Earlier on we mentioned the fact that House and Garden wanted to do an article about us (in a series about people who do things or make things) and that we had been interviewed and photographed. The article was duly published (in the December issue, so it should still...

I decided to photograph this a few days ago - because the light suddenly struck me as good - but it has been standing under a cherry tree in our garden, giving pleasure to all, for a decade at least. Frankly I have seen damaged sculptures of kouroi in the The British...

. . . when Christmas Cards have to be produced! Our first thought is whether there is anything suitable in the book that is 'on the press' or in preparation at the moment. [The Benjamin Britten A Christmas Sequence was so long in coming that it served for TWO...

After what seems like weeks of grey, overcast and characterless weather, yesterday produced bright sun for a few hours. We had sorted ourselves out a little earlier than necessary to drive to Swansea so I thought I would rush for the camera to catch some Autumn...

For various reasons, it was not possible, until recently, for us to put details of this book on to our website along with all our other books. We are happy to say that it is now here, where the movie is much more convincing! Enquiries or ordering can be done through...

Especially if one lives in rural isolation, the Carrier supplies an incredibly valuable service. A few days ago one such van came to our door, at our request, and saw to it that a large parcel was delivered to a hotel in Edinburgh in double quick time. Some days later...

I spent this morning preparing and imposing three blocks, proofing and adjusting for evenness of printing surface, depth of ink and so on and, finally, printing a sheet from the actual edition. This is the fifth time that this sheet has gone through the press so I was...

The beginning of October has regularly been the time for Oak Knoll Books, (in New Castle, Delaware, USA) to host a Fest . . . for those of us who produce books to meet with librarians, collectors and local book lovers in the wonderfully relaxed early autumn sunshine...

In this photograph, Frances is talking with Pauline Griffiths, the Proprietor of The Art Shop and Gallery in Abergavenny, who very kindly offered to mount an exhibition of our books (and some prints from them) which will be open until 23rd August 2008. The Gallery is...

A couple of days ago I have finished my months of daily printing stints to complete this book. Today I am exhausted from feeding large sheets of heavy blue paper (to cover the binding boards) into the press so that I could print two large woodcuts . This was the very...

I looked out of our bedroom window one evening recently. We are firmly situated in Wales . . . but here I am looking across the field and across the river Wye to the strange land called England! I am also looking at what caused me to go for my camera rather swiftly....

By the back end of last year, with lots of good strimming and clearing weather (together with opportunity AND inclination), we had got our domain looking really rather smart, tamed and ready for the arrrival of Spring. The onset of Spring growth, however, coincided...

Two posts ago we mentioned that Keith Bayliss had been asked to produce work in and around the east end of this amazing Cathedral as part of the 2008 St. David's Cathedral Festival . . . and we gave, as a reminder, an image from the book White Voices that he did with...

We never cease to be amazed by events which just happen. A few days ago, while I was working in my cool printing office, out of the heat of the sun, there was a gentle tap at the door followed by the smiling face of Habib Dingle. It is some years now since he moved...

We have recently been varying the means of conveying news about our books - we have posted a mailing in the UK about our new Hardy book with Mark Cazalet’s images, but have used email to those of our overseas customers for whom we have email addresses, trying to avoid...

Yesterday and today the air has been intoxicating with apple blossom richer than any I can remember, even on an ancient tree (left over from a former cider orchard) that we thought had died. In a few days every plant, grand or humble, has thrown itself into manic...

Since our return from Florence, things have crowded in from all directions and I have got lamentably out of the way of adding titbits to this blog. I will indeed try to do better! One of the many things that happened was the eventual realization that our roof needed...

The Arno on a deliciously storm-threatening afternoon. Everyone knows that I like pigeons! All the guidebooks say that you keep catching glimpses of the Duomo round corners or at the end of narrow streets. This is my take on the subject. We kept seeing this one lone...

Just a composition I was quite pleased with. Shows that, even in early March, the sun can be quite strong in Florence . . . quite hot enough for me! This fun object was to be found in the Santo Spirito flea market. I think it was on this stall to amuse and draw...

Everyone knows that the McDowalls (and especially the Nicolas half) almost never go away for holidays and so forth as other folk do . . . so, if they do actually get on the move, it is quite a event. The fact is that Frances spent time in Florence as a student and one...