Shop Update :: Baby Bibs

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Adoro fazer estes babetes. Já tentei outras versões – maiores, em oleado (óptimo para nódoas mas dificílimo de coser) -, mas volto sempre a esta. São divertidos de fazer porque permitem, de forma rápida e intuitiva, conjugar muitos tecidos diferentes, e gosto de imaginar os bebés que os irão usar. São ideais para serem usados entre refeições, – se bem que aguentem muitas lavagens – e são o presente perfeito para um recém-nascido. Há seis novos na loja.
I love sewing these bibs. I’ve tryed making other versions – larger, in laminated cotton (great for stains but rather challenging to sew) – but I always come back to this one. They’re fun to make because they allow me to combine different fabrics in a quick, intuitive way, and I often think about the babies that will wear them. They’re especially great between meals – although they do withstand dozens of washings – and make the perfect gift for a newborn or a baby shower. There are six new ones in the shop.

(images: Constança Cabral)

Quilt de Camisas :: Shirts Quilt

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De todos os quilts que a minha mãe já fez, este é o meu preferido até à data. Foi feito com camisas de quatro homens da família e sei a quem pertenceu cada bocado de tecido. Como os algodões das camisas são sempre óptimos, e visto que as camisas foram lavadas tantas vezes, o quilt é ultra suave e confortável. E porque a minha mãe ficou impressionada com o frio inglês, usou um enchimento 100% lã (Hobbs Heirloom Wool, comprado na dotQuilts em Lisboa). O quilt foi feito para o Tiago (eu também tive direito a um, que mostrarei assim que lhe coser o binding), mas acho que quem o vai usar sou eu…
Of all the quilts my mother has sewn so far, this one is my favourite. It’s made with shirts that used to belong to four men of our family and I know exactly who owned which bit of fabric. Since shirting cotton tends to be of high quality and because the shirts were washed so many times the quilt is extremely soft and cosy. And due to the rigours of English winters, my mother used 100% wool batting (Hobbs Heirloom Wool, bought at dotQuilts in Lisbon). The quilt was made for Tiago (I also got one, which I’ll show you as soon as I finish binding it) but I think I’m the one who’s going to use it…
(images: Constança Cabral)

Reutilizar :: Reusing

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Melhor ainda do que pô-los no ecoponto é reutilizar os despojos do dia-a-dia. No caso destes rebentos de verbena bonariensis, rolos de papel higiénico fazem óptimos vasos (ainda por cima são biodegradáveis, o que significa que podem ser plantados directamente na terra sem perturbar as raízes), e, em vez de tabuleiros, por que não usar aquelas irritantes caixas de plástico que vêm com a maior parte dos legumes comprados no supermercado? E, quando se acabam os rolos, papel pardo enrolado faz o mesmo efeito.
Even better than going to the recycling centre is reusing your everyday waste. As far as these verbena bonariensis seedlings are concerned, instead of pots you can use loo rolls (which are biodegradable, meaning that you can plant them directly in the soil avoiding root disturbance) and those annoying plastic boxes that come along with the vegetables you buy at the supermarket make brilliant trays. And if  you run out of loo rools, just use brown paper for a similar effect.

(images: Constança Cabral)

Tarde de Domingo :: Sunday Afternoon

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Hoje passei uma óptima tarde no jardim, a lixar móveis, semear flores e coser o debrum no quilt (feito com camisas) que a minha mãe trouxe para o Tiago. Viva o Verão inglês!
Today I spent a lovely afternoon in the garden sanding furniture, sowing seeds and hand-sewing the binding on Tiago’s new quilt (made by my mother using old shirts). Hurrah for English summer!
(images: Constança Cabral)

Baking Day

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Tarte de maçã, bolo de limão, pão… e o fim-de-semana à porta!
Apple pie, lemon cake, a loaf of bread… and the weekend is nearly here!

Classic Apple Pie (Martha Stewart)

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface

1 recipe Pâte Brisée
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon heavy cream
3 pounds assorted apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Sanding sugar, for sprinkling

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out one disc of dough into a 13-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Roll out remaining disc in the same manner. Place in refrigerator until firm.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolk and heavy cream; set aside. In a large bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Remove pie shell from freezer, and fill with apple mixture. Dot with butter.

Lightly brush edge of pie with a wet pastry brush. Place dough round on top of pie. Trim edges flush with rim; press to seal. Crimp edges as desired. Make four 1/2-inch slits in center of pie. Brush top with egg wash; sprinkle with sanding sugar.

Place pie plate on a baking sheet, and bake until crust just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking until crust is golden brown and juices are bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes. If the crust begins to get too dark, drape a piece of aluminum foil over the top. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Lemon-Syrup Loaf Cake (Nigella Lawson)
Cake:
125g unsalted butter
175g caster sugar
2 large eggs
Zest of 1 lemon
175g self-raising flour
pinch of salt
4 tablespoons milk
Syrup:  
Juice of 1/5 lemons (about 4 tablespoons)
100g of icing sugar
23 x 13 x 7 cm loaf tin, buttered and lined, preheat the oven to 180 degrees or gas mark 4.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Add eggs and lemon zest, beat in well.
Add the sieved flour and salt, folding in gently but thoroughly.
Add the milk, mix in.
Spoon into loaf tin and put cake in oven for 45 mins, or until golden and a cake tester comes out clean.
While it’s cooking, dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice, over a low heat
As soon as you take the cake out, puncture holes all over the top and pour the syrup on to let it soak in. Make sure there are lots of holes in the top so it doesn’t all go down the sides.
Wait until it’s completely cold to take it out of the tin.

(images: Constança Cabral)

Retro Flowers Beach Bag

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Fiz um novo saco de praia, desta vez com um tecido que comprei na Dinamarca e que parece dos anos 60. Usei este modelo de saco na nossa recente viagem a França e posso assegurar-vos de que é ideal não só para a praia, como para ir a mercados, passear na cidade ou passar um dia no campo. Está disponível na loja (e por falar em loja, estive a actualizar a conversão dos preços).
I’ve made a new beach bag, this time with a piece of retro fabric I bought in Denmark last year. I carried a bag like this in our recent trip to France and I can assure you that it is not only great as a beach bag, it’s also perfect for visiting markets, strolling in the city centre or spending a day in the country. The bag is available in the shop (and since I mention the shop, I’ve just updated the currency rates).
Entretanto os nossos novos vizinhos (vitelos com 14-18 meses) acharam graça à sessão fotográfica e vieram espreitar…
Whilst we were photographing the bag, our new neighbours (14-18 months old calves) were intrigued and came to see what was going on…
(images: 1, 2- Tiago Cabral; 3- Constança Cabral)

Flea Market Finds

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No sábado fomos à melhor feira de velharias até agora. Para mim, uma boa feira é aquela que consegue conjugar diversidade em termos de oferta com preços decentes (= baixos). Vimos o Bargain Hunt a ser filmado e encontrei coisas que procurava há uns meses: um regador antigo de zinco (exactamente como eu queria), umas tinas também de zinco (que vou usar para plantar flores e legumes), uma mesa de cabeceira para o Tiago (por £5!!) e um toucador (será o termo certo?) para o quarto de hóspedes (por £10!!). A lista de móveis para pintar de branco não acaba…
On Saturday we went to the best antiques fair so far. I find that the best fairs are the ones that combine a vast array of things for sale with decent (= cheap) prices. We saw Bargain Hunt being filmed and I found some items I’ve been searching for months: an old galvanised watering can (exactly like I’d pictured it), a couple of old tin tubs (which I’m going to use to plant flowers and vegetables), a bedside table for Tiago (for £5!!) and a dressing table for the guest bedroom (for €10!!). Our list of furniture awaiting to be painted white is endless…
(images: Constança Cabral)