Pies and Panic

 You might recall that some weeks ago I had a rather silly notion of setting myself the challenge of baking all the recipes from this book... well it never got beyond the silly notion stage really. But flicking through the other day I thought I'd like to try making pork pies. Why? Don't even go there... I haven't a clue... I don't even eat them... but I knew wanted to make them.

Ingredients were all bought this week and I kept thinking about it, but was put off by the idea that hot water crust pastry might be tricky and the need to work quickly before it cools down and becomes brittle and crumbly. But finally last night at about 6 pm I took the plunge and decided I would get these pork pies made and in the oven before embarking on the evening meal. The filling was prepared, flours weighed, water boiled... and then the phone went. It was Anna... was I going to reading group?... Ah!... Yes... but I had totally forgotten. But no worries... I still had and hour and half to finish the pies and make a toad in the hole...

And I did manage both... but only just. Dinner was dished up for my men (I had a couple of Ryvita!), just as the pies came out of the oven and Anna turned up at the door!

So given that I was running around like a headless chicken, muttering rude words and leaving chaos in my wake, it was probably not the best conditions for my first ever attempt at hot water crust pastry but it wasn't quite as tricky as I imagined. It felt rather like the home made play dough I used to make when the boys were little... we all loved to handle that while it was still silky soft and warm!

However, there was no way of getting the stock flavoured gelatine down that little hole. I did try and it went everywhere... so in the end I didn't bother. And as Joe said jelly is his least favourite bit in a pork pie, I decided it would be fine without. They certainly look and smell like pork pies... But I'm still waiting for the verdict!*

I'm still waiting for the latest weather update too*. It was -7.5 deg C here this morning with a forecast of more snow coming up from the west tomorrow. I'm meant to be driving West to Cornwall with my Mum in the morning so I'm rather hoping that the forecast is wrong.

This cold spell might look very pretty but it's mighty inconvenient!

 

 

* Verdict... pies apparently "awesome" and weather "appalling" so we're not risking a drive to the West Country. Another weekend by the fire knitting I think!

Textiles in Focus

I have been putting the finishing touches to a bit of hand stitching today. Adding a bit of sparkle to these tiny little squares of needle weaving.

Which have become three little brooches... some samples for a couple of workshops that I will be running in February at Textiles In Focus.

I'm sure many of you will already be familiar with Textiles in Focus, which is a fabulous annual textile event that takes place here in the east of England. Spread over three days on 15th, 16th and 17th February it offers two exhibitions, traders specialising in threads, fabrics, mixed media products, books, a talk, excellent lunches, demonstrations... plus an extensive range of two hour workshops... which is where I come in.

On Friday 15th February I will be running two workshops called "Weave it, Wear it" to create one of these little brooches from scratch... and ready to wear by the end of the workshop. Everything you need is provided - you only have to bring a small pair of scissors (and I even have those to share if you forget!). At just £10 a workshop, this is excellent value. And of course, I'm not the only one offering workshops - there is a fabulous range to choose from and you can download the programme from the website.

If you have never been to Textiles in Focus before, I can definitely recommend it. It has all the appeal of the bigger shows but is much more friendly and intimate. But do hurry if you want to book on a workshop because they fill up fast!

Little Things are Cute

Sunday evening camped on the sofa with my knitting and this is what I made. The cutest little baby hat... because Stewart's nephew and his partner are having their first baby in March. As we are planning a trip up north of the border next month and will be seeing them, I felt the urge to knit baby things.

And because it really did knit up in just one evening I now have the urge to knit lots more baby things. Last night I finished a pair of matching booties (but it was too dark to photograph them) and today I bought some yarn to make a jacket.

I think I could be tempted to knit baby stuff even if there wasn't a baby on the way... because little things are just so cute!

 

You can find the free pattern here should you be so inclined!

Let it Snow

Just before Christmas I was invited to join a group of four friends who meet on a monthly basis for a bit of stitching and chat, with a view to possibly having an exhibition. It was all lovely and very low key but they do set challenges to keep each other working and motivated.

 One of the challenges has been to work on a textile piece inspired by the weather. These will then be passed around each member so we can all add to or change the original piece before passing it on to the next person. The others had already started their weather pieces before I joined - some were printed, some stitched and others dyed.

I knew I would like to make a stitched piece but up until now I wasn't feeling very inspired. But today I've been in the studio all morning and have come up with this piece of fabric inspired by the the weather forecast for the coming week.

It is free machined in white and silver thread onto a backing of silk net. The sequins were an after thought because I felt it needed more sparkle.

It was a nightmare to photograph but I'm quite pleased with the result...

And also quite pleased I'm not the one who has to decide what to do with it next!

It was quite tricky trying to work on something unfinished without a view to the end result but a good exercise in not being too precious about one's work... after all the next person might decide just to chop it up. I'll let you know!

It might not be snowing around here yet (and I'm hoping it won't) but it's feeling pretty chilly, so I'm going to come out of the studio and camp on the sofa with my knitting. The fire and a cuppa beckon!

A Story of Shrinking Jeans

You may have noticed a distinct lack of baking here since New Year's Eve... but there is a reason. This seems to happen every January but yet again my jeans have shrunk. Okay, I'll be honest... I was doing a Pilates class on January 2nd and happened to glance in the mirror lining the wall of the exercise studio and had a rude awakening when I realised the lumpy woman looking back at me was actually me. Admittedly leggings and a vest are not a good look on a woman in her mid fifties (and I apologise for leaving you with that image) but I was still pretty shocked at what I saw. So there has been no baking in this house over the past couple of weeks in an attempt to regain svelt like proportions (Indulge me here... don't shatter my dreams).

But I've had withdrawal symptoms, so today I got out my pinny and the rolling pin and made some savoury cheese scones to go with our roasted butternut squash soup. I think I may have overdone the chilli in the soup but I'm sure I read somewhere that chilli raises the metabolism so that was okay.

Should you wish to indulge in some relatively guilt free baking (or preferably eating)  this is my recipe.

Spicy Cheese Scones

100g white SR flour

75g wholewheat bread flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon chilli powder

25g butter

50g strong cheddar or a similar strong cheese, finely grated

1 teaspoon English mustard

1 large egg

2-3 tablespoons milk

Approx 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese (or cheddar), grated

Heat the oven to 220 deg C. Mix together the flours, salt, baking powder and chilli in a large bowl. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients and then stir in the cheddar. In a jug, mix the mustard (you could just use mustard powder but I didn't have any) to a paste with a little of the milk and then beat in the egg and the rest of the milk. Stir into the dry ingredients until you have a soft dough. Roll out to about 2 cm thick and cut out circles with a 5 cm cookie cutter. Re-roll and cut until you have used all the dough. I managed to get eight scones. Place on a baking sheet, brush the tops with a little more milk and sprinkle with the parmesan. Bake for approx 12 minutes until well risen and brown.

Best eaten whilst still warm... and without any extra butter!

You may also noticed a lack of stitching on this so called "textile blog" but I have ideas and just need to get out of the kitchen and put them into action!

A Hard Time

 We had our first meeting of the year for Spectrum this week. I thought it would be a good idea to get the group doing some observational drawing using ink... so no rubbing out!

I wasn't looking for excellent drawings or superb technical skill. It was just an exercise in observation looking at marks, lines, shapes etc

But I do get a hard time from some people when I make them draw!

Beautiful Buckles

 This morning when I was browsing through some favourite blogs, I read this post by Annie of knitsofacto  about her beautiful collection of old buttons and it brought to mind a little collection that I aquired a few years ago. Not buttons... but buckles.

 

I have a friend who dabbles in antiques and collectables and when she found this old box in a collection of trinkets she had been asked to sell on, she thought of me. 

 

Inside, the box is choc full of beautiful shell buckles. 

 

And although I absolutely love them... and maybe one day will use these loose ones from the top, what I really, really love are these little bundles of buckles tied up in parcels of tissue and tied with red thread.

 

Three or four buckles in each little bundle with an example of what is inside tied to the top of each one. How gorgeous are they! I don't think I will ever bring myself to open them.

 

I have no idea who they originally belonged to, or what they were destined for, nor how old they may be.

 

But I do know they are exquisite little things that I will always treasure... and that I'm very lucky to have such thoughtful friends.