This weekend is the Great British Cheese Festival in Wales!

OK we don’t expect you to travel all the way there, if for example you live in Ireland like us, but it is a fantastic excuse to celebrate all that is great about cheese with Ulster Weavers cheese homeware.

There are hundreds of kinds of cheese that are produced throughout the world in a vast array of shapes, colours, textures and smells.

In general, cheese supplies a great deal of calcium, protein, phosphorus and fat as part of a healthy diet and is a vital source of nutrition. Some studies suggest that the right amount of intake even help prevent tooth decay.

But worldwide it is an agricultural product as it essentially comes from cow’s milk; and according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation in America, over 18 million metric tons of cheese were produced worldwide in 2004 alone. So imagine how much that figure would have increased by now!

The biggest exporter of cheese is France and the biggest importer is Germany, in comparison to East Asia in which cheese and other dairy products is rarely found in dishes. 

There are too many types of cheese to list but hot favourites include;

- Brussels

- Blue

- Edam

- Goats

- Feta

- Swiss

- Stilton

- Brie

- Lancashire

- Cottage

- Mozzarella

- Parmesan

-Cheddar

- Halloumi

So whether you like to eat hard, soft or flavoured cheese; make sure you install some cheesy kitchen essentials into the home with the help of Ulster Weavers.

Check out our fantastic range of cheese aprons, gauntlets, cotton tea towels and double oven gloves. And even better, some of the items are on sale!

Cheeses Double Oven Glove

Cheese Label Cotton Tea Towel

Cheese Label Cotton Apron

This month is National Dog Adoption Month!

The celebration aims to highlight the brilliant benefits of adopting a dog. In the UK, there are hundreds of animal shelters that are filled with homeless pooches, so use September to promote the advantages of giving a dog home.

Adopting a dog isn’t a simple notion and not one to be taken lightly. A dog is for life, not just for Christmas, so make sure you get all the facts and advice about caring for a dog before taking on the responsibility.

A four-legged pet is said to be a man’s best friend and having an animal in the home can bring huge amounts of joy; so why not share your love with a furry feline or canine and adopt this month. And why not go all or out and rejoice in the mongrel breed by installing some of Ulster Weavers dog ranges.

We have a vast array of doggylicious designed linen tea towels from Dogs Galore to Dogs Arrived and go barking mad for our Dog & Bone range that has matching homeware including aprons, pot mitts, oven gloves and PVC bags.

Ulster’s dog door stop is especially cute and could send the newly adopted pooch confused into thinking it is real!

So celebrate National Dog Adoption Month in the UK with the help of Ulster Weavers dog homeware ranges.

Dogs Galore Linen Tea Towel

Dog & Bone PVC Packable Bag

Dog Door Stop

It is supposed to be the British summer that is filled with soaring heats, beaming sunrays and barbeques.

Although the weather still cannot quite make up its mind as some days that are glorious are drowned out with downpours, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the summertime and host a BBQ in your back garden with the help of Ulster Weavers.

A BBQ is more fun when it is sunny and warm but don’t let a spot of rain spoil your outdoor parties this August. A marquee is great in that it can be put up over the grill, protect the food from any rain and cover all your guests from getting drenched.

So if you were excited about hosting a BBQ this summer but have been put off the idea, simply get yourself a little outdoor heater and pop it in the corner of the garden to keep all family and friends all warm and toasty on a chilly evening.

Here are some brilliant food ideas for you to cook up a storm and impress the party-goers with. But make sure you wear one of our fantastic aprons when cooking to protect your clothing from any nasty splash backs. And with our vast array of funky designs and shapes of PVC aprons, you are bound to find something to entertain the guests with as well as look the ultimate top chef!

Feed your fun with;

- Texas pork ribs

- Summer salmon skewers

- Margarita grilled chicken

- Summer snap pea and cherry tomato salad

- Potato or pasta salad

- Corn on the cob

- Spiced mackerel

- Sausages and mash

So have a relaxed summer alfresco party with the help of Ulster Weavers. And don’t forget- you can protect your hands from burnt plates as well as cover up the food with our cute tea towels.

V&A Golden Lily Cotton Apron

Bliss Cotton Apron

Lobster Jacquard Cotton Tea Towel

This week is National Allotments Week!

From Monday 8^th to Sunday 14^th August 2011 allotment holders in the UK will be rejoicing in how much fun allotments can be and opening them up to the general public to share.

Now is no better time than ever to gain first-hand experience of an allotment plot and to celebrate with Ulster Weavers My Garden range.

Fundamentally, an allotment is a plot of land made available for individual, non-professional gardening for one to enjoy growing vegetables, fruits and herbs.

Use this special holiday to sell the produce to citizens in the local area and show people what the allotment is all about; so they can learn how they can have an affordable supply of fresh fruit and flowers.

Owning an allotment isn’t easy work but is definitely worth the effort- so why not treat yourself to a Gardeners Calendar linen tea towel or a My Garden PVC Aprons so you keep your clothes clean and mud-free when sowing seeds.

Celebrate the unique recreational activity and be inspired to be green; it is the perfect time for all allotment holders to display all the hours of hard work. Demonstrate to the world what gardening is all about and how it can be a brilliant way to de-stress and relax after a stressful day at work!

Ulster Weavers has a vast array of cute garden ranges that consist of gauntlets, pot mitts, PVC bags and more. Become one with Mother Nature this week with the help from our fantastic textiles!

Gardeners Calendar Linen Tea Towel

My Garden PVC Apron

My Garden Gauntlet

Around 80,000 spectators are attending the Fáilte Horse Show this week in Ireland, in what has become a Dublin institution.

The international horse show has become one of the world’s best show jumping events since it was first held in 1864.  It is a celebration of Ireland’s affinity with the horse and the Dublin Horse Show showcases the Irish horse industry with the best show horses and the best international show jumpers.

It is one of Ireland’s largest events and is the highlight of the summer, so as the tens of thousands of people flock to the country from all over the globe; join in the festivities with Ulster Weavers horse homeware.

We have some gorgeous ranges that are designed all around the mammal with tea towels, canvas bags, gauntlets and tea cosies to choose from.

If you own a horse or simply love everything about the animal from its mane to riding, decorate the kitchen in some cute homeware that will definitely make the neigh…bours jealous! So stop horsing around (sorry, that was our last pun!) and purchase some Ulster Weavers fantastic horse ranges.

Horses Linen Tea Towel

Horses Tea Cosy

Horses Gauntlet

It is Father’s Day this Sunday!

If you have been ransacking the high street in search for that perfect present for your dad this weekend but had no luck then fret no more because Ulster Weavers has some brilliant gift ideas.

It may not be the first place you’d think to go to buy gifts for men but you’d be surprised! We have a whole array of products when it comes to finding the textbook present for all the men in your life.

Whether you are buying for you dad, granddad or great-granddad we have some something to suit your individual home-ware tastes and needs; so show your special man just how much you care this 19^th June with one of our cool gift ideas.

For everything he did for you throughout your childhood from putting food on the table, a roof over your head and clothes on your back return the favour by showering your number one dad with presents from Ulster Weavers.  It is the one day per year dedicated to celebrating all the best dad’s in the country so express how much you appreciate his hard efforts with one of our Aprons, Linen Tea Towels, Double oven gloves and more.

Conventional gifts include brandy, chocolates or slippers but think out of the box in 2011 and treat him to some trendy Cosies; if you’re dad loves to cook then he’ll definitely be grateful for some new but fashionable home-ware.

So go the extra mile this Father’s Day and let your big fella know just how much you care about him with Ulster Weavers giftware.

Cricket Linen Tea Towel

Chambray Charcoal Cotton Apron

Landrover Linen Tea Towel

A latest survey has revealed that food prices are expected to increase by more than double in less than 20 years, putting an even bigger squeeze on already tight household budgets.

The findings, by the leading aid and development charity Oxfam, show that by 2030 the average cost of key crops will rise between 120% and 180%; which is extremely bad news to the populations already struggling to buy adequate food.

The charity, which aims to fight global poverty, is now demanding a radical reform of the global food system, as food prices have already doubled in the last two decades. It predicts half of the rise to come as a result of climate change and is now calling on world leaders to improve the regulation of food markets and invest in a global climate fund.

Barbara Stocking, Oxfam’s chief executive, said: “The food system must be overhauled if we are to overcome the increasingly pressing challenges of climate change, spiralling food prices and the scarcity of land, water and energy.”

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) world food prices have now amplified by two since 1990. It means if the trend continues, food prices such as wheat will increase 125%, maize by 175% and live-stock by just over 100%.

The Oxfam research also found that the world’s poorest people now spend up to 80% of their incomes on food.

In its report, Oxfam says a “broken” food system causes “hunger, along with obesity, obscene waste, and appalling environmental degradation.” It wants nations to agree to new rules to govern food markets to ensure the poor do not go hungry.

As food prices are set to increase, invest in quality home ware from Ulster Weavers. Our cute Kitchen hand towels are perfect to handle hot plates as well as dry the dishes spotlessly. And what is more, we have a vast array of Hand Towel ranges so you are bound to find one that suits your taste and room décor.

It is a very strange concept and an even weirder notion to celebrate but today is Towel Day!

Seize the day and celebrate all that is great about the towel with Ulster Weavers and out fantastic ranges including Teatowels, Hand Towels and Kitchen tea towels.

The origin of the British commemoration is said to be a tribute to Douglas Adams, author of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy”. The day sees fans of the book and its author carrying towels with them to work and school, and plays an integral part of the daily activities.

Linen and cotton tea towels have been the core of Ulster Weavers’ business for over 125 years and we have a massive range made up of all material from linen, waffle weave to cotton. There are plenty of designs to suit everyone whether you prefer classic and contemporary, floral and fruit, nautical, or funny.

Towels make ideal gifts and treats for family and friends and at brilliant low prices you’d be silly not to take advantage of the amazing products; and on the official towel day!

WEIRD AND WACKY

In other news, a British woman found the face of Jesus Christ in a stained towel. The 31 year-old dance instructor, called Roisin McCourt, told the media that a bizarre brown stain that appeared on one of her tea towels strikingly resembles the face of Jesus.

She discovered the smudge after giving the towel a wash in her home in Coventry, England and the discoloured spot is clearly recognisable as the face of a man with a beard and long hair. The Brit believes it is a sign from God and is a powerful spiritual sign.

McCourt told a newspaper: “I am Catholic, but I am not extremely religious. We don’t go to Mass every weekend, but after finding this, it has definitely made my faith stronger.”

For many British people, a stained tea towel is an indication that they need to use a more powerful laundry detergent and cleaning soap.

With less than 48 hours to go until the royal wedding of the year, now is no better time than ever to embrace your nationality and be proud of being British with the help from Ulster Weavers!

On Friday millions upon millions of people across the globe will be watching Prince William and Kate Middleton get wed in Westminster Abbey in London.

Whether you are going down to the pub to watch it, sitting in your living room, or travelling down to the capital in person; celebrate the big day with everything that is British and throwing a traditional street party.

But you don’t have to leave the home to show how much you care about Her Majesty The Queen. Ulster Weavers has some fantastic British ranges including Linen Tea Towel, PVC Aprons and China Mugs, so you can dress as a royal for the day when cooking and even clean up the pots patriotically.

And as part of the British range there are cute PVC Bags that are themed in funny cats dressed as guards to take out and about on the big day.

So whether you are staying in this Friday 29^th April or going out and about, get involved with the Royal wedding and let everyone know how honoured you are to be British.

British Cats Linen Tea Towel

British Cats PVC Apron

British Cats Medium PVC Bag

The royal wedding is less than a week away which means now is the time to get all the part decorations sorted ready for the celebrations!

The Prime Minister David Cameron has called on the nation to get involved and have fun on the royal wedding day, urging Brits to meet their neighbours and organise street parties.

Whether you are a royal fan, patriotic or not, the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on the 29^th April will be a nationwide party full of excuses of a day off work and the chance to get out into the street and hang out with the neighbours.

Street parties are a British tradition which has been in existence for over a century linked with royal and national events. Celebrate the great things about the country and join the two million people taking part in street parties this year for the couple’s wedding.

Ulster Weavers fantastic Union Jack range is brilliant to decorate the street with everything that is themed royal. From Cafetiere Cosies, Cotton Tea Towels, Cotton Aprons, Tea Cosies and Union Jack Bunting- you are bound to get everything that you need to make the party extra special.

Use our Union Jack Double Oven Gloves, Gauntlets and Pot Mitts to carry all the food out to the hungry neighbours and really go to town enjoying the hotly anticipated wedding of the year!

So get involved in your local community for the Royal Wedding and throw a royal bash; but make sure you check with your local council regarding the need for any of licences that may be required, road closure permissions, insurance and safety; and after party clearance.

And double check what the weather forecast is- you don’t want to drown away the fantastic memories!

Union Jack Bunting

Union Jack Cotton Tea Towel

Union Jack Cafetiere Cosy