Summertime 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 attempting to), visiting friends around the place, reading lots (American Gods by Neil Gaiman - do it), playing a bit of guitar, and generally doing stuff that doesn't involve the internet. However my main project at the minute has been this:

Myself and two friends are running a summer camp (yep with guitar, art and singing) at the minute. We're approaching the end of week 1, and week 2 starts Monday! So far it's been brilliant, but we are wrecked from all the running around! I run the art part, which this week involves poster making, painting murals, making maracas, painting t-shirts and face painting with a group of kids from ages 5-12. They're very talented and LOVE glitter.

Here are some of the maracas they made: 

Basically we got two plastic cups, threw in a few lentils, masking taped the two cups together, masking taped over the rest of the surface area (easier to paint) and then they let loose with the paint and sparkles and feathers!

Raspberry Dream

Oooh la la! I had great fun making this yesterday; it survived the night in the fridge and looked quite well this morning I must say! Basically it's a cheesecake recipe, made up of a few ideas from one of those Women's weekly cookbooks (they make me feel like I'm 65 when I buy them, but grannies make the best cakes so it's ok).

You need:

• 225g of delicious biscuits (I used Hob Nobs but I think ginger nut biscuits would be good too)
• 60g melted butter
• 300g raspberries (frozen will do)
• 2 tsps gelatine
• 2 tbsps water
• 375g cream cheese
• 50g caster sugar
• 2 tsps lemon juice
• 300ml cream
• a 22cm springform tin with cling film around the rim (but not the base, pop that back in after you put the cling film on).

Here's what I did:

1. Smash up the biscuits in a sandwich bag with a rolling pin or something like that, and then add them to the melted butter and mix well.
2. Spread this around the base of the tin and leave in the fridge for a half an hour while you make the other bits and pieces
3. Mix the gelatine and water in a heatproof jug and leave to stand in simmering water for a few mins, stirring it until it's totally disolved. Leave to cool for a few mins.
4. Beat the cheese, lemon and sugar in a bowl (yay for electric mixers), then beat in the cream and finally stir in the gelatine mix.
5. Put the raspberries on top of the biscuit base and pour in your filling. It should look like this.

Then you can decorate with a few spare raspberries if you like.

Leave it in the fridge overnight and then you can pop open the tin, gently remove the cling film and be left with something like the picture at the top. A hoard of hungry teachers descended on mine and devoured it in 10 minutes flat. I manage to get a wee crumbly bit for myself... and it was good.

Blue Skies and Brass Chains

It seems like only yesterday (actually it was, wasn't it?) I was anticipating a heat wave... and now look! Well, "heat wave" might be a touch on the hyperbolé side of things, but at least there is sunshine! A good day all round actually -  make and do things arrived in the post, I got thank-you presents, plus got some good news on a prospective business venture... and made a cheesecake! (pics to follow, once it has set completely!)

Anyway, remember the turtle locket I got? Well the make and do stuff what arrived today meant I could put it on a chain finally! Have a closer look!

I actually think the clasp is my favourite bit though. You might not be able to see below, but the little twig holding it shut is also a little brass flower.

I may still add a little more to it, but I'm happy with it for now!

Summer Nights

Tomorrow is June 1st and it's T minus 4 days until the Summer Holidays. Ultra-excitement. Unfortunately the weather has not been great today (a mild understatement...), but like every other Irish person, the 2 or 3 days of sun we have thus experienced this year has meant I have stocked up well on bikinis, shorts, maxi-dresses, sun hats, factor 50+ suncream, new sunglasses and various other sun-related paraphernalia in preparation for the blistering heat wave that is no doubt due to descend any day now (Friday would be good for me, please and thanks).

Further preparations for summertime-and-the-living-is-easy are afoot. In preparation for the good weather, guitar skills are being brushed up on, driving skills are being increased and the cost of wetsuits is being investigated (sure, it's the summer, I might as well take up surfing). Most importantly barbeques are being planned. Oh yes. With delicious items.

Today I decided to make some tea light holders to add to my summer items; every barbeque runs on into the dark of the evening, candles for the outdoors will definitely be needed in addition to music and fire and beers.

Taking some empty yoghurt pots (glass, not plastic - melty melty), wire and beads, I strung beads onto some wire.

Then I wrapped these around the rims of the pots and twisted the wire closed. I made another piece to use as a handle and there you go! A rather pretty pair I think!

Turtles, Trinkets and Treats

Pretty things arrived in the post today for make and do times! Here's my favourite - a little locket with turtles and a lily carved on it back and front. I must get some chain and ribbon though and get crafting at the weekend! Exciting!

Mice to meet you!

A little while ago I mentioned that I was illustrating a children's book for someone. Well I'm delighted to report that it seems one or two publishers are interested in it! All very tentative and nothing may yet happen but fingers crossed and raise your mugs to taking a chance!

This is another of the illustrations so far - more still to be completed! In the story the two main characters (the mice in the middle) bump into two pretty ladies... but unfortunately they turn out to be dolls belonging to the little girl of the house! They sit down and have a cup of tea anyway - which is what I'm going to do now!

Four Last Songs

Accidentally-on-purpose (I didn't really mean it to become a pattern!), my last four posts have all had song titles as the post titles so I thought I would post up the songs to match the posts!

Baubles, Bangles and Beads (from Kismet. I love musicals)



A Thousand Words (My options for this are a song by Savage Garden - eek - or a song from Final Fantasy - I opted for neither although I must admit to loving Final Fantasy games, just not so much this one...)

Push the Button (Chemical Brothers or Sugababes... The first one I think I'd prefer, even though I suppose technically the song title is Galvanize...)



And finally, Shiny Happy People (who doesn't love it?)

I also just found out, after giving this post a title, that "Four Last Songs" were the final completed works by Richard Strauss before his death (thanks Wikipedia!). He wrote them when he was 84 but died before they were performed in public. The songs are "Frühling" (Spring), "September", "Beim Schlafengehen" (Going to sleep) and "Im Abendrot" (At sunset). They're quite pretty!

Fin

Baubles, Bangles and Beads

Bracelets are one of my favourite things to make. So easy and they make nice personal presents I think! This one is going to a new home tomorrow.

All you need are some beads and elastic, just make sure you do a double knot at the end! Then you can wrap it up in tissue paper and ribbon et voila! 

a thousand words

Push the Button

Button, button... who's got the button? Here's a small project that requires three small things:

1. a button,
2. some glue and 
3. a ring. 

Put them together and what have you got? Tadaa!

I used a brass ring from a craft shop, but I think some pound-shop plastic ones would be great if you were making jewellery with kids!