Blog
Taking Time to Live Well
In the new issue (on sale 30 January), our adventurous River Cottage chef Gill Meller wraps up warm and prepares fire-roast leg of lamb. But first you need your fire – and something to roast it on. Gill used an old estate railing he found but for those of us not so lucky, click here for instructions to make your own. And if that's too much trouble, you can buy one here. How to light the fire? You're on your own there.
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CASSANDRA ELLIS doesn’t just wake up under a quilt, she spends her days making them, or teaching others how to. It’s not about art, it’s about memories…
Do you wake up under one of your own creations? Yes, I have too many. They’re the essence of what a home is (that and a roast chicken). We all have one on our beds, I made quilts for both my stepchildren, and they’re also on the sofas. It’s very cute when the kids are watching TV the quilt comes off the sofa and on the laps. We have a chocolate lab called Mr Darcy, because he’s so good looking, and Lily, an Australian terrier – they have their own too. In fact there’s a quilt that didn’t start off as a dog quilt but has become one because Mr Darcy lay on it all the time.
Is the rest of the house as cosy? We live in Peckham Rye in London. People might assume I’m going to be wearing velvet and jangly bells and have a purple streak in my hair and every wall’s going to be a different colour. It’s nothing like that. There’s no built-in furniture, everything is very simple, along the lines of Barbara Hepworth’s house in Cornwall. Clean, not fussy. The whole house is one colour, pale grey, with wooden floors. We had new friends round for dinner and they described our house as “soporific”, as in they didn’t want to leave!
What is it like, teaching workshops in your own home? I’m quite fanatical about having everything prepped. I get up at 5am and bake. It’s not just about learning to quilt but about creating a homely feel. I have a huge studio up in the roof. By the time they get to floor five people go “Oh my God!” You can see across the city of London. I really enjoy the whole community thing. People share fabric and tell stories. That’s where it all started – doing your day’s work, getting the children to bed, and doing craft was the only chance people got to sit and talk. It’s lovely.
Tell us about the memory quilts you make for people When I make a commission for someone, or teach someone, when they hand over their bags of children’s clothes and wedding dresses and husband’s shirts, in some way they all tie together because it’s their story. When it’s finished, they don’t see the quilt first – they see their lives. It’s incredibly emotional.
Can you suggest a good project for beginners? The only thing you’ve got to learn is cutting fabric and sewing it back together again. It’s about building blocks – that piece of fabric can be sewn to that piece of fabric. Try a little memory piece. These came about from someone I know who, when someone died, cleared out all the clothes then realised, ‘Oh God, we should have kept those’. You can use any cottons, anything from shirts to kids’ clothes, mixing up with Liberty or Indian block prints. You can use wool but not very heavy wool – you’d struggle to put silk next to wool, they’d have a little fight and the wool would win. If you want to incorporate silk or lace, back it with something. Ties are perfect for binding edges.
Discovering and curating our favourite things through NEW Etsy Pages.
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Gathered by Mollie Makes is your weekly fix of quick craft ideas to make and enjoy available on the iPad - and now the iPhone too!
Each week inside the magazine you can expect:
• Two exclusive craft projects • Interviews with designer-makers • A roundup of our favourite things, including vintage treats, our book of the week, buyers’ guides, plus more • Videos to inspire you and your work • A free, downloadable wallpaper for iPhone and iPad
Gathered by Mollie Makes costs £1.49 an issue, or you can subscribe for a 1-month (£2.99) or 1-year (£19.99) and, if you subscribe to a 1-month or more you get 5 FREE issues!
Try Gathered by Mollie Makes now and get crafting over the weekend!
Honour the tomato with this cold Spanish soup. Top with croutons and Serrano ham for a perfect lunch.
Serves 6 6 large tomatoes 2 red peppers, deseeded and chopped 2 yellow peppers, deseeded and chopped 1 small cucumber, peeled and chopped 3 spring onions, chopped 1 large garlic clove 1 tbsp sherry vinegar, or a splash to suit your taste A splash garlic olive oil 1 tbsp good olive oil 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1. Put the tomatoes into a bowl of boiling water with small crosses cut into them to help the skins to peel off. Remove the skins, wait until the tomatoes are cool and chop finely. 2. Chop everything up, removing the green part of the spring onion and deseeding the cucumber. If you have a blender or food processor, add all of the vegetables and blitz. Otherwise just carry on chopping until a paste-like consistency is reached. 3. Add the oils, sugar, sherry and paprika and taste. Add additional seasoning if it needs it. Serve toppings in separate bowls so people can help themselves.
Have you heard of The Amazings? It’s an online platform for skill-sharing, where older teachers (over 50s, AKA ‘Amazings’) teach the younger generation skills for life. Whether that’s carpentry, crochet or jewellery making.Classes have been running in London for over a year now but the exciting news is The Amazings has recently launched online craft classes, meaning you can take part from anywhere in the world.
There are currently 8 online classes available , and you can choose from: Make Your Own Natural Beauty Products Retro Hair Dos Make A Mosaic Flower Pot Make an Heirloom Patchwork Quilt How to Make an Altered Book Upcycle a Man’s Shirt into a Summer Dress Make a Butterfly Pendant From Silver Metal Clay Loom Knit Your Own Beanie and Bobble Hat
Normally classes start from £8 but for a limited time you can get your first class for free if you sign up using this link.
New classes will be added every week and a little birdy told us there’s going to be a Big Knitting class, Wet Felting class and Millinery class coming up soon, so be sure to keep an eye out!
We've arguably found the most summery recipe for frozen yoghurt in existence, so if the weather lets us down we can always enjoy summer in a bowl.
Serves: 4 (makes 1 litre) Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes
You’ll need: 450g strawberries 1 tbsp lemon juice 130g caster sugar 250g whole milk, unset yoghurt 2 tbsps of freshly chopped mint and four extra sprigs for decoration 1 fresh pineapple
What to do: Slice the strawberries into small pieces and place them with the lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan and warm gently, mixing well with a wooden spoon.
Mash the strawberries with the back of a wooden spoon as the sugar dissolves and the mixture warms.
Set the cooked strawberries aside to cool, covered.
Mix together the yoghurt and mint in a bowl and then add the strawberries.
Spoon the yoghurt mixture into four individual serving glasses, moulds or plastic ice-lolly moulds and freeze for at least three hours, or overnight.
When ready to serve, take the serving glasses or moulds out of the freezer. Dip into warm water to unmould the yoghurt on a plate. Serve with finely chopped fresh pineapple and decorate with fresh mint.
*This recipe was taken from Sweet Eve, visit their website for more recipes.
If you tried Monday's strawberry lolly recipe, you'll probably have a little pile of used lolly sticks by now. In the spirit of upcycling, we'll be trying out this cute DIY idea from Lil Blue Boo, and turning ours into plant labels.
Blogger Ashley's used transfer paper to achieve a typewriter effect for the lettering (and provided a free printout if you'd like to do the same), but we'll be going for a stencil and permanent marker for a similar old-school vibe.
As seen in our July issue of The Simple Things we're giving you a chance to win a SousVide Supreme Demi worth £450.
Sous vide cooking is a tried and tested method in restaurants since the 70s, popular with the likes of Raymond Blanc and Heston Blumenthal. French for 'under vacuum' food is 'poached' in a bag to lock in flavour and nutrients. Once a way of cooking reserved for the professionals, you can now give it a whirl in your own kitchen with the SousVide Supreme Demi water oven. This is not weird science but an easy, low energy and controlled way of cooking any meat, fish or veg (and even sauces, cakes, and infused vodkas!).
Are you ready to start experimenting, because we're giving you the chance to win your very own SousVide - click here to enter now!
You readers have been making our tummies rumble this week by sending us in pictures of the cake in your house. If the following confections don't have you reaching for the flour and eggs in your kitchen, we don't know what will.
Top: Hannah Jade sent in this 3 layered cake of chocolate delight, yum, bottom left: a delicious looking baked blueberry and coconut cake with lemon glaze from Chelsea and mini Victoria sponges from Ailie.
Left column: the recipe for this rhubarb cake was left on our Facebook wall by Margarida, Tipple Tails has a lovely fruit cake in the house, Toni's home is currently occupied by every chocoholics' dream - you can see more of her cakes here, and this classic carrot cake belongs to Katie Knott - can we have a slice?
Right column: a lovingly baked birthday cake from Libby Hayes, a scrummy looking chocolate cake from Laura Dodimead, and some cantucci from Ria Berends not cake but delicious too.
Experiement with your hair this weekend and try an all-natural alternative to dry shampoo...
Using your own homemade dry shampoo is a great way to cut back on the toxins you put onto your body, a good alternative to expensive products found in shops and a simple way to start living more cleanly with less impact on our beautiful Earth.
You can find lots of 'recipes' for dry shampoo across the internet including ingredients such as corn flour, cocoa powder, orris root and essential oils, but we particularly like this recipe from Sincerely Kinsey which, with a small adaptation, is suitable for both light and dark haired beauties!
You may have spotted Ashley Fryer from Peach Trees and Bumblebees inside this month's Issue of The Simple Things, Ashley has now kindly joined us on the blog to share one of her favourite recipes! Take it away Ashley...
This gorgeous sauce is delicious warm and served over ice cream! I like to make it as a gift to take to dinner parties. It’s lovely given in a large jar with a big bow! Also excellent in banana splits and sundaes.
Indgredients
200g butter 140g soft brown sugar 397g can condensed milk 397g can caramel 1 tsp ground cinnamon
Put the butter, sugar, condensed milk, caramel and cinnamon in a pan. Heat on low until the butter melts – but make sure you don’t boil the sauce. Ensure the sugar has melted and stir until smooth and glossy. The trick is to keep the heat low and stir it constantly. If the worst happens and the sauce burns, you can always sieve it. Remove from the heat and whisk until very smooth. Pour into sterilised jars and allow to cool before sealing.
Joy Uyeno from Frock Files shows us how to make a simple cocktail shaker ready for the weekend!
* You'll find the recipe for the perfect strawberry margarita inside Issue 8.
What better way to spend Easter break than baking? But, before you head into the kitchen take note of these top tips from book author and baker Lily Vanilli.
- Don't skip the science bit - read up on how baking works, understanding why a particular method is in place will make you a much more intuitive baker.
- Practice makes perfect - I train my staff in the style of Mr Miyagi from the Karate Kid - study the basics over and over until you master them - then you can go on to do anything.
- Always check that you have the right pan size. People spend time and money getting the ingredients and method right, then tip the batter into any old pan they have and the cake has no chance.
- Mind the temperatures of your ingredients, it might seem like a minor detail in the recipe but in fact its crucial to getting a good bake - stick to the recipe's advice - cold butter for pastry, room temperature for cakes and so on.
- Invest in an oven mitt!
Got a passion for baking? Join Lurpak's Bake Club and take part in Lily's Chocolate Challenge this March!
To celebrate the release of Issue 8 today Rachel Ball from Elephantine has stopped by the blog to share her recipe for almond biscotti. We suggest you enjoy these biccies with a foamy latte and the newest issue of The Simple Things.
Almond Biscotti with Maple Glaze (makes a dozen)
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cups white sugar 1 tsp baking powder a pinch of salt 1/4 cup chopped almonds 1 tsp orange zest 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)
1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 Tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp milk
Preheat oven to 350˚F. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, almonds, and orange zest. Add the eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix well with a spoon (or your hands). Dump the dough onto a baking sheet (optionally lined with parchment paper). The dough will be very, very sticky. Form it into a rectangle about 3/4 inch thick. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from the oven, cool slightly, then slice into 1/2 inch wide pieces. Set the biscotti back onto the baking sheet, laying them on their sides. Bake for 10 to 20 more minutes, turning over halfway through. Finished cookies should be hard & crunchy. For the glaze*, combine the powdered sugar, maple syrup, and milk. Mix well. Add more milk if it's too thick to easily pour. Drizzle over the cookies and let dry.
*Alternatively, you could make a lemon glaze instead. Or dip them in chocolate!
Don't miss: Rachel Ball showing us round her home town of Seattle in Issue 8 of The Simple Things.
A collection of makes and gifts inspired by St Patrick's Day...
Feta and thyme soda bread The Little Loaf | Irish cream brownies Butter Cream Blondie | Guinness soap All Things Herbal | Irish Manhattan Bon Appetit (photo by Tim Mazurek) | 4 leaf clover necklace Sevgl Charms
Five DIYs to try this weekend that make better use of an empty bottle.
1. Plastic bottle terraniums | 2. DIY geode bottle tops, Cupcakes and Cashmere | 3. Wine bottle bird feeder | 4. Bracelet stands | 5. Bottle chime from creationdesigns
Sukaina from Sips and Spoonfuls has stopped by to share this delicious recipe for a simple tiramisu. Whip this up in less than an hour to share and enjoy with friends and family.
Ingredients: 2 cups whipping cream 3 egg yolks * 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup mascarpone cheese 2 cups strong coffee approx. 25 ladyfingers cocoa powder to serve
Directions: Beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form and set aside. Using the paddle attachment of the stand mixer, beat the the egg yolks and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Add the vanilla and mascarpone and beat on medium speed till combined. Fold the mascarpone with the whipped cream, taking care not to deflate the mixture.
Dip the ladyfingers quickly into the coffee. Layer glasses with the mascarpone followed by the ladyfingers alternatively starting and ending with the mascarpone. Refrigerate for four hours at least or overnight. Serve with a dusting of cocoa powder.
Makes approximately 8 glasses depending on the size.
A big thank you for Sukaina for taking the time to share this recipe with us, for more visit her at Sips and Spoonfuls
* Make sure you pick the best eggs for this recipe using our notes on eggs guide inside Issue 7
Blogger extraordinaire, whiz with the hook and needles, and camera pro Kat Goldin (of Slugs on the Refrigerator fame) has stopped by to tell us a little about her new book 'Crochet At Play' and share some insider tips on how to take great outdoor photos this spring.
Tell us about your new book…
Crochet at Play is a collection of 30 hats, scarves, clothes and toys for kids to enjoy. I was inspired by my children and the amount of fun they get out of my crochet. In the spirit of using blankets to build dens, I wanted to bring a collection of playful designs together in one book. From wolf cardigans to baby ballet slippers there are projects for children from newborn to age six. Whether you want to add to the dressing up box or create beautiful garments with a fun twist, Crochet at Play is packed full of inspirational projects. Its published by Kyle Books and out in April.
When my eldest child Ellis was born I wanted to share pictures of him with my family in America. I learned as I went along and my love of photography grew. These days I’m inspired by not only my children but nature, art and craft in my photography. Photographing someone or something you love inspires you to make those photographs the best they can be. I love how looking down the lens at my children helps me really see them and notice the small details that make up our lives together.
How did the Capturing Childhood project come about?
My business partner, also named Kat, sent me a message one afternoon with the idea for the courses in a nutshell. I didn’t hesitate before saying yes; amazing photography, using your camera to its full potential and recording the intimacy of family life are all topics I’m passionate about. We very quickly developed our ideas and opened the virtual doors to a warm welcome from the online community. In the ten months we’ve been running our business we have been continually impressed by the work and improvement show by our students – they really do take our lessons to heart and shine.
Notice where the light is coming from and move to capture your subject in the best light available. Imagine the photo you want to capture before you bring the camera to your eyes; this will help you to compose the picture as you intend rather than point and shoot. Stay conscious of what it is you love about photos be it subject, light or composition. Remember that every photo you take develops your personal style skills so keep taking photos. They say the first 10,000 photos you take are your worst...so keep shooting!!
Give us your top 3 tips for shooting outdoors...
1. Try shooting in the “Golden Hour” – this is the hour before sunset or the hour after sunrise. The sun is low on the horizon and should cast everything in a nice even glow. This is a great time of year for shooting in the Golden Hour, as the sun’s low position means that it lasts longer and it at a more reasonable time of day than summer. If this isn’t possible, try avoiding the midday sun, when shadows are at their harshest.
2. In bright sun, try to photograph in the shade. This will minimise harsh shadows and squinting. Under a tree, in a forest, in the shadow of a building, next to a natural landscape feature, under the slide, all will help alleviate problems. If you can, position your subject at the edge of the shade with you shooting from the sun so that all of that lovely light can still be part of the photograph.
3.Put the sun behind you (or as we often say to students put your "bum to the sun"). Angling your subject towards the sun will help light them and create the lovely light sparkles in their eyes known as catchlights.
Crochet at Play will be out on 18th of April in the UK, and later in the year in the US, Finland and Holland. Expect some fantastic makes, and more stunning photography!
Click here to sign up to an online course or find out more about Capturing Childhood.
We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.