AndySkinner.org

New Stamps Sets!!

2012-02-11T22:05:00.001Z

It's now official and I can share pictures of my new A5 stamp sets being released at stitches starting today!!

Here are the sets, I will post some finished samples using the stamps in the next few days.

The first is called Circus, I have been wanting to introduce a scary clown to a set for ages, I have always had a fear of clowns but that said, I'm also fascinated by them!
I'm also a bit of a sucker for elephants, you can guarantee if something has an elephant on it, I will buy it!!

This second set ties in nicely with the first and is called Sideshow.
Included in this set is the All Seeing Eye, a helter skelter which I used to love going on as a child, a vintage carousel horse and a magical montage.

Time for Steampunk!
This set is called Letting off Steam. As I get asked so many times to explain what steampunk is, I have included a dictionary style explanation of it on a stamp.

Next up is the Steampunk Accessories complete with assorted cogs, rivets, screw heads, rust runs and power meters.

This set is called Retroset and includes a few retro style signs, including some for the men!

Finally we have Tempting Textures, including in this set are five distressed background stamps which I can see myself using lots in altered projects and off course, the good old coffee stain!

Some of you may be wondering why there is no nature set as I normally include one? Well these are being worked on at the moment and hopefully will get released in a couple of months.

Bye for now,

Andy

Brrrrrrrrr!

2012-02-10T12:21:00.001Z

Hello,
I arrived back in the UK last night, what's all this snow about!? It's been a bit of a shock to the system I have to say.

Now that I'm back there is so much to do and prepare for, I will be demonstrating at Osbourne Stationers in Sheldon, Birmingham this Sunday (12th) so if you are local why not pop by, it would be lovely to meet you.
I'm also very excited this morning to have received all the sets of my new stamps, I can now prepare for Stitches next week. Sooooooo looking forward to it this year!! I will be demonstrating on the Decoart stand B04 which is located close to the main entrance, if you are attending please please do come and say hello.

I have been so inspired by Bahrain and the middle east in my recent visits that I am holding a one off altered box workshop called The Eye of Fatima, this is to be held at the Craft Barn on the 14th of April 2012.
Now, I have to say that if you want rust and cogs this is probably not the workshop for you, but if you are seeking a little eastern promise in your life :) then be sure to book up on this one!

I will leave you with some glass fusing workshop pictures from Studio Ceramics in Bahrain, as soon as I get the finished fused pictures through I will post them.
If you have not experienced glass fusing and slumping, I strongly suggest you look into it, its a wonderful way to spend a creative couple of hours.

Andy

I've been duped!

2012-02-03T07:15:00.006Z

Before I tell you about me being taken for a ride, (literally) here are a few pictures of this weeks workshops and Studio Ceramics in Bahrain where they were held.

Ceramic watercolour workshop.

A ceramic studio has plenty of broken pieces of glazed pottery, so yesterday I ran a workshop combining Silver Clay along with ceramic shards.
Here is one of the pendants that has been finished, the two really work well together.
I will post pictures of the other pieces once they are out of the tumbler.

Earlier in the week was the Art Clay copper workshop, the copper clay is great because you get so much of it for your money and can really experiment without fear of very expensive mistakes.
This workshop was an introduction to copper, so nothing too complicated.
Detail was added to the copper by carving and pressing rubber stamps into it before shaping, forming and finally firing.

Whilst out here I am helping set up a fused glass studio which is going to run alongside the ceramics, so before I left the studio last night I programmed the kiln for glass and popped a couple of test pieces in, a coaster along with a small pendant so fingers crossed when I return on Saturday they would have fused successfully.

Not sure if Bahrain is ready for steampunk yet but next week is steampunk week!!!

Ok here goes…..no laughing!

Soon after I arrived, I felt the need for a nice bottle of wine.
Now you can't just buy it from you local supermarket here, there are only four places in which you can purchase take out alcohol in the whole country, so I decided to ask the guy on the desk to order me a taxi.
After a couple of phone calls one eventually arrived, I got in and asked him to take me to the place where they sold liquor, he knew what I meant straight away and we began our journey.
I then noticed the cab had no meter but guessed that's how it is here in Bahrain. Thirty minutes later we arrived at the destination, it was like a blacked out warehouse full of every alcoholic drink you could imagine, I rushed in and brought my wine and we headed back to the apartment.
Arriving back at the apartment he told me to stay in the car as there was a real taxi driver who had pulled up behind us and there could be trouble!.. "A real taxi driver!, so what are you?" I asked, " I am friend " Now he meant a friend of the guy on the desk, so we have to wait in the car until the "real taxi driver" pulls away and I pay him.
It was really expensive but I guessed we had been driving for an hour in total and I did have my precious bottle of wine, so I handed over the dollars along with a tip.

Yesterday I decided to return to the liquor store as I have a day of today and want to cook later and enjoy it with a bottle of wine. Anne who owns the studio took me this time and guess what?……….It was located only five minutes from my apartment lol The "Friend" had taken me all around the island to warrant more money, I was truly duped!

Andy

A Day to Forget

2012-01-27T23:17:00.005Z

Today has been one of those days where I wish I could turn back the clock and start all over again, sad news was received this morning from back home and to top it all off, I only go and knock a whole cup of coffee over my laptop, within seconds it shut down and died.
I do have a backup at home but that is useless at the moment with me being away. I have been filming and editing workshop videos over here which are obviously not backed up.
The good news is that I have managed to get it working again, although the touch pad thingy is dead, the mouse is working, so for anyone who is as clumsy as me, here is how I did it!

Turn off power immediately and remove battery.
Hold laptop upright and drain all the liquid out that you can.
If your cooker has a defrost setting stick the laptop in for a few hours to dry out, I left it in for 5 hours total.

4. Plug it back in and keep everything…and I mean everything crossed!

Fortunately I am back up and running again and no liquid whatsoever is going anywhere near this laptop ever, I have learned my lesson!

Anyway with no laptop this afternoon I decided to go and buy some ingredients (along with a couple of bottles of wine for stress relief obviously) and cook a curry of sorts, the spices available over hear are amazing.
So here goes for the second tutorial, how to cook a made up curry my style lol!

Take a very large sip of white wine and place two garlic butter marinated chicken thighs along with one chopped onion into a large saucepan, fry on high for 5 minutes browning the onions until golden.
Take another large sip of wine and add Chilli powder, tandoori masala power, cardamom pods, herb cooking salt and black pepper, continue frying on high for a further 2 minutes.
Add a can of chopped tomato's followed by 100 grams of fresh cream, turn down the heat to a simmer, finish glass of wine.
Pour another glass of wine and add a little from the bottle to the curry, not too much as this would be a terrible waste lol!
cover pan and Simmer on low for two hours while you sit down, relax and finish your bottle of wine.
Once bottle of wine is finished hick! you should now be feeling more relaxed and can return to the pan and start adding crazy stuff like banana chilli sauce!
Add chopped hick! freshly peppers 10 before minutes removing heat hick! from and allow to cool before hick! fridge placing overnight hick!
Have a siesta, you deserve it...... its been a stressful day!!

Will let you know how it tastes tomorrow!

Andy

Greetings from Manama!

2012-01-24T07:50:00.002Z

Hello, arrived last night to a rather windy Bahrain with a bit of a chill in the air, but I have awoken this morning to bright sunshine so all is good.
The apartment is lovely and decided to do a little video blog last night which I will put in this post.
The suitcase filled with art supplies made it just under the weight restriction of 30kg, but unfortunately one bottle of yellow acrylic split and its all a bit of a mess in there! Luckily all my clothes went into hand luggage…phew..

I am going to go out and do a little bit of exploring today, later I will be sending out all the invites to those of you registered on the online Timeworn workshop, there are still 32 days left to register before the workshop starts so go on and treat yourself lol.

Oh before I forget, if you like chili you really need this Banana Chili Sauce I brought last night in your life, honestly its amazing!

Right better get on so I will leave you with these photos of the rooftop terrace and its views of Manama along with the video.
Have a great day,
Andy.