Shiny New Skills in My Creative Space...

I had so much fun at my PMC workshop. These photos are of my fabulous teacher May Bartrum’s demonstration. My hands were a bit greasy while I was working so I didn’t get many shots of my piece.

Our pieces were kiln fired, but May also gave us a demo of torch firing. Most of us also chose to have our pieces put in the tumbler for a few hours after we finished them, for a super duper shine.

These are some of the progress shots of my piece that I did manage to get.

The piece next to mine in the "drying" shot is Selina’s.  I am so glad she joined me for this class it was lots of fun to share the experience with a fellow blogger and nice for us to finally meet. 

The little piece in the “silver” shot is a little dangle to hang from the back of the chain, I whipped it up in a couple of minutes with the left over bits.

And here it is my newest bling. My perfectionist side wishes I had more time for designing and refining this piece.  But I am really happy with the skills I learnt and that’s what the workshop was all about.

I am positive I shall be revisiting this medium and making more shiny things, so there will be more PMC in My Creative Space in the future…

Creativity abounds at Kirsty’s on a Thursday, so pop over and check it out – while your there why not join us, its heaps of fun and a little bit addictive

Back to Class

I’m heading back to the class room this afternoon for another one of the Artisan Wonderland workshops.

Last time I did a felt slipper making class and this afternoon I am trying PMC.

Precious Metal Clay is like plasticine while you work it but after kiln firing it is just like normal silver. The workshop out line indicates we will be making a stone set ring. I can’t wait, I love learning new things and learning is especially good when you walk away with a new piece of jewellery too!

I meeting up with a special blogger in class too…

Feeling triumphant!

I’ve been so productive in My Creative Space this week.

Little Tweet Tweet is finished! I spent Tuesday at Rod Art Studio working on him and was so happy with how he was looking.   Then at the very last moment – literally, I was just about to run the polishing cloth over for the last time..... the chain snapped. It was so frustrating there was no time to repair it and I couldn’t go home wearing my adorable new pendant like I had imagined all day.

But with a few more hours work on Wednesday I had him ready to go and even better than before. What do you think, worth all of the planning, work and waiting?? I definitely think so, I can’t stop looking at my quirky, one of a kind, hand made necklace!

But that’s not the only creating that’s been going on for me this week. I have been painting, properly painting, with my oils and on the easel painting.  It’s been soooooo long!

A little while ago I started a little sketch book of nothing. I was inspired by Little Guys two year old scribbles, so free and joyous. So I sat down with a charcoal pencil and scribbled and doodled nothing at all. It was fun and freeing, but then I just put the book away and didn’t think of it again. Monday night I ventured into the studio and pulled it out. This little sketch caught my eye and I was inspired to develop it further.

I had to do a lot of rearranging in the studio to clear the easel, but as soon as the paints were spread out and the first glaze was mixed, the smell of the oils brought it all back and I just fell into it.

I’m thrilled with this, my funny, scribbly, painting of nothing! I have called it "Freedom", I just felt so free and creative and comfortable as I painted it. I’m on a roll and I plan to build momentum, I remember now how addictive this feeling is.

 

 "Freedom"

oil on canvas

101 x 76

2010

$200

I also been to the fabric shop and picked up some really great fabrics for more flower brooches. Ooooh and I got some vintage earrings for embellishing the brooches.  But all of that and more is going to have to wait for another post!

Pop over to Kirsty’s and be inspired by creative folk from across the globe, as today is the day everyone shares the goings on in their creative spaces.

Creative excitement plus....

Today I head off to Rod Art Studio to finish my Little Tweet Tweet pendant, I’m so excited. I can’t wait to start wearing him and show him off here too! Will I go silver feet or will I choose green?

But wait……. there’s more creativity happening around here!  Is this evidence of a painting in progress???????

Stay tuned more details and a big unveiling soon.

Little Tweet Tweet

It’s time to end the suspense and let you meet Little Tweet Tweet (thanks for the name suggestion Missy Minzy!).

I have spent another great day at The Rod Art Studio indulging in my third silver smithing class.

I should have been working on a stone set ring, but this little guy has been floating around in my head since seeing Mitsy’s tutorial for Spring Felt Birds.

He’s not quite finished, so I’ll have to spend a bit more time in the silver smithing workshop (what a shame!).

I had Tania from Jet beads make me some lamp work beads as possible feet, but I think I will go with the filigree silver beads from a pair of earrings that were in my jewellery case.

 Which feet do you prefer?

It’s Thursday, my favourite bloggy day, time to head over to Kirsty’s and immerse myself in creativeness from all around the globe.

Artisan Wonderland

I have been on a bit of a learning frenzy lately and I am loving it. My latest trip “into the classroom” was the felt slipper making workshop on the weekend. It is liberating to find out how things are made and it is giving me a new appreciation for the skills, work and passion that goes into all things handmade. Luckily for me there is no shortage of learning opportunities available to me this coming year; right on my doorstep.

The Artisan Wonderland program is running all sorts of creative workshops throughout the year at unbelievably low prices. The felting workshop was part of the Artisan Wonderland series and my silver smithing teacher Rod is also hosting workshops within the program later in the year. All of the workshops are run by local artists; just check out array the classes that are available to appreciate what an abundance of talent and knowledge is living in my area!

A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions.

- Anonymous

My latest creation….

After another productive day spent at Rod Art Studio I now have a one of a kind, sterling silver, hand made pendant.

It’s great spending some of my creative time in Rod’s space.

I am learning so much and his space is so much more organised and neat than mine!

Take a peek into lots of other creative spaces over at Kirsty’s lovely blog.

Silver, silver, silver......

The creative space I want to share with you this week is actually Rod Art’s Studio, not my own.

I spent the day there yesterday for my first silver smithing class. It was a fantastic day. I learnt so much in a laid back, fun way AND I got to take home my masterpiece, a shiny new thumb ring, made by me!

 I can’t wait for my next class; I will be making a pendant, so my head is now swimming with design possibilities.

I’m also thinking ahead to the next class and wondering about designs for a stone set ring! I am loving this journey and am constantly amazed that I have ended up here, who knew I would make jewellery?

 I certainly didn’t see it in my future, but I am so glad that I am, it is so rewarding and it is great to be learning new things.

Check our lots of other creative spaces over at Kootoyoo.