A PERSONAL A - Z

HEY THERE VIOLETS!

Have just returned from the fabulous LSA Rachel Hazell workshop where we made a personal A-Z. What a fabulous five days it was! Rachel is a great communicator and a hell of a woman - her enthusiasm and humour is contagious - she is truly ebullient as well as being hugely talented. I will post pics of some of the changes they have made at LSA which is yet more fabulous - but not too many - I dont want to spoil the surprise for Becky and Sam!

It was a special joy to meet Jo - who was with you all 2 years ago - it made me feel right at home to have another Pantry Violet and such a lovely one for company. Jo sends her love to you all! We had 13 women plus Rachel and the spirit of support and encouragement started immediately, in the entire time I didnt hear a negative comment from anyone - how remarkable is that!

Here are some pictures of my book ......

The front cover - made from last year's calendar page - showing the kettle stitch binding:

The back cover showing my dobber bookmark!

And one of A is for Art, which features one of my all time favourite quotes - from Picasso as well as showing of my index. When Rachel showed us a lovely book with tabs and gilding I remembered how much I like an index so that was my first job - it took me half a day but I love the result:
Then a couple of my favourite pages - I was determined to incorporate watercolours (which I love but do badly) they are done on vintage papers which really add something I think. I love a painted shutter too - so V is for view features a shutter and L is for Landscape has a little pull out which I am mightily pleased with - the L swivels away to allow the painting to extend - howszat!!



And finally, just so you know I didn't forget you all! Guess what P is for ????????????

~ the petals are articulated - get me!!

I didn't completely finish my book, but Im looking forward to adding things as I think of them and I'm really happy with the results so far - Taylor I'm loving this idea for a journal - lots of pictures and stamping - what do you think??

Love to All

xx

DI

MEMORIES OF SUMMER

Here are a couple of things I did for Christmas ..

The first is a fabric collage - for my friend Michele who wanted me to make her something for her sitting room. Some time ago, I found her the most beautiful red indian chintz wallpaper - a fortune a roll but only one or two needed! Working with her colour theme I made this collage from bits of my stuff - some of the red printed linen I bought while at Les Soeurs in July (Im having great value from that please see my blog 'tinkeringbythesea@blogspot.com I applied a piece of it to my first pocket and made a bird - still have a bijou morsel left!) some vintage trimmings from Sandie at Rag Rescue - I recommend that you check out http://www.ragrescue.co.uk/ on the internet? Sandie sells some lovely vintage trims and fabrics in tiny pieces for special projects and offers excellent service. I bought a really cheap frame, painted and antiqued it and was quite happy with my first foray into fabric collage.

The second was present for Iris, my great niece, its a beautiful watercolour by Dean Spillie that I bought when we visited their studio in July. Painted on a glorious french antique letter I think its just delightful and it will be a lovely thing for Iris in years to come. I float-mounted the painting on handmade paper and kept the frame simple to show off the artwork.

It was a joy to use some treasures on handmade gifts for friends and family. Looking through my summer finds, remembering the lovely time we all had in July.......... happily Im going back this year for the Rachel Hazell workshop - late July so Im hoping for a cool spell!

American Cousins

Now, I know you American ladies do not need this recipe, but thought us cookerettes from the other side of the Big Pond might like to get in the mood with this recipe from The Jewels of New York (the young couple who will be leading a cooking workshop for us in April next year). Thought I might substitute Butternut Squash for the Pumpkin.... and leave out the bacon, of course - is that a big mistake?

Roasted-Pumpkin Soup with Apples and Bacon

serves 2

2 pound pumpkin, such as cheese pumpkin

1/4 onion, cut into small dice

1/4 carrot, cut into small dice

1/4 rib celery, cut into small dice

1/4 tart apple, such as Granny Smith, peeled, cored and cut into small dice

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

2 bacon strips, cut into lardons

1/3 cup dry white wine

2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock

1 teaspoon dried sage

2 bay leafs

1 tablespoons butter, softened

salt

fresh-ground black pepper

Cut out a lid around the stem-end of the pumpkin and set aside. Scrape out and discard the seeds and strings. Put pumpkin on a baking sheet along with the lid. Rub the pumpkin flesh with butter, salt, pepper and garlic. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large oiled pot over moderate heat, add the bacon and cook until crisp and browned. Then add in the onion, carrot, celery, and apple and cook, stirring occasionally until vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes.

Stir in wine, broth, sage, and bay leafs. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fill the pumpkin with the broth mixture. Roast until flesh is soft when pierced about 30-45 minutes.

To serve, top pumpkin with the lid. As you serve scrape the flesh from the sides into the broth and ladling it into bowls.

Ooo.... hope you all have a great Thanksgiving, by the way!

Lino Prints

Can't personally compete with the talents of you ladies, but thought you might like to see a sample of the lino-prints that a dear (and hugely talented) friend of mine down here, Emma Whigam, has done for the re-vamped Les Soeurs Anglaises' brochure and website - both of which should be printed/functioning within the next couple of weeks.

Would love your feed back, and if any of you would like a copy of the finished brochure - prototype below - let me know (and remind me of your address) and I will happily send one by snail mail.