Tigers Approved: folksy dinosaurs and an abundance of tomatoes š¦š¦š
And a book that made us cackle.
Extinction rebellion
There was a little wardrobe moment six or seven years ago, when everything we owned was covered in a quirky print. Dresses and tops adorned with whales, BBQ tongs, submarines, books, toolboxes, cocktails, hotel room safes. There wasnāt a fabric that didnāt have some sort of cute motif on it. Of course dinosaurs featured heavily. If youāre wondering what actually happened to the dinosaurs, perhaps the real extinction was the big charity shop clearout that we had in 2016.
We truly loved the prints, but weāve since come around to the idea that a bit of white space can be a good thing. Then we spotted this super cute top Ā£36 (was Ā£49) from Sugarhill Brighton. So taken were we with the coral embroidery that we almost didnāt notice the little brachiosaurus having a natter on the neckline. Topics of conversation might have included: where theyāve been on their holidays (terrible queues at Terminal 4), what itās like working as an undercover dinosaur, the new Pret thatās opened down the road. Welcome back to the wardrobe, chaps. Weāve missed you.
Lessons in Chemistry
What was the last really funny book you read? There are few books on our shelves that really make us cackle. And certainly none of them as funny as Lessons in Chemistry, which made Sian do a snort-laugh so loud it caused several people on the fast train from Kent to look over. Just in case they didnāt happen to make a note of the book that caused so much glee, weāre telling you about it now. The book dives into the life of Elizabeth Zott in 1960s America ā a chemist who becomes host of a TV cookery show ā and she is a marvel. Sheās drawn in such a warm and kind way that you feel like youāve known her your whole life, yet everything that she says and does is a surprise. It is a book you cannot predict.
Bonnie Garmusās debut is so much fun that it falls into a rather small category for us ā books weāre pleased we bought in hardback. Thereās even a wonderful dog who almost steals the show entirely. The book is so busy being fun that when it does hit you right between the eyes with sexism, misogyny and tragedy, itās all the more heartbreaking. Although the ending was a little too neat for our liking, Lessons In Chemistry was one of those rare joys: a book that you want to race through because itās so wonderful, but you donāt, instead you savour it, holding on to those last few chapters for as long as possible because you donāt want it to be over.
Snip of a thing
We cannot imagine the strength it takes to continue to create art in a war zone. After fleeing her home in Kyiv earlier this year, Ukrainian paper artist Eugenia Zoloto and her family recently returned to the capital and she is making art again.
The delicacy and ethereal quality in Zolotoās work is remarkable. Each piece is cut by hand, a painstaking process. The pieces in her dress series are life-size. Her garden box looks like something from a museum.
Talking to My Modern Met recently, she said āI felt so much mental suffering, so I decided to create more positive art⦠only kindness, only love helps us not to be stuck in war and hatredā. Her recent work has been directly inspired by the war ā one piece has the caption āwe are all trying to breathe even if it is so hardā alongside it. Itās this green woman, with her beautiful butterfly, that we are particularly drawn to and many more of Zolotoās pieces are available to buy directly from her Etsy shop.
Hedge your bets
Foraging is a lot of fun, but if you prefer to enjoy the fruits of someone elseās labour, we know exactly who to call. Macclesfield-based Fruits of the Forage ā aka brothers Fred, Bert and Archie and their mum, Claire ā make wild preserves, pickles and cordials using foraged ingredients from hedgerows and abandoned orchards, as well as surplus produce from farms.
They go beyond the usual blackberries and elderflower (though they do make an appearance, of course) to bring us unexpected flavours. This dandelion syrup is a good honey substitute for vegans, but really itās a delicious addition to ice cream, roasted vegetables and salad dressings for everyone. The intriguing curry chutney includes hogweed seeds, and their pickled wild garlic buds are great with a hunk of sharp cheddar. Weāve got our eye on the damson breakfast sauce to try next ā itās an alternative to bog-standard brown sauce that weāre sure is going to transform our bacon butties.
You say tomato
It took a long time for Laura to finally enjoy an unadulterated tomato (thank you for your help, Italy), but nowadays sheās all-in. Claire Thomsonās newest cookery book is, as its name suggests, devoted to them, and itās filled with recipes to turn even the staunchest tomato naysayer into a superfan. Tinned toms get a look-in, too, so youāll be cooking from this all year round. There are salads, soups, sauces and stews galore, and if you fancy a taste of whatās in store, these gorgeous recipes will whet your appetite. Claireās food never fails to impress, and this is destined to become one of our favourite books of hers.
Gladiators, READY: happy kitchen helpers | pad of butter | there go our deadlines | guaranteed to make even the most chaotic hair look amazing.
This week Sianās headed to Dorset to do absolutely nothing and Laura is doing absolutely nothing in Dundee. Like what we do? Buy us a cuppa.