Applejack Crafts - My Blog ...

Mother's Day ...

... is around the corner! Hard to believe, but we're very nearly in March and having seen the beginnings of the daffodils arriving in the garden, it makes me realise that Spring isn't far away! Spring is probably my favourite time of year, the nights are getting lighter, days are getting warmer, the garden looks greener and Easter is on the horizon ... well, all the yummy chocolate is out in the shops anyway!

Which brings me back to Mother's Day. If you followed earlier news about the Chalkboard project at Christmas, you will be pleased to know that I have produced a number of blank Handpainted Chalkboard Kits primed and ready for a child's handprints (or footprints). What a perfect Mother's Day present! And if you don't want handprints, you can always put pawprints! The Kit includes one Chalkboard (size 30cmx45cm) with a rope handle and full instructions with paint and sealer. They are priced at £15.00 each (+£3.95 P&P) so get in touch if you would like one.

Have a good weekend .... and happy painting !

Happy New Year ....

... to you all. I thought it about time I updated my blog ... I've been a bit rubbish about keeping you all up-to-date, so I've turned over a new leaf and even added it to my list of Resolutions!! Hmm, well I'll try my best anyway ....

So, what's been going on here then? Well, I must have been very good this year because Santa as brought lots of goodies to the Studio! I'm busy playing with the Big Shot die-cutting and embossing machine, the Sizzix Bind-it-All and the Efcolor Enamalling System!!! All of these brilliant crafting products will inspire lots of great new projects for the new year and I can't wait to show them off to you! More details to follow once I've read the instructions and worked them all out !!!

Some of you may have received the new Winter Newsletter which I posted just before Christmas. If you haven't had a copy, drop me a line and I'll send one to you. Unfortunately it is quite a large document and I can't manage to upload it here as the website keeps crashing (?) but I will update the site soon with the details.

Term starts again on Thursday 6th January with the Thursday Painting Group and both the Tuesday and Thursday groups will run regularly thereafter. I will also be holding my Wednesday Technique classes including all the favourites; texture paste, faux finishes, canvas bags etc as well as introducing some new ones too! Just watch this space for more information.

I am also starting a new Saturday Club for those who aren't able to attend mid-week classes, so do tell your friends and family in case you know someone who might be interested.

I have also just re-enrolled in my weekly Life Drawing class which is helping me to improve my drawing and observational skills. Last term I discovered that I rather enjoyed abstract and oils and here is my final project which is quite different from anything else I've done! I found it quite challenging but loved doing it too.

Anyway, time for me to go now so I do hope you have had a lovely Christmas and New Year and I look forward to seeing you in the Studio soon.

Happy painting ...

Liz x

Saturday Club

I am pleased to offer a range of Saturday morning classes which will run monthly and feature a small project which introduces a new technique. If you are unable to attend mid-week classes, then this might suit you. The classes run from 9.30-12.30 so it still leaves you the rest of the day to catch up with other things. Check out the Saturday Club page on the website and let me know if you wish to book your place. Spaces are limited, so early booking is advisable.

Hope to see you soon

Liz x

Welcome .....

.... to my new 'blog'! It has occurred to me recently that I have been sooooo busy with lots of different activities in and around the Studio that perhaps I should 'share' some of my news (just in case you might be interested??).

So, rather than give you the whole chapter and verse of what's been going on (phew I hear you sigh!), I thought I would just drop in a few snippets now and again and hopefully you'll get the gist of it all as we go along! Fingers crossed anyway ....

So tonight I am beginning to panic slightly because the Studio is opening tomorrow afternoon for the Herts Open Studios event and I'm not sure I'm even close to being ready! I've got tea, milk and biscuits (the important things) and hopefully the rest will fall into place. The weather forecast hasn't been great, but I'm hoping to get some visitors in through the door ... if only to get out of the rain! The Studio is looking quite full at the moment; quite different from when it first opened and the walls were looking a bit blank. Now that I've taking on the Jo Sonja range of products, the 'shop' area looks more interesting and once I've managed to move some of the larger painted items out of the way, there is quite a wide range of items to buy; paints, mediums, brushes, mdf blanks, glass dishes, scrapbook papers, as well as some hand-painted gifts too. Tea will most definitely be required to get through all that lot ....

If you're in the area tomorrow between 2pm-5pm, then do come along. If you can't make it, don't worry I am opening on other dates too, just check the Open Studios page for info.

Have a good weekend and hope to see you at the Studio soon.

Liz