Truly Scrumptious - It's Pancake Day!

And it's one of the ways I wooed or is it wowed by husband when I first met him.  I was living in a shared house in London and making pancakes (both sweet and savoury) for everyone in the house when he popped in to visit a friend.  He's never asked me to make them again so maybe not.

But for a while when we were houseparents in a boarding house, he did use to make them for everyone.  I think his record was 120 in a sitting!

So whether you want to make from scratch, buy a mix or even buy them ready made, there's no excuse not to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.  And of course, make sure you're well protected in an apron.  If you don't already have one then get one of ours here.  Choose from appliqued designs or personalise your own.  

They're perfect for Mother's Day gifts too.

And if you're going to have a go yourself, here's a simple recipe from BBC Good Food magazine.

You will need:

• 100g plain flour
• 1 large egg
• 300ml milk
• oil or melted butter, for frying

Directions:
1. Sift the flour and a pinch of salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre with the back of a spoon then break in the egg and pour in half the milk. Whisk together, gradually incorporating the flour to make a smooth thick batter. Beat thoroughly to remove any lumps, then stir in the rest of the milk.

2. Heat a little oil or butter in a medium frying pan, then tip off the excess into a bowl. Pour about 2 tablespoons of batter into the pan, tilting the pan as you pour, until the batter thinly coats the base. Cook over a moderate heat for 30 seconds to one minute until golden brown on the underside. 

3. Flip over the pancake with a palette knife, and cook the other side until it is golden brown. Slide the pancake out of the pan on to a plate, heat a little more oil or butter and cook the remaining pancakes one at a time in the same way.

Happy flipping!

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Meet the Maker - Katie Almond, ceramicist.

Another workshop to whet your creative appetite.  This time from ceramicist Katie Almond in Rutland.

Since graduating five years ago, Katie has set up her own workshop in Rutland making ceramics using a variety of slip casting and hand-building techniques.  Each piece is essentially a canvas for decoration and collage as she combines drawings with found ephemera.  "I am inspired by nostalgia, old paper ephemera, vintage textiles and a love of drawing."  

She transfers old envelopes, bus tickets, seed packets and magazine adverts unearthed in charity shops and car boots sales on to her hand-painted porcelain jugs, cups, cakes stands and brooches.  

The mass of handwritten receipts, savings books and postcards she acquired from her grandmother has been a constant source of inspiration.  “Reading through them is fascinating.  One receipt from 1951 just have been when she was out buying presents for my mum, aunt and uncle.  I love being able to add a personal touch to my work.”

"The pieces I create are unique, one-offs that explore a variety of nostalgic themes that I am always adding to. Currently my themes are; the notions of afternoon tea, ‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside’, gardening and flowers, and traditional blue and white pottery."

Katie is another artist exhibiting at Unit Twelve alongside Kirsty Elson in the 'madebyhandonline' exhibition and she also supplies galleries and shops both in the UK and internationally as well as regularly attending craft fairs.

And of course, you'll be keen to know more about the workshops she runs at Debbie Bryan's studio in Nottingham which include courses in the art of  brooch, tile, card and bead making.  These are all on offer in the coming weeks, with the added incentive of homemade cake and tea thrown in! Ideal for hen parties, birthdays or just to vent your creative bent, you can find out more from her website. 

And don't forget if you can't get to Nottingham, do try to search for something similar in your area and let us know how you get on.  We'd love to see the fruits of your labour.

And my tenuous link for the day - I guess it would have to be my pottery, as featured on our vintage inspired aprons!  Take a look on the website if you fancy something to keep you tidy as you bake (or even wear one for your ceramic sessions!)

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Days Out - Whitland Produce Market

Getting ready for our first market in Wales having been asked to hold a stall at the Whitland Produce and Craft Market.

As it's nearly Valentine's Day the theme is about all things heart shaped, so we've been busy making vintage inspired hearts with pastel button detail.  I think I've probably made enough for everyone in Whitland!  They'll be on sale for £2 each.

  

With St David's Day just around the corner I thought I should make some signature red dragon hats, bodysuits, T-shirts and aprons which will all be on sale and to order too.

And we mustn't forget Mother's Day.  You will be able to order a personalised apron at the market ready for collection the following month and in time for Mother's Day.  What would you choose to say?  SUPER MUMMY, MUMS ROCK, WORLD'S BEST MUM or MOTHER KNOWS BEST perhaps?  And of course, you can order online too.

If you're in the area do come and say hello.  We'd love to meet you.  For more details about the market, click here.

www.cobwebknits.co.uk 

Meet the maker - Helen Round, Printmaker

In my never ending search for new projects to try, I was lucky to happen upon this website about printmaker Helen Round. With passion for print and a life time love of beautiful fabrics, not only does she design and create beautiful prints but she also offers workshops so that others can have a go themselves.

She uses traditional screen printing methods and prints her unique, hand drawn designs onto the highest quality linen, combining state of the art digital printing with traditional hand printing techniques such as monoprint and screen print.. 

Everything in her work is carefully considered and all designs begin life as beautiful hand drawings inspired by the Cornish countryside, where she lives and from where she takes much of her inspiration. Living close to the sea she says, 'Her work is a celebration of all that is Cornwall.'

As she says herself 'Everyone Needs a Creative Day' and you can join Helen in her studio for an opportunity to experiment, learn a new skill and feed your creativity. 

Workshops held in her studio and are limited to six people ensuring plenty of 1:1 support. They are very reasonably priced and full day workshops include a delicious home cooked lunch and 'plenty of tea and cake'. 

Here students are printing their own designs and making books. But there are other courses available too and if you find yourself in Cornwall, I urge you to book yourself in and have a go. But if you can't, then do see if you can find something similar nearer to home.

You can buy mugs, bags, coasters, cushions and aprons from her website and don't forget we sell aprons too. You could even get one personalised with 'printmaker' once you've tried it out for yourself.

www.cobwebknits.co.uk

Let's Celebrate .... Burns' Night

We love an excuse to party and since we also love all things Scottish, Burns' Night provides the perfect opportunity.

When looking for inspiration for our new living room since moving, I happened upon these sumptuous cushions which I freely admit to coveting.  Produced by Voyage Maison, they are divine.

 Another great thing about moving is I get the chance to discover some new shops - one of them being Pethau Bychain in King St, Carmarthen..  Here you'll find an eclectic mix of lovely interiors, homeware and jewellery along with a great coffee shop, making a welcome respite from the chains found elsewhere.  And this is where I stumbled upon my cushions, as you can see here.

We always take the opportunity to celebrate so on the day we'll be donning our thistle hats (you can get one here), ....

.... and aprons, tucking into an enormous haggis, complete with neeps and tatties, and having a crack at Robert Burns' famous address to the haggis.  If you fancy a go, here are the first few lines.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, 

Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye worthy o' a grace

As lang's my arm.

Slàinte! (Cheers)

www.cobwebknits.co.uk