Archive for the category “Mixed Media”

31 May 2012

A little bit of “junk” ….

I don’t know why, but I love old things.  Old tickets, letters, photos, lace doilies and ribbons. I love it all.  The representation of days gone past, of a simpler time – perhaps – but perhaps in ways a much harder time.  Certainly I think a more innocent time.  That might be why I love white.  White and cream.  Innocence.  Almost.

That was my inspiration to create this little book, I call it my Vintage Junk Book.  It’s nothing in particular.  Just a collection of odds and ends.  Junk.  Lace, ribbon, buttons.  Arty stuff.  Mica, crackle paste, gesso, glimmer mist.  All housed together in one little inspirational book, not much bigger than an ATC.

 

If taught this project recently and we had a ball putting all the little bits and pieces together, creating little pockets for bits of ephemera, getting messy with glimmer mists and mica flakes.  Now it’s your turn!  I have today released the project in kit form complete with very detailed instructions with step by step photos.  All of this for just $35 and you’ll learn loads of techniques and tips for creating this style of project.

If you are interested in purchasing one simply visit our website here …… and let the creativity begin!

Be happy
Natalie x

 

Posted in Kits, Mixed Media | Leave a Comment
14 May 2012

It’s been too long …

Way too long since my last blog post ….

But so much has happened, there have been so many changes and I have barely been able to keep up until now.

March 31st of this year was the last day my beloved Scraptivate, the store I started up in 2006, traded for the last time.  I said goodbye to 5 and a half years of selling Scrapbooking and Art supplies from our shopfront at Joondanna.  But it’s not goodbye from me at all ….

In April my new online store Artability was launched!  Artability houses an eclectic mix of art and craft supplies and it is my mission to continue to bring you all the products I know you love, and the items that are harder to find, the vintage, the eclectic, the unique.  I am working full time operating the website and teaching classes from our home studio and also from a local community centre.  I am only just now getting in to the swing of this new life, there are still some things to organise, some things to finalise and a lot of change to get used to.

What hasn’t changed is my love of art.  In fact if anything it has blossomed and become deeper than ever before.  I now have more time to develop classes and workshops and I have ideas swimming around in my mind keeping me awake at night.  I even downloaded an app on my iPad which I keep by my bed – so when an idea comes to me at 2am I can sketch it and visit it again later.  That’s the theory!

Whilst on this quest to simplify my life I will only now maintain the one blog – A Piece of Sky – so if I have updates on new classes and products for Artability I shall post them here also.

Before I sign off for the night I’ll share with you my latest project …. inchies, an old love, adorned with Faux Enamel embellishments which have been created using the new Vintaj Patinas, a new favourite of mine!

More soon!
Natalie x

Posted in Mixed Media | Leave a Comment
16 Jan 2012
1 Comment

Almost my bedtime ….

It is 11.48pm on a Monday night.  Here I sit.  In my artroom.  This is my favourite room in the house.  I have the music playing, I have my little baby bird on my shoulder and my hands are messy with paint.  And gesso.  And ink.  I don’t like to wash it off.  I would just leave them like that all the time if I could.  It feels creative.  Washing them feels like I am washing away the creativity …..

So before I take myself off to bed and call it a day I wanted to share with you tonight’s creation while it is still fresh in my mind.  It will actually be the sample for my Mixed Media 101 class on at Scraptivate this Wednesday and Saturday …..

I did take a full shot of the page but I can’t share it with you tonight.  Poor lighting and me being lazy meant the photo came out blurry …..

There are layers of collage here, book text, magazine images …. layered with stamping, acrylic paint washes, more stamping, masking, a touch of gesso and so on ….

I have a canvas to share with you too, and some photos of this awesome spider that was in my backyard last night …. but my eyes are getting sleepy ….

So
Goodnight my lovelies
Go create something.  While I sleep.

xxx

There was a whole world out there, waiting to be discovered, and she was eager to be a part of it.

 

Posted in Classes, Mixed Media
03 Jan 2012
1 Comment

Playing with plaster

This week’s Mixed Media 101 class is set to be a fun one as we will be playing with plaster of Paris!  I love working with plaster and the rustic finish it creates really resonates with me.  I’ll be teaching how to create an archway with it (based on the Collections arches) and place it on a background done with pan pastels – another favourite of mine due to their fantastic soft matt finish.  Awesome!

Here are some pics of the class sample page …

So if you like what you see and you want to learn more about plaster of Paris and pan pastels – call us at the Scraptivate on 9444 6626 and book in!  Class is just $25, this Wednesday 10.30am – 12.30pm and Saturday 1.30pm – 3.30pm.

See you there!

Natalie x

Posted in Classes, Mixed Media
02 Jan 2012
2 Comments

A New Journal for a New Year

And so here it is.

2012.

Wow.

I am actually fairly happy to see in a New Year and put the last one behind me.  Very happy in fact.  I thought it would be fitting also to do start a brand new journal for the new year and so on New Year’s Eve that’s exactly what I did.  I took a basic black hardbound A4 journal and turned it into this:

The book is done with a combination of gesso, pan pastels, crackle paint and moulded resin.  I love the softness of the colour.  You may like to join me and decorate a journal of your own ….. I will be teaching this one at Scraptivate in February, click on My Classes page or go to www.scraptivate.com.au for more information!

Happy New Year to all of you
Natalie x

Posted in Altered Books, Classes, Mixed Media

Post Navigation

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.