Out of the Blue

It's hard to believe 12 months has passed since the release of my first calendar "A Gathering of moments" For this years release "Out of the Blue" I've drawn inspiration from the sky. I love to explore how objects/nature contrast and interact with the blue backdrop. Both calendars are available to view and/or order through Redbubble

Mushroom Relish

In my "Jam n Books" Post, I had a request from Pauline for the mushroom relish recipe.

1kg mushrooms, 500grams tomatoes, 2-3 onions, 2 granny smith apples, 3-4 garlic pieces, brown sugar to taste approx one cup, salt and pepper to taste, 2-3 cups vinegar (I use brown vinegar with a splash of port/liqueur added), a selection of spices to suit own palate - ie coriander seeds, a pinch of mustard, turmeric.

Wash the mushrooms and tomatoes, chop coarsely and set aside. Peel the onions, peel & core the apples chop both coarsely and set aside. I then put everything (including garlic) through the food processor in batches. Once processed it all goes into a saucepan. Add the vinegar, sugar, spices, salt n pepper. Stir occasionally while bringing to the boil. Reduce heat so it remains simmering and continue cooking. Check the flavor as you go and add more seasoning as needed - I'm fairly sure I also added a tablespoons of Golden Syrup as my husband and I both have a sweet tooth. Stir relish occasionally during cooking, cook relish until it reaches the desired consistency - usually about 1-2 hours. Divide cooked relish up into sterile jars, seal and store. Makes about 4 x 250ml jars.

fabric through spoonflower #4

 

 

A couple of new fabric designs available through "Spoonflower"

Exhibition Opens Today

We three artists (Felicity Clarke, Myself and Tricia Smout) with the much appreciated help of my Dad hung our "Undercurrent Exhibition" yesterday. The Exhibition opens today at 10am. It will be on display 9th - 14th September 2011 at the Arts Factory Gallery cnr Merivale & Glenelg, South Brisbane. The Gallery will be open daily 10am to 4pm. We're having an opening ceremony tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 10th September) at 4pm.

friend or foe - a matter of perspective

As well as working on my pieces for the up-coming exhibition, we've also been catching up in the garden and of course the camera is never far away. This time it's been the pesky weeds that have had center stage. I stumbled across some information on edible weeds while researching companion planting. Who would have thought that some weeds actually have alternative uses. So camera in hand I've captured some shots, printed them onto fabric (using the Ink Aid method) went through my fabric stash, picked out a few floral prints and now working them into a collage. Apparently the following are just a few of the possible culinary delights: Dandelion, Purslane, chickweed, stinging nettle (once cooked the tiny hairs on these leaves are no longer an irritant), chicory and even one of the most annoying weeds in the garden is edible - the cobblers pegs (apparently an Aztec herb) One must always remember to correctly identify these plants before plunging in for a feast as some have similar looking cousins that are definitely not safe to consume.