Hi everyone, hope all of my fellow Victorians are managing to keep warm with this cold snap we are having at the moment. I am finally over this horrible flu, that put me out of action for a few weeks. Finally feeling like getting back down to the studio, I  had a lovely 'play day' on Friday, doing a little bit of felting, with one of my friends. Scarves were produced and lots of fun had!!

Some changes to the training program. Most people are aware that I usually only do the Certified Powertex Trainer Course from the home studio.

I will be travelling to Daylesford and doing Level One and Two there, on Saturday, 23rd and Sunday, 24th  of August, at the Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre. So for those people north of Melbourne, it is a fabulous opportunity to do the course and not have to travel to Gippsland. Places are still available.

Now that I am "flu-free" and not at risk of passing it on to anyone, I am available for workshops again on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Arty Parties are still happening. Bring along four of your friends to the Churchill studio and get your workshop for FREE. This applies to any of the workshops that I do, including the new ones.


And what are the new ones? I will be taking the following new workshops:

• "Faeries Bearies" - needle felted over calico. They can be as bright and colourful as you wish and done in three different sizes, priced accordingly.
• "Faerie Canaries" - the Powertex/StoneArt creations that are a bit of fun for your garden and finally, I am going back to doing the Polymer Clay/Air-dried Clay workshops that led me to fabric sculptures
• "Faerie Creations" workshops. Working with polymer clay, I will take you through the process of creating your own magical faerie or mythical being - or Santa, just in time for Christmas!!
  

And the new training days are as follows:

Powertex Sculpture Class at Gasworks, Albert Park - Sunday, 31st August

New Certified Powertex Trainer Course dates are:
Level 1 & 2
Monday, 18th and Tuesday, 19th August - at the Churchill studio
Saturday, 23rd and Sunday 24th August -  Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre
Monday, 1st  and Tuesday, 2nd September - at the Churchill Studio
Saturday, 13th and Sunday, 14th September - at the Churchill Studio
Monday, 29th and Tuesday, 30th September - at the Churchill studio

Level 3 & 4:
Wednesday, 20th and Thursday, 21st August - at the Churchill studio
Wednesday, 3rd and Thursday, 4th September - at the Churchill studio
Wednesday, 1st and Thursday, 2nd October - at the Churchill studio
Saturday, 4th and Sunday, 5th October - at the Churchill Studio
Saturday, 25th and Sunday, 26th October - at the Churchill studio

Well we are home from the Fair - what a fabulous four days!

Exhausting, but so much fun; and what a delight to be surrounded by such good people. Powertex certainly attracts a lot of interest. People have been fascinated how the artwork on display has been produced and then amazed at how easily the pieces can come together.

We have all been so fortunate to meet such lovely people visiting the stand - interested in Powertex or perhaps who joined us for a workshop over the event.

There has been lots of laughter and creativity happening on the stand, and some great feedback that we were the friendliest stand, all so happy to spend the time with people, chatting about the product and comments about our level of enthusiasm for what we do! For us, it is great to see such fabulous work being created in the workshop and one of the things I just love about taking the workshops.


And then there is the Victorian Powertex Team!
Thank-you so much to Val, Sharron, Jan, Marg, Bev and Joy, our wonderful Victorian Powertex Trainers, who helped us on the stand and of course, to Ash and Mark, the Australian Importers of Powertex for arranging to have the stand at the Fair.

To cap it off, I got to call the winner last night of the $250 of Powertex products, part of our special draw. The winner, a lovely lady from Berwick, said "she never wins anything",  and was so excited. 

And now to spend the day with my grandchildren - I have missed them so much over the last few days!

Well, we are just weeks away from the Craft and Quilt Fair at the Exhibition Centre in Melbourne. It is getting very exciting and I am pleased to announce a new website and lots of new training and workshops dates as well as a streamlined booking form for workshops!!

It has been a very busy week coordinating all of this and lots of hours in front of the computer working on the website instead of being down in the studio. All worthwhile though.


I will be at a number of new venues after the Craft and Quilt Fair for workshops and the Certified Powertex Trainer Course. The new venues are:

• Daylesford Neighbourhood House
• Rosewall Neighbourhood Centre, Corio - to cater for everyone down Geelong way
• Gasworks Art Park at Albert Park

I will be running the Certified Powertex Trainer Course at Wyreena Community Arts Centre, Croydon, as well as Daylesford and Geelong.

And of course, I will be teaching from the studio in Churchill, perfect for small groups.

Link here to the new booking form

I had such a lovely day yesterday, dropping off work to the various shops and galleries that stock my sculptures.

Great to go and see the beautiful work at the Artisans Store at the Old Butter Factory at Mirboo North, have a scrumptious lunch with Heather from Heathers Café, Craft and Wool in Korumburra, a chat with Faye, from B'Zarte at Jindivick and some more work into the Baw Baw Arts Alliance Hub at Yarragon.

A big day, no wonder I feel so tired!!


This weekend I also have work in at the Mirboo North Arty Gras Art Show and this month in at the "Hot to Trot" exhibition at BBAA.

Today I will be finalising dates for Term 3, after the Craft and Quilt Fair in Melbourne.  I will be back at Wyreena on for workshops and the Powertex Trainer Course, as well as in Geelong and the Daylesforrd area. More details soon!!

I had another lovely day with Joy Tedjosiswoyo from Thomastown today, as she completed Level Four of the Powertex Trainer Course.

Joy is looking forward to holding workshops to display and share her knowledge of the Powertex range of products.


For anyone in Melbourne, you will be able to come along and met Joy and the  rest of the Powertex team at the Craft and Quilt Fair at the Melbourne Exhibition centre in June.

Level Four is the  Powerprint aspect of the training and I have included the image that Joy started with, going through to the finished product. Joy used a number of other techniques, including some paper tole of the fence railings and use of mixed media, including bark and balsa wood for the bridge palings.She had told me that she didn't paint much, but I am sure everyone will agree she has done a fabulous art piece!!

I had such a lovely day yesterday, working with Joy Tedjosiswoyo, our Powertex trainer in Thomastown.

Joy travelled up from Melbourne yesterday by train, to join me in the Churchill studio, to complete here Level 3.

Her beautiful piece features the Yin and Yang Koi fish and one of the Powertex Buddhas.

To complete the ocean theme, there is a collection shells and seaweed on the ocean floor. A lovely piece, although I did not envy her of the task to transport it back home via the train.

Joy will be completing Level 4 - Powerprint,  in two weeks time, and already has her photo to be used chosen. I am sure it is going to be another stunning piece. Congratulations Joy!!
Link here for the next training dates

Had a great weekend working with Jan Drougas from Beaumaris on 29th/30th March while she completed Level 3 and 4 of the Certified Powertex Training Course.

Jan is an amazingly talented lady, who makes the quirkiest little birds you will ever see (pictured below), as well as many beautiful sculptures.

You will get to meet Jan and see her amazing work at the Quilt and Craft Fair in June, as part of the Victorian Powertex team.
Congratulations Jan!!

When I am not making Faerie Bears, I am playing with Powertex. It is so good to be back down in the studio creating.
 
Let me introduce "Rough Red", "Goldiwho?" and "I've got the blues".
 
Other designs will be available and they can be done in any colour combination. Finished off with Powercotton for feathers and StoneArt air-dry clay for the wings and beak.  

These crazy birds will be available as a half day workshop and also available on a Monday night, at the Churchill studio. Larger birds can be made on request, up to 1 metre tall.

Once cured they will be available to go out in your garden on the stand  or can be made to hang in a tree or under a pergola. I have a couple under construction that will be in full flight.

It has been a while since have posted, so I thought I would share what I do when I am not playing with Powertex.

These cute little "faerie bears" are hand-felted over a calico bear, in a rainbow of colours. Perfect to sit and make at night -  very easy, just watch out for those sharp needles!! With the right equipment, it isn't a problem.

They can be personalised with babies names or created and embellished to suit your décor.

They will be available in the "Faeries with Attitude" on-line shop and I am happy to post anywhere within Australia.

I plan to have workshops in creating these little characters available soon, from the Churchill studio. All materials will be provided, including fibre in a range of colours, felting needles and tools and of course, the calico bear, which is available in three sizes. Workshop cost will depend on the size of the bear. Kits will also be available.

How fabulous to see Powertex Australia at so many Stiches and Craft Shows and Quilt and Craft Fairs throughout Australia and New Zealand next year.

I am so excited about being at both major shows next year with Ashley, the Importer/Owner of Powertex Australia in Melbourne next year.

The Quilt and Craft Fair will be on from Thursday, 26th to Sunday, 29th of June and the Stiches and Craft Show is at Caulfield Race Course from Thursday, 23rd to Sunday, 26th of October.
2014 will be a great Powertex year!!