Powertex Garden Party - Day 2

I hope your ready for part two of Sams fabulous blog. If you've loved seeing all we got up to at the Powertex garden party you can now book your place for next year. Tickets are selling out fast though. Book now here. If you fancy taking a look at more fabulous photos we have a video created of the weekend. See the video here. Toodles Anna xXx

So before we start todays adventure, I thought I'd start by showing you what we got in our purple bags and also what we got to drink our bubbly out of at the end of yesterday.

Close up of the glass that Tracey made for each of us. Every one was different.

This is what my canvas looked like this morning after being left to dry and crack over night.

Close up of the mucky mess corner including the balls.

Close up of the cracks using the 3d flex.

And the frame and skull.

Whilst I was outside, I took the opportunity to take a close up photo of the communal totem pole.

So then, to today's activities. First up we needed to retrieve out brushes which had been kindly washed for us. The fairies must have done it!

Aprons on.........

Teas and coffees on the go.

For about the first hour or so we got the chance to titivate and add stuffs to our horses / unicorns, which most people took advantage of.

The unicorns were put outside to dry off.

My horse found himself in a field.

At this point I went for a little wander around the grounds and as promised a photo of the wigwam tent with the message tree inside.

Then we made a start on our canvas's.

After a quick demo from Tracey, everyone started to add some colour.

I managed to get a smile from all of our table!!

This one is Tracey's and something like what we were going for, but in fairness, she had used hers to show people what different colours looked like.

This is how mine went, and yes, before you all start, there is pink in there!

And this was what I ended up with once I'd decided I was finished.

Everyone just adding their finishing touches before we broke off for lunch.

Lunch today was a jacket potato with a choice of various lush fillings, I just had cheese.

Another wander around the garden and some close ups of the fab sculptures made by David and Patricia Williams who are Powertex tutors. Patricia has given me permission to show you these close ups so please enjoy the next few photos.

Then back inside and into the shop area where there are lots more beautiful pieces. I've just selected a few of my favourites.

I put my finished canvas outside just to see if the pigments shimmered in the lovely sun.

And Tracey just happened to be walking past when Kerry was taking a photo of me and my canvas.

So after lunch we went back to our horses / unicorns as they needed some colour. 

People down at the front choosing their colours.

This is Shelagh. We had a great laugh and loads of good old fashioned banter was had on our table.

Kerry went for a rich red, Shelagh a denim blue and Yvonne a lovely green.

Michelle and Gary having a leisurely walk through the tent to see what everyone had been up to.

I went for a purpley colour with silver and gold hi-lights.

And then on the other side, I went for an orangey colour with copper and gold hi-lights.

And this is what he looks like from the front! Split personality!

Throughout the day I was in and out of the dressing up booth, so when I come across the photos, I will add them to the bottom of this post.

***Here's the first one - in disguise!

Me, Janice (from Hochanda), Amanda (chocolate maker) and Anna (powertex tutor).

Powertex Garden Party - Day 1

Here is a glimpse from one of our attendees to the garden party Powertex UK held recently at Tracey's studio at the Secret Art Loft. Everyone had an amazing time and it was such as success we are doing it all again next year. Book your place now, as spaces are filling up fast! Thank you Sam for such beautiful words and photos and for letting us share them here with everyone. Sam has a fab blog should you wish to follow her directly. Part 2 coming soon. Toodles Anna xXx

When we arrived there was a goodie bag on every chair. There was a number on one side of the bag and two raffle tickets on the other side of the bag. Inside the bag were loads of goodies.

Here we all are delving into the goodies for our first project and opening the canvas and bag of bits that went with it.

Tracey explaining what we were going to be doing.

Anna on hand to help out.

The sides of the tent came off as it was sooooo warm.

Tea, coffee and water available as and when you wanted it.

I went for a walk around the gardens and came across this fabulous pair made by Patricia and David Williams, Powertex tutors. They've made them for an exhibition, but 'lent' them to Tracey for the garden party. I've seen photos of them, but they are so much better in the flesh.

More makes by other Powertex tutors dotted all around the grounds.

I just love this dog, he may be my next project!!

This piece was taken to shows for people to add bits to.

She has the most fabulous eyes!!!

This was the eating area set up next to the house, but with yet more exhibits scattered around for us to see.

I love this table, and I've just made some fossils out of moulds!!

Now remember the number that was on our bags, well we had to find everyone else with the same number and then go into the dressing up booth and have a photo taken. I did do it but haven't got a photo of it yet!! I think Michelle took one though.

Found it, here we go. This one is actually of our table!

Back to the tent and to the canvas to add 3d flex to get some crackles going on.

Tracey giving us a demo of what to do with it after creating our mucky mess and slapping that on the canvas too, along with some clay made with sand.

There was also Hayley who was giving fabulous hand massages. This is Jan having one, I had one later in the afternoon after we'd been reviving clay!

There was also a hammock swing attached to a tree.

And this is inside the wigwam tent. I'll get a photo of the outside of it tomorrow.

There is also a totem type pole for everyone who visits to add something too. When it's all covered and finished Tracey said they would possibly donate it to a local school. So of course, I added my pieces to that too.

Here we are just helping the 3d flex to start to crack by using the hairdryer on them.

After they'd started to crack we left them outside in the sun whilst we all went off for a lovely buffet lunch and sat in the area next to the house that I showed you earlier with the blue marquee.

After lunch our project was a horse. We covered it in clay over the masking tape and stamped into it as we were going along.

Making clay shapes from the moulds to put on the horses. Unfortunately they were all flower related apart from the small fossil, so mine ended up quite bare compared to everyone elses!!

This one is mine, and now having seen the photo I have realised that I've put his eyes way too high, but hey ho, it's too late now, they will be rock solid by tomorrow morning!!

These are the creations of the ladies on the table opposite us.

This is Tracey's finished one which we should end up with tomorrow, once its been dry brushed.

After we'd finished we all went back down to the house for a glass of bubbly served in our very own unique handmade glass. 

Anyone for another.................

And then back to the hotel, for a shower and evening meal.