Monday 3 August 2015

Wendy Vecchi Workshop in London

What a fabulous weekend it was both Saturday and Sunday, meeting up with crafting and blogging friends to have a meal together (I lost count how many of us there were in the end but we started with 15) and to attend Wendy Vecchi's Make Art workshop, we had such an amazing time. Wendy created a fabulous box and some tags for us to make using her signature products and we learnt some of her new techniques first hand and got lots of new ideas, tips and tricks.


Wendy has a great style for teaching and demonstrates and explains her techniques so well ........ and of course blending with archival ink rather than just distress inks was a revelation in itself. No really it was only because I always reach for the DIs and never think to use anything else.



She wanted to show us how in such a short time and using the same products our boxes were becoming so unique and individually personalised to our own preferences.


Here's mine.



I loved making this box using Wendy's embossing paste in a new and different way, it is such a cool shaped box and looks fabulous with the metal trim....


.. and label.


You can see the flower and button on the lid from this angle.


In the afternoon we made technique tags and here are mine featuring the gold texture paste, clearly for art, wendy's coloured archival inks and matching embossing powders, stencils, stamps and art parts.
One tip Wendy shared was that she always cuts down her tags she prefers to work on a 5 1/2 inch long tag rather than the standard 6 1/4 inch and I have to say I also like the dimensions as a more compact surface to work with.
 Tag 1


I wasn't going to buy this cup and saucer die but I can see all sorts of ways it can be used now.


Just look at the gorgeous teaspoon Wendy found us to use.


Tag 2
We used clearly for art and Wendy's stamp it - stencil it rose. It's so easy to use this range to get exact colouring in. 


I loved creating the 3D rose and vase and using Wendy's fabulous stamps and stencils.


Tag 3
More stencilling, stamp and art parts ......


... and the star is one of her own embellishments.


Tag 4
Wendy had very kindly stamped and embossed on some of the tags for us leaving us more time to create the backgrounds and get the pieces all assembled on the card.


This last tag was right at the end of the afternoon and a long but amazing day - I admit to not looking to change anything on this one and just get as much of it done before we took some photos and left for home.


Wendy also very kindly had some souvenir buttons made up for us.


And these were the tags she had made.


Here are just a few more of the photos from the day, I am hoping I will get some from some of those who attended as I missed out on getting any with Jenny and Sue - so girls if you are reading this do you have any I can have please?

Myself with wendy ....


.... Lesley, Cathryn Nikki (AVJ)


.... Tracy ....


.... Toni ....


.... Jane and Julie (AVJ) .....


.... Suz and Jane ....


.... Annie (AVJ) ....


.... and Anne (AVJ).



Thanks for staying with me through all the photos, but I really wanted to record the fullness of the day. A huge thank you to Wendy and her husband Rick for all the hard work they put into making everything run so smoothly and to all my crafting friends both above and those I didn't get photos with. It is certainly a day that will remain in the memories that stand out in my life.

I hope you have had a good start to the week and will be able to fit in some personal creative time today or soon.

Take care.

hugs Brenda xxx



39 comments:

Terry said...

I don't know where to start, Brenda! The tags are all fabulous and I really love the way your captured the WV style! That cup is a die I may have to think about as well! I love all your tags! Now the lineup of fellow crafters is such fun! Love seeing so many of the AVJ team and how happy everyone looks! What a great time! Big Hugs!

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

A fabulous way to capture the day Brenda, I love all the photographs and thinking about the day all over again. It was a pleasure to meet all the AVJ team and the ladies that attended the class. It was great fun, I thoroughly enjoyed the day. Enjoy your week. Tracy x x

Kath Stewart said...

wow what a fabulous day...love what you made...great to see my fabulous buddies having so much fun...hugs xxx

Redanne said...

A wonderful post Brenda and such a great way to capture a fantastic day. It was so lovely to meet up with you and other AVJ ladies and also meet some old friends too! Wendy was just amazing... Hugs, Anne xx

Jane said...

It was such a great day wasn't it Brenda and so nice to spend it in such great company meeting old and new blogging friends. Wendy was such a super teacher and we all came away with some lovely artwork. I shall email you a few more photos but yours are really lovely. Hugs and enjoy the rest of the summer xx

iGirlZoe said...

What a wonderful day you had. Thank you so much for sharing your photos, it was really nice to share the day from a distance. I love your box and the flower on top is SO cute. :)

iGirlZoe said...

What a wonderful day you had. Thank you so much for sharing your photos, it was really nice to share the day from a distance. I love your box and the flower on top is SO cute. :)

toni said...

It was such a great day and great to meet you and so many of my crafting heroes! Look forward to further meet ups in the future. Wendy was so lovely !! Xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

This looks like a fabulous day - brilliant photos! Chrisx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Wow ! The box is wonderful and the tags stunning - so many techniques !?! And so wonderful to see pictures of you all - what a wonderful time you must have had xxx

cybil said...

Everything is just so awesome. You have so much talent Brenda. I'm in the US so I couldn't get there in time hahaha. I would very much appreciate it, if you could let me know what products were used for the box. I've got tons of art parts if that's what was used. Please share with me. Sincerely thankful

cybil said...

Everything is just so awesome. You have so much talent Brenda. I'm in the US so I couldn't get there in time hahaha. I would very much appreciate it, if you could let me know what products were used for the box. I've got tons of art parts if that's what was used. Please share with me. Sincerely thankful

cybil said...

Everything is just so awesome. You have so much talent Brenda. I'm in the US so I couldn't get there in time hahaha. I would very much appreciate it, if you could let me know what products were used for the box. I've got tons of art parts if that's what was used. Please share with me. Sincerely thankful

cybil said...

Everything is just so awesome. You have so much talent Brenda. I'm in the US so I couldn't get there in time hahaha. I would very much appreciate it, if you could let me know what products were used for the box. I've got tons of art parts if that's what was used. Please share with me. Sincerely thankful

cybil said...

Everything is just so awesome. You have so much talent Brenda. I'm in the US so I couldn't get there in time hahaha. I would very much appreciate it, if you could let me know what products were used for the box. I've got tons of art parts if that's what was used. Please share with me. Sincerely thankful

cybil said...

Everything is just so awesome. You have so much talent Brenda. I'm in the US so I couldn't get there in time hahaha. I would very much appreciate it, if you could let me know what products were used for the box. I've got tons of art parts if that's what was used. Please share with me. Sincerely thankful

Annie said...

You captured the day so well with your gorgeous box and tags.....it was such fun and to meet up with yourself and other crafty friends was fantastic.
I had a wonderful time Brenda x hopefully it's not another 2 years till we get together x

Hugs Annie x

A Pink said...

so wonderful to hear about your great weekend Brenda and to see all you lovely talented ladies together. Thank you so much for sharing your weekend with us . Your makes are wonderful and I am sure will be treasured .Life really is about making memories like these .

Crafty Humphreys said...

Lovely post. Beautiful projects. So good to meet you and all those other talented girls! Suz (Surrey Crafts) Xxx

Crafty Humphreys said...

Lovely post. Beautiful projects. So good to meet you and all those other talented girls! Suz (Surrey Crafts) Xxx

Crafty Humphreys said...

Lovely post. Beautiful projects. So good to meet you and all those other talented girls! Suz (Surrey Crafts) Xxx

Anonymous said...

Brenda
What a fabulous weekend filled with brilliant art and friends.
Wishes
Lynne

rachel said...

looks amazing Brenda - so much fun with so many friends - brilliant xx

Patty O'Malley said...

What fun it must have been to be at a Wendy Vecchi workshop! I love the box and tags you made.

Unknown said...

Oh wow - what beautiful art you made Brenda.... just wonderful. But I have to say - that the highlight of this post for me is your pictures. Now I can put a face with so many names.... I just love seeing all your sweet faces. I bet it was so fun being together with so many folks that you enjoy. Thanks bunches and bunches for sharing the pictures... makes me feel like part of the fellowship! j.

Words and Pictures said...

Looks like a marvellous time was had by all - and what a lot you got done! Thanks for sharing the fun and smiles.
Alison xx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Brenda, looks like you all had a great time. A little bird told me you were all getting together but I didn't know what for. The boxes are great and look really useful too. Have a great week and happy crafting, Angela x

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

SO JEALOUS!!! LOVE all the photos, love the projects, love Wendy, and love seeing all the blogging ladies I've yet to meet. Thanks so much for sharing!!!

Helen said...

This is the first post I've seen with pics from the day (although i saw Gabrielle's projects from Sunday she tweeted) so thank you for sharing. Looks a whole heap of fun!

Rita said...

Good Morning Brenda. Looks like you all had a fabulous time with Wendy. Love the boxes and the tags are wonderful. Memories like this last a lifetime. Have a Good Day. Hugs Rita XXXX

Gina said...

You can see by the smiles and beautiful creations what a wonderful day it was for everyone :D XXX

Sandy said...

Wonderful! Love all the makes and thanks for sharing the photos you lucky lady!!
Sandy xx

Unknown said...

YAY! Brenda!! Look at all of those beautiful smiles! It looks like it was a remarkable weekend with Wendy!! Thanks for sharing your photos! I almost feel like I was there ;) :) XOXO-Shari

sarascloset said...

Brenda, I really enjoyed your post, seeing all the wonderful photos of ladies I've only "met" through their blogs; I too, felt like I was there! What fun you must have had; I'm totally surprised at how productive you all were! I would have been too much visiting and not enough working! thank you for sharing your weekend with us! Hugs!

Astrid Maclean said...

So glad I caught up with this still! Looks as if you had a fantabulous time, - super projects and great photos!!! Love your box and those tags look fantastic. (great idea to cut them down too)... Thanks so much for taking the time to share!! Have a great time away too! xxxxx

Deb said...

Oh you lucky, lucky girls, not only getting to spend a day learning and creating with the amazing Wendy Vecchi but getting to create with each other! Looks like a wonderful workshop and the pieces you made Brenda are so lovely, the box is especially gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing the day with us all, Deb xo

Julia Aston said...

What a great time you all had and what wonderful projects you created - Wendy has such great design skills! So nice to see all you AVJ ladies together - wish I had been able to go!! Julia xx

Mary Elizabeth said...

OH wow!! A stellar list of crafting stars at Wendy's workshop. How fun!! Love your all of your creations Brenda. I especially love that teacup tag. Beautiful colors. Interesting idea to cut down the length of the tag. Hmm -- might play around with that some time. -- Mary Elizabeth

Unknown said...

Thanks for all the pics. We were hoping to get to meet all of you, but we didn't find out until we were in the UK that your class was the day we were leaving. Your tags & box came out beautiful! What is AVJ?