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

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

It's owl about the mixed media!

I love visiting Powertex UK hq I always get a sneak peak on the new ideas and products coming and going. I also sometimes get a chance to give a little input too! Which I think sometimes gives our Tracey a  bit of a headache! Yes, I do have a lot of ideas brimming in my head constantly. 

When I saw the new Mdf owl kit I instantly had to make a sample after all we were going to the NEC and did need something to inspire everyone with! Well that was my excuse right? 

As usual with most of my designs the 'keep it simple' motto we like to say at Powertex UK hq doesn't really apply to me. I seem to be that rebel that breaks all the rules and throws everything at it. I actually struggle when I am trying to create a simple piece.

But that's the fab thing about Powertex there is no right or wrong, so you can make it as simple or a complicated as you like. And your style will always shine through when you create. I always tend to go the mixed media route with a lot of the pieces I create. 

I've used some acanthus mdf pieces on the branch, above the eye and on the wing. A feather above the eye. And a couple of cogs on the body and branch. And some of the MDF dropouts scattered around here and there.

Then an extra helping of embellishments from Powertex uk and some stencilling and patterned wallpaper which is my favourite go to texture.

All coated in bronze Powertex dried and then dry brushed with red ochre, yellow ochre and turquoise power color and varnish.

Enjoy and have fun creating your owl!  Toodles 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

Slime and snails Or puppy dogs' tails.......

What kind of magic spell would you use? Well Halloween is here. I love this time of year it is literally magic! Hope you have all had a fantastic time carving pumpkins, dressing up, eating toffee apples and lots of candy. 

I decided to create a little Halloween project of my own. If I was at Hogwarts I would definitely be using this to write all of  my spells in.

For the base I used Black Powertex, I added some lace and used 'the end' stencil with easy structure for extra texture. 

I love the black for how the colour pops once you have dry brushed your piece. I always lay out my design so I get a balance to the composition. I used a mixture of plaster and metal embellishments. The roses were created by pushing stone art clay into the rose mould.

I am loving the new mdf hinges, alphabet and cobwebs they give great depth to any project. Once everything was coated with Powertex I left to dry and then dry brushed with turquoise and burgundy. 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

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