Such beautiful sunsets we’ve been having here in Dromana over the past week.  We’ve had extraordinary weather over the past couple of days…. beautiful pale blue wintery skies with crisp, cold mornings and evenings.  I’ve been busy in my studio at home and in the shop we’ve been busy moving things around to make perfect use of the space we’ve got.  You should come and check out the new layout – it’s fantastic.  And most importantly, it has given us heaps of space for workshops in the back room….

Speaking of workshops, here are a few coming up that you might be interested in:-

6th August   Gouche Resist painting with Samm

16th August  Intermediate Machine Embroidery with Marilyn Townsend.  We have a lot of Marilyn’s work dotted around the shop.  She uses a bit of paint and her machine to create the most beautiful landscape works of art and is quite a well known artist locally.  Try not to miss the opportunity to work with her on this date.

23rd August  Estelle Godsman is back to run a pastels class.

20th September  Pamela Farmer, another local artist and our beloved “artist in residence” is running an Art Dolls class.  This one promises to be a hoot!  I’m going, I wouldn’t dream of missing it.  Creativity and freedom will be the key for this Saturday class.

Come on then…… come and check out the “new” shop, and while you’re in, ask us about signing up for a workshop or group.

Up for a workshop or two???  here’s what’s coming up!

June 28  Seamless vessel or bag with Kay

July 09  felting mastery 1- Kay

July 12  Anyone can draw – Estelle Godsman

July 15  Decorative papers for collage and journal making with Samm

July 18  Polymer clay beads

July 19  Intermediate machine embroidery – Marilyn Townsend

July 23  Felting mastery 2

August 06  Felting mastery 3

August 09  Altered clothing with Pamela Farmer

August 13   Gouache resist technique with Samm

August 16-17 Nuno felting with Leah Jones

August 20 Felting mastery 4

Give us a call at the shop 0359 814144 or pop in to shop 5 / 19 Pier Street Dromana to find out more and book in.

We’d love to see you

xo

There’s been a few already but this blog hasn’t been around long enough to capture all the excitement.  The  Patti Cullea tome group gather at the shop once a month, usually the first Saturday.  This saturday just gone, the girls got together under the watchful eyes of both Di and Pamela to stitch some magic.  Here’s a couple of images taken during the lunch break.

Cathy and Kate

Pamela’s stitch magic

Glenis

Kate’s stitchery

more of Pamela’s needlework

Pat

Till next time….

xo from us at the shop!

My apologies for the attrocious images – I have yet to master taking photos whilst facilitating a workshop!! There are no photos of finished transfers I’m afraid – just busy participants, transferring away!! And my apologies also to Chris, who was definately in attendance but somehow managed to elude my camera lens….

Margaret and Kiwi Cathy

Pat, Rosemary and Cathy

Mandy

Maxine

Using Matisse brand Polymer Gloss varnish and Gel medium, the participants transferred both black and white and colour copies of images to 300g Canson watercolour paper and calico.  All products that were used are available for sale at the shop.

Robyn and Cath were also present at the workshop…. and Cath makes a mean scone, jam and cream!!!

On the second friday of every month, a new group has started at the shop.

We are a small but growing group of girls, who have embarked on an altered book project.

Facilitated by Samm and using an old childrens encyclopaedia as the “canvas”, the girls have cut house shaped templates to learn different mixed media techniques that will ultimately become the pages of this journal entitled “home is where the heart is”.

On this first day, the girls built up texture using tissue paper, they transferred an image using the packing tape technique and backgrounds were created using collaged papers, gel medium and gesso.

Most of the group come from textile backgrounds so all this mucky collage business was new to them….. I think all agreed that they’d come back next month though!!

Here are some photos from our first gathering….

starter kits all ready for the girls to unveil

the results of a hard day’s work

and, really, truly….. what’s a studio without a dog???

So I’m going to be on the radio…. I’m due on air at midday today to promote the shop (98.7 fm 3RPP community radio) and have been awake since 4.30 this morning imagining answers to every possible question I could be asked! I only hope I can answer them all!

Thinking about the radio show has made me think about my inspirations and what it is that brings us all together at the shop. I’m sure we all have our own personal reasons for enjoying our work and I know that mine are very different to the others. Mine are all focussed around community and communication – so, a sense of belonging and “hey, lets get together and talk about things”. My art started when I lost my mum and I started questioning the big stuff – where do I fit? why am I here? You know, the stuff that takes a lot longer than a half hour chat on a radio show! One of my favourite things about the shop, is the constant inspiration that I draw from and that I can be to our customers. I am a true gemini and love a chat, I love wearing a different hat, sometimes many within the one day and I love that there are 5 of us who work in the one shop. 5 of us who are very different people, who can give to and learn from each other. I also love the grounding nature of our little shop – there are tasks and they are done! There’s also the magic of the shop…. believe it or not, it is surrounded by fairy dust (or whatever it is that you want it to be called). It has stopped amazing me now that I can be thinking of a person just moments before that person walks through the door. I might not have seen or heard from that person for months, I might have been worried about them or just wanting to see them again and they arrive! Magic!! Believe it, it happens!

Cath has just printed a new newsletter – I’ll post a copy asap. Don’t forget to check out our website too.

We’ve got some great workshops scheduled for April and May.

Pamela Farmer is back and is looking forward to running her ever popular “clutch bag” class. We’ve also booked her for a “miniature embroidered landscape” class and another “stamping and dyeing” workshop. There’s also a series of masterclasses planned which will extend your knowledge just that little bit. The first of these is called “a stitch of mine” and will stretch your hand embroidery practice. (pictures to come)

Kay Lipman is booked in for “nuno felting” on the 14th of May and stay tuned for her two day intensive feltmaking workshop a little bit later in the year.

Pam Grose will be back with us again in May. Pam’s doll classes are not for the faint hearted, they require hard work and lots of homework but the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Pam is a delight to work with and continuously reminds her participants that “its no stress” and “its cool”! Can’t wait!

Estelle Godsman has been gently introducing the “fine art” side of things to our workshop schedule. There are two classes booked for May, a pen and wash class and “the magic of watercolours”. Estelle is a great teacher, patient and generous, she guides all her attendees whether they are beginners or very experienced.

We’ve also added numerous groups to our schedule. Our groups cater for all interests and experience levels and you are more than welcome to suggest a group “type” and we’ll see if we can put one together. At present we have a Patti Cullea Tome group which runs on every 2nd tuesday of the month, a mixed media altered art group starting on April 11 and running every 2nd friday. We are in the process of organising a knitting and crochet circle and we still run “Blue Days” for those who wish to skill share and spend some time out with others away from the battles of life.

Anyone interested in photographing your artwork? Let us know and Gary Browne will run a 4 week course for you. From the basics of operating your point and click digital camera to the mysteries of getting the light right on that piece for submission, Gary is the man who knows! Make use of Gary’s professional photography skills – he’s really good!

That’s about it for April and May workshops. We’ve got lots happening!

If anyone is interested in a snail mail swap of some description out there in cyberspace, post a comment and we’ll get one started. I’m open to suggestions.

See you in a week

xo