Andy's London workshop

Hi Everyone.

I took myself off to Andy's London workshop yesterday and had a fantastic time creating an ATC box and 5 ATCs using lots of his products including the new pastes. I thought I would show you how I finished the ATCs off at home with more of Andy's and some of my own supplies.

Andy demonstrates his products through Creative Expressions on YouTube and I have given you the link to them with each of the samples below.

Structure Paste
This is a beautiful smooth textured paste great for using with stencils but Andy shows you other fabulous ways to use it which included the background on this sample.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2OiABlheB8

Strata Paste 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAYl2vDdTp4
This will give you some incredible textures and on this ATC you can see how well his transfers work even with the bumpy textured surface.

Resist Paste and Rice Papers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCzXNHYYN0c
Andy's video shows how you how to see the resist paste with two layers of paint but we used it over his rice papers and it worked beautifully.

Lava paste
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0bsUUA-zVw
As you will see on the video Andy demonstrate great ways to use this product which has another amazing texture. At the workshop we used it with a palette knife and a brayer.

I am already looking forward to the next workshop as Andy thinks he will use the London venue again. You have perhaps already seen photos on FaceBook. It was a great room with plenty of space, Di from Tando brought along a pop up shop with lots of gorgeous goodies and lunch provided for extra if you wanted it, just soup and bread but perfect for the day.

Have fun playing with the new pastes and don't forget to take a look at the videos for lots of ideas.

Thanks for stopping by.
hugs Brenda
Bumblebees and Butterflies


Products

You will find all of Andy's products with Creative Expressions HERE
Structure Paste
Strate Paste
Resist Paste
Lava Paste
Rice Papers
Transfers
Stamps
Paints

We Dared.. you Created!

Well, what a fabulous, fun-filled and furious weekend I had at Dare to Create with Tracy Weinzapfel. Two days of mixed media workshops were topped off with a live, interactive Dare to Create session which we taught jointly on Sunday afternoon. I'm worn out but elated by the wonderful comments from the students who came along - thank you all for your lovely feedback and more so for giving Tracy such a warm welcome on her debut appearance in the UK.

Here we are looking fetching in our handmade aprons, courtesy of Debbie Martin. Pink's my colour don't you think?

My Saturday Workshop

Tracy's Saturday Workshop

I've known Tracy for quite a long time and she wasn't going to get away without a prank or two on my part - I might have hidden eight alarm clocks in her room and set them to go off a few minutes apart. She got off pretty lightly really! I expect she's already plotting her revenge for when I go to the States later in the year...

Thanks to everyone for embracing and joining in with our tomfoolery and wearing your 'Tracy, is it dry yet' caps with pride! (If this reference is lost on you, check out pretty much any video of Tracy's and just watch!)

There were so many creative variations coming out from the students - fabulous to see so many people embracing their creativity.

Artwork by Brenda Brown

Artwork by Carol Findon

Artwork by Suz Humphreys

Thank you to everyone who came along and to Art Workshops for organising the weekend. We hope you had as much fun as we did and that we'll see you all again sometime.

Tracy and I will be appearing together again at the Ministry of Mixology weekend retreat in Chicago this October. There are still a few places remaining and we'd LOVE it if you'd come and join us!

The Italian Job

Continuing on my European adventure, I've been teaching in Italy this weekend (and am doing so again next weekend) at Marte in Savona. My hosts have put me up in the most exquisite place - they own a vineyard and olive grove where they make their own wine, liqueurs and olive oil (I may have sampled some - be rude not to!). And I've been eating the most delicious food, all home grown. More about that later in the week - with pictures.

So for this Saturday's class we worked on the 'Book of Redemption'.

And our Sunday workshop was my 'All Seeing Eye' project. 

I had to work with a translator this time and many of the students were scrapbookers who hadn't done mixed media before. But what brilliant students! They all worked fantastically and the end results were so good! I had my youngest ever student too, who is already super talented at just 11 years old.

My hosts also took me to the best pizza place in the world where the pizza is just to die for. Best I've ever tasted. Can't have too many of these or I'll never fit into the suit for my daughter's wedding!

So all in all having such a fabulous time - except for my visit to A&E.... I made the mistake of leaving my windows open and was savaged by mozzies to the extent I only have one functioning eye as it's swelled up! Hopefully I will be able to see again by Saturday for my next class! You'll be pleased to know I'm not sharing any pictures of that!

Ciao for now!

Workshops at Scraps N Pieces, Athens

I recently spent two very enjoyable days giving some workshops at Scraps N Pieces in Athens. I have to start by offering a huge thank you to Myrto (the owner) for her warmth and hospitality. I was made to feel very welcome indeed. The delegates were equally lovely - very lively and wonderfully enthusiastic - plenty of laughs were had.

Classes at Scraps N Pieces

We did two full-day workshops - Note to Self and Antiquated Appliqués - using DecoArt Media products, Tando Creative chipboard kits and lots of techniques. The students did some great work, with lots of them putting their own spin on the designs.

Some of the delegates' work

 All in all the weekend made for a very pleasant teaching experience which I hope to repeat in the future. Thank you Greece for having me!

My (sort of) European Tour

Announcing two dates in Europe this summer! I'll be travelling to Italy and Greece for weekend events and would love to see you there. There are still a few places available at each location.

7th-8th May
Scrap n Pieces, Agios Dimitrios, Athens

www.scrapsnpieces.gr

For more info contact the store on:
info@scrapsnpieces.gr
tel 2114042654

Make two fantastic mixed media pieces - Note to Self altered book and an Altered Appliques assemblage piece.

4th-5th June & 11th-12th June
Marte, Savona, Italy

www.martesavona.it/happysummerscrap.html

For more info contact the store:
info@martesavona.it

 Not one but two weekends of mixed media fun featuring four different projects - Book of Redemption, All Seeing, Scrap Metal and Note to Self




Booking's are via the stores and you can find more info on their website. Looking forward to these dates - mixed media fun and if I am lucky a bit of time in the sun too!

DecoArt at Stitches

DecoArt have got the best of UK talent out in force at this year's CHSI (Stitches) trade show. The show is at the NEC, Birmingham, on 21st-23rd February 2016 and is open to anyone associated with the craft trade.

WORKSHOPS

• I will be teaching workshops on Sunday 21st at 4:45pm and Tuesday 23rd at 9:30am
• Kate Crane will be teaching on Monday 22nd at 1:15pm

You can book the workshops at the Stitches website.

DEMONSTRATIONS
Each day there will be a variety of DecoArt demos taking place:

• Di Oliver - AM
• Myself and Kate Crane - between workshop times
• Folk It! - AM and PM

Lots of reasons to visit DecoArt if you are coming to the show - find us at stand H34

See you there!

Andy

Ministry of Mixology 2015

I know it's a bit late in the day but this is the first chance I've had to report back on the Ministry of Mixology event that took place in Coventry earlier this month, 120 class spaces in 2 days!

This was our first (but almost certainly not last) Ministry event - a joint venture between DecoArt, myself and Di Oliver at Tando Creative. As I'm a little behind with my blogging, we've had lots of feedback on the weekend already and I am happy to say it was mostly very positive indeed!

I had a fun but furious two days of teaching an altered notebook class using my Tando Industrial Elements kit and, of course, lots of DecoArt product. I think the delegates really liked it - there were certainly lots of smiling faces around the room. What I liked most about the sessions was the variety in the finished items - although everyone followed the exact same techniques we got so many different results.

The other class at the weekend was offered by my colleague Michelle Webb (who you may know from the DecoArt Design Team), whose beach-themed box frame also went down a storm with attendees. I think this project shows off the vibrancy of the DecoArt Media paints beautifully.

Outside of the workshops, we had lots of demos plus a free Folk It! mini workshop, so I need to send out a big thank you to all those who gave of their time so freely and taught with such enthusiasm. We also had a messy table which proved very popular and a very busy Tando shop!

All in all a wonderful weekend of creativity and fun - watch this space for news about the next one (although don't nag me too much - I have a lot of show prep to do between now and January!).

I will leave you with a recap video of the weekend.

And finally some fab feedback!

 

“Fabulous weekend, great class by Andy.  Well organised with shop, refreshments and lunch.  Overall fab experience, would love to see it as a yearly event.  Can we have it further south?”

 

“Wonderful, please do many more”

 

“Enjoyed every minute and it’s fantastic to have something in the Midlands”

 

“Fab workshop, brilliantly explained and Andy and his crew were brilliant and the shop was fab, would love to attend another”

 

“I really don’t think anything could possibly improve Andy’s course!  It has been brilliant and I have learned so much.  Thank you to everyone involved”

 

“Thoroughly enjoyable workshop.  Thank you Michelle.  Timing was good, facilities fab.  Wonderful day, certainly do a similar workshop.  Thanks to all”

 

“It was absolutely FABULOUS!  Michelle is a great teacher and the Tando Beach set is gorgeous – will buy another!  Hotel has been fab, lovely helpful staff – great food and refreshments.  A really great project!  I love DECOART products and have bought loads!  Thank you so much”

 

“Just wanted to say a huge thank you for the amazing weekend in Coventry.  I didn't get a chance to fill out the feedback form at the time as I was dashing for a train, but wanted to say I thought it was brilliantly organised.  Both workshops were fantastic (I was with Michelle on Saturday and Andy on Sunday), great teaching, great set-ups and great kit to play with.  I loved the idea of the "play area" so that you could try out stuff when off-duty.  The food was great throughout the weekend (I was a bit worried at lunch on the Saturday when I came out to find almost empty platters, but just a couple of minutes later they arrived from the kitchen with fresh supplies!)”.

Andy

Painting in Poland

If you've missed me over the past week that's because I've been over in Poland sampling the vodka and teaching some workshops. Our distributor over there, Decoratorium, worked with me to organise some training days for retailers to introduce them to the DecoArt Media line.

A lovely group of delegates from across Poland enjoyed two days of tutoring, where we altered some sketchbooks using a variety of Media line products and my Tando Creative industrial kit.

I had a couple of days before my workshops to look around the city of Poznan, where we were based. It's a city with some beautiful sights and I had a fun time exploring and practicing my photography skills.

They even had a micro brewery at the hotel I was staying at - I felt right at home!!!

I've got a couple more European appearances lined up in Germany, Greece and Italy next year which I really looking forward to! 

Andy

Mixed Media Fest

Just got back from a fun weekend teaching alongside Michelle Webb and Kate Crane at Mixed Media Fest, held at It's Crafting Time in Cambridge.

I taught on both days and Kate and Michelle joined us on Sunday to deliver their workshops - a canvas and art journal spread respectively. All the classes were packed with techniques - using DecoArt products, of course!

On Saturday I taught an 8" x 8" MDF board using my new Tando Industrial Elements kit and tons of Media products.

On Sunday we used a similar selection of goodies to make a Secret Book Box.

I met loads of lovely people and it was especially good to meet some of my colleagues on the DecoArt Helping Artist programme. I think everyone had a good weekend - we had some fun giveaways and we certainly had a few laughs (mostly at the expense of my nemesis Tracy Weinzapfel)! I think I converted a few people to DecoArt too!!!

Next stop Coventry for the Ministry of Mixology!

Andy

CHA Workshops - Registrations are now open!

Last year I held my first workshop at The CHA Mega Show and it was an amazing experience!
I am very excited to be teaching a workshop at CHA on behalf of DecoArt again this year, registrations for places open today (16th September) and you can book HERE 

My workshop is on January 9th at 6pm and is a two hour altered book project using DecoArt Media products. It's suitable for all and will feature lots and lots of cool techniques.

Two of my amazing DecoArt colleagues - Tracy Weinzapfel and Marjie Kemper - are also offering classes so there are lots of different DecoArt experiences to choose from. We hope you will join us!

I will also be spending quite a bit of time at the DecoArt booth throughout the show, so you can also catch up with me there,

Hope to see you at there! It's going be a great show for the 75th Anniversary.
Andy