The same feeling I get when I see and feel a piece of fabric, the colour, the print the texture. The feeling is often very overwhelming and immediately I am creating a design in my mind and can't wait to get to cutting the fabric, choosing a trim and constructing a garment.
Recently I picked the ripe, bright orange, plump fruit, from our cumquat tree, took them inside and placed them in a bowl, one by one I sliced them finely and removed the seeds. Perfect round segmented slices bursting with colour, a fine pale yellow ring just under the skin, natures very own graphic design.
Enjoying a glass of wine with the sailor whilst the jam was bubbling away, I was telling him how I felt inspired by the jam and how I wanted to create a little cumquat smock dress. I thought that this was when he would vacate the room for the man cave.....
Instead he piped up.
"Just like a custom car the dress could be like a prototype, one you just keep on a shelf"
I liked that, smiled and gave the sailor one of my best, 'sometimes I can't believe you actually got me looks'
Prototype
Fabric, from Calio and Ivy. Vintage lace, my own. Plate, a courtesy of "The Crafty Minx". Yellow cup, Ikea.
The recipe
1 kilo of ripe cumquats
1 kilo sugar
Method
Put a small saucer in the freezer.
Slice the fruit very,very finely. Remove seeds. Wrap seeds up in a square of fine cotton or a new chux cloth, tie with a long piece of twine. Place fruit and the seed package in a heavy saucepan and bowl until the skins are soft. Remove seed pack. Add sugar and bring back to boil. Simmer for 45 - 60 mins. The jam will be ready when you pour a little onto the cold plate let it sit for a few minutes then run your finger through it, if a skin appears you are set to pour it into some clean jars that have sat in the medium oven for 30 mins.......Enjoy with toast and a thick smear of butter!
PS Cumquat jam is always on the runny side.
