Powertex Garden Party - Day 1

When we arrived there was a goodie bag on every chair. There was a number on one side of the bag and two raffle tickets on the other side of the bag. Inside the bag were loads of goodies.

Here we all are delving into the goodies for our first project and opening the canvas and bag of bits that went with it.

Tracey explaining what we were going to be doing.

Anna on hand to help out.

The sides of the tent came off as it was sooooo warm.

Tea, coffee and water available as and when you wanted it.

I went for a walk around the gardens and came across this fabulous pair made by Patricia and David Williams, Powertex tutors. They've made them for an exhibition, but 'lent' them to Tracey for the garden party. I've seen photos of them, but they are so much better in the flesh.

More makes by other Powertex tutors dotted all around the grounds.

I just love this dog, he may be my next project!!

This piece was taken to shows for people to add bits to.

She has the most fabulous eyes!!!

This was the eating area set up next to the house, but with yet more exhibits scattered around for us to see.

I love this table, and I've just made some fossils out of moulds!!

Now remember the number that was on our bags, well we had to find everyone else with the same number and then go into the dressing up booth and have a photo taken. I did do it but haven't got a photo of it yet!! I think Michelle took one though.

Found it, here we go. This one is actually of our table!

Back to the tent and to the canvas to add 3d flex to get some crackles going on.

Tracey giving us a demo of what to do with it after creating our mucky mess and slapping that on the canvas too, along with some clay made with sand.

There was also Hayley who was giving fabulous hand massages. This is Jan having one, I had one later in the afternoon after we'd been reviving clay!

There was also a hammock swing attached to a tree.

And this is inside the wigwam tent. I'll get a photo of the outside of it tomorrow.

There is also a totem type pole for everyone who visits to add something too. When it's all covered and finished Tracey said they would possibly donate it to a local school. So of course, I added my pieces to that too.

Here we are just helping the 3d flex to start to crack by using the hairdryer on them.

After they'd started to crack we left them outside in the sun whilst we all went off for a lovely buffet lunch and sat in the area next to the house that I showed you earlier with the blue marquee.

After lunch our project was a horse. We covered it in clay over the masking tape and stamped into it as we were going along.

Making clay shapes from the moulds to put on the horses. Unfortunately they were all flower related apart from the small fossil, so mine ended up quite bare compared to everyone elses!!

This one is mine, and now having seen the photo I have realised that I've put his eyes way too high, but hey ho, it's too late now, they will be rock solid by tomorrow morning!!

These are the creations of the ladies on the table opposite us.

This is Tracey's finished one which we should end up with tomorrow, once its been dry brushed.

After we'd finished we all went back down to the house for a glass of bubbly served in our very own unique handmade glass. 

Anyone for another.................

And then back to the hotel, for a shower and evening meal.

Biker Skull for a Friend

I made this one for a friend as when she saw the previous two I had made she said how she would like one.

He is made in exactly the same way as the first two that I made.

And he came out different yet again, but happy to say she loves him.

TM Style Journal

I've finally finished the TM style journal that I started from scratch when I went to Chris's last year to have a play day.

Side two, which is finished now that I've added some words to the open spaces.

These are the pages I did yesterday, this set had only been painted up until then. I spent quite a lot of the day looking through magazines which Chris kindly brought for me when we met at the end of April.

More words added to the open spaces to finish these pages.

Added the white circles and letters to the left page and the words to the right, the middle page is my favourite of them all.

  

Close up of the front sides of all of the pages.

Close up of the other sides of all of the pages together.

Biker Skull & Biggles

I was inspired by this photo that someone put up on FB of a biker skull that they had bought whilst on holiday in Mallorca. I thought she'd made it but she hadn't, so I had to give it a go.

Firstly I created a mould as all the skulls ones I have are quite small. I was bought a skull candle which I haven't burnt yet, so I used mold and pour around it. This mould measures approx 4" x 3" x 3".

I mixed up a batch of clay using ivory powertex and stoneart.

I didn't want to totally fill the mould with clay as it would take forever to dry. I just made sure it was thick enough to give me a good outer coat. I peeled it very carefully out of the mould and then put a round polystyrene ball in place so it kept its shape whilst it dried.

I also cut some goggle and side pieces from the clay. As the sun was out, I put everything outside to dry. I left the googles on top of the head so that they dried with a bend in them as opposed to being flat.

Once dry I took out the polystyrene ball.

This is what they look like from the back.

I started to fill the gap with small pieces of tinfoil, (approx 4" x 4").

And moulded a head.

Look at it from all angles.

Covered it masking tape and then gave it a coat of ivory powertex.

Took them back inside and covered them with cling film, as I wanted to create the helmet. I cut a piece of bubble wrap to the approx size I wanted the fabric to be.

I don't have any photos of this next step as I changed my mind. I decided to add a layer of clay over both of them and also create a rim for the helmet.

I put the goggles back on and set them outside to dry again.

And here they are finished. I ended up with a biggles and a biker as the fabric helmet didn't work out as I wanted it to. I broke one and the other worked out okay, hence biggles on the left.

Front view of Biggles. He is not stuck to the piece of wood, just perched! I may even add pigments to his helmet.

I decided to just paint his helmet in black Decoart premium paint and outlined the rim in silver.

Biker skull from the right.

View from the top with their googles on their heads.

And then the sun really came out!!

Had great fun making these!!!