Cheese Please Louise

lovely soft cheese with a hint of garlic, with creamy soft cheese for afters

Pex Tenement Cheese Company make fabulous organic cheeses in their dairy on the Todmorden hillside.  They use their own organic milk, from their organic cows who graze on their organic fields.  I know that beautiful hillside well but it took a town dweller to tell me something new about it. While walking through the lush grass she said "it smells of butter". That sums up for me what's so good about the cheese - from the grass, to the cow, to your plate.  The taste of Todmorden!

Carl will be bringing a range of cheeses to try and buy at the Meet the Makers Market at Hebden Town Hall  and his laptop with his informative and entertaining presentation about the company. 

Valley born and bread

final result!

It's all a blurrrrr of activity!!

Well that's my excuse.  The day I visited The Bakehouse they wouldn't stand still long enough for a duffer like me to take a photo!  

But the aroma as well as the industry was very impressive. They're making  Real Bread and it comes in many delicious varieties all organic.  As well as Better bred white and brown and variety breads like olive, Moor Ale, chocolate and currant (mmm) and bagels there's a range of sourdough breads - Cragg Crusty, Mytholmroyd Maslin and Royd Rye. 

Sourdough is a natural slow process for leavening bread and it's all a bit mysterious.  Never fear they'll be sharing the secrets with us at the Meet the Makers Market at Hebden Town Hall on October 5th. Sourdough starters and instructions on how to do it! And they'll have plenty to sample and buy.
yum, yum and again yum!

The Weavers Tale

Nicola with a beautiful cushion

Nicola Winters loves colour, pattern and variety and she loves weaving them together. After qualifying as a stained glass artist at college she found that the responsibility of all that breakable glass was not for her so she took her inspiration and planning skill, went from sharp to soft and took up weaving.

Now based at Northlights Studio in Hebden Bridge she plans to start offering workshops; a beginners day course, and a three day course for those wanting to go further and learn how to warp a loom.  Both will be reasonably priced and Nicola will only have 2 students at a time as it's engrossing work that demands concentration.  This is great news for budding weavers as courses in this dying art are so difficult to find.

At the Meet the Makers Market Nicola will have a loom with the warp ready for anyone who wants to have a go at making a little bookmark.  A simple twill design is planned, just like the famous Harris Tweed!  So come along to Hebden Bridge Town Hall on October 5th and get weaving.....

Soap Glorious Soap!

soap stamping

Back in 2008 Rob and Geoff of Calder Valley Soaps were working at Suma but were looking to move into manufacturing of some sort. By chance they were able to buy the business that was supplying soap to Suma. Since then they've gone from strength to strength, continuing to make bespoke soaps and building their own brand Elphin Soaps. that sells in shops from Lands End to Aberdeen. 

They're enthusiastic about the cold pressed process which retains the glycerin in the ingredients.  This process is 2000 years old and makes the gentlest soap.  (Apparently the mainstream soap industry sells the glycerin back to us in the form of moisturisers and creams!)  Rob and Geoff are meticulous in their sourcing and are always looking to improve their methods.  All products are fairtrade, vegan and cruelty free, and they're even moving towards replacing fairtrade palm oil with a blend of sunflower and coconut oil.  For perfume and colour they only use herbs, spices and essential oils.

At the Meet the Makers Market at Hebden Town Hall as well as buying some lovely natural products, we'll be able to see the soap being cut into bars and have a go at stamping a motif in a bar ourselves.  So come along and clean up folks!

mmmm..what's that beautiful scent?

throw me a pot!

student potters at work

Prospective potters alert! Edyn Culverwell, of The Old Stables Studio , is offering a rare opportunity - the chance to learn how to throw a pot on a proper potter's wheel. At her rather magnificent home studio experienced students and beginners alike can learn this esoteric and ancient art (and enjoy some lovely food, by the way).

Originally a Fine Art graduate, Edyn's political involvement lead her into community arts, where she concentrated mainly on screenprinting. These days though she doesn't feel the need to explain the meaning of her work, for her the process is enough - just making and more making. She runs evening and weekend courses for a maximum of 6 students or you can come with lots of friends and have a hen party or childrens party. And as I said before the food is lovely!

Edyn is bringing this portable wheel to the Meet the Makers Market at Hebden Bridge Town Hall on October 5th.  She'll move over and let you have a go if you ask nicely!

the cat that got the cream

Jane in her showroom

With a background in social care Jane has always been inspired by the therapeutic effect of arts and crafts. Her Nana Kitty, a smart and dignified lady who suffered for many years from Altzeimers, always used to say that 'the hat was the main part of the outfit' and this inspired Jane to start Kitty Couture Hats . An elegant hat can be a real confidence booster for a special occasion, and Jane has the answer for all budgets and inclinations. At her beautiful house in Todmorden she has a lovely showroom where you can buy or hire a stunning hat. And for hands-on types she's designed a range of lovely DIY kits that she'll be introducing at the Meet the Makers Market .

You'll be able to choose from four different pill box shapes that you can customise, or for beginners there will be felt flower brooch making.  So we're taking our hats off to Jane and inviting you to come along and meet her at the Meet the Makers Market on October 5th at Hebden Bridge Town Hall !

light my fire!

Emily's natural habitat?

I met Emily from the the Tinderwood Trust Forest School this week and I forgot to take her photograph! Doh! so I had to go out in the woods and take a photo of where you might find her.

Please click on the link and read all about the Forest School - I can't do it justice here. Suffice to say it's an educational approach that gives children hands-on experience of making and doing all sorts of things outside in the natural environment. Emily is bringing some exciting stuff to the Meet the Makers Market.  She'll be outside in the square at Hebden Town Hall whatever the weather lighting a fire!!! AND teaching everyone to light their own fire without matches!! (I'm so excited about this, I cannot speak.)  And there will be whittling of sticks so that you can put a marshmallow on the end and toast it!

I think what Forest Schools do just sums up "making and doing" - gaining confidence and a sense of achievement and pleasure in the process.  And I think you will see this in the work that our makers produce. See you there!