Last weekend Jean and I took a trip out to our favourite haunt – Ludlow.  We had been invited to an exhibition of work by ruralists; Ann and Graham Arnold at the Silk Top Hat Gallery.  We were late to set off which is often the case when we go away, although this time it wasn’t because of last minute ironing and packing or our dogs running madly around our feet!  As it was Fathers Day, our girls Philippa and Lizzie had organised a lovely family cooked breakfast before our departure.  What a wonderful start to the day!

 

We arrived in time for the lunchtime preview and although it was a drizzly day the exhibition was bustling.  We were excited to see the exhibition which runs until 18^th July 2009.

 

In the afternoon we visited the antique and flea market where we bought a delightful little miniature of a soldier from the First World War.  Jean bought amongst other things a wind up robot and an ‘I’d love a Babycham’ sign. 

 

 

 

 

We managed to book on laterooms to stay the night at Feathers, Ludlow’s oldest hotel.  Its Jacobean timber façade was built in 1619 and it has recently been described in the New York Times as ‘the most handsome inn in the world’.   For dinner we popped into Ego Café Bar for a lasagne and whilst there met a lovely gentleman who wanted to buy a brooch that Jean was wearing.

 

Due to our love of Ludlow, we are on the mailing list for the Ludlow Assembly rooms and in the evening we went along to watch Bronson.  It was a brilliantly acted part about inner rage rescued in part by the discovery of the joys of drawing.

 

On Monday morning we did a small tour of the charity shops; Jean bought three tops and I found ‘Vox’ a short book by Nicholson Baker.

 

By late afternoon we were once again back at the jewellery bench!

 

  

 

 Posted by Nick Hubbard

 

 

 

 

We thought we’d share this delightful card that Nick’s daughter Philippa drew him for his birthday.  She was over in the States and had only a biro and a selection of colouring pencils to hand.  With Nicks birthday looming she had only hours to create this little masterpiece of the Hubbard sausage dogs and ‘Grand’dog Fifi.  Needless to say, Nick was over the moon with his emailed birthday greeting!!!

If you watched any television on Wednesday 3rd June you cannot have failed to have seen Nick’s ‘Rocking the Boat’ brooch. It made an appearance on all of the news channels and on Thursday it was featured in the national press, modelled by Hazel Blears; she seems to have made a statement without uttering a word!

This humorous, tongue-in-cheek piece was designed by Nick to be ambiguous so that the wearer can put their own spin on it.

 

 Well it’s been a very exciting time here at the Brick and Bean studio, Nick has been interviewed for Times online and we also had the TV crew here filming Nick for ITV Central news, did you see it ? We’ve gotten through several cups of tea and Tunnocks chocolate bars!!!

 The Brick and Bean team would like to thank everyone for their wonderful kind messages of interest and support!

 http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2463085/Hazel-Blears-quits-wearing-brooch-mocking-PM.html

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/article6437113.ece 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1190242/Gordon-Brown-fights-survive-Lord-Mandelson-begs-MPs-snub-cyber-coup.html

 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6425772.ece

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8081141.stm

 http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/105302

 http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Stand_youre_down,_stand_down,_rocking_the_boat…&in_article_id=678471&in_page_id=34