Outback Pics

I managed to find time to have a quick walk around and snapped a few pics.  This first one is priceless.  This is the sign in the window of the local prospecting shop in Mt Magnet.  

Shop Hours

Open most days at 9 or 10 occasionally as early as 7, but somedays as late as 12 or 1.  We close about 5.30 or 6 sometimes about 4 or 5 but occasionally as late as 7 or 8. Ssomedays or afternoons we aren’t here at all and lately I’ve been here just about all the time except when I’m someplace else.  Have a nice day. 

Hmmm trying to pass these on the open road is a bit of a nightmare.  They are soooooooooooo long.

Incredible Sturt Desert Pea.  They are so beautiful in real life.

The main street of Mt Magnet.  The streets are incredibly wide which was usual for mining towns in their hey day.

Yes Kato clay in the Outback.  Sold at Mt Magnet Post and Lotteries.  Good on you Jade.

Big open skies, lots of stars at night and country going on forever - precious.

Art in Space Mt Magnet - Some Workshop Pics

I managed to get a few pics from the workshops in Mt Magnet but I have to admit, I'm not very good at documenting the days very well.  Jade managed to get more pics for me which I'll share with you soon.  For now here's a sneak peak.

Art in Space Community Art Project: Yalgoo Workshops - With Thanks

After my 3 days in Mt Magnet, I travelled the 124km's back toward the coast to the little town of Yalgoo.  Lucky for me, I just missed the large kangaroo that jumped out in front of my car on the way - phew that was scary!!

I was excited to see the ladies again and couldn't wait to show them more techniques with polymer clay.

We ended up creating Symbolic Beads and I have to say they turned out incredible.  The ladies had a play around with a few other bits and pieces as well and we ended up having a great day.  Thanks to all the gorgeous ladies who came along - you all make my day incredibly special.

Art in Space Community Art Project: Mt Magnet Workshops - With Thanks

With huge thanks to the Arts and Cultural Development Commission in Geraldton, the Midwest Development Commission and the Government of Western Australia for making this community art project come to life.

I love heading out bush and this time was certainly no exception.  With the recent rains, everything was green and the country was absolutely incredible.  It really is a beautiful place to be.  I travelled out to Mt Magnet (a three and a half hour drive inland) and spent 3 days teaching the locals the wonders of polymer clay (of course).  We had great numbers for the workshops, lots of enthusiastic kids on the last day and some incredible creations at the end of it all.  

Huge thanks to Brendan for giving up his weekend and opening the centre for me and for generally being pretty awesome.  I can't wait to see his flower creations too.

I would like to thank Jade for being my wonderful photographer.  Jade was also kind enough to help out a few of the students- what a treasure she is.  Jade is also exceptionally skilled at polymer clay and created some amazing pieces over the three days.

I also need to thank Maureen for being a wonderful help during the workshops.  Maureen has mastered a number of polymer clay techniques and is now selling to tourists at the markets.  What a pleasure it was to have both Jade and Maureen in the classes,

Baker Williamson Studios Art Prize

Gemma Baker is an incredible Jewellery Artist living and working here in Geraldton.  Her work is astounding and I especially love her recent works in the Everlasting Collection - oh my gosh - stunning!!!!

Baker Williamson Studios, under the direction of Gemma, have organised the Baker Williamson Studios Art Prize 2015.

This is the Artist's brief:

"The transformation of our Midwest's vast and somewhat baron landscape into a spectacular display of nature peforming at its best bursting into a magnificent array of colourful wildflowers".

Hmmm.....wildflowers.....polymer clay....wonder if I can??

Sometimes it's good to push ourselves outside our normal boundaries and this is exactly what I decided to do.

If you want more information on the Art Prize check out the facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1576078095989842/

and definately check out Gemma's incredible pieces in her Wildflower Collection.

June in the Outback

I've been flat out lately planning, preparing, organising, creating samples, writing notes etc for some upcoming workshops in the Outback of Western Australia.

I have 23 workshops over 10 days in June.  Some of the workshops are double ups but not many.

What a huge job!.....but I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

I'll post more about the individual projects when I'm a little more organised.

One Thing Leads To Another!!

I couldn't tell you the number of times I've gone into the studio with a rough idea of what I wanted to play with, only to find I progress onto something else and then onto something else and in the end I've created something completely different to what I started out intending to do.  

Yesterday for example, I wanted to play with spikes and that's really all I wanted to do - makes lots of grungy spikes.

So I made my spikes and left one of them plain because I knew I wanted to do something special with it. I then thought, hey I might make some squarish ceramic looking beads to go with the spikes.  Well they completely turned out wrong - too thin and looked a bit like a chain link maybe.  So I made a few and joined them together - yeah I liked that!!  

 I then thought I could make round ones to break up the square ones. - Perfect!!

 My plan was now to make a longer chain with larger rounds and coloured squares. 

So I ended up coming back to the spike today but this time they because part of the links and I was really happy with this one.

Don't you just love how things progress sometimes?

Oh the spikes ended up with a makeover too.