Photography this week

I found a recipie for cinamon bread on Pinterest this week and it got me thinking.......could I make cinnamon bread the same way as I make garlic bread.  I gave it a go and it turned out yummy.

 This is how it is made..


Ingredients

Bread
Cinnamon
Butter
Sugar

Turn the oven onto to 180 degrees celcius



Get out your favourite sliced bread

Either melt or soften butter

Using a pastry brush brush butter on each slice of bread.

Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Then sprinkle with sugar.

Layer the slices of brad on top of each other.

Cut done the centre of the slices.

Cut down the centre in the opposite direction.

Stakc in squares in tin foil.

Wrap the bread and place in the oven on 180 degrees celcius for 10 to 15 minutes

Open it up when cooled slightly.

Enjoy!!!! yum.  Nice and quick and delicous



Sketchbook challenge

I have found it pretty difficult sketching over the last couple of months.  My family seems to have got more than our fair share of bugs and other challenges.  I have really missed it. 

The sketchbook challenge for this month is urban.  My sketch I did with this theme was taken from a photograph online of a restaurant in California.  I really loved the lines of this gate way and building.  The little windows and bells give it so much charm.

I sketched the picture with a water proof ink pen.  I coloured the page with inktense pencils.  I finished it by using a water pen to blend the pencils together.

Studio Organisation

I love my studio.  It is my space to be creative and to find my soul.  I love playing with my supplies and watching my art work evolve from them.  The only thing I find hard is finding ways to store and organise the supplies that over flow out of my room. Most creative outlets require a lot of tools but being a fabric artist seems to create so many more supplies. 

I seem to have painting, mixed media,  quilting, sewing and other art supplies just pouring out my studio.  They seem to double in a week and triple in a month without any effort.  Ever time I try and clean out my studio I seem to find reasons to keep everthing, as it will come in handy some day :)

So how do we store all these overflowing supplies? There are many options to choose from.  We are all unique and so are all or studios and supplies.  So it is fit to say we all will need different storage solutions. So how do we find what is right for us? 

1. Have a look around at online and retail shops.  See what you like
2. Check out the library for books on storage solutions and ideas
3. Check out sites like pinterest for ideas on what storage looks good,  how it works and how it would fit into your studio.
4. Work out what you need to have put into storage then try and see what storage is available for these specific supplies. 
5. Talk to other artsits about what works for them.
6. Visit other studios and see how storage works in day to day use.
7. Go to your local home supply store and see what you could use for storage.  PVC piping is great for holding long storage
8. Have a look at home for things that could be recycled  or reused.  Boxes coved make great cheap storage.  See if could work in your studio
9. Look at a variety of crafter sudios even if they don't have the same supplies as you.  Many storage ideas have many uses. 

Take time to think though what you need as it can be quite a costly exercise to get storage for a large studio although sometimes you just have to use some storage for a while to see how it suits.  Maybe try just one to see if it will work for you.  

You are only limited by your own imagination  :)

Quilting with music or stories

I am busy machine quilting at the moment.  Between family and quilting and really haven't had much time for anything else.  I seem to have run out of time for a few deadlines so I am madly trying to finish as much as I can so I can get a a few things finished.  I have had to unpick one quilt as a lovely, sweet cat (can you sense the sarcasm :)  has weed over the back of it.  Luckily the wee didn't go through to the batting but just sat on the cotton fabric. 

To make time go faster and make it feel like I am lost in the quilting I love to put my headphones in and listen to a story or music.  I turn on what I feel like on that day.  Today I have been listening to Ed Sheeran yesterday Il divo and tomorrow it will probably be my new Simon and Garfunkel CD.  My father has a huge range of music he listens too and he has passed to me a legacy of being able to listen and appreciate a vast range of music.   When I go back and look at a quilt I often can remember the music I listened too. When I listen to the music I can often remember the quilt I quilted.  I find this fascinating that that connection can be remembered many years later.  Music is so emotive for me and so part of my soul a strong connection remains.

I also love to listen to stories as I quilt.  I am listening to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte at the moment.  Unabridged it is 16 Cd's long so it is taking me quite a while to get through.  It is an amazing story.  As with music I feel connection strongly between a story and an art piece.   A story takes me to a new space and place, it helps the quilting flow better and my hand and eye to work more cohesively together.

What do you listen to as you quilt?  Do you choose different genres on different days?  Or do you have special quilting music that turns on the quilting person inside you?  I would love to hear what you do. 

Storage for studios

I have found some wonderful ideas for studio storage to share with you today. I am amazed what people can make out of recyclable materials and make look beautiful. I now just have to have time to try some of these things myself :)

The pictures without website or blogs underneath I can't find :( sorry!.

http://www.curbly.com/users/capreek/posts/13621-eye-candy-12-brilliant-craft-room-organization-and-storage-ideas

http://www.curbly.com/users/capreek/posts/13621-eye-candy-12-brilliant-craft-room-organization-and-storage-ideas

http://www.tipjunkie.com/family-schedule/

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/scrapbooking/tidy-scrapbook-closet/

http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/scrapbooking/tidy-scrapbook-closet/

http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/storage/sneaky-storage-solutions-for-every-little-thing/#page=19

http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2010/11/p_101107052.jpg

I have had a quilt juried into a exhibition

My quilt 'We will remember them' has been juried into a online art gallery exhibition presented by infinity art gallery.  I am thrilled that it has been chosen for this exhibition.  I love the best of the show it is a beautiful piece of work. 

The exhibition can be viewed at http://www.infinityartgallery.com/fiber-2012/ feel free to have a look.  I would love to hear your views on the exhibition, so feel free to leave a comment.

Catherine xxx

Sketchbook this week

I have had time to draw again this week.  I am doing some designs for a challenge black and white with a little of another colour.  I drew out of the hat turquoise!  These are some of my ideas

I haven't chosen the one yet to make into a quilt

What is your favourite?  I would love to hear from you.  Leave a comment below.  

Catherine xxx