Despite being a few days before the official publication date Homemade is now in bookshops and is available from online bookstores. Thanks to all who have made it possible but especially to Elspeth. Elspeth and I talked about working on a joint book project for many years and finally this is the fruit of all of those conversations. We have combined our talents and this is the result. Illustrating the way we both live. Economically yet stylishly and without costing the earth. Thanks to Ben for capturing all of our ideas so beautifully with his amazing photographs. I hope you will enjoy Homemade as much as we have enjoyed making it.

The school trip

My youngest daughter has gone on a 4 day residential school trip. I found this book by Arthur Ransome, of Swallows and Amazons fame. I love the maps and diagrams I hope it may inspire her. splotchers....... I hope there isn't too much blooding going on!

I love beach huts

especially if they are faded and distressed. The gaps are where huts washed away in a recent storm. Cromer Norfolk

Easter, Simnel cake and Trug

Easter trug With only 2 weeks left to the publication of Homemade here are a few more pictures to tempt you. You can also see some of our other Easter ideas on Elspeth's blog. Simnel cake Ben Murphy, photographed all these Easter images over a year ago. He uses a slightly different name on the book as these photographs are not his usual style.

Rodchenko, Popova and Sonia Delaunay

The Rodchenko and Popova exhibition at Tate Modern on London's south bank didn't impress my daughters much, but I found the show interesting, particularly Popova's textile designs. These exciting patterned fabrics were mass-produced in Russia around the beginning of the 20th century. Printed with harsh, bright colours they were unlike anything being produced in the West at the time. They became commercially successful. Indeed all Moscow was wearing clothes using fabrics designed by Popova without ever knowing that they were 'designer'. I could clearly see the similarity with the work of Sonia Delaunay whose designs I became aware of in the early 1990's. I created a series of hand knits for Betty Jackson, based on some of Delaunay's prints.