I had an amazing opportunity back in August! I'm lucky enough to be offered training trips through work. Which means attending workshops run by suppliers to get to know products a little better. This time I had a short trip to Manchester to visit Visage Fabrics also known as The Craft Cotton Co., where I also attended a workshop run by quilter Sarah Payne.
It was a bit of a trek from Plymouth to Manchester for one night but it was so worth it. I was so excited about this trip and jumped at the chance to go, even if it was a slight mission cramming my sewing machine into a suitcase! Once I had arrived it was made even better by the fact the group I was with were all so lovely and talented.
We met the head designer Victoria Cowley who kindly gave us a group tour of the building. Fabric envy levels were high! Everywhere you turned there were endless towers of bolts of fabric. It's safe to say I think we were all after a meter of everything there! I had seen many of the prints before, however, for some reason, it was almost like I was seeing them for the first time all over again. Being able to see the full collections together in the flesh and on such a scale made me appreciate just how beautiful the fabric they create is.
There were 11 of us in the group, all bouncing with excitement, much to the amusement of all the staff! I believe it was the first time they had ever hosted a tour and workshop. Everyone we met was so lovely, welcoming and answered any questions we had.
We were even lucky enough to walk through the offices and have a sneak peek at the new collections (they are beautiful!) before heading back to our start point for our workshop with Sarah Payne.
For those who don't know Sarah is a freelance Quilting Teacher, author, designer and demonstrator for US & UK TV Shopping Channels. She was lovely, approachable and put those that were a little nervous at ease.
For this workshop, she taught us how to make an applique cushion. Teaching us different techniques along with a fancy iron that became the talking point of the day!
Yes, even the iron we were using was amazing! It was an Oliso Smart Iron that automatically lifts and lowers with your touch. I've never seen one before but they are apparently big in America. Even the staff at Visage all came over to check it out!
All in all, it was a great day, meeting lovely people, learning new skills and of course I walked away with some fabric. A whole bolt in fact! I certainly had a few looks on the train home but I was never going to walk away empty-handed! I picked up this beauty, now I just have to work out what to make with all 15 meters of it!
See below the links to those mentioned in this post. Visage fabrics are a trade supplier but you can pick up their beautiful fabrics in your local Hobbycraft store.
The Craft Cotton co.
Hobbycraft
Sarah Payne
It was a bit of a trek from Plymouth to Manchester for one night but it was so worth it. I was so excited about this trip and jumped at the chance to go, even if it was a slight mission cramming my sewing machine into a suitcase! Once I had arrived it was made even better by the fact the group I was with were all so lovely and talented.
We met the head designer Victoria Cowley who kindly gave us a group tour of the building. Fabric envy levels were high! Everywhere you turned there were endless towers of bolts of fabric. It's safe to say I think we were all after a meter of everything there! I had seen many of the prints before, however, for some reason, it was almost like I was seeing them for the first time all over again. Being able to see the full collections together in the flesh and on such a scale made me appreciate just how beautiful the fabric they create is.
There were 11 of us in the group, all bouncing with excitement, much to the amusement of all the staff! I believe it was the first time they had ever hosted a tour and workshop. Everyone we met was so lovely, welcoming and answered any questions we had.
For those who don't know Sarah is a freelance Quilting Teacher, author, designer and demonstrator for US & UK TV Shopping Channels. She was lovely, approachable and put those that were a little nervous at ease.
For this workshop, she taught us how to make an applique cushion. Teaching us different techniques along with a fancy iron that became the talking point of the day!
Yes, even the iron we were using was amazing! It was an Oliso Smart Iron that automatically lifts and lowers with your touch. I've never seen one before but they are apparently big in America. Even the staff at Visage all came over to check it out!
All in all, it was a great day, meeting lovely people, learning new skills and of course I walked away with some fabric. A whole bolt in fact! I certainly had a few looks on the train home but I was never going to walk away empty-handed! I picked up this beauty, now I just have to work out what to make with all 15 meters of it!
See below the links to those mentioned in this post. Visage fabrics are a trade supplier but you can pick up their beautiful fabrics in your local Hobbycraft store.
The Craft Cotton co.
Hobbycraft
Sarah Payne
Looking for a nice little treat that's perfect to cosy up with during the autumn evenings? These lightly spiced Apple cakelets are perfect for just that. And they are even better dipped in a butterscotch sauce.
The recipe came free with the cakelet tin I bought from Nordic Ware, and the butterscotch recipe is from Nigella Lawson's book 'Nigella Express'.
Nordic Ware can be a little pricey but they are well worth the money, they are heavy weight tins that come in beautiful shapes that create great definition in the cake sponge. You can find them on Amazon, eBay and if you're lucky I've spotted them in shops like Tk Maxx. But of course, you can use a normal cupcake tin. They will still taste delicious regardless!
Top Tip: Use a little melted butter to lightly grease the pan with a pastry brush. You'll be able to get into all the nook and crannies of the design. I once used cake release in an intricate Christmas tin and it ruined the tin! Cake release contains a mix of flour, oil, and shortening. I found it left white clumps in the nooks that became impossible to clean afterwards! I'm wondering if I simply had a bad bottle or used too much, but I find you can never go wrong with butter.
So here is the recipe, enjoy!
Spiced Apple Cakelet Recipe
Method
Butterscotch Sauce
Method
The recipe came free with the cakelet tin I bought from Nordic Ware, and the butterscotch recipe is from Nigella Lawson's book 'Nigella Express'.
Nordic Ware can be a little pricey but they are well worth the money, they are heavy weight tins that come in beautiful shapes that create great definition in the cake sponge. You can find them on Amazon, eBay and if you're lucky I've spotted them in shops like Tk Maxx. But of course, you can use a normal cupcake tin. They will still taste delicious regardless!
Top Tip: Use a little melted butter to lightly grease the pan with a pastry brush. You'll be able to get into all the nook and crannies of the design. I once used cake release in an intricate Christmas tin and it ruined the tin! Cake release contains a mix of flour, oil, and shortening. I found it left white clumps in the nooks that became impossible to clean afterwards! I'm wondering if I simply had a bad bottle or used too much, but I find you can never go wrong with butter.
So here is the recipe, enjoy!
Spiced Apple Cakelet Recipe
Makes: 14 Apple Cakelets, 12 if using a cupcake tin
Time: Roughly 30 Minutes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Cup -Plain Flour
- 1tsp -Baking Powder
- ½ tsp - Bicarbonate Soda
- ½ tsp - Ground Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp - Ground Allspice
- 1 - Free Range Large Egg
- ½ Cup -Brown Sugar
- ⅓ Cup - Softened Butter
- ½ Cup (A whole Colemans 155g jar) - Apple Sauce
- ½ Cup -Water
- Dash Ground Nutmeg
- Dash Salt
Method
- Pre-heat oven to Gas Mark 5.
- Prepare the pan with a little melted butter.
- Stir together flour, baking powder, Bi-Carb, spices and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the softened butter and sugar
- Add the apple sauce, egg, the water and combine.
- Slowly add the flour mixture until combined.
- Pour the mixture evenly into the pan.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until toothpick a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cakes comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool for 10 minutes and unmold.
Butterscotch Sauce
This recipe makes a good bowl full! So sometimes its worth halfing the mixture. Once made it will seem thin but will become thicker, the longer you leave it it starts to resemble a caramel. This sauce can also be used for a wide range of recipes and is great as a fondue to dip fruit in.
Ingredients
- 45g - light brown muscovado sugar
- 2 tbsp - granulated sugar
- 150g - golden syrup
- 30g- butter
- 125 ml - double cream
- a splash of vanilla extract
Method
- Melt the sugars, syrup and butter in a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes.
- Add the cream and vanilla extract, stirring together, and then take off the heat.
- Divide the sauce between two cups or small bowls, and then arrange the fruit on two saucers or on a plate, as you see fit.
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