tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73965566949439792542024-03-05T11:08:43.330+00:00The Fable of the TableAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-42313340399106367182014-02-10T15:31:00.000+00:002014-02-10T15:31:08.390+00:00A Beautiful Mess<h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Confession alert:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have a problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hope you won't mind me sharing with you that I have a problem .... a rather large problem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It involves addiction, excess and despair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The <i>addiction</i> relates to an inability to stop buying fabric.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The <i>excess</i> relates to the amount of fabric I own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The <i>despair</i> is how am I going to fit it all in to my workroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year I hope to find the path to <strike>salvation</strike>/organisation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those of a sensitive disposition should stop reading now. What I'm going to show you now is not a pretty sight!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">January 2014</span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gtpO2QMcOW9IWlwTqwwPyKMKpygOqDx9r23O_SkkyVP3sXPp1Tu3WP7ZM7EYjtH7PlBKLiKHDZT0U8CDJGC_pGfYyDJ6JZrpKgDORLClHWXnNFJ33dj9XrBXquceOlOdqDOSCwbBxQ_R/s1600/mosaic-of-room-order.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg5bh1y_Sgu5I1rTeVMDBZJtFkHB4H0yk4iwt8EfR74Tp8SFzvmSkPRHzsMS6VVDohIB-dcaKxPWf32rCinIp__mRs7DPdKuo3tRg-jtPBiBQBDTi-M2raZ_K4YyNjS1uT3kggt_6bOb-/s1600/mosaic-of-room-mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJg5bh1y_Sgu5I1rTeVMDBZJtFkHB4H0yk4iwt8EfR74Tp8SFzvmSkPRHzsMS6VVDohIB-dcaKxPWf32rCinIp__mRs7DPdKuo3tRg-jtPBiBQBDTi-M2raZ_K4YyNjS1uT3kggt_6bOb-/s1600/mosaic-of-room-mess.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I'm on a mission and I think life can be different!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First tip: </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Accept any offer of help. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Linda arrived in the nick of time to save me from submerging into my fabric.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: normal;">February 2014</span></h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gtpO2QMcOW9IWlwTqwwPyKMKpygOqDx9r23O_SkkyVP3sXPp1Tu3WP7ZM7EYjtH7PlBKLiKHDZT0U8CDJGC_pGfYyDJ6JZrpKgDORLClHWXnNFJ33dj9XrBXquceOlOdqDOSCwbBxQ_R/s1600/mosaic-of-room-order.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gtpO2QMcOW9IWlwTqwwPyKMKpygOqDx9r23O_SkkyVP3sXPp1Tu3WP7ZM7EYjtH7PlBKLiKHDZT0U8CDJGC_pGfYyDJ6JZrpKgDORLClHWXnNFJ33dj9XrBXquceOlOdqDOSCwbBxQ_R/s1600/mosaic-of-room-order.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Second tip:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Get inventive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Shelves in the open cupboard, peg rail to hang textiles from and a design board to keep the works in progress off the floor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One week later things are feeling much brighter, and me too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are so many newly discovered fabrics whose charms were lying hidden under the amassment of material - </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just have to curb my enthusiasm for starting multiple new quilts. Quilts need to be made one by one in this room for a while.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is so exciting and liberating to have the foundations in place for an organised space. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I hope you can see a difference!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Now to get sewing some words onto fabric.</i></span><br />
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I'm feeling a bit frayed today - but in a good way. </h3>
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I was at the <a href="http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/">Time and Tide Museum </a>with Linda and we found ourselves soaking up the emotional stories in the exhibition<a href="http://frayedtextilesontheedge.wordpress.com/"> "Frayed: Textiles on the Edge"</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHfkh8SGdL_iIRXPLbhjJkohjrzX18YdJCIHElFBbOliMf11qmIRI7Fv6mrvJDeubTBCCY_qrX8r3faZkRwqyLMN21kpdeqrfgIhapoPx5oDXtxOyrxAujdtMSIJrlTKDIxjmxPJA3pNy/s1600/frayed-x4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHfkh8SGdL_iIRXPLbhjJkohjrzX18YdJCIHElFBbOliMf11qmIRI7Fv6mrvJDeubTBCCY_qrX8r3faZkRwqyLMN21kpdeqrfgIhapoPx5oDXtxOyrxAujdtMSIJrlTKDIxjmxPJA3pNy/s1600/frayed-x4.jpg" /></a></div>
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The textiles in the exhibition were devoted to the use of fabric and stitch as therapy … <i>still minds and busy hands</i>.<br />
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The stories behind the pieces on show were extraordinary. Lorina Bulwer, for example, was an unwilling inmate in a lunatic ward of Great Yarmouth workhouse. (I can't imagine there is ever a willing one). She embroidered two 'letters', each more that three metres long, in which she poured her anger and frustration at being held there against her will. She stitched in capital letters, underlining phrase with solid stitched lines to emphasise her rage.<br />
Here is just a small section of this unique textile:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQYdEixqZ6ONZNxMlTzyF_m_CvYR31Hm1lfDEObXT919RIwVE229EMNiMEoCCVNtiTtlI8xVUFLOA74GUSNw5oFjCh156Gx8fUxVpKvhXaxbzynAXpALben6KlekVEQeg-_NdpC6B_tf1/s1600/frayedx2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQYdEixqZ6ONZNxMlTzyF_m_CvYR31Hm1lfDEObXT919RIwVE229EMNiMEoCCVNtiTtlI8xVUFLOA74GUSNw5oFjCh156Gx8fUxVpKvhXaxbzynAXpALben6KlekVEQeg-_NdpC6B_tf1/s1600/frayedx2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artist: Lorina Bulwer</td></tr>
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The emotion that bonds the words to the fabric in each piece ensures that the text and images become part of the textile.<br />
I have come home wanting to bring words to the next piece I sew… solace in stitch. <br />
Seeing these diversely inspiring textiles has opened my eyes. I see the stitched words go through every layer of the quilt to create a structure where emotion is integral to the quilt.<br />
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<a href="http://www.quiltart.eu/saraimpey.html">Sara Impey</a> conveys this beautifully in her blue piece 'Stitch Talk' - every letter of every word is free-motion quilted with her machine. It becomes a magical piece of prose.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKh968j7wCZtYinq64o4nhwa_wreq-DmidBWPqimuK9tAXnUWYcZDlnRBcv4vh4YnKog4UHmnq2daXsIgV3kyG9jy-kLdEiElVMdSyMN1oM91wOaGbV1ceRAc9MBkifxQbHoxFtQ72yN9t/s1600/frayed-x3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKh968j7wCZtYinq64o4nhwa_wreq-DmidBWPqimuK9tAXnUWYcZDlnRBcv4vh4YnKog4UHmnq2daXsIgV3kyG9jy-kLdEiElVMdSyMN1oM91wOaGbV1ceRAc9MBkifxQbHoxFtQ72yN9t/s1600/frayed-x3.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stitch Talk by Sara Impey</td></tr>
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2014 is the year I plan to explore creativity in textiles.<br />
I have been on a slow boat getting back from China, but I hope by living on the edge with my fabrics, I can make meaningful work.<br />
<i>(And I don't plan to take another year to write my next blogpost)</i><br />
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<i><b>Creating textile pieces fosters hope and a sense of achievement.</b></i><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-56277589417799270022013-01-13T13:27:00.000+00:002013-01-13T13:27:00.049+00:00Searching for Soda Bread!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you are searching for a bit of soul food </div>
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then you could do worse than trying my recipe </div>
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for bread and music to get you through a winter's day...</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkelLC5aa3NZcO2PYL1VY2z_q6tRA5ZAx5t3Uv87JUt3vlbiK6mWlN8wbAHSD5YztlurXxBTieEB_wZrgdFjUGEwgAOrsLLwgQ6zimsK5gj2Y47mXiLuEbKlA7bSOiO9FnGDSC8rB0Ngb/s1600/sodarodriguez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkelLC5aa3NZcO2PYL1VY2z_q6tRA5ZAx5t3Uv87JUt3vlbiK6mWlN8wbAHSD5YztlurXxBTieEB_wZrgdFjUGEwgAOrsLLwgQ6zimsK5gj2Y47mXiLuEbKlA7bSOiO9FnGDSC8rB0Ngb/s1600/sodarodriguez.jpg" /></a><br />
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The key ingredients for me were Irish soda bread <i>(taking less than an hour from brain wave to taste bud)</i> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Searching-For-Sugar-Man-Rodriguez/dp/B008C1WUZ2/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_2">Rodriguez</a> playing in my ears.</div>
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Not Soda Bread again you groan.</div>
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Yes I did give you a recipe <a href="http://thefableofthetable.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/off-to-river-cottage.html">here</a>... but today I am back with a new and more delicious version that I discovered thanks to Darina Allen's <span style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Skills-Cooking-time-honoured-recipes/dp/1856267881/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358080814&sr=1-1">Forgotten Skills</a> </span>cookbook.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TdU5xWWJUY9awTvV7drEMA6AXNhopjr3Nm8qekuLZDeoWrYneV4hb1w3tsG5qZitl2YabonJSCr31fR3ghtzUPICiZUc6X9DwEjX1ET5OtBT3-RoEbqkYIuSdFwJoEXQYRIJllrgbA_7/s1600/soda-bread-x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TdU5xWWJUY9awTvV7drEMA6AXNhopjr3Nm8qekuLZDeoWrYneV4hb1w3tsG5qZitl2YabonJSCr31fR3ghtzUPICiZUc6X9DwEjX1ET5OtBT3-RoEbqkYIuSdFwJoEXQYRIJllrgbA_7/s1600/soda-bread-x2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Just a couple of key ingredients are needed to make this bread - baking soda and buttermilk. If you don't keep a stock of buttermilk in your fridge, as I do, you can make your own version by adding the fresh juice of half a lemon to whole milk and letting it sit for 10 minutes to curdle. But believe me, its worth finding buttermilk because it makes the soda bread just tastes so good.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: red;">Irish Soda Bread</span></h3>
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<span style="color: red;">400 g stoneground wholemeal flour</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">75 g rolled oats </span><span style="color: red;">(or porridge oats) </span></div>
<span style="color: red;">75g plain white flour</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">1teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">1 teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">1 egg</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">1 tablespoon sunflower oil</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">1 teaspoon honey, treacle or brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">425ml buttermilk (or soured whole milk) approx</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">sesame/sunflower seeds optional</span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><i>Method</i></span></h4>
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<li>Preheat oven to 200C / gas 6 / 400F</li>
<li>Brush inside of loaf tin 23 x12.5 x 5cm (9 x 5 x 2inch) with oil or line with silicone paper.</li>
<li>Put all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix well.</li>
<li>Whisk the egg together with oil, honey and buttermilk in a separate bowl.</li>
<li>Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour all the liquid in.</li>
<li>Mix well, you may need to add more buttermilk/milk. The key is to keep the mixture soft and slightly sloppy. No kneading required.</li>
<li>Pour the mix into the tin. Sprinkle with seeds on top. </li>
<li>Bake for about 50 mins - 1 hour until the bread is crusty and sounds hollow when knocked.</li>
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This bread keeps really well for several days and is so good toasted too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4bFoqYJB3JdHJq_9F958MDTnieIOnAyM0Mlje62crpIRt4wjG-1MvfplXU0-qn7hXcXjp4h5Gsm52CTHO6G0xeqTP7WoCdE21Ezc-fkJzTCAMrwNJR7VtBP6ZLAuqz8_NyXgUsnmtzRk/s1600/soda-breadx1-jan13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4bFoqYJB3JdHJq_9F958MDTnieIOnAyM0Mlje62crpIRt4wjG-1MvfplXU0-qn7hXcXjp4h5Gsm52CTHO6G0xeqTP7WoCdE21Ezc-fkJzTCAMrwNJR7VtBP6ZLAuqz8_NyXgUsnmtzRk/s1600/soda-breadx1-jan13.jpg" /></a></div>
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Settling down to enjoy a warm slice with some rather tasty but smelly Danish Havarti cheese, I was closely watched by my faithful Irish sous chef, Rufus.<br />
Happily he was satisfied with the result, if not with the portion size I gave him!<br />
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<br />
After watching the movie "Searching for Sugar Man" this week, I just want to encourage you all to go see and be intrigued by the remarkable story and entranced by the fabulous music.<br />
Let me know what you think... bread/movie/music/always great to hear from you.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-90278322271054780982013-01-01T22:35:00.001+00:002013-01-01T22:52:28.918+00:00A new start...2013<br />Sun rise at Dunwich<br />Round grey pebbles under foot<br />Basking in the light<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/01/01/2706.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/01/01/s_2706.jpg' border='0' width='343' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/01/01/2753.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/01/01/s_2753.jpg' border='0' width='343' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=13/01/01/2758.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/13/01/01/s_2758.jpg' border='0' width='343' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br />The idea of welcoming the New Year in at sun rise seemed just right for Alice and I. A special moment shared and filled with hope for 2013.<br /><br />It's been a long tough journey for us since my last blog post, but I'm back and looking forward to reconnecting.<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Dunwich%20Beach,%20Suffolk&z=10'>Dunwich Beach, Suffolk</a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-72134859417122711292012-03-28T22:55:00.000+01:002012-03-29T08:13:21.295+01:00Fish and Food Fables at River Cottage<br />
<br />
How perfect that Tuesday was Fish day at River Cottage .<br />
<br />
The Sea is the theme for the Tuesday exchange with <a href="http://sunbreaksintheforecast.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/tuesday-exchange-3-finding-inspiration.html">Marji</a>, do check out her great aquatic photographic inspiration.<br />
I just hope you are ready for some gruesome goings on here ...<br />
excluding the first photograph of course!<br />
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Beautiful fresh crabs you think, yes ... but how would you feel knowing your first task of the day was to kill, cook and dress a crab?<br />
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I was not first in line with the instruments of death ( rolling pin and large nail), but let's face it if you are wanting to cook the crab and you can assure it will dispatched quickly and 'painlessly', then this is better than the crab being boiled alive. I do understand if you decide that you would never eat crab again if it meant you had to kill it yourself - but I honoured the crab by making the best dish I could from him. (I can assure you I do not plan to go higher up the food chain in killing what I eat, but it was a rite of passage for me as a cook.)<br />
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How about our mid morning snack of scallops, lightly seared with chorizo (homemade, of course) and wild garlic? I can honestly say that there is a lot of eating involved in this course - but all in the line of work, and very delicious work it is!</div>
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I have to confess that I took the photo and thereby avoided having to remove the innards from the cuttlefish. Thanks Sue, you have been an amazing partner on this cooking odyssey.<br />
But I did scrape the tentacles. Cuttlefish, brushed with olive oil and then sprinkled with chopped fresh chilli before being grilled very quickly over the barbecue are so delicious.<br />
If you then add a dipping sauce consisting of fresh red chills, olive oil, fresh crushed garlic and lemon juice, you have a sauce fit for the gods - I just hope you will give them a try. (Try asking the fishmonger to do the inky disembowelling work for you)<br />
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Finally you catch Sue and I savouring our scallops and enjoying a few minutes relaxation before returning to gut a gurnard or two.<br />
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I promise more recipes from this incredible four day cooking extravaganza, but I need to get to bed now to gather strength for another day at the kitchens of River Cottage.<br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-28591691733520560212012-03-26T22:04:00.001+01:002012-03-26T22:04:34.023+01:00River Cottage TasterJust a quick delight to share with you from River Cottage, the cooking base of Hugh (as in Fearnley-Whittingstall). <br />This was dessert and we wiped our slates clean, it was so delicious!<br /><b>Orange polenta cake with salted caramel sauce and Chantilly cream</b><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/03/26/2564.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/03/26/s_2564.jpg' border='0' width='600' height='450' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I can only get you started tonight with the salted caramel sauce... <br /><br />Take Demerara sugar in your fry pan and heat. (It should be enough to cover the base). <br />Stir it as it melts and turns to caramel.<br />Add a pinch of sea salt and stir in. <br />Add a touch of cream, the more you add the paler and more liquid it becomes. <br /><br />Now for the <b>Chantilly cream</b><br />Whip cream in a bowl till it is stiff(but not butter).<br />Add golden icing sugar (Billington's or similar) and fold in.<br />Finally fold in full milk yoghurt- again it depends on your preferences. If you want to form stylish quenelles as in my photo, you need it stiffer-ie go easy on the yoghurt. <br /><br />You can add these two sauces to your favourite polenta cake recipe or wait for me to come back with it later in the week. <br /><br />Let me know if you try it. It was absolutely divine. <br /><br />Hope to be back on my iPhone tomorrow with the latest from River Cottage... Maybe even a visit from Hugh!<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-3440457870816142212012-03-24T22:57:00.002+00:002012-03-24T22:57:30.834+00:00Off to River Cottage...Just wanted to share a loaf of bread with you<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image: Ingrid</td></tr>
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before I head south for five days.<br />
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This is <a href="http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/chefs/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall/classic-soda-bread-recipe">Hugh's soda bread</a> with seeds, slightly adapted. I love baking soda bread - so tasty and so easy.<br />
If you want to have a go, here is the recipe I used:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Irish Soda bread with seeds</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">500g wholemeal flour</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">350-400ml of buttermilk</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">2 tsp cream of tartar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">2 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">1-2 Tablespoons of each : poppy seeds, sunflower seeds, fennel seeds and sesame seeds</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">1 tsp salt</span><br />
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Mix flour together with all the other dry ingredients.<br />
Add half the buttermilk and mix in with a knife<br />
Add the rest of the buttermilk and gather together with your hands. It should not be too wet or too dry. Adjust with flour or liquid accordingly. Try to do this quickly without overworking the dough.<br />
Form into a nice rounded ball shape.<br />
Cut a cross into the top - don't pussyfoot around here, a deep slash is called for. It is essential to help the loaf cook through.<br />
Brush top with a little buttermilk and sprinkle a few more seeds on.<br />
Set the loaf on a baking tray, lined with baking paper and add to centre of a nice hot oven, approx 200-220C for 30 -35 mins.<br />
Keep an eye on the loaf as it bakes - it is easy for the loaf to get too brown before it is cooked through.<br />
Enjoy this sliced with a nice strong slice of cheddar cheese or toast it tomorrow with marmalade.<br />
Soda bread tastes best eaten fresh, so if you don't want to eat it all on the day it is made, I suggest you slice and freeze it. The loaf comes out perfectly fresh and ready to join a bowl of soup when you need a nice nutty flavoured bread.<br />
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Hope to be back blogging next week from deepest Devon with some ideas from the <a href="http://www.rivercottage.net/cookery-school/">River Cottage cooking course</a> I am heading off to join. Have a great week till we meet again.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-90368610362148502052012-03-23T16:04:00.002+00:002012-03-23T16:04:39.929+00:00Delicious books<br />
<br />
It was a liberating moment when I read that Nigella Lawson had over 2000 cook books - now I really have a figure to aim for!<br />
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So you can imagine my delight at receiving a new title for my birthday last week - Scandilicious, a feast of Nordic cuisine.<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Scandinavian-Cooking-Scandilicious/dp/1444703927/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1332225825&sr=1-1-catcorr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Scandilicious</span></a> by Signe Johansen is the perfect book to help me reconnect with my scandi family tree - even down to my blond roots. </li>
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I liked the sound of this rye bread sandwich of the sea. This morning I was off to the Bungay Co-op to catch me a smoked scottish mackerel. Unfortunately fennel bulbs have not reached the Co-op yet, but mandolined celery made a good substitute.</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mackerel, fennel and horseradish open sandwich</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">2 slices dark rye bread or pumpernickel, buttered</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">2 tsp horseradish cream</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">1 large fillet cooked mackerel, bones out</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">1/2 fennel bulb, thinly sliced</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;">fennel fronds, wood sorrel, chervil or parsley to garnish</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> ~ Spread a thin layer of horseradish on the buttered rye bread slices</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> ~ Gently flake the mackerel onto the bread and shave very thin slices of fennel bulb on top</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> ~ Garnish with fennel, chervil or whatever greenness you have handy</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoy a delicious taste of Scandinavian cuisine, knowing you are feeding your brain with omega-3's.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i>Recipe from Scandilicious by Signe Johansen</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Small world: the author studied The Anthropology of Food at SOAS, same university as Alice who gave me the book!</span><br />
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My other birthday books related to food included these two:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Debt-Pleasure-John-Lanchester/dp/0330344552/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332226408&sr=1-1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A Debt to Pleasure</span></a> by John Lanchester is part cookbook, part thriller, part hard to put your finger on what it is. But I loved this description of it: "Rest assured that the book you think you are reading at the start is not the book you turn out to be reading at the end...".</li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Milly Molly Mandy</span> by Joyce Lancaster Brisley - just pure nostalgia and it is really the illustrations rather than the stories that I love. Here is a little taster... of potatoes like "muvver used to make"</li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Small world: well it was a small world MMM lived in.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One day, when all the boxes are finally unpacked, I will tally up my cookbook total, I'm guessing more than fifty but less than one hundred titles... <i>so far</i>! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Any suggestions for cook books you think I need in my edible library? I'd love to hear from you.</i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-78689918104033263192012-03-20T05:56:00.000+00:002012-03-20T05:56:06.990+00:00Tide lines ... Tuesday Exchange<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"A tide line refers to where two currents converge. Driftwood, floating seaweed, foam and other debris may accumulate, forming sinuous lines called tidelines." <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Wikipedia</i></span></blockquote>
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Last week<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"> <a href="http://sunbreaksintheforecast.blogspot.co.uk/">Marji</a> </span>and I started to explore the Sea and ways to interpret it in our respective art forms. Tide lines seems to describe us too - in that we are two artists converging on a Tuesday!<br />
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I started <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="http://thefableofthetable.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/sea-sea.html">here</a></span> with some stitching and finished the mat without needing to cut off the wording (sorry Chantal to shock you with my impetuous suggestion last time).<br />
The material I used was some inexpensive raw blue Thai silk I had bought several years ago. The silk has a rough yet rich feel to it and just seemed to work well for my current watery workflow. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(It is a bit of a pain to sew though, as it likes to unravel with abundance)</span><br />
Lying amongst the silk yardage were a multitude of small strips that I had begun to piece a couple of years ago. They were abandoned when new ideas sidelined them to be buried under piles of fabrics.<br />
Stitching these stripes together at the weekend seemed to fit perfectly with my words for this week - <i>Tide lines</i>.<br />
I see the striplets coming together as a long stripy runner for our table - see below for how they are coming along... seems like low tide at the moment!<br />
Lines of stitching are now needed to quilt and add character... <i>sinuous</i> describes perfectly what I want to achieve.<br />
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Any suggestions for what the tide could wash up onto this runner by way of stitching?<br />
I'm open to all seaworthy suggestions.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-62710375241955603052012-03-18T10:11:00.002+00:002012-03-18T10:11:37.088+00:00For Mothers Everywhere<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FZxOSph_VEKsLJY_QaxJ2O34lIwRKjwHJZJUeM7cU5PdWpm0ZrHGTTDDyGxqXhvzVvUxmkVFR-4kZSKmaLY8Uqg6vftlTO2kNDF44W4PCfpgJ5i6nJVAXSKkWMO3KoSQN9DGZk9zYn5i/s1600/mother-for-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FZxOSph_VEKsLJY_QaxJ2O34lIwRKjwHJZJUeM7cU5PdWpm0ZrHGTTDDyGxqXhvzVvUxmkVFR-4kZSKmaLY8Uqg6vftlTO2kNDF44W4PCfpgJ5i6nJVAXSKkWMO3KoSQN9DGZk9zYn5i/s1600/mother-for-blog.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image: Jenni</td></tr>
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Today is Mothering Sunday in the Uk.<br />
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Traditionally this is a day to honour mothers and mother figures. In centuries past, it was a holiday when young people working as servants could visit their own mothers and often took a gift of food to share. As this day always occurred during Lent, a period of fasting, the fast was lifted on Mothering Sunday and a delicious Simnel cake was baked.<br />
If you want to try making a Simnel Cake here are two recipe suggestions: I shall either use <a href="http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/easter-simnel-cake.html">Delia's</a> or <a href="http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/recipes/recipe_directory/t/traditional_simnel_cake.html">Waitrose's</a> -depending on which ingredients I can rustle up.<br />
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I'm thinking of my Mum, who died last summer, and the joy she had in our garden. Here she is collecting apples. What pleasure it gave her. I think I'll add an apple to the cake when I mix it.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-51869580360496432752012-03-14T12:04:00.005+00:002012-03-14T12:13:29.826+00:00The Sea, The Sea ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am starting on a new creative collaboration with my good friend <a href="http://sunbreaksintheforecast.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Marji</span></a>, and just thought I would share a little about what we are getting up to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although we live a few thousand miles apart, Marji in Seattle and me in Suffolk, we both want to stay connected - as though we could just drop in for a chat and some inspiration with each other. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>Idea: take a theme for a month and share ideas and influences, to just see where it gets us. It may just help get me doing something regularly - I'm a bit like a rusty wheel which takes a bit of effort to get moving again. Our first month is <b style="font-style: italic;">"The Sea".</b></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillH5JGfNemGKjQ6dtzGYeEIpMTfP5olSvDyq2JqdS0R26kmqSolytEcXySHfqGobO9wKgfLcDTD2aUFRLPl7uRtyDAnvOfThkVuHwHLlHKb5VzbcWvptR9Yzr0NC4GDbH2A88lwSLu6SL/s1600/the-sea-the-sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillH5JGfNemGKjQ6dtzGYeEIpMTfP5olSvDyq2JqdS0R26kmqSolytEcXySHfqGobO9wKgfLcDTD2aUFRLPl7uRtyDAnvOfThkVuHwHLlHKb5VzbcWvptR9Yzr0NC4GDbH2A88lwSLu6SL/s1600/the-sea-the-sea.jpg" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Pins from my <a href="http://pinterest.com/ingridd/i-do-love-to-be-beside-the-sea/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Pinboard</span></a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>Where to start?</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~ Jotting ideas down on paper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~ Searching on Pinterest and then creating a pinboard. See <a href="http://pinterest.com/ingridd/i-do-love-to-be-beside-the-sea/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">here</span></a> for my 'Sea' pinboard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">~ If you always click on Google as a first port of call, maybe it's time to look to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Just compare my search for seascape:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pjjwk9pDL2UYYr0YX9OUkAD0AjnwlCjuO3l5-1TIZNJjYfo5lrxlfhCtxpBu0CU6sILcgh2O30C8HyosoRkVc17DqoHbOiKZcGhlOPeHomQHiJSQEvlWdCf1K_398UjR4FDgwNiPfIFQ/s1600/compare-pinterest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pjjwk9pDL2UYYr0YX9OUkAD0AjnwlCjuO3l5-1TIZNJjYfo5lrxlfhCtxpBu0CU6sILcgh2O30C8HyosoRkVc17DqoHbOiKZcGhlOPeHomQHiJSQEvlWdCf1K_398UjR4FDgwNiPfIFQ/s1600/compare-pinterest.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having got started on writing and pinning, I couldn't wait to get sewing. Just had to decide what to sew!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I always bring back sea-ephemera from the beach visits, an arty way of describing old bricks and driftwood! At the moment it sits around looking lost, needing an anchor to place it in our home. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cue: sea-sewing project to create a fabric cloth for some sea glass to gather on.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love trying to machine stitch words at the moment, so with wave patterns seen on Pinterest and Hokusai's "Great Wave" in my mind, I got started.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Oh dear," you say, looking at my stitching. Yes - a lot of practice is needed before my writing will pass the legibility test. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">But there is always the thread unpicker, or even quicker I may just cut it off!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But that's ok - it's all part of the creative process.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMenG7xBqWdzmo8LxaCq6-poNxpO2rpjX1wartLCBmhs-NWxUueX5mxeVxJFL2JQkVzgw_rt5tM2sikENAqeAxKoaOivW3kFis_Eo8HUDJPl0i4BCVnv51ZcQ2tQQfW3ku_CZJbZazWC9E/s1600/sea-sewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMenG7xBqWdzmo8LxaCq6-poNxpO2rpjX1wartLCBmhs-NWxUueX5mxeVxJFL2JQkVzgw_rt5tM2sikENAqeAxKoaOivW3kFis_Eo8HUDJPl0i4BCVnv51ZcQ2tQQfW3ku_CZJbZazWC9E/s1600/sea-sewing.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you are interested in following Marji and my creative process come back again soon. We plan to meet every Tuesday on our blogs to share what we've been up to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fact file:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To see Marji's seascape thoughts go <a href="http://sunbreaksintheforecast.blogspot.com/2012/03/tuesday-exchange.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">here</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you need help on using Pinterest start <a href="http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2012/02/pinterest-helphow-to-pin-and-repin.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">here</span></a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you need an invite to join Pinterest email me <a href="mailto:iduffyx@me.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">here</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-16003046005083989652012-03-12T12:46:00.000+00:002012-03-12T12:46:33.423+00:00Table setting for Spring<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Spring has sprung onto my table top...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZD0-hhrRJNyBli6FubYHFDXz3VikPK2DQH2UH-sQ0fZ_QCeQ3DN5VW-8LBDvbrs1j881GZkCqYrJgRTyuRrShoPrLUnd4pUmpg2Msdg1ekzEhc4a3iaHDecS_XUYxeppV3D9u1VH1Ia1/s1600/spring-tabel-mosaic-white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZD0-hhrRJNyBli6FubYHFDXz3VikPK2DQH2UH-sQ0fZ_QCeQ3DN5VW-8LBDvbrs1j881GZkCqYrJgRTyuRrShoPrLUnd4pUmpg2Msdg1ekzEhc4a3iaHDecS_XUYxeppV3D9u1VH1Ia1/s1600/spring-tabel-mosaic-white.jpg" /></a></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The sun streaming through the windows was the incentive to finally make a change to the look of our dining table<br />
(and friends and family were coming for lunch).<br />
<br />
Starting with a few daffodils from the garden,<br />
I added a silvery theme with IKEA candlesticks,<br />
a crown from Copenhagen,<br />
a clock from China<br />
and a feather from the meadow.<br />
<br />
Hold everything together on a tray (mine is a big old green one from a large pile we have brought back from China)<br />
add some calming colour with folded tablecloths - white and green linen in my case.<br />
<br />
Keep to these basics and just refresh flowers over the next few weeks, to have a springtime table.<br />
<br />
Easter is just a month away - it would be easy to add eggs, bunnies or chicks to this simple collection.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5kq8t7CL1p1_ksKWfou-zUXnsTHE6Sv9pioBM9UWfvYPfpW7taLldbUTSlcsKouJwiBao6c-LqYeSv9tHCHam_jB4VNODIotpDAPi1wz0mVFhNMxLUDiigmDpFFZeYJoSHMikcHplxzs/s1600/spring-table-x1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5kq8t7CL1p1_ksKWfou-zUXnsTHE6Sv9pioBM9UWfvYPfpW7taLldbUTSlcsKouJwiBao6c-LqYeSv9tHCHam_jB4VNODIotpDAPi1wz0mVFhNMxLUDiigmDpFFZeYJoSHMikcHplxzs/s1600/spring-table-x1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Join me at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"><a href="http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Mosaic Monday</span></a> </span>for more photo inspiration.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-46777986689472907042012-03-08T17:03:00.003+00:002012-03-08T23:22:04.708+00:00Guest Post: What is your Refuge?<div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIalKHylvb2TQGw0hoA2xSH-Z7HBBSo52LeVyLH98PvtfkbF0EZanMmPFCJoFw7F8gMlge4tRQxnfbFL6tHPdsIq54lBL5cGbkVRepG0hBEF4dgqZ9UTMWfgvE9T4WBi9BlcdhR2dFUg6/s1600/bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIalKHylvb2TQGw0hoA2xSH-Z7HBBSo52LeVyLH98PvtfkbF0EZanMmPFCJoFw7F8gMlge4tRQxnfbFL6tHPdsIq54lBL5cGbkVRepG0hBEF4dgqZ9UTMWfgvE9T4WBi9BlcdhR2dFUg6/s1600/bench.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Our garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span>Today I am very lucky to have a guest writer sharing this space ... my sister Jenni. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hearing about a recent women's workshop she attended I was so happy when she agreed to share these ideas on this blog. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">A refuge is something we all need to have - and like any insurance policy, it's only useful if you have it sorted before a storm.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><br />
<br />
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Over to Jenni: </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Where do you go to find some peace when the mind’s in turmoil?</b></span></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Who do you turn to in a crisis when there’s no one else around?</b></span></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>What do you do when you need to recharge your emotional and/or spiritual batteries when times get tough?</b></span></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>How do you connect with that still space, deep within you?</b></span></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">These were some of the intriguing queries raised by a group of women who had come together for the day, to reflect and share their insights on the topic: <i>What is your refuge?</i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Together with our two facilitators, we pondered those outer and inner places of refuge and sanctuary; precious resources that are so important in our search for balance and peace.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Outer sanctuaries</b> include ...</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">~ being in nature, </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">~ sitting in a quiet country churchyard, </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">~ walking on a favourite beach, </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">~ visiting a temple, </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">~ activities such as swimming, cycling, sewing and painting.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1epUgIZBsNK8O4gLMz3jSnbBYxm1nGVv3luPK3nc-TDg40-nPsNllE-614y5YQqqtEj3w3ZeH7v2RnxArbLfusIxLDI6StiNCfrBC5V1UNPynlYIbnC3y9le0esdK8-F7Do828jxz6vJW/s1600/temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1epUgIZBsNK8O4gLMz3jSnbBYxm1nGVv3luPK3nc-TDg40-nPsNllE-614y5YQqqtEj3w3ZeH7v2RnxArbLfusIxLDI6StiNCfrBC5V1UNPynlYIbnC3y9le0esdK8-F7Do828jxz6vJW/s320/temple.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Temple in Laos</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">P<b>eople can act as a refuge in our lives</b>: look for inspirational teachers and guides who have helped. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Objects</b> such as special books, favourite pictures, photos, and statues that inspire.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">I<b>nner refuges</b> are all about cultivating awareness and consciousness; </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">This awareness can help us to develop a sense of balance and a peaceful heart, and even a feeling of being connected with everything.</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAByvyTTA6OEw3dQNeZK8gg4t1f4IRtLdsWJbqcpg9gqQ3SWKI4gLBzpYPr78hARwQ3T-Mc6X7NpgdA9WBRTDACMCrlLH8HtAHBCcZ1HV4k6Hk0_HLCJZCAWt8jINm4GVXHgVJUNZmwnbA/s1600/jim-dine-heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAByvyTTA6OEw3dQNeZK8gg4t1f4IRtLdsWJbqcpg9gqQ3SWKI4gLBzpYPr78hARwQ3T-Mc6X7NpgdA9WBRTDACMCrlLH8HtAHBCcZ1HV4k6Hk0_HLCJZCAWt8jINm4GVXHgVJUNZmwnbA/s320/jim-dine-heart.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Postcard of Jim Dine's masterpiece</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Finding this still, steadying space</b> within each of us can be as simple as taking three deep breaths, saying a prayer or memorising a mantra.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHxLnamyTmQhwccS8jTJbowxZBTto4YE5zcGXv9RhsJQsrb09j0IZgV3PtMH3N1cYilPaJR3y7VR2shhR9zBJh3NjP2-CXZJZXr7BL1C8wdWfEIG5FDO8MfULcuLpDErbaWSionkm_alX/s1600/sitting-buddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHxLnamyTmQhwccS8jTJbowxZBTto4YE5zcGXv9RhsJQsrb09j0IZgV3PtMH3N1cYilPaJR3y7VR2shhR9zBJh3NjP2-CXZJZXr7BL1C8wdWfEIG5FDO8MfULcuLpDErbaWSionkm_alX/s320/sitting-buddha.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image: Our garden</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">For many, it’s all about cultivating the regular habit of just sitting quietly, and simply observing the breath as it passes in and out through the nose.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>So what brings you peace?</i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thanks Jenni for sharing.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Comic Sans MS'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-44301159360428216592012-02-24T09:26:00.001+00:002012-02-24T09:26:10.253+00:00Table Talk - Sarah Raven styleJust wanted to share a couple of photos from the wonderful day I had yesterday in Sussex with <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sarahraven.com/perch-hill">Sarah Raven</a>.<br /><br />Not only did we learn how to make our vegetable garden work for us all year round, but we also were inspired by the wonderful interior styling at her 'school'. <br /><br />I totally recommend you trying out a course with Sarah, it is one of the best day courses I have been on. Can't wait to go back again. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/02/24/142.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/02/24/s_142.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='211' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/02/24/144.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/02/24/s_144.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I am trying this on the train to London using an untried app Blogpress , so if it all goes pear shaped please forgive me. <br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=12/02/24/146.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/12/02/24/s_146.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Train%20in%20Essex%20somewhere%4052.197491%2C0.907549&z=10'>Train in Essex somewhere</a></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-50447489281021529042012-02-22T09:12:00.000+00:002012-02-22T09:12:57.696+00:00The Watched Pan Never Sets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Marmalade making was meant to be easy....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBoonBATsFuehF2DzN34vj-Hy6Coo0_ZPQdRlklQdPWRvjGIXlgRJ-5hyKty9lyTP4ren0oAzEJL3g1T1bax-xgeOLG1ISNnHDOjbDbleNMlJtnnt6xL-n9KJh8CWrpyQNXx88qbgAinU/s1600/marmalade-x1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBoonBATsFuehF2DzN34vj-Hy6Coo0_ZPQdRlklQdPWRvjGIXlgRJ-5hyKty9lyTP4ren0oAzEJL3g1T1bax-xgeOLG1ISNnHDOjbDbleNMlJtnnt6xL-n9KJh8CWrpyQNXx88qbgAinU/s1600/marmalade-x1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
the recipe in the magazine promised me "The best marmalade ever"- so why was my marmalade refusing to set.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-L54eSTItQ88OGjutk12BUt0dlQKNuCt4e9KG9pmKLERLkBSufTH_Gjb1VP0DQO3DZA-diG8JQz2DAL698YEresZf9F5fp536Ou2PQOAbkhVdEHFMsQFyBxg3awNYS46XVGPtRAF1RPD/s1600/marmalade-x2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-L54eSTItQ88OGjutk12BUt0dlQKNuCt4e9KG9pmKLERLkBSufTH_Gjb1VP0DQO3DZA-diG8JQz2DAL698YEresZf9F5fp536Ou2PQOAbkhVdEHFMsQFyBxg3awNYS46XVGPtRAF1RPD/s1600/marmalade-x2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
What could go have gone wrong?<br />
I bought organic seville oranges in Waitrose<br />
I had the recipe which guaranteed "The best marmalade ever".<br />
I could make bread - surely making the marmalade for spreading on top could not be more difficult.<br />
<br />
Twenty- four hours later - I have pots of semi-set orange jam.<br />
Is that allowed as a new genus of the species formerly known as 'marmalade'?<br />
<br />
<i>First mistake</i>:<br />
I had grand ideas and used 2 kilos of oranges. I should have started small and expanded.<br />
<i>Next:</i><br />
I bought a jam thermometer, thinking if I went technical I couldn't go wrong. "The best marmalade ever" told me once the mix reached a boiling temperature of 105 C I was guaranteed a set. Dear readers - never think there is a quick fix.<br />
I had to resort to freezing small plates with dribbles of marmalade and hoping for a wrinkly skin (on the marmalade of course). I never achieved a wrinkle, but thankfully, 18 hours later, the amber liquid has semi-solidified and no longer needs to be poured from a jug.<br />
<i>Followed by:</i><br />
I poured my mix into 18 jam jars, believing that the tasty yet thin and watery liquid marmalade would magically turn into seriously set marmalade when cool. My sister wisely counselled me that "hell would freeze over first" and "I best pour it back in the pan and get boiling". Sadly I poured the seven litres of orange water with bits in back into my pan whilst she bravely searched the internet for solutions to the "My marmalade won't set" search engine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHmAkPbdiS-jJOGr2jQ3Dhg1EGltK5seNqdoCtLO3jYKOmKaxm7mLc2keqjI5fHSHbLAfpD3M4zzpyyhmKAK1zx7y4lBmgWZy-OibfA7tF941WSy1mK8pGabOtsiiyLkB-zhrUyBDMziE/s1600/marmalade-x3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHmAkPbdiS-jJOGr2jQ3Dhg1EGltK5seNqdoCtLO3jYKOmKaxm7mLc2keqjI5fHSHbLAfpD3M4zzpyyhmKAK1zx7y4lBmgWZy-OibfA7tF941WSy1mK8pGabOtsiiyLkB-zhrUyBDMziE/s1600/marmalade-x3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<i>First discovery:</i><br />
Oranges and lemons do not have a lot of pectin and don't set well. News to me and as I had just added the juice of two more lemons, possibly increasing my problems.<br />
<i>Next:</i><br />
Adding a Bramley cooking apple (rich in pectin) could set the amber liquid. This did seem to help - combined with another hour of boiling and at 8:30pm I officially called a truce with the Spanish oranges and poured them into jars.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPn2Ab8i0bUg_U6ubTP8CDzZ1n8DHsQ1BjZun-h6wex5NYFGvUYRWYrGnIPivoxsbGwpl1RXU_squMtMK1QO3iUkYWaKiEsWjNJn17wY89IG5QsPJHjG8Voydz_1_BzpAHYU86xRbpoyU/s1600/marmalade-x6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPn2Ab8i0bUg_U6ubTP8CDzZ1n8DHsQ1BjZun-h6wex5NYFGvUYRWYrGnIPivoxsbGwpl1RXU_squMtMK1QO3iUkYWaKiEsWjNJn17wY89IG5QsPJHjG8Voydz_1_BzpAHYU86xRbpoyU/s1600/marmalade-x6.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<i>Happy accident:</i><br />
Not only was I marmalade making but also pancake tossing. We discovered the liquid marmalade makes the most delicious sauce for pancakes - a la Crepe Suzette. So I do have the option of a lifetime's worth of sauce for crepes if the darned marmalade remains loose and liquid in my jars.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8X0cA5p7QK6vydlh0fk0BJCH3LwIcUcQqRn5TqQeqP8m0bT8rYQlGOQGtKzBdPuHx4Ye4mJNH0i6nax0RhzlIGtmUlwWX_BsZFA48C3Um_glgFIRIlSDPKqmzY0HS3xGnKalmvpNhTvM/s1600/marmaldae-x4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8X0cA5p7QK6vydlh0fk0BJCH3LwIcUcQqRn5TqQeqP8m0bT8rYQlGOQGtKzBdPuHx4Ye4mJNH0i6nax0RhzlIGtmUlwWX_BsZFA48C3Um_glgFIRIlSDPKqmzY0HS3xGnKalmvpNhTvM/s1600/marmaldae-x4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Apologies, no recipe today - I would not wish to inflict on you the many hours of slaving over a hot stove for very loose marmalade. The saving grace is it tastes delicious even in its fluid state.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTg_527gHcsEYzoKNLWyYbBHdE8UpygCNVyEoZJ2B7cqkgz5MDvOHqrURIw1uYDqr3cc4bbyO80Ln5611gxxqq0-3qs4sp8xlgYlIl8e8j33hA1GP4wa2HyyNWPMYmInRRsk3BeOrI7ig/s1600/marmalade-x5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTg_527gHcsEYzoKNLWyYbBHdE8UpygCNVyEoZJ2B7cqkgz5MDvOHqrURIw1uYDqr3cc4bbyO80Ln5611gxxqq0-3qs4sp8xlgYlIl8e8j33hA1GP4wa2HyyNWPMYmInRRsk3BeOrI7ig/s1600/marmalade-x5.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><i><b>All genuine recipes for fool proof marmalade gratefully received because I have another four kilos of oranges awaiting me in my freezer. (After 9 years in China, I did get a little over excited at the prospect of making marmalade again!)</b></i><br />
<i><b><br />
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</b></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-10183192147418358652012-02-20T11:03:00.000+00:002012-02-20T11:03:00.949+00:00Mosaic Monday - Bare Trees<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Still playing amongst the trees. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4hvUca-gZHCnYq8vxCXQVAWPRx0WfAWhkUb5DYLRqDdZXVq9CowhUyq_9IK64vmU1o3Bbdlwqw1dOh_nLoyoZaWM9P3SNq-QI6YiVxpUYPzuEwF9-kFVlmmumlSaKtLTScbNUatBxvzX/s1600/tree-mosaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4hvUca-gZHCnYq8vxCXQVAWPRx0WfAWhkUb5DYLRqDdZXVq9CowhUyq_9IK64vmU1o3Bbdlwqw1dOh_nLoyoZaWM9P3SNq-QI6YiVxpUYPzuEwF9-kFVlmmumlSaKtLTScbNUatBxvzX/s1600/tree-mosaic.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Images: Ingrid's iPhone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A mosaic for a Monday composed of some of my favourite trees from our garden and the Waveney River Valley where we live.</div>
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<br /></div>
Taking multiple photos on my iPhone helps serve as inspiration for my <a href="http://thefableofthetable.blogspot.com/2012/02/thousand-trees.html">stitching trees</a> project.<br />
<br />
The gnarled old tree on the top row, right corner, is at least 200 years old. It is all that remains of an ancient hedgerow in the meadow. What scenes it must have witnessed over the years?<br />
<br />
Do take a look at the incredible paintings <a href="http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/hockney/about-the-exhibition/">David Hockney</a> has made capturing some of the trees in Yorkshire. His work got me all fired up on trees!<br />
<br />
We have only a few weeks left in the UK to enjoy the beautiful bare tree shapes - before they burst forth with green springness.<br />
Hope you can find some bare branches to photograph and enjoy today.<br />
Many more mosaics here at the <a href="http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> Dear Little Red House</span></a>.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-3848103353169772422012-02-18T23:27:00.004+00:002012-02-19T21:41:36.467+00:00A thousand trees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've got trees on the brain this month...</span></div>
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ever since I went to see the exhibition, <a href="http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/hockney/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">"A Bigger Picture".</span></a> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
David Hockney's latest exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span>must have nearly one thousand trees in it. I loved them.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also happen to love "One Thousand Trees" by the Stereophonics.</div>
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So maybe it's no surprise that I have an idea of stitching one thousand trees.</div>
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Starting today:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiOIHnEMMSgFwTeIpiVDILaQbnJPTGXT6lo03hMRIKnvm4WR-2fwP_YIx4LY3ZTa-uUiAxzpG39TOHC9CmOJFlxj7HzFfvCaaCc7sZqHzeQmw3KgRpy_PEy1CfwRxB_ICzH96LRNCtfHx/s1600/tree-stitching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtiOIHnEMMSgFwTeIpiVDILaQbnJPTGXT6lo03hMRIKnvm4WR-2fwP_YIx4LY3ZTa-uUiAxzpG39TOHC9CmOJFlxj7HzFfvCaaCc7sZqHzeQmw3KgRpy_PEy1CfwRxB_ICzH96LRNCtfHx/s1600/tree-stitching.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image: Ingrid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
You don't need to be a tree hugger to appreciate the role trees play in our lives.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOHQ2EfiLJRKnNVRb1noqcePJaufhkWK5u7D0mb44yJOx6zA2ITcL04Osh6DC4h1__pvKD_UxUAfPTpKtNRr3paLFd-hAoWCxego9TDKoyl7Krwnam0fXkrC8DlFWQfAfiFp0TZ3MOq55/s1600/hockney-postcards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOHQ2EfiLJRKnNVRb1noqcePJaufhkWK5u7D0mb44yJOx6zA2ITcL04Osh6DC4h1__pvKD_UxUAfPTpKtNRr3paLFd-hAoWCxego9TDKoyl7Krwnam0fXkrC8DlFWQfAfiFp0TZ3MOq55/s1600/hockney-postcards.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Postcards from "A Bigger Picture", David Hockney</td></tr>
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If you have time this week take a look at the fabulous trees of the Yorkshire Wolds <a href="http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/hockney/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Or <i>listen</i> to The Stereophonics <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Thousand-Trees/dp/B001LWZDD0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">here</span></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Or just go <i>lean</i> against a tree, the bigger the better, to gain some strength through its bark.<br />
<br />
Or take a <i>photograph</i> of a favourite tree and keep it with you.<br />
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<br />
<i>I'd best be off now, only 999 trees left to stitch.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>PS: If you want to know how I printed a photograph onto fabric<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="http://thefableofthetable.blogspot.com/2012/02/stitching-blackbird.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">read this post</span></a></span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-67930499303475239162012-02-16T20:09:00.000+00:002012-02-16T20:09:40.485+00:00Stitching a blackbird<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It started with a grainy photo of a blackbird feeding in our garden...</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__KmaC4pbHwTYnin-wueXdjRwgdF5cdm32esDJoIWC7eIW0QyVNNrLHcdoC2ToldXwatqtI6hu8vbPYZZJSQfCEUR7QlNrVtqGTtzT0Pdj1aIkjsYT0vDUTbEC3H5aC2wcjUWGfn2Z8WS/s1600/blackbird-x1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__KmaC4pbHwTYnin-wueXdjRwgdF5cdm32esDJoIWC7eIW0QyVNNrLHcdoC2ToldXwatqtI6hu8vbPYZZJSQfCEUR7QlNrVtqGTtzT0Pdj1aIkjsYT0vDUTbEC3H5aC2wcjUWGfn2Z8WS/s1600/blackbird-x1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First step was to try printing the photo on some fine white linen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">This is much easier than you would think- see below for my method.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bPNLroD69BHJxTs_Smgz3X901hVSN8sMYm8OvRP0FnJKsUIKuN9uTPbVsXO9CTexvBWtKMcF9CkXZ49uQO91e1XFvwj6tJyi0VQ3HZNOqLwEIuuBBBkP8n-VQ3T6JYEo8ztaPcGWHnJD/s1600/blackbird-blog-x-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bPNLroD69BHJxTs_Smgz3X901hVSN8sMYm8OvRP0FnJKsUIKuN9uTPbVsXO9CTexvBWtKMcF9CkXZ49uQO91e1XFvwj6tJyi0VQ3HZNOqLwEIuuBBBkP8n-VQ3T6JYEo8ztaPcGWHnJD/s1600/blackbird-blog-x-2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next, layer the fabric image on contrasting linens with a little batting in between.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I kept the edges raw and simply overlapped to create a frame for the small square of linen imprinted with my blackbird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg3ukZ4bJGtbKM6ALGazfaIpy5lPcJQI1rrd3JqtC2hoyJ_gZrSlXFBH9tystEgIsvvRTjY0rK5NCV2UsaoQ2Q57ge7BtLHmbDzcTtofMATIEVeHgJ7aDgevB8bH2ZzSESxllXRm0z4-p/s1600/blackbird-x3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNg3ukZ4bJGtbKM6ALGazfaIpy5lPcJQI1rrd3JqtC2hoyJ_gZrSlXFBH9tystEgIsvvRTjY0rK5NCV2UsaoQ2Q57ge7BtLHmbDzcTtofMATIEVeHgJ7aDgevB8bH2ZzSESxllXRm0z4-p/s1600/blackbird-x3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The stitching served several purposes. Not only did it hold the fabric layers together, it also gave the fine linen some body... which in turn added depth and a third dimension to the little picture.<br />
Finally I took a needle in hand and stitched a beady yellow eye, some snowy texture to the pot and a little red heart for Valentine's day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfBqMW_fw9nCnJ1MnwYXy-mHFIGd9e3NkMxjaY8Cvweqhvzjk51GgHtgY8Jy4JcFeJaKQJubOAD3-lPphRk8TOPvfw4dqGhEet5I21_VkAk_ZypvzWzQQXMu5Ub0PqFdKs0yCJLAgzgxN/s1600/blackbird-x4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfBqMW_fw9nCnJ1MnwYXy-mHFIGd9e3NkMxjaY8Cvweqhvzjk51GgHtgY8Jy4JcFeJaKQJubOAD3-lPphRk8TOPvfw4dqGhEet5I21_VkAk_ZypvzWzQQXMu5Ub0PqFdKs0yCJLAgzgxN/s1600/blackbird-x4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The result combined three of my loves: photography, fabric and stitching.<br />
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<b>HOW to PRINT on FABRIC:</b><br />
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<ul><li>Iron your fabric to be nicely smooth, choose a finer fabric if you want more detail in your print.</li>
<li>To help the fabric through a bog standard ink jet printer you will need to stiffen it. The easiest way is to iron the chosen fabric onto waxed freezer paper. (You can buy freezer paper via Amazon if it's hard to find). Trim the fabric/paper combo to A4 size, ready to feed into the printer. Be sure to print on the fabric side! I squeezed 5 small images onto a page in Pages, but you can use Word etc.</li>
<li>Peel off the freezer paper and you are left with the fabric print. (Being an inkjet printer it is not a waterproof image)</li>
<li>Now you are ready to start stitching.</li>
</ul><div>Love to hear if you have a try.</div><div>The trees are printed ready for working on next week.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-30777615708423626592012-02-13T08:53:00.000+00:002012-02-13T08:53:14.066+00:00Mosaic Monday: Twitching in the snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeFceMzdT5nux_LJ4wWSjrOhMIs7WiSASP8nUgrlJYcLgpwZfDYtecOjZlk6KX5-kcx_wnzQ-PAR2f8Y75Oo1gXvxpayy28pi0e7dyEPKz2dTphQAZKxwF4BfiRb70IGux8mX4sYjhjyh/s1600/minsmere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeFceMzdT5nux_LJ4wWSjrOhMIs7WiSASP8nUgrlJYcLgpwZfDYtecOjZlk6KX5-kcx_wnzQ-PAR2f8Y75Oo1gXvxpayy28pi0e7dyEPKz2dTphQAZKxwF4BfiRb70IGux8mX4sYjhjyh/s1600/minsmere.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36529012@N00/">Ingrid</a><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Thirty eight birds in one day ... the result of a visit to the RSPB reserve at <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/minsmere/index.aspx">Minsmere</a> in Suffolk last week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Love birds, but never been a twitcher (a type of birder who seeks to add as many species as possible to their bird list).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Think I may just start my own twitching list this year, aiming high - a hundred species in 2012.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2012/02/mosaic-monday-winter-blues.html">Mosaic Monday</a> at The Little Red House is always a great incentive to start blogging on a Monday morning, as well as an inspiring place to browse over a cup of something hot.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mmmm can you smell the coffee?</div><div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-35498227036369395132012-02-08T21:58:00.001+00:002012-02-08T21:59:16.549+00:00What a difference two days make!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Last week was a week of contrasts here in the East of England...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Either we were bathed in sunshine for our visits to Southwold and Cambridge with Marji a good friend from Seattle, (see her inspiring <a href="http://sunbreaksintheforecast.blogspot.com/">blog here</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB8gTQaIFEhcLdRdBIpXt8FZKyhVQfK1XkyEMRE1_c0wzsNOpDwf9rTNhyphenhyphentqExdC6GbWYrF5jXHochF0vM-f69tY6UK-zQ9XvVP0yqvGYkiaqUFRHDJC9Ovz287n4gaE7TDWhX9wOYQoq/s1600/marji-mosaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdB8gTQaIFEhcLdRdBIpXt8FZKyhVQfK1XkyEMRE1_c0wzsNOpDwf9rTNhyphenhyphentqExdC6GbWYrF5jXHochF0vM-f69tY6UK-zQ9XvVP0yqvGYkiaqUFRHDJC9Ovz287n4gaE7TDWhX9wOYQoq/s1600/marji-mosaic.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">OR</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
We were up to our noses in snow (well Rufus was anyway).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqAjPOT5P_d1_hWze6Id2pKjKlQm7ZU-5k56AO4Q7LO3GbZe0giOqLToTPWvfTY6XTcJh049-gND0Kr5jtfzc0t9IcqJABUoKfmmeqtdMBG4P4N6WHPhmYU5kFJj4nKPAdOlYkydi2-WZ/s1600/snow-scene-frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqAjPOT5P_d1_hWze6Id2pKjKlQm7ZU-5k56AO4Q7LO3GbZe0giOqLToTPWvfTY6XTcJh049-gND0Kr5jtfzc0t9IcqJABUoKfmmeqtdMBG4P4N6WHPhmYU5kFJj4nKPAdOlYkydi2-WZ/s1600/snow-scene-frame.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whatever the weather there's always a dog to be walked in this house!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back again soon with new stitching ... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">actually every time I write that on my blog I never seem to do it, so let's see if I can surprise myself, and you, this time.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-31937551378887759242012-01-28T13:55:00.000+00:002012-01-28T13:55:43.642+00:00You've done well<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCupTvBJDFpeOKE283jzceV-k6NQPQL6sYx8jV07krz3bPsCo5o1pPz6oajKwMC4fAvZCSA8mj04Sv7w5z8xW3I5NdTjn-e02NHtjPrs44IlpoHubVYPsNDnz66B1O8Rmpa8Wxi4Ecb-MW/s1600/you've-done-well.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCupTvBJDFpeOKE283jzceV-k6NQPQL6sYx8jV07krz3bPsCo5o1pPz6oajKwMC4fAvZCSA8mj04Sv7w5z8xW3I5NdTjn-e02NHtjPrs44IlpoHubVYPsNDnz66B1O8Rmpa8Wxi4Ecb-MW/s1600/you've-done-well.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image:Ingrid's iPad. Words: <a href="http://www.tut.com/about/mikedooley/">Mike Dooley</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">These are great words to remind us to keep looking for the positive. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Whether it is trusting that the sun will come up again tomorrow </div><div style="text-align: center;">or that there will be time to make the marmalade.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-7112874622634619072012-01-16T10:35:00.000+00:002012-01-16T10:35:59.183+00:00Mosaic Monday - Chiang Mai style<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Not trying to make you jealous!</span><div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just want to share a bit of Thai warmth with you.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa8IBBOi292ueq2_-MyDWY8v8tzeSJ4cKWV2yMVsdGlW78aGwcOouKcwjINCbq7i63nrGMNVNlz4KQeoaWR9OFJTDA-TF8iJvjMKfFn5UCY8crkYNXU9-UiEGmYjqPpz3CULs9yQjSYIm/s1600/c-mai-mosaic-for-blog600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUa8IBBOi292ueq2_-MyDWY8v8tzeSJ4cKWV2yMVsdGlW78aGwcOouKcwjINCbq7i63nrGMNVNlz4KQeoaWR9OFJTDA-TF8iJvjMKfFn5UCY8crkYNXU9-UiEGmYjqPpz3CULs9yQjSYIm/s1600/c-mai-mosaic-for-blog600.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chiang Mai 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A little mosaic of my week in Chiang Mai: teak trees, organic coffee, lush vegetation and Thai massage.<br />
Hope the sun is shining on you too today.<br />
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-59904246926222718742012-01-14T01:12:00.000+00:002012-01-14T01:12:14.865+00:00Great Words from TED<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Be interested</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Be generous</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Be interesting</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Connect</span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span>These are the TED imperatives.<br />
<div>Just read on<a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/01/the-ted-imperatives.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29"> Seth Godin's</a> thought provoking blog.<br />
In Seth's words<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; line-height: 23px;"><i>" If all you can do is repeat cocktail party banalities about yourself, don't come. If all you're hoping for is to get more than you give, the annual event is not worth your time. If you're not confident enough to share what you're afraid of and what's not working, you're cheating yourself (and us)."</i></span></blockquote></div><div>If they resonate with you try subscribing to his blog - it's always got something to make one think.</div><div><br />
<a href="http://www.ted.com/">TED</a> is a nonprofit that brings together fascinating thinkers and doers from round the world. You can attend in person or view online. Hours of great ideas waiting for us there.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPA_Kqht6QRA272HUB3qfLVZkk2Wf9elNCck3bvCTJ5rC18dWzWo33JDNC0ttY59tWLtRWIv43YNy-BkZO_HndvGP8ov1RJ_3LWlSRqCKeuBGkovnRtjRr3OUceoK3Eza1MiBIqiJspQm/s1600/buddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPA_Kqht6QRA272HUB3qfLVZkk2Wf9elNCck3bvCTJ5rC18dWzWo33JDNC0ttY59tWLtRWIv43YNy-BkZO_HndvGP8ov1RJ_3LWlSRqCKeuBGkovnRtjRr3OUceoK3Eza1MiBIqiJspQm/s1600/buddha.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image:Ingrid's iPhone</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Have a great day. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm off to the flower market in Chiang Mai this morning - hoping to share some images later.</div></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-37531484755674825032012-01-13T05:00:00.000+00:002012-01-13T05:00:40.176+00:00Snow in Thailand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Why I am making snowballs in Thailand?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0SdJvxFqGAHGVy-DyGPZqd0CVfFoCAZhkp7wVd1igqJb0q-1zLntqSLL5v-n3PhClGcNKctE7x55dzSzs3Ql02qcNJVqVq2MuBE2wJXnYcBJRrzUn_BVu54oMxgRDMmDUNxdvlUeHVy8/s1600/snow-business.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0SdJvxFqGAHGVy-DyGPZqd0CVfFoCAZhkp7wVd1igqJb0q-1zLntqSLL5v-n3PhClGcNKctE7x55dzSzs3Ql02qcNJVqVq2MuBE2wJXnYcBJRrzUn_BVu54oMxgRDMmDUNxdvlUeHVy8/s1600/snow-business.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image: Ingrid's iPhone</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://tagtuesday.blogspot.com/">Tag Tuesday</a> is a great excuse to get stitching, writing and inspired by the creative tag makers of the world. I joined last week and started stitching.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The great thing about holidaying in Chiang Mai, Thailand is that there is no shortage of raw materials to start stitching. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ihDlokWfmtIYIlC2H6Ab5tGCDX5-p4tA9YkmgMWegvyRgzWGBbSN8C5ZBRavTqvrxD-8m8cnwlkKcezTb3zLZFEcn3lFdfPxkrTdUp7JCbtMeObtqdlY0n-q4xh47bY-I-7uOUjam2Tw/s1600/pompom-paradise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ihDlokWfmtIYIlC2H6Ab5tGCDX5-p4tA9YkmgMWegvyRgzWGBbSN8C5ZBRavTqvrxD-8m8cnwlkKcezTb3zLZFEcn3lFdfPxkrTdUp7JCbtMeObtqdlY0n-q4xh47bY-I-7uOUjam2Tw/s1600/pompom-paradise.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image: Ingrid's iPhone</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>A short tuk tuk ride to the market had me overflowing with pompoms, white fabric, threads and needles.<br />
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Back to the Thai sunshine!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7396556694943979254.post-78046810357308490442012-01-10T05:01:00.000+00:002012-01-10T05:01:51.988+00:00Stitched up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I started 2012 with one word</span> to focus on ...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>write</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
Not much evidence of that recently on this blog you may say!<br />
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As if that weren't enough, I am now going to add another word to my year ... <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">stitch</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Here's the reason why... </i></span><br />
Last week whilst I was wandering on the web, I ended up in jail. Not really sure how I got to <a href="http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/">Fine Cell Work</a>, but it made me want to get stitching again.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpKeDn5nmprmLcWAf6HdMQdU-XOxvio-KqVFzG-CdiKU1EI_ks8_pHWPEr2vg0lUR0_nDHqECWn00Za-0NQ3gTjCnodKpvV_taUVuI4LwlCZwZ-ZUNoIGQ9IP9oavWizBBjOgqM1MwICJ/s1600/Fine-cell-work-for-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpKeDn5nmprmLcWAf6HdMQdU-XOxvio-KqVFzG-CdiKU1EI_ks8_pHWPEr2vg0lUR0_nDHqECWn00Za-0NQ3gTjCnodKpvV_taUVuI4LwlCZwZ-ZUNoIGQ9IP9oavWizBBjOgqM1MwICJ/s1600/Fine-cell-work-for-blog.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Images: <a href="http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Fine Cell Work</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #999999;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">"Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/about_us/stitching_a_future#_msocom_2" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem." </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
I first came across the work of the prisoners who contribute to Fine Cell Work in last year's <a href="http://littleblackbookofart.com/2010/03/01/fine-cell-work-at-the-va/">Quilts exhibition</a> at the V & A Museum in London. I was blown away by the artistry and workmanship of the prisoners who had worked on the exhibition pieces.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">"I find it great that I can trace a piece of white plain cloth, a couple of skeins of coloured cotton and with a needle I can not only make something practical and beautiful that gives a lot of pleasure to someone who buys it" <i>H.M.P. Long Lartin </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(a long term prison in the UK)</span></blockquote>Hope you will read some of the stories of how stitching has changed these prisoners lives on the<a href="http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/prison_stories/testimonials"> Fine Cell Work</a> site. Thought provoking words.<br />
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This got me thinking about how creating with fabric gives me a sense of fulfilment, so why don't I do more of it? Just because I am in Chiang Mai this week, soaking up some Thai sunshine, there's no time like the present to get started.<br />
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Previous ideas of mine:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU5RUfjjdgGfEt9SpMFZ6BvUnwXhbvbuqHKxds_5oj7dM0zVAnLGvdY2eQSsiJdPYcmaF9yEqH2fb0EsSlOeU-Xln1HbtQ7VqecPudqBEy24m4sX3bpLmC8HSyuyEFhLd91eAXaB0hyJr/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-04+at+12.34.52.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU5RUfjjdgGfEt9SpMFZ6BvUnwXhbvbuqHKxds_5oj7dM0zVAnLGvdY2eQSsiJdPYcmaF9yEqH2fb0EsSlOeU-Xln1HbtQ7VqecPudqBEy24m4sX3bpLmC8HSyuyEFhLd91eAXaB0hyJr/s400/Screen+shot+2010-09-04+at+12.34.52.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Read more <a href="http://thefableofthetable.blogspot.com/2010/09/lottie-loves-pillowcase-message.html">here</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLF8-LQEafsVMfkMuBzIV9s59xrmmDcWM5wT9TJXP_wNLIRkhR8f7pNc-BMUVWLCWbhAkynteVVRD9nLOQkdffsRkASJqschjSOB9kpl4M0-zbSDB027loRZevXU2CYSsN7Iq9io6C0TX/s1600/heartland-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLF8-LQEafsVMfkMuBzIV9s59xrmmDcWM5wT9TJXP_wNLIRkhR8f7pNc-BMUVWLCWbhAkynteVVRD9nLOQkdffsRkASJqschjSOB9kpl4M0-zbSDB027loRZevXU2CYSsN7Iq9io6C0TX/s400/heartland-large.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Read more <a href="http://thefableofthetable.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-passion-for-new-year.html">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
Here are a few more places I found inspiration this week:<br />
<a href="http://carolynsaxby.blogspot.com/search/label/Hand%20Stitching">Carolyn Saxby</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovestitchingred/6053668632/in/gallery-36529012@N00-72157628785874527/">again</a><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/novembermoon/4687487157/in/gallery-36529012@N00-72157628785345387/">Cathy Cullis</a> and <a href="http://neveringpoetry.blogspot.com/2011/03/stitch-sample-at-dawn-i-whisper.html">again</a><br />
<a href="http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.com/2011/12/hanging-out-open-sign.html">The Silly BooDilly</a><br />
<a href="http://spiritcloth.typepad.com/spirit_cloth/squares/">Spirit Cloth</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Have you been thinking of a word for yourself this year?</span><br />
I'd love to know what your word is if you'd like to share it below.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"><br />
</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01398232398540797201noreply@blogger.com5