the patchwork dress

a letter from Nepal

 I received this drawing from a 9 year old girl from Nepal.  The letter tells me she lives in a house made of bamboo and mud, with a slate roof and a dung floor.  The family use straw for cooking and get water from a bore hole - collection takes around 5 minutes.  This girl goes to school, but her family use an open field for a latrine as they have no toilet.

I have been a sponsor with Plan for nearly 10 years.  Recently my sponsorship with the first child (also from Nepal) ended when Plan decided they had done enough in that community - R was now a teenager, and they moved my sponsorship and their efforts to another area.  It was kind of sad to lose R - so I decided to write her a final postcard, and also an introductory one to my new sponsored child, S.

Plan go into communities in 'developing' countries.  Through sponsorship, they set up a link with an individual - and over the years there has been an exchange of photographs and drawings (from her), postcards and the odd gift from me.  All correspondance is sent through Plan, so there are no direct details of addresses or contact, but roughly once a year you receive a small piece of post, a message and a photograph from the family - and likewise you can send them a message or a small gift (although they may have stopped that now due to costs?).

I must say as it went on I found it harder to write, once initial formalities had been exchanged - and I think the main cause of this was just overwhelming guilt - news from my world seemed so priviledged that I found it uncomfortable to talk about my life.. even a simple laptop like the one I'm using now would be 'out of this world' for my sponsored child.  So mostly enquiries are made to the health and happiness of the family - and perhaps the thought is really what counts.

It is lovely to receive post from someone you have never met, but have this strange link with, and makes the transaction more human than charity.  It's rather humbling.

Plan tell me that in R's area of Nepal they helped to install 1159 wells, 1341 toilets for families - they also support schooling, education and health education in the sponsored areas.

If you are interested in the scheme, Plan can be found here.

 

5 x 5 x 5

This blog was 5 years old on the 5th of the 5th month of May... just to show what a terrible blogger I've been I haven't even got around to posting until today!

Five years of blogging has opened some amazing doors to me, including meeting lots of other crafters and bloggers, making things, and connecting with folksy and etsy to sell my wares and buy others!  Lately I have got absorbed away from this life into other areas - and that may be what this year is about, mainly my work life and just more downtime for recovery inbetween.  Sometimes I don't feel like saying much - or maybe I don't have much of interest to share!

A habit I've developed is being swayed by technologies hosted by other blogs - over the last 5 years I've tried facebook and scrapped it, (it just annoyed me, I don't 'like' it although can see it suits a lot of people), looked at twitter and couldn't be bothered, started a tumblr but couldnt get it to work or pursue it, oh - and Polyvore - same with Pinterest... note to self "must persevere".. or should I? Do I actually have the time?

I recently upgraded my phone to one that has 'aps' - and passed my old phone onto N - who promptly amazed me by discovering all these functions on it that I never knew it had, or even tried to work out!

So, resolving to play around and explore more with the new phone, I recently downloaded the Instagram ap (which again have seen now on numerous blogs)- and played with the filter process on these 5 pictures from the weekend - which were all taken on my phone.

I really like the effects and wonder if this is something I may stick at - however there is something about having too much technology at hand for instant results, like Pinterest etc which detracts from the process of cutting out a picture, grouping it with others and sticking it down.. I'm not sure if I am a technophobe or not - or if there is something about the satisfaction of hand and eye which trumps all aps.

I heard on the radio today about the futures of 'augmented realities' with google specs that will do this and that for you - and to be honest I am concerned about losing function of the brain and the senses - the subtleties of energies, sixth sense and intuition - all of which enrich life far beyond any ap - giving the sense of wellbeing technology is supposedly freeing us up to find.  But sometimes the best days are the ones you leave your phone in your pocket, or even better your house, while you go out and use your amazing nature given and free aps of the senses!

But don't listen to me, this last shot is often my replacement for the television set.

lemon + raisin madeleine sponges

These are so quick and easy - all you need is a madeleine tray and a lemon outside of storecupboard staples, so great to rustle up at last minute and also quite tasty for mornings.  I have adapted this recipe and reduced sugar so they aren't overly sweet - the lemon and raisins give flavour...

...I have even put these into bake while in the morning shower, and taken them into work where they've gone down well, and no-one could tell they were wheat free!

Lemon and Raisin Madeleines

4oz (125g) soft magarine (for dairy free use PURE)

1.5 oz of (caster) or demerara sugar

5oz of plain gluten free flour (DOVES) sieved with 1 teaspoon of g/f baking powder

2 eggs

juice of 1 lemon

handful of raisins, or cherries, or almonds (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3, and very lightly grease a madeleine tin.

2. Put margarine, sugar, flour, baking powder and eggs in one bowl and beat together until the mix goes light coloured and creamy in texture.  Add the lemon juice and mix through lightly.  Fold in the raisins or fruit.

3. Using a desert spoon, drop mix into tin - remember the mixture will expand during cooking (I don't mind colouring outside the lines) -  and bake 160C/325F/Gas 3 for approx 20-25 mins, or until golden + cooked. (time may be shortened in fan asst ovens).  

(This recipe was adapted to gluten/dairy free from the 'One bowl sponge cake' recipe by Evelyn Rose, P417, The New Complete International Jewish Cookbook - and will also work with normal wheat flour + dairy.)

things afoot...

Spring is in the air.  Today we are being treated to spells of sunshine and showers.  The birds seem frisky and full of song.  Spring is afoot.

Speaking of feet, I am working on a second pair of socks from this book, using the bamboo sock wool bought in Harrogate.  

the book is laid out as a graphic, broken down into steps and stitch numbers to keep you right... also a pic of what the socks should look like completed...

They are more complex than my first pair of socks, and you have to really keep an eye on the ball, as the pattern is worked in a repeated round of 4 rows, with each row different.  

I find I like to 'knit' - and 'purl' is just a distraction until I can 'knit' again. It's a strange game I'm playing with myself...  'Purl' just makes the 'knit' times seem better, and there is enough knit and purl exchanges in this to keep it interesting!  Does anyone else do this?

There are a few errors where I lost track, and my cast on is a bit annoyingly lacy - but I hope to improve these with experience. These, as they say in Glasgow, will be just 'a wee pair of wearing socks' for N around the house, while improving my sock knitting confidence.

'One Good Market' got in touch to say they were closing down the site, and hence my shop - a shame - it wasn't working out for them.. truth be told it wasn't working out for me either, but I assumed everyone else was doing a roaring business and it was just me.. so I don't feel as big a failure.

- so I am back to keeping my Folksy shop going, but feeling quite relaxed about the whole thing.  It's important to have some projects which are creative satisfaction outside of work and 'business', and while it is nice to sell things I also want to find time for enjoyment and gifts, otherwise everything can end up as 'business'.

Keeping things flexible means I can wax and wane the 'selling' side of things to keep in balance with periods of freelancing and grow it when things are quiet.  Whatever it seems important to love what you do, or at least have some part of life where this can be your credo. But, hey, you never know what's coming and I do still love reading about those who have given up the dayjob on Etsy!

urban fox :: manchester

Just got back this week from Manchester, where I have been an urban fox for 5 weeks, working on "Mrs Biggs" a drama production at ITV Granada..  I loved being in Manchester, for a city it's got quite a relaxed vibe, very well appointed with shops and great transport i.e. the Metro tram network and free city centre buses.

It was quite a shaky start to the year with power cuts at home (we had more than 10, and my car exploding on the M6 and having to be RAC'd back home from Carlisle).  So let's hope it can only get better!

One highlight was meeting up with blogger Sue (Mouse) which was lovely, at the fabulous John Rylands Library - an oasis of calm in Spinningfields, with a rather gothic Hogwarts interior (and nice café).  

It was like a working trip or holiday, and the freetime I had, I used to explore the town and discover places like:

• the Manchester Craft + Design Centre - a covered market of little maker studios with its own café - I was rather envious of their handmade world and private/public spaces!
• Manchester Art Gallery + Museum - this was one of my favourites by Holman Hunt, and Grayson Perry's drawing 'Print for a Politician'
• The Trafford Shopping Centre (omg! - a mad Disneyland)
• Morecambe seafront

Needless to say I only took my 'works' camera which I forgot to take away on my days off, so hardly took any pictures except these 2!  

This is the view from our office at Granada - some mornings the tower blocks in the distance lit up with the rising sun, their windows turning to golden sequins. (Nic, I think you may have said that!)

It was a great location to work so close to the town, and open views with lots of light. (Un)fortunately the studios are moving to Salford to be beside the BBC and media village that is springing up there.  There was a nostalgic feel of working studios - years of Coronation Street, plus Countdown and the infamous Jeremy Kyle being filmed there!

24/2 : seasons greetings

(view towards Ben Lomond over freezing cloud formation on Loch Lomond 2011)

I'd just like to thank you for following my blog this year if I've not managed to thank you personally, - and for leaving comments and support if you have done - it means a lot to me.

I also hope you've found something of interest, and perhaps inspiration through my ramblings, and hope to see you again in 2012!

Merry Christmas! xx

24 : gift for a newborn

Always a dilemma - what gift to give a newborn... gold, frankincense, or myrrh?

There have been a lot of new babies recently amongst my friends, and I started thinking about giving something that would be practical yet attractive, and original.  I know that soon these kids will have a room full of toys, piles of clothes that perhaps they may hardly wear before they are outgrown - and also the thought of the space these things will occupy..

So instead, I decided to give my friend a 'nursery' clutterbucket...

Filled with eco babywipes, nappy rash cream, bubble bath all from Wholefoods.. and a bundle of bibs and muslin squares - which I am fairly sure you can never have enough of, and should last through spurts of growth (and babyfood!)... plus a bar of chocolate for a late night treat.

There are still plenty of bags left in the shop - all ready for 2012!

18 : more Walk on the Wild Side

Speaking of animals, and of speaking animals - this is another of our favourite shows.. BBC's 'Walk on the WIld Side'.

The polecat/wolverine'y thing first up is a favourite, as is the panpipe playing squirrel... 

If you are bored one night, you can sit and watch a little list of clips here.

It's all suitable for kids too. 

Look out for Michael Jackson moonwalking bird, and "Siiiid... you've been a very naughty boy"...

15 : something to look forward to...

I seem to have fallen by the advent wayside a bit - perhaps it was overambitious to post each day, although I do hope to fill in a few more dates before Christmas..

Must admit I am excited about the prospect of seeing "Young Herriot" on BBC1, starting this Sunday for 3 consecutive nights on Monday and Tuesday too.  Earlier this year I worked on it as graphics art director, and it was one of the most enjoyable jobs that I've done.  Working in the period of 1930's (fairly impoverished) Glasgow really made me think about how things were done then - obviously no computers, but even typewriters may have been rare or used differently from after WW2... plus of course the wonderful addition of animals as subject matter.  

For me, the job involved anything from doing paintings of dogs to exam papers, photoshoots, and even just dressing images such as paintings and postcards for the walls of the various sets.  I even got to work with a signwriter, which is a craft I just adore.

Whatever they say, it is fun to work with animals - and filming the series is probably another dose of stories in itself!

There are a couple of clips here - featuring a gorgeous wee jack russell terrier..  and I found this clip on Youtube of the series producer talking about the background of 1930's Glasgow and Alf Wight's original writings as 'James Herriot'.

8 : blackbird cake

The wind is currently gusting round the house. We have 'red' warnings of wind across Scotland today and where we are normally quite protected in a little dip and the wind blows 'over' us - today it is tapping at the windows and rattling the roof - quite ferociously!

I moved the bird feeders to a lower level on the tree - partly for the birds and so that they don't fly off through a window at some point during the day!

Here are the blackbirds and others looking for food at low level during the storms.. You can just see robin in the top left corner, tucked in a bush.  These were taken from Inside! so they aren't all that clear.

If you don't already know this - a great way to attract blackbirds into your garden is to put out apple, pear or dried fruit such as raisins on the ground - they LOVE this and it trumps birdseed and peanuts for them.  Just be careful not to put down where a cat could jump out on them!

Yesterday I made a cake a blackbird would be proud of - and of course the apple peelings and chopping board remnants went out for them!  It's gluten free and dairy free (again!) with the consistency of a traditional farmhouse cake.  The apple and fruit keep it from being too dry, and the ground nuts give a wholemeal consistency.  It's also a good way to use up leftovers from making mincemeat.

Blackbird Cake (for humans... and blackbirds!) - Dairy + Gluten Free

*  *  *

6oz of margarine - eg non dairy 'Pure' (or butter for dairy eaters)

3oz demerara or brown sugar

7.5 oz  g free plain flour sifted with 2 teaspoons gluten free baking powder (see this post for good types of flour and baking powder)

3 eggs

a few dashes of rice milk (or equivalent)

1.5 apples (blackbirds get the half)

handful of mixed nuts - ground up in processor

handful each of plump raisins, chopped dates, cranberries, dried apricots (or to your taste)

*  *  *

• Line a deepish small baking tin with greaseproof paper

• Preheat the oven to 325F/160C/Gas 3

• Mix all the cake ingredients in a bowl and add a dash of rice milk, and keep mixing until the consistency is paler and  loose but not sloppy.

•  Add the chopped apple, nuts and dried fruit - folding it gently into the mix.

• Add to the cake tin, and cook in top third of oven for approx 1 hour - keep looking in after 45mins and test with a knife.  When the top is brown, the knife comes out without stickiness - altho this is a moist cake because of apple, don't overcook as it can dry out the sponge.

• Once cool, wrap tightly in paper/foil etc - as it can dry out quite quickly.

• Should last a couple of days.  Yum.