In Clare Mahoney’s work, fragility and resilience are held in careful tension. Through botanical casting and porcelain, delicate natural forms are translated into objects of quiet strength — inviting us to slow down, look closely, and make with attention.

Botanical casting sits at the meeting point of science and craft, translating fleeting plant forms into enduring plaster reliefs. From ancient traditions to contemporary practice, the article traces a quiet lineage of observation, material exchange and making. At The Old Vicarage, this history continues through hands-on workshops that invite close looking, patience and care.

Botanical illustrator and card designer Kate Charlton brings her painter’s eye and florist’s sensitivity to every petal she paints. From her Somerset studio to The Old Vicarage in Leigh-on-Mendip, she shares how emotion, craftsmanship, and quiet confidence shape her work — and her upcoming Asterion & Co. Christmas Card Course.