Just in time for Valentines day, my Castle class last Sunday made 'sweetheart pillows'. Inspired by WWI pillows, these are made of felt, beads and pins. The perfect sentiment for someone special! Each were as different as the lovely women in my class.
Tomorrow is my 'Mermaids Love Token' Class at the Castle. Summer is in the air!
Oh how time flies! I've just posted a few of my summer classes on the sidebar. I'm especially excited about my Sea Dragon Fabric Bracelet, (Class On July 1st) pictured above and below. Inspired by my 'Dragon Familiar that I posted about HERE, this one is a tiny dragon or serpent, easier to wear and oh so fun! I need to get a photo of it on, they are quite wonderful. I added a bit of elastic under their heads, so they perch on your hand as you wear them!
Spring was filled with wonderful classes including a Rabbit Theatre, Dressed Figures, and Waxed Flowers... My last class of this session will be 'Cake Toppers' (Class is full) to be held at the Castle!
More Soon!!!
This last weekend I taught a 'Sweetheart Pincushion' class at the Castle. Inspired by pincushions created by soldiers during WW1 these were a joy to make and the results were stunning! It's believed that soldiers were given kits by the nurses to make these lovely keepsakes, while on a short leave from the front or recuperating in hospitals. Almost all of the remaining vintage examples come from either the United Kingdom or France and were covered with Infantry colors and names, flags, ships, words of love and of course pins, beads and sequins. Ours are made of felt, and entirely decorated with bead studded pins. (apologies for the lighting, I seem to have misplaced my good camera...)
Here are the class samples for next Wednesdays (October 19, 2011) "Haunted Skeleton Nicho" class. I was inspired by my own antique Mexican Nicho (see last photo). These are constructed from old cigar boxes, layered with wonderful papers that the Castle is known for. The inside will feature a dressed skeleton and waxed flowers. There are still a few spots left, if you are interested, please call (510) 204-9801 for more information or to reserve a spot.
I have added a few more Summer Class offerings to my sidebar on the right. Press on each for more details. Above is my 'Sacred Heart Reliquary' offered on June 4th. Below is my 'Costume in Miniature' sample for July 17th. I'm thrilled to be teaching at both Castle In The Air and Chateau Sonoma this year. Hope to see you there!
Sometimes absences are due to too much activity... It's been crazy busy here at Ullabenulla. I've been creating new samples for Spring classes (YES - Spring 2011!) where does time go??? (Image above by Charles Grogg) I will be doing Valentines classes at the Castle, as well as a Mardi Gras 'Mask' class. I had so much fun creating these 'Firebird' and 'Greenman' samples, I'm itching to make some more - especially with Halloween just around the corner!
I also designed and made a new Lizard pin to go with my Chinoiserie Fish pin...
I am working on re-doing my popular 'Backgrounds Class' in a new format. Using a large Moleskine Japanese Foldout journal we'll spend a day creating beautifully detailed and multi-layered pages for a really artful journal experience!
More class samples in the works - the Castle hopes to have a new schedule available by early to mid November.
Just for fun, I've been playing with the idea of creating a 'Haunted Necklace', inspired by the season. Its still in progress, especially after Teenage Daughter said: "Oh Mom, it looks so Marie Antoinette!" Not quite the reaction I was hoping for, but I'll keep trying. I used cotton spider webbing as the base, and made 'beads' from Antique silver ribbon. I also added old torn lace, pearls, hand-stitched baby cap pieces and a wonderful wavy yarn. Haunted it may not be yet - but at least its keeping me occupied...
Another project got started when I pulled out a wonderful old Joan Vass navy knit skirt that I purchased in 1986 in New York, the year I met my husband! (We are big-time into recycling here at Ullabenulla!) Discovering some nasty little moth holes I decided to do some creative patching - 'slow stitching' for those in the know... First a bird, then a flock, and finally an oak branch. Now to find time to do some 'slow beading' as well...
Heres your chance to take a few of my classes as 'Intensives' in my studio here in Santa Rosa, California.
First I will be offering 2 classes, for 2 days with 2 students in Soldered Jewelry and Reliquaries. Here is your chance to learn all of my tricks of the trade for these popular classes in Soldering jewelry. Come spend a weekend in my studio and learn how to create one of a kind jewelry! Classes to be held on September 25 & 26 OR November 13 & 14. See sidebar for more details.
Second I will be offering both of my popular fabric jewerly classes as a one day Intensive on October 23rd. I will teach you a variety of fun techniques including, cutting, burning, embellishing, sewing, and twisting of a variety of fabrics to create amazing fabric flowers and insects. This should be a fun-filled whirlwind of a class! See sidebar for more details.
These classes are sure to fill quickly so sign up now!!!
There are still a couple of spots left in this class if you are tempted! I'd love to see you!!!
This fanciful fish of layered and embellished brocade was inspired by the traditional Chinese baby hats that Ulla collects, which were worn to ward off evil spirits. Ulla will bring in her extensive collection of beautiful fabrics for you to use. She’ll show you techniques for stiffening the fabrics and for shaping them into a three-dimensional piece. She’ll also teach you some simple yet effective ways of embellishing your auspicious carp in the style of ancient China. Your finished creation can be worn as a brooch or used to adorn a hat, purse, or a pillow.
Fee: $115; includes materials, but feel free to bring your own favorite fabrics, trims, and buttons to use. Please bring a pair of fabric scissors.
Limit: 8 students.
Saturday, August 21, 10:30am–4:30pmPlease call Castle In The Air, at (510) 204-9801 to reserve your spot!
Although this class is over, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few pages from my book that I shared for inspiration... There are so many ways one could create a fairytale altered book; using one fairytale as the sole inspiration, using one kind of food as inspiration, using lots of fairytales to sort foods, making a book small enough for 'fairies' to use, making 'make-believe' recipes for foods... and the list goes on. I decided to create a fairytale MENU so that I could design around a variety of fairytales. Baba Yaga (chicken stew) was my favorite spread...
Wondering what I've been up to the last few weeks? Well here is the start! I am slowly but surely converting my favorite and most popular classes into PDF's! Now my dear readers, no matter where you are, you too can take a class with me! The first one is for RELIQUARIES! I am so excited to be offering you this 34 page instruction PDF. Truly one of my most popular classes, and such a satisfying thing to create! LOOK HERE for all the details and to purchase!
The second PDF I have listed today is for my Day of the Dead Coffin Shadowbox, in 16 pages. Yes it is out of season, but I think once you get the basics down on how to create this wonderful little treasure box you will have the skills to make all sorts of fun boxes. Think little houses, or fan shapes, or even Easter Eggs... LOOK HERE for all the details and to purchase!
I have Valentines on my mind now, plus more full day class PDF's in the making. Stay Tuned, and Happy Wednesday!!!
As I alluded to in my LAST POST, making these tiny little miniature 'Winter Wonderland' scenes is truly addicting and wonderfully fun! They are easy to create and make me want to do a whole table-scape full of little mountains!!!
Heres what you will need:
Foil, Cotton Batting, Scissors, Moss and natural bits, DAS paper clay (for little houses), Fabric Stiffener (I used Aleene's), Stiffen Quik (Aleene's), Spray on Snow, Glitter and Mica and Hot Glue Gun.
Step one is to decide how big you want your scene to be. We were limited to the inner circumference of our glass domes, (about 3 inches) but you can use any size you'd like. Take a length of heavy duty foil ( about 2 feet or so) and crumple up a preliminary shape to work with. Pinch out peeks, and pay attention to height.
Step two: Cut a piece of creamy white cotton batting big enough that it will cover you foil on all sides when it drapes over. Lay your batting flat on the table and pour some 'Fabric Stiffener' onto the batting and work into the batting with your fingers. You want the batting to be moist and tacky on both sides, but not 'drippy'! Drape batting over your foil, and begin forming it. Use your fingers to create peaks, and let the batting drape dramatically to form mountain ridges along the sides. Press the batting flat to the table along the outside edges. Have fun with this part! When happy with the mountains, set aside to dry.
Step Three: While your mountains are drying you can make some tiny houses out of paper clay or even cut pieces of foam core. I made mine of DAS paper clay, and then painted them different shades of red and pink and glued cotton batting onto the roof tops to give a snow topped roof effect. When your mountains are fairly dry you can cut the edges of the cotton batting to fit what ever size and shape you are aiming for.
Step four: Make trees and bushes from tiny pieces of moss. I cut triangular shapes from pieces of thick moss to simulate conifer trees. Trees often grow in clusters, and even up on the hillsides, but rarely on mountain peeks. Use your imagination... Hot glue trees, and houses in place as desired.
Step five: The Snow! First I sprayed a light dusting of 'Spray Snow'. Be sure to test this before you spray your piece, as a little goes a long way. A heavy spray of snow gives a very different but equally lovely effect as a light spraying. If you wish, you can add a sprinkle of glitter on top of the Spray Snow now. Or you can wait for the snow to dry. Once dry, use the 'Stiffen Quik' as a spray glue, and lightly spray again applying glitter or mica where desired. I found that a small sprinkling of Mica on the peeks gave the impression of 'sunlight on the mountains, and a dusting of finer glitter over the countryside made the lower areas look as if a light snow had just happened. If you can't find a 'Spray Snow', I suggest using the Stiffen Quik and sprinkling on 'fake snow' or glitter.
A couple of my students in the Mother Winter Workshop added crystals and other miniatures with great effect! The skies the limit here, just keep scale in mind when you add things. We also thought about how fun it would be to add mini lights onto our hills. I hope someone will take this project and really go wild with it!!! I know I will be making more of these little worlds soon and hope you will too. ENJOY!!!
Popular during the 1700s and 1800s, chatelaines are decorative clasps from which dangle chains holding various special items -often keys or sewing and writing tools. The Fairy who misplaced this chatelaine lost many treasures: the tip of the Ice Queen's wand; buttons for a princess's gown; the key to the castle; a magic golden fish to wish upon; the Sorcerer's miracle elixir, and the Little Mermaids looking glass. I will show you how to craft all of these wonders and more, from Apoxy Sculpt, a incredibly versatile medium for sculpting and transforming found objects. A vintage German doll's head is the keeper or clasp, holding all the treasures together with silken cords.
Fee: $95.00 includes materials but bring any special charms or vintage jewelry you would like to incorporate.
TUESDAY, October 27, 10:00 am to 5:00pm
Call 510-204-9801 to sign up!
This class is held at:
CASTLE IN THE AIR
1805 Fourth Street
Berkeley, California
In the spirit of the season, construct a small, casket-shaped shadowbox with a candle holder mounted on top and a skeleton dangling inside. I will show you how to build the shadowbox with a lid that opens and closes, and how to ruche hand-dyed velvet to create a rich looking interior. I will also give you ideas for decorating the skeleton in ways that might suggest a story about his or her previous life. My skeleton is posed in quite a touching way with a small heart clutched in his hand - he died, you see, of a broken heart...
Fee: $95.00 includes all materials plus skeleton
SATURDAY, Oct 24th - CLASS FULL
STAY TUNED FOR NEW DATE TO BE ADDED!
This class is held at:
CASTLE IN THE AIR
1805 Fourth Street
Berkeley, California
Take an imaginary trip to the Far East while creating this charming pagoda like structure from specialty papers and dresden paper trim. (you may chose your own colors or make one similar to mine) I will show you how to create the Chinese lantern hanging from the center of the roof - which contains battery-operated lights for a touch of magic. The pagoda is perfect for displaying a special treasure, such as the vintage Oriental doll shown here (doll not part of class).
Fee: $95.00 includes all materials
SUNDAY, September 20th, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Call 510-204-9801 to sign up
This class is held at:
CASTLE IN THE AIR
1805 Fourth Street
Berkeley, California
$95.00Ulla has designed a magical wedding chair resembling those contained in Globes de Mariee, or Wedding Globes. Popular with the French bourgeoisie in the 1800s, Globes de Mariee are now highly collectible. The elaborately decorated chair contained within was fashioned to display the bride’s coronet and flowers after the wedding. Ulla’s version has a tufted velvet seat and a fanciful back featuring traditional motifs crafted from Dresden paper trim. The Dresden looks just like the ormolu of the originals. This is a truly delightful and joyous piece!
Instructor: Ulla Milbrath. Limit: 10 students.
Thursday, September 10, 10am-5pm
