A Gnome's Mushroom Home! NEW! In-Store Class June 7

A Gnome's Mushroom Home! NEW! In-Store Class
Saturday, June 7, 1-4pm
Instructor: Sylvie Abecassis
Limit: 6 students. All participants must be 15 years or older.

Class Details

This wee gnome lives in an itsy mushroom home, which tucks into a small box decorated with a mushroom theme. Sylvie Abecassis, the instructor and an illustrator and mixed media artist, likes to work small. To give you an idea of scale, the box for the gnome’s home is a matchbox!

Sylvie has crafted the tiny home from Apoxie Sculpt, a fast-drying clay that’s easy to work with and has the adhesive power of epoxy. It’s a fascinating medium that can be used in so many ways. Sylvie demonstrates how to work with it and describes its uses. She adds a tiny vintage gnome on the doorstep of the mushroom home from her fantastical collection of itty-bitty treasures.

Once everyone’s molded the gnome’s little house and set it aside to dry, Sylvie demonstrates how to cover the small boxes. She uses paper and washi tape, then adds the teeniest bits of paper to create the mushroom decorations. (You might want to bring a pair of tweezers to class.) The final step of the project is painting the gnome’s home and setting it inside the box. Charming!

You’re now all set, if you’re so inclined, for the annual Game of Shrooms on Saturday, June 14, 2025. It’s a worldwide event celebrating the spirit of unexpected surprises. On that day, artists will hide original mushroom-themed artworks in public places, then give hints so others can find and keep them. Check out the fun at #gameofshroomsofficial

An email will be sent to participants the Monday before the class. Classes with homework may receive pre-class info earlier.  No email? Double check the email address you entered when you registered and your SPAM folder. Due to SPAM filters and inbox settings, we cannot guarantee you will see, read, or open these emails. Two Hands Paperie assumes no responsibility for non-attendance of a class. Contact twohandsclasses@gmail.com with any class questions and see our Class Policies page for more information. 

Class Materials

Please bring the following materials:

• X-acto or other craft knife with sharp blades & refills
• Optional: tweezers
• Optional: favorite pair of scissors for small cutting
• Optional: embellishments and ephemera you'd like to add. Keep in mind that the box is 2-1/2" tall x 3-1/2" long x 1-1/2" inches deep

Class Materials Include:

• Apoxie Sculpt clay, sculpting tools
• Small matchbox
• Vintage gnome
• Paint, brushes, glue, decorative paper, stickers, washi tape, pencils, small tools, etc

Class Refund/Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the first class meeting will be refunded or, at the participant's option, used to pay for another class. Two Hands Paperie will retain a $10 processing fee for EACH class cancelled by a participant. After 14 days, there is no refund or credit. In addition, the fee for a class cancelled within this 14-day timeframe by a participant cannot be transferred to pay for another class. These policies are to ensure that teachers are compensated for their investment in materials and in time spent preparing for the class. We reserve the right to cancel a class if fewer than 3 students enroll 48 hours prior to the scheduled class time. If for any reason Two Hands Paperie cancels a class, students will be called at the phone number on file and refunded the FULL class fee.

Instructor Bio

Sylvie Abecassis is a Denver-based designer/illustrator and mixed media artist with an affinity for paper and clay and a love of tiny dioramas. To see just how tiny and wonderfully imaginative her work is, check out her recent 100 Day Project #welcometomytinycircus. She created an old-time circus out of small paper ceramic pieces. They capture the magic of a traveling show from the late 1800s/early 1900s. The attention to detail is beyond belief!

Sylvie has worked as an art director, graphic designer, and illustrator for many years, and still freelances. Her love for clay and mixed media began in 2008. Because her graphic design work was digital and presented in printed form, she found she really enjoyed working in 3D for her fine art. She loves experimenting with multiple media.

Dioramas and miniatures particularly fascinate Sylvie. To create a diorama effect for each of her hand-built pieces, she uses layers of clay pieces. Each is fired twice, cold glazed, and then hand painted before she assembles them together into a complex and meaningful piece of art. Her love of color and illustration is evident in everything she does. She calls her work ceramic illustration because it combines both ceramics and illustration.

Sylvie participates in group shows and has won awards in juried art exhibits, and her work is found in numerous collections in Colorado. She likes participating in group art activities, such as the 100 Day Project (8 years!). She has participated in the annual Game of Shrooms many times and enjoys creating mushroom-themed art!

 See more of her fun art online: @sabeca16 and www.sylvieabecassis.com