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.

Lots to Do Challenge - Distressed Tags

You know the saying "Sod'sLaw" well that is very apt for me at the moment.  When I was away just over a week ago I had blogged and done a "post option" for most of the days before setting off.  Then I come back, am full of a cold, which is more like flu, and I take to my bed - no blogging since Monday.

I had done some tags in readiness for "ELEMENTS" which is this weekend and as I had used Distress Inks I thought I would put them in for the Lots to Do Challenge this week.  LTD is my favourite Challenge and I hate to miss out with it.  These are not the ones I am using for this weekend so I guess it does not matter my uploading them today.

Just plain simple tags using various colours with Archival black stamped images over the top.  Some of them are highlighted with Glossy Accents in various places but it doesn't show up in the photograph.  The tags don't fit in with the theme of my Project so that makes me feel that I am not giving anything away about "ELEMENTS".

I will be uploading pictures from the weekend (you have no idea what a great Project you have missed if you are not attending) early next week.  All I can say is that I was overcome when I put the finishing touches to my Project - I love it and am sure you will.

Play Date Cafe with Dimension Fourth

On Play Date Cafe this week the colours chosen by Julie are black/white/splash (the splash being either gold, copper or pink).

One of my friends was celebrating her birthday on Saturday so I decided to use some of my Dimension Fourth images as I felt these ladies really suit Chris.  As I had six images to choose from, and it being her 60th I just had to use them all and so I made her an accordion card.

I began by cutting out some ovals with my Nestabilities and stamping and embossing each lady in turn.  Then for my splash of colour I used a vibrant pink from my Twinkling H2o's to pick out a detail on each image.

As this is the first image and forms the front of the card I painted a tiny piece of cardstock with the hot pink and diecut the number 60, then stamped the Birthday Greetings just below the image (phew - got it right)

It needed a little bit more to it so I looked at my MS punches but they were too broad so I remembered the paper lace I got from Lakeland Plastics (how I regretted not having got more of this as I saw that Ali Crafts sells it in packs - ah well, Leigh show is coming up and they will be there) and put that at the top and bottom of each page.  

So there it is, killing two birds with one stone - a card for Chris and my entry for this weeks Play Date Cafe.  Black and White with a 'Splash' of Pink!  (Although it looks pale pink now that I look at my blog - must be the reflection from the towel I stood it against)

Promise - The Last Ones for Barcelona

I had heard so much about Las Ramblas that I simply had to go one day.  Unfortunately we chose Sunday when all the shops were closed - or had Chas an ulterior motive here?

First thing I saw was this statue.  I was quite surprised at it after all the lovely old buildings and other things we had seen on our previous days in Barcelona (we were actually staying in Calella and going in on the train).

Then it moved!!!

It was so like a statue that I honestly thought it was one (and not a living one) and I jumped out of my skin when it moved.  There were lots of them, all down each side of the walkway - thought I would share some of them with you as they were so good.

This guy was brilliant

Oops!  he's lost his head.

the inevitable Flamenco Dancer

Another headless man?

I'll leave you today with a window display to let you spot the stars. Hopefully I can do a challenge or two this week so watch out - crafting at last!

Last One for Gaudi

La Pedrera was the last place we visited on our trip to see the work of Gaudi.  Another impressive facade but very different inside to Casa Batllo.

It was funny when one of the Guides stopped us and made it obvious she was going to send us up in the lift.  As everyone else seemed to be walking up the stairs I began to think we would miss out on some of the things to see so I asked if we could use the stairs.  She queried did I "want to walk up six floors" - I said it was ok.  Foolish!

Two floors up I was exhausted and beginning to wonder when we were going to have some relief and go in some entrance or something.  No!  We had to go to the top - all six floors.  Silly me! Let it be a warning to you all.

Once we got to the top we saw an exhibition which explained Gaudi's understanding of architecture and design along with his methods of working.  This was explained through models and plans, objects and design, photographs and fabulous video presentations.  Walking through we were greeted by this magnificent sight

An architectural delight!

Catenary Arches

And how he worked it out

A series of chains suspended with a mirror underneath.

I was feeling just a little disappointed comparing it with Casa Batillo but when we walked up a small flight of stairs onto the roof I gaped in wonder - it was massive and these photographs are only a small bit of it.

Don't these just look like soldiers helmets?  Great clay inspiration here.

I'll leave it there as it is still taking forever to upload a picture and I am scheduling this and the next one for over the weekend as I am working at the Harrogate Show both Saturday and Sunday.  Do stop by and say "hello" and pick up some bargains from Oyster Stamps. (See me demonstrating the eCraft machine - never seen it before so I think it is a quick lesson from Tracy as soon as I get there).