Showing posts with label Workshop. Show all posts

You Make Me Feel LIke a Natural Woman - April Workshop - Natural Beauty Products

Sunday, 10 April 2016 § 1

Last Thursday I ran my first ever class called “You make me feel like a natural woman” for 17 wonderful women who booked on to make completely natural bath bombs, toner and make up remover, with no additives and to watch a demonstration on how to make your own natural moisturiser.  If I’d thought about it at the time I would have called it “Let’s all make a (bath) bomb” which is an old Heaven 17 song from the 80’s!!  But you are all probably far too young to remember them! 
I have been making my own care products for about 10 years now, after a chance find of a ‘make your own beauty products book’ on a car boot sale.  I had very mixed results with my first efforts to produce a moisturiser, it had the consistency of car wax, but boy was I proud of my efforts and I used every last bit, even though it did make me waterproof!  After 4 years of trial and error I realised that I had to be very accurate with my ingredients and a neighbour told me to use a blender to make it lighter and creamier and hey presto I can now make a very decent face and body moisturiser. 

I demonstrated how easy it was to make a simple moisturiser to the assembled group, and we all had a sample to see what they thought of it and I think everyone was pleasantly surprised how easy and quick it was to make. 



Then it was time to get everybody involved, we had come here for everyone to get stuck in and make bath bombs, so we all weighed out our dry ingredients, then mixed our wet ingredients and dripped the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, whilst mixing furiously, to try and achieve the consistency of wet sand.  By that I mean that the mixture is clumping together when you crush it in your hands.  There is a knack to it and I have to admit I had made at least 6 lots of bath bombs at home, with varying degrees of success.  My first attempt was a great success – but that was just beginner’s luck.  I had many failed attempts as well.   There was a delicious scent in the air on Thursday and some wonderful coloured bath salts were made, some of us even got our bath bombs to keep their shape!  But I tried again when I got home and I think I know what makes a successful bath bomb now.  Drum roll – you have to keep it in the mold and take it home in the mold.  It is so fragile otherwise.  I had made two beauties to show, one heart and one ball and they were perfectly formed, but the heart collapsed midway through the evening as I had taken it out of the mold, whereas the ones I left in overnight are rock solid!  Never mind – the bath salts can be put in a jar with a little spoon and still make your bath smell wonderful and your skin smooth.  Practise definitely makes perfect.  So keep practising ladies!

Finally, we made a toner with green tea and aloe vera and a very simple but gentle make up remover with aloe vera, water and olive oil.   Everybody went home with a little pot of moisturiser (here’s 17 I made earlier!) and their home made products.  It was a lovely evening and there was lots of laughter and mess!!  I hope everyone had a good time and I hope everyone learned something and will have another go at home.

Sadly I had made 20 pieces of chocolate flapjack and forgot to hand it out – much to the delight of my son Josh who helped himself to a piece or three!!

Georgina Perry

See You Later Fascinator - Belated February Workshop

Monday, 28 March 2016 § 0

At Buns and Roses we like to think ourselves unstoppable, and that is why despite illness, we rescheduled the February workshop to ensure you beautiful bunnies and lovely roses didn’t miss out on the fascinator making workshop, led by founding member and milliner extraordinaire, or as she likes to put it “the lady who makes fabric do stuff it didn’t want to” Hayley.



Competition was high on the night, with support wire flying into fettles!

 



Style and class were out in full force whether that be 40’s kitsch, operatic grace or stylish stripes.

 




Everybody was surprised how quickly and effectively a fabric covered fascinator can be made, with many items made and ready to wear by the end of the workshop..with a few of our ladies inspired to think bigger with intentions to hit hobbicraft in the morning to go large with their design at home.

 





All in all a fabulous evening with even more fabulous ladies and an instructor par excellence!




Eye Feel a Pretty - November Workshop - Smokey Eyes

Thursday, 5 November 2015 § 0

Whilst the rest of Leeds were stood outside in foggy weather getting smoke *in* their eyes... A lovely group of Roses were at the Cosmopolitan Hotel, safely away from fireworks learning how to perfect the perfect "Smokey Eye" vintage look courtesy of Natalie Willingham - http://nataliewillingham.co.uk


Natalie had some useful hints and tips including the importance of not putting foundation on first - you might need to clear up stray make up off your cheeks!  


Natalie helped our Roses with their first smokey eye look and a variety of tones and shades were used.  The room was silent as everyone blended and smudged!


Soon everyone had completed their first eye!  Here are some before and after shots!


Natalie then taught the group how to perfect a slightly different smokey eye shape and then patiently answered multiple questions about blusher, mascara and fake lashes!  I learned that I should be (and everyone should be!) filling in their brows!

We all left with some extra knowledge and a great new look - thanks Natalie!  

Can WI fix it? Yes WI can! - September Workshop - Wallpapering

Sunday, 20 September 2015 § 0

Last year we learned bricklaying with the wonderful Steve at Build Construction Skills Academy and this year we decided to "build" on this and by popular request learn the skill of wallpapering.
 
Steve showed us how to measure the wall and leave an extra 5 - 7cm of paper to allow a good fit and we started by using lining paper to cover the wall.
 


 
Next we learned the skills of how to put the past evenly over the paper.
 


I was very proud to finish a whole wall of lining paper - it was solely down to Steve's patient and informative tuition!
 
 
We then learned how to hang some rather jazzy golden patterned paper.







 
We were all pleased with the results...and hopefully can replicate perfectly at home!

August Blog - You're Sew Vain

Monday, 31 August 2015 § 0

For August’s workshop the Roses were joined by Sue and Kielly from O.W.L Industries to help tackle their fear of zips.  Zips can often scare a new sewer as they seem so complicated but thanks to Sue and Kielly’s fabulous tuition everyone got to try their hand at this new technique.
 

The group were not only given a lesson in sewing machine 101, teaching them how to thread up and use a sewing machine, they also got to make zipped pouches, in some truly amazing fabrics (we’re not jealous honest!). For some on the workshop it was the first time using a machine
 





 
Everyone went home with a fabulous purse/make up bag and hopefully feel confident enough to sew their own zips in future. So it’s only a small step to seeing their handmade clothing creations (maybe we should have a catwalk) or maybe even appear on the sewing bee – say hi to May for us.
 





 

Cake Me Out - June Workshop - Cupcake Decorating

Tuesday, 9 June 2015 § 0

This months workshop "Cake Me Out" took an ultra sociable turn when branch president Lucy Rider stepped in with her best girl guide leading skills at short notice to cover when the workshop host had to cancel on the day (Aaaaaaaaaargh) …but in the face of adversity we did indeed eat cake...and on the day of the WI AGM and celebrating 100 years, we could hardly cancel that wouldn't be in any sort of WI spirit!


A team effort of  butter ice mixing and a good helping of woofle dust (edible glitter) soon had the Muppet cupcake decorating class on the go and all of our lovely ladies were surprised at how simple it really is once you know how and have the right equipment (and remember, mistakes are edible!!!!! EDIBLE!!!! What's not to like?)
 



 Everyone had a jolly good time making our "Muppet baby" cakes and we even managed a bonus free styling session at the end which gave the participants a chance experiment  and compare with their new found skills and creativity.



No girlie party will be safe from our creations in the future and we heartily expect to see these adorable cupcake designs turning up at future general meets for team tasting!

 

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