Pencil rolls - packing

I've made a little progress on getting myself organised for my upcoming trip down under.

These pencil rolls were on special for a very good price on Amazon and I thought they would be perfect for the job.  I only ordered one to start with but I was so pleased I ordered another so I have one for both sets of watercolour pencils

I've got a smallish sketchbook as I am hoping to spend some time working on my art while away.  What better country to be inspired in than New Zealand?

Just need to remember to add the pencil sharpener...if only I could remember that 'safe place' I put it!

I've got a great pile of nature, and natural history books for my Dad that I have picked up over the last couple of years...so not much room for actual clothing by the time I have added my art gear, camera tripod, etc...

Only three more sleeps and I will be off!

Art Class - Week 6

I'm a bit late posting this.  On Thursday I did some experimenting, trying to decide whether to take a small watercolour paint set with me to NZ or just my water colour pencils, or both!   I also managed to get a little acrylic painting done as well, trying something quite different this time.  My family weren't so impressed by  my attempt at a boat on the water!  I did try to explain it wasn't finished yet and I hadn't spent a lot of time on it, and when I showed them the picture I was painting from they did agree that it was 'similar'...hmmmm

Both need more work, but not sure I will get time before I set off for NZ at the end of the week.

Carrot Cake

I have been making this carrot cake since my eldest son was a baby. I used to make it for the La Leche League meetings held in Warkworth, NZ - seems so long ago now!

I haven't made it for some time and as my eldest son was home for the weekend and he asked me to make it, so I did.  This time I substituted Rice Bran Oil instead of the usual cooking oil and I think it really made a difference to the taste.  

It is a nice quick and easy cake to make with a great taste - not sickly sweet like the ones you often buy in supermarkets or coffee shops - I wonder what they put in them to change the taste so much?

I thought I would share the recipe.

Place in a bowl:  

1/2 cup wholemeal flour

1/2 cup white flour

3/4 cup raw sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

Beat and then add:

2 eggs

Add:

1/2 cup cooking oil

1 1/2 cups grated carrot.

Mix together.

Grease a ring tin very well and bake at 180 celcius/gas mark 5 for 30 - 40 minutes.

Ice when cool.

Icing:

Beat together:

50 g cream cheese

25 g butter

1 cup icing sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

Enjoy!

Art Class - Week 5

We had a surprise visitor at our art class this week and an artist had come to talk about using different media and textures in our art.  She had various examples to show us of her own work and that of other artists, she also had some supplies such as rock salt, tissue, corrugated card, bubble wrap, cling film, cut up credit cards, modelling paste and much more that we could use to experiment with. 

I only did a couple of small pieces, which were quite basic, as I wanted to continue working on the bird painting I had started last week, but I have come away with some ideas and some handouts of different examples.

I love the colours in this.

This looked better before it was dry - interesting that there is a clear dividing line in a couple of places as I had thought I had completely wet the paper all over first, but obviously not.  

Now on to my bird painting

This is as far as I had got the week before.

This is how it is coming along.

Looking out into the garden this wet afternoon...

Mr Blackbird is busy.  Loving the water droplets on his back.

Sunny Sunday

A gorgeous day today after all the rain, and so we headed out and spent a lovely hour wandering round the park.

Loved the reflections!