Unicorn Sherbet Dream

So something pretty exciting happened to me recently. It's almost a year since I made my tv debut on Hochanda and I was given the fantastic opportunity to share my knowledge and passion to the world through my mentor Tracey Evans at Powertex UK. 

And yet another opportunity arises that Tracey puts me forward for. All I had to do was come up with the idea, concept, execute it and write a step by step. Well the above picture is the Powertex Project design I came up with and the magazine below is where is it published. 

Should you wish to pick up a copy with yummy mixed media projects and lovliness follow the links to get a copy of the magazine. Go to www.craftstamper.com for subscriptions, www.mags-uk.com for single print copies, digital copies from www.pocketmags.co.uk. 

Here is a little video I made to try and capture the bling I added to the canvas. Hope you all managed to grab yourself a copy with the project in. And I hope I have inspired you to have a go! You can find more of my work at Rosehart Studio on Instagram, Facebook, and if you wish to own a piece of my art and help me to feed myself then hop on over to my Etsy store. Toodles Anna xXx

A bit of Mixed Up 'Texture' Challenge

I am determined to make some time for learning and experimenting. I thought that when I became an artist full time at Rosehart Studio I would have time to do all the things I wanted to do, I may have been living in woo woo land a little.

Anyway, so that I don't have to do the endless what shall I make stare and lose more time, I thought what better way than entering a challenge, so I don't have to do the thinking just the creating. And I get that little bit of time out to push myself in a different direction and have fun just playing and creating.

So the Challenge should I wish to accept it was created by Mixed Up Mag and this month its all about texture!

With a trusty bottle of Powertex in hand I have taken up the mantel afters all, what texture can't you create with Powertex?

I've gone for a pretty simple design for me. Using one of the new fabulous MDF Tags from The Secret Art Loft.

Using the Easy3d I've created some really scrummy crackles.

I am new to the White Powertex but it has very quickly become my favourite.

I layered the colours with bisters and various inks.

The Powercotton and 3D balls create extra texture with some metal leaf embellishments and a silk flower heading off the tag.

 Well she turned out a real beauty, if I do say so myself. Why not Challenge yourself today and have a go at entering. You might even end up with something that suprises you, I know that I did. Toodles Anna xXx

Fairy house delights.

One of the projects I completed when demonstrating at the Powertex UK stand at the NEC hobbyshow in November was the new Fairy house which has now been put into a project pack for February. Just for you!

  

I had a lot of fun creating this piece I used the black Powertex on the base, one of my go to favourite colours in the Powertex range. On the lower part of the piece I used a mix of sand, balls and Powertex. Then added on the door, toadstools and windows. Added some extra detail with the mdf dropouts and cobwebs. 

On the roof I used the natural paper decoration, by cutting it into little pieces and layering it to give it a tiled 3d effect. I used some of the Powertex UK embellishments in between the natural paper decoration. I also added one of the new Raven mdf shapes. 

I then dry brushed with powercolours burgundy, turquoise and yellow ochre. And used the new interference colours to give a little shimmer effect to the roof. If you're looking for a magical project this month you need to get your hands on this one while stocks last. Toodles Anna xXx

The NEC with Powertex UK

Well, what an amazing response we had from you all at the Birmingham NEC hobbycrafts show. It was so wonderful to share with everyone our love for Powertex!

The team at Powertex Uk hq worked like busy bees and did a grand job of filling packets, labeling, punching, stapling, organising and packing stock in between the normal day jobs. 

Tracey and Garry out did themselves again!! They had a long Wednesday set up, with a 7 am start and they didn't return home to 6.30 pm. But they certainly brought the blank canvas that was the stand to life. With a beautiful array of new products, samples and jaw dropping, stunning artwork.

The creative team were a buzz with excitement. It's so lovely for the tutors to get an opportunity to get together and put a face to the name you often speak with on social media. And gives them all the experience of a big show and to share there knowledge and passion too! 

We managed to catch up with some old faces and some brand new ones who had never seen Powertex before.

We had a good lark about with our neighbours, whom included the crew at Hochanda, Craig at Marbling 4 fun and the team at Totally beads to name but a few. Convinced some of them to go pink for Powertex pink sunday. And raised a bit of money for Cancer Research in the process.  Who says you can't have a bit of fun on the last day!

We crashed out yesterday and had an easy one. Traceys feet were broken, don't worry not literally, Garry had overdosed on sweeties and my ribs were aching from all the laughter. We always have a good crack at the shows and I think that's apparent from the atmosphere on the Powertex UK stand. 

We hope you all enjoyed yourselves. We definitely did! Until next time, we'll meet again. That's all folks. Toodles Anna xXx 

A time for reflection

I have to say I am still a little in my infancy when it comes to knowing who is who in the craft world.This will change the longer I am a part of it I am sure. I have already made some wonderful close super talented friends and this has only come about from my love of being creative and I am glad I quit my job nearly 3 years ago to pursue my dreams because really life is far to short to not give what you were born to do a try. 

This is an image of one of my works the rest are all Liz Welch's beautiful works of art.

On that note I would like to pay tribute to a lady who was a friend of one of my dear friends and who appeared to leave a mark on the world that will remain.To Liz Welch. Knowing she was dying of cancer she still had a positive outlook right to the end and didn't want her death to be all about her but her family and friends left behind. 

What a superb role model to look up to.I would like to honor a lady who seemed to shine brightly where she went with a smile on her face and positive energy surrounding her. I am sad to only have come across her work now.

Sometimes our life on this earth is shorter than we expect and we truly need to understand making the most of it is important. Knowing I can continue to inspire and light peoples passion when I am gone would make me happy. Then I will feel like my purpose on this earth was fulfilled. A reflective Toodle pip Anna xXx

Lady of the sea

I was very excited about creating this piece. It was a sample for Hochanda and the first time I got to use my stamps and that I had seen them in the red rubber stamp format than just my hand drawn illustrations. I also got the fossil moulds https://www.powertex.co.uk/home/360-fossil-mould.html and fossil stencils and absolutely could not wait to use them. So what better way than to put them together and create a journal cover I thought.

I think this was one of the first times I didn't think of a layout and just got straight in. I made some stone art clay and rolled it flat and then stamped into it with the Aprodites kiss stamp. The red rubber really does give exceptional detail. 

So I was a bit happy go lucky with stencils and structure paste. I do love them for giving extra texture and depth to the pieces I create. Even if I do happen to cover them completely with embellishments in the end. You can see I also added some silk paper with Easy mat coat to the front cover above, you can just about see a tiny piece peeking through in the final piece.

 This was the inside of the front cover. I think it's important to decorate all the space you have to hand, it is also good practice.

The back cover started life with just the fossil stencil on. https://www.powertex.co.uk/stencils/349-fossilized-30-x-30-stencil.html I then added some ivory and sprayed black bister on it when it was still wet. If you do this and then add a hair dryer you get some amazing crackling effects happening.

 I used Ivory Powertex over each side. Then sprayed with black bister. This gives a softer effect to just using the black Powertex. I forgot to photograph that stage as I had my head buried in all sorts of ideas for tv. I then dry brushed turquoise, gold and some pearl for the final colour. Would love to see what you create with my stamps. Please share on the Powertex addicts page on Facebook. We love to see what you have been up to. Toodle pip Anna xXx

https://www.powertex.co.uk/rosehart-studio-stamps/375-rosehart-studio-stamp-aphrodite-s-kiss.html

Mixed Media Journal cover inspired by William Morris

I absolutely adore the beautiful nature inspired art and design work created by William Morris. Associated with the Pre-raphaelites. In the late 19th Century he created the Arts and Crafts movement as he felt the need for more creativity in the decorative arts. He also had a taste for the medieval. One wonders whether he drew his inspiration from the beautiful tapestry's created in medieval times. As a textile designer himself I could imagine this would have been his Pinterest board of inspiration for some of his pieces.

My interpretation is a very subtle nod to Morris lots of pattern, nature, acanthus and texture with my own colourful twist. I like how innovative his work was and is to this day, it strived forward and created something visually stimulating and different to anything that had been before. But also keep the handicraft feel which was something he would stand by. A man after my own heart he would not let machines take over, this however would be a hindrance as not many people would be able to afford his work.

I also like how he didn't fit into a mould and it's inspiring to think he created his own movement and style from there. I often have trouble explaining my style because it too doesn't always slot in to an established genre or form. I just explain my style as it's very 'Anna'. Anyway enough of my thoughts and wafflings here is what I created........

As I do with all my designs I decided on my layout before I got messy. You don't have to do this yourself, it's just my preferred method of working. All materials were as usual supplied to me through Powertex UK in my lovely design team kit. Journal kits will be coming soon to the website.

Top Tip: Mould a job lot of all your embellishments so when you need them you can just focus on your projects. I used the daisy mould https://www.powertex.co.uk/moulds/367-fossil-mould.html with the stone art clay https://www.powertex.co.uk/14-stone-art to make mine.

I wanted to get some texture on the base layer of the journal before I put all my embellishments on so I added some lace, cardboard and Easy structure  https://www.powertex.co.uk/30-easy-structure through the arty quotes stencil https://www.powertex.co.uk/the-secret-art-loft/301-30-x-30cm-arty-quotes-stencil.html and then painted a coat of black Powertex over everything.

I then added on the embellishments and decided to add the acanthus on there too. I used the stone art clay on top of the mdf acanthus shape and then stamped into the clay with  https://www.powertex.co.uk/rosehart-studio-stamps/375-rosehart-studio-stamp-aphrodite-s-kiss.html

 I also stamped the back cover using aphrodite's kiss and Cassiopeia with some ivory Powertex.

I used a piece of lace on the inside of the front cover. All the pages are bits and pieces of patterned paper and wrap I have in my stash. And the coloured yarn holds them all together.

I dry brushed the with yellow ochre, turquoise and burgundy powercolor and varnish. I also added some bling to the front. Well, I'm off to get stuck into to more creating. Toodle pip Anna xXx