Riikka Workshop 3: Heart of Turisas was forged by the winds

Hello there - well this is the result of my third and final workshop - sadly I needed to get home so couldn't do the Sunday pm workshop. But this is the project that turned my head in the first place - and also the one that I loved most of all.



This is Riikkas project - it was even more stunning in the flesh - and here's what I made:

Here's how it started ..

more progress ...

I decided I really wanted to use both halves of the polystyrene heart - to make this piece a tribute to my late husband Shaun. So I did - I think it has made the whole thing very busy but I do love it.

Here's a more arty shot to try and give more of a feel of the dimension. 

It was such a wonderful class - I loved it. 

And if you're wondering - the name of the class comes from a song by Riikka's favourite metal band!!!! She even played us a clip!

Big hugs and hopes for a wonderful day!

Rachel xx

Riikka workshop 2: She was wearing summer in her hair

hello lovelies! How are you? I hope you haven't been washed away in our great British summer? The rain has reached us here now too but fingers crossed its not been too bad! Long may that remain. Thanks or your kind words about my dad. I won't go on here about him - he's not improved - thats all you need I guess.

Today I would like to share with you the results from my second workshop with Riikka Kovasin. This workshop involved drawing a face - Riikka did give us the option of using stamped faces but I wanted to try and have a go. Anyway this is what happened....



I spent a lot of time phaffing with the face - and of course I am not happy - but it is the best face I have ever done - so on one lever I am pleased. This is what she looks like ...

The full result showing the painty background and halo and headdress.

A more arty shot to get the dimension

Close up of the headress. 

I may well alter this headress a bit - I think I need to add a little more brown to compliment the colours in my room. We'll see!!!!

In fairness to Riikka I will not go through the steps but most of the products are from the Finnabhair range.

Big hugs to you and I hope i have better news soon!

Rachel x

Riikka Kovasin workshop 1: Unfamiliar flowers grow on the seashore

Hello there! How are you? I hope you are well. Things have been getting worse with my lovely dad - he just seems to be shutting down at present and is sleeping and sleeping. At least he doesn't seem to be in pain which is great - we will just have to wait and see what the next few days bring. I am spending as much time as possible with my mum - love you mum!

So at the weekend I had the most fabulous time at Art Workshops in the North East - The very talented Riikka Kovasin was the artist who took us for the workshops - she was a very calm and beautiful person and talented - did I mention talented??? Here's a picture of us before I left on Sunday.



The first workshop that I took was titled Unfamiliar flowers grow on the seashore. It involved making lots of ATCs.


This is during the workshop - in fairness to Riikka I don't want to publish a step by step method but it involved beautiful papers, gel medium, mica powders, sprays and gorgeous ephemera. I loved it to bits! I have swapped one atc and given one each to the girls and one to my mum - these are the ones I have left.

and this is possibly my favourite...

Here we all are at the end of the workshop:

I loved this workshop -- I hope you have enjoyed my report of it - and don't mind me bringing you more reports later in the week.

Big Hugs

Rachel x