Lava Bread and Cushions

OK, a strange combination going on there, isn't it! Hello again, yes, a long long gap between posts, I know, and I'm not even going to try and explain why, and I can't promise it won't happen again!

So, lava bread - what is it? Well, it is a type of sea-weed, found along many coasts I would imagine, but normally associated with Wales. If you like salty stuff, you will enjoy it. I came across it via the blog of a lovely lady called Shaheen, who writes a vegetarian blog Allottment2Kitchen. One post was about using lava bread to make rissoles and I was intrigued. I posted a comment asking where I could find a source, as I'd never seen it in the shops. Shaheen, being the lovely person she is, said she would send me some. And true to her word, a week or so later a small package arrived through the post, containing this:

Here is what it looks like in the tin:

And here :

And the resulting rissoles:

 I have to say Jim and I really enjoyed them (recipe on Shaheen's blog) and they were so easy to make. Yes, it looks slimey in the bowl, but really, it is just processed seaweed, tasting of nothing but the sea! Thank you so much Shaheen, sorry this post is so late - and you STILL have not sent me your address so I can thank you properly!!! Blogland is such a kind, generous place, sometimes, isn't it?

Apart from cooking, I have actually got some textile stuff to talk about this time! I've been invited to take a stand at the brand new series of craft fairs known as the Fakenham Makers Markets. The first one is this Saturday at Fakenham Church, and it looks like a very well produced event, I know Debbie and Keith Osborn have put in a lot of hard work in making it all come together.  Here are two cushions I've recently completed.

The Mystic Moonlit Hare:

And the third and final large stylised flower cushion :

Both cushions are made by hand using hand-dyed woollen blanket and wool felt appliqué. They both have hand-made buttons on the back which enable removal of cushion covers for cleaning - DRY CLEANING only!

So, wish me luck on the day, there is a Farmers' Market taking place at the same time so a good reason to come along!

Other things occupying my mind have been LOTS of music, there seems to be a plethora of folk clubs and acoustic sessions happening within about a fifty mile radius now, we are quite spoilt! Can't have too much music, can you?

Until next time, I shall now get back into catching up with my favourite bloggers, who, I'm afraid, I have sadly neglected; when I'm off-bloggin' I'm RIGHT off bloggin'!  See you soon!