Seasonal Autumn Wreath

Hi It's Kore here with my autumn blog. The Autumn Equinox is on the 23rd September in the Northern Hemisphere, when day and night are equal. I love to celebrate the seasons and autumn is beautiful even when there is a storm blowing hard outside! While some of us are sad to see the summer pass for another year, the autumn brings the harvest, glorious sunsets and the changing trees.

I've created an autumn wreath, a simple project with lots of texture that comes alive when it's dry brushed. It can be made any size and adapted for whatever supplies you have. It can also be easily made for any seasonal wreath, perfect for your front door, studio or home decor.

Ingredients

Bronze Powertex
Powercolor pigments in autumn colours
Easy Varnish
Flat brush
Fabric strips and lengths of t-shirt yarn, ric rac, twine etc
Leaf shapes in various materials, clay, fabric, card
3d balls in small and medium

Optional supplies

Stone art
Daisy leaf mould
Small fabric flowers

Step 1 Create your frame

You can use a pre made base for your wreath, or a piece of tubing even. I chose to make mine from a piece of t-shirt yarn.

I massaged in Bronze Powertex so the fabric would set in the shape of my frame. Once it was all coated I laid it out in a circle on a non stick mat to dry. Notice I overlapped the ends to create a loop at the top for hanging.

Step 2 Create your embellishments

I created a pile of embellishments to use while my frame was drying off. I chose some wooden pieces too but decided not to use them in my final project. I die cut and hand cut leaves in card and hessian fabric. I also had some small clay leaves made using the Daisy leaf mould. These leaves have a lovely spiky shape that looks amazing when painted. You can use Stone Art clay but it will need time to dry thoroughly. Coat all card leaves with Powertex and sprinkle on some Stone Art powder for texture. Brush off any excess. Coat the leaves with Powertex when you apply them to wreath.

I also made a tiny cornucopia or horn of plenty. These are a symbol of abundance and thanksgiving and they are easy to make and look so cute!

Coat a small triangle of hessian with Powertex and roll into a cone shape and press the end together. Coat a few small and medium balls with Powertex and fill the cone. Coat tiny fabric flowers with Powertex and trim the stems short enough to tuck into the cone. Leave to dry.

Step 3 Wrap the frame

Wrap strips of fabric around the frame in spirals. Ensure your strips are well coated with Powertex, especially if you want to display your wreath outside. I started with strips of hessian about 1- 1.5 inches wide and wrapped them loosely around the set frame. Then I wrapped more t-shirt yarn, raffia, twine and rick rak until I was happy I had plenty of texture. Don't wrap your last layers too tight. We're going to use them to secure the leaves.

Step 4 Add the embellishments

Apply your leaves starting with the largest first and work around the whole wreath. Tuck one end into the wrapped spirals on the frame and press them into place. Keep adding leaves until you're happy. Varying the sizes makes it more interesting to look at. Add small details to create more interest, such as the small cornucopia, and groups of small balls for berries. Leave to dry.

Step 5 Adding colour

Choose your autumn pigment colours and use Easy Varnish to create a dry paint. I used Burnt Sienna, Red Ochre, Yellow Ochre and some Orange and White for mixing. Use a flat brush to mix your pigment with Easy Varnish and start with darker colours first, add highlights last using your palest colour. Wipe excess paint onto kitchen paper first and then keep your brush flat as you paint over the textures.

Use the loop at the top to string or hang your wreath. After 3 weeks it's weatherproof and safe to hang on your front door. I'm already planning my seasonal winter wreath!

I hope you have a go at making a wreath of your own. If you do have a go, why not share your make in The Powertex Studio on facebook or on Instagram with hashtag #powertex.

If you would like to see more of my Powertex projects you can find me at koresageart.com

Until next time, I hope you find a little time to let your art out.
Kore x

If unicorns could fly

So I was super excited when Tracey told me about the new animal shapes available from Powertex Uk. Especially when she said I could create a unicorn! I was so green with envy when I saw the beautiful unicorns created by everyone at the Powertex Garden Party (limited spaces are available to book for next year!Don't miss out it was an amazing weekend of relaxing, crafty fun!). I created mine with a little difference. Yes she can fly! The unicorn project pack has been put together by Tracey giving you all you need to create this. If you wish to add wings you will need wire in addition. 

Now I'd love to say I also did this bit but I was lucky enough to get a pre-made base from Tracey. As you can see from the photo you need to cover both sides of the mdf base with Powertex. Allow to dry, then use masking tape to adhere to the base.

 Then start wrapping foil around the base from the bottom up around the whole shape and use masking tape to keep in place.

 Paint Powertex over the masking tape to seal it and keep everything in place. We used Bronze.

You can choose to place the wings higher up if you wish. I used a really sharp pointed carving tool to make a hole through the tape, foil and mdf. You could use a bradle if you had one. Just make sure you watch your fingers! 

I then thredded some wire through the hole and crossed ti over the back of the body and taped in place. The wire was measured at just over 50cm, you could make them smaller or larger if you wish. Wrap the wire with masking tape and paint with Powertex. 

 From approx 1kg of Powertex and 250g Stone art tub I made up some clay. Then gradually added piece by piece. And stamped into the clay as I went. It's important to stamp the clay as you go because as it drys in the air it becomes harder to make an impression in.

I was lucky enough to have to hand an aray of these fabulous wooden block stamps. I love being at hq, I might move into our Traceys studio soon!

 I covered the whole body on both sides and stamped in different patterns.

I then tool my clay and pushed it into the daisy, pansy and rose moulds. It seems I didn't take a picture of the placement of these, but they ended up on the horses bottom. You can chose to place them anywhere.

I then coated a handful of Powercotton to create the texture on the mane and tail.

And dipped some paper dec in Powertex and covered the wire wings.

 I allowed everything to thoroughly dry and then dry brushed with some White Powertex. Just to allow the colours to come through brighter when I dry brushed them. But allowing the bronze Powertex to create the shadow for depth.

I used Burgundy powercolor into coral powercolor  on the mane.

 Rich gold colourtricx on the horn and the wings and flowers.

 I sprayed the body with brown bister to take the edge off the white. And added a mix of coral and white and layered up the colour on the body through dry brushing.

Turns out unicorns can fly! Hope you enjoyed this project. Of course if you feel as though you could use some guidance with this type of project just contact your local tutor through the directory to book on and have a go! It really makes a difference having an expert to hand. Toodles Anna xXx Follow me on my Instagram or Facebook if you like what I do. 

Don't forget to share your projects on Powertex Addicts United or The Powertex Studio on Facebook. Keep up to date with the latest at Powertex UK. 

Harvest Goddess

Well, yet another month has passed and boy has this one gone by so quickly before we know it Christmas will be here!! YES, I said it, the C word... oops

So this month the Powertex Design team were given keywords for creative ideas and I chose Harvest. I started thinking about Harvest, did some research and found a lovely goddess called "Demeter"
She is  the goddess of the grain, agriculture, harvest, growth, and nourishment, who presided over grains and the fertility of the earth, I have set about recreating her in my own way.

I had some barbie type dolls and decided it was time to use one of those as my Goddess. I made a base from wood and used an old knife to make her sturdy and wrapped tape to add her to the knife and wood base. I have used BRONZE POWERTEX as my base colour. I then picked out some STOCKINETTE material for her dress and set about making some flowers and leaves from clay to add as embellishments 
I soaked the material in the Powertex and started dressing my Goddess.  I pinned up her hair and have cut it, as I plan to add embellishments to her head later.

And with the magic of COLORTRICX and a bit of a paint job, she is now looking like this.

Meet Demeter, my version of the Goddess of Harvest

I hope you have enjoyed this blog and maybe even get inspired to try out Powertex yourself.,

If you fancy ago but need some guidance why not try looking here for a tutor near you

TUTOR LIST

Until next time, be happy and give that Powertex bottle a shake!!! 

~Jinny~

DAYLIGHT PHOTOS

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!

Last week I was re-decorating a room in my house after we’d suffered a leak and as I was painting the wall, some plaster and brick-work started to crumble. The dust dropped on to my paint brush and I blithely carried on whilst thinking “ooh, what lovely texture!”. Hmmm, not sure that ‘texture’ is what we are after on freshly painted walls but I think it’s a sign that I have Powertex on the brain 24/7. Am I going mad or does anyone elses mind work like this?

*Not a picture of my wall but i think it would look great! 

So apart from bringing Powertex into all the aspects of your home, how else can you get to ‘play’ with Powertex?

Firstly, we recommend that you find a Certified Powertex Tutor near you and look at the workshops they have running. There’s all sorts out there and if you don’t see what you’re after, tell them what you want, they’re quite receptive to ideas! You can find tutors on the Powertex Website Directory, see them chatting in the Powertex Studio group on Facebook or check out our Workshop Wednesday posts on Facebook every week for a fresh update.

Newly launched this year are Powertex Portfolio Workshops which are designed to showcase the very best talent that our Tutors have to offer. These Portfolio Workshops will be limited in number and there is a strict application process for tutors to follow before they are accepted on to the programme. Each one will be an enhanced, immersive, full day experience for you in which you will come away with a beautiful, high-end quality, artistic project after an unforgettable day. You can book the Portfolio Workshops directly through the Powertex website.

Your local craft store or Hobbycraft may have classes or demonstrations on, check them out and don’t forget to support local where you can.

Exhibitions – Powertex are at the NEC for the Creative Craft Show this November 1st – 4^th.

Get your friends over for a craft morning, don’t forget the cake!

TFind Powertex online; there’s also new videos going on the Powertex UK Youtube channel soon, join in with the fun on Powertex Addicts and the Powertex Studio on Facebook and don’t forget to follow Powertex on Instagram and Pinterest for lots of inspiration.

And finally, plan ahead for an excellent year of Powertex Events in 2019, we’ll keep you posted on these.

In the meantime, the ‘texture’ looks pretty good on my walls, I might dry-brush it next!

Scarecrows in September

Wow, it's September already! I love September the start of autumn and all those fabulously rich warm colours.  As a farmers daughter the harvest was always such a special time, I loved helping dad bring in the harvest when the whole countryside appeared to turn rich rusty gold, snuggly nippy nights, warm mellow days...oh and scarecrow trails!

Did you know that scarecrows have been around for over 3000 years? The Egyptians were the first to use Scarecrows along the Nile River to protect wheat fields from flocks of quail (see link to a great source The  History of Scarecrows). The Greeks, Romans and Japanese all had a form of scarecrows.  I think the scariest story of scarecorws was from medieval Britain who use living Scarecrows!!! 9-year old boys and older patrolled wheat fields carrying bags of stones to pelt the crows if they landed in the fields.  

I hope you find my interpretation a lot friendlier!

To get started I needed to make an armature, now forgive me here because I was doing it all in a rush and didn't remember photographs until it was made ready to StoneArt.  I will try to explain...  

First I used a wooden base and some 2mm aluminium wire.  I pulled off around about a meter and starting from the centre I made a circle for the head by wrapping the wire around a jam jar. I extended out each side to made shoulders and arms and then wrapped the tail of each around the pole on the wooden stand.  

Once this was done I used masking tape to secure it in place and padded out the body, arms and head with a lot of cheap kitchen foil.  I then masked the whole thing with masking tape.

I then made up a quantity of StoneArt Clay - around 150ml of Ivory Powertex - once this was made I painted Powertex onto the masking tape to give the StoneArt clay something to key onto and then added pieces of clay that I had flatted between my fingers.  Once it was covered I used the end of a paintbrush to mark out eyes, mouth and nostrils.  I then painted a thin layer of Powertex over the clay and gently rubbed in more dry StoneArt Powder.  I left this quite rough as I wanted a rough weather work finish. I then set aside to dry.

Now it was time to dress the Scarecrow.  I used Transparent Powertex which I worked into some ivory paperdec to cover the the arms and head to give the impression of being stuffed with straw.   Next I used two similar sized pieces of natural paperdec and worked transparent Powertex in. Tip: it uses a lot more than you think but once dried it is clear and hard.  I draped them over the shoulders and about two thirds of the way down on both front and back.

I used additional pieces to cover the wooden pole and base to give the effect of a tree trunk.  I also covered a little mdf mouse that was left over from another Powertex MDF kit. Finally I added some more ivory paperdec to make a scarf.  I then left it to fully dry, it took about 3 days!

Now to add colour! I could fill the whole blog with the very many colours and layers I added. However I wont but I will say that i started with Powercolor ultramarine blue and a tiny spec of black pigment mixed with Easy Varnish.  to colour the blanket coat.  I used dark green for the base, orange and red for the scarf.  For the straw, I used yellow and red ochre in varying degrees and used red ochre on the mouse.  I then built more layers of colours to get a well weathered look on his coat using Colortricx in pearl and copper.  I coloured the tree trunk with Secret Artloft Pigment in Golden Olive.

I then made up a small quantity of StoneArt Clay using Bronze Powertex Fabric hardener. I used a golf ball sized ball of the clay and pressed onto the top of the Scarecrows head

 I rolled this with a craft rolling pin and shaped into a circle and draped over a yogurt pot to shape

Then I layed it over the powertex ball on the head and finished the shaping.  I also pressed a little butterfly into the hat that was left over from some other project.

I added two mdf ravens which i painted with Powercolor Black mixed with Easy Varnish. Once they were dry I used Secret Art Loft Pigments in Interference Lilac to add some shimmer and Tequila Sunrise to colour the beak. I stuck these on using some matte gel for speed and added some tiny rhinestones for the eyes on the mouse and ravens.

Hope you like my rather friendly but scruffy weathered Scarecrow! 

Have a fabulous autumn and don't forget to share your makes with us over in The Powertex Studio and Powertex Addicts United.