A study of Light

I love East Sussex.

The little picturesque villages, the marshes, the beach, the cliffs.

So much variety.

I captured some photographs of Rye, on my latest wonder through the cobbled streets (and most importantly the browsing of its many vintage antique stores).

I would love one day to shoot a film (probably a period film) set in these picturesque streets...

Any ideas for a story?

 

The light, colours and mood is always very photogenic.

Which brings me onto an e-Lighting Course at Arrow and Apple, which I am currently doing.

Check it out...

 

At the moment (and I am only on week 2 as I don't have a lot of time I can concentrate on it), I have already learnt and experimented loads with my Nikon D90 (as well as my BlackBerry phone - when it's all I've got).

Happy photographing.

Easy Retro Headband

At the moment, I seem to wear a headband most days, so the other day, I decided to make up a few more to add to my collection.

Red with black polka dots, pink with black polka dots, hot pink with white polka dots, blue with tiny white polka dots... and a lovely green one with cream polka dots (which sadly I didn't photograph).

No points for guessing I ADORE polka dots :-)

They are so easy to make and totally satisfying, as they take about 30 minutes to put together, from beginning to end.

Very rewarding!!!

Here is how to make one, for your very self:

Enjoy.

Love a Margherita!

Happy Friday Everyone...
I know it's only 9:30am, but here is something to look forward to come 9:30pm.

Cocktail hour.

Now, I really am a cocktail girl...

Love the feel, the taste, the look of drinking a fabulously yummy cocktail.

Usually best drunk in a chic, chilled out bar, but when one isn't immediately available, then making your own at home, with a bunch of friends is just as fabulous!

I have been playing around with a couple of recipes, and lately the Margherita is my favourite.

Here is how I make mine...

Preparation method

 Put some crushed ice in the Martini Glass (I usually put the ice in a tea towel and have a good old bash at the cubes with a rolling pin, in the back garden, to get the rough-crush desired).
 
Pour the Tequila, Cointreau and lime juice (you can also add some freshly squeezed orange juice, to give it a sweetness) into a cocktail shaker.
* if you like it a little more sweet, you can add some sugar syrup (heat up some sugar with a little lime juice in a pan, until it dissolves - then let it cool completely) or Agave Syrup, to give it more of a sweetness... which I actually prefer...
 
Add a handful of ice cubes and shake vigorously for a few seconds.
 
Strain into a Martini glass with the rim coated in lime juice (cut a sliver of lime and circle the rim), which you've previously dipped in salt.

Happy Friday Cocktail Night!

 

 

What a Tart

I made the best, most fluffy, yummy, crumbly "Egg Tart" as we call in in Italian - but basically it's a Quiche - the other day.

I love an Egg Tart.

So do my kiddies.

Nina (who is Egg Obsessed) wolfs it down. Piece, after little piece.

I put all sorts of veg in my Egg Tart, just to get those greens in...

Pre-heat the over to 180C.

Make your own Short Crust Pastry, or buy it ready made from the supermarket.

Whisk 6 eggs (I usually count it as 2 eggs per person) together with some milk, cream, salt and fresh parsley.

Chop and lightly cook your veg (the latest Egg Tart I made, had baby courgettes in it, which I lightly fried with some garlic before adding to the tart).

Lay the veg on the blind baked pastry crust, then pour the whisked eggs on top of the veg.

Put the Egg Tart in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until it is golden brown, and firm in the centre.

* Note. You can put almost anything in your Egg Tart: Salmon, Ham, Broccoli. Spinach. Leeks. Bacon. Cheese. Carrots... the list is endless.

***

And on another note.

Tonight is CRAFT NIGHT with my creative lady pals.

It's been a while since we all got together to knit, sew, crochet, embroider, chat, drink, gossip, giggle... due to holidays and busy lives.

So I am really looking forward to catching up with friends, over some colourful wool.

Yiippiii... get my hooks and yarn out!

Holiday Break

I've been quiet on the blog front (but very active in the reading of Blogs - in fact have discovered some fab new ones), as I have now been on holiday, with family, in the sunny mountains of Switzerland, where my mother lives.

The weather has been amazing.

Sunny.

Hot.

Building up a slow, golden tan.

Spending most of my days at the lido, teaching my son to swim - he is doing so, so well and he's almost there... Braving the water without the safety of a floating object.

Have also been popping in to the Locarno Film Festival, showing some wonderful films, from all over the world.

Not getting as much film watching as I would've liked... Family duties have taken the front seat.

Must get some space in my life to get cracking with some writing again... It's hard to clear the decks and get the headspace to concentrate and get inspired.

That's why I love crafting so much, because I don't need too much space to get creative. I can multi-task.

Something I'm not too good at anymore, since being pregnant with Nina.

It seems my brain has partly turned to mush, and I feel slightly fuzzy all day long.

Is this normal?

Will it pass?

I don't recall having been so "ditzy" after Luca was born...

Ahhh well...

Treated myself to a new App by the Primrose Bakery people.

It's fab, and what I love about having a cook book on the iPad, is that you can take hundreds of recipes with you, wherever you go.

Here is what Luca and I rustled up the other day.

Nutella Cupcakes.

Yummy.