Barkcloth to Artcloth - Part II

Do you remember in November when I decorated a piece of barkcloth for the fabulous collaborative project between Bobby Britnell and Janet Middleton of Starchild shoes to raise money for Hands Up for Uganda? If you missed it you can read all about it here:

 

http://www.ginaferrari.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/barkcloth-to-artcloth.html

 

 

I'd forgotten all about it over Christmas and then a couple of days ago I was browsing on Facebook when I just happened upon photographs of shoes made from my cloth

 

There was quite a bit of jumping up and down with excitment let me tell you... because they are so cute!

 

And if you visit the Barkcloth to Artcloth facebook page you can see photos of lots more of the shoes that have been made so far

 

They are going to look amazing together when they are exhibited at the Fashion and Embroidery show at the NEC in March. I can't wait to go and see it.

Doodling

I've spent a happy day doodling with my sewing machine...

 

 

making patterns and letting my mind wander to ideas for other projects, other plans.... in particular a plan using this fabric and this technique... but that will be revealed another time.

 

The resulting fabric was made up into this notebook...

 

A touch of paint has been added and tomorrow it will be on it's way to a new home... to Sue, winner of my giveaway.

 

What I hadn't realised until it was finished was just how much bigger it was than the original notebook... or perhaps that one is just particularly small?

 

Hope it's useful!

Rich and Thick

When Ali posted her resolution to eat more delicious food in 2014 I couldn't agree more. As eating is a necessary part of our daily lives I've always believed that we should make a point of enjoying it as much as possible. I love to cook because I love to eat! I absolutely loath the idea of dieting and depriving myself of delicious food... although my scales this morning suggest that perhaps that is what I ought to be doing this month!

 

 

But manana... this evening I've cooked one of our favourite dishes... Cuban prawns (I don't eat meat but do enjoy fish or shellfish occasionally)

 

... otherwise known in our house as Paris Hilton prawns. It is a recipe cut from the newspaper where the instructions state... "simmer the sauce slowly until it takes on a Paris Hilton like quality - rich and thick since you ask". Yes, naughty I know but it still amuses me every time I cook it. And it does taste so very, very good with its chilli, lime and cumin flavoured sauce.

 

especially when followed with a thick slice of chocolate cake.

 

Ah  yes.... manana

Happy New Year

Well here we are at the start of another new year. At the end of 2012 I did I bit of a review of the year and concluded that despite some pretty major set backs there had still been plenty of good times and I felt ready to start 2013 feeling happy and positive and ready for change. Perhaps my expectations were set too high but 2013 never quite cut the mustard. The changes never happened and I felt stuck in a rut in addition to which we have faced more challenging times as a family.

 

 

Of course there has been plenty going on... mostly baking when I look back over the year. I came in the top three of a baking competition with my chocolate cake only to come crashing down in the next round with my sponge that was too spongy! Perhaps I will try again in 2014? After all I do have that new shiny red mixer!

 

I've done plenty of knitting... although the pictured cardigan is back off the needles once more as I attempt to get the tension right.... maybe I'll finish it in 2014?

 

And of course there has been lots of embroidery... always lots of machine embroidery and there will no doubt be plenty more of that in 2014.

 

 But overall it has been a difficult year that has felt more down than up.  So I'm reluctant to make predictions for the coming year and despite the overwhelming temptation to make resolutions I am resisting and shall take one day at a time as I strive for more clarity and order in my life!

 

So I will start the year with my gift to you... my 1000th post giveaway. So many good friends left me comments and I truly wished I could make something for all of you, but alas that is not possible and there can only be one winner.

 

And the first name out of the bowl was actually also the very first comment from simplesuffolksmallholder who requested a notebook. It will be a pleasure to make and will be on its way very soon.

 

 I'll confess that the giveaway was also a bit of market research... to see which items I make are the most popular and what sort of images/words you might like the best. Notebooks and aprons definitely came out on top!

 

So my first plan of the year is to make more of both and fill up my shop so even if you didn't win you will have the opportunity to buy. And if you are really disappointed I am always happy to accept commissions... you only have to ask! 

 

I hope your days are happy and healthy in 2014 and may your wishes come true.

Gifts

If you asked I'd probably say I'm not very materialistic. There's not much in life I feel I need or want. Designer names don't mean much to me and I'm just as happy with a good charity shop find as I am a luxury item.

 

 

I had a lovely selection of Christmas gifts ranging from garlands to ribbon, chocolates to wine and I was equally thrilled with all of them... getting a present is fun whatever it might be. But this year I received something very special, something I've thought I would like for quite some time...

 

This beautiful shiny red mixer from my eldest son Ben. I know that getting a kitchen appliance might not be everyone's idea of the ideal gift but I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled and taken aback I was. It came wrapped it a lovely big parcel that he'd carried up on the train from London... and I just LOVE it! And it's shiny... and red... and it made me feel like a child getting a brand new toy. And much as though I feel done with cooking for the time being, I had to put it to the test...

 

It made a very good clementine cake!

 

Did I say how much I love it? Did I mention that it is very shiny... and red! And for the cynics on Facebook who suggested there were ulterior motives... Ben doesn't even live with us. But you can be sure I'll bake him cake when he comes to visit! Thank you Ben... I really do love it!!!

 

***

 

Still time to leave a comment on this post. The draw for the giveaway will stay open until midnight tomorrow.

Leftovers

Well that's Christmas done and dusted for another year... and what a good one it has been. Fun times with family and friends, food, drink, laughter and games. I hope you've had good times too! The last of the family left this morning but the left overs carry on going...

 

 

Although I don't eat meat I do cook a turkey for everyone else and it is traditional that I bung absolutely everything that is left over under a puff pastry lid for a Boxing Day Pie. But this year I did something a little different... inspired by Paul Hollywood's Hand Raised Boxing Day Pie.

 

Separate layers of turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce in a hot water crust... not entirely left overs though as I had to make more stuffing and more cranberry sauce to make the pie as we had used both up at our Christmas lunch.

 

Obviously I can't testify to what it tastes like but it is disappearing fast!

 

***

 

Don't forget to leave a comment on my last post if you want a chance to win my 1000th post giveaway!

Advent :: Day Twenty four

Well here we are... Christmas Eve! I've done another twenty four days of blog posts in December and 1000 posts in total. Who would have thought it... not me! I've met so many lovely people through blogging - some of you in real life and some of you just virtually but each and every one of you have been a pleasure to get to know and have made blogging such fun... so I would like to say thank you. Thank you for sticking with me (some people have been around since that first post in July 2007), thank you to new followers and readers, thank you for leaving comments, thank you to those who quietly read!

 

 

And by way of a thank you I would like to make some thing for you. All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post between now and New Year's Eve and tell me would you prefer a notebook...

 

 

An apron...

 

A tea cosy or a cushion cover (cushion pad not included).

 

You then need to tell me what words or phrase you would like on your item (No more than about six words!) and leave the rest up to me. I will pick out one winner from all the comments and custom make their preferred item. Go on... what are you waiting for!

 

*****

 

I'm now having a few days off during which time I hope to sort out my email - sorry I've been unable to reply to your comments. So I would like to wish everyone who reads this blog...

 

 A Very Happy Christmas.

May your days be merry and bright!