Birmingham and District Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers 'Annual Exhibition 2011'

Today was the Annual Guild Exhibition Day, it is a chance to showcase examples of our work throughout the year  Also you can eat cake and drink lots of tea.  I quite like it because I get a chance to sit and spin.  I love to look at what others have been working on and chat to like minded people.  I whizzed around taking a few pictures before the 'Public' arrived.  I should have  taken more and have made a note to myself for next year.  It is quite tricky to get the balance right for a blog post, too many photos or not enough, sometimes you can't win.  This year we have had workshops on:

Colour Theory
Design Theory
Flower Pounding
Everlasting Christmas Crackers
The History of Ribbon Making
Natural Dyes

That is to name a few.  All of the displays looked impressive this year.  I particularly liked the Weaving tables.  We have some very talented weavers that are in their eighties.

Examples of a variety of methods of weaving were on display.  It fascinates me to see the skill involved.  There are also several 'Sales' tables.  I was fairly good today and did not spend!  I am due a large quantity of 'raw' Alpaca fleece at the end of the week and I don't know where to hide it, so I really had to resist more yarn or fibre.  I was asked if I wanted eight large bags of Alpaca for free!  What is a girl to say?  All the giver would like in exchange is something made from the fibre.  I think it is a stroke of good fortune but I will of course let you know.  It will definitely keep me out of mischief for a while.
At the Exhibition there is also an Annual Competition, this year the theme was 'The Sea'.  I am such a fool not to have taken more photographs but I got carried away spinning once I settled.  The entries were fantastic.  I was frogging mine on Thursday night, so gave up and didn't enter this year.  It is my own fault for getting addicted to 'Rippling' instead!  I remind myself that craft should be for leisure and pleasure anyway and if something becomes a chore I leave it alone for a while.  I did get a photograph of my Mom's entry.  I feel very proud of her and I think she did an absolutely fantastic job using entirely her own handspun yarn and some of the techniques and ideas we have picked up throughout the year.  She didn't get placed but the standard of entries was incredibly high this year.  Mom's piece is a 'Winner' in my eyes, I love it!

Quick and Easy Spicy Meat Kebabs

This is another recipe adapted from Alia's Creative Life.  I am increasingly shocked at the cost of my grocery bill which seems to rise each week as the global economy continues to create a painful 'credit crunch'.  I 'work' part time and try to cook economically and create a variety of family meals on a budget.  I wander around the supermarket tutting to myself as I seem to have a photographic memory for grocery prices and I feel like these huge supermarkets are doing an excellent job of ripping us off!  My Dad laughs at me because I grumble about inflation and he still laughs about my comment that 'Budgie Millet has gone up over 100%'.  It is a good job the budgie has a tiny appetite!

This is 'Bob the Budgie's' Blog Debut.
 I can't say he was overjoyed to have a Camera stuck in his cage.
  He is 8yrs old and very chatty.
He loves Millet!

My 'boys' however do not have tiny appetites.  They go through phases where they will eat with gusto anything that I cook but currently both are going through a 'picky' stage!  That does not go down well in this house.  I think it is since I have started this *^""*ng diet Healthy Eating Plan and the offerings have altered somewhat!  They both viewed Homemade Salmon Burgers with suspicion, but tucked in and enjoyed them!

Grilled Salmon Burgers, Served with New Potatoes, broccoli  and Parsley  Sauce

Henry and I prepared live Mussels from Scotland this week and cooked them in White Wine and garlic.  I thought they were delicious but Henry prefers his usual pickled variety!  He was not happy de-bearding a kilo of live mussels.  I say it is character building.  I really should have got a photograph of the boy at work!  Whilst this dining is not the most economical they were still cheaper than any take-away meal.
These spicy kebabs were very easy to make and make a fast food style meal to be eaten with salad, pitta bread and sauce.  I think you could use any regular meatball/ meatloaf recipe and add spice.  In my case I added Balti Curry Powder.  Yeah for Spicy Balls.  They were a hit in this house!

Ingredients
400g of Lean Minced Beef
400g of Lean Minced Pork
1 large grated onion
2 tsp of dried Mixed Herbs
150g breadcrumbs
2 eggs
2 tablespoons of Balti Curry Powder

Method
Plonk all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.  (  I used clean hands to do this job.)  Leave the mixture for an hour or so to chill in the fridge.  Roll into small, walnut sized balls.  Deep fry your balls (No giggling please!)  For 5 minutes.  Serve hot with Pitta bread or Naan bread, salad and Raita Sauce.  I have made a note to myself to experiment with a vegetarian recipe for this style of kebab, it will probably involve my old favourites, Chick peas.

'Give Away' Ta Dah - 'Lantern Scarf' by Anastacia Knits

Woohoo!  This is a cheeky little pattern from Anastacia Knits.  It has made a light but warm scarf.  I loved making this because it is not the type of scarf I would usually make.  I usually stick to the plain stuff!  It has a simple but effective repeat pattern.  It grows very quickly and was easy peasy.  I learned how to read a chart finally, thanks to this pattern.  I didn't use the written instructions and followed the chart, which made me feel very grown up.  Previously I have had a total mental block with charts but I really enjoyed this.  Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!  I also manged to read USA crochet terms without having to use a written translation.  What a great pattern for raising my self esteem and giving me a nice smug feeling.  The yarn I used was 'Sirdar Click' Aran, which is very soft and snuggly, but the pattern is so adaptable it can be made with any yarn.

My lovely boys were willing models!

I think Henry thinks my Blog may be a good way of getting a date, he is clearly open to offers.

I think I may have trouble getting rid of him, it is a good job I love him!

Euan was also enthusiastic to get in on the act!

Anastacia has kindly offered give a copy of this pattern away as prize to one of you lovely blog readers.  All you need to do to win your copy of the 'Lantern Scarf' pattern is leave a comment below stating which one of 'Anastaciaknits' designs is your favourite.  Leave a comment by the 17th of November and I will arrange for a winner to be Randomly drawn  on the 18th November.  You would still have time to whip up a couple of these for last minute, hand made Christmas gifts!

Flag Counter Reports Visitor From Out of Space!

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know I have a bit of a thing for my 'Flag Counter'.  It is like State of the Art stamp collecting to me.  It tracks blog visitors by Country.  It also provides you with all sorts of information about those countries (some places I have never even heard of!)  I have now had visitors from 103 countries which is just awesome.  Now for the really weird stuff, yesterday my newest visitor was from 'An Unknown Satellite Provider'.  I have taken this to mean only one thing, we are not alone!  All are welcome and appreciated in my little corner of Blogland, so if you are from extra terrestrial origin here is a special little shout out especially for ya!  

Hi! 

Whilst I am more than happy to have alien invasions in Blogland, I just want to make it quite clear I am not up for an alien abduction in the real world.  I can not spare the Hookie time.  Ya get me?  How I cried at ET though, back in 1982.  I just love Master Yoda too.  

If you are an intergalactic visitor to my little corner of Blogland please leave a comment, that would be soooo cool!

Quick Crochet 'Remembrance Day' Poppy Brooch

 'Flower of The Eternal Sleep' by Josie Whitehead

I saw that The Smiling Robot had made herself a poppy for Remembrance Day.  I thought it was a lovely idea to crochet a brooch.  Off to trusty old Ravelry for a pattern and I chose this Free Pattern Here.  I altered it a little accidentally on purpose.

I sewed a safety pin to the back and Voila!  One Poppy Brooch.  I had more trouble photographing it than crocheting it.  The colour either turned out shocking cerise or this rusty red.  I chose to be kind on your eyes and select the rusty red pictures.  The poppy is actually 'Poppy' red in real life, but in Blogland it is this colour.  I love my little point and shoot camera, but I don't understand it fully, I haven't worked out how to access the menu or what all the functions are  -  you may have guessed I am not a read the manual kind of gal!

 I will be wearing my poppy with pride.

Quick and Easy Oat Cookies

I was lucky enough to grow up with lots of family within five minutes walking distance from my house, both sets of Grandparents, Aunties and Uncles, cousins and Great Aunties and Uncles.  These Oat Cookies remind me of my Great Auntie Marion.  She was affectionately known as Auntie Pauntie...I have no idea why!  I was rather spoiled by many of these relatives and saw many of them regularly, popping in for 'Egg and Chips' or a chocolate biscuit, home baked goodies, a chat to the budgie, a knitting lesson, a game of cards or a game of dominoes, a rummage through the button jar etc etc....I knew little treats would be waiting for me in the various houses.  I am sure I was a pest, but nobody ever let on.  Auntie Pauntie was a knitter.  She was also a smoker and she was partial to Whiskey and Brandy.  She was my Grandmother's Sister in law and I saw her multiple times a week.  My Grandparents were bombed out of their house in Birmingham in the Second World War and they moved in with Auntie Marion and Uncle Bill until they could get back on their feet.  They never bought their own home again, their next house they rented for the rest of their lives.  Auntie Marion was a very slim lady and knew how to budget...to fund her more pleasurable habits.  Her Oat Cookies were delicious.  They are very economical, very quick and easy to bake a batch and equally quick to disappear.  Euan has reserved a couple to take to school tomorrow.  I cook a batch in the oven when I am making the Sunday Roast.  (Chickens are rather partial to them too).
Here is the recipe for Auntie Paunties Oat Cookies:


Ingredients
100g Butter
100g Sugar
150g Self raising flour
50-75g Oats
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Essence

Method
Cream together the butter and sugar.  Add two beaten eggs and stir well.  Add the Vanilla essence, oats and flour.  Mix well.  Using your hands roll the mixture into walnut sized balls and roll them in oats.  Flatten them out and place them on a baking tin, spaced apart as they will spread.  Bake them in a medium oven for 15-20 minutes until they start to turn Golden.  If you have the patience allow them to cool...but they are delicious warm or even hot!  (They are a naughty breakfast occasionally in this house).
Pour whiskey, light cigarette and enjoy!