What's new in the studio this week...

Throwback Thursday

Who remembers these guys? We thought they were styling. Oh my!

There is still time to enter our giveaway. Have you been to the studio and made a purchase? If so make sure you like us on Facebook and post a comment here to be entered. You could win one of three gift certificates to Vintage Pixie Studio.

One for $100.00 and 2 for $25.00.

If you haven't been in you have until the end of the month to enter. Don't Wait!

 

the love of old metal items, particularly zinc continues to grow in both the vintage, rustic, primitive and industrial style decors.

One of my favorites are the vintage olive buckets seen everywhere in décor magazines and catalogs.

These Vintage metal buckets, originally used for harvesting olives are the featured item of the week at Vintage Pixie Studio. How could you incorporate one in your decorating?

 

 

Kate Church

I am excited to announce Kate Church is coming to Vintage Pixie Studio to teach both a beginners and advanced sculptural workshop this May.

"The line and gesture of her work draws on a continuing practice and study of the human figure. Drawing, painting and sculpting are a major part of Kate’s work life. Beautiful fabrics in unusual combinations reflect a background in textile design, her major course of study at RISD.

The intention of the work is to carry a silent imprint or sense of emotion through the posture and expression of the figure evolving in front of her. Built using a process that is movable throughout its construction, a tangible sense of emerging comes naturally to the finished sculpture. In fact most of the figures can be altered and adjusted; movement is part of their design.

Each piece is meant to become an artful muse for those who collect them"

 there are only a limited number of spaces still available in the workshops.

to see more of Kate's work visit her site at www.KateChurch.com

 

Introductory sculptural workshop
with Kate Church

Saturday May 11 9am-5pm
Sunday May 12 9am-5pm
Monday May 13, Tuesday May14 6pm-9:30pm
$310.00

  In this 3 day Introductory workshop we will explore Kate's signature building techniques using three simple materials : polymer clay' cloth and wire. The objective is to acquire basic skills to work with polymer clay by creating two figures : one soft form and another using basic wire armature.

You will follow my current method of building and thinking with enough practice and information to be able to continue on your own.  Many students take the Intro level class several times, each time gaining more from the practice sessions and new ideas and techniques that naturally come from my recent work and process.

Advanced 3 day Movement Workshop
with Kate Church

 Saturday May 17, 9am-5pm
Sunday May 18, 9am-5pm
Monday May 19, 9am-5pm
$310.00
 

This 3 day workshop is the first in Kate's developing series of Advanced Classes for students to continue to work with her and wish to try something new  . . .  developing skills while playing and practicing in an alternate format. 

The Little Boxes Workshop is about how to build a small character with moving parts inside a box. We will create press molds to make multiples . . . something I use in my own small work . . . a process that brings individuality to each face . . .

AND . . . utilizing and reviewing skills from the Intro Level Class we will create a tassel character : something playful and delightful that  m o v e s . . . .

 

photos courtesy of Kate Church

 

 

A DIY Tutorial

As I have mentioned, we are undergoing some redecorating in my home. Our home is a war home built around 1950 and although there is a lot of charm in the home, not as much as I would like. For example all the doors are the ugly hollow core doors of that time. We searched everywhere for antique five panel doors but couldn't find any the correct size. So here is my solution...

BEFORE                                                                               AFTER

We began by removing the doors. Trim was added to create 2 panels on each door. We then stained the trim with a stain that matched as close as possible.

I painted the first coat of paint in a white. No I didn't sand or strip the doors first. This is what I love about Cottage Paint, these steps aren't necessary.

I then used the cottage paint crackle in small amounts here and there on the doors. I don't care to use a lot of crackle over the whole door. I feel it can look phoney that way.

After the crackle dried I painted a coat of cottage paint in country manor. I let that dry about an hour then painted another coat of cottage paint in driftwood this time.

So far they are looking good but still need more distressing. While the paint is still tacky I take masking tape and press it down in random areas. When you pull it up you get a great paint pealing look.

Then it was time for some elbow grease. Taking a wet rag I scrubbed areas of paint away. Some areas I scrubbed down to the original stain and other areas I let the different layers of colours show through.

This is another bonus of using cottage paint. To distress you don't have sand. With the wet rag you have a lot more control.

I was pretty pleased with how they were looking at this point. I still felt however there was something not quite authentic about them. If they were really old doors the paint wouldn't have been so clean, especially in the grooves were dirt would normally collect.

Taking some burnt umber oil paint and some varsal I applied this dark mixture with a rag over areas that would show dirt. It can seem scary because it goes on so dark. I take another rag with varsal and wipe away some of the burnt umber, leaving it in the crevices.

Now the look authentic. What do you think?

A Giveaway and more classes

 March has arrived and there is no end in sight to the snow and cold weather. There's  no sense stressing over that for which we have no control, so lets create some positive things for this month.

Firstly, the felted mouse class has been very popular and filled quickly so I have added another class. Since Easter is approaching, I am offering a felted bunny workshop.

Sunday April 6th

10am-4:30

$95.00

Create this the adorable Bunny using basic needle sculpting over a wire armature. All materials included as well as a light lunch.

I am also adding additional open mosaic nights,  for those of you who have previously taken a mosaic workshop and would like to work on your own projects. We provide the space and the guidance if needed. You are responsible for your own materials (we have some great glass available for purchase at studio) You must register in advance to attend an open mosaic night.

Wednesday evening  6pm-9:30   $15.00

April 2nd, 16th, 23rd, 30th

Now to the fun part- a Giveaway.

I am giving someone a $100.00 gift certificate and 

 two lucky people a $25.00 gift certificate for Vintage Pixie Studio. 

All it takes is three steps to qualify:

1.First visit the studio and make a purchase.

2. Like us on Facebook and leave a comment on your visit.

3.Leave a comment on the blog.

That's it.  I will announce the winners on April 1st, so you have lots of time to qualify and you can qualify more than once, as long as you do all three steps each time.

good Luck everyone