Celebrate International Women's Day with Gudrun Sjoden

Head down to their London store for an afternoon of festivities and celebration for International Women's Day

Gudrun Sjoden are celebrating IWD in style at their London store today with colourful offers, exciting surprises and, of course, something tasty to eat and drink. There will  be a special appearance from Alys Fowler, who will be at the store from 4pm sharing her tips on planting for spring.  Plus a free goody bags for those who attend with free copies of The Simple Things inside. An event not to be missed so stop by and say hey!

Whip up a tasty tiramisu in time for the weekend

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

Can you guess the egg?

Using our notes on eggs guide in Issue 7 can you correctly guess these unidentified eggs? Leave your answers in the comments below!

1. Clue: these eggs are quite rare and most commonly found in the spring.

2. Clue: Not for baking, these are best boiled.

3. Clue: Commonly known as the 'American ostrich'

4. Clue: These eggs are known for their tough outer shell.

To read eggs-pert Richard Kempsey's guide to the humble egg download Issue 7 now or order a copy online.

Issue 7 (March 2013) is currently available in UK shops, subscribe here.

** For more eggs-ceedingly eggs check out Clarence Court's website or say hi on Twitter: @ClarenceCourt

Ceilings & Floors | Dublin from top to bottom with Emily Westbrooks

Those who've read Issue 7 will be familiar with Emily Westbrooks, writer, blogger and resident of the wondrous city of Dublin. Today Emily has stopped by on the blog to take us on an extra special tour of her beloved city not seen inside the magazine. Take it away Emily...

I've never been the biggest fan of museums and history exhibitions, but living in Dublin has certainly changed that. The museums here are free (just not open on Mondays), which means you can pop in for a quick visit without feeling like you have to see every inch. But as an added bonus, they offer some of the best examples of Georgian architecture in the city. I've been known to spend more time gazing at the ornate ceilings and snapping photos of my feet on the patterned mosaic tile floors than at the actual exhibits! Now, in each city I visit, I make sure to look up and down to see what the other views have to offer.

Here are some of the best ceilings and floors you'll find in Dublin:

The National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street focuses on Irish history through archeology. It's the home to several "bogmen", people who were found after being preserved in peat bogs. They still have some of their clothing and hair intact! But the big domed ceiling and patterned floor, with mosaics depicting Greek mythology, in the entryway might stop you in your tracks.

Dublin City Hall (This one has a small fee for entry) Dublin City Hall holds an exhibition that shares the history of the capital city from 1170 to today, and the classic Georgian ceiling and mosaic tiled floor filled with flowers, shamrocks and images of Dublin Castle are well worth a visit.

The National Library Technically, you need a reader's card for entry into the National Library, but there are tours available for the public every Saturday at 2:30pm. Inside the main reading room, the domed ceiling is painted in shades of turquoise, which is especially striking against the dark wood bookcases and desks. The grand setting will certainly make you want to crack open a book!

EMILY WESTBROOKS writes about life, travel and DIY projects on her blog, From China Village.

 

Things to wake up and WIN (closed)

We're giving away 8 fantastic prizes from this month's wake up and want wishlist inside Issue 7. Read more about the prizes below or enter here now!

Leaf impression plate | £13 | Yaela Studio

Impressed by hand with a grape leaf before another speckled texture was added, this plate is beautiful to look at.

Cake tins | £25 | Cotswold Trading

How could you say no to a piece of cake delivered by one of these three charming characters? Design by artist Tom Frost.

Pipe lamp | £69 | Bodie and Fou

House Doctor DK's pipe lamp mixes luxe with industrial to create an eye-catching statement piece.

Ceramic mug | £23 | Dawn Dishaw Ceramics

The pattern on this mug is hand-drawn and inspired by the rich patterns of Persian paintings

Harvest mugs | £16 each | Darling Clementine

Make the first drink of the day even more appealing supped from these bone china mugs

Dancers tea tray | £24 | Depeapa

Veronica de Arriba's illustration reminds us to banish the morning blues and get up and dance.

Pure Nature stool | £105 | Idyll Home

Bring a touch of rustic charm to the breakfast table with this wooden stool.

Kuppila tray and greeting cards | £36 | Polkka Jam

Serve up a reviving brew on this tea-themed tray.

CLICK HERE for a chance to win this amazing collection of prizes!

*Our wake up and want wishlist was complied by WILL TAYLOR

Inside The Simple Things Issue 7: the Collector

On Facebook and Twitter you've all been telling us how much you enjoy the collector feature inside The Simple Things. We do too. In seven Issues we've looked at all sorts of weird and wonderful collections from radios to valentines cards, and each one has been unique with a special story to tell. This month we take a look inside Michael Tyler's Cuban political poster collection, a series of stunning and powerful images in which artistic freedom meets the struggle for freedom.

1: 'Day of the Heroic Guerrilla', Helena Serrano, 1968 2: 'Day of World Solidarity with Laos', Andres Hernandez, 1972 3: 'Radiant Che', Alfredo Rostgaard, 1969

4: 'America Latina: Week of Solidarity with Latin America', Antonio Perez (Niko), 1968, 5: 'Day of Solidarity with the People of Venezuela', Faustino Perez, 1969 6: 'International Campaign of Solidarity with the People of Korea', Gladys Acosta, 1969.

To read more about Michael Tyler's Cuban poster collection download Issue 7 now or order a copy online.

Issue 7 (March 2013) is currently available in UK shops, subscribe here.

 

 

 

Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight with our giveaway!

To mark the start of Fair Trade Fortnight we've got a set of Baylis & Harding's new Fair trade range to giveaway to one lucky reader.

Over the next two weeks the Fairtrade foundation is urging us to take an extra step to look after the food we love and the people who grow it. There are plenty of ways to get involved and show your support for this fantastic campaign, whether it's buying products which carry the FAIRTRADE mark, getting involved with a local event, or signing the online petition for fairer food.

To celebrate, we've got a set of Baylis & Harding's new Fair Trade range to giveaway to one lucky person. Enter online now, and don't forget to let us know the ways you're supporting Fair Trade in the comments below.

Visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/gofurther for more on Fairtrade Fortnight.

Get a free trial subscription of The Simple Things for iPad & iPhone! (expired)

Our new Apple Newsstand app is now live! To celebrate we’re offering a free trial subscription to all new subscribers!

To celebrate the launch of our new Apple Newsstand app, we’re offering a free trial subscription of The Simple Things, Mollie Makes and Gathered by Mollie Makes on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to all new subscribers!

Click below to sign up for your free trial subscriptions

The Simple Things

Mollie Makes

Gathered by Mollie Makes

Packing for adventure in Issue 7

Fact behind the mag: wooden boats are a daily sight on Derwent Water, part of the Keswick Launch Company, this boat (just scene) was moored on the shore close to the repair workshop for the boats.

‘Pull on your boots and see where your feet take you’

This month’s mag is all about finding adventure in the great British countryside. Inside we show you how to find the best routes, pick out the essential gear, and even cook up the perfect pocket picnic, but before we ramblers set off we have to face the somewhat dreaded task of packing, yikes. Luckily our friends at Millican have stopped by to show us how to prepare for a two day hike. Boots, waterproofs, snacks, maps, and poles all in one bag? No problem.

Dave the Rucksack from Millican on Vimeo.

The adventure continues inside Issue 7...

Capturing Childhood with Kat Goldin

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.

What inspires you to pick up a camera?

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.

What are your main tips for someone picking up a camera for the first time?

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.

Tell us your simple things…
That first cup of coffee of the day, brought to me every morning by my 2 year old daughter and her daddy. She sings me "Happy Birthday to You" every single day of the year.

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.