Monday 23 July 2018

A forgiving bucket.

At the beginning of the month I went to a bucket painting workshop. I know, I can hear your reaction, it's probably the same as mine was. But it turns out, it wasn't like sucking eggs at all. And, the end product was very pleasing. Because the 'mistakes' aren't immediately obvious, and the bucket has the finished look about it. That's a good thing, because if I leave a workshop with a project unfinished, that's usually how it stays. Forever.

I popped a glue pen into it to give you some sense of proportion. Fat lot of good, huh!
If you haven't met Kay Carley (she's a name in the business you know), then I recommend you take the chance if you're presented with it. She is a sparkly eyed, patient, softly spoken young woman who, with a will of steel, will guide you into doing things her way and at a pace which means you'll finish. This is a huge skill. As I've just implied, unfinished project workshops aren't overly satisfactory, and Kay was having none of that!
In creation mode....how glad was I not to be doing it all straight onto the bucket. Now there's a sentence I never thought to say..
I'm not going to go over the workshop in detail,my memory and your patience aren't up to it. I used rice paper, stencils, dry painting techniques, stamps and wax crayons. And a scarey amount of wet glue and varnish type mediums. Stamps are by Paper Artsy, of Kay's design. Told you she was clever.
And we stopped for a proper lunch. Shopkeeper Gal was great and kept the fluids up and ran around in the heat to place our lunch orders. It was a lovely day. I'm undecided about the use of the Bucket. You may want to make a suggestion. Most of my ideas involve sweeties or pens. Well, that would be my only two ideas. You can probably do better!

10 comments:

Helen said...

sweets or pens, yes.. but how about scissors... I seem to recall you have a pair or two hanging around... the finished bucket looks fabulous. Kay - and her stamps - are lovely!

My Grama's Soul said...

Such a cute idea......what about a bucket to hold cleaning supplies. My cleaning person carries hers around in an ugly old plastic thing....think about how much better one would feel if you had something PRETTY to hold your supplies in. Just sayin'. O}

Jo

Liz said...

What a fabulous project, I'd probably use it for a lovely plant. xx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I've seen so many people take workshops and they come home with a half finished project. I can count on one hand the number of people who actually finished theirs. This was a milestone, indeed. Good for YOU. Sorry, I have no idea what to use it for, other than a home dec piece.

Sue said...

Hi Julia, That's a nice idea. I'd never have thought to decorate a bucket, but almost anything can be altered these days.

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Annie Claxton said...

Beautiful project, Julia, and as you say, how good to come home with it finished - I have a UFO (UnFinished Objects) box, which just makes me squirm! Sounds like you played with some really interesting techniques and materials too.
My suggestion - fill it with ice and keep your can of coke or whatever in it in this hot weather :o)

Catriona said...

It’s beautiful and due to the deforation being so lovely, I would probably pop a little glass jar of water inside and use it as a wee vase for some flowers.

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

What a beautifully designed bucket Julia, Kay designs magnificent stamps and I have to put my hands up to owning quite a few. What a super little bucket, rice paper is a fab way of adding detail and not as scary as we may think eh..??
Right at this moment i'd use it as an ice bucket as it's hotter than .... well we won't go into that but it looks just the right size to carry around and add a cube or two to your choice of tipple. The sweets idea can wait till Halloween hee heee!!
Catch up with you tomorrow Hugs Tracey xx

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Really cute project..I love Paper Artsy products, hard to find in the US and spendy, but they are unusual and unique. And I like it that it gets finished. Sounds like you enjoyed it too.

Neet said...

Well, I bought two decorated buckets when I had the kitchen redone and used them to put my orchids in in the window sill. Thought it looked kinda kitcheny. Sadly they paled (excuse the pun) in the sunshine and got thrown - but after two years!
Love your bucket - and have heard of Kay, in fact I have some of her stamps. Maybe even one like your bucket.
Hugs, Neet xx