Useful & Beautiful

Hey all, Stuart here. How goes your Saturday?

I do love a good chutney, don’t you? My wife’s nan is always making jams and chutneys and the like – she’s a pretty boss cook. You just can’t beat it with a good cracker and strong bit of cheese. My favourite is lime pickle chutney. You know that sour, spicy stuff you get at an Indian restaurant with your pops? Well, it makes for a great chutney. Does anyone else have a favourite chutney? Why not leave a little comment?

Speaking of chutney, National Trust places are often a great resource for a jar of nice local preserve or two. We were at Standen near East Grinstead last weekend and had a… Hmm… Well, we tried to enjoy it but the kids were a bit off the rails which kinda ruined the experience. We tried to enjoy it though. We love William Morris, you see (and would love some wallpaper in the house if it wasn’t so expensive). And there was a wonderful Morris & Co. exhibition happening there in the stately home. Morris designs really calm the soul, don’t they? If you don’t know much about him, he had a great ethos for living. I don’t know if you’ve read this well-known quote before;

Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful

Sounds ideal to me. There is a lot of resonance between Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement he was involved with, and what we’re trying to achieve as a company – and a crafting community at large. We seek to be innovative and forward-thinking, but in a way that promotes beauty and the joy that brings. Our passion to work hard and innovate as a company – like Morris – is really a charitable act towards bettering the quality of life of our customers. It’s what we live for.

Why not check out this little article? It gives you a quick overview of Morris and his life’s work. You can even visit Red House – I think it’s in Surrey somewhere. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/know-your-architects/a313-the-morris-tale-of-crafting-with-care-akshaya-muralikumar-shortcut/

Maybe he will inspire your crafting ventures and spur you on to make the world a little more beautiful and people a little more joyful!

That’s all for now, Clarity Crafters. We’ll be back tomorrow, in a reflective mood.

Clarity Matters. It really does.

Bye!

Stuart x

6 thoughts on “Useful & Beautiful

  • 19th October 2019 at 12:58 pm
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    I like green tomato chutney – easy to make and uses what would otherwise be wasted from the garden. You can sometimes find discounted fruit or veg at supermarkets and preserve that too. You need to get friends to donate the jam jars they would recycle though, as they are dear to buy. Try it, Stuart – it’s very creative once you get your eye in. I prefer Batemans to Standen.

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  • 19th October 2019 at 1:12 pm
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    Chutney? —–YUK !!! Prefer jam in my jars.
    Love William Morris though.

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  • 19th October 2019 at 8:00 pm
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    I love a good chutney too but been making Quince jelly today, 16lb made and in the pantry now.

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    • 22nd October 2019 at 10:00 am
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      I love quince jelly but my friends’ who normally supply my quinces had a total crop failure this year. Fortunately I have some left from last year – I know it’s supposed to go with meat, but I love it on toast for breakfast.

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  • 19th October 2019 at 9:48 pm
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    I’m not a lover of chutney but hubby is. I do like some of William Morris’ designs though.

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  • 20th October 2019 at 7:56 am
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    No, not chutney, far too acidic for my liking.
    William Morris’s ethos is one I can aspire to, beautiful, useful things, but when you have a hubby who is into motorbikes and air rifles and all the grease and muck that comes with them…..all I can say is it a good job I love him!!!!! Take care, Corinna

    Reply

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