tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78548903473589435382024-03-14T05:37:38.746+00:00The Adventures of Maeve QueenMakings and doings by Maeve Keane: queen of faffing about - mostly involving making stuff, baking things, and drinking tea.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-41407213921261503642015-07-08T18:16:00.001+01:002015-07-08T18:16:52.617+01:00Blueberry MuffinsFirst blog post here in two and a half years! Goodness. What a blast from the past it was looking through the previous posts. A friend of mine asked to be repaid a favour via food (a happy exchange) with the condition that I revisit my blog and post up my makings and bakings whatever they might be. So here I am. Mostly these days I use my website (www.maevekeane.com) but it's more for my artAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-63086076441684864902012-12-26T15:54:00.001+00:002012-12-26T22:39:38.850+00:00Stephen's Day Scarf
I'm not much of a knitter, but Santa brought some kind of miracle wool that you can knit into a whole scarf in an evening while you're watching the Christmas Downton. Tivoli spiral wool it was, and came with a small pattern. This is the result!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-34782727074337421252012-12-25T10:34:00.001+00:002012-12-25T10:37:38.307+00:00Little Saint Nick-nailsCandy apple red with a sprinkling of snowflakes...
Red nail polish, with white snowflakes hand drawn with a nail pen.
...For the day that's in it!
Merry Christmas all!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-23918718624817909062012-12-24T23:28:00.002+00:002012-12-25T10:36:53.611+00:00Hootie the HottieInspired by my success with Bloop, I set about making a similar present for a Secret Santa gift, though it could be a gift for any time really!
Hootie the Hottie is the result. She's a Snugowl - an interesting creature who sleeps a lot, smells like lavender, keeps you warm on a cold winter's eve, and is generally good for a cuddle when you need one.
To make one like her, you need:
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-52235728569241065792012-11-26T17:00:00.000+00:002012-12-24T23:04:44.275+00:00The Best Thing I've Ever Made: Bloop
I had to make a special present for Someone Special. And it had to be AMAZING.
Inspired by Child's Own studio's work and Mo, who was made for a friend, I set to work on creating not just a handmade present, but something much more personal.
Based on this drawing by Someone, I set to work on bringing a creature to life, using fleece, felt, buttons, wool and some other bitsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-78931434797168392382012-08-24T11:37:00.001+01:002012-08-24T15:11:07.631+01:00The Wall
The Beginning.
I was asked to paint a mural for a primary school so here's the progress so far!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-74468330316383434582012-08-16T16:16:00.001+01:002012-08-16T16:21:29.427+01:00Oriental Rhubarb Chutney
With a present of some home grown stalks of rhubarb and not a lot else in the house I set to work making some jam. It turned out a little spicier than I intended and is probably more aptly named Oriental Rhubarb Chutney than jam!
Ingredients:
1 lb rhubarb
1/2 tsp Chinese five spice
Juice of 2 limes
A few pieces of sushi ginger
2 handfuls of raisins
1 cup water
1 cup caster sugar
PutAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-20760291304813154112012-08-15T14:55:00.001+01:002012-08-15T14:59:41.844+01:00Sushi and Onigiri
Last summer I went to Japan with two friends and a year later we were still talking about these things we dubbed "yellow chickens" so we decided to recreate them! What we were actually talking about were Onigiri: balls/triangles of sushi rice with different fillings. Our favourite were a kind of chicken curry which we often ate for breakfast in the absence of cereal. Odd, delicious, and Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-57072452175730803192012-08-03T17:56:00.001+01:002012-08-03T19:57:50.812+01:00Summer Berry Muffins
So it's been a strange few weeks and making and doing ended up bottom of the list. But when someone special brought over some blueberries I decided baking needed to be on the agenda. I consulted my favourite books by Lilly Higgins and Nigella and decided on muffins. These are mostly Lilly's lovely blueberry muffins if I'm honest but with the addition of some strawberries (raspberries would beAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-8890044862350348112012-04-08T20:53:00.001+01:002012-04-08T21:20:28.839+01:00Sesame and Lime Macaroons
So I may have become a little obsessed with macaroons in the last wee while...
These are sesame and lime ones, made for having with The Tea (post-family-dinner) on Easter Sunday.
As with the previous macaroons, these are made from a recipe from a book simply called Macaroons, from the Love Food series, I take no credit for the recipe!
The mix of sesame and lime Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-10163133750249302072012-04-01T16:26:00.001+01:002012-04-08T21:11:40.985+01:00Pistachio MacaroonsThey're not quite as glossy as I'd like but mmm pistachio...
I must pack them away now to bring them visiting... otherwise I may continue eating them.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-25211758801938589242012-03-27T22:52:00.002+01:002012-03-27T22:54:55.007+01:00Who's got the button...?
Some quick and easy make and do:
A birthday present for a button loving friend...
made from a frame, some buttons, some paper, a safety pin, a wee locket and some ink.
Simples.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-13004284530265631212012-03-18T16:44:00.001+00:002012-03-18T17:07:09.793+00:00Sunday sketching
Mini Oil Lamp
Work in progress pt 1
Work in progress pt 2
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-49557220246604936952012-03-11T10:31:00.001+00:002012-03-11T22:10:53.924+00:00Home
As Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes sing: "home is whenever I'm with you..."
A small collage about my home...
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-53022233107191955662012-02-29T22:12:00.001+00:002012-02-29T22:17:06.107+00:00A buddy
Here's a little guy I made last summer before I went to Japan.
He lives in a different city now...
But he's got an important job to do up there so that's ok too.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-82951829200246053182012-02-25T15:43:00.001+00:002012-02-25T15:51:51.641+00:00Lavender Blue
Some lavender bags I made for presents...
The patterns are from Sew, a Cath Kidston book, that I got for Valentine's Day.
dried lavender from my Mum's garden
My sewing skills aren't all that wonderful yet, but they do smell nice!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-69770586796152841672012-01-26T22:58:00.001+00:002012-01-26T23:07:43.769+00:00The Outside World
Owl in flight
Before Christmas I was asked to illustrate a second book featuring Pippy and Dippy, two little mice who have previously made an appearance on my blog. The book, Pippy and Dippy, The Outside World, is written and self-published by Jim Bartley, who wrote The Adventures of Pippy and Dippy - released last year and for which I also created the artwork. These are some Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-6441822373695198712012-01-06T22:52:00.001+00:002012-04-08T21:12:18.166+01:00Green Tea MacaroonsRound 3 of macaroon making...
Green tea with lemon in the middle.
From a lovely book given to me for Christmas by someone lovely...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-24010774269007819492012-01-05T08:49:00.001+00:002012-04-08T21:12:40.939+01:00Macaroons
Tricky little guys.. but here are my first attempts.
Raspberry Ripple, which turned out pretty nifty.
Peanut Butter and Jam, which are not quite as pretty but just as tasty.
Good with a cuppa!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-26640420930173221512012-01-04T22:12:00.001+00:002012-01-04T22:13:39.418+00:00The Bleat and the Pulse
Some personalised frames made for presents over the past few months...
Frames, pictures, knick knacks and glue...
One of my favourite projects in a long while.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-38446388441496709682011-01-31T16:35:00.001+00:002012-01-06T22:56:19.431+00:00Ariel Flowering Tea
It seems a tiny little sweet-smelling ball of tea. Drop it into almost boiling water and voilá, it blooms. Smells beautiful (jasmine and green tea and chinese lily... dreamy), looks fascinating and tastes like green tea. Gets a bit too jasmine-y taste-wise after it's stewed for a while but the whole house smells divine afterwards.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-86415545689249944582010-11-01T17:27:00.000+00:002012-01-05T09:01:34.149+00:00Spicy Roast Pumpkin and Peanut Soup
Baby it's cold outside... And pretty miserable. I had great intentions of going on a long walk, having a half day and all, but the rain put a stop to that. While sculling a hot cup of tea I decided what I really wanted was soup, and I set to work looking for some ingredients. I based the recipe on a Darina Allen one, but the peanuts were my own genius (if I do say so myself) idea. AnywayAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-84109374452189991502010-08-12T22:41:00.002+01:002010-08-12T22:43:04.446+01:00A Tea Dress
I'm not going to lie, this is purely a gloating post. I MADE a dress. Oh yes. Out of fabric and zips and needles and threads and other amazing stuff (such as wundaweb...). ME!
Now I just need an occasion to wear it at. Exciting times!
Free dress patterns here (plus other cool stuff): http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns?free=1&most_recent=1
The one I made is called a "Danielle" dress.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-54405720338311939592010-08-06T11:38:00.000+01:002010-08-06T11:38:04.993+01:00Masquerade!
I mentioned last time that I've been running a summer camp with two friends (GAS craic - that's Guitar, Art and Singing and I teach the art workshops) so I thought I'd show off a little of what we did the second week with the older kids (11- 15 year olds).
During the second week we designed t-shirts, giant posters, treasure boxes, cd covers... but I think my personal favourite were masks. We Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7854890347358943538.post-75841260668035212982010-07-16T08:50:00.003+01:002010-07-16T08:52:02.387+01:00Summertime and the living is...surprisingly busy!
First of all, a big thank you to Lilly for Edna the Mermaid, who arrived some time ago and who is living it up at her new home! She's only gorgeous!
Where have I been for the last forever and what have I been doing? Well, some nothing here and there but mostly it's been a jam packed few weeks as I've been doing lots of illustrating, surfing in Donegal (or at least Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999785466550304936noreply@blogger.com0