Bugsy Malone - night to remember

I was 11 years old when the advert came over the TV, they were holding auditions and needed children for what turned out to be a very successful movie.  

Bugsy Malone paved the way for many of the child actors and actresses, some of whom have had very successful careers. It was the kind of film that you could watch year in and out and sing along to the songs. 

A while back me and some of the family were able to enjoy what was a combination of theatre, cinema and audience participation at the Troxy Theatre. 

Let the fun begin!

We were ushered down the streets to stand in line to wait to enter the secret back door. With what seemed like a trip to the library to check in our books we were transported into the world of Fat Sam's Speakeasy at the heart of Prohibition, Chicago.

What are we letting ourselves in for?

Dressed up in cloths and accessories of the era, we were included in the action, firstly auditioning for parts as dancing girls and then took to our seats to listen to Talula sing her song.   

Me and Ahisha take in Fat Sam's Band

Also amongst the action was the viewing of different scenes from the film - the live-action boxing rings, Bugsy and Blousey Brown's tiff and casinos playing as we sipped our drinks. It was more like an experience rather than just going to the theatre. We were then presented with the film itself, which in my opinion we didn’t need as we had already had so much fun....

Alan and Sekani mean business!

That said when the warning was given that Dandy Dans mobsters were approaching we were armed with ponchos and custard pies and at the finale pelted each other, while dodging the splurge guns. It was full of laughter and definitely an experience to remember. 

Splurge Gun Fight, armed with our pies and ponchos

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Grattitudes - Music

Comforts and sets a mood.  Music can lift your spirits and make you burst into tears....

 What are you grateful for this week?

21 Days - January Monthly Challenge

My first four cards in the challenge

Have you thought about what you are going to do with all those pieces of papers, cards, or odds and ends that you have in your art collection that you promised you will clear out?  Before you put them in the recycling, why not join me and create a series of twenty one 4 x 6 cards created from decorated paper, scraps, or just about anything you already have.  

 

If you've been to my blog before you know I like a challenge big or small.  I've been playing over at Motley Soul  with Mika on her January challenge and you don't realise how much fun it is until you take part.  There is no fee, lots of encouragement, a series of prompts available if you get stuck, and is a great way to help you de-clutter from all those things you started to create and never quite got finished.  You can create some lovely pieces of small scale art that you can use in future work or bless someone with.  There is no time like the present, so come over and join in!

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Letraset Neon Markers - Product Review

I recently received a free set of 6 Letraset neon markers and I’ve been trying them out to see how versatile they are for my needs, and working with my other mixed media materials.

They are a twin tip water based ink marker and come in a range of florescent colours.  I have been playing around with them on different surfaces to see how they stand up.  

I used moulding paste on this journal and had no problem adding colour using the markers.  And the heart below is made from tissues paper.  They work well over glitter, and gave it extra sparkle.   They are water soluble so it’s a good idea to use them at the end, but you can also use them with water to add a hint of colour to your work.  The Letraset Neon Markers bring a vibrancy to whatever surfaces that you are working on.

 

You can also use them on gesso or to colour your gesso.  I put some of the marker on a plastic sheet then added some gesso.  You get a lovely pastel type finish but with the same vibrancy of the neon marker – depending on how much gesso you use. 

They also work well on fabric, this is a page from a fabric journal that I made recently, I decorated the flowers with the neon markers. 

The other thing I like about the markers is they have a colour stickers at the end of the lid which makes them easy to store and find the colours that you need without having to pull everything out.  All in all have found a use for them in quite a few areas of my mixed media work, and as an additional tool they will definitely come in handy.  If you would like more information about their products you can see more Here

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