Lilac Cottage Larder

So today marked the last of our hebs to lamb. A lovely set of twins to end 2024 lambing off

Just walking past a hedge and spot a swarm sitting in there....drop everything and get the swarm gear 😀 going to be one of those seasons

Today we finally got hold of our first batch of our Hebridean hides. Perfect for putting over your comfy chair, over the back of your sofa or on the floor as a centerpiece. They're tanned using organic method only 15 miles away. With this method they are safe to wash and even can be used inside the pushchair for extra comfort without the worry of chemicals. We only have a limited number mind so please message if you're interested.

Not an email you want to get in spring, the weather just hasn't been on their side. Been a tough winter with lots of die outs and now a tough spring to follow

And this little beauty marks the half way point of lambing 2024

Well this caught us off guard, talk about starting the season off early

The bees are proving the season is well underway, hopefully it turns out to be a better year than the last few

It's official, spring is here.....the Heberdians have started to lamb

The sea of dandelions are out in full force, it must be finally spring time....Time to check the bees 🐝 😀

We have made some cushion samples from our Lleyn sheepskins as well as super chunky crocheted sliver. Hypo allergenic wool stuffing harnesses more of the amazing fire retardant, insulating and padding properties of this wonderful natural fibre. We want to celebrate the beauty of wool and sheepskin rather than it ending up as a waste product.

Who needs a trailer to move a sheep when you’ve got a rope and a 3 year old handy?

Hand poured beeswax and lavender candles were our powercut discovery last month, the light flows through the vintage bone China and makes a lovely soft glow. The handle of the tea cup made it perfect for carrying around the house, somehow walking round with a head torch doesn’t cast such a relaxing glow! The relaxing scents of beeswax with lavender heads and essential oil are a sensory treat and the matching saucer makes a safe heat proof resting place. A hand dipped beeswax taper, also from our Lilac Cottage bees saves getting burnt fingers trying to light lots of candles with a match. There are 2 patterns of vintage China to choose from, both from English potteries, probably from the 1930s. The Aynsley cup has a fruit and flowers pattern and the Royal Albert pattern in Navy and gold.

What a lovely surprise gift left in our honey box thanks to Using this for a week and the chapped areas from our hands have cleared up, it’s made from lots of plant oils, none of the usual preservatives or chemicals you find in most products

Thank you to everyone who came down to the craft fair yesterday to support us

🎄 Unwrap the Magic of Nature this Christmas! 🐝 Our handcrafted beeswax gift boxes are a buzz-worthy celebration of the season. Infused with the essence of the hive, each box is filled with natural treasures, perfect for those who cherish the sweetness of bee-made gifts. From candles that glow with a warm, honeyed light to bee-inspired trinkets, spread joy and sustainability under your Christmas tree. Give the gift of nature's finest – where every purchase is a step towards supporting our precious bees.
🎁🐝

Craft fair ready! Come and see us at Pippins community centre for workshops and crafting for Christmas.

Another great organisation who will be at the craft fair tomorrow

Just finished making willow wreath rings for the FREE workshop at this Saturdays Pippins Craft Fair (Donations to ARC gratefully received). The theme is crafting for Christmas, so the idea is we offer opportunities for visitors to try new skills and make some lovely things to take home.
Only by the end of this marathon of willow twisting did I think I should be making these willow rings a bit smaller....if I was a visitor I wouldn’t want to spend all day on my wreath and miss the candle making and sheepskin crafting sessions would I?!

Come and see us at Pippins Community Centre this Saturday from 10.30 we finish at 3.30 with Carols round the fire pit.
7 sellers selling
7 free activities for adults and children
7 affordable crafts and activities

Now, to start collecting lots of winter foliage to decorate.

Fancy some lamb for the Christmas period, We've got a handful lamb boxes available from the end of next week, this is the last of our lamb for 2023

Meet Hutton Peredur, this stunning gentleman is our ram. Today he was marked yellow and introduced to the ewes. The yellow marker shows who he's served so we can keep an eye on any which haven't been marked and we can predict our lambing dates

Children’s ear warmers made from our own wool! All the wool was reared, sheared, and then spun and crocheted by hand in EX13 with just a short trip into Dorset to the superb Rampisham Mill for the washing and carding parts. The colours are completely natural and what excites us is that often these wonderful fleeces go completely to waste but with the help of some skilful people we have made something warm. Needless to say, we have been experimenting with adult styles, too. Should we add flower decorations to the grown-up ones as well, so you think?

Heather has been busy using our hebridian sheep wool to knit headbands, scrunchies, ear warmers, and cup warmers ready for local craft markets. Do message us if you'd like something you see on our page.

The end result of the natural beeswax candles. These have a clean burn and are fragrance free.

This weekend is all about candle making, we've already filtered down alot of our old frame with plenty more old frames to be done. Once we've filted alot of the unwanted debris we can melt it down using a bain marie over a wooden fire before placing into our moulds.

Last night’s power cut found us reaching for our collection of beeswax candles to save the evening. Nothing better than a pre-sleep warm down with gentle flickering lights to detox from all the bright blue spectrum lights that we are told can spoil our sleep hygiene. The poured candle in the teacup was perfect for carrying to the kitchen to make a hot drink and the light flows through the vintage bone China beautifully. The only thing we need to make is tapers because our dipped birthday cake candles are too short for the job. So watch this space we are developing our new power cut proofing/ pre-sleep ritual gift boxes!

Say hello to Fluffpig....this our first Hebridean cross Hampshire lamb enjoying a fireman's lift to meet her new friends, not all our lambs get this special treatment. We would be very tired if they did.

Today was the day we weaned all the lambs and joined them up together, sadly we lost Fluffpig's mum earlier in the week hence the special treatment as we had her else where.

Fancy some lamb? Were taking orders for September, 8 boxes left

So thats a wrap....we got there after being delayed with the weather since July! Hay is finally in, grass work now complete, time for bed. Great team effort today

We're baling today if you want any fresh 2023 hay direct from the field, let us know!