Showing posts with label Behind the Scenes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Behind the Scenes. Show all posts

Thursday, 26 February 2015

A new home for Strandom

Hallo there! 


I've been very busy working on a brand new blog and website (hopefully an online shop too!) the past few weeks. I will be posting over there from when it goes live (or launches...) and I'll leave the new address here for you all. It'll probably be another week or two before it's all done, but I'm looking forward to it! All the posts from this blog have been transferred over, so once it's all up and running I'll delete them here and leave the link to redirect people. 

New website: www.strandom.com

I'm so happy no-one stole my name before I needed it either, haha! 


A sketch of Queen's House in Greenwich, London - from a few years ago!


Kathelle x

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Parsnip and Bacon Soup - Recipe

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There's nothing quite like a delicious, hot bowl of soup on a winter's night.  I came up with this recipe a few years ago; it's easy, doesn't involve many ingredients or too much preparation (perfect for when the wee ones are demanding attention!) and it tastes even better the next day.  

I've recently started making soups more often during the week to try and relieve some of the craziness of teatime with toddlers.  It can all be done during the day or the night before and you just heat it up when you're ready.  It's all too easy to reach for the pizza and chips when you're harassed but it's not always the best idea...

My husband takes soup to work with him most days in the winter to keep him warm as he works outside.  Blended soups are also much easier to pour into a flask at six in the morning!




Parsnip and Bacon Soup

Ingredients
1 onion
250g unsmoked back bacon (roughly 7 slices)
600g parsnips (2 large ones or 4-5 small)
1/2 large swede
80g red lentils
1 1/2 litres chicken/vegetable stock (I used one chicken stock cube and one vegetable stock cube - you only need two or it'll be too salty, you normally need three for that amount of water)


Method

1.  Dice onion and chop up the bacon whilst melting roughly a teaspoon of butter (or oil if you prefer) in a soup pan.  Fry the onion and bacon gently for five minutes.

2.  Add the roughly chopped parsnip and turnip and fry for another 5 minutes or so.

3.  Rinse the lentils and add to the pan, giving it a good mix.




4.  Add the stock, stir and bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 20-30 minutes until the lentils are cooked  and the vegetables are tender.  Check and stir a few times to make sure the lentils don't stick.

5.  Blend well and season to taste with black pepper and salt if you need it.  Serve with a swirl of cream and a sprinkle of parsley.  Enjoy!  




Friday, 20 June 2014

A past life in the world of architecture...


Balsa structural model - 1st year
Well, this week my year in uni received their results for their Masters in Architecture... Why was I not with them, you may ask?  That'd be a long story, but suffice it to say it was one of the hardest decisions of my life so far, and yet one that I don't regret.

Haberdasher's Hall scale model, 2nd Year
I've always had an interest in it, and still do - I love seeing what people on my class have been working on, though there's only one friend I keep in touch with now, a very good and kind friend who was my tea and model making buddy! :)

Wee mannie in final conceptual model, 2nd year

My time was not wasted, and what I learnt - both academically and with regards to life - has been invaluable.  My husband, as you may know, is a stonemason (fancy that, architecture student and a stonemason!) and when he comes home from work I understand most of what he tells me because of what I learnt (the rest I quiz him until I do!) For example, tonight we were re-pointing the cement around our window and he let me have a go - I rather enjoyed it and it wasn't too bad for a first attempt haha!

Quaker Meeting House, Stonehaven - 2nd year

I sometimes wonder what life would've been like if I'd carried on, but then I would've been miserable and stressed, we would've got married later and I wouldn't in all likelihood have my two precious little children.  Some people see going to uni and getting a degree as the be all and end all for school pupils, but though it definitely has it's place - it's not for everyone, it was never meant to be. 


My last proper Studio project in 3rd year - a library in St. Andrews

Mr P. is a building geek sometimes (in the best sense!) as he has books and books on masonry, surveying, building history, technical details...  I was going to sell most of my textbooks after uni, he had a flick through and decided to keep them all! haha!  I never had his passion for my course, I should've known, but I was too scared of what people would say if I of all people left - what, Kathelle, the Dux?? Yes, me.  I would've loved to study embroidery with the Royal School of Needlework or done Textiles in Art School (I think the latter would've been more me), but we are where we are.  God's plans are beyond our reasoning and so much better in the long run that anything we'd do! 

Waldorf School, Stonehaven - 2nd year

Look up! Conceptual project, 2nd year

I am now a sewing and quilting geek - I love to find out new techniques, more about different materials, trying out new things, buying more books... I have a passion for what I do now that is greater than what I have for architecture.  Sure, it's a great thing to be able to design people's homes and public buildings but I want to fill those homes with pattern and colour and warmth that only textiles and quilts can bring.  I can only do small things at the moment, but it's the small details that make a difference...   


Wednesday, 4 June 2014

Background Story - The "Flora" Tote Bag


 Also known as the "I can nearly sew it in a nap-time bag"!  

Why the name "Flora" you may ask?  Well, I named this bag after my sister-in-law, as the style reminded me of her - practical, pretty and one of a kind!  We both very much enjoy our sewing and crafts, exchanging ideas and tips!  And she likes yo-yos (the fabric flower variety!) so I put one on too.  Just because ;)



This lovely bag is a great size for the necessary essentials when you don't want to carry a huge handbag with everything in it bar the kitchen sink!  (Though as a mum of two tiny toots these days are rare now!)


The tweed is a beautiful weave of teal and moss green and beige - a very limited edition by Handmade by Heather - Isle of Harris.  It was her first lot of Harris Tweed for sale and sold out within 24 hours!  I can't wait to see what else she'll come up with.



My inspiration was from a very old faithful friend of a bag - the very first one I made!  I was on 3rd year in school (Heather was there too!) and I used it all the time - patched it, repaired it, replaced the button... and now it is in retirement in my wardrobe.


Worn corners patched with different tweed

Hand stitched label - slightly wonky!


Well worn and loved!

So here's the finished article... posing against my cabinet of curiosities! Looks sane enough but it's crammed full of crafty stuff haha!  My sister's sign is in the very background, and my granny as a young 20-something in the corner! :)

Kathelle x