One of the first things we did when we first moved from our flat London to our house in Wivenhoe, was buy lots of seeds and bulbs for our garden. Finally our (well Dr B’s) years of planning has paid off as we now have a charming little space that’s full of colourful flowers throughout the spring and summer.
We’ve got so many blooms that now we can cut and display our homegrown lovelies – here we’ve got pretty cow parsley, vibrant geums, bright marigolds and pretty forget me nots to name a few. I’ll be posting more cuttings from our garden over the summer so you can see what we’ve been growing.
This week, in my capacity as editor of Homemaker magazine, I was invited to join The Great British Sewing Bee Judge Patrick Grant and the Mayor of Lowestoft in opening a new Dunelm store in the Suffolk seaside town. Here’s me with them looking very small (I am wearing heels – they were tall men).
I had a lovely day and was really impressed with the hard work all the team had put into getting the store ready for opening day. It reminded me of what it’s like to make a magazine – everyone has to pull together and attention to detail is paramount.
Here’s a sneak peek of Dunelm’s Autumn/Winter 15 collection, which features some of my favourite pieces from the store’s new ranges…
Wooden Hanging Heart with Leaf Pattern £1.49, Glass Bird Ornament £4.99, Green Decorative Glass Bottle £2.99.
Elements Abstract Framed Print Assorted £29.99, Elements Coconut ReedDiffuser 100ML £3.99, Geometric Tealight Holder £2.99, Ceramic Origami Bird Ornament £3.99.
Simplicity Abstract Hand Painted Canvas £39.99, Harry Wood and Metal Desk Lamp Cream £24.99, Ceramic Wax Filled Bowl £9.99, Ceramic Ridged Taper Vase £9.99.
Wooden Painted Drawers £7.99, Illuminating Light Up My Life Wall Art £7.99, Metal Candlestick £9.99, Wooden House Shelf with Drawers £12.99, Metal Barrel Vase £14.99, Tate Desk Lamp with Chrome Ring Red £9.99, Elements Telephone Table £69.99, Ceramic Ridged Bottle Vase £8.99,Mason Large Sofa in Poeme Charcoal £999.99, Elements Geo Square Cushion £12.99.
This week is National Vegetarian Week. I have been a vegetarian for more than half of my life. I’ve never regretted my decision to stop eating meat and have really enjoyed discovering new and tasty ways to enjoy vegetables.
Some years ago Dr B and I compiled some of our favourite recipes on the blog Earth to Plate. As it’s Veggie Week, I thought I’d put together my five go-to veggie dinners – why not try one this week? They are super tasty.
MOROCCAN CHICKPEA STEW
My Moroccan chickpea stew is a like a hug in a bowl for me. It’s sweet, spicy, fragrant and comforting but most importantly it is full of chickpea goodness. I’ve topped this with a chilli smash for an extra boom factor. See how to make it here.
BUN XA
This Bun Xa recipe is inspired by a dish I’ve savoured many times in the Viet Hoa restaurant in London’s Kingsland Road. I love tofu and sometimes crave its texture when I want a satisfying protein hit. This meal is a real treat for me and Dr B. Try it by followingthis easy how-to.
LENTIL BURGER
Talking of protein then how about this? My veggie burgers are packed with good hearty stuff; lentils, halloumi and quinoa. Great for barbecues, these patties taste great with a salad and homemade chilli sauce. Make ’emhere.
KALE AND SWEETCORN BROTH
Dr B knocked up this sweetcorn, kale and chickpea broth out of things he could find in the cupboard and fridge one evening. Now this spontaneous dish is a regular favourite here. Seriously fresh and zingy with a back note of spice, this is perfect for a summer pick me up. See how Dr B did it here.
FISH-FREE KEDGEREE
When I’m in a bad mood, a good mood, feeling ambivalent, whatever – this no-fish kedgeree is a real winner. Full of protein and flavoured with cumin, paprika and fresh parsley, it tastes great, fills you up and generally never fails to satisfy. Click here for how we do it.
If you listen to Desert Island Discs on Radio 4, you’ll know that you get to choose eight music tracks, a book and a luxury, to save your sanity in your new life as a castaway. Well, my music tracks and book selections pretty much change every month, but my luxury has been the same for the past 20 years – namely a never-ending supply of the stuff pictured above; my drawing kit.
Every one of my illustrations starts with this. I draw my initial motif in pencil on high-quality watercolour paper. I then apply washes of watercolour with a broad brush, adding little touches of detail colour while the wash is still wet with a thinner brush.
Once I’m happy with the colour, I leave it to dry and then set about putting an inky line over the composition. Years ago I used liquid Indian ink with a nib, but it was a messy process (all the sides of my hands would get covered in ink due to the way I hold the pen) and it also produced some inconsistencies in the final image. So I switched to fibre tips and have never looked back.
Faber Castell India ink PITT artist pens and Uni-ball fine line pens are my favourite to draw and write with (I love handwriting – more about that later) and I’ve built quite a stash of them – in fact you will find at least one of this type of pen in every bag I own and in practically every room in the house. Dr B sometimes says he sees them in his dreams. I mainly use the fine, small and extra small nib for my work – their precision is excellent and I really like the way their ink is absorbed into the paper. I couldn’t be without them.
One of the great things about my job is that I get to see the latest collections from all the high-street names. Earlier this month I had a sneak peek at the Joules and M&S Autumn/Winter 2015 ranges.
Joules AW15
It’s interesting how popular retail brands are embracing (it seems to me, at least) illustration and craft trends.
Joules’ mash-up of watercolour style graphics and animal motifs, plus monotone vintage florals with textures of beading, piping and pom pom trims, make use of a wealth of textile finishes and bring a fun sense of playfulness. Joules is well known for its cohesive colourways, season after season. AW15 is no different: the collection’s strong navies and cyans, with pops of magenta, neon and dusky pinks, really allow the illustrated designs to sing.
Joules AW15
M&S also reference the handmade – perhaps even more overtly so. Its folk collection features motifs that evoke narrowboat flower painting and digital style blooms that are reminiscent of embroidery grids – all in a rich palette of purple, cerise, turquoise and dark navy.
M&S AW15
Its upholstery ranges also reflect some of the trends I’ve seen in craft, particularly the woven, geometric style designs.
M&S AW15
I have worked very closely with M&S Home in the past and know the retailer works very hard on giving the consumer a range of looks from which to choose. This season, its folker items are contrasted with a more opulent, almost Gatsbyesque, Deco-influenced items. However, here too I see the influence of the artisan. Not only is there a celebration of indulgent fabrics (velvets, chenilles, silks etc) but the key thing for me are the painterly references – its stunning marbled-effect wallpaper being most notable.
M&S AW15
The retailer has extended the marbling theme to its dining collections. Its Nordic range of eye-catching plates have an almost watercolour-like quality. Apparently as they are individually made, each item is unique.
Last Saturday evening Dr B and I enjoyed two delicious aperitifs with kale juice as the main ingredient.
I love eating greens and I’m particularly a fan of kale (homemade spaghetti with kale pesto is a true ‘hug in a bowl’). Kale is such a versatile leaf and I’ve loved the recent trend for using it in cocktails.
We made a Kale Collins with kale juice, gin, soda water, agave syrup, cucumber and celery leaves poured over ice. The kale juice was made by blending a bunch of kale leaves, a little cucumber and a stick of celery with a cup of water and then passing it through a sieve to remove the unneeded fibrous parts.
It’s an incredibly refreshing tipple, surprisingly light and great for an early summer evening. We make a mocktail version the following morning simply by leaving out the gin and substituting the soda water with sparkling mineral water. It really works a treat.
We then whipped up a lovely Kale daiquiri by shaking kale juice, freshly squeezed lime, ice, white rum and ginger syrup, pouring into a coupe and garnishing with mint leaves and lime slices.
It was gorgeous. Very moreish. Too moreish in fact!
The start of May means bluebells in British woodlands and I’m lucky enough to live next door to a place that’s full of them – here’s some pictures I took while out walking.
You can find both English and Spanish varieties of the flower at this time of year but, while the Spanish version is just as pretty, it can be a bit of a nuisance. According to reports it spreads everywhere and can hybridise with our native bloom, possibly ousting it from its natural habitat. In short, it’s the plant version of the grey squirrel.
Thankfully we don’t seem to have any Spanish bluebells in our local woods and the few bluebells at the bottom of our little garden are English too. I’ve enjoyed studying and drawing the home-grown blossoms.
I love the carpet of blue, violet and green that graces our woodland at this time of year and it inspired me to create a repeat pattern design. I’ll be using this on fabric and paper designs soon, so watch this space…
Every one of my illustrations starts with this. I draw my initial motif in pencil on high-quality watercolour paper. I then apply washes of watercolour with a broad brush, adding little touches of detail colour while the wash is still wet with a thinner brush.
