Wednesday 23 December 2015

Dizzy is Creative in the kitchen...and it's nearly Christmas!

Tell-tale tasting


" Hmmm.....I see that Creative has done the Christmas and New Year cleaning and re- organising the kitchen again!  Where has she hidden the brandy? I know the cousins are partial to a drop or two,  Creative could have at least let me feed the cake before hiding it ! Oh, there’s some in that rather smart X.O cognac bottle, that’ll do." 

"I think I’ll do a vital taster on those pretty chocolatey things, there are loads, if I surreptitiously spread them about a bit, them Creative shouldn’t miss the odd one or two. mm..yummy, yummy yum , ooh, look at the time!

Must crack on, as the cake needs to be decorated."

The cake looks lovely

 'Dizzy! - What happened to the chocolates I bought  to decorate the cake?  Don't tell me -
I saw that guilty look when I came in with the shopping, and I'm sure that's the remains still smeared across your cheek!  

Sorry, I forgot to buy more cooking brandy, what did you use instead? No, don’t answer, I'd rather not know. I have to admit it, though - the cake looks lovely, well done.'

'I see you've left me another mess to clear up in the kitchen!  but glad to see that after your fall, your poor hand has recovered enough to do some baking, though the antics you will get up to to avoid the washing up or loading the dishwasher! ' 

Dizzy and sticky tape - not a good combination!
'I've found the perfect innards for our crackers, so having practiced on those we made last week, we can make them for real, and will have the table looking really beautiful on Christmas Day.  I bought some extra wrapping paper as well, because I know how you get all wrapped up yourself; just go easy on the sticky tape this year and I won't need to cut you out of it again. Well, not much, anyway.'

'Is that a card from Boo and Bea? Do our celebrated London cousins say when they will actually be arriving, or do we just have to guess? Oh, do wash your hands, there's a sticky mark on the front of it - and now you've got glitter on your face along with those brown choclately marks.'


Creative checks Santa's definition
Dizzy hangs her stocking
"Boo and Bea said they will arrive early evening- ish on Christmas eve, Pebbles is dropping them off on her way down to Cornwall. No doubt Boo and Bea will be in top form and high spirited, in more sense than one!  

At least we're both ready for Father Christmas, just some mince pies to prepare for the reindeer, then...."



........................Dizzy and Creative  would like to wish everyone  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year



A Quote for Christmas:

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!  (Author Unknown)



© 2013 Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy. All rights reserved.

Wednesday 9 December 2015

Dizzy goes Splat !!


"Creative, oh was I glad that you decided to come ice skating with me, instead of going Christmas shopping last Monday.

We were having such fun, when the next thing I know, I went splat down onto the ice! I don’t even remember how it happened, only that I was dazed and felt such a fool in front of all those people.

Dizzy goes over!

When I tried to get up, I looked at my left hand, to my amazement three of my fingers on my left hand where not lying flat with my palm, but pointing in the direction of the ceiling. They had started to swell and took on a shade of deepening blue. "

Creative comes to help 
"At the time I was thinking, ‘Oops!’ we were going to help our friends Jay and Carol with their workshops the weekend, at the Miss Ivy Event, All Vintage and Festive. I can’t let them down, there will only be three hands extra to assist during their busy and hectic taster courses, ‘the sewing will be interesting!’ 

After your speedy Torvill and Dean routine around the ice rink, when did you realise that I was no longer keeping up with you? Was it the lack of noise of me wheezing and gasping for a breather? or was it the heap on the ice surrounded by a small crowd?

X-Rayed and a little more comfortable
You did your best to suppress your laughter and eventually you helped me up, you noticed my hand started to looked like a blue ski glove and my little glazed pale face. I’m not sure which of us was in the most shock.

Anyhow the staff on duty were marvelous, providing lots of cold compresses to help with the swelling, checking that I had mobility in my fingers, along with lashings of tea and biscuits for the pair of us. (there is always an up side)."

"We all agreed (there was a pretty sizeable crowd, by the time we got you to your feet!), that you should have your hand x-rayed to check out for broken bones - it was certainly swelling quickly! Your face was really ashen as well, I was quite worried." 

The nurse and radiologist at our local cottage hospital were marvelous, and so friendly.  X-rays and TLC all done in less than an hour, we were sent on our way home with no broken bones, just a badly bruised hand and injured pride.

"However, I noticed how “Creative” your driving is, but that’s a story for another day!"


"Well, Dizzy - you certainly gave me a fright!  I really thought you'd broken your poor hand. It's interesting to see the shades of blue and green emerging as the bruising comes out!   What do you mean, my 'Creative' driving?"

Our lovely handmade crackers, some using recycled music

A table to impress our London cousins!
"I was worried that you would miss our cracker making day with Orchard Learning Studios (www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk)  but thankfully you were well enough recovered to help make our table decorations - I want our London cousins Boo and Bea LaCheste to see just what fine quality our beautiful handmade crackers are."  
White Welly Duckling - White with Gold Spots
White Welly Duckling from the Dcuk Company



" By the way - before we went skating I  found a great idea for a Christmas pressie for our cousins - what about one of these little chaps from the Dcuk Company (http://dcuk.cm/) ?  Would bring a bit of Country to their London penthouse, don't you think?









Dizzy's Recipe of the week: Perfect to make as an extra gift
Last Minute Christmas Chutney
Ingredients:
·         1 tbsp sunflower oil
·         2 red onions sliced
·         2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
·       2 tsp finely chopped fresh root ginger (or stem ginger in syrup, drained and finely chopped)
·         200g/7oz ready to eat dried apricots, quartered
·         150g/5½oz soft dried figs, quartered
·         100g/3½oz raisins
·         150g/5½oz demerara sugar
·         150ml/5fl oz white wine vinegar
·         ¼ whole nutmeg, finely grated
·         1 cinnamon stick
·         1 tsp sea salt flakes
·         freshly ground black pepper
Preparation method
1.     Heat the oil in a large non-reactive saucepan and fry the onions over a low heat for 10 minutes, or until very soft but not coloured.
2.     Add the garlic and ginger, and cook for a further 2-3 minutes.
3.     Increase the heat slightly and fry for a further 4-5 minutes, until the onions begin to brown, stirring constantly.
4.     Add the apricots, figs and raisins to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the dried fruit begins to plump up a little.
5.     Sprinkle over the sugar, add the vinegar, spices and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
6.     Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer, and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. (The chutney is more likely to stick towards the end of the cooking time so pay particular attention to stirring then.)
7.     The chutney is ready when the liquid has reduced to just 4-5 tablespoons, and the fruit looks plump and glossy. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool. As the chutney cools stir it a little to distribute the moisture.
8.     Spoon the chutney into sterilised jars.
Creative Says:   "These jars look lovely with a circle of festive fabric tied over the top - but please, make sure you do your own washing up!!!!!"

Next Public Appearance:  Moor Foreshore Craft and Gift Fair, Tavistock Town Hall Friday & Saturday 18th / 19th December. We'll be there with some fabulous last-minute discounts on special gifts, plus our very own pattern!


© 2013 Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy. All rights reserved.

Thursday 19 November 2015

Cocktails, Cabaret and Culture




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Dizzy and Creative 
https://www.facebook.com/Dizzy.and.Creative/?ref=hl

Trunchball Sour, with Cool Rider in the background
Our journey from Devon to London was comfortable and uneventful, until Dizzy discovered she had lost her one of her gloves. She caused mayhem and disruption amongst other travellers by asking them to look between their feet, even to stand up to check if they were sitting on it. One passenger kindly looked out of the window to see if a lonely left hand glove was lying abandoned on the platform. By the time we reached Bristol, Dizzy had reluctantly resigned herself to the fact that her favourite gloves were no longer a pair.

"Oh, that girl is just soo embarrassing!"

On arrival in London, we made our way to the Phoenix Artist Club (http://phoenixartistclub.com/), recently voted the Best Bar & Club Covent Garden in the Time Out London Love London Awards 2015 (http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/the-time-out-love-london-awards).

Peter was in the middle of creating a new range of show-themed cocktails, and we were invited to taste and critique.


'I liked the Trunchball Sour best, complete with newt swimming!'

"My favourite was the One Sip More, which had a super lemon twist"

The decor in the club provides reminders of great shows and artistes throughout the West End, and the display of last year's monster cult success Cool Rider caught our eye. We thoroughly love the cast recording, available for sale from the Cool Rider Store (http://coolriderstore.com/)!




Dizzy Lightweight!
So, we whiled away a very pleasant afternoon, tasting and testing in the interests of good customer feedback. Eventually, it seemed to be time to toddle off and find somewhere to eat before strolling down to see Showstoppers at the Appollo Theatre.

"But when I look round to see if Dizzy was ready to go, I find that she's spent the last half hour flat out, the lightweight!"


'It was just the early morning start and all the excitement of losing a glove, and ....'

"Lightweight. It's probably just as well that cousins Boo and Bea LaCheste are out of town this week, or they would have been shocked to see you."


Restoration of The Rose Playhouse
In the theatre, we made the acquaintance of a lovely lady who told us about the Rose Playhouse (http://www.rosetheatre.org.uk/), and the ongoing project of restoration of 'Shakespeare's first theatre'. The lady is a volunteer on the restoration project.  It sounded fascinating, and although we didn't have time to fit it in on this trip, we made a resolution to do so next time we're in London.

One highlight of our few days was to see the Christmas lights in Oxford Street.  We were particularly taken with the horoscope and space themes of the windows at Selfridges  
Christmas lights in Oxford Street
(http://www.selfridges.com/london) , and also the colourful masks depicted in the windows at Harvey Nichols (http://www.harveynichols.com/), although we had to say that the Selfridge windows were our particular favourite. It was disappointing that the windows at both Libertys (http://www.liberty.co.uk/) and Harrods (http://www.harrods.com/) were still under wraps so we missed seeing them, despite our best efforts to peer through the cracks in the paper coverings!

Creative was fascinated by Denis Lock and Hamish McCann
 as the perfect English Gents!
Our other highlights were visits to two very different performances. The first was to La Soiree (www.la-soiree.com/), housed in it's own Big Top on the South Bank. This is a touring Cabaret-cum-Circus family of extraordinarily talented artistes, and a show which defies description. Suffice to say, we were spellbound.

'...and my turn to be embarrassed. You know what Creative's like with a man in uniform? What happens when it's a man in a business suit complete with bowler hat - or Union Jack boxers. Hmmn. Enough said.'

"It was a totally fascinating show, you just have to go"

Then finally, a trip to the Royal Albert Hall (http://www.royalalberthall.com/) and an evening with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing the best of the Hollywood Greats. What a way to round off a magnificent few days! 
An evening to remember at the Royal Albert Hall


Saying of the Month: In the light of the tragic events in Paris, our hearts and thoughts are with all those who are suffering or whose lives have been touched as a consequence. Our saying this month is given in this context.

"No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive" Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948) 


Next Public Appearance: Saturday and Sunday 28th & 29th November, when we'll be with Jay and Carol who are running some fabulous Christmas craft workshops at the Miss Ivy Events (http://www.missivyevents.co.uk/) All Things Vintage and Festive at Dartington Hall, Totnes






 © Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy 2013. All rights reserved.






Tuesday 10 November 2015

A Month to Remember

Dizzy and Creative Doll Pattern now on sale!  
'Hey Creative!  Have you seen the post this morning?  Look - those funny designers Carol and Jay have sent us a copy of the doll pattern they based on us!'

"Oooh, let's see. How wonderful. Look it includes the knickers, dress and even little shoes. Oh, I'll have to get sewing and make us one each. They said the pattern is now on sale and we can buy it online at http://www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk/ or from any venue where they're running workshops or selling their quality handmade creations" 

'We'll have to send them a note to say Thank you, to let them know how delighted and honoured we are'

"Good idea. Perhaps you could write to them once you've done your pile of washing, while I'm replenishing the store cupboard yet again."

'Creative, I am confused. What's happened to the kitchen? I tried to open the washing machine and when I did I found I was hurling my smalls into a dishwasher!  Where did that come from and where is the washing machine? There is no way that I am going to to do all the laundry by hand!'

'Dizzy, I wouldn't want the mess, anyway! I am worn out tidying and washing up after you. I made an executive decision and bought the dishwasher. Christmas is just around the corner and we will be having our London cousins Boo and Bea staying, I refuse to be tied to the kitchen sink and be everyone's housekeeper whilst you're having all the fun."

'Moi?.... the washing machine ?'

" The nice plumber David Joyce (http://www.davidjoyce.co.uk/)  put it into the cubby area that you normally use as a dumping ground, where your pile can build up without being seen."

' Good decision, where was I when all this took place?'

"In your colouring in world"


Creative's favourite painting
Dizzy's favourite painting
'Talking of which, didn't we have fun at Nita Sculthorp's exhibition of work, charting her journey through a diploma course with the Royal Botanical Society of Artists.

We each had a favourite piece, although it was difficult to choose just one.'







Nita has produced a beautiful collection of cards and prints which are available to purchase
(http://www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk/)

"Nita's work was so lovely, it took me back to the work of Billy Showell (http://www.billyshowell,com/)
- have you seen her depictions of shoes, through botanical art? I'd love to own a pair just like that!"

'I'm so glad we wore our sensible shoes when we went to visit Tony and Cherry at the Cornwall Nature Conservancy. Do you remember that moment when we thought it best to withdraw with haste?'

RUN!!!!
Little and Large



"I do, but I also remember that cute little tortoise, just 6 weeks out of his egg - it's hard to believe he'll be as big as his giant companion one day!"


We so admire what Tony and Cherry are doing to conserve some of the rarest and most beautiful animals in the UK and in the world generally. We hope their newly formed Trust gets the support through membership which it desperately needs, in order to carry forward their hugely valuable work. If you'd like some more information about the Cornwall Nature Conservancy and the fabulous work they do, and to access a membership form (individual or corporate membership), please contact them: cherrybcornwallnatureconservancy@outlook.com 

'Creative, what are you cooking today? I'm starving!'

"You can't possibly be hungry after all that porridge - although I think
 I scraped as much off the top of the cooker, as you actually managed to eat. I'm going to cook us one of the homemade pies we bought at Tudors cafe and Delicatessen (http://www.tudorstorbay.co.uk/) last week."


Tudors scrummy homemade pies
The comfort test!
'Ooohh, scrummy!  I simply adore their pies. I like the place as well, it's so welcoming and their coffee is really good'

"It is indeed a lovely place and we had a super time with Kamila and Shaun who were so understanding when you - for some reason - decided to try out the comfort of the umbrella stand!"


NEXT PUBLIC APPEARANCE:
Miss Ivy Events (http://missivyevents.co.uk/)
All Things Vintage and Festive
Dartington Hall, Totnes Sat/Sun 28th & 29th November

Where Orchard Learning Studios will be running some great Christmas Craft taster workshops


THOUGHT OF THE MONTH:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
From the poem For the Fallen, by Laurence Binyon.


©Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy July 2013. All rights reserved.

Thursday 22 October 2015

Dizzy's Bake-Off

Dizzy empties the larder on to the kitchen table
Saturday morning started with an Autumn chill, which sent Dizzy straight into the kitchen to look for something warm and comforting to fill the day with.
Creative was out refilling the store cupboard (again), so Dizzy had no restraint on the larder shelves, and started rummaging through ingredients. There was plenty of flour, and she found a few apples and some other likely bits and pieces, so brought them all to the kitchen table and reached for the recipe book.

By the time she heard Creative coming home, Dizzy was extremely pleased with herself for producing a loaf of bread worthy of Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood's approval, and she positioned herself with the loaf, where she could present Creative with the results of her labours.
Creative let herself in to a house redolent with the glorious smell of fresh bread. Once the initial 'Yummy' factor had passed, and before she reached the kitchen door, a sense of dead had taken over
Eat your heart out, British Bake Off!
."Surprise!" Dizzy greeted her, proudly displaying a beautiful fresh loaf, still warm from the oven.

Creative managed to cling on to the shopping bags, as she took in the chaos left behind after Dizzy's busy morning. Putting the shopping away and pulling on a new pair of rubber gloves, she resignedly began the task of (yet again) cleaning the kitchen. She only hoped eating the bread would be worth the hard work of cleaning up!

"Oh, no, not again!"
Later, with a fire blazing in the grate, she congratulated Dizzy on a successful bake-off, but implored her once more, to try and clean up after herself, when trying out her cookery skills! 
As they shared a sandwich they caught up Creatives news:  

Bronwen Wells
Ink and Clay
www.InkandClay.co.uk
" I called in to see Bronwen Wells at her studio whilst I was out, and stopped to look at her new work, which is lovely, all nature inspired, using the colours and shapes we both like so much". 

Dizzy (unabashed about the kitchen mess) also had some news - " We've been invited to go to the private view of a new exhibition Botanical Art - a Personal Journey, by Nita Sculthorp. I've RSVP'd, saying we'd love to go"

"How lovely! That'll be a real treat, we can always go again during it's public opening, at The Works   http://www.artattheworks.co.uk/  in Tavistock, Devon, from 26th - 30th October.

"That's not all the exciting news, either. Remember our photo shoot for 'the pattern'? Well, some of the photos have come back, and I think we came out quite well in them"
"Considering I was having a particularly bad hair day, and you kept looking the other way,
Dizzy and Creative Doll pattern on sale soon
Photography by Stuart Bailey Media
http://stuartbaileymedia.co.uk/ 
that's great news. I'm really excited about the Dizzy and Creative Doll Pattern that Pontia Rose and  Orchard Learning Studios have produced, based on us truly!"

"They've asked us to stand by for the official launch when they'll want us to pose for some more pics."
"I'll have to practice my smouldering pout"
"Down, girl. Photographers don't usually wear a uniform, you do realise that?"
"Well, no harm in practicing!"

Quote of the month:  "All sorrows are less with bread"  Miguel de Centares Saavedra

Next Public Appearance: Miss Ivy Events Heritage Craft and Gift Fayre, Tavistock Pannier Market Sunday 1st November 

©Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy July 2013 all rights reserved.



Tuesday 13 October 2015

Morning surprise

A Chilli moment!
Text message from Dizzy to Creative;

Morning Creative,

Where are you, are you at the shops?  As you know, I love your delicious Rhubarb and ginger jam. I like it so much there is nothing like a good thick dollop spread onto my toast.

I nearly choked and wheezed as my breath was taken away, it was the batch of your very spicy chilli and tomato chutney!

My mouth is still burning and I can't find the yogurt and mint dressing in the fridge, to help sooth the discomfort. I now see that you have had another one of your blitz and clean out the fridge episodes, with yet another re organise  of the shelves!

Thanks for putting jars into the fridge without labels attached, not to mention contents with the same colour!

I suppose you are shopping again, please buy me some sorbet.

See you when you dare to return home.

Dizzy x

A Chilling soother -
Raspberry or Lemon?
Text message back from Creative:

What are you like!!!!
The reason why none of the open jars in the 'fridge have labels on them any more, is that I had to wash them to get rid of the horrible sticky goo you let dribble down the sides, every time you use them!

I also had to throw out the yoghurt and mint dressing as it seemed to have sprouted some great furry warts. It may have had antibiotic qualities, but I didn't want to put that to the test!

Am in the freezer section right now - do you want lemon or raspberry sorbet? I got some more rubber gloves and degreaser, by the way - just in case you're planning on some cookery this weekend.

See you in an hour or so,
Creative



P.S. I got raspberry, as I thought it might sting less than lemon!

After the little jam/sorbet thing, we are so excited to get some awesome news in this morning's post!  Our friends Jay and Carol at Orchard Learning Studios (http://www.orchardlearningstudios.co.uk/) and Pontia Rose  (www.pontiarose.co.uk) asked us some time ago if we would mind modelling for their latest product. Always game for a laugh we naturally said Yes of course, and now we hear that all will be launched at the Moorforeshore craft and gift fair (http://www.moorforeshore.com/) in Tavistock Town Hall this coming Saturday 17th October - just when we had planned to go along, how good is that?  (http://www.tavistock-devon.co.uk/)

Apparently, Jay and Carol have developed a doll pattern based on us! The only thing is, what do we wear?  We obviously want it to look as though we have just casually popped in for a look around and to see if we can pick up any interesting early Christmas gifts or decorations. On the other hand, we would want to look our best if we've been the inspiration for a brand new product - and what if the Press are there??
Casual Chic


At last, we decided on casual chic, and both wearing our new berets. Do come along and say hello, we would love to see you.

Recipe of the month: Creative's Rhubarb and Ginger Jam
Ingredients: 2lb (1kg) rhubarb; 2lb (1kg) jam sugar; Juice and zest 1 lemon; 2 oz (50g) crystallised ginger, finely chopped; 2” (4cm) piece stem ginger, peeled.
Method: Slice rhubarb into medium size chunks, add sugar, lemon juice and zest and stem ginger. Finely grate the peeled ginger over the top. Cover and leave for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. 

Place all in a pan over a medium heat, stirring until all sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil and cook on a rolling boil for 15 – 20 minutes until a set is reached. Remove pan from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Pour into prepared jars, seal and label when cold.
Creative's note: Don't dribble the contents over the sides of the jar, as the label will wash off when you clean up! 

©Jay Hooper and Carol Kennedy July 2013 all rights reserved.