Archive for March, 2008

:: Hot cross bun pudding

Posted by Joelle on March 31, 2008 | Permalink

This picture is from last Easter’s baking first - my first attempt at hot cross buns. They turned out well, but fell squarely into the wrong effort : reward ratio for me. Lots of effort, and though they were tasty, they really weren’t that much better than shop bought ones, so I doubt I’ll bother with these again.

This Easter’s baking first recipe on the other hand is going to be a keeper. Oh yes, bread and butter pudding made with hot cross buns is where it’s at. Wonderfully easy comfort food, with an Easter twist. It was gobbled up too fast for a photo I’m afraid, but it looked magnificent, all golden and creamy.

I have my friend Peter to thank for this recipe.
Read more…

Categories: recipes
Tags: baking, easter, hot cross buns, pudding

2 comments

:: William Morris - my new hero!

Posted by Sonja on March 31, 2008 | Permalink

Oh don’t you love it when you find a new hero?

I went to the William Morris Museum in Walthamstow.

Amongst all the tapestries, stained glass windows and old cloth-bound books was a piece of linoleum (yes, linoleum) designed by the man himself. We’re talking linoleum from the 1800s! And they found it in a skip.

They also had his satchel, that he used to carry all his socialist pamphlets around in. He was quite the socialist, being against mass-manufacturing, for workers’ rights, and believing in good design as the route to a decent life for all (he put it better than that - seriously, you need to visit this museum).

He also had some interesting things to say about pattern, and they had his original designs, blocked in on squared paper like a cross stitch pattern, and then the resulting woven fabric.

I’m already planning a second visit. It’s pure pattern porn. Mixed in with a bit of politics.

Speaking of politics, “they” are trying to shut the place down. Disgrace.

Categories: adventure, art, craft, design, london
Tags:

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:: oliver + s

Posted by Joelle on March 26, 2008 | Permalink

Sorry I have been a bit quiet on here recently. Blame an exciting new job I started a couple of weeks ago. And blame the weather, which is so drab and uninspiring. Last year I had an Easter tea party, sat out in the garden drinking Pimms with my friends, in our short shorts and summer dresses. This Easter we spent peering out of the window at snow falling wetly down. Hurry up spring!

Anyhow, isn’t this cute? It’s the artwork on one of the children’s clothing patterns just launched by Oliver + S. The clothing patterns themselves are lovely, and I love love love the paper dolls they have on the packets.
::via Angry Chicken.

Categories: craft
Tags: children, illustration, paper dolls, patterns, sewing

2 comments

:: Happy weekend!

Posted by Joelle on March 21, 2008 | Permalink

Wishing a happy Easter weekend to all our readers. May you have chocolate eggs a plenty and feel the goodness of springtime.

Although the weather forecast here is for rain, wind and snow, I am still full of thoughts of weak sunshine showing through, birds returning to the garden and flowers growing. It makes me think of waking from my own winter slumber and making plans. Four days off work… such possibilities.

Categories: adventure
Tags: cake, chocolate eggs, spring

2 comments

:: Small but beautiful?

Posted by Kirsty on March 19, 2008 | Permalink

As I may have moaned about before, after the move to The Smallest Flat in London, I am now sharing a desk with my adorable but messy husband. The above shows just how much space I have to work with. Grumble grouch grrr, etc. Read more…

Categories: adventure
Tags: daffodils, desk, inspiration

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:: Cake Dilemma

Posted by Vanessa on March 18, 2008 | Permalink

It’s Stephen’s birthday on Easter Sunday this year. In the past he’s made me some fairly impressive cakes, and I’d like to bake him something special and unusual that isn’t too tricky. These are some cupcakes I made for my friend’s birthday last year; I iced them when they were too hot - which is why the icing is patchy- but they tasted nice (lemon icing and my mum’s fairy cake recipe). That’s my main baking/crafting flaw; impatience. I’m thinking I could make a giant cookie with a birthday message on it, but is that too lazy?

Also, I really hope he doesn’t check this blog for the rest of the week! Any birthday-bakery ideas? It could incorporate Easter chocolate…

Categories: adventure
Tags: birthdays, cake

13 comments

:: The Invisible Woman

Posted by Sonja on March 17, 2008 | Permalink

“If you’re vibrant and interesting in your thirties and forties, it doesn’t stop when you get to your fifties or sixties.”

Thank you, Screaming Lulu - a fiftysomething having a good rant about the state of women in today’s society, while stitching up some bitchin’ pictures on her sewing machine - that’s all I need in a four minute movie. Her film will be on the tele soon, but you’ll want to watch it now, or feast your thread-hungry eyes on her website.

“I’m a part of that huge babyboomer generation that fought and marched in the streets and I think women of our generation should carry on doing that.”

Make that women of all generations.

Categories: art, craft
Tags:

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:: Spoons

Posted by Joelle on March 17, 2008 | Permalink

The spoon is a small topic to warrant a whole blog post, I know. But I like spoons, and today I found these: the most charming spoons I ever saw. I feel so covetous of these spoons, to have them hanging above my kitchen counter, quickly to hand when I need to scoop up a tablespoonful of something for my baking. They are by Beehive Kitchenware Co., who work from the inarguable premise of making things that are decorative as well as functional.

For any other spoon lovers out there, feed your habit.

via Poppy Talk Handmade’s Green Pop

Categories: design, shopping
Tags: spoons

5 comments

:: Bamboo daisies

Posted by Kirsty on March 16, 2008 | Permalink

I really love working with bamboo yarn - it’s so silky and soft and completely natural. Though it does freak me out that I could potentially sit on a bamboo chair, wearing a bamboo cardigan, eating bamboo shoots in black bean sauce, crochetting with bamboo yarn with a bamboo hook; surely no one thing should be that versatile? Freaky plant!

Anyway… this scarf is the finished product of my piles of crochetted daisies. I couldn’t find any chocolate brown bamboo yarn, but I did find these lovely, vibrant purple and pink shades that go perfectly with the baby blue. I already working on another one in duck egg blue and cream that reminds me of Wedgwood. I’m all about warm weather scarves this year!

Categories: craft
Tags: bamboo, crochet, daisies, flowers

4 comments

:: Writing Corner

Posted by Vanessa on March 13, 2008 | Permalink

As I look around at my desk I’m slightly exasperated. It’s a beautiful desk - a surprise birthday present that magically appeared in the bedroom while I was out one long Sunday. It has antique-y handles, is white, seems vintage, and even has sixties style drawer-liner, but it’s a mess when I promised myself I’d keep it clutter free.

Still, the corner of my desk is a place of inspiration and light. The light, literally - a large faux Victorian lamp that we swiped from somewhere. The inspiration - an old black and white photograph I like of me and my mum, taken on the beach at Whitby; Poinsettia, a bizarre pink-haired creature my brother gave to me while he was visiting LA; and on the more practical side, a stylish coaster to stop me ruining my desk with rings of hot chocolate and coffee. I also have a picture Joelle got me just out of shot, on the wall. Oh, and currently, a music box and an origami bird. Well, I suppose I’ll never be minimalist in my decor.

When I need it, though, this corner is conducive to writing, and to feeling quite content. What corner helps you to work best? What’s in it? Like the insides of pockets and handbags, I think the corner of a desk can be quite telling. Do you work in chaos, or is it all business? Let me know…

Categories: adventure
Tags: favourite corners, writing

4 comments