening class and didn't think my students would appreciate the look, just hoping the effects wear off soon so I can sleep, I'm bone weary tired and not even sure why I've not had the hardest week must just be the dismal weather or my bus lag from the weekend!!!

Taught my mixed media class tonight, which I love, and we were working with wood, gesso, acrylic paints, distress inks, stamps, polymer and air dry clay....all to create something like this....

The little flowers are all made from fimo using moulds and the heart was cut using a dinky little cookie cutter, I've had my Tim Holtz stamps out again and even let my students loose with them too, although I did ban them using stayzon on them!!!

I'm off now to read...I'm loving the Kindle App on my iPad, I've already read two books since Sunday, Breaking the Silence by Diane Chamberlain, which I managed to read on the Chorley trip, and The long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz...both beautifully and emotionally written but two very different types of story, I'm currently reading Death Bed by Leigh Russell, got to love a bit of blood and gore before bedtime!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Sha la la la la la la la....

Shamballa!!!

Blogger was playing up yesterday and wouldn't let me post this picture last night...

This is the bracelet we will be making in my next class in Chorley and a similar style watch too...thats still in progress on my desk though!!!

So I was back to work today, the great thing about Mondays is I have the day off and just have an evening class so I took myself off to Manchester ...to buy beads of course, I love having a good mooch in The Bead Shop in Afflecks Palace, lots of inspiration and beautiful bling to feast your eyes on...and it means my students get the best quality beads because I can see what I'm buying and it means I can treat myself too...got some shamballa style beads to play with...well I have to research the products don't I!!!

Talking of research while I was in Chorley yesterday look what stamps got a new home...


And...


Can't wait to have a play with them can see them being used in my art journalling, talking of which my new online class started today so I'm off to stick on my giant headphones and watch the videos for today...I'm off to get my art on!!!
Take care
Love
Est xx
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270 minutes...

...is how long I spent getting to Chorley and back today...that's three games of football...!!!

I'm so tired I either have jet lag or rail replacement bus lag...not sure which yet as I'm sure it would take me less time to travel to sunny Spain, I have just penned my email of complaint to Transpennine express, I'm not one to complain usually unless it is completely necessary but when I'm sat on a train on a platform for twenty-five minutes slowly watching the time tick by and realising I'm going to miss my connecting rail replacement bus and knowing there isn't another one for an hour...that really infuriates me...especially when the wait was completely unnecessary!!!

Anyway had a really good class despite being an hour late, my ladies were very understanding and we had a good giggle, I've not seen my Chorley crew since November so was great to catch up with them all. I will be there again in February (11th) so if anyone is interested in coming along to the class, we will be creating Shamballa style bracelets and watches, drop me an email or give Louise at the Crafty Patch a ring on 01257 277324 to book a place.

Off to sleep off my bus lag!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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22 miles...

Is all it is from my house to Chorley, where I am holding a jewellery making workshop tomorrow, yep 22 miles, to drive it takes 41 minutes, to walk it's about 6 hours 35 minutes...you have got to love Google maps...and to go on the train...a shocking 2 hours...that would be two rail replacement buses and two trains!!! Good job I've downloaded a library full of new books onto my kindle as I reckon I can read at least two of them on the way there!!!

I keep repeating I love my job, I love my job...and I do it's just I hate how public transport thinks Sunday is still a day of rest...huh I wish and how any rail work that has to be done is always done on a Sunday...honestly Sunday's on trains are as busy as any other day...believe me I've been crammed in a virgin pendelino with enough students and hikers to know!!!

Okay rant over...maybe one day I will learn to drive...and not just my kids up the wall :-)

I forgot to post this picture last night, it's of the inside cover of my calendar journal...I'm going to do a page like this for every month, either a wish or a dream or a goal for the month kind of format...

I had those Tim Holtz stamps out again, a little more distress ink, in fact I have used so much lately that my fingertips are now an attractive shade of Brushed Corduroy!!!

Off to dream of smelly rail replacement buses and jammed trains!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Haircuts!!!

Its a sad day when you take your youngest to the hairdressers and she comes out looking older than she did when she went in...little Mia no longer looks so little, she's had a fringe cut into her hair and the razor cut to thin out her inherited thick hair...she was a little concerned when sweet Lizzie (my hairdresser) asked if she wanted a razor cut...bless her I think she was expecting a shave...I was very nearly in tears...but not quite when she gave the thumbs up in the mirror to let me know she loved her new grown up look!!! Locks swept away with the brush and Mia running her fingers through her fringe every three seconds makes me realise my little girl is growing up right before my eyes, won't be long before she is stealing my make up and shoes!!!

Completed the cover of my calendar journal last night...

Still loving the Holtz inspiration, can you tell!!!

Off to catch up on the cockney soap

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Time for something new...

How many of you are thinking of trying something new, or learning a new skill, the college I work for in Warrington currently has a wide programme of short five week taster courses available at various times and venues throughout Warrington, on a wide variety of subjects, from jewellery making to learning the guitar...click here for more information and enrolment details. The first course is free, yes free to everyone, although a £10 materials fee may be charged for some courses, and subsequent courses are at the bargain price of £30, which works out at £6 per class!!!

The college are also offering longer 12 week Saturday morning classes based at the Museum Street campus, in a range of subjects from the Handmade Home to Introduction to Sage...further details can be found Here

You never know you may just find a class in something you've been wanting to try and with it being the new year it's the perfect time to learn something new.

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Well that's it...

So that's it now the holidays are officially over the kids are all back to school tomorrow, uniforms are ready, packed lunches are made and hair has been washed...dried and straightened, you can tell my girls are growing up!!!

I'm not properly back In work until next week, I have a couple of evening classes this week and I'm running a jewellery making workshop in Chorley on Sunday but I have the next couple of days to myself, once the kids are packed off to school...blissful long days where I don't have to listen to Jeremy Kyle (courtesy of Ella) or Hannah bloody Montanah (that would be Mia not Harry) or Harry opening the fridge every time he walks past it...I will miss them though, the house is eerily quiet without them when they first go back to school however there was some talk earlier about February half term!!!

I haven't had the chance to craft today as planned, we had to brave the gale force winds to pick up a few bits in town and to have one last McHeart Attack before healthier eating resumes, I did however manage to sign up for another online class which starts on Monday, I'm really looking forward to it, I believe I need art and creativity in my life to keep me happy and healthy...I'm a big believer in art therapy. I found this class through Christy Tomlinsons Blog I've completed several of her online courses already and loved them, so Christy recommended Jeanne Oliver's class and I thought why not, I have just under a week to get organised and get together the class supplies and next weekend off to get stuck in...will keep you posted.

Will leave you with a card I made for my Dads birthday which was last week so its safe to post on here now...little bit more Tim Holtz influence...

Off to set several alarms...its going to be a very early morning!!!
Take care
Love
Est xx
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Day two!!!

Yep day two of 2012, is that twenty twelve or two thousand and twelve?

I've spent the day lesson planning and prepping today, a job that I hate the thought of but actually quite enjoy once I get stuck into it, I have 10 new courses starting next week and two that are ongoing so that's 12 classes a week alongside workshops and demonstrations it's a good job I love my job, I'm actually looking forward to going back now too, it's lovely to be off with the kids but I think these holidays are beginning to drag a little bit, I'm only hoping we don't have a repeat of a couple of years ago where we ended up having several extra days off due to a little dusting of snow!!!

So my classes are all sorted for the beginning of term, I have samples made and handouts written and teaching bags packed up...I'm always organised at the beginning of term...!!!

Tomorrow is the last day the kids have off and will probably take them out for the day somewhere, saying that only the girls will come out with me now, I'm not sure if I'm cool enough for Harry anymore :-( I have realised during these holidays that they are growing up far too fast and it's not going to be long before they will all be off doing their own thing, only had Mia at home on New Years Eve as it was!!!

Will leave you with a canvas I created last week...not sure what day, what did I tell you about losing track of those days...

This 12 x12 canvas was created using printed tissue paper (background), acrylic paints, stamping, doodling, a bit of serendipity and a whole lot of rub ons and is heading for a home on the wall in my dining room.

Off now to see who wants to "play out" with Mum tomorrow!!!

Take care
Love
Est xx
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Happy New Year

Well it's goodbye 2011 and hello to 2012...a fresh new year with promise of fresh new beginnings and resolutions, I've not made any yet, not made a decision to eat healthily or give up smoking or anything else for that matter...too much pressure involved, I'm just going to continue to embrace life with all it's ups and downs.

The end of last year, wow that seems strange writing that when it was only yesterday, was pretty harsh, I lost a very dear friend and my Nan within a month of each other and just ended up throwing myself into my work, I've had a little time over the Christmas period to reflect and heal and just to try and come to terms with the loss. I'm creating art again, which I stopped doing and found a wonderful challenge this afternoon over on Kate Cranes
blog, called the 366 challenge, which basically allows you to create a calendar in an art journal giving you the opportunity to journal your month....here's mine for January...created using distress inks, acrylic paint, stamping and a bit of paint flicking...which by the way ended up all over me!!!

Im loving Tim Holtz style at the moment and fell in love with his 12 tags of christmas...can you tell, I'm going to fill this in daily, or maybe weekly but it's something I'm planning on completing each month and at the end of the year will have a detailed journal of the whole year.

I nipped to Hobbycraft one day last week, is it just me or is it really hard to differentiate between days in that week between Christmas and new year, anyway I've discovered a replacement for Mod Podge, it's called Decopatch glossy glue, you can't miss it it's in a bright pink container, it sticks almost instantly and did I mention it's in a pink container ;-)...



Here it is looking rather sexy next to my new Martha Stewart punch...bloody hell how expensive are they but they are gorgeous, I've used it a couple of times already.

Well that's me off...Eastenders is on tonight, BBC are going to mess everyone up tonight showing it on a Sunday...Happy New Year to everyone
Love
Est xx
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