BLOOMING MARVELLOUS:
Back in January I posted ’Pruning Fruit Trees’ a little insight into my first attempts of fruit tree pruning, with the guidance of Alan Buckingham’s book ‘allotment month by month’.
Three months on and I am very happy to see the trees blooming!
Here are some of my favourite blossom shots!
STONEACRE: A 15TH CENTURY KENTISH FARM HOUSE.
Yesterday I walked two and half miles from my parental home through rural Kent to visit the very beautiful Stoneacre, in Otham.
As I walked towards the medieval timber framed yeoman’s house I couldn’t believe I hadn’t visited this truly special place before! It turns out I actually have - my parents took me when I was too little to remember, but i’m still surprised I hadn’t been aware of it’s existence in more recent times, especially as it’s such an architectural gem!
On approaching the house’s gate entrance I was greeted by a sweet little brown shaggy dog, belonging to one of the two National Trust gardeners. Adjacent to the house, an old stable block has been converted by Stoneacre’s tenants (who live in the top floor of the house) into a outdoor cafe.
You can only visit Stoneacre on Saturday’s and Bank holiday Monday’s, so it felt quite special to be there. Only the downstairs is open to the public but the setting, gardens, views and stable cafe make this is a highly recommended visit!
The house and Otham Valley area is pretty untouched and it felt like a bit of an old fairy tale! I struck up a conversation with one of the tenants of Stoneacre who is keen to see more visitors and suggests that the house is a great ‘get away’ from urban life or just a bit of ‘piece and quiet’. For me it was an opportunity to travel back in time to the life of a local yeoman and it was really wonderful to see the house and the land being kept alive as it was intended since it’s completion back in the 1480’s!
Stoneacre is a fine example of the traditional South Eastern vernacular Wealden Hall House, surrounded with fields of sheep, flowing streams, lakes, and sceneic walks!
From 12.00 - 16.00 on Sunday 6th May 2012, an Arts & Crafts Fair is being held within the house. Tickets are £5 each which includes entry to the fair, house, gardens and a free soft drink.
Related Link: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stoneacre/
Twitter: @NTStoneacre
HAPPY WORLD BOOK DAY!
I was in Waterstone’s yesterday and came across Pippa Kendrick’s delicious looking cookery book The Intolerant Gourmet!
Last month both my boyfriend and one of my oldest friends discovered that they have food intolerances. So I am interested to see how they can still enjoy eating without feeling like they’re missing out!
Whether you have a food intolerence or not, Kendrick’s book holds an array of lovely looking recipes - definitely worth considering a browse when you next hit your local bookshop!
To find out more about World Book Day visit: http://www.worldbookday.com
WALK ACROSS FEBRUARY FIELDS:
I took these photographs during an 8 mile walk this afternoon in Kent’s North Downs.
The walk began at Harrietsham station, uphill to the Pilgrims Way and onto a National Trail towards The Ringlestone Inn, a 16th Century ale house. A brief stop at the Inn, and then back to the circular walk, downhill towards some breathtaking views of Kent’s agricultural scenery and a beautiful sunset.
Links:
http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/northdowns/
SEASIDE & SHOP FRONTS IN HASTINGS:
I’ve had lots of wonderful times in Hastings and yesterday’s impromptu visit just added to the pot of happy memories!
Each time I visit the Old Town and see the beach it always feels like I have somehow forgotten the enchantment of this place! A great destination for pottering and still witness the old english seaside charm! You can spend many hours sifting through numerous beautiful independent boutiques and characterful shops! It’s a great place to find vintage gems (minus the London hyped price tag) and pretty interior and reclaimed items! There are also some nice little cafes, bars and pubs in and around the Old Town!
The new Jerwood Gallery, located just behind the beached fishing boats, is due to open next month. It’s great that Hastings is getting a contemporary exhibition space but all the new development in and around the gallery is black!! I appreciate that architects like to look to the local context of an area for design inspiration, but for me this has been taken too literally! As a consequence the new buildings have hijacked the local architecture of the original blackened net drying huts and created a bit of a blackened overkill!!
For a wholesome lunch go to the Land of Green Ginger Cafe or for some great fish & chips we can recommend Whites Bar. For a local ale and a log fire visit The Jenny Lind Inn pub!
Links:
http://www.littletreasuresvintage.co.uk/
http://www.landofgreenginger.org/
http://www.hastingsfish.co.uk/
IN AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN: A year in the life of a 1970’s garden, depicting the change in season - and the owners’ wardrobe.
I found this piece in The Sunday Times Magazine yesterday!
There are lots of special moments in the documentation of this elderly couples home life and although I never met them, I love Mr & Mrs Sweetman! I love their garden and the personalities that shine through in their outfits, postures and body language.
Links: http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/?CMP=INTni26
CAPEL-LE-FERNE FARMER’S MARKET:
Every tuesday between 10.00 - 12.30 a non-profit making farmers market is held in the Capel-le-Ferne village hall, near Folkestone in Kent. All profits go towards the maintenance of the village hall.
I popped down to the market for the very first time this morning to find a cafe in the hall and about 20 stands selling a variety of local and homemade produce.
The most exciting stall for me was The Sandgate Bakery!! It was wonderful to see so many types of freshly baked breads on sale, many still warm from the oven! I found it very difficult to select just one item from the husband and wife team, who were more than happy to tell me about the different breads and suggestions on how best to enjoy them. I sensed a real passion from these artisan bakers and you could see this in their produce! I ended up buying a large Sourdough loaf and a Pain’Rustique but I honestly wanted to try them all!
I also bought a couple of jars of Apple, Date and Walnut Chutney from Alkham Valley Preserves and Pickles. A lovely chunky spicy chutney - tried and tested and very yummy!
As soon as I got home I sampled both breads with some Lurpak butter - simple and delicious! I am now an advocate for The Sandgate Bakery and highly recommend any bread lover to check out their website for further info on how and where to find their floury delicacies!
Links:
http://www.thesandgatebakery.com/index.html
NUTTY CUPCAKES!!
Last week I made 24 nutty cupcakes, half were pistachio flavour and the other twelve were moist walnut! The recipes for both came from volume 1 of Cupcake Heaven magazine. They were very similar in method and ingredients and equally simple to make!
Both flavour varieties were delicious and enjoyed by my nearest and dearest, though for me it was the pistachio cupcakes that rocked! Enjoyed best with a cuppa :-)
Pistachio cupcakes
Makes 12
For the sponge:
85g (3oz) unsalted pistachio nuts
115g (4oz) organic butter, softened
140g (5oz) organic self-raising flour
2 organic eggs, lightly beaten
4 tbsp organic greek style yoghurt
1 tbsp chopped pistachio nuts, to decorate
For the buttercream:
115g (4oz) unsalted organic butter, softened
2 tbsp lime juice cordial
200g (7oz) icing sugar
1. Preheat oven to 180 degree C/ Gas Mark 4. Put 12 paper cases in bun trays. Put the pistachio nuts in a food processor or blender and process for a few seconds until finely ground. Add the butter, caster sugar, flour, eggs and yoghurt, then process until evenly mixed.
2. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until risen, golden, and firm to the touch. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool.
3. To make the buttercream, put the butter and lime cordial in a bowl and beat until fluffy. Sift in the icing sugar and beat until smooth. Swirl the buttercream over the cupcakes and decorate with the chopped pistachio nuts.
Moist walnut cupcakes
Makes 12
For the sponge:
85g (3oz) walnuts
55g (2oz) organic butter, softened
100g (3.5oz) organic caster sugar
grated zest of half an organic lemon
70g (2.5oz) organic self-raising flour
2 organic eggs
12 walnut halves, to decorate
For the frosting:
55g (2oz) organic butter, softened
85g (3oz) icing sugar
grated zest of half an organic lemon
1 tsp lemon juice
NB. Double the frosting ingredients if you like plenty topping - i did!
1. Preheat the oven to 190 degree C/Gas Mark 5. Line a 12 hole bun tim with 12 paper cases. Place the walnuts in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Be careful not to over grind, as the nuts will turn to oil.
2. Add the butter, sugar, lemon zest, flour, and eggs to the walnuts. then blend until the mixture is evenly combined. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until well risen and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. To make the frosting place the butter in a bowl and beat until fluffy. Sift in the icing sugar, add the lemon zest and juice, then mix together well. When the cupcakes are cold, spread the frosting on top and finish with a walnut half to decorate.
BEARSTED FARMERS MARKET:
This morning I visited my local village farmers market in Bearsted, Kent. It was great to see a busy turn out and a nice variety of stool holders, selling local produce and crafts!
I treated myself to three very tasty local products, all sampled!
A bottle of Davis & Davis Chiddingstone Medium Dry Superior Kentish Cider produced from locally grown apples in Kent and created by a team of two brothers.
I then bought a jar of seriously delicious Blackberry & Apple Curd from a family run business based in Maidstone called The Happy Apple, who make unusual combinations of chutneys, jams and curds from Kent produce!
My final purchase was an attractive bottle of Victoria Plum Gin from an intriguing company called Nip from the Hip. This company is ran by a mother and daughter team creating fruit flavoured gins and vodkas from locally grown Kentish fruits.
There was a good variety of food being sold at this market, however a stall selling local cheese and dairy products was definitely missing!!
The market takes place on the fourth Sunday of every month from 10am - 1pm!
Bearsted Farmers Market, The Green, Bearsted, Kent, ME14 4DL
Links:
http://www.kfma.org.uk/market-page.html?marketID=55
PRUNING FRUIT TREES
Last week I bought ‘allotment month by month’ by Alan Buckingham. A great book for beginners providing month by month advise.
I am working in my fathers garden, which has a variety of overgrown fruit trees and four empty vegetable patches!
Today, I made a start on some of the fruit trees (apple, plum and pear). These trees are about fifteen years old and haven’t been pruned for years! Last September I visited my father to collect fruit from his garden and make jams and other preserves. Unfortunately I found tonnes of rotting fruit both on and off the trees!! They’d grown too high for picking and the overcrowding had caused disease on some of the branches! It was very sad to see such a waste of food!
In the January chapter, Buckingham suggests that pruning (established and freestanding fruit trees) should take place between November and February when the trees are dormant.
‘Before you make your initial cut, bear in mind what you’re trying to achieve. Your first aim is to cut out any dead, damaged, or diseased wood. Your second is to remove any overlapping and overcrowded branches. And third is to stimulate the growth of new fruit buds for the coming year.’
There are pruning tips and advise on the tools you need for pruning and how to remove branches etc.
I used secateurs, a pruning saw and my dad stepped in with a hack saw and a ladder to help with the heavy and high up branches!
I hope they become healthier and their fruit can be harvested more easily this year!!!
We will see!
Maureen’s Moist Fruit Cake
This is my grandmothers recipe!! Its seriously easy to make and very tasty!
Ingredients:
4 oz / 113g glace cherries
1 x 250g tin of pineapple in juice
4oz / 113g organic butter
12oz / 340g mixed dried fruit
6oz / 170g soft organic brown sugar
8ox/ 227g organic self raising flour
2 x medium sized organic eggs
Method:
Preheat the oven to 150 degree C (fan assisted) or 170 degree C.
Line an 8inch/23cm round cake tin with greaseproof baking paper.
Chop the cherries and the pineapple (keep the juice).
Put in a pan with the pineapple juice, butter, dried fruit and sugar.
Heat to melt the butter but do not boil.
Leave to cool, and then stir in the flour and eggs.
Put the cake mixture in the lined cake tin and bake for about one and half hours until firm, and a skewer comes out clean!
Place on a cooling rack until cool enough to remove and serve with a nice cuppa!
Organic Vanilla Cupcakes
It was my mothers birthday last Sunday!! I bought her a pretty three tier cake stand and made some delicious cupcakes to go with!
I found this recipe in a magazine I bought last summer called ‘Easy Bakes cakes and puds’ by Good Housekeeping!
It was a very simple recipe and the cakes came out great!!
Ingredients:
175g (6oz) organic caster sugar
175g (6oz) very soft organic unsalted butter
3 medium organic eggs, beaten
1tsp organic vanilla extract
175g (6oz) organic plain flower
1tsp organic baking powder
For the icing and decoration:
200g (7oz) very soft organic unsalted butter
1tsp organic vanilla extract
375g (13oz) organic icing sugar
Sugar sprinkles - or anything you have in the cupboard thats pretty and edible!!
1. Preheat the oven to 180 degree C (160 degree C fan) mark 4. Put 12 paper muffin cases into a 12-hole muffin tin.
2. Put the sugar and butter in a large bowl, and beat with an electric hand whisk until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs a little at a time - if the mixture looks as if it’s going to curdle add 1tbsp flour. Beat in the vanilla.
3. Fold in the flour and baking powder. Divide the mixture evenly among the cake cases and bake for 18-20mins until golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
4. To make the icing: put the butter, vanilla and 2tsp hot water in a mixing bowl and beat in two-thirds of the icing sugar with an electric hand whisk. Gradually beat in the rest of the icing sugar until you have a soft but spreadable consistency that holds its shape.
5. Fill the piping bag, fitted with a large star nozzle, with the icing. When the cakes are completely cold, pipe swirls on top of the cupcakes. Decorate with sugar sprinkles or any other cake decoration you like!
NB. To make chocolate icing add cocoa powder to your icing mix - I added enough for a good chocolate colour and flavour!
ARCHITECTURAL TATTERS …
Following my previous posting, these images illustrate initial ideas and inspirations for exploring textile design, print and fabric dye techniques.
Before my textile course started we were asked to bring in some images to work with: I wanted to produce textiles inspired by architecture, so I headed off to the RIBA library. I’d written my dissertation about redundant architecture, which led me to a book full of beautiful images of partly demolished buildings in London.
I am particularly interested in the fabric of buildings and these fractured Victorian brick buildings really touched me. I love their layered inhabitation and the contrast of tough structural exposures and thin fragile interior surfaces.
The textile tutor asked me to choose just one image, so I chose the image featuring 12 exposed domestic interiors, some showing traces of wallpaper prints. I wanted to introduce new wallpapers into the rooms that appeared plain.
From the Chelsea College of Arts Library, I quickly searched for patterns and prints. I wanted to find contrasting styles to the already traditional wallpapers featured in the derelict interior. I came across a wonderful little book of Japanese patterns and prints, from which I selected three styles. I then found a traditional English floral print. I scaled down the new prints to fit with the buildings partly demolished interior. Cutting out the areas I wanted to fill with new patterns, created a stencil with the original image of the building. I then laid the stencil over the patterns i’d sourced, and made a photocopy of this new collaged image: ready for screen exposure, colour selection and print.
I had a lot of fun with this print; testing numerous types of fabrics for print and dye techniques: devore (burnout), discharge, direct and resist printing.
RETROSPECTIVE - ARCHITECTURE POSTGRAD EXPLORATIONS INTO TEXTILE PRINTS
Back in February I took a short course at Chelsea College of Arts: Introduction to Textile Design. This comprised textile dye techniques, layout design and screen printing.
I took along an image i’d created during my third year of a BA Hons in Architecture. This image, formed from a repeatedly photocopied scale model element; the structural framework of a monitor window. I made this element from my own computer drawings, which I then laser cut out 1mm card.
These monitors became an obsession of mine - and this obsession originated from my precedent study of the Walter Segal Pickle Factory in Dalston, which was sadly demolished sometimes in the last decade.
As you will see from my study, these monitors became a 2D pattern for fabric dye and print testing.
I recently moved home and found these textiles along with some other designs and tests which I might add at a later date.
Hope you enjoy!
Web Links:
SWEDEN: AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES, STOCKHOLM AND AN ARCHIPELAGO ISLAND
Our final train journey took us from Copenhagen to Stockholm and it felt like our fastest! We knew this journey from Denmark to Sweden would involve travelling across the longest road and rail bridge in Europe: the Oresund Bridge.
Travelling at speed through beautiful landscapes; we immediately sensed our arrival into Sweden. I felt the urge to grab my camera so many times, but knew there was little chance of actually capturing what I was experiencing through the window of the train:
Dense pine forests; lakes of altering sizes; large amounts of blue sky against wide spans of agricultural land; Falu red painted houses and farm buildings with varying degrees of extreme pitched roofs. It was textbook Swedish countryside scenery and we enjoyed this train journey most!
We arrived at Stockholm Central Station during the evening rush hour and met friends who had offered to put us up for the duration of our stay. That evening we walked around the harbour of the city and see how it spreads across a number of islands. Then into picturesque Gamla stan (the old town) for some dinner.
Next morning we visited The Moderna Museet on Skeppsholmen, one of the islands of Stockholm. The museum of modern art is housed in an old navy drill building; converted and extended by architect Rafael Moneo as part of an open architectural competition in 1998.
The interior is substantial and divided into numerous gallery spaces, all drawing natural light from lightwells. Some of the galleries have increased daylight, via strategically placed large square windows which also capture framed views of the surrounding cityscape across the waters from Skeppsholmen.
The Moderna Museet has an impressive collection of photography, ranging from 1840 to the present day. I thoroughly recommend a visit to see this collection, especially if you are a photography lover!
A nice addition to these photographic exhibitions are centrally located resting places, where visitors can take a seat at a table, where a small library of the artists books accompany the exhibition. The gallery also had a great looking restaurant facing the water, and an excellent book shop with hundreds of architectural titles!
Later that day we sat by the harbours edge and enjoyed a basic picnic while watching the Stockholm Marathon runners finish their race. We then made our way over to Katrinahissen, a public elevator connecting Slussen below with Sodermalm above; to see the sunset over the city.
The day before we were due to leave we got up early to visit Vaxholm, one of Stockholm’s archipelago islands. Our ferry left the harbour at 09.30 and took us on a scenic 45 minutes journey. Upon arrival we were greeted by Vaxholms fortress: Kastellet. The island has just under 5000 residents and was extremely peaceful: a nice break from our previous fast-paced city stop offs! Before we caught the ferry back to Stockholm, we stopped for some warm drinks and a rest at posh cafe Gateau.
On our final day in Stockholm, we were keen to see a special piece of architecture and learned that Sigurd Lewerentz had designed a building on the outer edge of the capital, in Bjorkhagen: St Marks Church.
Similar to Lewerentz’ other brown brick church St Peter’s in Klippan; the brickwork and openings appear like a fortress, where the exposed structure and materials are the architecture; and the details are beautifully crude and bespoke.
Completed in the 1960’s, this modern church was full of life during our visit. An elderly ladies lunchtime club was taking place in one half of the building, while in the main chapel a baby and mother group formed upon scattered floor cushions by the alter. This was really wonderful to see, a modern church being used for modern times unlike so many empty and derelict churches in the UK. I’ve always thought empty unused churches and even active churches could embrace the community needs of their parish more. St Marks was a wonderful example of this!
Related web link:
