Treefest

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, we visited Treefest at Westonbirt Arboretum. This is a fantastic festival filled with woodworking demonstrations, tools, delicious food, music and various arts and crafts. There is plenty to appeal to arty shoppers and eager woodworkers alike and I thoroughly recommend a visit next year if you are able to go.

Here are a few pictures from the day. Thank you to Sam for being photographer!

Ralph Curtis aka 'The Mushroom Man' of the Yew Turn company was definitely the most charismatic demonstrator at the festival, entertaining all ages with his mushroom making!

Shepherd huts seem to to be very on trend this year and we enjoyed pottering around in a few.

Whisky Barrel Rockers of Scotland had a very eye catching stand featuring their beautiful garden furniture made from recycled whisky barrels.

The Tintern Woodland Studio also had a lovely stand with lots of sculptures of The Green Man and some beautiful jewellery too!

One of my favourites from a previous visit was World Fossils. This is a real treasure trove of fossils and unique pieces of jewellery.

There were so many amazing sculpures and pieces of furniture for sale as well as plenty of demonstrations to see how the pieces were made. I particularly liked the chainsaw sculptors!

h.Art- it's that time of year again!

This year really seems to have whizzed by and we're already getting set for Herefordshire Arts Week again!

Last year's signs going up. Look out for Venue 62 this year!

If you've never heard of h.Art before it's a fantastic 9 day event where over 150 artists from across Herefordshire (and a little bit of Worcestershire) open up their studios to the public. You can meet the artist, chat to them about their work and even make a purchase directly from them. My Mum (Ceramic artist Lit Smith) and I take part in the event together and this will be our second year. 

This year h.Art is on from the 12th to 20th September

11am-5pm

Follow the pink signs for Venue 62

I bake a cake every day for our visitors!

Every year a guide is produced with all of the venues featured plus a little information about them. This year we are venue 62. The guides are free and will be popping up in shops and galleries around the area over the next few weeks but you can find more information on the website here . You can also contact us if you would like a copy of the guide.

Here are a few pictures from last year to whet your appetite. We hope to see you there!

A special present for a very special friend

Today is the birthday of one of my dearest friends.

 Alice (co-creator of 'A Yuletide Tale') is one of those rare and special friends you just instantly click with and know you are going to be great friends with for life. 

Special friends deserve special presents, so I decided to make Alice a little book of the story of our friendship so far.

I'm relieved to say it was a hit!

The Arter- Stratford's home of handmade

Yesterday I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to spend the day at The Arter, run by the lovely Paula and Rachel. This is a beautiful shop filled with the produce of local artists and craftspeople. Everything is handmade and everything is absolutely gorgeous- I've not yet managed to visit without coming away with a few goodies!

The Arter

The shop is part of Hall's Croft which was the home of Shakespeare's daughter and granddaughter. It's a fantastic setting and I thoroughly enjoyed eating my lunch in the beautiful gardens. I was also given an excellent tour of the house by the lovely Rory. For my fellow foodies, there is even a café on-site. I was in heaven.

Hall's Croft

I am very proud that my prints, greeting cards and notebooks are stocked in the shop amongst such talent. The Arter also has a special place in the collective Smith family heart because Paula and Rachel also stock lots of Mum's ceramics.

It was such a treat to spend the day surrounded by so many beautiful things.

Jenny Knight's super colourful ceramics

More Jenny Knight- we have a few of her pieces at home

Jacqui Law's quirky copper and enamel jewellery

Vicki Lafford-Garside's delicate embroidered jewellery. Again, I have one of these at home!
See if youcan spot the Lit Smith necklaces here too!

One of my prints behind the till sitting proudly next to the Best Independent Shop Award!

My lunch time walk through the garden

Perfect picnic spot

Unfortunately, I can't show you my shopping haul from yesterday as it was for a very special friend's birthday present later this week!

Thank you so much to Paula and Rory for a wonderful day and I look forward to seeing you soon!