tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90357489083309217802024-03-05T01:29:14.808-08:00seeds seams and upcyclingA gardening, dressmaking and crafting blog with a bit of cooking thrown in for good measureseeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-6331158486918422042013-11-14T21:55:00.000-08:002013-11-14T21:55:57.057-08:00Another BlouseI bought this fabric years ago, I think it must have been all of 10 to 15 years. I originally made it up into a gypsy style blouse with a gathered waist and neckline, as below. <br />
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I hated it, haven't a clue why though. But it ended in the box on top of my wardrobe. Last month I was rummaging through said box and spied it again. After losing all my excess weight, I have been on a jeans buying spree and still need more blouses to go with them. This fabric is a lovely smudgy patterned viscose in all the colours that I love. I decided to adapt the pattern as below, by making it more fitted, adding 2 buttons at the back<br />
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and a tie band at the waist. It worked and I now have a lovely new blouse that pairs with so many of my jeans it will be in danger of being worn out. The picture makes it look a lot baggier than it actually is. <br />
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seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-37497561151300400582013-09-07T22:34:00.000-07:002013-09-07T22:34:02.248-07:00BlousesIts a truth universally acknowledged that a girl will always need more blouses, tops and hell! clothes than she already has. So, my task for this autumn is to make more blouses and tops. I have quite a lot of skirts, but tops and blouses are a bit lacking in my wardrobe . So the next make was this. <br />
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Since losing weight I have found that I like my clothes to be quite fitted, and this pattern suited the bill perfectly. It is an empire line, fitted under the bust with ever so slightly puffed sleeves. I decided to try to give it a more 40's 'make do and mend' vibe by adding collar band, self covered buttons, and sleeve band in a contrasting fabric from my stash as though I had combined two blouses to make one new one.<br />
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The pattern is one I bought quite a long time ago and starts at a size 14, I cut out a size 14 but it was a little large on me and I had to make the top quite a bit smaller and put in extra darts at the bust line, but I think it works ok. The pattern is quite 'busy' so the darts don't really notice to most people (at least that is what I like to think). Also, you can't see in the photos, but when putting the interfacing in the sleeve bands I stupidly used the printed edge of the interfacing completely disregarding the fact that the print would probably be visible through the dress fabric. Duh! Stupid Zora. I don't think it is too bad and if I position my arms carefully as above, most people won't notice, but at some stage in the future will have to be rectified because I can see it and remaining in this position for any length of time is quite wearing.<br />
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The blouse is just what I wanted. Smart enough for work, but also suitable for a more casual event. with jeans or a skirt. I think I will probably make this pattern again. Maybe with longer sleeves for the autumn and winter.<br />
<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-10048876605082764372013-08-28T11:43:00.002-07:002013-08-28T11:43:55.780-07:00New patternsLook what was waiting for me when I got home from work this evening.<br />
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Simplicity are having one of their sales. It feels like Christmas. I need a load more blouses and tops, so these patterns will go some way to help out. I like Simplicity Patterns, I grew up with them so the instructions feels like a friend telling me what to do. My next project is another dress, which I hope I will be able to introduce a vintage vibe into. I am going to use some of the fabric I bought in Birmingham Rag Market.<br />
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I am hoping this will tide me over into the Autumn, worn with shoes and tights rather than bare legs and sandals.<br />
<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-25785657778995918302013-08-18T14:00:00.000-07:002013-08-18T14:00:05.865-07:00Summer dressesWhat a summer, most of the time the weather has been glorious, and the summer dresses have been out in force. I have had this pattern a number of years and first made it up several years ago. I love the empire line, I think it is very flattering. As I have previously said, I have lost a bit of weight this year. Luckily, I tried the original dress on and found it to be too big so I decided to make this version a size smaller. I have several lengths of bright poly cotton in my stash and thought that I would make another summer dress. Although theoretically, it is coming to the end of the summer , I am hoping that we get a few more weeks of warm sunny weather enough for me to wear this dress.<br />
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Anyway here is the pattern<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUB7BiHSNldsBI8UzYU3DynUL5iiLA91GYkwoefZgDcpgqEnoWxBEsUV7IS1qTdK5ZcpOt8IZyj98siPlVTJ7pYk6RwANbL3N2O3ff-p2YCDjMvfL4rOPqrSkfs72PBrJfTsHkt7NRj6Zh/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUB7BiHSNldsBI8UzYU3DynUL5iiLA91GYkwoefZgDcpgqEnoWxBEsUV7IS1qTdK5ZcpOt8IZyj98siPlVTJ7pYk6RwANbL3N2O3ff-p2YCDjMvfL4rOPqrSkfs72PBrJfTsHkt7NRj6Zh/s400/021.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
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I had some grey/blue Broderie Anglaise left over from a previous project that picked up the colours in the fabric perfectly. So I made my own bias binding to go around the neckline.<br />
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Here is the dress at the halfway stage before the addition of the lining and finishing off.<br />
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and here is the finished article, with me looking a bit bemused about it all. I love the dress though it is so easy to wear.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-85889831118386005802013-08-11T11:16:00.000-07:002013-08-11T11:16:49.371-07:00Goldhawk RoadA bit late I know but this week has been so busy. The Goldhawk Road meet up, well what can I say that has not already been said. I love it here, but it is a fabric shoppers paradise so that is a forgone conclusion. The Goldhawk Road area is under threat of demolition, so if you can join their facebook page please do as it would be such a shame to lose this area of London to the developers.<br />
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I have only been going to Goldhawk Road for a year or two, didn't realise it existed until I 'googled' fabric shopping in london, then I found out about the on line sewing community and that was it, I had to go. What a revelation, such beautiful fabrics and so reasonably priced, all in such close proximity to each other.<br />
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Anyway, the meet up. First decision, fretted about all week, what to wear?. The weather had been really kind all week, and I had been on annual leave. I had just about finished this dress,<br />
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but it was not certain we would be able to find a lunchtime venue and we may have been able to have a picnic. I love picnics, but this dress is actually quite fitted and was not sure it would hold up to lazing around on grass, and it has a white background. So after uuming and aahing for a few days, I decided to make another dress.<br />
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I had some left over lightweight cotton, in a Pucci inspired print that I bought as an end of roll at Walthamstow Market years ago and I thought it would be perfect for a more casual lunch and possible lazing on grass, and it is a blue/green background. <br />
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The pattern is another old one, a gypsy style that is loose with a elasticated, shirred waist for a bit of fit. Another bonus with this pattern is that the design of the fabric is not disturbed in any way.<br />
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This was such an easy make, very little fitting, just a bit of decision to be made regarding the placement of the casing for the waist elastic. I have learnt from past experience of making in this this style to place the casing just a touch lower than my natural waist to account for natural movement, perfect for a picnic. <br />
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I had a fabulous day in Goldhawk Road, thanks to Claire <a href="http://sew-incidentally.blogspot.co.uk/">http://sew-incidentally.blogspot.co.uk/</a>. We had a lovely lunch at Liz's cafe in the end and much swapping was done. Photos, already covered elsewhere in the blogosphere. </div>
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As I said I was very restrained, I try to limit my fabric buying now, as I have quite a stash. Although after reading some of the posts from 'diary of a sewing fanatic' <a href="http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.co.uk/">http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.co.uk/</a> and seeing her pictures, I realise my stash is small fry really. I evenutually bought a length of fabric for a bag. It is a light weight cotton and will have to be backed with some calico, but I could not resist it, look it has pictures of cotton reels,thimbles and pairs of scissors.</div>
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and two lengths of dress fabric.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvVQ8QdsG265nZHuey_M6cUP3A6D7pn61zlC1KsROqOurlLW86O9PgwwDNJ1VY4VA5qd0yl-8sL64XL-D73r6FGA3hgeaNdMb4pgSoQUKgKrQ6JvR5IpPPY3ixf5EhyREDEYgXv3IUWkG/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKvVQ8QdsG265nZHuey_M6cUP3A6D7pn61zlC1KsROqOurlLW86O9PgwwDNJ1VY4VA5qd0yl-8sL64XL-D73r6FGA3hgeaNdMb4pgSoQUKgKrQ6JvR5IpPPY3ixf5EhyREDEYgXv3IUWkG/s640/034.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Corduroy</span></td></tr>
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I have just read Katie's latest post <a href="http://www.sleeksilhouette.com/">http://www.sleeksilhouette.com/</a> and I really fancy a gathered jersey pencil skirt, and I think this fabric would be perfect, so am going to wait for her tutorial.<br />
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I also paid a visit to the market, I have a few cushions that need an inside cover so bought quite a bit of lining fabric for them and some polycotton to line summer dresses. Then home when all the shops had closed happy and exhausted at the end of a wonderful day.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-14883388803875029892013-07-30T22:49:00.000-07:002013-07-30T22:49:08.021-07:00Holiday sewingI am on annual leave this week, and I resolved to catch up on some dressmaking. This is yet more fabric I bought at Walthamstow Market. I think it came from Saeed's. It is a crisp poly cotton and perfect for summer dresses for the gorgeous weather we have been having here in the UK. <br />
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I first made it up several years ago, to take on holiday with me, now I have been sewing long enough to know that a crisp poly cotton is never going to drape and hang well in soft gathers, but I still went ahead and made a softly draped pattern. Did it look good and well made, of course not! So into the clothing to be altered at a later date the garment went. The later date came and went last year in our non existent summer. But this year well what a contrast. Out of the alterations box it came. <br />
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I did not actually use one single pattern for this garment, it is a mash up of several patterns. The skirt is an A line pattern that must be all of 10 years old and has been used so many times it is held together with sellotape. The bodice is part of another dress, and the midriff is just a strip of material I cut and pieced together to join the bodice and skirt together. I copied an idea I have noticed other bloggers taking and used an old sheet to line the skirt. It adds a nice weight to the dress.<br />
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I put a side seam in, I have trouble with side seams they never seem to 'hang' properly, to my satisfaction. I may just go revert to using to back seam zippers, I just feel happier with them. Anyway this is the completed dress<br />
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although I am still not entirely happy with the side zip, I am infinitely happier with this version of the dress than its previous incarnation. </div>
.seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-71642372719580400642013-07-23T11:26:00.002-07:002013-07-23T11:26:32.784-07:00Another week of glorious sunshineAnd so it goes on. last week was a beautiful week weatherwise, a bit to hot really to do much gardening. I don't get much shade in my garden, but I am not going to complain I love hot sunny weather. <br />
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Anyway, back to the garden. I know I have said it before, but really I am so glad that I used water retaining granules and slow release fertilizer. With the amount of pots I have and working full time, it would be very difficult and tiring to keep on top of the watering with the heat we have been having. Look at these pots, I am so pleased with them.<br />
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Not so sure about the Sweet Peas, They all seem to be blue tones, and whilst I love the deep blue painted effect I had wanted a variety of colours. Still they smell divine and look lovely as well.<br />
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The Pelargoniums just keep on giving from mid may until the first frosts. I love them, I take cuttings every August and overwinter them.<br />
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Photo of the weekend. The pots are really coming into their own now, and all I need to do whilst we are having this glorious weather is keep them watered, deadheaded every day and a little tomato/rose food once a week to supplement the slow release fertilizer I added at planting.<br />
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Addendum: This post was written before the spectacular electrical storm and torrential rain we had in South East Britain Last Night. Although, It is still muggy and warm.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-3327732056221517722013-07-14T12:03:00.001-07:002013-07-14T12:03:59.304-07:00The garden in high summer What a glorious week. The weather has been absolutely fantastic, but it is still quite windy on the coast the combination of wind and hot sun can be devastating so I am so glad that I use water retaining granules, they have really helped the pots to retain moisture. Because I use a lot of pots and annuals my garden is flowering its little heart out now. I am really pleased with the seeds that I sowed earlier on in the year. The only ones that did not germinate were the Sweet Peas 'Winston Churchill'. <br />
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I also overwintered some Begonia's I bought 2 years ago. They were quite were quite expensive tubers so I did my best not to lose them. This is the earlier flowering one this year. <br />
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I think that I may buy some more tubers next year<br />
Then of course, there are the Pelargoniums. Incredibly useful plants, flowering all summer long. They start at the end of May and just keep going. Again, cuttings overwintered in my conservatory.<br />
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Although the work in the garden is less intense now, there are still jobs to be done. Mainly it is cutting back all the shrubs eg. Ceanothus and earlier flowering hardy perennials such as hardy Geraniums and Peonies which are over now. <br />
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Photos of the week are the Nasturtiums which are doing brilliantly, they are so bright and colourful and they quite quick to flower. My only very very slight quibble with them is that the height sizes do fluctuate. I bought Nasturium Milkmaid and Empress of India, the seed packet says 10" to 12", look at this.<br />
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Definitely not 10" to 12", but stunning anyway.<br />
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Hope you all have a good gardening week.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-46180220273506193322013-07-14T01:22:00.000-07:002013-07-14T01:22:03.953-07:00Charivari day 13 JulyThe sky was blue, the sun was hot, the music was loud and the costumes were bright. Charivari day in Folkestone. What a day. I have been going ever since its inception. I think yesterdays was the best ever.<br />
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Assembling the parade in the Old Fish Market. The photos don't really do it justice as these drummers were actually dancing while drumming.<br />
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The parade proceeded around the Old Harbour.<br />
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Onto the Leas<br />
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And finished on the bandstand. The bands commissioned for the event were playing a variety of music there was dancing, singing, ice creams. A really chilled out atmosphere and good music. What's not to love. <br />
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All in All, A fabulous day. Well done Strange Cargo - the organisers and all the schools that were involved.seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-3834246500318767692013-07-07T12:08:00.001-07:002013-07-07T12:08:59.317-07:00Dinner today 6 JulyI love reading cookery books, but they have to be a specific kind of book incorporating some narrative text as well. I have a lot of recipe books so I don't buy collections of recipes anymore and with the advent of the internet and websites like the Good Food website, realistically I don't even need to keep the recipe collections but do for sentimental reasons. BUT, I love a cookery book with narrative and still buy them or borrow them from the library (a fast disappearing resource). Just recently I have been reading Claudia Roden's 'The food of Spain'. This is a beautiful book with plenty of photos to relieve the narrative which is highly descriptive of both ingredients and regions of Spain.<br />
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I decided to make one of the recipes that by all accounts is a traditional Spanish dish. Patatas a la Riojana or in English Potatoes with Chorizo. I used one of her variations and added tomatoes to the onions.<br />
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My quantities for one<br />
4 medium sized new potatoes<br />
1 teaspoon Olive Oil<br />
2 onions<br />
1 tomato or a handful of cherry tomatoes<br />
100g Chorizo<br />
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Method<br />
Sweat the onions in the Olive Oil until they are soft and slightly caramelized.<br />
Add the tomatoes, and cook until softened.<br />
Add the potatoes and cook for a couple of minutes stirring all ingredients together.<br />
Add water to just cover. <br />
Simmer gently, uncovered until the potatoes are tender and the liquid has reduced to a sauce enough to cover the Chorizo and potato mixture. If the potatoes cook before the liquid has reduced, turn the heat up so that the liquid reduces more quickly.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-78436609157107073302013-07-07T11:52:00.000-07:002013-07-07T11:52:52.820-07:00mint green spotsI love polka dots and I love mint green or jade or turquoise. I made this garment several years ago from some poly cotton fabric bought at Walthamstow Market. I made it without sleeves and never liked it, so resolved to alter it some day. Consequently it went into the 'clothes to be altered box' for attention some time in the future. Well the future is here now, enough time has passed since I made the original garment for me to be inclined to refashion it. I bought loads of this fabric, and could combine this blouse with some more fabric to make a dress, but I decided to stick with the blouse and put some short sleeves on it and some ribbon. The rest of the fabric will be made into a skirt. I can wear the two together to give the illusion of a dress whenever I feel a dress moment coming on.<br />
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I made covered buttons in this instance. I love this blouse now and wear it often. I will eventually get around to making the rest up into a skirt so the two can be worn together. If I can buy some more I probably would because this fabric is so versatile.</div>
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-91018916847509545932013-06-30T12:35:00.000-07:002013-06-30T12:35:09.094-07:00up-cycled lamp shadesI have bought second hand and upcycled all my life. I was attending jumble sales before I hit my teens. I can vaguely remember wearing a blue velvet jacket bought at a jumble sale before I was thirteen, this may or may not be before I began to sew, so I don't know if I refashioned it at all. When I moved into my home, I did not have a lot of stuff to bring with me, so my love of upcycling was very useful as I did not have a lot of money either, but I have always wanted a home that whilst warm and comfortable was also indicative of my personality and love of second hand goods that have been rejuvenated and craft work. I prefer a home to look lived in, colorful and interesting and have character, I don't mind if the house is a little shabby ( I am not the tidiest person in the world). My house from the outside is not full of character but I hope that the things I fill it with are. Unfortunately living in this way means that it takes longer than usual to decorate and it can get a little messy, this may not be conducive to a harmonious home life.<br />
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Some years ago, I worked in a hotel, I needed some lampshades and I had the idea of using the wine labels as decoupage on a plain white shade. My work colleagues thought I was mad, but were happy enough to save me any interesting/colourful labelled wine bottles that were sold so that I could soak the labels off the bottle. I dried the labels out and stuck them to a plain white lampshade.<br />
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This is how that lamp shade looks today.<br />
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This lampshade sits on my very colourful windowsill, which I will blog about later in the year.<br />
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Have a good week!<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-89313443360373355232013-06-30T12:27:00.000-07:002013-06-30T12:27:50.847-07:00Summer Breeze weekend 28 and 29 June 21013Summer Breeze is the definitive summer song for me, and this weekend has been perfect summer weather in the garden.<br />
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The Philadelphus is flowering profusely, and its perfume permeates the whole of the bottom terrace.<br />
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The weather forecast was promising for this weekend, and the gods did not disappoint. After a wet end to my working week, Saturday dawned a bit misty and murky, but the sky got bluer and bluer until it turned into a lovely day, with a little breeze and a little cloud. Perfect for gardening. I think that this years weather has been good for the Paeonies, the buds that were so promising developed into this.<br />
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Jobs for this weekend were:<br />
cut back the Genista (Broom)<br />
I usually cut this plant back quite hard, but try not to cut into the old wood. It is such a spectacular plant when in flower, it is worth taking the extra trouble.<br />
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Cut back Snowberry<br />
This plant has a tendency to grow along the ground to some considerable distance, it is an unruly bush and suckers freely. My pruning book, says to cut back up to a third every year in late winter to the base to control the size of the bush if required and to eliminate suckers, other wise cut out dead, diseased and damage wood. I decided to ignore this advice this year and take out the majority of the growth in order to rejuvenate and tidy the plant. This is a tough shrub so this treatment should work. I will start again next year with more sympathetic pruning. <br />
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Pot up the last 5 large pots that held tulips over the spring period. I replaced the Tulips with Pelargoniums, some upright and pendula Lobelia, HHA Asters, HHA Phlox, Mignonette, Night Scented Stock, Nemesia, and Nemophilia.<br />
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As previously said, I take the tulips out of their pots over the summer and let them bake in the conservatory. I did this last year, so will do it this year as well to make sure the improved flowering was not a fluke.<br />
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Pot up my tomatoes<br />
A bit late but better late than never.<br />
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Pot up any plants that need it.<br />
I ended up planting some tall cornflowers in to a largish pot.<br />
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Plant my HHA Rudbekia 'Cherry Brandy'. I had a high germination rate on these seeds, which produced strong, bushy plants. I have put some into the garden and the rest will go into pots.<br />
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Exterminate slugs and snails!<br />
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Favorite photos of the week:<br />
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Red Lilies, I'm not sure of the name of this one, I have had it a few years. I managed to escape the scourge of the dreaded lily beetle this year by constant surveillance, honestly its like being in 'The Bill'! Flanked by Geum 'Mrs Bradshaw'<br />
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Nasturtium Strawberries and Cream in the terracotta pot, , Milkmaid in the green pot, and Empress of India in the concrete log. Heuchera in the enamel pot and in the terracotta planter Bellis Perrenis (double daisies). I think that the rose is David Austin's L D Braithwaite. I have had it for such a long time the label has disintegrated.seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-53169487579717540622013-06-27T13:25:00.003-07:002013-06-27T13:25:58.005-07:00Thursday 27 June 2013My meal tonight is a simple one. Pasta with tuna, lemon and dill. This recipe is from the Good Food Website. I use this website all the time. I have found it to be an efficient way to organise all my recipes and experiment with new ones. Whilst I fully intend to keep all my cookbooks, I have a large collection of magazines which I can now donate to charity as I have documented all the recipes I want to use to this website. So freeing up more space for craftwork supplies and fabric (hmm not sure if its a good idea now!)<br />
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Anyway<br />
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After work I don't usually feel like cooking but I still like to eat a fresh meal. This is easy to prepare, uses store cupboard ingredients and is both tasty and nutritious. <br />
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For 1<br />
Canned tuna I usually use tuna canned in spring water, but I decided to try it canned in oil. I used half a can of tuna.<br />
quarter of a lemon<br />
1 onion<br />
Spaghetti/linguine<br />
salt/pepper<br />
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This dish is cooked on the hob. The measurements are very general, as it really depends on your own taste how much tuna, lemon and onion you use.<br />
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I sweated the onion off, in some of the tuna oil, added the zest and juice of the lemon then the tuna and then added the dill. I add the dill last to preserve its fresh green colour and flavour.<br />
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Boil pasta till al dente in salted water.<br />
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Add salt and pepper to taste to tuna mixture.<br />
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Drain pasta, add to tuna mixture. Stir tuna and pasta mixture thoroughly.<br />
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After tasting the tuna, I decided to add some extra flavourings of my own. I first added some parmesan, not to much just a teaspoonful then some Dijon Mustard again not too much, start off with a teaspoon, then add to your taste.<br />
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Although I usually buy tuna canned in spring water for health reasons, I am pleased that I used tuna in oil. Somehow the dish tasted creamier to me. I would definitely use canned in oil tuna again for the flavour.<br />
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Have a good Friday<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-2589215639399492422013-06-23T12:54:00.000-07:002013-06-23T12:54:57.562-07:00Weekend in the garden 22 -23 June.Well the week started of gloriously, Sunday was damp, but Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were hot and sunny and it wasn't windy HURRAY. The garden is looking very nice at the moment. There is still structural work to be done and developing of borders, but I think that will always be true wherever I garden.<br />
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I like a garden to have quite a strong structure to it, although I love flowers, shrubs and trees, I think that the hard landscaping is important to provide a balance to the composition of a garden. When I first moved to this house. The garden was very bare, there was a straggly grass lawn and the top terrace was unfinished.<br />
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The garden was eventually landscaped by my mum, dad and me. I killed the grass, smoothed the dirt over and over and over and over! until it was as flat as I could make it. I then covered it over with black membrane. We had several tons of stones delivered one summer day, and we dragged the stones to the garden in a makeshift wheelbarrow. The design is constantly evolving and I am sure that its current incarnation is not its final one.<br />
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and on to my favorite pictures from the week.<br />
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The Philadelphus is just coming into flower, and is already permeating the lower terrace with its perfume. <br />
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Have a good week and I hope the weather is favourable for any gardening or outdoor pursuits that you want to do this week.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-81387271900090671752013-06-23T12:16:00.001-07:002013-06-23T12:16:18.579-07:00Afternoon Tea at Eastwell Manor Ashford KentWhat a difference a few days make. I signed up to go for afternoon tea at Eastwell Manor in Ashford a month or so ago with a group of approximately 10 ladies. Eastwell Manor is an old country house hotel and I had been hoping to wear one of the pretty summer dresses that I have made and not worn a lot.<br />
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The beginning of the week was lovely, it felt like summer had begun and summer dresses abounded on the streets of Kent. What a difference a few days makes. Today I donned, a camisole, a long sleeved t shirt, tights, the dress, a cardigan, proper shoes, a raincoat, and a scarf. Oh must not forget the cap and umbrella! drrr. British weather. <br />
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Anyway off my soapbox and onto the hotel. As I said Eastwell Manor is an old country house hotel. It is set in the sort rolling fields reminiscent of a Constable landscape painting.<br />
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If you ignore the cars and street lamps and any other reminders of the 21st Century. Oh and I am still working on panorama photographs, so apologies for that.</div>
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The interior is beautiful, I arrived early, ordered a coffee and sat in a little nook to read The coffee arrived quickly, in a 2 1/2 cup cafetiere, with a pretty china cup and saucer. Not something that I am used to as usually coffee is served in a standard issue mug. This was so much more elegant.<br />
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This is the lounge and reception area as you walk into the hotel.<br />
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Afternoon tea was served promptly at 3 pm, in this room. <br />
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It consisted of a round of finger sandwiches, one smoked salmon, one egg, one ham and a herby mayonaisse, and one cheese, 2 freshly made scones with jam and clotted cream, and 3 cakes. My only gripe (if it can be called that) is that one of the selection of cakes was a cup cake. Now I know cup cakes look very pretty, but what happened to traditional British fairy cakes. It would be nice to see fairy cakes on some menus again.<br />
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It was a lovely afternoon, the service was friendly, efficient, and prompt. The setting and interior was spectacular and I met up with some lovely ladies whom I had met earlier in the year and made some new friends.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-13276559273746582812013-06-22T22:48:00.000-07:002013-06-22T22:48:41.227-07:00Not lovin bloglovinSo I am still relatively new to blogging, I set the blog up in the depths of winter knowing very little about the whole procedure. I believed what the blurb said, that I could add a custom domain later and change the name easily. BIG MISTAKE! DON'T DO IT. Don't believe the blurb, do some research of your own first.<br />
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I bought a domain name last week, and proceeded to follow the instructions to change the name of my blog, seeing as there were approximately 25 other 'read all about its' on the Blogosphere.<br />
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I did everything I was told (unusual in itself). The upshot is my blog has a new name, and can be found on Google, BUT it has been lost on Bloglovin. I have put a support work call in, I got one email last Friday, asking for information that I had already provided, then nothing. I think I know what the fault is but I have not got a clue how to fix it. I have spent ages trying to correct the blog set up, but have arrived at the metaphorical brick wall and still nothing from Bloglovin. <br />
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So if you cannot find me on Bloglovin please accept my abject apologies. Having read various other blogs whose authors are having problems, I am hoping that Bloglovin staff don't work weekends and will eventually wake up and realise that they need to be a bit more efficient and GET IN TOUCH with their existing bloggers who are having problems, rather than scouting for new ones. In the meantime, I am now on Google, and I am going to investigate Feedly and various other feeders.<br />
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Have a good Sunday and happy reading.seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-77483565718343479902013-06-19T13:02:00.001-07:002013-06-19T13:02:14.670-07:00Long Weekend in the garden.June 15 to June 19<br />
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I have a few days off, the weather forecast for this weekend is not good, but although Friday began on a variable note weatherwise, it slowly improved throughout the day until when I got home it was a lovely evening. I was out all day on Saturday and Sunday and I went to my favorite garden centre on Monday, so gardening had to be left until later in the week. <br />
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On Monday I bought some more plants to replace some that I need to dig up in the garden, namely the Ribes that has never flowered in 7 years. I knew I should not buy it because I was not sure of the reliability of the store where I bought it. (deserved, as it turns out, although this was over 6 years ago and I think that management strategies have changed since then).<br />
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I also bought another broom, (Cystisus) in a different colour, they are such a shot of colour in late spring. But they have a tendancy to sprawl as they get older. I always thought that it was not advisable to cut into the old wood of a broom, but at the garden centre they had done just this and the cut branches were beginning to sprout, so I will probably have a go and see what happens.<br />
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The perennials I bought were two Dianthus, a Corydalis, and a Veronica.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrdPPgJu0kMgpmwxvPlXafbSPE9EKKdXzDZpw8-oXu1mobDg3F-ttre6CO7KpJgcXmVgXZWtkxU8cRWAxfp_X8oytjhs4a88T0935l5atQj896N6W7-P1WeykrwmZ4ZhWciSbdOqnlCbp/s1600/WP_000615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrdPPgJu0kMgpmwxvPlXafbSPE9EKKdXzDZpw8-oXu1mobDg3F-ttre6CO7KpJgcXmVgXZWtkxU8cRWAxfp_X8oytjhs4a88T0935l5atQj896N6W7-P1WeykrwmZ4ZhWciSbdOqnlCbp/s400/WP_000615.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIbIfe0cGfdOGIf63VBGFkXt-tenj6FYOFsQJx5z3CA_VF_g5igKsG4qAZKKNiLnFzsrb6B2N77VIWs78Grqo0fRVQZapKEQqGAXQqhifKvz1tRluni3qo9gpLel_jG2W4NkPsim_imNT/s1600/WP_000616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIbIfe0cGfdOGIf63VBGFkXt-tenj6FYOFsQJx5z3CA_VF_g5igKsG4qAZKKNiLnFzsrb6B2N77VIWs78Grqo0fRVQZapKEQqGAXQqhifKvz1tRluni3qo9gpLel_jG2W4NkPsim_imNT/s400/WP_000616.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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As a gardener I always have to plan ahead, which suits my personality completely as I like to make lists and plan things and now is the time to start thinking of next years spring bedding. I want to grow more Bellis Perrenis (Daisy), Honesty, Cheiranthus (Wallflower), next year and I am thinking about trying some Brompton Stocks and Violas as well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZxhLA6bO3gu2uphbXnBjEV3kmJNKMTuK-GRfkmpIT3HacIHXtp7wA5Xjp-hEevFmYpIpWB3RoF5kHvg8y5MnrTv_nErNXmFSHNjkDA1DMCkfkAElY4D_wKGxS0iw_vJRm7-JTRBDa6eS/s1600/WP_000612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZxhLA6bO3gu2uphbXnBjEV3kmJNKMTuK-GRfkmpIT3HacIHXtp7wA5Xjp-hEevFmYpIpWB3RoF5kHvg8y5MnrTv_nErNXmFSHNjkDA1DMCkfkAElY4D_wKGxS0iw_vJRm7-JTRBDa6eS/s400/WP_000612.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl3STCKVOoFjJIcLaJD_Jp6KHAeP2rZhg6Bs6n0JzU55-C9Z8lE4W5FjDJOfskl-mi-Uy5eT5MWnDdD774_R2nP8H9MkFqoCaNrjtCQGkY59CrM0RWh4CaBu0xk-oWOSdhQRjqcQIyO2n/s1600/WP_000613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl3STCKVOoFjJIcLaJD_Jp6KHAeP2rZhg6Bs6n0JzU55-C9Z8lE4W5FjDJOfskl-mi-Uy5eT5MWnDdD774_R2nP8H9MkFqoCaNrjtCQGkY59CrM0RWh4CaBu0xk-oWOSdhQRjqcQIyO2n/s400/WP_000613.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX0GdcrfUCUxMHNfry4Uyi557Jt1J_pHJnIobRYyxEZOIiM9vcxUUPdmEJP6O2go4n8p0OYF-i43FH0cjWEa0IYd2FlKsBme-ztC_w0F47j3jdIkD_gpaljCvqEKDXXJf0djKbddFvMqe/s1600/WP_000611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGX0GdcrfUCUxMHNfry4Uyi557Jt1J_pHJnIobRYyxEZOIiM9vcxUUPdmEJP6O2go4n8p0OYF-i43FH0cjWEa0IYd2FlKsBme-ztC_w0F47j3jdIkD_gpaljCvqEKDXXJf0djKbddFvMqe/s400/WP_000611.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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I tend to buy more winter, late spring and early summer shrubs and perennials as I sow such much from seed that the garden is quite colourful throughout mid summer to autumn anyway.</div>
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and finally pics of the weekend.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbUEWm27lMU-bR85LqhECISWS8yoSH9M44njbiFaQyB30CFZQpIliSGeZBx7Bs1t5kqzPTHGsTRrfacVgrWtCU8PipavJQd5ClOiOIZzTjhL4Y2DhyphenhyphennhwijnvuCo2nN3y_qgf_yr-Y69m/s1600/WP_000606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbUEWm27lMU-bR85LqhECISWS8yoSH9M44njbiFaQyB30CFZQpIliSGeZBx7Bs1t5kqzPTHGsTRrfacVgrWtCU8PipavJQd5ClOiOIZzTjhL4Y2DhyphenhyphennhwijnvuCo2nN3y_qgf_yr-Y69m/s400/WP_000606.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Have a lovely week everybody.seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-32791411754590938752013-06-15T23:35:00.000-07:002013-06-18T11:27:07.189-07:00Birmingham meet upWhat a day. As usual I caught an earlier train than I needed to get to Birmingham. Although I was booked on the 0943 and did not need to be at St Pancras until 0900 I was there at 0800. I walked to Euston from St Pancras and passed this as I did so.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFGlhTUxJWgTjREsz3Bir1xY_9_S7IXNupZc-C6N2fckDqewvIxtIWOylgfnWmnpteAsKPG1fUrAMhQl0Lco1tnoUaxcBShh_n2XYyuO_tzumwSZ_HajDYXxxouFTzhAnZyrockD9Vj4j/s1600/WP_000567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFGlhTUxJWgTjREsz3Bir1xY_9_S7IXNupZc-C6N2fckDqewvIxtIWOylgfnWmnpteAsKPG1fUrAMhQl0Lco1tnoUaxcBShh_n2XYyuO_tzumwSZ_HajDYXxxouFTzhAnZyrockD9Vj4j/s400/WP_000567.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Pretty funky for a bank eh!<br />
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When I got to Euston I checked with the rather surly information man if I could upgrade my ticket and without a smile he told me that the tickets were non transferable. So I kicked back my heels for a while and had a coffee in the multi lounge they have set up there and did some people watching which is always very interesting in London.<br />
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The journey from London to St Pancras was uneventful and speedy. I arrived at Birmingham New Street Station, and after checking in with Claire <a href="http://sew-incidentally.blogspot.co.uk/">http://sew-incidentally.blogspot.co.uk</a> we met up with Rachel of <a href="http://layerstitchrepeat.blogspot.co/">http://layerstitchrepeat.blogspot.co</a> and proceeded to Barry's fabrics. <br />
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Now I had had a chat with myself in the morning, that I do not need anymore fabric to add to my already overflowing stash, but (and I know I am not alone in this) when you are confronted with this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gd1tKAwx9zePse8tLuOXtZQiUB4yH6ZXIFRgACACnccip71gqk_8wNax37SS6FQE4EP65ekl8TRA1YGD-JqPqAfZUsHLPXltM-Ya3-IQmQ9XQUxkkhjNIwluUEnTYKDoM_NGXMt5SnjF/s1600/NWP_130615_0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gd1tKAwx9zePse8tLuOXtZQiUB4yH6ZXIFRgACACnccip71gqk_8wNax37SS6FQE4EP65ekl8TRA1YGD-JqPqAfZUsHLPXltM-Ya3-IQmQ9XQUxkkhjNIwluUEnTYKDoM_NGXMt5SnjF/s400/NWP_130615_0000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
all thoughts of self denial fly out of the window, and this is only 1/4 of the shop, if that.<br />
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But I was very restrained, I only bought this: <br />
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and this<br />
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after drooling over the beautiful fabric in this fabulous shop, we decided that we had better listen to our rumbling stomachs (mine was anyway by this point) and get some food.<br />
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A table had been booked up for us at Cafe Soya, where the food is plentiful, tasty and cheap and just as importantly the tables are not packed in like sardines. Over much regaling of sewing adventures and hilarious child rearing anecdotes with Jo of <a href="http://theamazingtaracat.wordpress./">http://theamazingtaracat.wordpress.</a> and Louise <a href="http://threadcarefully.wordpress.com/">http://threadcarefully.wordpress.com</a>. We (me) ate till stuffed and then we astounded the rest of the very busy restaurant by pulling out what seemed like a mountain of fabric and patterns over the two large tables and proceeded to swap our hearts out.<br />
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We then went to the rag market, aided by the maps prepared for us by Kat <a href="http://akraftykat.blogspot.co/">http://akraftykat.blogspot.co</a> and Marie <a href="http://www.stitchingoddyssey.com/">http://www.stitchingoddyssey.com</a>. <br />
Where amongst other bits and bobs I bought this<br />
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Then to The Fancy Silk Store<br />
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Again this is only maybe 1/2 of the downstairs of the shop, apparently there are 2 or 3 more floors, I was too tired to investigate this.<br />
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Where I bought my find of the day<br />
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How could I leave without it?<br />
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And, finally, exhausted to the Birmingham New Street Station where we ended the day with much hugging and promises to meet up again soon. <br />
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All in all a fabulous day, and much thanks to Claire, Kat and Marie for arranging and organising a herd of chatty dressmaking, crafting women around a well fabric stocked and busy city.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-62775978322928801722013-06-09T12:52:00.001-07:002013-06-09T12:52:57.046-07:00Weekend in the garden 8 and 9 JuneIts been a lovely week weatherwise, but it is still very windy, we have had to contend with winds blowing at 20+mph all week, which does not sound much but it feels as though it is gale force and because it is from the North East It is cold as well. As I look out of the window I can see the trees swaying madly in the wind against an azure blue sky.<br />
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I'm still carrying on with planting, making sure the watering and feeding is kept up to date. with it being so windy, the pots dry out very quickly. I use every aid that I can to assist with watering and feeding, crystal gel water granules and slow release fertilizer at planting, then a pinch of high potash feed every week.<br />
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I potted up some Thunbergia and planted some more of the hardy annuals. This is the seed packet picture for the Thunbergia, wonder if the reality will live up to the the photo. <br />
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Some of the Virginian Stock I planted up a few weeks ago have started to flower.<br />
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The Peony in the front garden has just started to flower, but look at the buds on the Peony in the back garden, if the weather is kind it is going to be spectacular. I have to stake both Peonies, because with it being so windy they will get battered if I am not careful.<br />
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I grew these Aquiligia from seed a few years ago and I am very pleased with them. I also grew some Lupins but they were decimated by slugs. I am going to try again, but maybe leave them in large pots and see how they get on.<br />
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As I have said previously, I used to have an allotment but gave it up several years ago. The fruit came home with me though and and look at the flowers on my blackberry. It is in a large pot and will be planted into ever larger pots until it is producing enough blackberries so I have enough to eat and cook with and have enough left over to make jam.<br />
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And last but not least is this<br />
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I do like bright colours.seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-22470993107738165522013-06-08T21:22:00.000-07:002013-06-08T21:22:40.728-07:00linen and bindingThis is yet another skirt made with fabric from Walthamstow Market. Bought several years ago, I originally made the skirt up to take on a holiday with me to Turkey. The skirt did not get worn at all in Turkey because it was just too hot and when I returned the weather took a turn for the worst in Britain, so I did not wear it at home either. I think that possibly the reason it has not been worn much is that I just did not like it. I did not wear it at all last year for various reasons. So this year I decided to refashion it slightly. I originally made it with an elasticated waist, so my first alteration was to take the elastic out and put some darts in. This meant that I had to unpick the binding down the front. <br />
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I have also lost a bit of weight and like a lot of my other clothes it was just too big, so I took the seams in as well. I then made it a bit shorter so that it felt a bit more on trend.<br />
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This is what I have ended up with<br />
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It is a simple skirt, but very easy to wear, and I am hoping relatively cool if we ever get any hot and sunny weather. seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-69291748829535901182013-06-08T21:17:00.000-07:002013-06-08T21:17:21.878-07:00Lunch at GoogiesHad a brilliant day today. A few months ago, I decided that my social life was severely lacking in social. I have made a conscious decision to 'get out more' as they say and connected with some old friends, I had also recently acquired a second hand laptop and decided to use it to help improve the situation. I joined some meet up groups and have made lots of lovely new friends. This weekend I met up with some of them for lunch at a cafe/restaurant on the South East Coast in Folkestone. The weather on the day was similar to that all week, glorious azure blue sky all day, not a rain cloud in sight, but and its a big BUT the wind felt like it was gale force. Still those of us that met up for lunch went to this cafe , and I cannot speak for the others but I had a lovely time. <br />
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The food was lovely, I had a classic burger but just look at the pancake my friend was given<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and we were all drooling over the cakes</td></tr>
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and then when we left these were outside,<br />
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These bollards clothed with knitwear have appeared all over the town, gotta love the quirky and eccentric British haven't you, makes me proud to be one.<br />
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We walked down the Old High Street, It was very windy but the Old High Street was quaint and quirky and proceeded to the harbour.<br />
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Where we found the red arrows were putting on a show for us, unfortunately my camera phone does not have a zoom, so you cannot really see the aereoplanes just their trails if you look closely enough.<br />
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We walked around the harbour up to the Sunny Sands beach.<br />
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Folkestone is a vibrant, colourful town. I looked through some local papers and their are a lot of events coming up. The first I can see is a festival on the sea front on 22 and 23 June. Like many British Seaside towns, Folkestone has had its share of bad press and difficulties but It looks as though it is pulling itself through and attracting a more diverse crowd. The creative quarter still has some way to go but it has made a difference and will hopefully continue to do so. I close this post with a picture of the the majority population in Folkestone who posed rather disdainfully for me.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-67644128563333342572013-06-06T12:15:00.001-07:002013-06-06T12:15:44.228-07:00roasted tomatoes I love tomatoes, but unfortunately the promise of flavour is usually more enjoyable than the actual flavour especially if they are imported. I have found that a good way to combat this is to slow roast tomatoes in the oven for 1 - 2 hours on a low heat. They cook down and become soft and sweet. Somebody called them the poor man's sunblush dried tomatoes. Whatever! I think they are delicious.<br />
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I have occassionally made a batch at the beginning of the week to use during the week. They only last a few days with me, but if you wanted to keep them longer, I have read that you can cover them in oil and keep them in the fridge. I have not tried this so I don't know if it works. If you really wanted to push the boat out and add to the Mediterranean flavour, you could use olive oil as a flavouring when roasting. When the tomatoes begin to soften you can add some dried herbs to ring the changes.<br />
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Cooked this way, they can be used cold in salads or sandwiches or stirred into pasta sauces. <br />
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LUNCH SERVICE</div>
I slow roasted a trayful of tomatoes with no added flavourings and used some to give some extra oomph to a mozzarella roll.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-28606725050479788972013-06-03T13:26:00.000-07:002013-06-03T13:26:40.973-07:00A weekend with summer potentialSo this weekend in the garden. The forecast is good and as usual loads to do. More annuals to pot up, more to plant, pruning and general tidying to do.<br />
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Shrubs to prune<br />
Spirea (Bridal Wreath variety), Snowberry Bush (<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">Symphoricarpos<b style="font-style: italic;">), </b>Dogwood (Cornus) I'm a bit late with this one</span><br />
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Annuals to plant out, this has been a bit more difficult, because the leaves on the bulbs have not died down properly yet. So I am planting my annuals as the leaves fade. I still have to try to keep the old bulb foliage tidy though. I decided that I would try to tidy the bulb foliage as much as possible. I also removed some of the Forget Me Nots that were becoming a bit mildewy and replaced them with annuals. This was more in the front garden than the back. I interspersed Pelargoniums (Geraniums) taken from cuttings last year with HHA Asters.<br />
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As soon as the foliage from the bulbs has died down, I will be able to tidy up properly. I still have a lot of work to do in the front garden. The remains of an old Lavatera needs to be pulled up and replaced with a Viburnum Tinus that I have bought as a replacement and I need to put more stones down over the black membrane.<br />
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The garden is really getting into its stride now, the spring flowers are fading, Tulips need to be deadheaded and the summer flowers are beginning. All my roses have big fat buds on them, the Geraniums are beginning to flower<br />
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and the Aquligias, </div>
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The Californian Lilac (Ceanothus) and Geums are in flower. I also have one beautiful Iris in flower. This Iris is 7 years old. It did not flower last year, my fault, I know that Iris benefit from being divided every approx 4 years and I had not done it in 2011, so I did it last year. As you can see It worked.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN8iepsuzZkt_DXiwO8I1Z1liyNSyk0a_j6dcna0T7lQRH-RTMbJjxdi2efl49CKYlCr8CJ5hLFyRicPXu3Gz2cYXhG9mnwKbggAzdaqNv0mVxDuPQFHs38aGr2MFL4HbtBrG6s-RjX5v/s1600/WP_000388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNN8iepsuzZkt_DXiwO8I1Z1liyNSyk0a_j6dcna0T7lQRH-RTMbJjxdi2efl49CKYlCr8CJ5hLFyRicPXu3Gz2cYXhG9mnwKbggAzdaqNv0mVxDuPQFHs38aGr2MFL4HbtBrG6s-RjX5v/s320/WP_000388.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Iris you can just see the Geum in the background</td></tr>
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I tried an experiment last year, I read somewhere that Tulips would flower better the next year if they were lifted for the summer. I was a bit skeptical I have to admit, but the flowering was not very good last year So I tried it last summer. I lifted them, when the leaves had died down, put them into net bags (I used citrus nets from the supermarket) and left them in a warm place to dry out. I replanted them in November and guess what. They were spectacular this year. It is a lot of trouble I know but I will definitely be doing it again this year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n_56PCeS6V__7ZuNK0kQnAzSWuT5sVSCxiHUbRovy01dqQYGBMoJlPlXc5sg4LzYfFr4-FIzmiyVGycGCj7VmsHvjALwq7kKClBLeI0AHZxykNue3FcQUFJb_fWXCqdY3WLkeYsaUpvL/s1600/WP_000199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n_56PCeS6V__7ZuNK0kQnAzSWuT5sVSCxiHUbRovy01dqQYGBMoJlPlXc5sg4LzYfFr4-FIzmiyVGycGCj7VmsHvjALwq7kKClBLeI0AHZxykNue3FcQUFJb_fWXCqdY3WLkeYsaUpvL/s400/WP_000199.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulips on the 6 May 2013</td></tr>
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I also grow some fruit, I used to have an allotment but found that It did not fit in with my lifestyle and I was not working it enough. I still love to grow some of my own food though. I now grow blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, Strawberries, I have a cherry tree and fig tree.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYl_yp2PnuddVjcOHjwE4ID7uAYQmf5uiPzKEQbDmOJwmTkOfWbIjovhkqM6EmucbggD3zUhkg3iuXgcw1vKDsb2Pm4kvhlj6nkTYjSfRu2dtSxu1cdOpouFDmFJo9cXXILrg76F2JNNG/s1600/WP_000405+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYl_yp2PnuddVjcOHjwE4ID7uAYQmf5uiPzKEQbDmOJwmTkOfWbIjovhkqM6EmucbggD3zUhkg3iuXgcw1vKDsb2Pm4kvhlj6nkTYjSfRu2dtSxu1cdOpouFDmFJo9cXXILrg76F2JNNG/s320/WP_000405+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My strawberries are currently in flower</td></tr>
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As I mentioned the Californian Lilac (Ceanothus) is in flower, It is a spectacular shrub when in full flower and evergreen. It can be shortlived though and I have heard that it can die suddenly without warning. It needs sun, well drained soil and to be sheltered from cold winds. But if you can provide these conditions this is what you may get every year.<br />
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and last but by no mean least I have a large Broom (Genistia) in the front garden, for 11 months of the year this shrub is at best a good screen but for the last week or so this is what lights up my end of the street, like fireworks.<br />
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9035748908330921780.post-32824023733911228462013-05-27T11:32:00.000-07:002013-05-27T11:32:45.792-07:00Whitsun Monday MealIts a bank holiday Yipee, the weather has been glorious double Yipee. I decided to expand my horizons a little with my main meal of the day today. I sort of followed a recipe by Atul Kochar- Homestyle chicken curry. Well homestyle means what is says I suppose, I altered the recipe a bit to suit what I had in the cupboard and my taste. I don't like very spicy food so my spice measurements are quite conservative.<br />
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This was enough for me for two meals. This dish took me 45 mins to prepare, and it is cooked on the hob.<br />
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Ingredients and measurements that I used.<br />
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1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon<br />
1/2 tsp Ginger <br />
1/2 tsp Black Peppercorns<br />
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin<br />
1/2 tsp Ground Cloves<br />
splash Vegetable Oil<br />
2 Bay leaf<br />
2 Small Onions<br />
2 diced Chicken Thighs<br />
1/4 tsp Chilli Flakes<br />
1/2 Coriander Leaf<br />
1/2 Ground Turmeric<br />
1 400g can Chopped Tomatoes<br />
1 tspTomato Puree<br />
1/2 Garam Masala<br />
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Rice to serve. I used Basmati.<br />
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Method<br />
I strained the pulp from the juice of the canned tomatoes then reduced the juice to a thick syrupy mixture, I then added the pulp and reduced it a little.<br />
In another pan, I sweated the onions then added the spices, stirring all the while to prevent the mixture from burning.<br />
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I added the chicken thighs and cooked the mixture gently, frequently stirring to prevent burning.<br />
I added the tomato mixture. The resulting mixture was thick and paste like, so I added some water to make a more creamy consistency.<br />
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I cooked the mixture thoroughly, to ensure that the chicken was cooked through.<br />
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Service</div>
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<br />seeds seams and upcyclinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12720512495231317918noreply@blogger.com0