Gimme Five! Clutch bags

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selection of 5 ladies' clutch bags | H is for Home

Maybe because it’s my birthday in less than a fortnight, but recently I’m finding my head being turned by cute clutch bags!

Yes, I’ve already got lots of bags – but I could always find a little space for one of these. The most expensive example is 100 times more expensive than the cheapest, can you guess which is which? No peeking at the answers now!

  1. Oversize vegan leather envelope clutch – rose pink – £6.44 Etsy
  2. Day to evening leather clutch by E&S Elves & Shoemakers – £125, Notonthehighstreet
  3. Metallic clutch – £25, River Island
  4. Sarah oversized envelope clutch bag , yellow – £39, John Lewis
  5. Mulberry Clemmie glossy goat leather clutch – £695, Selfridges

Cakes & Bakes: fruitcake slices

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homemade fruitcake slices with pot of tea

Something like coffee mousse cake is good as an after-dinner dessert. There’s cake that’s good for breakfast (like a cobbler bursting with cereal, fruit & nuts). These fruitcake slices were just made to have with a mid-afternoon cup of tea. They’re sweet, sticky, fruity and delicious!

Cakes & Bakes: fruitcake slices

Print recipe Pin recipe
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 200 g/7oz butter cubed
  • 150 g/5 muscovado sugar
  • 100 g/ 3½oz demerara sugar
  • 200 g/7oz sultanas
  • 200 g/7oz raisins
  • 100 g/ 3½oz currants
  • 250 g/9oz self-raising flour
  • 2 eggs

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350F/Gas Mark 4
  • Lightly grease or line the base of an 18cm/7inch square cake tin with baking paper
  • In a saucepan, add the cubed butter and sugars. Heat gently and stir until the sugar has dissolved
  • Set aside and allow to cool
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the dried fruit, flour and eggs
  • Add the cooled butter & sugar mixture to the bowl and combine
  • Turn the mixture out into the cake tin, flattening it down & getting it into the corners with the back of a serving spoon or spatula
  • Put into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is lightly browned
  • Allow to cool in the tin then cut into squares or finger-shaped slices

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Shared with…

Sweet Bella Roos Catch a Glimpse Button Photobucket

Tammis Keefe teatowel

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detail from a Tammis Keefe teatowel with red & white hearts and the words, "Home is where the heart is"

We’ve long admired the designs of Tammis Keefe. No relation to Justin, although you may not have to go too far back in history before their family trees meet. It’s interesting that her middle name was Thomas – and her father’s name was Thomas – and that she adopted the name Tammis which we think is a Gaelic form of Thomas. Justin has the same marked tradition of Thomas Keefes & O’Keeffes in his family. Father, grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather – stretching back to the 18th century.

Tammis Keefe teatowel with red & white hearts and the words, "Home is where the heart is"

Anyway, we’ve promised ourselves an example of Tammis Keefe’s work many times and it arrived recently. It’s very dangerous buying that first piece as it can be the start of a mad collecting frenzy. We’ve resisted for years, but this gorgeous “Home is where the heart is” tea towel was just the final straw! We had this piece shipped over from the States where most examples are to be found. It will look great when framed and be perfect for the kitchen wall – combining a vintage touch with warm sentiments. There’s also something very Christmassy about it so we might even save it for festive season appearances.

Tammis Keefe teatowel showing her signature

Tammis Keefe was born Margaret Thomas Keefe in Los Angeles in 1913 and, after initially studying maths at college, transferred to the Chouinard Institute of Art where she studied painting. Her early career was spent at Disney Studios – she then moved onto the influential Arts & Architecture periodical. Then followed a spell in the studio of textile artist Dorothy Liebes who was well known for developing the work of young designers. This was obviously a significant move with regards to her future career.

detail from a Tammis Keefe teatowel with red & white hearts

Her work from the 40s & 50s is very distinctive – full of wonderful graphic detail, colour, charm & wit. It was used on a great variety of home furnishing textiles, tea towels, place mats, napkins & handkerchiefs. Also clothing, crockery & glassware, wallpaper, stationery, product advertising & packaging. Sadly, she died relatively young in 1961, but has left such a wonderful legacy. And we’re pretty sure that this won’t be the last piece we acquire!

Here’s a list of further reading and examples of her work:

NWFestival | Making it Fun | Tammis Keefe | Flickr group