A self-taught baker makes beautiful loaves of bread that are practically works of art

Anneta KonstantinidesApr 24, 2020, 23:34 IST

Hannah Page has been making incredible bread art for the last six years.Hannah Page

Hannah Page has been creating beautiful bread art for the last six years, posting her pictures on the popular Instagram page Blondie + Rye.
The North Carolina baker creates beautiful designs on the crust, or uses vegetables and taro powder to add gorgeous bursts of color.
Page works almost exclusively with sourdough, which she became passionate about after learning how to make her own starter.
The high school history teacher told Insider that she has chosen to keep bread-making a hobby instead of making it her full-time career because she finds it relaxing.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Nowadays, it seems like everyone is speaking in sourdough, filling up our Instagram stories and grids with picture after picture of beautifully baked bread.

But come across Hannah Page's profile and you'll see more than just pretty loaves. You'll notice the intricate leaves weaving through the length of a baguette, the flowers expertly carved into the crust. Sometimes, there will be great big bursts of color, a rainbow of vegetables or taro powder.

Page is behind the popular Instagram account, Blondie + Rye, where the self-taught baker is constantly transforming baguettes and boules and buns into beautiful works of art.

Insider spoke with Page to find out how her passion for baking first began, why she became dedicated to bread art, and her tips for those who are just beginning their journey with sourdough.

Read the original article on Insider

But Page said her most important tip is to remember that anyone can create beautiful art with bread.

Page believes that anyone can master the art of bread-making. Hannah Page

If you're hoping to teach yourself the art of scoring, Page said the most important tool you can order for yourself is the lame.

Page almost exclusively uses a lame to score her loaves. Hannah Page

If you're ready to take the sourdough plunge but can't find the ingredients to make starter from scratch, Page suggests calling local bakeries to see if they have any that they're willing to sell or give away.

Calling local bakeries can be a great way to get sourdough starter. Hannah Page

If you're ready to take the sourdough plunge but can't find the ingredients to make starter from scratch, Page suggests calling local bakeries to see if they have any that they're willing to sell or give away.

For those who are just starting out, Page recommends learning with commercial yeast instead of going straight to sourdough.

If you're a bread beginner, Page recommends starting with commercial yeast. Hannah Page

Page believes that bread-making is the "perfect quarantine activity," and said many people have told her it's been on their bucket list for a long time.

Page said the current quarantine is a perfect time to learn the art of bread-making. Hannah Page

Page currently can't break bread with her loved ones during quarantine, but she has been sharing her love with many who are just beginning their own bread journey.

And Page is excited to see so many people picking up bread-making in quarantine. Hannah Page

When people around her are going through a hard time, Page always makes sure to bring them a loaf of bread.

Page loves being able to share her homemade bread. Hannah Page

One of Page's greatest joys has been sharing bread with the people she loves, from her family and friends to her students and neighbors.

Page said she finds bread-making to be "meditative." Hannah Page

That meditative feeling is the very reason why Page loves baking sourdough, a long process that requires a lot of patience.

Page said she doesn't plan to turn her bread-making hobby into a full-time career. Hannah Page

As Page's talent — and Instagram following — grew through the years, many people asked why she didn't turn her hobby into a full-time career.

Page started her popular Instagram page nearly four years ago. Hannah Page

As she continued working on her bread designs, Page realized she was tapping into an artistic side that she didn't even know she had.

Page often improvises the designs she makes on her loaves. Hannah Page

Page doesn't often write down her recipes and instead makes decisions as she goes, based on what ingredients she has.

Page said she didn't know she had an artistic side before she began baking. Hannah Page

And while many bakers will create or use stencils for their crust designs, Page said she almost exclusively uses her lame.

Page has even made sourdough matzah. Hannah Page

While many of her designs may look intricate, Page said she doesn't do much planning before she begins baking.

Page often uses vegetables to add color to her designs. Hannah Page

Page began baking bread every single day, and soon found herself scoring — the technique of slashing bread dough with a knife or lame before baking it — all of her dough.

Page used taro powder to give these loaves their burst of color. Hannah Page

Page began baking bread every single day, and soon found herself scoring — the technique of slashing bread dough with a knife or lame before baking it — all of her dough.

But it wasn't until Page began experimenting with sourdough that she truly became passionate about baking bread.

Page now almost exclusively works with sourdough bread. Hannah Page

Hannah Page first began baking bread six years ago, when a coworker gave her a Dutch oven as a wedding present.

Page has been baking bread for the last six years. Hannah Page

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A self-taught baker makes beautiful loaves of bread that are practically works of art

But Page said her most important tip is to remember that anyone can create beautiful art with bread.

If you're hoping to teach yourself the art of scoring, Page said the most important tool you can order for yourself is the lame.

If you're ready to take the sourdough plunge but can't find the ingredients to make starter from scratch, Page suggests calling local bakeries to see if they have any that they're willing to sell or give away.

For those who are just starting out, Page recommends learning with commercial yeast instead of going straight to sourdough.

Page believes that bread-making is the "perfect quarantine activity," and said many people have told her it's been on their bucket list for a long time.

Page currently can't break bread with her loved ones during quarantine, but she has been sharing her love with many who are just beginning their own bread journey.

When people around her are going through a hard time, Page always makes sure to bring them a loaf of bread.

One of Page's greatest joys has been sharing bread with the people she loves, from her family and friends to her students and neighbors.

That meditative feeling is the very reason why Page loves baking sourdough, a long process that requires a lot of patience.

As Page's talent — and Instagram following — grew through the years, many people asked why she didn't turn her hobby into a full-time career.

As she continued working on her bread designs, Page realized she was tapping into an artistic side that she didn't even know she had.

Page doesn't often write down her recipes and instead makes decisions as she goes, based on what ingredients she has.

And while many bakers will create or use stencils for their crust designs, Page said she almost exclusively uses her lame.

While many of her designs may look intricate, Page said she doesn't do much planning before she begins baking.

Page began baking bread every single day, and soon found herself scoring — the technique of slashing bread dough with a knife or lame before baking it — all of her dough.

But it wasn't until Page began experimenting with sourdough that she truly became passionate about baking bread.

Hannah Page first began baking bread six years ago, when a coworker gave her a Dutch oven as a wedding present.