Beginning this March, I will launch Tea & Roses Creative Workshops on the farm! Located in the charming Victorian walled farmyard, my workshops will cover a variety of creative skills, such as an Introduction to Chalk Paint, Gilding, Delft Style Painting, Folk Art, Lampshade Making, and Pattern Creating. Having taught workshops at Tea & Roses for over 15 years, I am thrilled to resume them on the farm. The farm provides an ideal setting to relax, meet new people, and learn ne

Online retail has undoubtedly taken over our world today! From the comfort of our homes, we can order food, have groceries delivered, and receive almost anything within a day. There's no turning back..... At Tea & Roses, I've embraced this change. Most of the products I sell, including vintage items I find and pieces I paint, are available on the website. This approach is quite different from the bustling activity and social atmosphere Tea & Roses had on the High Street. I mu

I can't quite believe that I have been a Chalk Paint stockist for nearly 15 years! It was a few years before this that a friend suggested I try Chalk Paint on my painted furniture. I come from a background in Art & Design and had training in Historic Decorative Crafts so finding a paint that could imitate so many decorative finishes was a dream! I clearly remember the first little cupboard I painted on a warm summer evening outside on the farm, so I could keep an eye on the c

Just before Christmas, I visited to my favourite place, The Victoria & Albert Museum in London. I love nothing more than aimlessly walking around the galleries to see what visual jewels draw me in. On this visit I found myself spending a lot of time in the British 19th Century rooms. I spent a lot of time gazing and taking in the furniture and decorative finishes. The rich colours and dark woods seemed to suit the December feel of London. There was one little cabinet for me t

A design I have used over many years is the butterfly theme. The butterfly has long been an iconic subject in painted design, from ancient symbolism to its prominence in modern art. The butterfly’s delicate wings and transformation through metamorphosis continue to inspire artists and designers across time, representing themes of beauty, renewal, and the transient nature of life. I particularly love the use of the butterfly motif in The Victorian 'Butterfly Craze Era'. This p

I have really started to paint again this year and I have allowed myself to paint for my pleasure, subjects that interest me. I have had a lovely few months and it has been quite interesting to see where it has taken me! With Tea & Roses I have always loved to investigate historic art influences and designs. One group I love and that was reintroduced to me by Annie Sloan is The Bloomsbury Group. I first came across the work of Duncan Grant at Lincoln Cathedral while studying

This year I have a wedding to celebrate on the farm! My eldest daughter is getting married, I am rather excited about it as you can imagine! To commemorate the occasion I have painted a set of three tables in Delft style. The tradition of incorporating weddings in painted designs has a long history, with the practice evolving over time. The custom of commemorating a wedding with a date inscribed on a ceramic object—whether it's a plate, vase, or plaque—has both symbolic and p