MADE.
Craft, Cooking & Kitsch
12
New craft projects
Whip-up high tea Handmade gifts your friends will love Recycle those 80s LPs make fruit bowls from your old vinyl
DIY Couture:
lingerie to rival Agent Provocateur
EXCLUSIVE
Kitchen Queen of Cool Gizzi Erskine talks KFC and Nigella
Your projects rescued A wine rack from scratch Turn socks into gin cosies
All photos by Amy Davies, Sarah Adie & Jenny Williams
Welcome to MADE. MADE
On the cover 10 13 22 24 26
Batty about birds
Wing it with our easy felt creations
Sex-up your smalls
Pimp your pants you sexy sew-and-sew
Get busy with Gizzi
TV chef dishes up some sage advice
Ladies that lunch
Embrace your inner lady with our high tea recipes
Gifts-in-a-jar
Celebrate with a few jars
24
Features
26
Grab a slice of your own, we show you how on p24
We are all a-flutter at MADE Towers. Since the birds started chirping and the trees started budding, we’ve had a particularly bad case of spring fever. It all started when we decided to buy into the bird print look turning up everywhere, and covered everything in feathered friends. Brooches, necklaces and t-shirts all got the avian tweetment, turn to p10 to see how you can get in on the craze. After a cold, hard winter with too much snow and not enough flowers, we have also been looking at how to bring some greenery indoors. Bottle gardens have been around for nearly a century and are a flamboyant way of showing off your green fingers. We explain the who, what, where and why of glassy gardening on p18.
EDITORIAL TEAM
Then, with a new spring in our step we sought out some inspiration from the best craft and cooking experts we could get our hands on. Cook Yourself Thin’s Gizzi Erskine (p22), has graced our pages to remind us why being able to cook is so important and Zoe Murphy, furniture maker and fabric rejuvenator, talked us through her creative processes (p20). After speaking to Gizzi and Zoe, the MADE team feels we’re learning with the best of them. If you feel like sharing a new found love, maybe now is the time to start giving your creations away. Our gifts-in-ajar feature on p23 is a good place to start. Plus they’re edible, so you’ll be top of your friend’s thank you list!
PRODUCTION
2
WRITING
Sarah Adie Staff writer & illustrator Rosaria Sgueglia Staff writer
The Guardian’s Perri Lewis
Top tips from an expert in fashion accoutrement
Window dressing Shut-out bad blinds
Bottle it up
Grow-your-own indoor jungle
Zoe Murphy’s laws of design
Designer and renovator discusses her inspiration
Got beef?
Get some mince-piration with our supper ideas
Regulars
Hannah x
Esther Armstrong Production editor Hannah Flynn Editor Si Truss Creative director Jenny Williams Deputy editor Amy Davies News editor & photographer Oliver Smith Design assistant Katherine Elliott Interiors editor Eva Caiden Food editor Ellie Hurley Fashion editor
18
12 16 18 20 28
WEBSITE Vern Pitt Online editor Charlotte Clark Online design editor
http://journalism.cf.ac.uk/made CONTACT mademagonline@googlemail.com
4 8 15 21 27 30 31
28
Made news
The latest happenings from the craftsphere
Trend
We look at the new craze for circle journals
Quick creations
Transform your kitchen with these easy ideas
MADE
s
Plus the bedroom accessories we would DIE for
Teatime titbits
Quick bites with tortilla baskets
Newly MADE
MADE’s Amy Davies tries out calligraphy
Project rescue
We answer your craft questions
15
27 3
News
Photos by Hannah Spencer and Amy Davies.
meets... Crafty Sew and Sew Every Tuesday evening, the members of Crafty Sew and Sew gather at Langley Swimming Centre in Oldbury, West Midlands. Their intention is not to practice their swimming strokes but rather to discuss and work on their sewing, knitting and papercrafting techniques.
Knitters ward off memory loss Knitting and other hobbies may help prevent memory loss, new research from the US has shown.
Continuing hobbies into later life reduced the risk by up to 50 percent, researchers at Mayo Clinic, Minnesota found.
The study found those who were involved in hobbies such as quilting, knitting or playing computer games in middle age were 40 percent less likely to suffer from the ailment, after comparing 70-89 year olds with and without memory loss.
But beware of television, people who watch over seven hours a day are 50 per cent more likely to develop dementia or memory loss in later years.
We asked them about the projects they are most proud of. Harriet Creed, 19, Quinton
Craft jargon Knowledge is power, or so they say. Power through your crafting projects without getting held up by technical terms with our jargon busting guide.
Heading tape
Woven fabric on the top of curtains designed to hold curtain hooks in order to hang from a curtain track.
Strippers knit with style? Nominated for The Diagram award for the oddest book title, this cheekily named craft book is now competing with other publications such as The Large Sieve and its Applications (which isn’t anything to do with cookery equipment). The thirtieth anniversary of the award was in 2008 and Hordyszynski’s book echoes the 1978 winner, which was entitled Proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Nude Mice.
4
More details of the award can be found at www.thebookseller.com where you can also vote for your favourite.
Brighton Vegan Fayre Brighton Vegan Fayre is one of the world’s biggest vegan gatherings, featuring 140 stalls with everything from Animal Aid to Veggie Visions. Hear from top athletes on how they train on a vegan diet, including guest of honour, bodybuilder Pat Reeves. But that’s not all, they’re also packing in musical entertainment from Londoners, The King Blues and Soho Dolls among others. Date: 21 March Place: The Brighton Centre, Brighton Price: £8 Time: 11am-7pm
International Craft and Hobby Fayre NEC
Mordant
Date: 12-15 March Time: 9.30am-5.30pm
Granny squares
Strip and Knit with Style is actually about knitting with strips of cloth rather than naked knitting. But if you like this title, Eleanor Burns’s quilting guide Still Stripping After 25 Years could be one to look into.
Events...
Women’s hats made by a milliner; a hat-maker
Used to set and fix dye onto fabrics
The award is said to celebrate the diversity of the publishing world.
“I’ve only just started making things, but I’m always proud of the greetings cards I make, because I think they add a real personal touch and show I care.”
Hobbycrafts and Sewing for Pleasure will once again take over the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham this March. In previous years the event has been a highlight of the crafting year and is known for being jam-packed with new products. Three new displays include a dedicated workshop area allowing you to meet the experts. Two exhibitions with one ticket make this an event not to be missed.
Millinery
One can only imagine that Mark Hordyszynski is a rather innocent man when you look at the title of his latest book, Strip and Knit with Style.
News
Shocking bargains at the Blind Lemon Vintage Fair
Place: NEC, Birmingham Price: From £7.50
International Food and Drink Exhibition
Squares of fabric created by crocheting from the centre outwards
With 1200 exhibitors the International Food & Drink Exhibition promises to provide the latest fresh ideas and best in future trends within the food and drink sector. Visit the website for more details and to register for a free ticket.
Gauge
Date: 15-18 March Place: Excel, London Docklands
Refers to the number of stitches in a knitted piece. Important to keep track of to make sure that your knitting matches the pattern, ensuring clothing items fit correctly.
Time: 10am-5.30pm Price: Free
Blind Lemon Vintage Fair The Blind Lemon Vintage Fair draws the line at 1980. Promising vintage gems from Victoriana to the 1970s - including 1950s specialists, vintage corsets, lingerie and shoes - these clothing fairs are cropping up across the country. The next event will be held in Cheltenham. www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk Date: 15 March Place: Cheltenham Pitville Pump Rooms
Ismat Abidi, 25, Smethwick “I suppose I’m prouder of my culinary creations than anything I can sew or knit because I’m still learning. I know it’s cliché but I make a mean spaghetti bolognese!” Katy Chessum, 22, Oldbury “I’ve been making things for a few years now, so I do have a lot of things but probably the best thing has been a bag which I carry everywhere with me, simply because it’s so useful.” Vicky Heath, 20, Quinton “Probably the last thing I made, which was a knitted scarf. It’s taken me ages to perfect the art of knitting, and my first few attempts were disastrous, but I finally made one I’d be happy to wear!”
Time: 10am-5pm Price: £4.50 (£3.50 concessions)
5
News
Ma
What’s in season? With strawberries in supermarkets all year round you’d be forgiven for forgetting what seasons are. Here are four foods in their prime which will spruce up any spring dish
Cabbage
This vegetable is full of vitamins and fibre. Fry the leaves with chilli or mix with butter and stock for the perfect cabbage soup.
Lobster
Leeks
A relative of the onion, leeks have a sweet and delicate taste. They’re full of vitamin A, beta-carotene and more. Try it in leek and potato hot pot with bacon pieces for some extra bite.
Ask for lobster from your fishmonger if your budget can stretch to it. This amazing meal is full of healthy protein and is low in cholesterol making it healthier than poultry or meat.
Purple sprouting broccoli
Best eaten when fresh, this vegetable is packed with minerals and vitamins. Every part of it may be eaten and it tastes great with a cheesy sauce.
The best of the web So what can you do with one of these delightful delicacies? MADE reader, Kelly McKay, 24 from Bath suggests a broccoli and mushroom pizza. She says “When I was younger my mum used to make this pizza to get me to eat my greens, now it reminds me of home and is a perfect little pick me up.” Take a pizza base (either make your own or buy one in), just add tomato sauce, plenty of broccoli florets, several sliced mushrooms, onions, garlic, olive oil, mozzarella cheese, basil and parmesan to taste. Then fire it in the oven, heaven!
6
Food Buzz
This site acts as an aggregator for all the best food content on the web. Users can become a member in order to share top sites, recipes and products and connect with other users from across the globe. Definitely one worth bookmarking. www.foodbuzz.com
Chocolate and Zucchini
A blog started in 2003 and written by Parisian Clotilde Dusoulier, Chocolate and Zucchini combines a recipe index with a food glossary, picture index, food stories and more. Lovely visuals and a relaxing style make this a worthwhile read when looking for inspiration. www.chocolateandzucchini.com/
The Bitten Word
Keen to put magazine recipes to good use, American duo Clay and Zach trawl through back issues of various titles to test out the recipes. Simply laid out and easy to search, this blog might not be the most comprehensive but is sure to provide a giggle. www.thebittenword.typepad.com/thebittenword/
de
in. ..
HOLLAND
More tea vicar?
The clock has just struck four. Time for that well-earned cuppa, the one you’ve been dreaming about since lunch. Stick the kettle on, open the packet and plop the tea bag in your cup. But wait! Don’t throw the sachet in the bin – use it and abuse it to make something magnificent, just like Dutch author and paper-crafter Tiny van der Plas did way back in 1992, when tea bag folding was just a twinkle in her eye. Legend has it, while musing over a birthday card she had forgotten to purchase, van der Plas absentmindedly began folding the sachet of a herbal tea bag then looked down at her hands and realised what she had created: a card for her younger sister and a magical new craft was born. It’s taken almost 20 years but tea bag
News Yes, please, if only for the pretty wrapper it comes in. That’s right - tea bag folding is here
folding is finally taking off. Also known as miniature kaleidoscopic origami, there are countless websites awaiting your perusal, all with a dedicated tea bag following. Folding fiend Kathleen Alcock sees appeal in its simplicity. “I can fold the papers anywhere – on holiday, in front of the television – and put them together at a later date. I love the fact that a mere square of patterned paper can result in a beautiful card.” And if you’re worried Earl Grey would object to being folded into the shape of a kite, spare his feelings by printing off a design of your choice from the web. These are lovingly provided for you by hundreds of enthusiastic tea bag fans everywhere.
60 Seconds with… Kate Bullock
Kate Bullock, 31, from Glasgow has been ‘crafting’ since she was a child. We asked her a few questions. When did you start? I learned to knit before I went to school and did a lot of crafts as a child. Why did you start? I started because I saw how much enjoyment other people got from craft. I was terrible at drawing when I was younger but really related to making things in 3D.
“I went on to pretend that all my mistakes were deliberate and actually made fewer as a consequence!” Where do you take your inspiration from? I take my inspiration from my materials. I like to make do and mend, and get more life out of things which are supposedly “past it”. I think there’s a metaphor in there somewhere! Do you have any tips for aspiring crafters? I used to worry about technique, and doing things right, and trying to be a perfectionist. Then I heard the myth of the ‘deliberate mistake’. The ‘deliberate mistake’ is often ascribed to Persian rug makers, Navajo weavers and Amish quilters, and says that
they would deliberately insert one mistake into a perfect item to show their humility. I went on to pretend that all my mistakes were deliberate and actually made fewer as a consequence! What is your best work so far? I just recently designed my first knitting pattern, for a simple pair of gloves. What sort of things do you make? I like to make small projects. Where do you get your material from? With my paper and fabric crafts, I tend to use found objects. Have you ever sold your creations? Yes, I have a little shop on Etsy; www. girlindustries.etsy.com How much do you spend on each project? It really depends, especially when using found items, but I just spent $300 (£212.15) ordering personalised rubber. Is there any celebrity crafter you admire? I really admire members of the original craft mafia from Austin, Texas, particularly Vickie Howell and Jenny Hart, of Sublime Stitching. They’ve done a lot to reclaim craft from the blue rinse brigade!
7
Running around in...
Ci R cL e
jOuR N aL
S
Revamp your friendships with the scrapbooking sensation that’s sweeping the nation. Keep in touch the circle journal way. Staying in contact these days is pretty damn easy. There’s really no excuse for losing touch with anyone. Even if friends of 15 years ago have disappeared into thin air with a poof, it’s an almost concrete guarantee that a quick Facebook search will yield positive results. Failing that, you can put your trust in the ‘six degrees of separation’ decree – someone will know someone who knows someone else that knows the person you’re hunting down.
“All you need is a group of willing participants, a hearty dose of inspiration and a fat book of stamps.” But chances are you’re getting mighty tired of all the square eyes required for conversations via computer. We know we are, which is why we’re glad to have found the perfect way to maintain those friendships before they slip through our busy fingers and simultaneously sate our creative juices too. Yum yum! Here come circle journals, scrapbooks passed between a group of people and individually decorated, to save the day. Pick a theme, any theme, and get groovy with some glue. All you need is a group of willing participants, a hearty dose of inspiration and a fat book of stamps.
Photos courtesy of Carol Wilkinson
trends
Circulate Baby From what we can gather, all circle journals have a few things in common. They’re generally of a manageable mini-album size to minimise postage costs, most important in these penny pinching times. Each circle has between eight and ten members, with each member owning a journal, meaning lots of books do the rounds within the group. Sound out your friends, wherever they may be – old-school post is as farreaching as the web – and see who’s up for connectivity with a difference. Each journal owner chooses a theme (a firm favourite is ‘Once upon a time’) and decorates the cover, title page and the first few pages in whatever way they see fit. A strict list of instructions for the next person in the chain is often also provided to ensure the theme is adhered to, but surprises can be fun, why not leave it open to interpretation? Typically, space is left for all members to sign which then doubles as the contents page upon the journal’s completion. Time-wise, it’s up to the group how long each member gets to keep the book but a month seems more than reasonable – two weeks might mean you have to rush and who wants a disappointing climax? So – set yourself up a timetable for who gets which book when and prepare for a whirlwind ten months of imagination and invention, the like of which you have never experienced before.
Get Professional Like scrapbooking, circle journals originated in America, but they’re becoming much more widespread on this side of the pond too. A woman doing more than her fair share to propagate the chronicle vogue is Carol Wilkinson, papercraft aficionado and proprietor of The Cubby Hole, an arts and crafts shop based in Crewe. Carol’s got one journal completed, two in syndication as you read and is about to launch another in a few weeks. Holy cow, that’s dedication to the circle journal trade! Carol says it’s the surprise she loves. “You have no idea what your book will look like until you get it back…It’s definitely part of the appeal and it’s really nice that people you know have contributed to it.” And that, right there, is the key ingredient. Even if your friends live in Outer Mongolia and roam the desert as Bedouins, you can now engage with them on a magically fresh new level (and get the chance to show off your scrapbooking skills too, of course). Your book might come back a little dishevelled, but it’ll be much the better for the experience. Knowing all too well the potential postage costs that can be incurred and because she has a shop, Carol tends to let her circle journalists drop the books off at her premises, but she has taken part in global exchanges as well. “All the people in our circles are relatively local,” Carol affirms, “but I’ve had books in the past and sent them to New Zealand.”
Give it a whirl Not only can you pen-pal it up with your mates, you can also forge a whole new buddy collective through a circle journal. You may have to use the web initially to join or create a group but once you’re started, post’s the way to go. Who knows where this all may lead? So forget Facebook, people. The best way to get connected and stay connected these days is by setting yourself up with a circle journal. It might take a bit longer but it’s far more interesting and you get a nice surprise through your door at least once month. All hail snail mail. Upload your pictures of your scrapbooks to our flickr account: http://tinycc/9BC39
Fashion
Words by Ellie Hurley. Photos by Amy Davies.
Batty about birds
Equipment: Felt Needle Thread Glue Brooch back Card Time: 1 hour
From bird’s nest hairstyles to feather boas, our feathered friends infiltrate every area of fashion and design. Bird influenced jewellery is flying off the shelves right now, so here’s how you can join in and create your own
Birdie brooch
Talontastic tee With recent fashion trends brimming full Equipment: of nature, traditional wildlife drawings r pe pa and Victoriana elegance, our birdie er sf an Iron-on tr brooch may not have given you enough of a feathery fix. Boost a boring t-shirt Ironing board and inject a little fun into your existing wardrobe with an iron on transfer. Iron Colour Printer Plain T-shirt Time: 30 minutes 1: Select your chosen image. We chose an intricate bird-drawing
2: Print your image onto iron adhesive paper
3: Carefully iron your image onto your chosen fabric
Here are some more of MADE’s feathered friends. Why not brighten up a winter coat or spring cardigan?
1: Start by finding a simple clip art image of a bird online. Print two copies in black and white
2: On one sheet cut out the whole outline of the bird. On the second paper copy, cut out the inside details, like the head and eyes 3: Using a biro draw around your bird stencils onto felt 4: Cut out the felt shapes. Use contrasting colours for a more vibrant effect 5: Place your shapes together on a piece of card which is also cut into the shape of your template. Sew together with a simple running stitch in contrasting colour thread. Sew on your small individual details
6: Fix a safety pin to the back or alternatively buy a brooch back
10
11
For The Guardian’s Perri Lewis crafting is not just practical, it’s enjoyable and exciting. Ellie Hurley talks to her about just how fun, and useful, crafting can be
R
ecent graduate, Perri Lewis, 24, is now comic editor at The Guardian and knows how to put her crafting skills to good use. “People may laugh at me always carrying around at least two pairs of scissors, a needle, thread and glue. But I was the one that a senior member at The Guardian was sent to, to sew her skirt back together before a very important meeting!” she says. Not artistically trained, her natural creativity and “have a go” nature, has led to her creations regularly being showcased online, including her Guardian-featured duct tape flowers and Obama cross stitch. Now with her own blog, Make and Do with Perri, she aims to inspire others to get creative too, “On my blog I wanted to show how easy it can be to make projects which people actually do,” she says cheerfully, “I do love blogging, although I did go through a period of not doing it for two months.” It all started with a craze for customising in her teens, “I have always loved making things. When I was younger, I really wanted
to customise my clothes, particularly flaring out my jeans.” She recalls being the only one in her friendship group who could be bothered to sew the creations back together, “Everyone else would just glue them and I would sit there with neat, tiny stitches. When I think back, I cannot believe I had the patience to do it.” Now, less focused on flares, she has set about giving her flat a facelift and is
sewing and knitting blogs. “I do it mainly to keep abreast of trends but I also love to see what people are doing,” she says. She’s also firmly defensive of a woman’s right to enjoy craft, “I think the rise in crafts in the last few years has been somewhat of a backlash to traditional feminism. Germaine Greer used to claim it was pointless for women to engage in craft by hand when they could achieve the same
“I craft because I really like being able to make stuff that I like.” currently covering a set of cushions using an old scarf bought for a pound at Spitfields Market, London. With her recent birthday present: a new sewing machine, it seems Perri will be unstoppable, “I am so excited, I have wanted one and asked for one every birthday and Christmas for about 10 years.” More than simply making and doing, Perri is incredibly informed about current crafting trends and regularly consults over 500
result in a shorter space of time.” Yet Perri believes crafting is a way of expressing her own individuality, “I craft because I really like being able to make stuff that I like. I know what I want when I go shopping and I always get so frustrated when I can’t find it!” Resourceful, gorgeous and deft with a needle and thread, MADE can’t wait to see what she does next.
Perri’s top tips: Customise
“Even if you don’t like the specific design of something, rip it up: a beaded necklace can be ripped apart with the charms sewn on to something else, like a bag or scarf.”
Rummage
“Raid the sales. I have used so many of the ugly and horrible things left over at the end of shop sales. I made a sparkly hot pink choker out of a cheap looking top. The top cost me three pounds and all my friends think my choker cost at least 20 pounds.”
Be inspired
12
SSmalls ex up your
“I’ve seen a purple leather bag I really want. It’s too expensive so I bought a section of purple leather for six pounds from a charity shop and found a sewing pattern on the internet. If I can pull it off, I will have made a significant saving.”
Ditch those greying granny-pants and plump some glamour into your underwear this spring
I
f the contents of your top drawer are looking sad and faded, get some inspiration from these spruced up bloomers and briefs. Although the high street is full of beautiful designs, they often lack individuality and can be more than a little expensive. Customising your underwear to include a little ruffle, someone special’s initial or whatever tickles your fancy is a quick and easy way to inject some individuality into your knicker drawer. If a little after-dinner entertainment is on the menu, why not go to town with our adventurous blue nipple tassels and matching suspender belt: guaranteed to titillate and amuse. Remember these creations are not just for pleasing someone else, a sequin here, a feather there, is a great way to put you in a good mood when getting dressed in the morning. Read on for tips on getting some undercover, secret sauce.
Glitzy suspender belt For your inner burlesque Forget about complicated dance routines and balancing in high heels, our sexy creations are sure to channel some old school Hollywood glamour. Equipment: Suspender belt Sequined Ribbon Blue Feathers Needle Dark Blue Cotton
Time: 30 minutes 1: Cut your sequined ribbon to an appropriate length to fit your suspender belt 2: Using a needle and dark blue cotton, sew the ribbon onto the suspenders with small neat stitches 3: Ensure the ribbon is securely fastened 4: Select the feathers from your collection 5: Slide the feathers carefully underneath the ribbon trim 6: Carefully sew the bone of the feather to the suspender belt 7: Repeat as necessary with your chosen number of feathers
13
Words & photos Ellie Hurley
Pictures used with permission courtesy of Perri Lewis
Rising journalist by day, crafter by night!
Sparkly nipple tassels
A perfect accompaniment to your suspenders. Our lovebird blue pasties are sure to inspire enthusiastic cooing!
Blue sparkles, black tassels, what more could you ask for?
Equipment: Black Leather Any spare material Card Pencil Scissors Needle Thread Feathers Time: 30 minutes 1: Draw a rough heart shape on paper, six centimetres in height 2: Using your heart template as a stencil, cut two hearts from the leather 3: Using your template again, cut another two hearts from the other material 4: Using a needle and black thread, carefully sew the material heart to the leather one 5: Repeat for the second pastie 6: Starting at the centre V of the heart, sew together the first five centimetres of each curved side. This allows the pastie to curve around your natural shape 7: Repeat for the second pastie 8: Cut your feathers to an appropriate size 9: Using a needle and clear thread, sew each feather on the base of the pastie 10: Continue attaching feathers to create a ‘fan-like’ effect 11.: Repeat with the second pastie 12: Attach using double-sided tape, just be careful when removing them!
Equipment: Card Pencil Scissors Needle Thread Sequins Black leather Tassels (we got some from an old lamp) Any Spare Material Time: 1 hour 1: Construct two basic nipple pasties as shown in the previous example 2: Securely fasten one thread from your tassel by sewing it into the joined V of your heart shape, the knot should be clearly visable at the back 3: Tie this thread with a firm secure knot and trim to ensure there’s not too much excess. 4: Using a needle and clear thread, carefully sew each sequin on. Voila!
Brighten your day with a few cheap and chic recycling ideas Wire hanger wine rack Rockin’ record bowl
Rid your wardrobe of ugly wire hangers and create a funky wine rack.
The most retro bowl this side of the ’80s.
Time: 10 minutes
Time: 12 minutes
Equipment: wire hangers, rail, empty wine bottle
Equipment: Vinyl record, oven, oven glove, heatproof bowl Method: 1: Pre-heat oven to 200oC/GM 6 2: Rest the vinyl record on top of an upside down heatproof bowl and place into the oven for five minutes 3: Remove the record from the oven. Be sure to wear oven gloves 4: Use the heatproof bowl as a mould by pushing the base of the record into it 5: Allow the record to cool for five minutes and remove from the bowl 6: Repeat process if required
Tickle your fancy
Method: 1: Wrap the straight, bottom edge of the wire hanger two thirds of the way around the base of an empty wine bottle. This will form the shape for the bottom of a bottle to rest in 2: With the hook facing forward, stretch the hanger so it is long and thin and bend the entire hanger over the top of a rail 3: Twist the hook back on itself so it forms a complete circle for the neck of the wine bottle to fit into 4: Manoeuvre the wine bottle into the hanger 5: Spruce up the rack by placing some funky wallpaper behind the rail
Booze cosy
Tempt, tease or simply enjoy a cheeky giggle with our fluffy-trimmed pants.
Add a touch of tea time glamour to drinks bottles with some cosies made out of socks.
Equipment: 1 pair of pants 1 pink ribbon Small black bows Small fabric hearts Fluffy trim material Needle Pale pink cotton Time: 1 hour 1: Cut the fur trims to an appropriate length. Pin onto the rear of the knickers and alter the trim into the shape of a heart 2: Using a needle and pale pink cotton, sew the heart on with small stitches 4: Sew the bows onto the pants, in a location of your choice. This example shows them on both sides and on the front too 5: Sew on the small pink fabric hearts, our example features an assymetric pattern, in the top left hand corner 6: Pin the ribbon you have chosen onto the side of your pants 7: Carefully sew it in place 8: Repeat on opposite side
14
QKitchen uicky in the
Time: 20 minutes Equipment: Socks, needle and thread, pen, scissors, fabric flower, brad clips, ribbons. Method: 1: Push the sock over the base of the gin bottle so the ribbing comes up to the neck 2: Use a pen to mark the sock where the bottles base is – this should be just above the heel 3: Remove the sock from the bottle and cut it just below the mark 4: Turn the sock inside out and sew the gap closed 5: Use appliqué made out of old materials or embroidery to personalise the design 6: Place the cosy over the bottle 7: Since socks come in pairs, why not make another one for your drinking buddy? Recycle your old socks to make wine and gin cosies.
15
Words by Kathrine Elliott & Rosaria Sgueglia. Pictures by Rosaria Sgueglia.
Fluffy nipple pasties
QCuick reations
Words by Jenny Williams. Illustrations by Sarah Adie.
Interiors 1: Measure up
5
The hardest part. Many guides suggest measuring your fabric by multiplying various numbers and dividing by certain widths. Forget all that. Top Tip: It can be difficult to find the right fabric width when buying material from a store. Consider buying separate pieces and sewing them together.
1: Measure the window width. If you already have a curtain pole, measure the length of it. Add half the width again to get the final measurement and give the curtain some slack. This is how wide the curtain must be. 2: To get the length, measure from the pole to the bottom of the window. If there is no curtain pole, measure the height of the whole window.
C Curtains Steps to
No power tools? Extendable curtain pole
rafty
The most effective way to attach poles to window frames is to use an extendable curtain pole. These can easily be adjusted to fit the window frame without the need for screws or drills.
E
16
uncomplicated guide to ditching those dowdy drapes, with minimum effort and spending. You’ll soon see, changing your curtain design can lift the whole mood of a room – and it doesn’t have to be a tricky job. What’s more, you have the benefit of choosing whatever material takes your fancy, making it easier to decorate your boudoir according to trend and taste.
Equipment:
fabric scissors measuring tape extendable pole needle cotton
You’ll need to attach heading tape to the top hem of the curtain in order to hang the material from the track’s hooks. Measure the fabric as you would for a curtain pole.
1: Add a border of 23 centimetres to the length and 30 centimetres to the width of the window measurements to 2: Cut it out allow for hemming. Mark the measurements onto the material Choose your fabric after measuring and cut out. so you know how much you’ll need. 2: Cut the fabric in half. 3: Measure a 15 centimetre hem Top Tip: Save money on buying at the top of the two pieces of fabric by using doubled up bed sheets. They’re cheaper to buy and material and an eight centimetre hem on all other edges. Iron down come in all sorts of patterns and to mark them. colours to suit your room.
Spruce up a drab window with these five easy steps
ver moved into a new flat to find thin, mis-fitting curtains let you down? Stop the light from interrupting your Saturday morning slumber and keep the chill out with custom fitted curtains. Heading tape, fabric widths, mitred corners and complex calculations? Curtain making can be a tricky business. But never fear. We are here to offer a comprehensive,
No pole? Curtain tracks
3: Sew it together
4: Top of the tabs
A vital stage, it is worth while spending some time sewing your curtains as it will make all the dfference to the final product. This can be done by hand or with a sewing machine. Bondaweb (an extra strong fabric adhesive) can also be used to join the hems, but it’s best to reinforce with stitching. 1: Pin the hems down at the borders - except the top. 2: Use a sewing machine to stitch down the material’s sides or sew by hand using a running stitch. 3: Fold over the top hem and pin. Sew as with the sides. 4: You now have a loop at the top, which you can thread a curtain pole through. 5: Hang the curtains before you sew the bottom hem to check the length you need.
There are a number of ways to attach curtains to poles. If you want to disguise the pole use the previous method of sewing a complete hem. If you have a more attractive pole make a feature of it by using tabs to show it off. See the process below for details. 1: Again, don’t sew a hem onto the bottom of the curtain until this process is complete. 2: For the tabs, cut small panels of material and fold them in half. Sew down one edge and turn
inside out. Sew remaining edges and attach to the top of the curtain. Repeat the process. Top Tip: Make sure to mark where you want the tabs to go. It’ll help you calculate how many you need and where you need to position them. 3: Loop the pole through the tabs to hang the curtain. 4: Now you can see the length of the curtain, mark the bottom hem. Remove the curtain from the pole, sew the hem and then rehang it.
5: Get creative The best thing about Do It Yourself curtains! 1: To customise your new curtains, why not add a splash of colour with a stencil design? 2: To make curtain tie backs without the hassle of hooks and
power tools, use ribbons and tie the curtains away from the window. 3: Add another pole and a set of gauze curtains. This layering will create a decadent vibe without a price tag to match.
17
Words & photos by Sarah Adie.
T
ake it back to the Victorian old-school with your very own
ndoor ungle I J Newsflash ladies! Victoriana is hitting the mainstream and we’re not just talking lace, cameos and throwback ruffles. Instead of decking yourself out all Queen Vic style, how about you give your home a taste of antiquity? It’s not all mahogany tables and ornately decorated mirrors – we’re going for a bottle garden or two. Cheap and fulfilling (yes, really) bottle gardens can survive for years with some tender loving care
18
Message in a bottle garden
M
any moons ago (back in 1829 to be precise) a gentleman, going by the whimsical name of Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, inadvertently created the first terrarium (bottle garden to you and me) there ever was, and the gardening world has never glanced back. As a physician fanatical about botany, Dr. Ward would often lament the state of his outdoor plants, poor wretched victims of the smoggy London skies. Such dear ferns: death by coal smoke and sulphuric acid doesn’t sound like the best way to go, but what serendipity their demise actually was. The eccentric doctor also reared chrysalides and moths in glass jars. He noticed, in contrast to his sickly al fresco vegetation, fern spores – the very same as were being strangled outdoors – were springing up in these jars. Gripped with a fervent excitement, the doctor immediately commissioned his carpenter to knock up a wooden framed glass case where his plants could lead long, happy and fruitful lives, protected from the outside world. Dr. Ward’s cases were then used by botanists to volley flora to and fro between various continents, but the seeds of thought were sown. When the Victorian age hit, his idea blossomed into Pteridomania – a term given to the prodigious obsession with ferns. The ‘Wardian’ cases – albeit a much more elegant and refined version – were soon a fashion must-have and could be found in all sorts of homes, providing a safe haven for ferns and exotic orchids to spread their leaves and relax. A far cry from the bottle garden of today, perhaps, but Dr. Ward did us all a
whopping great favour by inventing the Wardian case. If you haven’t got outside space for a garden, clear a table and head down to your local nursery centre, where you can get bottles of all shapes and sizes to suit your various needs. While there, why not find an assistant and see what suitable plants they have? Anything with a tropical flavour is the way forward– African violets, zebra plants, snake plants and baby’s tears will all work well. They also sound pretty cool. Paul Fisher, director of Cardiff’s Brynawel Garden Centre, has some sage words of advice for budding bottle gardeners. “Put a layer of weak charcoal in the bottom of the glass container to keep it sweet and stop it from becoming too acidic. And use long bamboo sticks to put your plants in place,” he suggests. Once you’ve bedded your plants (a three layer foundation of gravel, charcoal and soil will do) add some water and you’re away. There are no two ways about it: your terrarium is certain to become your pride and joy. Before you know it you’ll be inviting all your friends over to see just how big she’s grown, and what exciting new thing she’s done this week. But best of all – thanks to the self-regulating nature of this mini eco-system – once you’ve done the hard graft you can live the life of a part-time parent and leave your garden unattended for months. While most florists and gardeners will probably tell you bottle gardens are outmoded but we say, “No way!” MADE is officially on a mission to bring them back. 2009 is the bottle garden’s time and now you too can rock out to a different green fingered tune.
How 2 Bottle garden Materials required: A suitably sized bottle, gravel, charcoal, compost, a long handled spoon or long bamboo stick, plants of your choice – slow growing ones work best. 1: Spread your gravel evenly on the bottom of the bottle 2: Sprinkle your charcoal on top 3: Followed by 2-3 inches of compost 4: Add your plants 5: Add a tiny bit of water (using a long spouted watering-can makes it easier) coat the walls of your bottle but try not to use too much 6: Attach the lid 7: Do not to place the bottle in direct sunlight - it might get a bit hot 8: Balance the atmosphere inside by removing or replacing the lid as necessary Top Tip: If the walls never seem to be dry, there’s too much water: air the bottle for a while by taking the lid off. If the walls never seem wet, give your plants an extra drink. Easy-peasy.
19
Photos used with permission courtesy of Zoe Murphy.
MADE.
Made in
s
BOUDOIR BONANZA Cherry blossom lights
Add a flowery thrill to plain walls and vases. £11.99 www.insideoutliving.co.uk, 02084 070 221
At only 22-years-old, Zoe Murphy is the founder of a successful furniture design business. MADE’s Katherine Elliott talks to her about her inspirations, hard work and passionate drive
I
t is not uncommon for designer Zoe Murphy to stay up working for 48 hours straight. In fact, the self-confessed workaholic barely has time to recognise the nationwide critical acclaim her unique pieces of furniture have started to receive. Since she graduated from university last year her furniture design business has gone into overdrive, with spreads appearing in the national press - Grazia and The Observer to name but two - and orders coming in from places as far flung as Bulgaria and Beirut. But with her feet firmly on the ground, Zoe is quick to dismiss such high praises, “It’s hard to put into words,” she begins modestly, “But I just can’t appreciate all the attention fully because it’s almost like all this is a dream. I work so incredibly hard I hope I deserve the attention I get, but it just seems to pass me by in a flurry of hard work - does that make sense?” Take a look at Zoe’s pieces and it’s easy to see why the young designer is becoming such a hit. Her designs are bright, kooky and - as Zoe is keen to point out - ethically sound. “I trawl flea markets and car boot sales to find abandoned pieces of furniture I can revive. All my pieces are recycled, the environment is something I feel very strongly about.” Ethical awareness is something Zoe feels has greatly influenced the level of media attention she is receiving, “My work ticks all the boxes: it’s colourful, quirky and very ethical. The press seem to really like that.” It’s personal What also gives her work a particular appeal is the personal edge Zoe gives all her furniture. “My work is inspired by my home town of Margate - which I absolutely adore. Most people who come here think it’s a bit grimy and run down but I just love it.” She admits the run down seaside resort is well past its prime but insists this adds to its charm, “It’s quite amusing really. There’s a really ugly apartment block on the seafront which everyone here hates but I feature it in a lot of my work. So many
20
Disco ball alarm clock
For those who like Top of the pops with their choco-pops. Flashing lights and pumping beats? Totally the best wake up call ever. £9.95 www.thereallyusefulstore.co.uk
The bird cage
Polly wants a… gorgeous bird cage to decorate her room! Add flowers or candles for a classy bit of quirky décor. £8 www.mydeco.com
Butterfly memo board
Pastel butterflies and lace edging? This must be the girliest memo board on earth, be proud Laura Ashley, be proud. £25 www.lauraashley.com
Sheepskin rug
Outrageously pink it may be – but this warm and fluffy rug is a must have for every bedroom. £55 www.britishsheepskins.co.uk, 01364 644 179
Zoe with a few of her creations people comment on how funky the pattern looks - little do they know!” Zoe relies on a series of specialist techniques to produce her furniture, the most frequent of which is screen printing something she specialised in while studying
I might not always have time to do so but while I can I’ll enjoy it.” The design starlet admits starting the business so soon after university hasn’t been easy, “I have had to overcome a few skill-related problems. I am not a carpenter
“I have had to overcome a few skill-related problems - but that’s half the fun of it, right?” at university. “Screen printing works really well on flat surfaces - which makes it ideal for all my tables and chairs. I also work with fabric dye a lot. I recently made a footstool out of dyed silk from wedding dresses.” And what certainly cannot be overlooked is Zoe’s adamancy for acute attention to detail, from the original hint of an idea, to the delivery. “I deliver many of my pieces to clients by hand,” she explains, “I’ll hire a van and drive it to people myself.” To many this might seem a tad over the top, but for Zoe it is a chance to see her work come alive. “I love delivering the pieces to clients.
so remodeling wood furniture has proved difficult - but that’s half the fun of it, right?!” What Zoe may lack in woodworking skill she can certainly make up for in utter determination to succeed, “I have worked incredibly hard for everything I have achieved so far. But it’s paid off - I can honestly say I am doing my dream job.” A dream job which has already got the design world falling at her feet. Check MADE online for Zoe’s top design tips for your own furniture projects www.journalism.cf.ac.uk/made
Assorted storage boxes
Fight the clutter crisis with these ab fab little boxes. £12 www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk
We’d DIE for... Budda bags
An enormous take on the classic bean bag. Fit many a pal on the biggest which is – wait for it – EIGHT FEET LONG! £750 www.buddhabag.com
21
Main picture by Amy Davies. Other pictures used with permission courtesy of Gizzi Erskine
Food
Reclaiming kitchens: your country
“If I don’t have chocolate at least five times a week, I will go nuts. It’s official.”
needs you!
Gizzi Erskine is a woman on a mission. She wants to teach people the lost art of cookery with a 21st century twist. We sent Eva Caiden to talk to the cooking queen whose guilty pleasure is KFC
G
izzi Erskine rushes through the fifth floor bar of private members club, Shoreditch House, and envelopes me in a hug, while simultaneously apologising for being late. She has, she says, been filming for a new project. Erskine is a 29-year-old food stylist, cook, journalist and presenter most famous for her stint on the 2007 Channel 4 programme Cook Yourself Thin, a show that focused on delicious low-fat food - with an emphasis on delicious and not a lettuce leaf in sight. Her dark brown hair is cut with a thick fringe and she is wearing a gorgeous red military inspired coat which I immediately covet. She is unfazed when I admit I’m unsure of how to pronounce her first name (Gih-zy) and reveals she’s had some almost pornographic sounding versions directed towards her. We order drinks (she has a mint tea) and settle down to chat about food, a topic she is passionate about. “Freezer aisles are full of shit,” she says, “Supermarkets are padded out with ready meals and we’ve lost the ability to cook. It’s so important for me to get young people to embrace cookery and learn the simple skills that seem to have been lost.”
Thai fusion Between the ages of 10 and 20, Erskine spent school holidays in Thailand as her parents were based in Bangkok. Asian cookery is ingrained in her as a result, and she particularly loves cooking the cuisine for dinner parties, “I know I can really show
22
off with it, because nobody really gets it, but it’s so easy.” She feels family time is central to teaching people the importance of food. Her greatest inspiration, her mother, is, “The biggest foodie on the planet. My earliest memories are walking through food markets seeing all these colours and
“It must have been quite comedic, because then Jamie’s agent came up to me and said, ‘Can you come and see us when you’re in London?’ At that point I was like, you must be kidding – did you just see me?” Erskine hadn’t yet found her television wings, and after going to a meeting, decided it wasn’t for her. Instead, she
“I was proud of the fact that my name was up there with size 12 flashing on the TV screen.” textures and being forced to taste things.” Growing up with a foodie for a mother wasn’t always easy. “Humiliatingly when I was a kid, I used to have people over for dinner and beg my mum to do chops and peas like everyone else’s mums. And she’d do these bonkers Thai banquets with all these weird crispy prawns on top.” However, the early years were formative for Erskine’s future choice of career. After saving up for an intensive year at Leiths School of Food and Wine in 2003 – “It crippled me totally financially,” she says – Gizzi set her sights on an internship with BBC Good Food magazine, which she won. Her big break in television came at the tender, young age of 23, “I was at the BBC Good Food show in Birmingham and I was asked to demonstrate as a warm up act between Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver. It was my worst nightmare, because up until then I had never contemplated anything like this in the slightest. I was peeling an avocado and it pinged into the audience and hit someone in the head! I was juggling pots and pans and spilt things, I had a complete disaster.“
built her career as a food stylist behind the scenes on numerous television shows, magazine shoots, commercials and films. She worked for companies as diverse as Elle, Marks and Spencer, GMTV and Ryvita. “Every producer I worked with said, ‘We’ve got to get you on telly.’ It was a compliment, but the more it happened, the more you start thinking.”
Cooking and TV After doing screen tests for two shows, Erskine did a pilot for a Sky One show called TASTE, going on to present around 20 shows. A year later she auditioned for Cook Yourself Thin. “It started off as a Sex And The City style cooking show. We all had our individual personalities. I was the rock and roll chick, a bit out there – doing frenetic bonkers food. Harry was the pastry girl, who liked baking. Sophie was the, ‘It girl,’ who did fast and furious and Sal was the earth mother doing home cooked food. Then they were obviously thinking about what girls want – healthy low fat food – and that was really pushed. I like the fact that
it came from a foodie background before a diet background.” The Cook Yourself Thin girls are refreshingly not skinny minnies, “I was proud of the fact that my name was up there with size 12 flashing on the TV screen. It was a good message to show people. A lot of people recently have been telling me to lose weight in my job. And I think no, I’m a cook, I’m a normal girl.” She reveals that in the past she’s tried lots of different diets. “But if I hadn’t lost any weight in two weeks I’d get really pissed off and eat anything I wanted. I mean, if I don’t have chocolate at least five times a week, I will go nuts. It’s official.” Erskine, who is rather petite in the flesh says, “There’s nothing more exciting to me in life than food. I would rather be curvaceous and be able to eat than be skinny.” There are, she says, lots of tricks you can use to make tasty low-fat nosh, “It’s just a good message to show people that happy medium. It’s so boring, but a little bit of what you fancy is the right approach.” So instead of following the Nigella route (by the way, enough with the comparisons, Erskine is emphatic they are poles apart), she has focused on making low-fat recipes accessible to people who lack skills, without compromising on taste. So many have tried. So few have delivered. Erskine, I am happy to say, is one of those who has, “I get a real kick out of modernising techniques. I’m the world’s worst pastry maker, and lots of people are scared of making pastry. I looked at shortcrust pastry and thought, what’s wrong with it, why do I hate it? It’s because it crumbles: to have a really perfect shortcrust pastry it’s got to be really short, which means really crumbly. It’s impossible to roll without it falling to bits. So I thought, well what makes the perfect shortcrust pastry, is the perfect snap. What else does that? Biscuits. I combined the two and now have the perfect
pastry recipe.” Doesn’t she ever get a teensy bit tired of all this cooking, and crave a humungous Big Mac, I ask, bracing myself for the expected PR answer. She nods – without a hint of guilt. I want to put my hands in the air and whoop. “Not so much McDonalds, but KFC is probably my secret love. The smell of it is up there with coffee and baking bread. The thing that bothers me about them is the fact they’re so unethical. But every now and then, if I’m really hungover, my body will crave things. And I believe in giving your body what it wants.” Gizzi Erskine’s new book is out in August (Title is yet to be decided).
For more from Gizzi visit MADE online.
http://journalism.cf.ac.uk/made
23
Words by Eva Caiden. Pictures by Amy Davies
COURGETTE, MUSHROOM AND MOZZARELLA TART Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Serves: 3-4 Ingredients:
Ladies that Lunch Bring back the high-noon festivities of the past with our sumptuous tea party recipes.
A
fternoon tea is something irrevocably English, summoning up images of 19th century high society women, with powdered faces, corsets and plenty of time on their hands. Dainty cucumber sandwiches and an endless selection of prettified cakes were the order of the day. Nowadays, we often work through lunch, which means by 3pm our blood sugar levels have dipped, leaving us lethargic and unable to focus. Put lunch back on the map by following the recipes below, which are designed to keep you going throughout your busy day. Whether it’s a midday feast or something for your lunchbox, you’re sure to find a titbit to take your fancy.
US PS WITH HOUMO
FEL WRA HOMEMADE FALA ER AND SWEET PEPP utes Prep time: 15 min minutes Cooking time: 10 Serves: 3-4 s: Falafel ingredient
Get ready for a gastronomic explosion at lunchtime with these Lebanese-style wraps.
ble oil nflower or vegeta 2 tablespoons su ly chopped 1 small onion, fine ed sh cru , ve 1 garlic clo , drained as pe ick ch n ca 400g cumin nd 2 teaspoons grou en 1 egg, beat
Wrap ingredients:
lved 6 small tortillas, ha s 1 tub houmou opped 1 sweet pepper, ch af parsley, roughly -le at fl h nc bu all A sm chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed 2 tablespoons sundried tomato paste 375g ready rolled puff pastry sheet 125g ball mozzarella, sliced 100g mushrooms, sliced 1 courgette, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon olive oil
Method: Preheat the oven to 220ºC/GM 7. Mix the tomato paste and garlic together. Place the pastry on a baking sheet and score a border around two centimetres from the edge. Then prick the pastry within the border with a fork and spread on the tomato mixture. Top with cheese and then layer with slices of mushroom and courgette. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 20 minutes until risen and golden brown.
PESTO CHICKEN MINI PIZZAS Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients:
COURGETTE, MUSHROOM AN D MOZZARELLA TART
This tart can also be kept in the frid ge for up to two days, so it’s perfect for making your work colle agues jealous at lunch time.
2 tablespoons green pesto 4 tablespoons sundried tomato paste 150g chopped, cooked chicken 1 red pepper, diced 125g ball of mozzarella, sliced 6 pitta breads, cut into circles using an 8cm cutter
Method: Preheat the oven to 200ºC/GM 6. Mix together the sundried tomato paste and the pesto. Spread onto the pitta breads. Scatter with mozzarella, pepper and chicken. Pop in the oven for five minutes or until the mozzarella has softened and browned.
Add some chorizo into the mix if a
meat feast is your thing.
12 slices of chorizo 250g mozzarella balls 4 large beef tomatoes Basil leaves 12 cocktail sticks
Method:
APRICOT AND BLACKBERRY CRUMBLE CAKE Prep Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: Cooking Time: 45 minutes 200g butter, softened 225g golden caster sugar Makes: 16 squares No high-tea is complete without cake and with this scrumptious offering you can tell yourself it counts towards your five-a-day.
225g self-raising flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 eggs 300g vanilla yogurt 200g apricots 200g blackberries
Serve hot with custard for a pudding.
24
Five minutes in the oven at 200ºC/G M 6 and a drizzle of olive oil will turn these nibb les into a dinner party fave.
Use three slices of chorizo, tomato, mozzarella and basil in each stacker. Layer tomato, chorizo, mozzarella and basil and repeat twice (although you can stop at two layers if this is easier). Put a cocktail stick through the middle to secure.
Method:
e onion and in a pan and fry th oil of n oo sp ble ta Heat one t into a blender until softened. Pu at he low a er ov garlic and blend for 30 , cumin and egg, with the chickpeas paste. bined into a thick ghtly. Fry the seconds until com balls and flatten sli six o int ch ix m e th Mould ve minutes on ea heat for around fi ium ed m a on el laf fa brown. ch wrap and side until golden of houmous on ea on po as te a lf ha Spread ntre. of falafel in the ce ll place two halves ley over the top. Ro rs pa d an t pepper . ck sti il ta Scatter some swee ck a co then secure with each into a cone,
BASIL, TOMATO, MOZZERELLA AND CHORIZO STACKERS Prep time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients:
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/GM 4. Line a traybake tin (21x30 centimetres) with baking parchment. Beat the butter, sugar, flour, baking powder, eggs and 150ml of the yogurt together until creamy. Spoon into the tin and level before baking for 25 minutes. Make the crumble by rubbing the butter, flour and Demerara sugar together. When the cake has baked for 25 minutes, take it out of the oven and spoon over the other 150ml yogurt. Scatter with the fruit and then top with crumble.
25
Make your friend’s day with one of these tasty treats
S
imple to knock together and easy on the eye, gifts in a jar will slap a smile on any gastronomic goddess’s face for weeks, and even months. A present made to last the distance, the lucky recipient can keep it in her cupboard until the ideal cooking opportunity comes around. Go sweet like chocolate with some scrummy sand art biscuits, spice up your life with a pot of chilli jam or be a Mexican jumping queen with an assorted rainbow of beans – a delicious soup in the making. The possibilities are virtually endless!
Hot stuff jam For jam on your toast which will kick start any Monday morning, follow these instructions and you won’t go wrong.
Ingredients:
12 red chillies 350ml cider vinegar 1kg jam sugar 4 green/red peppers Pinch of salt
Method:
Seed and finely chop the pepper and chillies. Put in a pan with the cider vinegar. Simmer for 20 minutes. Strain through two layers of cheesecloth back into a pan, then mix in the salt and sugar until dissolved. Boil for one minute and transfer to jars. Seal the jars in hot water and hey presto! Hot stuff jam.
Sand art snacks
Full of beans
You did it at school as an eager five-year-old. Now it’s time to bring those lessons into the kitchen. Sand art biscuits will set any lady’s tastebuds tingling from first glance.
Bean there, done that? Not like this you haven’t. The ideal gift for a friend with a savoury tooth, this soup recipe will have her bouncing all over the kitchen, full of… well, beans.
Ingredients: 340g empty jar 225g plain flour 90g sugar 30g cocoa
Method: Layer the ingredients however you wish and sprinkle some sugar-coated sweets on top for a splash of vibrancy. Screw the lid on and you have the perfect pressie. Remember to add a tag, reminding your friend to rub in 170g of butter, cut out and bake for 12 minutes at 200oC/GM 5. Otherwise, you could have a kitchen disaster on your hands.
26
Ingredients: 340g empty jar Different varieties of beans: pink, black, red, white, baby, lentils, red lentils, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, lima beans 1 stock cube A bay leaf
Method:
Attach the following instructions: Empty beans into a pan. Add one and a half litres of water and bring to the boil. Boil for two minutes, remove from heat and leave to stand for one hour then drain and rinse. To cook, add one and a half litres of water, a tin of tomatoes and a stock cube. Simmer until beans are tender.
Spruce up your supper with citrus salmon and avocado tortilla baskets. With minimal effort and maximum flavour, you’ll be a dinner party diva in no time Prep time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 200g tin boneless and skinless pink salmon Handful of baby salad leaves 1 avocado, peeled and sliced 1 mandarin, peeled and segmented ½ pink grapefruit, peeled and segmented 2 spring onions, chopped 4 small flour tortillas ¼ teaspoon paprika 2 tablespoons oil
For the dressing: 3 tablespoons olive oil ½ lemon, juice and zest 1 teaspoon brown sugar Salt and pepper, to taste
Method: Preheat the oven to 180ºC/GM 4. Mix the oil and paprika and brush both sides of the four small flour tortillas. Press into medium muffin tins and place a ball of foil in the centre of each. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven, remove the foil balls and allow tortillas to cool. Prepare the dressing by combining all the ingredients in a jar. Give it a shake. Flake the salmon into chunks. Arrange the salmon, avocado, salad leaves and spring onions in the tortilla baskets. Alternate each basket with mandarin or grapefruit segments. Drizzle over the dressing. Serve immediately.
ake an m s t e k s a b la il Our tangy tort hbox. c n lu r u o y o t ion unusual addit ings? ll fi r o f n io t a ir Short on insp ebsite. w r u o t u o k c Che k/made .u c .a f .c m s li a www.journ
27
Words and pictures by Jenny Williams
Words by Sarah Adie. Pictures by Amy Davies
Gifts in a jar
Tangy Tortilla Baskets
titbits
tea time
COTTAGE PIE Photos by Esther Armstrong & Eva Caiden
Got beef?
Get some mince-piration to branch out from chilli and bolognese
A
s a base ingredient mince is often underrated. For many it conjures memories of made-in-bulk and lacking in flavour school dinners. But mince doesn’t need to be morose. It’s a cheaper alternative to other cuts of meat and not necessarily of poorer quality. Use lean steak mince for better taste and less fat content. In the curry and cottage pie recipes below, the meat is simmered for 30 minutes, keeping it tender and ensuring it sucks up all those delicious flavours. As an alternative, the burgers are quick, easy and still provide satisfaction. Ideal for entertaining or mid-week meals, mince is on the rise, and it’s versatile too.
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 40-45 minutes Serves: 4-6 Traditional and tasty, this dish Ingredients: will impress fa mily and friends and is easy to For the base: make in bulk.
2 tablespoons olive oil 1kg lean steak mince 4 smoked bacon rashers (trim off fat and chop into small pieces) 2 onions, finely chopped ion of bacon to 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped The addit ur. this dish gives great flavo 150ml red wine use ney mo of bit a e To sav 500ml beef stock con to mince and Leaves from 3 sprigs of thyme more ba plump it up a little.
For the mash:
NEW POTAT
O AN
D MINCE Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Tim e: 40-45 min utes Serves: 4-6 Ingredients :
CURRY
2 tablespoo ns sunflower oil 450g lean st eak mince 1 tablespoo n flour 1 onion, chop ped 3 garlic clov es, finely ch opped (you garlic if you can use Very prefer) Lazy 1 tablespoo n fresh ginge r, grated (aga available) in a lazy vers ion is 1 red chilli (o r 1 teaspoo n chilli flakes 2 teaspoons ) ground cum in 2 teaspoons ground corian 2 tablespoo der ns bhuna cu rry paste (or your choice any curry pas ) te of 600ml water 500g new p otatoes was hed 100g spinac h leaves (rem and quar tered ove thick stem Method: s and tear le aves Heat a large pan on med iu m onion, garlic and ginger an heat with sunflower oil. Add d cook for fi Add mince to ve minutes. the pan and cook until b help break it rowned, stir up. ring to Stir in the cu rry paste, ch illi and spices minute. and fry for on e Add the new potatoes an d 600ml water simmer for 30 minutes. . Bring to th e boil, Season to ta Stir in spinac ste. h and simm er for a furth with naan b er minute. S read and yo erve ghurt.
6 medium sized potatoes, peeled and chopped 85g butter Try and use a good quality red 3 tablespoons milk wine for the stock. As a general 85g mature cheddar, grated rule, don’t cook with a wine you 2 teaspoons mustard wouldn’t drink. Salt and pepper to taste 1 spring onion, finely chopped, for garnish
Method: Heat olive oil in a pan, on a medium heat. When hot, tip in onion, garlic and bacon, fry for five minutes, add the mince and cook until browned. Pour in the red wine, beef stock and thyme leaves. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 30 minutes until the mince is tender and the sauce has reduced. Meanwhile, boil potatoes in a separate pan until floury. Drain and return to the pan. Add milk, butter, cheddar and mustard to the pan and mash potatoes until smooth and creamy. Season to taste. Put the mince mixture in the bottom of an oven-proof dish, layer the mash on top and pop in the top of a moderately hot oven (200°C/GM 6) to brown. Garnish with chopped spring onions and serve.
GOURMET BURGERS
Great for a girls ’ night in, our gourmet burger s will set you up to take on the world.
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 10-15 minutes Serves: 4-6 Serve on fresh, good Ingredients:
quality baps with side sal ad 1 chilli, finely chopped and garnish of choice. ½ red onion, finely chopped 1 large egg 1 handful of breadcrumbs (about one slice of stale bread) 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 2 tablespoons grated parmesan 1kg lean steak mince d of Crumbled stilton instea Oil for frying more bit a e giv parmesan will Salt and pepper to taste rs. rge bu se the punch to
Method:
28
Mix the chilli, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, mustard, parmesan and beef in a bowl. Shape into four patties (six if you want smaller portions) and put in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up. Heat a frying pan or griddle on a hot heat. Brush the pan with a little oil and season the burgers with salt and pepper. Place them on the pan and cook for around 10 minutes, turning carefully every minute or so. Cook for longer if you prefer them well-done. Serve on fresh baps with salad and garnish of choice. Esther Armstrong
29
All photos by Amy Davies
Project rescue
newly MADE’s Amy Davies is a self-confessed rubbish crafter. After last week’s limited success she’s set aside the crochet needle and picked up the pen in a bid to learn calligraphy. Here she tells us how she got on
M
y second outing as a beginner crafter has been a mixed bag. This time, I’ve been trying my hand at calligraphy. It’s safe to say I’m not as enthusiastic as I was for crocheting, but I decided to give it my best shot, almost. In recession filled times, I was only willing to invest the minimum amount of cash in learning this new skill. At the recommendation of a colleague, and with some vague childhood memory of seeing them in my sister’s pen collection, I bought some Berol italic pens. Luckily, for someone who is incredibly lazy, the pens came complete with instructions on how to get started on the back of the packet. The instructions suggested various strokes I might want to try out in order to get to grips with holding the pen at the right angle, but sadly not providing information on exactly how to build up these strokes, my first foray was met with limited success. Having no access to the internet, as I was rather geekily practising in the pub, I soon
Dear MADE None of the clothes in the shops fit me! How do you take in the waistband on a pencil skirt? Amy Barker, Dundee
MADE says:
That said, by this point I was beginning to lose sight of the point of the whole thing. I’m just not sure calligraphy is for me. The lettering does look attractive and perhaps with a bit of persistence and practice I would get on much better with it. But I feel it’s a lot of effort to put in for something with a fairly small reward. My mind and hands were fairly distracted this week by another crafting hobby I’ve taken up: I’ve managed to pick up knitting with relative ease after my crocheting experiences and I find this much more satisfying, so I have devoted more of my time to improving that skill. Still, I was determined to produce something of calligraphic substance so set about making a greetings card as my first project. With nobody specific in mind, I decided I’d make a birthday card. Drawing faint lines to ensure sizing consistency, I used lettering from my trusty pen packet and from the learncalligraphy.co.uk to write ‘Happy Birthday’ and construct a border around the
Measure your waist first, get the measuring tape to a position which feels comfortable and takes into account any clothes you might wear under it. Then, measure the front and back of the skirt. Add these measurements up and subtract your own waist measurement. The total is the amount you need to take off the waistband. Calculate a quarter of this length, if you need to take in four centimetres, mark one centimetre into either seam with dressmakers chalk. Unpick the seams. Sew your new seams along your chalk marks, starting where the side seam crosses another seam. Sew using a downward stitch, but finish the new seams off with a zigzag stitch, either by hand or with a sewing machine, for a more professional finish. Hannah Flynn, editor
You say:
This is tricky if you have pockets or detail on the skirt, but it can be done. Watch the seam towards the top of a skirt which has pockets on it and either take the seams in as far as it will go with the pockets, or remove them carefully. You can then leave these if there are no visible marks, or you can cover them up with embroidery, beads and buttons or even a patch of fabric. If there is a circle of fabric around the waist, then remove this before you create your new seams. Make sure you shorten this to the same size as the new waistband and sew back on using a sewing machine, as the stitching will be visible from the outside. Jenny Jackson, Buckinghamshire
“I feel it’s a lot of effort to put in for something with a fairly small reward...” descended into writing ‘hello’ a number of times before giving up entirely. Tomorrow, I thought, I’ll head online. The next day, however, fed up of looking at a screen all day and keen to get a drink (who knew calligraphy could turn you to alcoholism?), I dragged a MADE colleague with me who had some basic knowledge of the art. She helped me realise the pen packet was easier to follow than I initially thought and I began to build up an alphabet, and even my first words: Newly MADE, naturally. The day after that, I felt I was ready to find out more and headed online to find a cornucopia of instructional websites: www. learncalligraphy.co.uk seemed like as good a place as any to start. Happily it told me how to construct letters with directional arrows for ease of use.
30
edge of the card. I’ve realised, however, that I probably could have done this without the aid of calligraphy techniques. I know it is largely my fault, I haven’t thrown myself properly into this skill or tried to learn it well enough to find it rewarding. Perhaps given more time, cash and patience I would do, but sadly these are three things I’m increasingly finding myself without. At the end of the week, I do have a greetings card I will happily use (I’m thinking it’s more for my Granny than my best friend, but never mind). I can’t see myself taking calligraphy any further, but at least I gave it a go. Next week I’m going to attempt to make a jumper monkey. What’s that you might ask? Well I think it’s pretty self explanatory… a monkey made from a jumper.
First stop for craft first aid. We are on a mission to stick a plaster on all your creative woes Dear MADE I keep on burning my chocolate when I am trying to melt it for recipes and it goes all hard. Can I rescue it? Heidi Koole, Bradford
MADE says:
This is a frequently encountered problem and it needn’t be a catastrophe. If your chocolate goes stiff (also known as seizing) while melting, it’s because water or steam has mixed with it. If the chocolate needs a high gloss look, then you will need to throw it away and start again. However, if the glossy finish isn’t essential, then remove the chocolate from the heat and dry any steam on the bowl. Gradually stir in two teaspoons of vegetable oil, stirring continuously until the chocolate becomes smooth again. This is very much a process of trial and error. If the smooth consistency doesn’t return or there are hard bits in the mixture, the chocolate is too burnt and you will need to start again. As an alternative to the vegetable oil solution, you can also try pouring half a cup of boiling water, a bit at a time, into the chocolate mixture. Stir continuously until the mixture has combined and the consistency is smooth.
You say:
Eva Caiden, food editor
Microwaving it is too quick so use a bain-marie (a bowl placed inside a pan of simmering water). Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t catch. Using a higher quality chocolate with 70 percent coca or more will also prevent the chocolate from burning. Nina Jones, Colchester
Dear MADE Whenever I dry flowers they either fall apart before they have finished drying or fall apart a few weeks afterwards. What am I doing wrong? Cari Arscott, Ipswich
MADE says:
No need to panic, an easy solution is at hand. We found, when pressing flowers the Speedy Gonzales way, it was best to use slightly fresher flowers as they have more staying power when eventually dried. Once you’ve microwaved your roses, the next step towards pressed perfection is to get a bit glue-tastic. It’s messy but it works. Whip up a mix of PVA and water (one third water, two
Questions for next issue... Amy practises calligraphy in the pub
27
thirds glue) and embalm the flowers as much as you can. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get a shiny hue when they’ve dried. The flowers which work best in the microwave are roses and freesias, the thinner the better. Be aware when zapping them, if they are thin they’ll take less time to cook, and stay away from carnations, they don’t work well. Happy pressing. Sarah Adie, writer and illustrator
Send us your answers: Q. I was painting a wall in my house and I got mademagonline@googlemail.com emulsion all over the carpet! How can I clean up so my landlord doesn’t find out?
Q. When I finish a piece of crochet, which side is the ‘right’ side? Q. How do I clean up an egg I have accidentally dropped without it spreading everywhere?
31
Made cautionary tale #2
W
e once made a monkey from scratch With the heart of a little red patch He was thrown in the bin With his separate limb When we found that one arm was detached.
When things go wrong... check out our UNMADE blog
http://journalism.cf.ac.uk/made