mixed media workshop

I had last Thursday off work.  Wednesday had been a nightmare with crisis after crisis at work so I was glad to be off.  Shame it's just a distant memory now...  I had the day off work to go to the second in the set of 4 jewellery workshops I've booked onto with my wonderful mum at The Bead Shop in Nottingham.  This one was mixed media.

To be honest, we had no idea what that meant!  It actually meant 4 different jewellery making techniques. 

The first was using the brand new Pebeo Fantasy Paints.  They're a lovely paint which dries into fabulous textures, not so apparent in my crappy photo below!  We used the paint on various metal elements and practiced swirling and layering to get different effects.  I have to confess I didn't make the round red one below. I made a green and gold flower that didn't end up looking like a flower and I didn't like it but mum loved it and swapped me.

The ring below uses silver and pink paints to create this fab effect.

The second tecnique used Geofix clay.  It's a clay that comes in two parts and is mixed together.  After they are mixed you have about an hour to play with it before it sets.  I made a pendant and a very bling bead which I struggled to take a photo of.

The bead is on its side in the photo below but it's still a rubbish picture.  I love the pendent. 

Next up was Stampbord.  No, I haven't spelt that wrong, that's the brand name.  It's a board covered with a clay type thing. I used inks to mix, swirl and dab colour on, then I used an etching tool to take parts back to the clay underneath.

When she showed us the samples of the beginning, I didn't think I'd like it, it didn't seem very "me".  You know what?  I fell in love with this technique.  I could have sat there all day and stampborded.  That isn't a word, I made that one up.  You can also use them as a basis for collage, I bought some of the pieces so I'll try it at home. You're probably wondering how this is jewellery.  I could stick brooch backs on, or a bail, or I could punch holes in them with my Big Bite and add eyelets.

Finally, we did shrink plastic.  I think most of you will be familiar with this.

My rainbow is definitely too small, and looks like it was drawn by a 3 year old.  Hmmm, don't think I quite took to this technique.  Can you see what I was trying to achieve?

After lunch, we could decide what we wanted to play with.  I went for stampbord straight away.

I couldn't believe that I could draw with the etcher thing, I can't draw full stop but this just flowed.  I'll hang the bottom one in the picture above from the top one with jump rings and add a brooch back.  They all need varnishing to preserve them too.

I plan to add eyelets to this one and make it into a necklace in the formation above.  This technique is also very forgiving.  Made a mistake?  You can rub it out with a special tool, taking it back to the clay, or you can paint over it!  Fab.  You can also use the Fantasy Paints on the Stampbord which my mum did to great effect.  Did I take photos?  Of course not, I was too busy etching!

Expect to see more of this...

p.s. anyone know any jewellery making blogs?  I only have about two on my reader but I'm loving it!


Don't forget to enter my Something Old, Something New competition.  The deadline is 31st July and there is a prize!