Pennine Lavender Blog

Nearly time for the field to open. Busy getting it ready, oh how those weeds grow. The lavender may be a little behind because of the cold spring but the weeds certainly aren’t!
Just had a new roof put on the chalet/farm shop.
Might even make some new bunting for it this year.
Opening in 2 weeks so I’m getting back to it whilst the sun shines.

Not posted for a while. I’ve been busy doing lots of talks to a variety of Ladies Groups including the WI.

In additon to this I have also had lots of orders to complete including a very large order for a lady in India who wanted our Lavender Lily as a gift for guests at a celebration party for a baby girl. What a lovely thing to do!

Off to France this weekend for a short break before the summer season really kicks in.

Will update you on my return.

At last the warmth of the sun! Just wish that breeze wasn’t there, but they do call our village windy city so no surprises there. Our lavender field is having it spring prune next week, removing any remaining dried lavender sprigs. If you have any lavender in your garden I recommend you give yours a trim now too. If you prune it into a nice sphere shape it will give you a ball of lavender blooms in July.
Off to post an order for one of our gorgeous silk cushions now.

I can’t believe it, we are now well into the year, but it really doesn’t feel very Spring like yet. My little snowdrops are bravely showing their heads- a bit more than I feel like doing! The lavender field is still asleep, but I don’t need to worry about it being damaged by frost as it’s very hardy, fingers crossed.

 We have ideas for new lavender products and some changes to the business this year. One of my jobs for the next couple of weeks is to make some prototypes of a lavender filled key ring. These will complement the Kar Karma and hopefully make a very nice gift set. All I need to do is apply myself!

Happy New year to one and all. Back in the office taking orders but it is a bit difficult to get them out! Living in a farmhouse in the Pennines in this snow makes getting to the main road interesting! Even the local BBC news were reporting from our road as an exmaple of how extreme the snow is. Fear not lavender lovers your orders will get through. The lavender kar karma’s are definitely coming in useful (even if it is only for wiping the windscreen!).

All talks and presentations are now finished for 2009! What a relief I’ve managed to get through them without coming down with the dreaded flu (swine or otherwise). Last year I broke my foot during this time and it was a nightmare getting my products in and out the halls on crutches!! Thankfully my long suffering husband came to the rescue. The show must go on.

We are well into Christmas fairs, they are a joy to do because I only pick small ones in local village halls (no stressful journey) with home baked mince pies and carols.

Still haven’t finished tassles for spice bags. They might have to be tassle less..

I talked to a group of ladies in Doncaster yesterday and today I am talking to a group in York. I seem to have got onto the ladies luncheon circuit where I am the after lunch speaker. They are lovely events, delicious lunch, although I must admit I can’t always do it justice because my adrenaline is going thinking about what I am going to say when it comes time to speak. The venues are always quite smart, today I am at York racecourse, I do hope I don’t take a wrong turning and end up on the track ! Keep running Barbara !!
Still haven’t made the aubergine silk into anything, although I have bought some bits and pieces to make tassles to go with it, they are really quite easy to make and you can customise them to your own designs ( take note all you budding burlesque dancers )
Christmas is upon us, as soon as bonfire night is finished, that’s it, whoosh, it’s here.
Victoria (daughter No.1 ) will be changing the website today to feature the Christmas collection, I think it is time to start making lists. I don’t always do anything with them it just makes me feel more organised!!

I think I am recovered from my jet lag, thankfully helped by the extra hour, so I have absolutely no excuse for not getting on with things. Trouble is, I am so easily distracted. I‘d like to think that it is just one of the problems with a creative mind, but I really know it is just an excuse for putting off what you don’t want to do. I know, I’ll write a list that usually helps.

We have got another nice order from the swish cashmere company, so I need to cut out the fabric today in preparation for sewing tomorrow.  I have also bought some gorgeous aubergine silk to make something Christmassy with, I have got some ideas already, I really do get a buzz out of making new products.

For our customers out there who may be waiting for orders, I am getting them out as quickly as I can, but I think the postal strike is upsetting things. Thank you for your patience.

Just retuned from a short visit to Japan to visit daughter number 2, Jameelah, who is living and working there with her husband. Had a wonderful time, but seriously jet lagged, waking up raring to go at 2am and zonked by the afternoon. Hey ho.   In Tokyo we went to have a look at a very swish shop that stocks a cashmere range that uses products we have made for them. What a great feeling, little Pennine Lavender is well and truly global —Yorkshire—Japan where next.

Had a lovely event yesterday at a ladies charity luncheon in North Yorkshire. They were very elegant ladies indeed!

Victoria, daughter number 1, is helping here today, starting to think about the Christmas range. Yikes !!

Hello, and welcome to Barbara’s Blog.

This is a new feature on my website, where I will be talking about all things Lavender, and keeping you regularly informed with news about our latest products and open days.

We hope you enjoy your reading and let this lavender moment relax you.

have a great day..  and don’t forget to visit back occassionally ..

Barbara