glean

1 YEARAnniversary

Special!

Do you enjoy every issue of Glean? It wouldn’t be possible without our valued contributors and you, the readers! I can’t believe that it has now been a year, to celebrate I have been lucky enough to receive a beautiful image by Henri of our first and original cover girl, Isabelle L’Amour!Don’t forget to Like and Share our Facebook page as well!Wishing you a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.

ClaireClaire SellsEditor

Contributors

Art Direction, Marketing, Graphic Design, Features and AdvertisingClaire Sellsgleanmagazine@outlook.com

Contributing Features: Marie-Clare Thompson, Amber Beard, Jane Mott, Maggie Currie

Photography: Front cover image of Isabelle L’Amour kindly contributed by www.henrisenders.nlwww.facebook.com/hse097

Inside cover image courtesy of www.hollycade.co.uk

Proofreader:Nicola Kaufman

Social Media links:www.facebook.com/gleandigitalmagazine

https://twitter.com/GleanMagazine

Websitewww.gleanmagazine.co.uk

If you would like to get in touch with any of our column writers please do so via the email address provided, with their name in the Subject Line

Welcome...1 YEARAnniversary

Special!

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INTRODUCTORY OFFER

Contents

FEATURE Ryde Upholstery 1

MUSICPlastic Mermaids 3

FOODWhat’s in season (Nov/Dec) ~ Marie Clare Thompson 5

HEALTHRefocusing after setbacks ~ Maggie Currie 7

GARDENINGSpick and Span after Winter ~ Amber Beard 8

BEAUTYBack to Basics Skincare ~ Jane Mott 9

SHOPPINGFestive Christmas 11

gleanTo advertise in the JAN/FEB 2015 issue of glean please email:gleanmagazine@outlook.com

Deadline: 5pm, Friday 2nd January 2015

I first discovered Ryde Upholstery when I saw their wonderful upcycled furniture at the Chic Living Show back in September of this year. I couldn’t resist including them in this issue of glean, most definitely worth checking their website out!Brief History of Ryde UpholsteryMyself and Aaron have worked in the Upholstery industry in and around Long Eaton, Derbyshire, for many years - Aaron was an apprentice upholsterer straight from school and I started as a graduate designer for an upholstery company after completing a BA(hons) Furniture & Product Design course, which had a year in industry as part of the course which I spent at an upholstery company.After relocating back to the Island in 2009 and taking different career directions - the inner upholsterer and designer were ready to get back to what they know best! So Ryde Upholstery was born in December 2013.Challenges/Sourcing materialsMostly older items are more challenging - by this I mean items that are made with original horsehair and have lots of “sewn” in springing. These items are quite time consuming to repair which is reflected in the cost to reupholster.

As far as materials are concerned - we mainly have to rely on monthly deliveries from our foam and sundry supplier - the usual thing with living on the Island - organisation and a little bit telepathy of what we may need!As for fabrics - from my background as a designer for upholstery manufacturers - I initially selected a wholesaler which I used to use who are mid to high end (no cheap fabrics here!) and have recently added a couple more suppliers to the range who offer a different fabric look.Most ChallengingFor me - anything with loads of cushions! They are very time consuming especially if they are piping on them! Also all fabrics react differently to being sewn - so it’s always a challenge when machining especially velvet which has been very popular this year.Upholstery most pleased with?Any item that is reupholstered has undergone an amazing transformation - so to be honest anything that we have done we are really pleased with!Future plansWe would love to have a shop/workshop where we can show and sell items of furniture that we have reupholstered, have an area for our

fabric swatches and also people can see us in the workshop so it gives a sense of the time and skill involved with reupholstery.Where are we?You can find us in the units off of the Solent Inn side of East Street in Ryde between Berts Motorcycles and Shaws Garage - Unit 6a - we have a chair suspended above our unit door!www.rydeupholstery.com

FEATURE

Ryde Upholstery

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MUSIC

Plastic Mermaids

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How did you meet/form?Chris J met Tom in Yates’s, they joined a band called Avant Garde Drummer Wanted For A Pop Band. Tom used to live next door to Chris N, Jamie and Douglas came from the same mother. Some of us went to school/college together. We formed very slowly over about three years and the odd very suspect gig. Good players are hard to come by, they’re generally already involved with other things, you kind of have to poach them from other bands. Who plays what instrument?We all play each others instruments.Any other musicians in the family?Chris Jones’s dad had a punk band in the 70s called The Pump House Gang who had a hit with a punk version of White Christmas.How long have you been playing together?Been playing together as Plastic Mermaids for about three years now. We have all played in different bands in the past, one of the favourites being Honey Badgers, playing unrehearsed Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock tunes.Any crazy moments?Doug picked up a poorly badger in his jumper at 4 in the morning on the way home from a gig, sat it next

to himself in the passenger seat and drove home... pet badger for a few days.Strangest thing a fan has sent you?We did a gig in Cardiff a few month ago and a guy brought an actual plastic mermaid for us to sign. Other than that we’ve had no weird or exciting fan-mail. Hopefully that’ll come soon!How would you describe your music?This is a horrible question that we inevitably get asked quite a lot. We’ve come up with a few outlandish genres to describe it in the past such as “folkadelic dream pop” or perhaps an even mixture of Chemical Brothers and Debussy with a bit of Neil Young. But I think these are all pretty misleading. Now when people ask me I just say “it sounds like Arcade Fire but not really.”Do you get nervous before a performance?A bit for sure, weird not to worry about something you care about. How do you find a balance between your music and other commitments?Haven’t found a balance, it’s draining. What advice would you give new musicians?

If you try really hard for a really long time theres a slim chance you’ll get somewhere, so you’ve really got to be doing it for the right reasons and enjoying the time you spend on it.Any key influences?Chris J and Tom are into jazz. Jamie’s into almost anything produced by Dave Fridmann or Danger Mouse (perhaps with the exception of the new U2 album though he’s remaining open minded until he’s given it a proper listen). Chris N likes anything with a 4/4 kick drum. Douglas listens to quite a lot of classical stuff. Needless to say we have a fair few of heated musical arguments but i think ultimately it makes the music more interesting. Future plans?We’ve been recording over this summer and got a load of new material ready to go which will be released at some point. We’ll be doing some gigs after Christmas and hopefully some festivals next summer. You can follow our goings on on: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/plasticmermaids Twitter @plasticmermaids Tumblr - http://weareplasticmermaids.tumblr.com

FOOD

NovemberAfter a seemingly never ending and unusually balmy Indian summer, the morning frosts and crisp air that characterize winter are finally here.One vegetable that does particularly well after a good frost is another hardy member of the large and prolific brassica family...

KaleKale is becoming ever more popular and has a gained a solid reputation for being a powerhouse of vitamins and nutrients.Packing even more iron than spinach and with high levels of vitamin K, recent research suggests that it may offer some protection against inflammatory diseases.Kale tastes great too, it can be cooked in any number of ways and it can hold its own with big punchy flavours.Cook 3 Ways with Kale:Roasted: Preheat oven to 180C. Toss in a little olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, spread a layer onto roasting tray and bake for 15 mins. When cooked this way, Kale takes on a salty, garlicky savouriness and is great to eat as a snack or scrunch it

up and use as a seasoning.Steamed: With butter and lemonOr with some sesame oil, soy, lime and pumpkin seeds. Kale makes a great side dish for grilled meator fish.Sauteed: Fry some onion and chorizo with caraway and cumin seeds until golden and the chorizo has released its bright orange oil. Add some chopped kale and put a

lid on for 2 min. Serve with creamed potatoes, orzo or polenta.

DecemberTry these 3 really simple recipes to get into the spirit of Christmas!Mulled Wine Ingredients: 1 bottle red wine 60g demerara sugar 1 cinnamon stick Grated nutmeg

What’s in Season? November & December

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by Marie-Clare Thompson from Isle Cook

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1 orange, halved 1 bay leaf 5 clovesPreparation method:1. Put the wine in a saucepan with the orange, sugar, bayleaf and spices.2. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Have a taste and add more sugar to taste if needed.3. Strain into heatproof glasses to serve.

Cranberry sauce:Ingredients: 500g Fresh or frozen cranberries 100ml port 150g caster sugar 100ml fresh orange juice Pinch of ground cloves 1 tbsp grated orange rind 1 tsp grated lemon rind Pinch of saltPreparation method1. Combine the cranberries, port, sugar and orange juice in a pan over a medium heat, for ten minutes, until the fruit bursts.2. Take off the heat and add the orange and lemon rind, season and leave to cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools.3. When completely cooled, put in the fridge to chill.

Roast Chestnuts:Ingredients: 1kg chestnutsPreparation method:1. Heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.2. Cut a cross into the skin of each nut.Put in a roasting tin and bake until the skins open and the insides are tender, this should take about 30 minutes.3. To eat, peel away the tough outer skin and the pithy white inner skin to get to the sweet kernel.Get creative this Christmas season and try adding some home roasted chestnuts to both your sweet and savoury dishes.www.islecook.co.uk

WHATS IN SEASON IN NOVEMBER & DECEMBER?VEG: artichoke, brussels sprouts, beetroot, butternut squash, cauliflower, celeriac, celery,chicory, horseradish, jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, potatoes , pumpkin,salsify, shallots, swede, truffles, turnips, watercress, wild mushroomsFRUIT: apples, clementines,

cranberries, passion fruit, pears, pomegranate, quince, satsumasNUTS: almonds, brazil nuts, chestnuts, cob nuts, hazelnuts, rosemary, sage, walnutsHERBS: coriander, oregano, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, sorrel, thymeMEAT: beef, duck, goose, grouse, guinea fowl, hare, lamb, mallard, partridge, pheasant, rabbit,

turkey, venison, wood pigeonFISH: clams, cod, coley, crab, dab, dover sole, gurnard, haddock, halibut, hake, lemon sole,lobster, mackerel, monkfish, mussels, oysters, plaice, pollack, red mullet, sea bass (wild), seabream, skate, squid, turbot, winkles

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HEALTH

How many times have you thought you were getting somewhere with a huge problem, say the divorce process, or in the aftermath and then hit a setback and you just go back to the way you were?Don’t worry, you are not the only one! Setbacks and difficulties occur all of the time - they are a natural activity of life. It doesn’t feel so at the time I know, I’ve been there.There are two ways of facing difficulties. You either change or alter the difficulty or you can alter yourself to be able to deal with it.If you deal with difficulties correctly, it will enhance your confidence, if you deal with them incorrectly, they can do some serious damage to your feelings of self worth.When you are faced with any setback your ability to deal with it can be turned around into a position of strength by asking yourself positive empowering questions. There is an unwritten rule that says:‘Ask your mind a stupid question and you will get a stupid answer!’So, if after a setback you ask yourself something like “Why does this always happen to me, I never have any luck?” Your mind will probably come out with:“Because you are useless and good things do not happen to you!”

Does this sound familiar? Instead, ask yourself a positive empowering question like:“What did I learn from this setback that will help me the next time?”Your mind will kick into solution mode and help.Here are some rules and things to think about when setbacks do occur:Acknowledge that it has happened. Don’t hide from it. These things happen. • What positive empowering questions can you ask yourself?• What is good or positive about this situation? There is always something good or positive in any situation, you just have to find it.• How can I make the most of this situation?• What can I learn from it?• What are the facts about this problem?• How can I make it a successful outcome?Acknowledge that setbacks occur to everyone and you are not being singled out. View them as a challenge to overcome rather than an issue or problem.Think about the negative dis-empowering thoughts that you think on a regular basis after a

setback.What new empowering questions could you ask yourself to give some better answers?Write them down now and make them a habit. Maggie CurrieFounder of Maggie Currie Coaching www.maggiecurrie.co.uk

Refocusing after setbacksby Maggie Currie of Maggie Currie Coaching

Although the days might be getting chilly, there is still plenty to be doing out in the garden. The late autumn and early winter is the perfect time to put your garden to bed and do some tidying up after the summer. It may seem like hard work at the time but be assured that you’ll be very glad that you did it come spring.

If the weather is still mild, then keep on cutting your grass. As long as there is some warmth in the air and some rain then the grass will keep growing and you’ll be thankful in spring that you kept it under control. It’s also a good idea to cut back climbers from pergolas and fences and make any necessary repairs to wooden structures before they get a winter battering.If you have a patio with pots, then this is the time to give it a good clean as paving and decking can become slimy and slippery in the winter. Move all your pots out of the way to clean

and put them in a sheltered spot or greenhouse to overwinter. Raise pots left outside up on bricks so that they aren’t left in puddles of water which will rot the roots of your plants.Whilst you are cutting back perennials and removing dead annuals, make sure that you clear any debris from paths, lawns and beds. This will prevent plants from lying under a blanket of dampness which will damage any spring growth later on. Also prune all of your deciduous hedges, roses and shrubs, bag up leaves in sacks for use as leaf mould next year and add soft cuttings and leaves to the compost heap for a readymade source of nutrition for your spring seedlings. If you are piling up a bonfire, make sure that you check for hedgehogs before you light it as they will be finding cosy places to hibernate for winter and a pile of leaves and sticks is just the thing.For those with a greenhouse, this is the time to give it a good clear out and to wash the glass to ensure maximum light and minimum mould. Throw away any cracked pots and clean and stack the rest. Wipe mud from tools and give them a wash and dry too to keep them from going rusty. If your greenhouse is unheated and you are planning to keep geraniums or other plants in pots in

there over winter, you may want to line the glass with a layer of bubble wrap or cover plants with horticultural fleece for extra protection against frosty nights. For those wanting to get ahead, you could sew some broad beans, peas and sweetpeas under glass so that they’re ready for planting out in early spring.And when it’s all done, relax indoors for a sit by the fire with a cup of something warming and next year’s seed catalogues and make plans for what you’ll grow and where next year. It’s exciting to think that there’s a whole new year ahead isn’t it?

Spick and Span for Winter

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GARDENING

by Amber Beard

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BEAUTY

Have you ever wished your skincare regime was less complicated? It is easy to make a real difference with these simple steps.Just one or two every morning and evening will give you healthy skin today, tomorrow and every day. It’s never too late to start.As Coco Chanel said: “Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But at fifty you get the face you deserve.”

Firstly you need to know that your body runs on a 4 week cycle, it’s essential to follow any skincare regime consistently for 28 days to truly see or discover its full benefits.If you have never consistently followed a skincare regime before or you make changes to your regime - then you may find that your skin initially suffers before revealing its true beauty. Living skin cells move upwards through the upper layer (epidermis) of your skin to the surface where they become dry, combine with

excess sebum (oil), outside dirt, pollutants that can block pores cause dry patches, blackheads and spots. These need to be gently cleansed and buffed from the surface to reveal the new skin cells underneath.Is a regime really necessary?Some of my clients confidently tell me that they “just use water”Washing with water is only 65% effective and won’t remove makeup. We all know oil and water don’t mix. To effectively cleanse we need a product that will emulsify, thoroughly lifting away everything we can’t see with the naked eye.Let’s make skincare simpleHopefully you know your skin type or have read my article in the last edition of Glean.My 4 essential daily skincare steps to maintain healthy skin.1. Cleansing every morning and evening. Generally you’ll find two types of cleaser:A cream (non-foaming) suitable for normal/dry skin types, orA foaming (gel wash) suitable for oily/combination skin types.Wet your face with lukewarm -cool water, use a pea sized amount, apply with upwards, outwards strokes. Then rinse with lukewarm or cool water. You may prefer using a damp

Back to Basics - Skincareby Jane Mott

GARDENING

face cloth (some cleansers come with a muslin face cloth). Your skin should feel fresh, soft and smooth after cleansing. Be gentle, let the cleanser do the work.2. Eye-makeup remover – Is essential if like me you wear eye makeup daily (I never leave the house without mascara and some eyeliner) First I use my cleanser over my whole face which removes some of my eye-makeup but not all… the water/smudge resistant eyeliner and traces of mascara remain, so it’s essential that I then use my oil-free eye makeup remover to gently remove the remaining eye-makeup.Take two circles of dry cotton wool (using damp will dilute the efficient of your product) a few drops on each circle. Gently place circle over your closed eyelid covering the eye lashes, just hold still over the eye area for a few seconds so the product starts to dissolve your makeup. Gently wipe cross the top eyelid from the inner corner of the eye outwards and very gently under the eyelashes back towards the inner corner.

FACT: The skin around your eye is more delicate than the rest of your face so it is essential that you NEVER rub or scrub your eyes.

3. Exfoliate once or twice every week to remove dead surface skin cells that dull the skin. When done correctly (gently) exfoliating will energise your skin by stimulating the circulation to bring oxygen to the skin’s surface for a radiant glow. Look for an exfoliator with fine micro beads or crystals to gently buff the surface of your skin, small fine particles will effectively buff the skin, including very fine pores. Always apply to damp skin in small circles for just 30 seconds.4. Moisturising is the most important step of your skincare regime and should be carried apply every morning and evening (without fail) as it helps counteract environmental factors that cause moisture loss, protect against dryness.Hydrated skin looks younger and maintains more suppleness. Lack of firmness is caused in part by the loss of moisture.Apply by warming a large pea sized amount on your fingertips, gently massage onto your skin using

upwards and outwards strokes. Moisturiser should absorb quickly and easily.(If it sits on the surface or feels sticky it could indicate that you are using the wrong type of moisturiser for your skin type).After completing these 4 basic steps your skin will feel beautifully soft and smooth.So what’s it to be? What will be the face you deserve at fifty?For personal skincare advice contact me via my website www.janemottbeauty.com

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11

SHOPPING

Get in to the festive spirit with our top gift picks!

Occa HomeLene Bjerre Serafina Roe Deer £47www.occa-home.co.uk

Monsoon Winter Candle £12http://uk.monsoon.co.uk/

GARDENING

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cor

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PenneysXmas Gingerbread £12(available late November)www.primark.com

Molton Brown Christmas Bauble £10www.moltonbrown.co.uk