Blog entries http://www.cathysavels.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:06:11 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/vernissage-expo-moulins-feb-2011.html <p><img src="http://www.totalartsoul.com/images/101/front%20window.jpg" alt="" /></p><br/><p>Front window</p><br/><p>So following on from the opening, the first week went well with the sale of my 'zesty triptych'.  We arranged to arrive early for the vernissage on 9th February so that I had some time to change some of the paintings with those that had come back from Belgium.  I wasn't too keen on all the little ones and wanted to add some larger works.</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.totalartsoul.com/imaRead More... Cathy Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/my-exhition-opened-at-moulins-france.html <p><img src="http://www.totalartsoul.com/images/101/front%20window%202.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="336" /></p><br/><p>I'm delighted to finally have my paintings hanging at the gallery in Moulins, here in France.  Preparations for it seem to have gone on forever.   The exhibition was in fact first organized for May but just 5 weeks ago I received a phone call from the gallery owner asking me to bring it forward to February. This threw me into somewhat of a panic because a lot of my larger paintiRead More... Cathy Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/stripped-nakedhtml114.html <br/><p>I watched a wonderful program on Matisse last night.  It made me realise that my new series 'stripped naked' was indeed a good idea.  Matisse started out doing relatively constrained and traditional works, paintings that fitted in to what was expected of him at that time.  It wasn't until he had bowel cancer that he started to feel free and started to do the art that was a true expression of himself.</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.totalartsoul.com/images/101/matisse1.jpg" alt="" /></p><br/><p>I Read More... Cathy Mon, 10 May 2010 07:20:45 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/meet-the-rest-of-the-familyhtml127.html Here's our 3 hooligans who rule the roost. In fact, I'm sure we're living in THEIR house!<br/><img style="max-width: 405px;" src="http://www.totalartsoul.com/images/fbfiles/images/chicken_feather_cones_closeup_2.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br /> Meet Bean, our female. She was dropped off at our house the night before the owner left the country. I think she was made to live outdoors and once experienced being inside, no longer wanted to go out. We spent 6 months coaxing her out but she would always cry and runRead More... Cathy Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:40:26 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/our-winter-wonderland-walkhtml126.html <p>We were going a little stir crazy yesterday as we've spent much time working. Joe thought that we should get out and just down to the lake we have near to us. It was around -10C so we put our thermals on, 3 pairs of socks, wellington boots, scarf, hat and gloves.</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.totalartsoul.com/images/stories/IMGP0905-800.jpg" alt="IMGP0905-800" width="600" height="800" /></p><br/><p>This would normally be just a 10 minute walk but when we got to one of the fields, it was fenced ofRead More... Cathy Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:28:01 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/total-art-soul-our-new-forumhtml128.html Joe and I are thrilled to have the Forum up and running. We bought the domain name for Total Art Soul well over a year ago with the idea that we would start up some kind of artists' community. Due to time constraints, we didn't get it off the ground and meanwhile I started a group on Facebook under the same name just to test the water. I very quickly had over 500 members there in the space of a couple of months with numbers just over 700 today. The group there has been a little quiet, again becaRead More... Cathy Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:52:09 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/customer-satisfaction-html122.html <p>Some time ago I had an order from a customer who has a Lavender Farm in North Carolina.  She wanted a welcome plaque and a set of gift tags for an opening day. It was postponed and meanwhile, she ordered some more things, including a chicken feather tree. I'm absolutely delighted that not only did she write to thank me but she also posted pictures of their opening day to show off my things. It's not often that I get to actually see where my creations end up so I'm thrilled to be able to shareRead More... Cathy Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:01:42 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/its-not-what-it-looks-like-html127.html <p>Because we have been laying a new floor, the log fire has not been going that much as we've had to live in the bedrooms upstairs whilst the work is going on. The cats have been quite cold with -10C outside and lots of snow. To our absolute amazement, we found that the two boys wanted to cuddle up together on top of a scrumpled curtain which was lying on top of a small toolbox. The only way they could fit was on top of each other! I know what it looks like but I promise you it's nothing rude. Read More... Cathy Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:03:04 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/winter-wonderland-in-francehtml127.html <p>The snow really is coming down hard now here in the Auvergne. We've run out of wood and it's impossible to get the wheelbarrow up the hill with all this snow. Looks like we'll have to carry a few logs at a time. We should have been more prepared I guess. We just hope the farmer will deliver us some more later. Meanwhile, whilst we shiver, we can enjoy this wonderful scenery.</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/stories/winter_scene.jpg" alt="winter_scene" width="700" height="52Read More... Cathy Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:54:24 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/cleaning-a-hard-paintbrushhtml126.html <p>In the past, I've always thrown away paintbrushes that had gone hard. Even solvents didn't seem to work that well and I didn't like the cost to the environment using these. I've just recently found this article which says that using ivory soap gets your brushes back to their former glory.</p><br/><p>It’s very simple - take a glass jar (I think she said it needs to be non-reactive - which would be vessels like ceramic, glass, stoneware, food-grade plastic, wood, or porcelain, as opposed to reactiRead More... Cathy Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:42:38 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/is-there-a-herbie-in-the-bed-html129.html <p>This made me laugh today. We're renovating like mad so the house is in a bit of disarray. I had folded neatly a duvet and placed it on the bed in the space room. I also put an old rag on top because I just knew one of the cats would make it their bed.  Of course, within a short period of time Oscar made himself comfortable on top but when I went back a few hours later, I found little Herbie had managed to get himself inside of it underneath Oscar! Like double-decker cats!</p><br/><p>By the time Read More... Cathy Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:32:09 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/jack-frost-nipped-at-my-nosehtml128.html <p>Finally we are now seeing the first frosts here in the Auvergne, France.  We are surrounded by many extinct volcanoes which are now topped with snow, like little Christmas puddings topped with delicious icing. This is what's inspired my little Treasure chest of goodies. Hope you don't feel too cold! Enjoy!</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/stories/jack_frost_owl_queen.jpg" alt="jack_frost_owl_queen" width="430" height="364" /></p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/imaRead More... Cathy Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:07:14 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/your-aw-factor-for-the-dayhtml126.html <p>Well, it is Sunday! Why not waste a little time looking at some very cute little creatures. Enjoy!</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/stories/chimp_feeding_puma_02.jpg" alt="chimp_feeding_puma_02" width="627" height="696" /></p><br/><p>Chimp feeding a puma! Incredible.</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/stories/puppy_begging.jpg" alt="puppy_begging" width="400" height="300" /></p><br/><p>Someone let him in!</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/storieRead More... Cathy Sun, 29 Nov 2009 11:08:55 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/how-far-would-you-go-for-your-cat-html134.html <p>I'm a total cat lover, I have 3 but there is a limit to what I would buy for them. I've found some pretty awesome cat accessories. Some of you may think they're a great idea, others may think we're a little crazy!</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/stories/cat_bed.jpg" alt="cat_bed" width="430" height="227" /></p><br/><p>This piece of furniture would fit right at home but would they sleep on it? Probably not, clean washing seems to be their favourite!</p><br/><p><img src="http://wwRead More... Cathy Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:27:58 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/quick-tea-towels-tutorialhtml125.html <p>OK, I agree, it's not the most glamorous gift to give someone but it is practical! You have to admit that for tea towels, these are pretty chic. You could have such fun with different designs and you really only need a basic level of sewing skill. Make a set, tie them together with some lovely ribbon and hey presto! you'll have a lovely gift in lightning time and which will cost very little. This tutorial comes courtesy of the purl bee.</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/storRead More... Cathy Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:27:18 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/natural-home-made-beauty-products-tutorialhtml142.html <p>I defy anyone not to be happy receiving these great beauty products. They are entirely natural, no animals were harmed in the making of them and you know exactly what's been put in them.</p><br/><p>This is a great one to give as a Christmas gift. You just have to be a little organised and ensure you have the ingredients to hand and make this just before you're going to give it. You can use old jam jars and cut a small circle of fabric which can be placed over the lid with an elastic band. You coRead More... Cathy Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:13:06 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/104.html <p>With the world in global recession I think many of us will be thinking of thrifty ways to give out gifts this Christmas.&nbsp; I'm going to try and find some each day with step-by-step instructions. This idea comes courtesy of Giver's Log.</p> <p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/stories/seed_tape_boxes_2.jpg" alt="seed_tape_boxes_2" width="400" height="279" /></p> <p>The intent of seed tape is to make planting easier when you have teeny tiny seeds that need to be planted just incheRead More... Cathy Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:22:40 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/diy-seed-tape-perfect-gift-for-a-gardenerhtml141.html <p>With the world in global recession I think many of us will be thinking of thrifty ways to give out gifts this Christmas.  I'm going to try and find some each day with step-by-step instructions. This idea comes courtesy of Giver's Log.</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/stories/seed_tape_boxes_2.jpg" alt="seed_tape_boxes_2" width="400" height="279" /></p><br/><p>The intent of seed tape is to make planting easier when you have teeny tiny seeds that need to be planted just inches aRead More... Cathy Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:22:40 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/feeling-autumnal-html117.html <p>I wanted to take a whole series of photos from around our home showing the amazing aray of autumnal colours. It's been raining non-stop for several days now so I've not been able to go out armed with the camera. I still intend to do so, in the hope the trees won't lose ALL their leaves in the meantime, but just for now, I've found a fantastic selection of home decorations to get you in the autumnal mood. Watch this space for photos of our area just as soon as the rain clears!</p><br/><p><img srcRead More... Cathy Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:11:31 +0100 http://www.cathysavels.com/blog/our-200-year-old-path-html122.html <p>We've been trying to finish off the front of the house outside. First we built a patio from the stones which were buried in the garden. I blogged about it before and you can see photos of it in progress here .</p><br/><p><img src="http://www.cathysavels.com/images/stories/patio.jpg" alt="patio" width="600" height="800" /></p><br/><p>We wanted a path to extend from this and we thought we would simply carry on the terrace in the same way with the stones. We started digging some of the earth away to mRead More... Cathy Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:16:43 +0100