Posted by Becky on Dec 4, 2009 in
Craft,
Finishing School,
Food I spent an evening this week baking enough Christmas cookies to sink a ship (or host a Finishing School Christmas party). If you’d like to have a go at making your own, here’s my nan’s recipe. You might want to kit yourself out with a nice set of cookie cutters before you start and these vintage metal ones I found on Etsy are absolutely perfect. The Cakes, Cookies and Craft Shop also do a great set in the shape of Christmas baubles.
Preparation time: 20 minutes – or more if you’re singing along to a Christmas compilation
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes – or more if you’re like me and get carried away and baking several batches!
Makes: 25 gingerbread figures
Ingredients
125g unsalted butter
100g dark muscovado sugar
4 tbsp golden syrup
325g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Method
Preheat the oven to 170°C, gas mark 3. Line baking trays with baking paper. Melt the butter, sugar and syrup in a medium saucepan, stirring occasionally, then remove from the heat.
Sieve the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger into a bowl and stir the melted ingredients into the dry ingredients to make a stiff dough.
Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll to a thickness of about 5mm. Dip biscuit cutters into flour before cutting the dough. Place the shapes onto the lined baking trays and bake, in batches, for 9-10 minutes until light golden brown.
Remove from the oven. While still warm, and using a skewer or chopstick, make any holes that you will need to hang up the biscuits with ribbon or to make a yuletide garland. If you are decorating your Christmas cake with gingerbread people, make the holes in their arms so that ribbon can be threaded through at a later stage.
When completely cool, decorate with the icing. The gingerbread biscuits can be stored in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
And for the finishing touches: Writing Icing; sweets; sparkles; and ribbon.
Tags: Christmas, Craft, decorations, handmade
Posted by Becky on Nov 1, 2009 in
Craft,
Finishing School Here are some statistics from Finishing School’s lesson in lino-cutting and fabric printing night that took place at our brand new venue the Island Queen on 26th October.
Teacher = 1. East London printmaker Catherine Walsh was on hand to suggest block carving techniques and provide design inspiration for all. Head over to her webpage for details of her upcoming classes if you want to hone your skills further.
Attendees = just the right number (to allow for elbow room and no arguments over paint rollers).
Injuries = 2. There are many dangers in this world and it turns out that lino cutting is one of them. For other crafting dangers click here (at your peril).
Plasters used = 8. Gougers are sharp, kids.
Litres of fabric paint = 1.5. The messiest session so far!
Successful nights = 1. Everyone took home a tea towel and tote bag decorated with their own stamp (or a stamp nabbed from another student as everyone had such great ideas it was a shame not to share!). Check out our flickr for more pictures of the evening.
Thanks to everyone who turned up and had a go at creating some really original prints. I went out the following day and purchased my own set of tools from a lovely art shop in Clerkenwell and I know for a fact that Atlantis Arts does a good range of lino so that’s Christmas sorted then.
If you had as much fun as we did (or frustratingly missed out on space this time) do keep a keen eye on our facebook page and our events page for details of November’s session. See you soon x
Tags: art, Craft, event, handmade, paint, textiles
Posted by Becky on Aug 12, 2009 in
Craft,
Finishing School Finishing School lesson three (needle felting) was a great success thanks to Susanna Wallis and, of course, our ever-expanding band of eager students.
Thanks to everyone who turned up and vented their frustrations by repeatedly stabbing a tiny ball of wool. I’m sure it was 90% creativity, 10% therapy for most!
There were some really interesting creations from tiny teacups, to felty-beads to badges featuring all manner of animal, vegetable and robot.
We had such a great time and hope you did too. Actually, we’ve heard that many of you have caught the needle felting bug and are pursuing your own projects with the materials we sent you away with. This is really exciting and, of course, what Finishing School is all about. Feel free to bring in/wear/show off any finished trinkets at our next session! And, if you’re after more wool or needles – or any other textile craft odds’n'ends for that matter – you might want to check out Susanna’s recommendations of the Handweaver’s Studio (which opens the doors to its charming new premises on 140 Seven Sisters Road, N7 7NS on 21 August) and Wingham Wool.
As usual, keep an eye on our facebook page and our events page for photos of the evening and details of September’s session.
See you next time!
Tags: Craft, felting, handmade, jewellry
Posted by Fiona on Jun 26, 2009 in
Craft Since the idea of Finishing School popped into my head, I’ve found myself going slightly craft mad, without actually doing anything. I figure if I write about some of the projects I’m hoping to embark upon then I’ll feel compelled to do them, proving that I am worthy of running Finishing School.
Crochet
Scarf by BeautifulBridget on Etsy
Following our wonderful lesson with Catherine I’ve been practising my crochet stitches and trying some more challenging things like crocheting in the round. I’ve still got lots and lots and lots to learn (I feel an improver’s crochet session coming on!) but I just bought a bunch of different sized hooks and hope to pick up some nice chunky yarn to create a simple, but completely satisfying, scarf. I figure this is the sort of project where I’m not going to get frustrated too easily and can just practice maintaining an even tension and size of knot throughout!
Sewing
Japanese craft book from Pompadour on Etsy
The one craft I have some experience of, and indeed equipment for, is sewing. Last year I bought a 50s sewing machine thinking it would change my life and I’d never buy clothes from H&M again. Unfortunately one and a half skirts in, the wrong colour zipper and lack of space left me deflated and I abandoned it. I’ve decided I’m determined to get started again though and to spur me on have bought a Japanese pattern book for inspiration; despite the fact it’s in Japanese. It’s full of beautiful photography and I’m rubbish at following instructions anyway, so I’m sure I’ll be just fine. Simple tunic dresses ahoy! before moving on to some of my vintage patterns.
Photo by treasureup on Flickr
My second sewing project is something a bit different, but one I’m quite excited about. For months and months I’ve been trawling Ebay and Etsy and vintage shops searching for my perfect 30s/40s depression era quilt. I want cute faded feedsack fabric, nothing garish or complicated, just your standard patchwork quilt. Unfortunately, finding something in good condition in my price range has proved nigh on impossible. Not one to be deterred, I thought to myself “How hard can it be!? I can sew in straight lines!” so have stocked up on a loads of 30s feedsack squares (mostly ready cut or started – hurrah!) and with the help of my ever trusty friend Google will be attempting my own. Wish me luck, I definitely need it.
One of my purchases
I should probably also mention that planning for Finishing School part deux is fully underway and I can tell you now it may involve charcoal…
Tags: crochet, sewing
Posted by Fiona on Jun 9, 2009 in
Craft Our first night starts in under 2 hours, and whilst anxiously awaiting its arrival, and in need of last minute courage, I found myself checking out some of the people who are already doing similar things successfully, like The Make Lounge. So off I wandered to their blog, and stumbled upon this guy:
By urone317 on Flickr
As I am also the proud owner of a rather fetching needle felted dinosaur by Felted Friends on Etsy this got me wondering how much you could learn about needle felting in one, tipsy evening after work. I am thinking that google shall become my researching friend next week as we (hopefully!) start to think about workshop number deux! In the meantime, if this has inspired you (and believe me, I’m tempted) The Make Lounge have their own needle felting class coming up very soon.
Posted by Becky on Jun 7, 2009 in
Craft
I promise that I will do my best:
To love learning new things,
To share both wine and my ideas,
To help other people
and
To keep Finishing School fun.*
As our very first Finishing School gets closer Fiona and I have been scooting to-and-fro shopping, trimming, winding, glueing and planning.
Our living-room has turned into craft central. Sitting with a ball of wool in his lap and looking like a confused kitten, housemate Matt was roped in (excuse the pun) to help with the preparation of our lovely crochet materials for use in our session with Catherine Hirst.
Hope to see you soon!
*Shamelessly borrowed from the Brownie Promise. Apologies to Girl Guiding UK.
