She's Got Attitude....

ShaDeeLa's June class focused on recapturing youthful confidence and laissez-faire attitude. Starting with a blank canvas, instructors Sharon, Dee and Deb worked with students to turn childhood photos into modern, personal works of art. Students were encouraged to experiment with texture and color, with a focus on layering the two, by using stamp and transfer techniques. Everyone walked away with a picture perfect canvas... and a reminder that we all still have a little attitude!

Mermania

To open up the workshop, Dee shared several prototype examples, while reviewing the basic techniques of working with polymer clay. ShaDeeLa's students then began their mermaid contour "foundation" forming the essential parts that would be put together at the end. The parts were then given texture, pattern and interest using rubber stamp impressions. The "push mold" faces were adorned with clay accents such as hair, crowns and halos.

While the clay parts were in the oven baking, ShaDeeLa artists enjoyed a tea and cookie break as they pulled together the final accents to be added to their crafted Mermaid. After the clay cooled, artists embellished with color washes, seashells, jewels, beads and of course, glitter! The parts were assembled with wire, jump rings and beads completing a beautifully articulated Mixed Media Mermaid!

Jointed Flower Doll

ShadeeLa’s workshop artists created cheerful jointed dolls sculpted with Sculpey Ultra Light clay in June's workshop. Copper wires were inserted into the sculpted legs, arms, torso and head and baked for 20 minutes. Each doll part was painted, adorned with rhinestones, beads, glitter, sealed with a satin varnish and then assembled. Each doll had a finished size of approximately 6 inches tall. They all had unique shapes, adornments and colors. It was fun to hear the names that each Flower Doll was assigned.

This was a full day class that included an incredible potluck lunch prepared by all attending.

You Look Mahvelous Mirror

ShaDeeLa held it's "YOU LOOK MAHVELOUS MIRROR" workshop in early May. Participants received a wooden framed mirror, which soon became individual masterpieces! After transferring original designs to the frame, students painted, glittered and glued down items that gave dimension and interest. The final touch was using a wood burning tool to outline designs to create a "pop" effect. With the final pieces in hand, students walked out of class with a smile on their faces and a reminder that... "YOU LOOK MAHVELOUS!"

Road Trip!

Sharon, Dee and Deb usually take the month of August off. Vacations, preparations for the holiday trunk show (details coming soon!) and project development normally has the month filled. This year, however, an unexpected phone call had the ladies of ShaDeeLa heading north to Philadelphia. The project -- working with a group of girlfriends; The agenda -- finishing up partially completed projects. Sharon, Dee and Deb gave the friends new ideas and modernized a few old techniques. So much fun! This could be come an annual event.

"This was such a great Saturday with the girls - and productive too! Sharon, Dee and Deb were great instructors and really gave us all some wonderful ideas. I hope they have workshops in our area soon!"- Kris L.

Creative Sparks Incubation Box

This workshop was developed specifically to spark that creative ember that glows within all of us and to keep that flame alive and burning bright!

Whether you are a writer, musician or an artist, your most creative ideas always seem to arise while in the shower, in a traffic jam or when tossing sleeplessly at night. Noting your ideas when they arise is crucial to the creative cycle. These boxes were designed to establish a holding place for written or sketched thoughts for future attention when one’s artist cycle is in its full moon.

While openly sharing their best known discovery (or aha) moments, students learned the technique of carving their own handmade rubber stamp using a linoleum cutter and a rubber blank. The circular boxes were adorned with paint, rubber stamping, burnt matchsticks and finalized with wood-burned accent.

Miniature Garden Delights

To honor the coming of Spring, ShaDeeLa’s guest instructor, Auralea Krieger from Nature’s Soul Miniatures led the “Miniature Garden Delights” workshop. Kits were distributed with everything we needed to create our own potted Hydrangea plants. They contained pre-cut tissue petals, hydrangea stalks, pre-cooked polymer clay heads, leaves and even a clay pot for the flower! Auralea shared her special techniques, inspiration and guidance and some of us cultivated our own. All participants left with their own miniature piece of art to cherish or give as a gift and most of all we left with a newly learned craft and a blossoming of our creative soul.