Blackcurrants – Just turning
What a pleasant start to my day - a sunny walk around one of the 300 acres of Pixley Berries blackcurrant fields, with views to the Malverns and berries just starting to turn colour. Herefordshire has a long history of growing blackcurrants, the climate and rolling...
Summer Show at Hereford
Every year, in the second or third week of June, I try to get along to see what graduating students at Hereford College of Arts have been creating. The show is open to the public and this year the college asked me to a preview to meet students in their last few days...
A Guide to Blinds
Roman Blinds or Roller Blinds? Blinds are the obvious choice for the hardest working areas of the home; kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms etc. they also suit the unfussy contemporary home or the smaller rooms in the house (the downstairs loo!) - but which type of...
May 2013 – Cider, our Calendar Blog
Daring to scrump a bite of one of the millions of little apples from the acres and acres of Herefordshire orchards will inevitably result in the screwing-up of the mouth and ejecting of its contents. These are not dessert apples, not for the table, these little apples...
Plotting Prints
We are delighted to be showing the work of Kate Farley in our late spring exhibition and excited to be able to show her work as it progresses from paper and smaller scale items to designs for furnishing fabrics. Kate has an eye which constantly seeks out pattern in...
Coventry Cathedral
The maquette for John Piper's baptistery window for Coventry Cathedral in the V and A’s ‘British Design 1948-2012’ exhibition last year inspired a visit to see the real thing. After the 14th Century cathedral was bombed in World War 2, Basil Spence was selected as the...
April 2013 – rhubarb, rhubarb, rhublog……
"The best of all merchandise coming to Samarkand was from China: especially silks, satins, musk, rubies, diamonds, pearls, and rhubarb..." reported the embassy official Ruy Gonzáles de Clavijo, 1403-05 from his post in Timur. Rhubarb progressed steadily from the...
On the tiles – parish map
As an adjunct to "Beer" and "Tile Art" posts, if you are visiting Wye Valley Brewery to purchase any of their ales, turn 180 degrees and take a look at the gable end of Stoke Lacy Village Hall. The Village Artmark scheme, funded by Herefordshire Council in 2005...
Tile Art, Tinsmiths
Our Tile exhibition opens in a couple of weeks, so I've been thinking a lot about the use of tiles, the ways that they are produced and used. Last month's visit to Jackfield Tile Museum at Ironbridge really helped. The museum is housed in the original offices of...
Jute – really is a beaut.
An unsung fibre, Jute, is something that we have become increasingly aware. It is Jute's eco credentials which are really outstanding when compared to other fibres; Jute fibre is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable, in it’s growth it requires very low use of pesticides...
Beer – March 2013, Calendar Blog
Once a national centre for hop growing, Ledbury is now encircled by some very fine small breweries producing a great selection of bottled and cask conditioned beers. One such is Wye Valley Brewery at Stoke Lacy, celebrating its 28th year, this year. This family-run...
Bread – February 2013
This won't be the first time you have heard that the "Teme Valley Farmer's Market" is a favorite. Let me reveal, however one reason for the passion. THE BREAD.....and most especially the CHELSEA BUNS. The second Sunday of the month is sacred - a trip to the Market at...