In a first of a series of ‘How to’ Tutorials we bring you this Navajo style Necklace.

Navajo prints are key this season and this necklace is the perfect way to bring a little ‘neo-native’ into your outfit. Plus it’s handmade AND crafty!

It’s really simple to make –  you just need to know basic crochet to make the chain and the rest is easy peasy knotting. So pick your colour scheme, click on the first image and scroll through each one to get making!

Have fun making your’s and don’t forget to tweet us a pic, post a photo of your finished necklace on our Facebook page or pin it onto our craft projects Pinterest board so we can see!

Over the next few weeks we’ll be introducing you to the fabulous Super+Super tutors. First up is our regular kids club tutor/textiles/illustration extraordinaire, Catherine Grimaldi…

Tell us a little bit about you…

I am a high flying, lo tech artist and illustrator making children’s books and artworks.

I studied Puppetry, Illustration and Textiles at Central St Martins and combine these artforms to make fabric illustrations. Also one half of TheSistersGrim where I work with my real life sister to create pop-up installations using puppets, fabrics and story worlds – juggling and jigging inherited skills from our namesake “Joseph Grimaldi” the clown.

Where do you draw the inspiration for your work from?

I have always loved snoopy and peanuts cartoons – these are a major influence and also mid century children’s books, fabrics and animation.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Kind, happy, funny

How do you take your tea?

Steeped but never stewed – milk but not milky.

What encouraged you to get into your industry and what was your route into it?

I always drew snoopy cartoons as I child and my parents gave us endless time and space to be creative as children on the Isle of Wight.

I left the Isle of Wight when I was just 17 for the heady heights of Harlesden where I got a job in High St Kensington and in the following September was at Art College studying on a course with Grayson Perry’s Mrs. I had a puppet making company with my sister and we travelled across Eastern Europe to study the craft – then skipped onto an MA at Central St Martins through the back door.

How do you like your eggs?

Flipped…preferably by Snoopy…even better in a pancake.

Who are some of your favourite designers/artists/illustrators/authors?

Outsider artists across the world – Children – Yoshitomo Nara – Grayson Perry – Tove Janson – Sara Fanelli -Yayoi Kusama – Frida Kahlo – Charles Schultz

What would your dream outfit be?

A snoopy costume

What can the public expect from your upcoming kids classes at Super+Super?

Colour ,fabrics , scissors, tapes – a toolbox of surprises. Chaotic from the outside – super organized from the inside. A space to be truly creative and a supportive and experienced teacher who’s been working in schools for 12 years.

What’s your favourite cake?

How can anyone have the one? If I have to choose I would say a homemade chocolate cake like my friend Judy’s mum used to make when I was 7 years old

How would you spend your perfect day in our fair city?

Cycling, sea, tea, and kisses – followed by a turn on the waltzer.

 Tell us about any exciting new projects you are planning for 2012..

A couple of new children’s books in the pipeline and a host of projects including snail puppets, shadow shows and as many tea parties in between.

Catherine’s super kids classes will be held every Saturday of the month between 10.30-12noon and you can find out more details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/299801033407055/

Lime and Coconut Sponge Sandwich

If you are anything like us, you have eaten more sponge cakes than you have roast dinners. We decided it was high time to mix things up a bit so we decided to take a totally tropical take on the old classic. Baked to the sounds of Sam Cooke, this cake is definitely one for your recipe books.

Ingredients:

2 eggs

8 oz self raising flour

4 oz butter

4 oz caster sugar

grated rind of 1 lime

1 oz desicated coconut

semi skimmed milk to thin mix

Butter cream icing:

5oz margerine

16oz icing sugar

3 fl oz semi skimmed milk

half tsp vanilla

2 round cake tins

Butter to grease

NB: My general rule of thumb when baking a sponge is this….. weigh your eggs, and then use this measurement as a guide for your sugar and butter….

Recipe:

Pre heat your oven to 180 degrees

In a medium sized bowl, cream together butter and sugar with a metal spoon (or an electric hand whisk!)

Whisk the eggs in a glass. Now add a little egg, then a little flour and mix. Repeat this until both flour and egg are gone. Now stir in the cocnut and a little milk until the batter is smooth. Spoon half the batter into each of your pre greased tins….

Place in the oven and bake for 30 minute, or until your cakes are golden and cracked on top. (Pierce with a knife to check the sponge has cooked in the middle)

Turn both sponges out of the tins and leave to cool on a wire rack.

In a seperate bowl, mix together margerine, icing suger and 3 tbsp milk until smooth and light in colour.

Use half the icing to sandwich together the 2 cake halves by spreading it in a circular motion with a pallet knife. Spoon the rest into an icing bag and pipe on top. To finish sprinkle on the grated lime.

This cake will taste better after a day resting in an air tight tin…. if you can resist!

Many of you will have noticed the amazing photo of Amy and I on our homepage. However if you haven’t spotted it yet, here it is….

We were super lucky to be involved in a photography challenge undertook by Parisian based photographer Laura Stevens last month. The project entitled ’30 days, 30 portraits’ involved taking 30 portraits in 30 days, yet with each photograph oozing with Laura’s signature style. The images are stunningly beautiful yet dark all at the same time. For our photo we really wanted to capture the essence of what Super+Super is all about. A little bit chaotic, fun, full of opportunities and just a handful of crazy. We are over the moon with our portrait and we can’t wait to have it hanging up in pride of place in the shop.

To view the images from the whole series just click here. But here is a sneaky peek of our faves:

Amazing aren’t they! To keep up to date with Laura’s future work why not ‘like’ this lovely lady on Facebook.

It’s the end of the week and the cupboards are looking bare….. Here’s a simply delicious carrot and chickpea soup recipe made with almost no ingredients.

Ingredients:

5 medium carrots

1 potato

1 tin of chick peas

½ tsp dried crushed chillies

1 garlic clove

Rind of 1 lemon

½ tsp coriander seeds

2 litres stock/bouillon

1 tbsp oil

salt

pepper

Heat the oil and add chopped garlic clove, chilli, lemon, and coriander. Fry for a couple minutes. Mmmmmmm. Now add your carrot and potato which has been grated. Stir to combine and heat through. You might want to turn the heat down a little before you add the first litre of stock. Add stock! Stir again and put a lid on the pan. Let your ingredients simmer for 15 mins and then add your tin of chick peas…..salt and pepper to taste. Cook for a further 15 mins and then take off the heat to cool.

Once it’s cooled blend and add half the 2nd litre of stock. Add the rest to until it’s your preferred consistency.

Soups up!

Next Recipe = A coconut and lime sponge cake. Yum!

Let’s face it, pretty much everyone you know is on Facebook now. But just how useful is it? Is it just a procrastination tool or is it actually quite destructive? Want to know what we think? Then read on…

In situations like this it call’s for one thing, and one thing only. A pro’s and con’s list.

Pro’s:

You can de tag photos that you look hideous in and only leave the nice ones on.

It really is the easiest way to stay in the loop with all your friends, new and old.

That little red notification number always fills you will a little bit of joy. (No matter how much you say that it doesn’t)

There will always be someone to chat to if you’re feeling bored.

It is the best procrastination tool ever.

It’s good for events where you need to know numbers/remind people about dates and times etc. Birthdays, House parties, Engagement parties and the like…

On the outside world you will always appear to be having the best time – unless you like to moan on there of course…

Con’s:

You have to detag photos that you look hideous in

Ex boyfriend/girlfriend stalking.

Everyone knows everything about everyone

Sneaks – there’s people in your friends list who never EVER post anything but don’t forget about them. Those are the people that are watching your every move.

The dreaded ‘morning after’ when you vaguely remember posting something drunkenly and you awake to about 12 notifications.

It’s widely known that Facebook is used to brag. i.e. Expect news of job promotions, upcoming nuptials and sprogs. Best to avoid if you are bitter about not having achieved those things yet.

Mums on Facebook. Enough said…

So basically the conclusion is that if you are a bit bored, need some entertaining and a bit of a pick me up then Facebook is the way to go. Just avoid all exes pages and posting while intoxicated yeah?

We have the perfect Winter warmer soup recipe coming your way at the end of the week but until then why not warm your outsides with some chunky cardi’s. We love them. You love them. Everybody loves them.

So we’re bringing you the ‘Three C’s of cardigans’. Cable, Chenille and Crochet….

To view all of our knitwear click here.

Each week us Super+Super gals will be putting our own little spin on Vogues ‘Today I’m Wearing‘ by showing you what trends we’re rocking that week. Notoriously known for ‘freestyle’ outfits, you never know what we’re going to pull out of the bag. It’s literally like a fashion lucky dip. Yet you don’t get a prize. Sorry about that…

So for the past week, we’ve been knee deep in vintage, sorting out our stock ready for our grand opening and as such Amy has embraced the tweeds and Claire has now decided to channel the 90′s and go all ‘Clarissa Explains it All’ on your asses. (Let’s face it, she was already resembling Blossom but this is totally next level…)

Amy:

You’ll most likely be as happy as we are that Tweeds are no longer just residing in the countryside or amongst the ‘older gentlemen’. The heritage trend is even bigger this year then it was last year and little jackets like this one nipped in with a belt resemble a fab forties style. One key trend this season is mixing your prints and fabrics which is exactly what Amy is doing here. She has mixed the jacket with a tweed pencil skirt and a flash of colour to create a super cute little forties style ensemble that is bang on trend.

Claire:

Whereas Amy is understated country chic, Claire is just all out 90′s. The 90s trend is MASSIVE this season and it’s set to continue all through the year. Technically 90′s doesn’t quite come under the ‘vintage’ category but it’s secondhand style at its very best. Think dungarees, oversized jumpers, crop tops and layering.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKkbVXqJFN4&w=560&h=315]

Thank you so much to everyone else that’s already sponsored us. You have no idea how much we appreciate it! We’ve already started making the goodies to send to you and you should receive them in the next few weeks.

That said, there is still 3 days to go and even though we’ve already raised £1000 (wow!), it would be super if you could pledge, share and tell all your friends. Every little really does help and it will help us to kickstart Super+Super with a BANG.

Click here to get going..! http://www.sponsume.com/project/super-super-inspirational-environment-work-learn-shop-share

Thank you! S+S x