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

The only limit is you

I've always said that Powertex has changed my life and it's true. One of the biggest lessons I think I have taken from Tracey at Powertex UK is finding my confidence and building on it every day. You really get out what you put in. I would love to say I am just naturally talented and I can create anything but it has taken me a lot of blood sweat and tears to practice and motivate myself to hone my skills.

NEVER LIMIT YOUR IMAGINATION!

I have been using Powertex for over 3 years and I still learn something new every time I create a piece. So what advice do I have to you if you want to have a go. Don't put it off for a second. If you don't like something you have created, take what you have learnt from it. Even if it is how not to do something. Then go ahead and try again with another project.

It's very easy in life to come across negativity directed toward you and to take that on board. For me this started from an early age with my art teacher who as a mentor, I was supposed to look up to and respect. After all adults are always right, aren't they? My A level art teacher told me never to use my imagination for art. He was wrong. He also told me I would fail art. He was very wrong! I now have my own business Rosehart Studio, you can also follow me on instagram.

I've told this story many times and have been so surprised with people responding to me with the same stories and experiences. People who had put them off their dreams and passions of self-expression through art. The thing I think I love about powertex the most is there isn't a right or wrong

 way of using it when it comes to design and composition. 

Once you know the technique you can go away, play with it and make it work the way you need it to.  Never one for conformity I love pushing boundaries, and seeing where my imagination will take me.

Push it past the limits and ideas that have not yet been discovered and it will be forgiving. Dig deep and find the confidence to just have a go. 

If you really would like an extra helping hand look up the tutor details on the powertex uk website and find your local certified tutor. They are trained by the best! Our Tracey at Powertex HQ, so they in turn will give you the best training. We are all lovely happy people who love to guide you and give you that confidence you need to have a go and show you that yes you can do it! My students can’t believe the results they produce! And they really do a fantastic job! Toodles Anna xXx

“Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

― Benjamin Franklin

Powertex is a crafting game changer!

So why is POWERTEX  this wonderful universal medium such a game changer you ask? 

So before I was creating very fiddly and intricate time consuming pieces that I was getting bored of easily and finding difficult to finish. Along came Powertex and through Traceys training I learnt to ‘just go with it’ and ‘keep it simple’.

Ok, ok I hear you saying ‘well her work is still super detailed’ . Yes, I know I do struggle with the whole this is how we are going to ‘keep it simple’. I wrestle with the moto daily, But I’m ok with it because I have come to recognise that this is just my style. 

Now you may not think it by looking at my work but I feel totally freed up with this medium to create how I like. Not only that, I can upcycle my shoes, cover bottles, use up those pesky c.ds that I just can’t bare to throw away and turn them into beautiful wall plaques, create mixed media pieces on offcut planks of wood, fine art pieces and my newest truest love sculptures. What's not to LOVE about Powertex the amazing universal medium. Toodle pip Anna xXx

If I only had a heart

I have been manically trying to get my ducks in a row. After a very busy end of October and beginning of November. My body obviously thinks I need to slow down as I have the dreaded man flu and feel like I have been dragged through a hedge backwards I think I may look like I have too. Anyway, this is a little commission I created sometime ago I though I would share. 

I am pretty chuffed with how this one turned out. It's always really tricky when creating a custom piece for someone. 

Compositions don't always come to me very easily, I really have to work hard on a special piece, the pressure seems a little more intense. I always seem to second guess myself as to whether I am hitting the mark or if what I create will be received well. Doesn't really help that I am such a perfectionist as well!

The tin in on the heart represents tin for ten years of marriage. The one side represents the mechanic in the relationship and the flower and filigree side is the feminine side. With the map representing travel. I love being able to create a meaningful piece. Toodles Anna xXx

These are a few of my favourite things

This one has me in the mood for a little music. My guitar playing has something left to be desired. Perhaps, when I find some spare time I will give it another go, for now I will leave it to the experts and stick with singing in my local Rock choir. Although, I do have some pretty mean guitar skills in rock band on the xbox but I am not quite sure that counts...... 

I have mixed my love of music with my favourite time of year which is autumn. Not so much for the change in temperature but for the beautiful colours that come with the harvest. 

The yellow ochre and red Powertex universal medium seems to offer itself so well to the russet orange, reds and golds of the fall. 

The approach of harvest honors rebirth and renewal and is seen as a time for reaping what has been sewn through out the year. But I especially love that it celebrates creative talents and craftsmanship. A long established custom is the rise in craft festivals and skilled artisans selling their wares particularly at this time of year.

 As the dark evenings grow close, it's seen as the best time of year to learn a new craft, or hone creative talent and skills. Seems like the perfect time to crack open a bottle of Powertex and let the creativity flow. Enjoy and do share your makes with me on the Powertex addicts group. 

If you like the look of a project like this and want to learn some new techniques why not contact a tutor  near you who can show them to you. If you want to support me as a full time artist follow my page on facebook at Rosehart Studio.
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