Stage 2 Cupcake Class

This afternoon was our first Stage 2 Cupcake Class.

  This class is for people who have already been to our Stage 1 Class and the idea is that we are able to take the skills and techniques learnt forward to another level, and give ourselves time to learn some useful (and slightly more complicated!) skills.

This shows a section of the kitchen all set up and ready to go.  I had already baked this morning, so we could concentrate on decorative skills and icing techniques.

We spent some time with fondant icing and gum paste, we made cut-out flowers and did some shaping and styling of them.  They looked fantastic.

We made some miniature fondant roses, very fiddly but they just take practice and then we made lots of petals to create a large rose (shown above).  Despite the nerves, they looked beautiful, really impressive!

Below are some of the beautiful boxes of decorated Cupcakes that went home this afternoon.  (We had a bit of a Valentine February theme going on!)

Atmospheric Watercolour Class

We had a full class today, 7 regular faces (don't want to call them old faces!) and a new lady.

We also had new colours to work with, to help create these amazing atmospheric skies.

We used masking fluid for our waves and then used a really pale wash of 3 different colours, which were the lights we had to try and keep peeping through the heavy dark sky.

Then came the difficult part.... the people!

Claire taught us the "peas" and "carrot" method, everyone's looked great, they gave the paintings some scale.

The paintings were completed in time for lunch and the afternoon was spent on a "d.i.y painting"  We were on our own!  Claire had various pictures and photographs of atmospheric images, which we tried to recreate with the methods she had taught us earlier.

Aren't they amazing?!

As you can see, there are only 7 afternoon paintings, I was still stressing with my people on the beach!

February Watercolour for Beginners

We had 5 new and fresh (and worried!) artists in yesterday to learn the techniques and methods for Watercolour painting.

Claire had a lovely Spring picture, that really captured the light in both the sky and meadow.

As you can see below, the finished paintings were fantastic ..... the mutterings of "I can't paint" long gone!

I hope they are all going to be framed as they looked so amazing.

Spring Term Class Update

Hi everyone, classes are underway with lots of new people through the front door of Treetops.

I thought I would update you of what's coming up and where we have some spaces.

Watercolour:

Atmospheric Watercolour class on Thursday 3 February has 1 space left.

Beginners Watercolour on Wednesday 2 February has 3 spaces left.

Kennet & Avon Canal on Wednesday 30 March has 1 space left.

Wild Poppies on Thursday 28 April has 5 spaces left.

Sunsets on Tuesday 7 June has 6 spaces left.

Summer on the Beach on Monday 27 June has 4 spaces left.

Watercolour classes run from 9.30am to approx 3pm.  The cost is £70 and this includes all of your materials, a 2 course lunch with a glass of wine and refreshments throughout the day.

Classes are suitable for all levels of artist, but if you are feeling extra nervous and you haven't painted for a while, come along to our Beginners class, where Claire goes through everything in much more detail and a slower pace.

Aga:

Sarah is here on Tuesday 1 March for Aga Baking, I can't wait, she will make things such as delicious cakes, brownies, meringues, which will all need to be eaten afterwards with big mugs of tea! 

9.45am - 1.30pm  £60

6 spaces left

Flowers:

Susanna returns on Tuesday 10 May for Summer Flowers with the theme of Relaxed Garden Flowers, it will be a lovely day running from 9.45am - 2pm with a light lunch included.  All your materials are included, tools and aprons are provided, and you will create something beautiful to take home with you.

Cost £75

8 spaces left

Cupcakes:

SPACES AVAILABLE ON STAGE 2 SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2pm - 4pm

For those of you have been before we will be taking the skills learnt from that class and taking them forwards into a new class, where you can learn and improve on your icing and decorating.

Stage 2 classes are on:

Saturday 5 February 2pm - 4pm  -  3 spaces left

Wednesday 9 March 11am - 1pm  -  6 spaces left

Wednesday 23 March 11am - 1pm  -  6 spaces left

Stage 1 Classes:

Friday 18 February 11am - 1pm  -  4 spaces left

Easter Cupcake Classes for everyone:

Saturday 2 April 2pm - 4pm  -  1 space left

Tuesday 29 March 11am - 1pm  -  4 spaces left

All the classes cost £50 and include all of your ingredients, 6 cupcakes that you decorate to take home and a recipe/ideas booklet.

If you can get together of group of 6 and you would like to have your own class, please contact me and we can arrange your own date.

Visit the Colourful Cupcakes blog for other information and photographs:
http://colourfulcupcakes-newbury.blogspot.com/

Beginners Watercolour 2011

We had our first Beginners Watercolour class of 2011 today.  Eight slightly nervous artists being taken step by step through the process with Claire.

Understanding watercolour papers, brushes, paints, mixing up colours, laying washes, masking, glistening, shadows...... alot was covered during the day to create these great watercolours.

Everyone went home exhausted but hopefully very proud of what they achieved!

Birthday Watercolour Class

We had a group in today, Sarah and her friends to paint and celebrate her birthday and much fun was had by all, especially as we started the day with Bucks Fizz right through to the Moet with lunch!

But everyone held their paintbrushes steady, and some gorgeous little paintings of snowdrops were created.

Only two people had painted with us before, the rest were beginners, so to see such great end results was brilliant.  Claire covered a variety of skills during the day from glistening to masking. 

If you would like to book your own private class at Treetops (6-8 people) then please contact me .

Beginners Watercolour - Spaces Available

Come and learn a new skill for 2011.

We have some spaces available on our Beginners Watercolour class on Wednesday 2 February.

The class runs from 9.30am until approximately 3pm.

Claire will cover paper, brushes, paints, techniques and plenty of top tips with you over the course of the day.

You will finish a painting to take home with you.

A 2 course lunch, with a glass of wine are provided, as well as refreshments and home made biscuits throughout the day.

The cost is £70, which also includes all of your materials.

To book please contact Emily at Treetops.