The 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 bits and bobs...

I made a pattern. I thought that as I only had a front to go on, I could do what I like with his insides and back. He would be fully reversible, and inside-out-able, for reasons which you will discover below... 

He'd need feet.

And a brain, filled with thoughts on a bit of paper (they're not for you to see though). 

The brain comes from one of Someone's favourite books

And a circular double heart of Longing that sits in a pocket in his chest, filled with swan feathers* from swan lake, a shell from Co. Clare, and a lint of friendship ("a lint is a shell's best friend" - Marcel the Shell) - all items with a lot of personal importance.

*no swans were harmed in the making of these feathers 

He would need an old soul. The kind that grannies have.

And a Hot Water Bottom, for snuggling. Plus all those strong pink felt muscles inside for powers of minding.

As his insides took shape, so too did his outsides, with some outside help.

"make it work, designers"

He has the back of a razorback turtle/pig/dragon,

Some sparkle eyes and a distinguished french moustache,

Very stylish wooly hair,

A nose of lavender with tremendous smell detecting/defending ability,

An army patch (from his time in the war),

A terrifying mouth (great for tasting and protecting) and a trendy tie,

And a fluffy back, or a back pack rack, or a flying attack!

And so Bloop came to life... Ready to mind, defend, and snuggle.

The Wall

The Beginning.
I was asked to paint a mural for a primary school so here's the progress so far!

Oriental 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

Put all the ingredients in a pot and bring to the boil. Then simmer away until everything is nice and squishy and the liquid has reduced down to a syrup.

Pour into sterilised jars, leave to cool and then cover. I put mine into small jars to give to people as presents! It makes about 3 small jars, or one regular jam jar, so you might need to double up the mixture if you want to make a big batch.

Good with crackers and cheese or maybe as a dip on the side of some spicy food!

Sushi 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 probably more lunch-appropriate.

To make them, simply shred some cooked chicken and add curry powder or spices and mix with sushi rice (prepared as instructed on the box). Then shape them and wrap some nori (seaweed) around them if you like. Best served with soy sauce, wasabi and sushi ginger.

We also made some maki sushi with peppers and some miso soup to make a meal out of this.

Green tea afterwards of course!