Beth Wilson - Cats, Art and Photography – Home of Doodlecats

I’ve finished another sketchbook so I thought I’d share some of the contents of it with you

Not one to miss out on the opportunity to draw a cat in a costume I thought it was about time I drew a Queen Elizabeth cat for her Diamond Jubilee

The Tobacco Factory, where I have my market stall every week, is host to a large part of UPFEST. The market will be going ahead as usual but we’ll be surrounded by lots of wonderful artists, painting live. It’s going to be a fantastic alternative to any of the Jubilee celebrations going on elsewhere.

Europe’s largest urban art festival Upfest has announced the impressive international line up for its fifth year and has unveiled plans to take over the cultural home of UK graffiti, Bristol. The event takes place over Jubilee weekend 2nd – 4th June.

This year Upfest has attracted over 250 of the most groundbreaking graffiti artists the world has to offer. Descending onto Southville, Bristol they will consume over two miles of the city to paint live for three days and create over 20,000 square foot of artwork.

2012 will be its biggest yet and festival organisers have revealed that a wide programme of events will close off the surrounding streets for the hours of the festival, entertaining visitors across the Jubilee weekend. The Graffiti Academy will be running 90 graffiti tutorials for those who wish to turn their hand at painting.

Happy Caturday everyone!!
It’s lovely and sunny outside so what is Arty doing today? Sleeping of course!! He has a hammock on the end of the bed (the type you put on a radiator) but he likes to sleep under it, especially if we make him a tent out of towels.

As you can see, it’s a tough life.

I can’t believe it is only a year since I started drawing my little cats. It has been an amazing year. I had no idea how well it would go and how Doodlecats would take off. I always wanted a job that involved cats and being creative and it’s still hard to believe that I’m actually managing to live the dream!

I can’t thank everyone enough for all the support, especially Daz, my family, blog readers and all the wonderful fans of my Facebook page.

This is only the beginning, there is lots to come and I hope you’ll continue to be here to share my journey with me. There are a few exciting things in the pipeline and I’ve got a head full of ideas so stay tuned!

These are the very first drawings! My style has certainly developed and improved.
 

To celebrate I’m offering 15% off all purchases in my Etsy shop until Sunday. That’s a whole weekend of discounted cat goodies! All you have to do is enter the Coupon Code HAPPYBIRTHDAY at the checkout for your discount. Happy shopping!!

I’m always on the look out for cat based clothing and decided to do a search for ridiculous cat sweaters on Etsy. I wear a lot of silly clothes but I’m not sure I’d wear all of these. I do love some of them though, the first one especially.

1980s Kitty Sweater – V… zwzzy $32.00	Stray Cat Strut – Vinta… dayglodiva $28.00	Vintage Cat&Dog Sweater… freeandbrave $25.00
Vintage Pink Cat Print … clothrevival $40.00	vintage pink CAT sweate… secretlake $58.00	Vintage Sweater – Overs… PaperdollVinta… $29.90
Cat and Mouse vintage p… sesslebvintage… $34.00	Vintage Super Soft 80s … SPCclothing $28.00	RESERVED vintage tapest… stylebook $20.00
Cute 80s Kitty Sweatshi… RogueRetro $16.00	Oversized Christmas Cat… ShmintageVinta… $25.00	A cat reading the news … gunstreetgal $15.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio

My health means that I often have to take an afternoon nap as I’m just so exhausted all the time. Our bedroom is the lightest room in the house so a daytime nap is tricky when you’re laying in full sunshine! I had a look online at eyemasks and decided I could make my own instead.

I’ve created a downloadable pattern so you can make one too! I have used a sewing machine for mine but you could easily hand sew this if you don’t have a machine. This pattern is for personal use only, please do not use the pattern to make things to sell. Thank you.

You will need

1. Felt – main colour plus darker accent colour and some black.
2. Elastic
3. Thread the same colour as the main fabric colour
4. Black embroidery thread

You can download the pattern here – Right click, save as

Cut out the felt using the pattern. The black won’t be visible but it helps block out the light.

Sew the accent colour felt triangles to one of the main pieces as shown.

Pin one end of the elastic to the side of the black fabric then put the mask on your face, wrap the elastic round the back of your head and pin into place on the other side so that you get the perfect fit. Sew the elastic in place.

Put all the layers together with the plain felt at the back, the black in the middle and the piece with the triangles on the front. Sew around the edge. I used a zigzag stitch.

Embroider the black eye lines on with black thread.

Trim any loose thread and then you’re done!

I am always on the look out for the perfect flapjack/granola bar and I think I’ve finally found it. So many I’ve tried have been too buttery, too soggy, fall apart too much or just don’t taste nice. This one is just right (I feel like Goldilocks!)

You can mix up the nuts, seeds and dried fruit and try different combinations, just think of the possibilities! I might try chopped up dried apple next time instead of sultanas – it will taste great with the cinnamon.

I found this recipe on the BBC website and made a few tiny changes. One thing is *really* important; if you have a fan oven (like we do) then make sure to turn the temp down or they will end up far too crunchy!

Ingredients

• 100g butter
• 200g porridge oats
• 150g mixed seeds (I used sunflower, pumpkin and linseed)
• 50g chopped walnuts
• 3 tbsp syrup
• 100g brown sugar
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 100g sultanas

1. Heat oven to 160C/(fan oven 140C)/gas 3. Butter and line the base of a 18 x 25cm tin. Mix the oats, seeds and nuts in a roasting tin, then put in the oven for 5 mins to toast.
2. Meanwhile, warm the butter, honey and sugar in a pan, stirring until butter is melted. Add the oat mix, cinnamon and dried fruit, then mix until all the oats are well coated. Tip into the tin, press down lightly, then bake for 30 mins. Cool in tin, then cut into bars.

Orignal recipe from BBC Food

I post a *lot* of photos of cats on Instagram. I can’t help it, they keep doing cute stuff that I have to share!
If you don’t use Instagram I’ve now added a tab to my Facebook Page so you can see my Instagram photos there instead – yey!