World crafting – Pottery, Peru

by Sophie // 1 Jun ’14

Peru was a treasure chest full of skilled arts and crafts people. My first stop was to watch a demonstration by a potter, to see some time-honoured techniques in action. The traditional Nazca pottery styles date back centuries. In a shaded workshop, we learnt how he achieved a gloss finish without using any glaze or tools and we saw how he applied colour – by working with solid oxides, creating his own paint, then using a very steady hand to create his designs!

Painting equipment

Sophie watches the demonstration

Clay shaping

Traditional Nazca pottery

New textile classes launched!

by Sophie // 28 May ’14

We are incredibly excited to announce that next month we will be offering two new textile classes!

The first is Indian Block Printing, where you can produce beautiful and professional results using our blocks sourced directly from Indian textile factories. In our drop in class, you will decorate and take home a calico make up bag / pencil case. For group party bookings, we can offer different items to decorate, such as tote bags and t shirts. More details are here.

In our second class, you will hand sew a pretty charm to take home, or attach to your bag and keep at your side. Whether you are a pro or a novice, we offer different selections of charm patterns which are designed to offer an easy introduction, through to a challenge – so there is something to suit any level. You get to choose from a great selection of fabric colours and embellishments, to tailor your sewing piece to your own tastes. For more information about the different classes, look here.

Indian Block Printing – Pencil Case
Class A
Class D
Indian Block Printing – Make up case
Class B
Class C

Crafting all over the world!

by Sophie // 1 May ’14

After a lengthy stint travelling round the world, I’m back in Blighty and very excited to share with you all my discoveries!

They say that travel broadens the mind, and that time away from reality teaches you what you really love in life. I’m pleased (and not at all surprised) that my love for design and making has only grown over the last year. Seeing how important arts and crafts and manufacture are in hundreds of tiny communities made me feel like we are actually part of something rather important. Art is a way of expressing yourself, making others stop and think, and decorating the world around us. Design is a problem solver and a life enhancer, at all levels. Crafts give everyone a chance to take enjoyment in creating.

Over the coming months, I will be blogging about some of the wonderful things I have seen, which I hope will inspire you to create.

Here’s a little taster…

Indian bright textiles

Asian wood carving

South American street art

Happy Easter

by Sophie // 20 Apr ’14

Happy Easter everyone! As to be expected in Spring, the weather has been rather changeable this weekend, but we like to see the best of it; some sunshine to enjoy the outdoors, stretch those legs, breathe in fresh air and get some vitamin D; and some rain which gives us an excuse to while away some hours crafting or baking, or curl up on the sofa with a good book.

We have made some meringues, hot cross buns and paper bunting (for our upcoming fairs). I’ve also had a go at decorating some polystyrene eggs using our haberdashery supplies… Here are the results!

An Easter chick

Egg with trim and ribbon

Pancake feast!

by Becky // 4 Mar ’14

Image from http://magicbelles.com/flutterbudclub/special-wonders/pancakes

We are very much looking forward to feasting on some pancakes later tonight so thought we’d share a few ideas of what fillings we’ll be using and give a recipe for that perfect flipper!

After a bit of delving around online, this recipe from Felicity Cloake looks like the one to go for; she’s done a lot of research and testing to find that ideal combo of crispy edges and soft pillowy goodness.

Makes about 8

125g plain flour
Pinch of salt
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
225ml whole or semi-skimmed milk
Small knob of butter

1. Sift the flour in a large mixing bowl and add a pinch of salt. Make a well in the centre, and pour the egg and the yolk into it. Mix the milk with 2 tbsp water and then pour a little in with the egg and beat together.

2. Whisk the flour into the liquid ingredients, drawing it gradually into the middle until you have a smooth paste the consistency of double cream. Whisk the rest of the milk in until the batter is more like single cream. Cover and refrigerate for at least half an hour.

3. Heat the butter in a frying pan on a medium-high heat – you only need enough fat to just grease the bottom of the pan. It should be hot enough that the batter sizzles when it hits it.

4. Spread a small ladleful of batter across the bottom of the pan, quickly swirling to coat. Tip any excess away. When it begins to set, loosen the edges with a thin spatula or palette knife, and when it begins to colour on the bottom, flip it over with the same instrument and cook for another 30 seconds. (If you’re feeling cocky, you can also toss the pancake after loosening it: grasp the handle firmly with both hands, then jerk the pan up and slightly towards you.)

5. Pancakes are best eaten as soon as possible, before they go rubbery, but if you’re cooking for a crowd, keep them separate until you’re ready to serve by layering them up between pieces of kitchen roll.

So…on to the fillings! I think we’re going to go for a mix of savoury and sweet pancakes as we’ll be having them instead of a meal. First course is going to be the classic ham and cheese, the salty richness of these two is so good and can’t be missed. Second up will be creamy mushrooms – fry off some mushrooms, garlic and thyme leaves in some butter and a little oil, keeping the heat high so the mushrooms fry, not sweat. Then add in some cream cheese/cream/Boursin or similar with a little hot water and mix until the cheese melts and coats the mushrooms. Add in some black pepper, little grated parmesan and parsley if you have some. Add salt to taste.

Moving on to the main event – sweet and delicious pancakes! Lemon and sugar will be definitely be covered, along with Nutella and chopped hazelnuts for a crunchy bite (apparently nearly 1 million jars of Nutella were bought in the week before Shrove Tuesday last year!). I’m a big fan of banoffee pie so will be trying a chopped banana and caramel/dulce de leche pancake this year to recreate that gorgeous dessert. Lastly, if we have space, will be stewed apples with a little sugar and cinnamon.

Hope you all enjoy, look out for pics of our pancake creations later this evening!

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