Wednesday, 12 December 2012

"Kanelbullar" ...my current obsession!

I love Swedish cakes and these are my current obsession...once you've tried making them you'll know why! They are super easy to make and most importantly they are delicious!
So without further ado here is the best ever recipe for Swedish "Kanelbullar" that I've ever found. They yield a large number so what I did was half the recipe though as it takes 1 egg I left it as it is IE 1 egg and it was fine...all other ingredients where halved and the result perfect!


"Kanelbullar"
Scandi Kitchen recipe:
Makes around 40 buns
For best result, don’t be stingy with the filling and don’t try to use low fat anything: whole milk, good quality butter... 
We also prefer using fresh yeast, but if you can’t get hold of any, you can use dried. NOTE:Replace fresh yeast with 2 x 7g sachets of the instant dry yeast – and add this to the flour/dry ingredients and NOT to the wet mix. 
If you are new to cinnamon buns, don’t worry: there is a lot of cinnamon in these – and ground cardamom. You can hold back a bit if you are not sure you’ll like it as strong as we do – but remember... they’re called Cinnamon Buns for a reason.

The dough
50 g fresh yeast
1000 g plain bread flour
85 g caster sugar
1 egg
150 g unsalted butter
500 ml whole milk
½ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cardamom (optional).
Filling
150g butter (nice and soft)
4-5 tsp ground cinnamon
85 g sugar (we like to use brown sugar)
Decoration
1 egg for brushing
Around 100 g of pearl sugar for decoration or drizzle over a thick icing sugar and water glaze...I actually prefer this to the pearl sugar!
 
This is how you do it
Melt the butter and add the liquid (milk) – check the temperature (should be between 37-46 degree Celsius for optimal yeast).  Add the yeast and stir.
Once the yeast has dissolved, add the egg, sugar, salt, cardamom and most of the flour (hold a bit back for kneading, about a large hand full). Work the dough until it stops sticking and has a shiny surface – probably around 10 minutes by hand. Keep kneading, it makes for a better bun.
Please the dough in a nice warm place for around 30 minutes or until doubled in size. Place the dough on a floured surface and work through the rest of the flour. I actually used a large floured melamine tray so to contain the mess!
Cut the dough in half and roll out each piece in a rectangular shape, around 30 cm long and 12-15 wide. Butter the whole piece liberally and dust over with the cinnamon and sugar. Roll each piece lengthways so that you end up with a long sausage looking roll. Cut 2 cm big bites and place them carefully on baking trays (take care to keep them separated as they will rise).  
Let the buns rest for another 30 minutes until doubled in size.  You should get between 34-40 buns out of this batch.
Brush gently with egg and pour over a bit of pearl sugar on each bun and then bake in the over on 220 degrees (fan oven) for about 8-10 minutes (turn the heat down a bit half way if you feel they are getting too brown). Let them cool down under a clean tea towel – this will stop them going dry immediately.
If you are using an icing sugar glaze (which I've been told the Norwegians prefer) allow the buns to cool before drizzling!

Enjoy!!!

PS You can always freeze them and defrost by gently heating in the oven as they are best served warm. 
If you make a whole batch I doubt you'll have any left over but freezing is great especially if you need to have them on hand for a quick sugar rush! 




NOTE:
I found fresh yeast in the Polish shops. Very inexpensive (about 40p per pack and you'll get at least 2 servings from it) and it's great quality.

Monday, 10 December 2012

It's never FELT so good...

Needle felting is both a relaxing and a creative craft form loved by many and misunderstood by some. Contrary to belief it's not just for making beads or components for other projects nor is it all about naff poorly made dust collectors. I've seen a few of those but in general the majority of needle felting I've seen has been pretty amazing!

Amazing dogs felted by Gai: http://www.gaizymaimake.co.uk/gallery/
Mushrooms: http://kathrynivy.com/patterns/free/myriad-mushrooms/

Milo & Ben: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MiloandBen?ref=seller_info


So it's "relaxing" you ask? It's much more then that...I believe this discipline can help you release your inner sculpture or sculptress!
Yes, it does help reduce stress as there's a lot of stabbing but I see it as a form of sculpting and not just in the way you create the 3D pieces but also in the method used, in the squeezing, forming with your fingers and building up of the piece. In a way it's a bit like clay yet softer and drier...plus a lot less messy!

There is a massive array of roving, lots of colours, textures and types. That's what you call the main material...it's also used to make yarn so it's pretty much the wool before it's been spun!
I use a lot of the "basic" roving though I have used the heavier stuff which is made form different type of wool. Just like in knitting yard you'll have different types and weights: angora, sheep wool etc.
Sourcing your materials is easy as there are quite a few on line retailers. I've used Forest Fibers which are really helpful and will be happy to guide any novices if you ring them for advice. There are also different needle gauges. This blog post was an invaluable resource: http://sarastexturecrafts.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/dry-needle-felting-needle-gauge-choice/

Wool-in-legends: http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolinlegends?ref=seller_info

I discovered needle feting because of Charlotte Haines-Lyon who's a master and an artist. I watched in amazement as she took a hand full of what looked like candy floss and then made it into an actual 3D object. I was hooked (pardon the pun)! She's one clever lady and she's also an inspiring teacher. Because of her I started experimented with felting and have gone from making simple shapes like mustaches to more intricate birds and even miniature cat portraits made form cat fur... Now, now don't judge cat fur is actually cleaner then sheep fleece and yes these portraits were made from the actual cat's hair! Cats, especially Persians are great for harvesting fur and just like angora which is rabbit fur it's a really great material to felt.



Below is a little bird I made for a workshop back in August... If you'd like to make one we have a few kits ready to purchase. £6.50 includes all materials, illustrated instructions and postage (UK only. Please contact us for international postage when ordering).
Email us your order via our address...


For basic instructions on how to get started on needle felting visit:
http://www.themagiconions.com/2011/02/tutorial-needle-felted-toadstool.html 

Otherwise search for online tutorials on "You Tube" as there are quite a few!




Here's a fun felting with cat fur book which I absolutely love...

By Kaori Tsutaya
And my own cat fur felting experience...

The beautiful Jassie Mo and her mini self

Sunday, 9 December 2012

Watch out Selfridges you have competition!

I loved working on the shop window and the best part of it was that I could pretty much do all sorts of experimental things and create something which I had in my mind for ages!
Fortunately the guys at Black Duke & Cashman have faith in me and let me loose in their beautiful shop...though the snow machines haven't been used like I had imagined but hey...we'll have snow soon enough!
Black Duke & Cashman formerly "Beyca Retro" has undergone a bit of a revamp...not only has it had a complete overhaul and a brand new name it now has a very lovely coffee bar which serves "Nude" coffee in the Aeropress coffee system. It also serves artisan baked cake on the weekend plus it has us there nestled amongst some gorgeous mid century furniture and home wares! As you know by now we left Wood Street and have a permanent concession space in this shop.
We love being there and we hope you can pop in and visit...
Here's our Christmas Window in the making...I think it deserves a visit especially at dusk so you can see it in it's fully glory...Selfridges you may be grand but our seasonal window is pretty awesome too!


Paper houses made from a template then laser cut! Check out our very fab MP Stella Creasy...I think she's pleased that she's featuring in our window installation!



two down and 100 left to fold and paste! That took some time but it was worth it!



Taking shape...paper house mobile! A series of paper houses strung on fishing wire onto a bamboo pole and proped up over the main shop window...

Love the reflection of the real houses onto the window with the floating miniature paper houses!


Light installation for the window made over an Ikea lamp...ready to add to the window to illuminate and cast some shadows. Check out the windows...looks like someone's in!

Paper cut provides the final touch and hey presto... a very simple seasonal message! Merry Christmas!!!

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

Swishing you a merry Christmas...

This December we'll be joining forces with SannaPanda & Friends in order to bring you a very special Christmas Swishing event.
We all have loads of garments we either no longer wear, fallen out of love with but can't part with or as I am ready to shamefully admit have never worn and probably never will because I bought it on a whim! We all have moments of madness!
So if you think there's no alternative other then sticking them in the recycling bag then think again...

Swishing is a great way to revive, refresh and boost your wardrobe and it won't cost you the earth! Literally it's a fantastic way to recycle so you are saving the planet!!!
At £1 an item you can drop off your unwanted clobber. We'll be receiving clothing from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm. 
You'll then have half an hour to browse and try other people's cast off and then when we blow the whistle at 8 pm..."SWISH"... that's when you can grab your new fashion bounty.
It's that easy!

We accept:
Dresses (Vintage, home made and High Street)
Separates (tops/blouses/shirts/vests etc. - trousers/skirts/shorts/leggins etc.)
Jumpers and knitwear
Shoes/Boots
Hand bags, Belts, Hats and accessories including jewellery.

We do ask that everything you bring to be in a good wearable condition and clean.
*Sorry no underwear or socks!







When? 6th of December from 6.30 pm to 9 pm
Where? At the formidable Oak Studio in Hampstead Heath

Also you can grab a free cocktail (swishers only), buy some cake at "Cakes by Kath" baked goods stall and do some late shopping in the studio...there are so many gorgeous things in there!!!

Make Christmas a hand made fest...

Every time I see "those" Christmas  adverts on the telly...you know the ones...flashing lights, intoxicating music, fit inducing colour schematics screaming "HURRY CHRISTMAS IS ONLY X AMOUNT OF DAYS AWAY" I literally fight the vomit back in...
Ew, OK not a pretty image but imagine it with glitter and wool and all things that make the insides of a true crafter!!!
So Here are my tips for getting through the mayhem of Chrimble prep...
First, breath. Then...breath some more. We as a race never breath enough hence why we panic so much. We crafters are a sensitive bunch and think of this post as a gigantic "craft inhaler" and it's here to help you breath some creativity into your Christmas!
So lets start by making your life easier by choosing a few stress free, easy but effective projects which will both supply a bit of "make therapy" and provide you with something which has a use in the holiday season. Here are three that I'm currently working on...



*Try printing your own Christmas wrapping paper. It doesn't need to be expensive or complicated. Potato stamping is a cheaper alternative to stamp/lino carving so don't think straight off the mark that it's going to look like primary school art class fodder. Use brown parcel paper, make nice paper tags and even paper bows plus butchers string can make it extra pretty especially if you use the red & white stuff!

courtesy of "Ella's inspiration"



*Make your own table favours/decorations.  A lovely little gift idea and decoration which you can use as part of your table theme or use as an alternative advent calender. Plus you can use them for pretty packaging for smaller gifts too like earrings, brooches, cufflinks etc.

Click here for tutorial


*Make your own perfume...
You know it's one of those gifts that you either love or hate! Personally I love getting perfume as a gift but it's very rare that I get one which I absolutely adore. The few times I have received those little bottles of magic "Eau de Moi" have been mainly because the gift giver knows me well and knows what scents I like! Basically they have gotten me down to a T which isn't easy.
So if you know someone who loves receiving perfume imagine how special they'll feel knowing  someone else gets them too and has gone to the trouble of creating a bespoke scent in their very own ready to wear eau de perfume!
Perfect for a truly special mate or to get your other half smelling just like you like...er, cinnamon rolls, single malt whiskey and sweet tobacco?! Oh well that's how I'd like my man to whiff!

Small Measures perfume tutorial

So crafty bambinos and bambinas we hope you find some sort of inspiration and if nothing else at least you've spent a few minutes thinking what you'd like to make for Christmas instead of focusing on your panicked breathing!!!

Sunday, 4 November 2012

Hello East Sussex...

We're so proud of our sister armies and after announcing that Brighton Craft Guerrilla was ceasing to opperate we can now introduce you the new Brighton team!


We're stoked to have Sam on board with her magical crafty know how, enthusiasm and all round super duper creativity! It's a hard act to follow but we believe in Sam and know she'll do a fab job taking over where the last Brighton Craft Guerrilla left off. We love them too and after a few years of doing such a fantastic job we'll miss them dearly. Thank you Emma and gang for doing such great work and spreading the CG message. We salute you and wish you luck with everything you do in the future!

I'm excited beyond belief after hearing what Sam and Co. have in store for us...on line tutorials, craft swaps, craft meetings, classes, workshops...phew, these gals will have us packing our bags and moving down to Brighton soon if they keep up all this fabulous crafting!

So check them out,stop by their blog to say "hi", tell your friends, join them in Brighton if you can and show them your crafty appreciation!
http://brightoncraftguerrilla-craft-by-sea.blogspot.co.uk/

I'm so happy that we are able to share the Craft Guerrilla ethos beyond London so if you're interested in opening up* your own CG platoon drop us a line: craftguerrilla@yahoo.com

*please note that their is a criteria and a philosophy to follow so requests will be received and considered according to suitability!

Thursday, 1 November 2012

This Christmas make it HAND MADE!

This Christmas make a conscientious effort to either make or buy hand made items! As a firm advocate for all things hand made I truly believe in the worth of buying more locally made/sourced items but also by doing this you are helping out the planet.
By thinking about where products come from and how they were produced you are making a positive, informed choice and it doesn't mean that cheap mass production will cease (though it would be nice!) I hope it will show the "big boys" on the High Street that we want change. The consumer's voice has never been so powerful so show them if you believe and want a change to a fairer and more environmentally friendly production process!
Not just a good move as you're helping your local economy but also it's a lovely way to show your family and friends that you care about them and the world we live in!!!
I'm not going to bore you with the intricate reasons why it's better to buy hand made...besides  I'm sure you know all about it anyway! Here are a few choice items that I love and a selection of projects I will be getting stuck into making for my loved ones...

Material World by Perri Lewis


the aviary


http://jillybird.co.uk/

Paper decoration tutorial

make your own cupcake to gift to your friends!




Make a circle scarf or leg warmers from an old jumper!