IF - Disguise

This is smallest son, Alfred, and his friend Jemima, in constant disagreement about which disguise they should wear.

Kinetic Art

I'm still packing the contents of our house ready to move for, as yet, an indeterminate date and trying not to stress about it! 

As a distraction, whilst packing, I thought I would show you a few little kinetic sculptures we have collected over the years.

 
Turn the little handle and the fish flows from side to side in a swimming motion. By Dave Walker.

The fisherman is finely balanced. One touch and he rocks back and forth enticing the fish with the bait on his line. 

 

 This is one of a number of amazing birthday cards that the kids are sent by their Granny. 
Touch to card to rock it and everything moves. Amazing engineering in a card. 
Find them at www.santorographics.com/paperengineering/

 Turn the handle and the wooden waves undulate and the ship rocks. Sorry, I can't remember the artists name, (I will find out and add it later,) but I do know it came from Rye Art Gallery.

 

This one is called Evolutionary Blunders by Neil Hardy. 

It says 'before developing fangs and branching out into movies the Vampire Bat had a hard time scaring anybody.' This one is amazing as you can see the engineering as you turn the handle and you have the humour of the bat sticking it's tongue out.

Campervan Cut and Sew Fabric

At last, I've got the campervan cut and sew fabric to the point where I can order a sample.

I love this bit because it's always amazing to see your own design on fabric, it gives a completely different dimension to an image I knew inside out.  For something like this that has to be cut out, fitted and sewn together it's nerve racking. There are always changes to be made ......but that's part of the fun.

edit - just though you may like to see a photo of a yard of campervan fabric.

Cucumber Pickle

This time of year is wonderful with it's abundance of fruit and veg. My lovely man is a farmer on an organic vegetable farm. 

It's called Riverford Farm, and is a pioneer in supplying boxes of fresh organic vegetables direct to your door. Some vegetables are too ripe or imperfect in some way for the boxes, so lovely man brings some home for us. 

This week I have found myself making plum jam, green tomato chutney and cucumber pickle. It's like potting some summer for those winter blues, and delicious!

 For cucumber pickle thinly chop your cucumber and onions.

 Sprinkle with salt cover with a plate and leave overnight.

 Distilled malt vinegar, sugar, mustard seeds , tumeric and cloves are warmed and added to the cucumber  and onions and fill your jars. 

There you have it. Summer in a jar.

This recipe is from The Riverford Farm Cook Book a brilliant recipe book that complements the organic veggie boxes from Riverford Farm. But you can also find the recipe online.

www.riverford.co.uk/feed/in:recipes/cucumber-pickle/

Illustration Friday - Imperfect

It's an imperfect world, there's the have's and there's the have nots.

Camping

The headland just down from the campsite in East Prawle

Wave cut platform on the beach just down from the village

View from the beach at East Prawle

View from our tent.

We have just returned from an idyllic weekend camping in a small village called East Prawle. It's about as far south as you can go in Devon and only a forty minute drive from home. Peace, quiet and beauty. A complete contrast to returning to news of riots in London. I am so glad I live where I do and I feel for those who have had their homes, businesses and lives vandalised.