To-Day's News
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO?
I hope that you all enjoyed the summer... we were busy and hot... too hot! It has been amazing to everyone who has come in to see us. Thank you so much.
SOE: Resistance...10 days living in 1944
I was incredibly privileged to have been invited to attend a highly applauded and elite event in Bovey Tracey. SOE (Special Operations Executives) were the young men and women who were trained to disrupt, sabotage and feed back critical information from behind enemy lines during WWII. You can see more on the opentheboxproductions.co.uk website. The moment I stepped foot at Colehayes Park, there was not one thing past 1944. Everything from the vehicles to dress, manner of speaking. Expectations were all in line with 1944 and the secret lead-up to D Day. My role was in the NAAFI (Navy, Army, Air Force Institution), and with Robyn and Lindsay we delivered original WWII recipe meals every day to 80 people. It was an incredible experience and a huge reminder of how lucky we are today with so much choice, so much food and freedom.
The 30-strong crew who delivered the SOE finishing school to some 26 different nationalities were the most incredible people I have ever worked with during a WWII setting. They were experts in their field of code-breaking, blowing things up, spy photography, espionage, sabotage, deception, and I felt as if I was walking alongside giants. It was incredible to see how technologically genius the minds and gadgets were back then.
It has been a difficult few years and I nearly lost my passion and confidence in anything 1940s', but these people, that event, those 10 days have given me back my self belief and I am so grateful. I feel brave enough to be able to share it all with you again.
WELLBEING EVENT FOR BARNSTAPLE CANCER UNIT
I was really humbled to assist with the staff wellbeing day at Rosemoor last month. What a fantastic venue! We took all our kit, set up and looked after 20 members from the Seymour Unit, North Devon District Hospital, who are the incredible NHS nurses for anyone going through any kind of cancer ordeal. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult it must be to stay kind, positive, yet professional to people going through such difficult times. The artwork created was fantastic; the team were so much fun. Even for something as relaxing as painting pottery, their dedication and attention to detail were evident. I suspect that anyone who has to go to Seymour Unit will be so well looked after. I, for one, cannot praise NDDH highly enough. Keep an eye out, as we will be doing a fundraiser for NDDH. As I should think everyone in the Bude area knows someone who has visited Barnstaple Hospital, and we all know how hard the NHS staff work. We will be delivering their amazing creations directly to the unit, and I promise I will drop off some extra goodies for them. Photos next month!
CHURCHILL'S GINGERBREAD
This is by far our most popular cake, which has been taken from the original recipe for Winston Churchill by his cook. It is easy to make, delicious and I hope you share it with your friends.
RECIPE
1 tin black treacle (425g)
4 oz/100g butter or margarine
10 oz/250g plain flour (Do not use self-raising!!)
4oz/100g sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground clove
2 tsp ginger
2 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 cup (small mug) boiling water
2 beaten eggs
METHOD
Melt treacle and butter together.
Sift dry ingredients, plain flour, sugar and spices together in a large bowl
Stir in melted treacle.
Pour boiling water into a cup with two teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda. It will froth up, then subside.
Stir into the cake mix - it will go very frothy.
Beat eggs and beat them into the mix. The mix will turn dark and glossy.
Pour into a large traybake (30 cm x 15 cm) that has been lined with greaseproof paper. It makes a double-size cake.
Bake at 180 or Gas 4 for 35 mins.
Wait until cold before cutting. It will last for a week and get even stickier.
Serves 12-16
COMING UP SOON
October Half-term
We have October half term (26th - 31st Oct), which is our usual workshops of ceramics, pottery, fabric block print, book binding, pop-up tea room, history talks and Ladies Wot Lunch. All sessions can be booked online here: https://www.thekitchenfront.co.uk/whats-on
We always triage the kiln loads, so anyone on holiday will get priority in firing, so any items will be ready before you go home. We are open Monday 11.30-5pm; Tue-Sat 10am-5pm; and evenings on request.
WINTER SESSIONS
Last year, we trialled an illustration and journalling course with a bunch of very willing candidates! We covered a huge amount of the subject over 8 weeks and the feedback was that we could run it a lot slower. So we are going to run sessions every Thursday AND an evening session... if you need to come along after work. If you would like to do evening illustration sessions, please contact me here.
Illustration for me is much more than doing pencil line and water colour. There are so many different subject areas to consider, such as symbolism, junk art, multimedia, plein air, print... so we will advertise what each subject is each week, and you can come along to those that interest you.
The other request that we have had is lampshade making... so we have been having a think. Given that I love a bit of multimedia, we will work with reclaimed or blank fabrics and combine block print with fabric overlay (appliqué) and/or embroidery to finish. We will be working with Lampshade Jo, who will run the final part of the course by backing and assembling your fabric work to make it into an up-light or down-light lampshade.
October and November introduction offer. Bring a friend!
During term time* for Ladies Wot Lunch, Ceramic kitchenware design, Fabric Block print and Book Binding, we are offering a Bring a friend offer. One pays full price, the other pays half price. You can club together and get four of you to come along; two will pay full price and two will pay half price. ... it is up to you how you work out the cost between you. This will NOT be available online, so please
call us on 01288 350107
or pop in to book
or WhatsApp on 07866 677139
We are open 10am-5pm Tue- Sat. We always answer the phone during those times.
Examples
Ladies Wot Lunch = 1 x £25 + 1 x £12.50
Ceramic Kitchenware = 1 x £12 studio and coaching fee + full cost of item + 1 x £6 studio and coaching fee + half-price item. Half price will be given on the cheaper item selected.
Fabric Block Print or Book Binding = 1 x £39 + 1 x £20.
*Not applicable in school holidays, half terms or December.
*Not applicable to illustration, journalling or lampshade making.
DAISY DOODLES
Many of you know that we have Daisy who works with us. Well, she has finished college now and is with us permanently, one the team, a Kitchen Front Gal. Working with Daisy is about ensuring that she smashes her potential and proves to others that she can do anything. Daisy has written and illustrated a book (ssshhhhhh- top secret) which is being uploaded to a book platform and she has also now got her own web page where you can support her by ordering items of her artwork. It is quirky, but adorable. By purchasing something from Daisy means she gets paid as a teeny tiny entrepreneur. Thanks for your support. You can check her designs out here.
Hope to see you all soon. The Kitchen Front is a small business. We are not a charity and do not receive any kind of funding. We are not bank rolled and work really hard to keep afloat. We are, however very invested in our community and people. We hope to still be here in years to come and thank your for your loyal support.
Letters, Questions to the Kitchen Front
Dear Gert and Daisy,
My husband dropped the very special mug that I made at your place. I am so upset, I don't know what to do.
Yours sincerely
Upset from Bude.
Dear Upset,
We trust that your husband is still very much alive in spite of his butter fingers. Please forgive him, bring the broken mug to us and come and make another one with our compliments. We cannot promise to make it husband-proof for the future, but we can offer you another session to make a new one, drink tea and eat cake with us. Just bring a friend to join in. Yours is free.
See you soon,
Gert and Daisy
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