Tutor Challenge

Our tutors were given a challenge at this years Tutor retreat at Powertex Hq. Each person bought an item in which they had to reuse and turn into a wonderful work of art. Here are just a few of the projects created. We hope these ideas inspire and show you that all you need a bottle of Powertex and what ever you have to hand. From cardboard tubes to an old mirror.... What will you create?

Kim McKelvie - tutor for Hartlepool and surrounding areas

From cardboard tubes to Steampunk wizardry! We would never have thought of doing something like this with some tubes would you?

Michaela Thouless tutor for Portsmouth and Fareham.

What to do with a blank hat, turn it in to a keepsake to remember...

Abigail Lagden tutor for Darlington and surrounding areas

Take one plain mirror and turn it into a magical, mystical creation. We are loving the dragon vibes.

Shell North tutor for Dorset, Bournmouth and surrounding areas

From an old falling apart garden ornament to the birth of a beautiful dragon! Isn't she a stunner.

Roy Pakeman tutor for Evesham and surrounding areas


From a gift bag to the most amazing box troll we have ever seen!

Anna Emelia Howlett tutor for Maidstone and surrounding areas

From a plain old trunk to a treasure from the depths of the sea.

Don't forget to sign up to the blog by inputting your email, in the box in the top left hand corner. Find Powertex UK, Powertex Addicts United, and The Powertex Studio on Facebook. Want to have a go at Powertex but would love a helping hand. Powertex UK certified tutors are fully trained, with up to date current knowledge and products to guide you on your creative journey. Find them in the tutor directory on the Powertex UK website. 

Powertex Tutor Training Days

The last blog Sam shared with us was about her Garden Party experience. (We still have a few spaces left for next years Garden party, it's an event not to be missed!)
Now Sam is sharing her thoughts on her tutor training at Powertex UK HQ with Creative Director Tracey Evans. Read on to find out more. If you feel inspired to become a Powertex tutor for your area please send an email to info@powertex.co.uk.
Fancy learning from a tutor? Find your nearest in the new tutor directory at Powertex UK. 

So guess where I've been the last couple of days? Yes, on my Powertex tutor training course, along with three other lovely ladies all set to become tutors for their designated areas.

First of all we played with the ivory Powertex.

The mdf shape that I was given was an owl and there was a huge box of embellies to choose from, so as you can see I went off piste with mine (what's new there then!) and went down the skull, cog and Halloween route.

We then started working on the next piece.

This was the next piece, either an angel or a fairy, I chose an angel and the others made fairies.

Here at the end of day one are my three pieces all ready for their colour tomorrow.

Back again for day two and today the sun was shining.

We played with different colouring and layering techniques firstly on the bottle.

Everyone is on a roll now.

Michele popped down to see how we were all doing.

I went for the blue for my angel.

This is a photo of the projects I made taken outside this morning in my garden - love them all.

This is a snippet of my certificate, so it's now official!!

And my absolute special favourite is my fabulous apron which I shall wear with pride - thank you sooooo much.

Can't wait to also share my other news with you, but that will have to wait until nearer the end of the year!!

Being a Powertex Tutor

Hi everyone hope you are having a fabulously creative summer!  I have and I'm so inspired I have lots of ideas that I will be working on as we move into autumn.  

I've had a few times this summer when I have looked back at my journey with Powertex and how it really has enhanced my life in so many ways. I have met so many talented artists and crafters in workshops I have led, through magazine articles I have written, at the NEC, Hochanda and best of all at the training and tutor retreats.  As a tutor we are so well supported and encouraged to progress on our own journey,

The highlight of the year so far for me was the annual Tutor Retreat which is held at Powertex HQ. I love every second there and these first two images are from the first day which was led by the superbly talented Rosie Casselden.  This was right out of my comfort zone because I cannot draw to save my life! However Rosie made it so easy breaking it down in to a series of flowing shapes, then textures and colours that I was completely lost in the whole project.

On day 2 we enjoyed a fabulous day with our leader and Powertex UK guru Tracey Evans.  I love abstract art and deep interesting textures so this was right up my alley as they say. These are a close up and a full shot of my finished project. Again I was lost in building the colours and levels and both paintings are on my walls at home.

We were joined at the Retreat by international artist Abyssimo (Maria Grausbaum-Fondler) who many of us follow and admire for her love of colour, texture and sparkle.  She is the most beautiful generous soul and having the opportunity to get to spend time with Maria who I am so happy to call my friend was amazing.  
To top the Retreat off perfectly Maria led a full workshop on day 3 when members of the public were also able to join us.  Maria led a class with paints as vibrant in colour as her personality and her use of multiple layers of subtle colours building to rich depth and dimension was superb.  
We were able to build our own composition and I have been very influenced by space, the moon, planets and stars this summer so mine materialised as a nod to the galaxy.

If you have ever thought about being a Powertex Tutor I would just say go for it, if you put the time and effort in to develop your artistic skills and your knowledge of the products who knows where you could go.  I'm so glad I did!

Keep Creating and share your makes with us over in The Powertex Studio or on Powertex Addicts.

Here's to the rest of 2018!

By for now

Fi xx

How I Came to be making a Powertex Sculpture in my local bank

I hope you are all enjoying reading our Powertex UK certified tutors success stories. Here is another by our design Team member Donna Mcghie. I hope you find this one an inspiring read as much as I did. Are you looking for a change of career? To find out how to become a certified tutor in your area send an email with a bit about yourself to info@powertex.co.uk.

How I Came to be making a Powertex Sculpture in my local bank

A few years ago I was lucky enough to be accepted onto the Lloyds Bank Social EntrepreneurScheme.

With a background of working with mental health charities and inclusion work I have always used creativity as a way of engaging with people.  And I firmly believe that mental health wellbeing is important all for of us, even those who are lucky enough to  wake up every morning bright eyed and bushy tailed.  Each and every one of us (I think) can benefit from having a creative outlet of some sort or another.

The beauty of Powertex Workshops is their accessibility.  There really is a powertex workshop that is suitable for everyone.

This is a way of thinking that comes naturally to me, and because of that I feel very comfortable in my role as a Powertex Tutor.

What I’m not naturally comfortable with, is the role of business woman.

However, on the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneur Scheme, under the guidance of a wonderful mentor, my mindset began to change.  I learnt about business plans.  I learnt about money management.  I learnt about keeping accurate financial records.  All of which, as a ’creative person, I had shied away from before.

So it really tickled me when I was asked if I would consider sitting in the lobby of my local Lloyds bank to do one of my fabric sculptures and talk to people about the scheme.

Me?  The worst money management person in the world?  Talking with some sort of authority in a bank?  They were having a laugh, surely.

But one of the other things I learnt on the scheme, was to say yes to things.  So I did.  I said yes.  And that is how I ended up sitting in my local bank, creating an angel out of Powertex.

People were interested.  People stopped to chat.  People asked about Powertex, about my business, about the scheme. Someone even came up with a name for my angel.  Penny, what a perfect name for someone created in a bank. 

So the day was a success.  I was a success.  And that’s another important thing I have learnt.  Not to be scared of success.  Not to be shy of saying when something has worked out well.  Not to belittle what I have achieved so far.  These are the photos that were taken on the day. (I made sure to put lots of protective floor covering down, as I find it impossible to work without making a mess!)

So thanks to Powertex, and to the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneur Scheme, I am now saying yes to a lot more things.  As a result I have been interviewed more than once on local  radio staions, and am due to be being filmed for local media running a workshop.  Is it scary?  Umm, yes.  Really scary actually,  for a natural introvert like myself.  Would I recommend it?  Absolutely.  I'm learning that as long as I am myself when I'm interviewed, I can, and do, quite enjoy the process.

Positive affirmations are like marmite, you love them or loathe them.  I’m a fan as long as they are not too syrupy.  My favourite ever is ‘jump and the net will appear.’  Well I jumped.  It wasn’t quite a leap of faith, as thanks to the Lloyds Bank scheme, I have my business foundations well in place.  But it was still pretty daunting standing on that edge and plucking up the courage to go for it.  But I'm so glad I did.

And really, you can’t go far wrong with Powertex can you?  I'd love to know where Powertex has taken you.

You can find out more about my workshops on my website www.artandmurals.co.uk  or my facebook page www.facebook.com/artmuralsbydonnamcghie 

When crafting dreams come true.......

Our tutors at Powertex UK are made of strong stuff even when adversity rears it's ugly head in sad circumstances! Here is another example of how a situation can be transitional in life and you guessed it Powertex is at the forefront . What a beautiful space Shell now has to hone her skills and share her talents and knowledge with her students.

Here is her story:

Well it dawned on me the other week, (actually I had a reminder through facebook) that a year has gone by since we left with a situation that we had a couple of weeks to build my art studio.  We had a workshop booked at a venue where the business had just gone into liquidation so our options were slim as we already had people booked in. We tried a few other venues but it wasn't looking hopeful. 

Now this studio build was supposed to be a leisurely 'project' build by my partner over a few months in the summer but now I had to ask if it was even remotely possible to build my dream in the time frame we had until the workshop date or should I cancel? To be honest I wasn't hopeful at all but I'm not one who likes to cancel and let people down where I can help it, so I had to ask my man.

To my surprise he thought for a few moments and said confidently he would book the time off work and get started the next day, and so it began! 

First he asked me how big and roped it out, drew up a plan, then we ordered parts. We had a few issues with orders and deliveries but piece by piece he worked hard to support me by trying to getting it done by the dead line. Not wanting to let me down, he was up at the crack of dawn and there until late each night. He wouldn't let me lift a finger more than make him cups of tea and sandwiches. 

The base, then the frame, supports and flooring were all coming together. The roof, weather-proofing,  insulation, cladding, door and 2nd hand windows before a rush to the finish with the insulation and plasterboard interior. 

We were still loading the studio with stock and furniture up until well past midnight the night before the scheduled workshop the next day. But he did it, he pulled it off, we made the deadline!

The workshop went ahead, which I have huge amounts of gratitude to Trefor for his skills, support, time and effort he gave despite the pressure. It wasn't perfect by far, it still needed a lot of work but it was water tight safe and useable.  

A year has gone so fast and there is still landscaping around the studio to be finished as well as the odd touch up. I wanted to upcycle and reuse 2nd hand furniture where I could, add stock and storage still with a place to make art so its taken time to get there. 

But for a year now I have had this amazing space to create in, to relax in or escape in, its both a work in progress still but a blessing in disguise and yes I'm living my crafting studio dream as it came true! Find Shell at The Crafty Little Corner on her website or Facebook. 

 Feeling inspired by our tutors story's? Know you have what it takes to join the family and fly the Powertex banner in your area. Want to inspire, enthuse and share your knowledge? Want to make a real difference by offering an escape from life into the creative? Want to share what makes your soul tick with others? Want to engage students in your passion and watch them grow? Send us an email at info@powertex.co.uk. We'd love to hear from you. Want to go to a workshop to be inspire. Find your nearest tutor here. Toodles Anna xXx