one more sleeps

A couple more sprinkles of beauty ...

Each corner of the garden houses another delight xxx

I love Ice Cream

Mathar and I have been sorting out lists upon lists of food and dinners and, my favourite, desserts for the Christmas week. I wanted to share a lovely little treat we made last eve (I am kicking myself for the lack of photos, I do apologise).

Firstly, may I just say : I love ice cream. I mean, I really really love it. This recipe is a little tasty Christmas twist on a personal favourite.

CHRISTMAS PUDDING ICE CREAM
(apparently the alternative to steamed pudding, but I am all for both together!!!)

serves 6-8

2 tablespoons golden syrup
50g caster sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
1 tablespoon cognac
100g sweet mincemeat
100g mascarpone or cream cheese
100g dried cranberries
1 teaspoon cinnamon (sifted)
2 litres good quality vanilla ice cream

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl except the ice cream and mix well until evenly distributed. Add the frozen ice cream straight from the freezer, crushing and folding it into the mixture to create a rippled effect. Refreeze for a minimum of 4 hours.

Easy. Easy. Easy.
De. Lic. Ious.


me xxx

Winter Wonderland

Coming home. Coming home to yourself. Back to your land and roots. Perhaps there can be nothing better.

For some reason I haven't really caught the Christmas bug so far this year. Quite frustrating as this is usually my most favourite page of the calendar.

Last eve I flew home from the big smoke to the small winding country lanes of home. Snow! Everywhere! Arriving in late I had to wait until morning to fully appreciate the sheer beauty that was surrounding the cottage ...

Over the hedge at the back of my parents garden lies a 30 acre deer-pen housing roughly 30 fallow deer (a little clue as to the origins of my name) It is a little difficult to creep up on them whilst trudging noisily through the snow, so they are quite far away. But they were just so beautiful and graceful. They make my heart so happy.

Everything was so still. Snow balanced on the most precarious limbs.

Papa has been working hard all year to keep the supply of fuel topped up. It's like an art installation.



And, well, the child in me couldn't resist!

(if you look very closely at the top left corner of the 'snowheart', you will notice a few misplaced footsteps. That was when I lost my balance and did a very OTT wobble like some cartoon character)


And what, at the end of the day, is the most important thing?
A cosy and beautiful bed.



Me xxx

Humble Apologies

Hello dear reader. I do apologise, profusely.

All has been a little hectic. But I must report that Vintage Fairy and I had a most wonderful day at The Bust Craftacular Fair. It was fantastic! And we managed to do quite well on the selling front too ... Always a bonus! We met such inspiring and talented people, and ideas and dreams were encouraged to blossom. Fuelled by our success I am delighted to announce that we will both be opening our own Etsy Stores in the New Year. How very exciting indeed. I was going to post some photos of what can be expected, but I think I will hold off a little while yet till all is set up properly. Oh ok, one little crumb ... anyone fancy owning a Grand National Winner??! That's a little confusing. But funny. To me.

Ok, I will be back soon with delights from Deerpark Cottage. My real home.

Me xxx

ps.

I saw and fell in love with a pair of shoes two months ago in Dublin and, very sensibly, resisted from buying. I have thought of them manys a time since, but as they were left behind in another country, I could console myself that it just wasn't to be.
Then, innocently, I browse a shop on Columbia Road and what is there before me? The very same shoes. How could the gods deal me this cruel blow? I am a relatively good person. Now I must just ignore the blinding fact that they are in the same city as me?
Just sitting there.

Like this

All pretty and perfect.

Me xxx

BUST CRAFTACULAR

Having talked for maybe two (hundred) years about collaborating on a stall together, AVintageCraftingFashionFairy and I will be selling our wares one week today (Saturday 12th December 2009) at the wonderful Bust Craftacular.

EXCIRA DELIRA!!!!

We will be going by the name of
Harte and Fallow
(encorporating both of our names)


So, what can you expect from us? Well how about a range of beautifully hand made clothing from Harte and from Fallow, accessories, some stationary, decorations and a few random surprises.

There will be over 60 vendors there, Tea and Cakes a plenty, workshops, DJs and dancing. How wonderful. Surely the perfect way to get those Christmas senses a tingling. AND free goodie bags for the first 100 through the door so it sure will pay to be early.

Do come along!

Bust Christmas Craftacular, 12 - 7pm, York Hall, 5-15 Old Ford Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9PJ
(York Hall is 2mins walk from Bethnal Green tube and is opposite the V&A Museum of Childhood)

Me xxx

shop popping

Oh time. It runs, runs, far, far away. Too many things to tell you, not enough discipline to blog. Must do better. Will endeavour to do so.

My Knight and I went on a little Christmas trip into town. We had a lovely lunch in St. Christopher's place, in a lovely cafe that really reminded me of being in Paris.

The rain was horrendous. Not part of our plan and so we took shelter where everyone should, Liberty. Oh joy. Yum, yum, yum. My magpie eyes were wide and alive. Oh colour, oh Christmas, oh yes please and thank you very much.

I enjoyed these lights:

(Bunny Rabbit Lamp £59)


(Pigeon Light by Ed Carpenter £60)

They reminded me of the Bambi lamp being sold in Caravan at the moment (£99):

This little Bambi has been busy. He is currently appearing on pg55 of Elle Decoration Dec 2009. Fantastic issue ... but that's for another post.

I fell for these, of course:

(unfortunately I can't locate the price ... probably for the best)

I could have spent hours wandering around dreaming of how I could move into the store without anyone noticing ... but I had to meet my chum for late night shopping on Columbia Road.

The rain had eased off thank goodness and we popped into each haven of beauty and treasure. Free mince pies, mulled wine and even shots of vodka in Ryantown from the most beautiful Rob Ryan shot glasses.

Columbia road Christmas Wednesdays. All info here!

Me xxx

a friday thought

I love a pretty kitchen. I think it has something to do with my family home. The kitchen is where we sit for hours, chatting, laughing, crying, sharing, advising. I do love my current kitchen, but unfortunately when there are two people in there it feels crowded.

Anyway then I saw this picture ...

A small mismatch kitchen. But it's beautiful. (For all I know this could be the corner of a massive room but I doubt it).

What drew me to the photo were the plates. I have a(n)(un)healthy love of plates and tea cups. But I do feel a bit guilty about how they are displayed. Currently they are like this:

They are lovely in there but a bit hidden away ...

A selection:

(retrieved from a rubbish bag)

(whole set bought for £20 0n Brick Lane)

(a second hand shop I think)

I do have quite a few more but that's for another post.

So I may not be able to expand my kitchen, but perhaps it's time for the plates to take centre stage.

me xxx

that's more like it, London

I don't mind if it's icy or even a bit windy, just as long as the sky looks like this. No more of those grey rainy clouds ok?

Me xxx

Why travel when you can sit?

So ... I was just looking on the world wide web today and I stumbled upon a very trendy Russian website. Upon said site I found the most amazing things I think I have ever seen. Unreal. I mean I can't quite believe they exist and, I want one (all) of them.

Deep breath.

Numero 1. Suitcase chairs! Suitcase. Chairs. How clever is that? And such beautiful colours too.

Numero 2. Oh my lordy. HOW beautiful is this? I mean I can't even fathom the beauty. That fabric is adorable.

Numero 3. Vintage suitcases? Check. Love? Check. Made into adorable stools? ... Oh my goodness it's officially Christmas inside my heart.

Numero 4. I hope you are still there and have not collapsed due to amount of beauty. A gorgeous vintage case made into a vanity cabinet! Genius!

So there you have it.

I know. Enough said.

Me xxx

a couple of things

I purchased a new lamp. It is mainly a bedside one but I have been carrying it around from room to room when detailed work is required. Isn't it pretty?

(Habitat £19)

They also had some other colours too, but I liked the brightness of the yellow. It's a nice take on the vintage design.

Also, along with the singer machine I rescued there was a little booklet - "Instructions for using ... For Family Use".

I opened it up and couldn't quite believe it, HOW on earth did they get a picture of ME sewing??

hee hee. The question at the top reads "HAVE YOU seen THE SINGER WAY TO SEW BY ELECTRICITY?" It was published in Nov 1926.

Another quote - "After dark the Electric Singerlight throws its light just where it is needed ... Prevents eyestrain and fatigue; saves time and annoyance when threading the needle". I couldn't quite imagine that lady getting annoyed. It's the quiet ones that need to be watched though.

right under your nose

As I was saying a couple of posts ago, coming back after some time away really does make you see things with fresh eyes. Along with that, you suddenly notice how much 'stuff' you have collected in your flat that YOU DO NOT NEED. Boxes full of things that you no longer remember, clothes that you hold on to, and hold on to, and hold on to. Well no longer says I. This week I have had a massive clear out. I have been one for keeping every scrap of evidence of a memory. Just in case.

Have you ever seen Everything is Illuminated with Elijah Wood? I was heading in that direction ...

(For those of you who haven't seen it, he keeps everything related to a memory in a little plastic bag and sticks it to his wall ... teeth, hair, sand, food ... )

So yes.

It really is a great feeling to clear out. And also you might just find some gems too! (Not the point I know but anyway.)

For years now I have had a white wooden cupboard as my bedside table. I was one of those very old singer sewing machine 'houses', where the machine was built into the actual framework. It was a bit clunky and I have wanted to get rid of it for ages, but it's a singer sewing machine says I! That's against everything I live for! Sort of. Anyway, after about 6 years of wondering what to do, I realised I could just simply unscrew the machine from it's prison and throw away it's shackles. And just look at the beauty that was released ...

And all that time hidden away. Sinful. Look at this little beauty.

I just need to find a home for her now. Somewhere on show I think. She certainly deserves it.

I also found a wonderful Billie Holiday tape cassette that my mother used to play in the car when we were younger. Fantastic.

ps

so I have managed to add a photo, but now the text is in a different font and size ...

we will get there ...

that Sunday night feeling ...

Sister and I couldn't quite believe it when we saw this vinyl in an antiques shop window in Camden passage ...

The Adam Singers "Sing Something Simple". We endured their slot on Radio 2 every Sunday evening of our childhood. We had both completely forgotten that they even existed! I distinctly remember having quite a lot of hatred for them ... They were unfairly associated with that Sunday night feeling (which sometimes sneaks up on me still), school in the morning, still have to learn a poem ... but listening to them now I somehow feel safe and warm, and they really do have such lovely voices.

Have a listen ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuqVk1S5uks

I always find it fascinating how much power memories have, and how easily they can be triggered.

If only I could go back and whisper in my own ear. Think of the things you would say ...

Me xxx

Falling in love again ...

So, yes, this is my first Hawk and Fallow blog entry. I think it only polite to welcome the reader, of course, but I am also reluctant to drag that out too much. So how about we just pretend we have always been friends. Soon we will find it hard to imagine a life without one another like all good friends do.

Today was my first proper day back in London having been away for a little while. Oh London. The buses are red (I forgot! How could I forget a thing like that??!)and the people are sharp.

Arm in arm with my red head, red lipped chum, we headed to

The Photographers' Gallery for the Jim Goldberg : Open See exhibition. The series of photographs document "the experiences of people who travel from war torn, socially and economically devastated countries ... in search of stability and the promise of a better future".

The combination of images and words conveyed so many personal and intimate experiences and stories. I found it quite moving but never forced or contrived. I recommend. It's showing until 17th January, so you've still got a bit of time.

---

(sorry need to work out the (probably obvious) way to include a photo ... I'm a wanderer in these parts)

We were a bit peckish. I had imagined that we would have a slice of yummy cake at the gallery, but as fate had it my sister phoned. We were thus directed to a nearby delight called Nordic Bakery. Hmmm. Hot cinnamon buns anyone? So big that you have to wrap up the leftovers and pop in your bag for later?

Red head chum did suggest sharing ... but I of course laughed scornfully at such a silly idea. Aye aye aye. Having done this and drunk a delicious latte, I realised that today's menu had been a coffee and pain au raisin for breakfast and a coffee and bun for lunch. Sugar rush ah hoy. No wonder London looked so brilliant!

Enough culture and fun for one day you say?

Oh no! Not us!

Sugar fuelled we headed to The National Portrait Gallery.

(Of course we did) Red head wanted to look at the 2009 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition. So I accompanied. Wow wee. Some amazing photographs. Even more time to see this, it finishes on the 14th February 2009.

And ... (finally) home. Home sweet home. (Via one of those red buses).

Being away I had forgotten how colourful the flat is and am seeing it all with fresh eyes. I will be showing you too in the days to come, but sure we've our whole lives ahead of us, what's the rush?

Me xxx