Wow what a year it has been, many art shows, lots of adventures. So many adventures... First and foremost, thank you for all your support this year, you have been amazing. Whether you have bought something or simply liked a Facebook post it is all very much appreciated. Thanks to everyone that come in to the Pop-up shop it was a roaring success. But now it is time for Christmas, time spent with family and friends, hopefully with out the pressures of work. Have a great time and stay safe, and I will be back in the new year rearing to go after my annual studio clean out. Much love Donna |
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It is that time of year again, pop up shop time! The year I am back in the same shop as last year (22 Devon St, on the hill) but this time with a new group of ladies. The Shop is called "The collaboration" Quite fitting I think. There are around 20 of us, Gallery upstairs and Retail downstairs. This was the before set up on opening night... Food looks fantastic, thanks to me! I did the catering, it went down a hit.. Remember "KEEP IT LOCAL" this year, come in and see us for all your Christmas gifts... Hi Folks, I thought it was time to do another video! I have done a lot of experimenting with resin of late, and I have couple of the products I mention in the video has made this so much easier! Hope you all find this useful. PS: don't forget I have a special on with resin at the moment! $25% OFF SPECIAL Any questions, feel free to ask away! :) Happy resining! Hi Folks, I often hear horror stories, well maybe not horror stories as such but bad experiences with resin... Personally I think resin is one of those products you either love or hate... I loved it first time and have never looked back. Sure I have a made lots of mistakes but I think that is helpful in understanding a product. My advice with resin is to start small and work up... and practice with it first... Learn about your product!! I have just made a quick video on the basic of pouring resin.. I have not really done videos before so I hope this is ok, feel free to ask any questions. A couple of things I forgot to mention...
Grab A Seat Sunday This is inspired by my neighbor (not that she knows it yet) Christmas rolls around so quickly so I thought lets start now... I will be opening my studio for free to those that have projects they want to work on! Bring a project and lets get to it. What happens: You bring yourself, your project and the bits and bobs you need for it... snacks if you want. You can leave your project here for next time if you want or take it with you. Sunday Afternoons - 1-4pm Book your place now, only 6 seats available, so bookings are essential. THE FINE PRINT
Although it is free, if you use my products a small fee may be incurred. One of my favourite recipes... I make them for friends every chance I get! So easy and so yum. Have even been known to send them around the country!! 1 tblspn Lemongrass 1 tblspn Ginger 4 cloves Garlic (medium sized) ½ tspn Coriander fresh root or stalks 1 small onion (pickling onion type size) reasonably finely chopped Fresh Chili or Chili flakes according to your tastes (optional) Pound in Mortar and Pestle until is broken down (kind of mushy) 400g Minced Chicken (I buy free range and mince it myself.) 50g Mushroom Portabello of Button(grated) (optional) I tblspn Soy Sause 1 tblspn Fish Sauce dash of Sesame Oil Salt Pepper Mix all ingredients and leave in fridge, covered over night for best flavour adsorption. NOTES:
I was lucky enough to be given a big box of walnut shells.
Wahoo, got to 600 liker's to on my Facebook page so here is a little freebie in celebration. (Not for commercial use without permission)
A few weeks ago I said I would do a blog on how to marble or add a dye surface to paper... So finally this is it!
Years ago when I was living in Auckland I went to a creative class how to make my own stamps. These are not them,but I do have them some where. I needed a stamp recently, so I hunted out some kids rubbers and made my own. Medthod
Happy Creating.
Donna .
Given happenings over the last couple of weeks. I am really sorry, I like to take people on their word but sadly no shows and cancellations do not pay the rent or for my time spent making products or for products purchased for specific workshops or for the time setting up the workshop. So for those reasons... I have decided to add terms and conditions to my workshops.
This is effective as of 6 March 2014 This week I finally got around to trying a new technique/tip I came across a few months ago. I don't use stencils a lot, but given they can be so easily made now I just might.
Years ago I bought this creative crafts template(image below) book at New Plymouth's 24 hour book sale and it has been a wonderful resource of shapes and with new way to cut stencils it is going to be an even better resource. Required
Copy(trace) the design you want with the marker pen onto the OHP sheet, then essentially follow the marked pen outline on the OHP sheet with the hot soldering iron. Stencil done... Happy creating Donna Just a few of the resources for free images I have found... please although I have checked out most, Free.... sometimes does not apply to commercial usage. So please do the research yourself if you wish to use the images in a commercial manner.... Do not do to others as your prefer not have done to you!
Right click to save image and download
2014 is here, so with the new year comes a few new workshops!
My aim this year is to make creativity accessible to everyone. To help people remove judgements of "oh I am not creative" or "I just can't to it right". To have a creative space that is welcoming, relaxing and available to all. Being creative is about just being you... letting yourself relax. There is no wrong or right to creativity, I think it is just about being, feeling.. doing. Spending time with friends or having some alone time doing something creatively fun. Sometimes our inner critic runs wild during these times, IGNORE IT. I would like to say I do this all the time, but realistically I don't. One of the beliefs I struggle with is because I work for myself and being creative is my bread and butter, I think I need to make everything pay! The times when I stop worrying about if the particular creative adventure I am on is going to put food on my table is the most enjoyable and productive. I am not saying the out come is perfect every time it is not, it is a process a step towards not letting let fear run my life. I think it is better not to have too many rules and too many predetermined ideas of an out come. What I have learnt is, like most things in life (and life it'self) creativity is not about a single piece you created how long it took, how it looks ... it is about a journey of creativeness. Lots of moments that build and blend together to create you !! Creativity is not just about drawing, painting, sculpting etc.. it is about discovery, self discovery. So with that said... This is what is new in 2014 Bringing your creativeness to life in 2014. Recycle, Up-Cycle or Create something new, we have the space, bits and bobs and of course the creative know how to bring out all your creative and artist genius. Book and pay for your workshop before the end February and receive 10% off your first workshop and 15% off your second booking. COURGETTE CHUTNEY
Time honoured traditional Indian spices turn a pan-ful of courgettes into a superb chutney to enjoy with just about everything; cheese, cold meats, curries etc. Of course you can use up your overgrown courgette monsters, but I prefer to use young, tender courgettes when they are no more than 15 cm long to make this delightful spiced chutney. 1kg courgettes, green or yellow 2 tablespoons salt 2 medium onions 4-5 large cloves garlic 1 red chilli (more if you want to increase the heat) 25g root ginger 100ml sunflower oil 2 tablespoons black mustard seed 1 tablespoon coriander seed 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon turmeric 300 ml cider vinegar 225g Demerara sugar Start by wiping the courgettes over and cutting off the stalks. Chop into 5-6mm pieces (for larger courgettes cut lengthwise and then slice). Place in colander and sprinkle with the salt. Stand the colander over a bowl and leave for a couple of hours. The salt will draw out excess water from the courgettes and will prevent the courgettes going mushy when they are cooked. Meanwhile, peel the onion, garlic cloves, ginger and de-seed the chilli. Place these four ingredients in a blender and blitz well to form a paste. Rinse the courgettes with plenty of cold water and dry well. Heat the oil a large roomy saucepan. Sprinkle in the mustard and coriander seeds and fry for a 3-4 minutes. Add the ground cumin and turmeric. Keep shaking the pan to prevent the spices burning. Add the onion paste and cook with the spices for 4-5 minutes. Add the courgettes, vinegar and the sugar. Stir well and bring to simmering point over a medium heat. Reduce the heat and let the mixture cook slowly until the courgettes have softened and the liquid has reduced. This will take approximately 45 minutes. Pot the chutney whilst still hot in sterilised jars packing down with a spoon to remove any air pockets. Seal with vinegar proof lids. Store in a cool, dark place. Bed HeadFor YEARS I have been wanting to make a head board, and I have finally done it...
It was much easier than I thought.. well kinda!! I made a few mistakes (learning curves)
So to remedy this I bought the timber in photo two from a recycled timber yard. I think it cost me $2 maybe, I did buy several other items.
But all in all I am happy it is a welcome addition for my personal space! So another week or so on I thought I would plaster and paint the board surround... hmmm not sure if I like it.. oh well time will tell..
Did you know that resin does not like the cold or the damp! Is your resin taking longer to cure? Is your resin drying cloudy or with what looks like an oily residue! It is best to work in a warm environment where the temperature is above 20°C, resin needs to be above this temperature during the drying time as well as in storage. For the drying/curing time: Clear a shelf in the hot water cylinder, put your project in there for the evening/day, cover it with a shoebox as a dust protector
Describe my perfect day. When I saw this topic, it reminded of something I did a good 13 years ago, when I was living in Statford, after moving back when a relationship ended and soon after I left for Australia. I was still a chef, doing all kinds of crazy hours, I think it was during this period I worked for 3 months with out a day off. I did one of those visualisation exercises, writing out my perfect day. I can't remember all the things on the list, but looking back it feels as if I am more than half way there.
I am living my perfect day, every day. I am living my dream, and not a day goes past that I am not thankful. It is filled with all things I love. From getting up (not to an alarm), having time to enjoy my breakfast and coffee(not having to rush out the door) planning my day, being creative, maybe some product research, possibly some study, meetings with clients. ... more creativity. Mine is a simple life, lived without glamour and grandeur and I love it. Would I changes anything... yes, there is one thing that comes to mind that is missing from my perfect day list way back when! I am not living in a cottage in the country! |
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