Working on Aqua Kitty

 I had the pleasure of meeting Dugan from Tikipod, the creator of Aqua Kitty!

Meeting Dugan!

My task was to make three Aqua Kitty Engineers.
 

 This has to be one of the hardest commissions I have worked on so far!

Completely enjoying the space in the new studio!

The Aqua Kitties are made of many separate parts that are hand sewn together - paws, feet, arms, legs, whiskers, zip and hammer. 

Dugan and the Aqua Kitties

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Pallet Crates

I am going crazy for furniture made of pallet crates! It was not until recently I learned of their names. We actually had a lot of them when we had a delivery of bricks but now we have only one that I can see. Perhaps there are more underneath the gigantic pile of stuff that has take over our garden - bricks, boxes, doors, cardboard, wires, buckets... I am currently sitting by the window that is right next to the garden, so I can see it all!

 I love the idea that something attractive and useful can be made from these. 

Wondering how I can transform my pallet crate...

Pallet Crate Couches

Pallet Couch

 

Pallet Garden Ideas

More pallet crate ideas here:
DIY: Cozy & Chic Pallet Furniture Ideas
Pallet Furniture

Drawers

After much debate on the colour scheme for the walls, I now have two pots of paint waiting for to add life to the white room. I was going to have soft, neutral tones, but in the end I have chosen strong, bright and vibrant colours! One of the colours in particular makes me a bit nervous, but also excited. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised that i've chosen it!


 With the studio slowly getting closer to completion, I have been fantasizing about all the beautiful furniture I could fill my room with!

Here are some lovely finds!

4 x 3 Vintage Locker Basket Unit with Multicolored Drawers and Casters

 REHAB's original locker basket unit is a fantastic storage piece composed of refinished mid century, all-American locker bins in a welded steel frame. Find it here.

2 x 3 Vintage Locker Basket Unit in Summer Mix Baskets and White Frame

Featured here is a 2 x 3 with white, yellow, sage and ocean colored baskets and white powder-coated frame. Find it here

Soho 6 Drawer

I do like this drawer chest! Find it here

Entwurf-Direkt

These unusual peices from Entwurf-Direct, a company based in Hamburg, have completely caught my attention! Many sukis would happily live in any of these!

This one is my favourite!

If I had the space, I would have them all!!!

Miso hungry!

I am going through a miso paste and aubergine crazy phase! Miso cooked with aubergine is just delicious! Baking them together is my favourite at the moment.

This was tonights dinner. Baked aubergine with miso paste, stir fry tofu with carrots and mini choi sum and roasted teriyaki chicken. I couldn't stop eating....

We usually get the organic sweet white miso from Waitrose, however today we tried a miso paste from Tescos. I think the one from Waitrose is a little bit sweeter, there is little difference, but I think I prefer the Waitrose one.

 

 

So here is what I did:

Cooking time - between 30-45 mins. 

 

1. Cut 2 aubergines in half. Make diagonal scores across the aubergines on the inside of each half and rub some paste on top and in between the cuts. Leave for about 15-30 mins

2.  In a sauce pan, put about 2-3 tablespoons of miso paste, about 1 tablespoon of mirin and a couple of tablespoons of sake, more if its too thick. Stir well and taste. Add any more of these ingredients if you prefer. You should have a nice, thick, tasty paste. You can also add a little bit of sugar.

3.Pre-heat your oven. Greece a tray and place your Aubergines facing down. Cook for 15 mins, high heat, but not too high aubergines will burn.

4. After 15 mins, turn aubergines over and distribute evenly your miso paste and cook further for another 15-20 mins, or until aubergines are soft and nicely brown. 


5. Toast some seseme seeds in a pan. No need for oil, just fry in a saucepan till lightly brown.

6. Chop some spring onion, red chili pepper and mix together with a couple of drops of sesame oil.  

7. When aubergines are done, add the spring onion and chili pepper to the tops and cook in oven for just a few for minutes.

8. Sprinkle the sesame seeds on top and its all ready to eat!



I do not write recipes... I don't even read recipes! I look at pictures and see what ingredients are needed and then through things together. Neither do I measure anything. So my recipe is just the ingredients and a vague idea of how much and for how long things take. And for oven temperatures, I just check - if its burning, I lower the oven and if its taking too long, I increase it. All my cooking is down by tasting, seeing and feeling.

 I love to cook, but  I'm a rubbish recipe writer!

New postal boxes

I do get excited about packaging!

Boxes, tissue paper, wrapping plastic and ribbons!!!

Lots of new things to wrap the babies in.

Baby Sasquatches

Size does matter!

The Suki Studio is slowly transforming... These wooden panels have received so much attention from me in the last week - sanding, painting, more sanding, filling in the holes and spaces.

My desk and table was finally assembled! After the walls were plastered, we discovered that the 3m long, solid oak table no longer fit! Our builder Waldeck has fixed this problem and now everything fits.

Having a 3 meter solid oak table really was not as simple as I had imagined! But we got there in the end..

Attilio putting everything in place

Attilio and Waldek preparing to take a bit off the table

This will probably be the final position of the island table. It creates a bit of separation between the bathroom and bedroom.

I tried putting the island table in other places, but because of the radiators and garden door, there is only really one spot it can go...

When I was designing the furniture, it all seemed to make sense on paper. The island is much bigger than I had realised. Suddenly the room is a lot smaller. I need a bigger studio!!! :)

And I still want a little sofa but now i'm not sure if there is enough space.

Designing my studio is extremely exciting but it is also a little bit overwhelming. There are so many things to decide on. I need to organise all my things smartly as I have so much fabric, and I really am wondering how all of it is gonna fit!!! And I want the room to be as pretty as can be!

Another dilemma I have, is which walls to paint in a colour... or even the ceiling...