Friday 22 April 2011

Chocolate Orange Nests!


Hello! It’s Good Friday and Easter is knocking on our doors, what better way to welcome it than with a batch of Chocolate Nests :)

These Chocolate Orange Nests are so delicious and so easy to make,

All you need is:

• Cooking Chocolate
• Mini Chocolate eggs
• Orange extract
• Bun Cases
• Shredded Wheat

Method:

1. Melt the chocolate over a pan of warm water (not boiling) or in the microwave. Make sure not to over heat or get water into it.
2. To the chocolate add 2 teaspoons of the orange extract or until you can taste the orange yourself.
3. Scrunch the Shredded wheat in to a separate boil making sure it is well separated.
4. Add the shredded wheat gradually until there is a good mixture.
5. Put small amounts into the bun cases and squish the chocolate eggs on top and then leave to harden.


And that’s it, so easy and full of whole wheat goodness. Here are a few other ideas I came across and loved to keep us busy over the Easter break.

Wednesday 20 April 2011

New Summer Bags!





Hi there! I hope you are enjoying some nice weather where you are, it’s so good to see the sun and blue skies again… and speaking of the sun I have just put up some new items in my shop, just in time for Spring/Summer.
I have enjoyed every moment making these bags and I am really proud of how they turned out. Each bag is completely handmade and designed from scratch by myself :)
If you would like to see more and read more information on each please come and visit my Coriandr shop

Thursday 14 April 2011

Uni, Textiles & My Happy Place...

I believe it’s about time that I mentioned a bit about my work. In my first post I briefly touched on the fact that I was at University for four years studying Textile Crafts, during which time I reflected quite a bit on my life and work as a person and as an artist.

I began University with a notion to use anything and everything in my work as I had previously been spoilt at college having been given the chance to work a bit too freely with materials. So when starting university I was a bit surprised when they asked us to choose one specific specialism from; embroidery, knit, weave or print.

Now having only discovered the wonderful world of felting I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t specialise in that, and if I did want to do it I had to incorporate it with one of the other four specialism’s causing more work for myself, which was the last thing I wanted.

In the end up I selected print as my specialist area as I felt I could express myself and apply my skills more freely with a medium that wasn’t so limited and structured. I believed that there wasn’t a lot I could accomplish with weave and knit as it was a very slow process for someone who gets a buzz from fast on the spot art. I love having a vision or a sudden flash of inspiration and being able to create it in as little time as possible.
This is one of the reasons I found it hard to listen to the tutors when they were advising us to plan, plan, research, research before making. I always thought it took the fun out of art and I still do :) The only time I actually benefited from this advice was during my final year exhibition (aka the degree show), if it wasn’t for all the planning ahead it would have been a disaster. And I suppose in the end that’s what they were preparing us for.

Luckily for me my degree show did not turn out to be a disaster, it actually went quite well and I would have to say it was one of my proudest achievements. The relief when finally getting everything up and handed in was unexplainable, such a weight was lifted off my shoulders with a great feeling of accomplishment. 


The theme for my Final Major Project was ‘Shoreline’, the reason I choose this was because I wanted to work on something that reflected me as a person and as a creative thinker...

Thursday 7 April 2011

Irish Fruit Tea Brack


This is a recipe I’ve been meaning to try for a long time. I’m not a big fan of fruit breads and cakes, but the family would eat it until it comes out of their ears. So I gave it a go for their sake and since it is an Irish favourite. :)


Tea Brack or Barmbrack is a bready cakey loaf that is traditionally linked with Halloween in Ireland. Barmbrack, also known as Báirín Breac in Irish translates to speckled bread. I’m sure you can figure out why.

Monday 4 April 2011

DIY Daffodils



I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.


Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.


The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:


For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
 (William Wordsworth)


Hello!! I hope you had a great weekend and Happy Mothers Day for Sunday if you are a mother, and also to my own mum :)

Here is a little tutorial I put together on how to make your own hand made daffodils great for doing with kids, to cheer someone up or just to brighten up your home and to add a constant freshness.