CONTEMPORARY CRAFT RETREAT

Explore making unique polymer clay veneers which are then constructed into several two sided triangle veneers, these are sewn together to form - a book or a puzzle or a coffee table focal piece.

This is a 1-day class to sculpt a whimsical bird with a human face. You will learn about clay sculpting, mold/texture plates use, building a base form and working on capturing an expression.

If you are totally new to clay, that is fine, this clay is wonderful to work with. We are going to be using a face mask that I have sculpted for you and turn that into a head, then attach to a bird body you have made and patterned. It is a layered approach right the through to the painting and lots of fun to do.

You will end up with your own unique Quirky Bird and skills to develop your own ideas later.

Drip it…Drip it Real Good!

In this fun and relaxed class we will explore some of the techniques that you can use with liquid polymer clay.

You will learn how to get the best results from your liquid clay, using moulds to create a pair of filigree earrings. 

There will be plenty of play time as well to explore. From embellishing beads and larger objects to making delicate and lightweight stand-alone focals. 

There is something for everyone!

This year we’ll be creating a fabulous necklace and earring set using mixed media; copper metal clay, enamels and some makins clay beads (along with some fabulous paints, guilders paste and UV resin).  

This is a 1-day class to make a small bird or 2 on a creative upcycled base. You will learn about clay sculpting, mold/texture plates use, building a base form, balance and capturing a sense of an expression.

Your bird can be as real as you like or just out of your imagination. Please bring images either printed or on your phone if you have a particular bird you want to create.

If you are totally new to air dry clay, that is fine, this clay is wonderful to work with regardless of your level of practice.

This form of sculpture is a very layered approach, right the through to the painting and lots of fun to do. You will end up with your own unique sculpture and skills to develop your own ideas later.

Painting and Bleaching

Grab a Cab and Rap it, Wrap it good.

Wire Wrapping

Using square and half round copper wire, after a few fun warm up exercises (with wire, no yoga required) we will harness a cabochon (stone or glass) looking at how to keep it neat and secure and finding fascinating ways to lock in all those wire ends to create your own unique design.

When you have the basics covered you can lash out with something more free form and experimental if you wish, unleashing your wild side, expressing yourself.

Wire work can employ many shapes and sizes and types of wire, but  the techniques used basically fall into two categories :

Wire Wrapping (wrapping bundles of wire to secure them, shaping them around stones etc.) and

Wire Weaving (weaving in and out of sets of wires in patterns, also commonly including coiling)

Some designs may contain both wrapping and weaving.

Reasonably dexterous hands but not unreasonable strength required.

Simple Screenprinting onto Fabric and Paper using handmade stencils and masks.

Using simple paper cutouts, create wonderful patterns onto fabric and paper, by layering and the use of water-based media, take the prints to another level. Repeat patterns can be easily achieved. Lots of fun.

Add a dash of Paverpol

Paverpol is a versatile non-toxic product used as a stand-alone art product as well as an enhancement for other mediums.

Come and try this simple sculpture and see how Paverpol might be useful for your art works.

We will be making a frame from polystyrene, skewers, wire and aluminium foil. 

To give our sculptures some life we fashion a face out of Apoxie sculpt clay using a mold and to adorn our creations we can use fabric and found organic or inorganic objects to create an individual sculpture.

Students work can be as minimalist or detailed as desired

Close-up showing detail.

Painting silk.

Weaving in and out, spiralling around about.

Wire Weaving

Using just two gauges of wire, simple tools and an active imagination there are endless patterns and textures possible in woven wire.

Starter:

Get weaving right away with some patterns and textures, make some coils and manipulate it all into a twisted wire pendant masterpiece.

Starting with a woven bale capture a drilled flat feature stone, large bead or stone donut to show off your work.

If you are rocketing along with these wonderful weaves, choose another feature bead/stone or more and let go of your inhibitions and experiment with different weaves, coils, twists and turns.

Wirework can employ many shapes and sizes of and types of wire, but the techniques used basically fall into two categories:

Wire Wrapping (wrapping bundles of wire to secure them, shaping them around stones etc.) and

Wire Weaving (weaving in and out of sets of wires in patterns, also commonly including coiling)

Some designs may contain both wrapping and weaving.

Reasonably dextrous hands but not unreasonable strength required.

Double D Icons

We creators need to be Double D girls: Dreamers AND Doers.  This is a class for dreaming and doing.  Create your Double D icon, connect with your inner Carnivale queen and discover your Rio roots. Learn lots of polymer skills on the way.  I have always been fascinated by reliquaries, shrines and iconography and have discovered that this form of art exists in many different traditions and cultures.

 Making these icons is A LOT OF FUN and will give you a chance to combine creative expression with reflection about values, intentions and having fun!  In my case making these also helps me deal with my latent desire for bigger, perkier boobs. 

We will NOT be making a face cane but each participant will receive a slice of one made expressly for this class.  If you have made your own face cane (say in my class a couple of years ago), do bring it along.  We will try to match skin colours.  

I will bring plenty of embellishment canes but this is a terrific project for using up butt ends of beloved canes if you have them.  Participants will receive extensive notes and my 40 Fantastic Canes Flow chart.

For those among you who are partial to the Iris Apfel philosophy of jewellery and adornment,  I will bring, nay wear, my Double D goddess necklace. Too much was certainly not enough. 

Learn to sculpt a face and torso using Apoxie Sculpt, then dress the figure using Makins Clay. 

(A face mould will be available if you prefer to use one).

With Apoxie Sculpt you achieve amazing detail and Makins Clay has flexibility so you can "go to town" with your creativity.

There will be 3 options....

1/  BUST TO HIPS with no arms...Beginners.

2/  BUST TO HIPS with arms.

3/ FULL BODY  (head to tail)..... Experienced students. ( Beginners may take this option if they feel confident to cover/ create a tail at home).

PLEASE NOTE: It is likely a full body will not be completed in this workshop, but its easy to create a tail !!    

(I will run a sculpting Workshop on the Tuesday after the Retreat if you wish to complete your Mermaid).

NB: Sculpture in pic is not yet painted.... you will paint yours at home!!!

Come and make your own solid silver jewellery inspired by the seashore in this fun and informal workshop. We will be using natural forms such as found shells, leaves and flowers to make moulds and texture the silver clay. The silver pieces can be earrings, pendants or bracelet charms.

Come join Bobbi and make this Greenman plaque.  20x15cm

Working with air dry clay over an armature, Bobbi will work with you to create the male facial anatomy using the classical sculpting rules thumb technique and help you explore the versatile medium of air dry clays.

Bring your favourite sculpting tools or Bobbi will have tools you can borrow. Everything will be supplied that you need to complete this piece. You may need to take home to paint as drying completely might not be achieved. It will firm up enough to transport though.

A bit of history about Greenman.

An An enigma spanning thousands of years, the Green Man is a symbol of mysterious origin and history.  Permeating various religious faiths and cultures, the Green Man has survived countless transformations and cultural diversities, enduring in the same relative physical form to this day.  Although specifics about his beginnings and his worship are not fully known, due in large part to how far back and to what initial cultures he can be traced to, it is a testament to the widespread reach of his character that he is still remembered and worshipped to this day. 

The Green Man is most highly believed to have begun as a pre-Christian entity, a spirit of nature personified as a man.  His earliest images have been dated long before the coming of the Christian religion, depictions dating back before the days of the Roman Empire.  However, it is with the coming of the empire that his images are noted as spanning religions, as he has been found both within the empire and at its borders, and then similar versions in other far reaching cultures such as India. Despite the range in locations of artifacts of the Green Man, he is most often associated with the society of the Celts, sequestered particularly in today's Britain and France, because of the high number of images found in these regions and the stylized way in which he has been portrayed.  enigma spanning thousands of years, the Green Man is a symbol of mysterious origin and history.  

In this workshop make one or several of these pocket journals from Gel plate prints, plain paper, glue, thread, a bead, and washi tape.

Learn free hand, stencilling and fluid painting techniques with enamels on float glass.

All pendants shapes will be pre cut to save time and get the most out of 3 hours.

You will be making 3 small pendants each using using UGC enamel powders.

The pendents will then be baked in a microwave kiln.

This workshop will be an introduction to the delights of Glass fusing and creating something unique.

It's designed for those who haven't used a microwave kiln before or those who have and want to extend their knowledge beyond the basic fusing of glass.

Come join Jane and make these great little gifts!
Your kit will include every thing you need to make one of these beautiful reusable Christmas Crackers. You fill with all your own treats for a unique Christmas lunch gift for your guests.....  or the Christmas cracker can be used as a table decoration. 

It’s made with a combination of paper, fabric and Christmas embellishments. 

This little book has a sticky note pad inside and can be refilled. It’s a great stocking filler or just a nice gift for someone special.

Using skinner blends and easy canes explore the possibilities making a polymer clay cane that can easily be made into a variety of kaleidoscope pendants or veneers.