Life in Ireland and Morocco....unique artisan jewellery, clothing and crafts....food and travel
Monday, 30 December 2013
My Mouflon logo and avatar
The Auodad or Mouflon a Manchettes was formerly widespread in rugged and mountainous terrain
from deserts and semi-deserts to open forests in North Africa, but has
suffered a strong decline due to poaching,hunting and habitat loss.
Saturday, 23 November 2013
A Taste of Morocco.......Tagines
The name Tagine...historically Berber... comes from the vessel it is cooked
in; usually made from clay. The lower half is a round dish with low sides, the lid
is a domed cone which traps the condensation from the cooking and returns the
liquid to the contents, thus proving moisture during the cooking which can be
an hour or more (sometimes all day).
The lid is removed for serving. It is a communial dish usually served with bread.
It seems everywhere you go in Morocco you will come across Tagines cooking!
The lid is removed for serving. It is a communial dish usually served with bread.
Selling Tagines in Marrakech City |
The traditional method of cooking with a tagine is
to place it over bricks of charcoal. These are purchased specifically for their
ability to stay hot for hours.
In some areas the farmers make their own charcoal.
A meal by the road side! |
Tagines for sale in a pottery |
Their Kiln |
...and the rejects? |
A Tagine lunch by/in the River |
Couscous is also served in a Tagine
If all this has made you hungry...here are some recipes.....
Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemons and Olives
Moroccan Couscous with Seven Vegetables
Friday, 15 November 2013
My Waterlily Handbag Part 4
My Waterlily Handbag is nearly finished!
I have attached the leaves and stitched in the veins
Next stage.... working out how to attach the flower and make the centre...I decided to use gold coloured satin cord and yellow glass beads.
Sewing the lining and making pockets for phone, purse and notebook..... masses of room left !
The flower is now completed
Lining finished...the outside has now to be padded and interlined.
Watch this space for the final pictures!
Part one My Latest Hand Bag Ideas...Waterlilies
Part two My Waterlily Hand Bag
Part three My Waterlily Hand Bag
I have attached the leaves and stitched in the veins
Next stage.... working out how to attach the flower and make the centre...I decided to use gold coloured satin cord and yellow glass beads.
Sewing the lining and making pockets for phone, purse and notebook..... masses of room left !
The flower is now completed
Lining finished...the outside has now to be padded and interlined.
Watch this space for the final pictures!
Part one My Latest Hand Bag Ideas...Waterlilies
Part two My Waterlily Hand Bag
Part three My Waterlily Hand Bag
Thursday, 4 July 2013
In my Garden in July
THE BROAD BEAN HARVEST HAS STARTED!
Yes its time to Harvest broad beans again.
They are best picked young when the beans are tender and tasty.
A HOW TO tip to 'get into' them!
I used to be one of these...twirl and peel...very tedious if you have a pile to do!
UNTIL I discovered this method.
Just needs a sharp vegetable peeler.
At their best peeled and cooked immediately.
There are some wonderful Moroccan recipes for using broad beans.
for you to try.
In spicy tomato sauce
Monday, 1 July 2013
With Weddings in mind!
Jewellery for that special day available from my Etsy Shop
ICE MAIDEN NECKLACE € 45.00 Free postage
The centre of this necklace is made from groups of silver and white glass pearls, silver textured beads and crystal faceted glass threaded onto silver plated wire. These groups are twisted around six strands of knotted white cotton cord. The white cord is threaded with silver seeds, knotted at intervals to complete the necklace.
I closed the piece with a silver plated clasp.
The necklace measures 46 cms. (18 inches) end to end.
ICE MAIDEN EARRINGS € 25.00
The earrings are made from white glass pearls, silver textured beads and crystal faceted glass beads threaded onto nylon thread to form a geometric shape; they hang from silver plated ear wires.
SILVER SPRAY NECKLACE € 45.00 Free Postage
Pewter crystal facetted beads, crystal and opal fire polished glass beads, threaded on supple silver Beadalon wire, hang in a collar shape from white satin cord.
I love these bold pewter crystal glass beads and used them as the main feature. I added milky white and opal glass beads and silvery balls. I threaded them all onto satin silver Beadalon wire so that they took on a subtle shape and sparkled as they moved. I threaded the seven dangles onto white satin cord and closed the necklace with a pretty silver plated rose clasp enhanced with a central rhinestone.
Wear this necklace with the matching earrings, soon to be in my shop, to sparkle on your wedding day or to shine at that important event.
The necklace measures
From end to end... 43 cms. (17 inches) ,
The centre dangles 10.5cms. (4.25 inches) in depth.
SILVER SPRAY EARRINGS € 20.00
Gorgeous sparkly drop earrings made from white and pewter facetted crystal glass beads.
I love these bold pewter crystal glass beads and used them as the main feature. I added a milky white, a crystal and a silvery glass bead and threaded them all onto silver plated wire; I completed the earring with a silver plated ear wire.
Length: from hook 4 cms. (1.5 inches)
SNOW FLOWER NECKLACE € 45.00 Free Postage
Dainty white Lucite flowers, silver balls, silver Beadalon wire and fine silver plated chain.
I threaded these pretty, lightweight Lucite flowers onto silver Beadalon wire in pairs with two sizes of silver beads between the two flowers. The flowers were crystal and opaque white alternately. In the centre of each flower I placed a Swarovski crystal and silver glass zircon bead, which added a beautiful sparkle to the necklace. Five pairs of flowers make the centre of the necklace with single flowers at each end; I then joined it onto a fine silver plated chain and closed the necklace with a pretty banjo clasp.
The necklace measures.....
From end to end... 48 cms. (19 inches),
SNOW FLOWER EARRINGS € 25.00
Clusters of dainty white and crystal Lucite flowers with Swarovski crystal zircon glass bead centres.
I made these earrings to resemble a wedding bouquet. I threaded each of the six tiny Lucite flowers in crystal and opaque white onto silver plated bobble pin and finished the wires with a scroll. In the center of each flower I placed a Swarovski crystal zircon glass bead, which give the earrings a wonderful sparkle and on top of each flower a tiny silver ball. I then put the six flowers onto a silver plated rings, then all five rings onto one centre one, this I attached to an ear wire that is also silver plated.
Length: from hook 2 cms. (1 inches)
WINTER WEDDING NECKLACE € 45.00 Free postage
Creamy ivory glass pearls with delicate silver filigree bead caps hugging each bead. In between each one is a smaller pearl bordered each side with a silver roundel. The necklace is finished with a fine silver chain and a box fastening.
The necklace measures
From end to end... 47cms.
WINTER WEDDING EARRINGS € 20.00
Creamy ivory glass pearls in four sizes with delicate silver filigree bead caps.The earring is completed with a silver plated ear wire.
The earrings measure from hook 3 cms.
TZARINA NECKLACE € 65.00 Free Postage
The idea for this necklace was inspired by Russian jewellery designs. I covered silver plated wire triangles with tissue paper sealed and coated with white pearlized paint and then wrapped each one with iridescent green glass seeds threaded onto silver plated wire. More wire was used to make loops at the corners from which I suspended fire polished glass beads in shades of green. The six triangles were then joined together and further embellished with seeds and fire polished glass beads. The necklace was finished with olive organza ribbon and a pretty silver plated clasp.
The necklace measures 52.5 cms. (21 inches) end to end, the centre triangles 6 cms. (2.5 inches)
TZARINA EARRINGS € 25.00
The earrings are kite shaped and hang from silver plated hooks.
The idea for these earrings was inspired by Russian jewellery designs. I covered silver plated wire triangles with tissue paper sealed and coated with white pearlized paint and then wrapped each one with iridescent green glass seeds threaded onto silver plated wire. More wire was used to make loops at the corners from which I suspended fire polished glass beads in shades of green.
The earrings measure 6 cms. (2.5 inches), from the hook.
ICE MAIDEN NECKLACE € 45.00 Free postage
Silver, white, and crystal glass beads and white cotton cord.
The centre of this necklace is made from groups of silver and white glass pearls, silver textured beads and crystal faceted glass threaded onto silver plated wire. These groups are twisted around six strands of knotted white cotton cord. The white cord is threaded with silver seeds, knotted at intervals to complete the necklace.
I closed the piece with a silver plated clasp.
The necklace measures 46 cms. (18 inches) end to end.
ICE MAIDEN EARRINGS € 25.00
The earrings are made from white glass pearls, silver textured beads and crystal faceted glass beads threaded onto nylon thread to form a geometric shape; they hang from silver plated ear wires.
SILVER SPRAY NECKLACE € 45.00 Free Postage
White and pewter crystal glass beaded collar necklace
Pewter crystal facetted beads, crystal and opal fire polished glass beads, threaded on supple silver Beadalon wire, hang in a collar shape from white satin cord.
I love these bold pewter crystal glass beads and used them as the main feature. I added milky white and opal glass beads and silvery balls. I threaded them all onto satin silver Beadalon wire so that they took on a subtle shape and sparkled as they moved. I threaded the seven dangles onto white satin cord and closed the necklace with a pretty silver plated rose clasp enhanced with a central rhinestone.
Wear this necklace with the matching earrings, soon to be in my shop, to sparkle on your wedding day or to shine at that important event.
The necklace measures
From end to end... 43 cms. (17 inches) ,
The centre dangles 10.5cms. (4.25 inches) in depth.
SILVER SPRAY EARRINGS € 20.00
White and pewter crystal glass beaded dangle earrings
Gorgeous sparkly drop earrings made from white and pewter facetted crystal glass beads.
I love these bold pewter crystal glass beads and used them as the main feature. I added a milky white, a crystal and a silvery glass bead and threaded them all onto silver plated wire; I completed the earring with a silver plated ear wire.
Length: from hook 4 cms. (1.5 inches)
SNOW FLOWER NECKLACE € 45.00 Free Postage
Wedding necklace, tiny white Lucite flowers, silver balls and chain
Dainty white Lucite flowers, silver balls, silver Beadalon wire and fine silver plated chain.
I threaded these pretty, lightweight Lucite flowers onto silver Beadalon wire in pairs with two sizes of silver beads between the two flowers. The flowers were crystal and opaque white alternately. In the centre of each flower I placed a Swarovski crystal and silver glass zircon bead, which added a beautiful sparkle to the necklace. Five pairs of flowers make the centre of the necklace with single flowers at each end; I then joined it onto a fine silver plated chain and closed the necklace with a pretty banjo clasp.
The necklace measures.....
From end to end... 48 cms. (19 inches),
SNOW FLOWER EARRINGS € 25.00
Miniature bouquets of flowers, wedding earrings in white and silver.
Clusters of dainty white and crystal Lucite flowers with Swarovski crystal zircon glass bead centres.
I made these earrings to resemble a wedding bouquet. I threaded each of the six tiny Lucite flowers in crystal and opaque white onto silver plated bobble pin and finished the wires with a scroll. In the center of each flower I placed a Swarovski crystal zircon glass bead, which give the earrings a wonderful sparkle and on top of each flower a tiny silver ball. I then put the six flowers onto a silver plated rings, then all five rings onto one centre one, this I attached to an ear wire that is also silver plated.
Length: from hook 2 cms. (1 inches)
WINTER WEDDING NECKLACE € 45.00 Free postage
Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps.
Creamy ivory glass pearls with delicate silver filigree bead caps hugging each bead. In between each one is a smaller pearl bordered each side with a silver roundel. The necklace is finished with a fine silver chain and a box fastening.
The necklace measures
From end to end... 47cms.
WINTER WEDDING EARRINGS € 20.00
Creamy Ivory glass pearls, silver filigree bead caps Winter Wedding earrings
Creamy ivory glass pearls in four sizes with delicate silver filigree bead caps.The earring is completed with a silver plated ear wire.
The earrings measure from hook 3 cms.
TZARINA NECKLACE € 65.00 Free Postage
Vintage russian inspired green glass necklace
The idea for this necklace was inspired by Russian jewellery designs. I covered silver plated wire triangles with tissue paper sealed and coated with white pearlized paint and then wrapped each one with iridescent green glass seeds threaded onto silver plated wire. More wire was used to make loops at the corners from which I suspended fire polished glass beads in shades of green. The six triangles were then joined together and further embellished with seeds and fire polished glass beads. The necklace was finished with olive organza ribbon and a pretty silver plated clasp.
The necklace measures 52.5 cms. (21 inches) end to end, the centre triangles 6 cms. (2.5 inches)
TZARINA EARRINGS € 25.00
Vintage russian inspired green glass earrings
The earrings are kite shaped and hang from silver plated hooks.
The idea for these earrings was inspired by Russian jewellery designs. I covered silver plated wire triangles with tissue paper sealed and coated with white pearlized paint and then wrapped each one with iridescent green glass seeds threaded onto silver plated wire. More wire was used to make loops at the corners from which I suspended fire polished glass beads in shades of green.
The earrings measure 6 cms. (2.5 inches), from the hook.
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