My Mouflon logo and avatar

Mouflon a Manchettes...Ammotragus lervia lervia

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.
It is now an endangered species.
Ammotragus lervia lervia (Atlas Aoudad) occurs in the mountains of Morocco, excepting the western half of the Rif, and in northern Algeria and northern Tunisia

 Rough drawing for my logo.

 

A Taste of Morocco.......Tagines

Tagines..so simple…so delicious!

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.

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?

It seems everywhere you go in Morocco you will come across Tagines cooking!

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

http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/moroccanchickenrecipes/r/tag_chick_lemon.htm

Moroccan Couscous with Seven Vegetables

http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/couscous_veg.htm

Mrouzia Recipe - Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Raisins, Almonds and Honey

http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/Mrouzia.htm

My Waterlily Handbag ....Part four

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

 

Launching my new Necklace Collection

Wearable Art, so much more than 'just a piece of jewellery'
These necklaces will be for sale in my Etsy Shop soon!

My first design
WILD APPLES

Olive green slubby cotton yarn over recycled T shirt material.
Minature artificial fruit and leaves.
Handmade silver hook and ring fastening
Amazingly soft and comfortable to wear.


See how it was made.. 
http://www.uniqueartisanjewelleryblog.com/2013/05/how-i-made-series-woodland-necklace.html

How I made Series:..... Wearable Art

WINTER FRUITS

At the beginning of last year I started experimenting to make a necklace base that was soft and pliable yet strong and wearable.

I wanted it also to be integral with the embellishments I chose.

I tried different types of crochet in different yarns from silk to hemp, ribbons and strips of fabrics.

Then quite by chance I was cutting up a T- shirt for a different project and suddenly realized this was what I was looking for as a base for my necklaces.

A cotton T- shirt cut into bias strips worked beautifully!

After a few more unsuccessful attempts I found a way to wrap the bias strips so they behaved just the way I envisaged all those months ago!

But of course that was only the beginning I had to find embellishments that fitted in with the twisted woody vine effect I had created.

I was using some little red clips to hold the vines together, my daughter on passing thought these were part of my idea. This was enough to start my mind rolling, so I worked with that colour and with the placing of the clips, and chose for my first piece miniature fruit, berries and leaves.

 

Of course like everything handmade it took hours to make but it’s relaxing, peaceful, and portable and needs very few tools.

Now I am hooked no T-shirt is safe from my scissors!

Fastening the necklace was another time consuming process but after a few trails I decided to use my own hooks made from silver plated wire, with rings; neat and effective.

Very Simple Fastening

 I will create a few more in this series and then they will be for sale in  My Etsy Shop

I would really appreciate your comments!