You know what they say- new year, new home decor. With the beginning of each new year, January encourages everybody to hit the reset button – make some resolutions, hit the gym, find a new mantra or start a new project. In the spirit of that trend comes the instinct to freshen up our home.
Once the Christmas decorations have come down, your interior can suddenly feel quite bare and unadorned. While January is a perfect time to declutter. It can also be a time to update your home with a few key pieces. No one has the budget to redo their home year after year to meet the current trends and colours. But, one of the easiest ways to make a change is to find a new unique accent piece for your table like a vase or sculpture.
We absolutely adore this funky sculpted vase that is handmade at Hillborn pottery in Cambridge Ontario and is available for purchase at Serenity Lavender Farm. This fashionable vase can hold water and is suitable for fresh or dry flowers…. like lavender. We of course love, love love the periwinkle colour and blue accents. It is a perfect statement piece to perk up a room in shades of grey, cream, beige or white.
Purple pottery vase by Hilborn . The perfect statement piece for your home
Artisan pottery by Hillborn brings a winter wonderland to your home
Another cool piece or rather pieces for winter is this winter wonderland… you can keep a bit of the holiday season in your home all winter long and brighten up any space with it’s vibrant colours reminiscent of the northern lights in Northern Ontario. These pieces are again from our friends at Hilborn Pottery and available at Serenity Lavender.
Imagine the calming scent of lavender in your home
Simplicity is sometimes best and after indulging over the holidays we are partial to this DIY idea. All you need is a metal tray. Spray paint it to suit your taste- pewter would be fantastic. Then find 3 glass vases even from Dollarama or mason jars and add some dried lavender – available at Serenity Lavender. You can even add some ribbon but we like the unadorned elegance of this centrepiece and so simple to make yourself.
There is plenty of inspiration around us to refresh your home decor. Check out our shop or some of the websites or instagram pages of some your favourite local shops. Support local and small business!
Serenity Lavender Farm welcomes you to our 8th Annual Lavender Festival! Come join us as we celebrate Lavender bloomand our 10th store anniversary!
Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23
10am – 5pm 
130 County Road 50 East, Colchester, Ontario
FREE ADMISSION
This year’s festival will the the best yet, with over 30 artists and artisans, live music, tai chi demonstaration, yoga class, craft demos, a painting workshop, scavenger hunt, children’s activities, plant sale and lavender garden tours.
Here’s the line up so far and we invite you to come and celebrate our lavender bloom:
Musical Entertainment:
Max Marshall – Saturday, June 22, 11am – 2pm
Aaron and Joel Furlotte – Saturday, June 22, 2pm – 5pm
James Staley – Sunday, June 23, 11am – 2pm
Six Degrees – Sunday, June 23, 2pm – 5pm
Artisans:
Local artists, crafters and artisans make up our Artisan Alley, a place to admire and purchase hand-crafted original works and include:
Pawsitively a Dog Thing A Slice of Nature LRRR Designs
G-Pots Cary’s Cutting Boards Glen Eden Salsa
Bishop Artwork EVB Jewelry Stellas Works
Whispers of Wonder Handmade by Deb That’s Sew Sarah
Creations by Ann Mayz Birdhouses Whispering Willow Designs
Jewels by Jasper Transformed Treasures JWaters Design
Couture Art Terra Green Gardens Ayesha Drouillard
R.W Studios Garage Glass Art Dana Laferriere
Twisted to Life KandA Chalk Adventures Then n Now
Kap’s Collection Unconscious Reality Seaside Jewels
Silver by Wendy Jeff Perz Floyjoy Studio
Painting Workshops:
Local artist Rico Dancel is offering two of his well-loved Paint ‘n Wine workshops. His theme, “Lavender Fields Forever.” No experience or materials are necessary! Enjoy a relaxing afternoon with Rico as he leads you and your friends through a guided painting workshop. You’ll take home your own original creation of a lovely lavender field. Tickets must be purchased in advance. $50 + HST. Call Serenity Lavender Farm at 519-984-2684
Children’s Activities:
Every child is an artist and we have lots of children’s activities planned for Lavender Festival 2019! So bring your children and delight in the enchanting world of lavender where they can express their creativity in the chalk walk and colour station, be entertained by the whimsical story telling and readings of local children’s authors including Jane Buttery and Kara Koostra , explore the lavender labyrinth and experience the dance of the butterflies, go on a curiosity invoking adventure with our children’s scavenger hunt or simply write and tie a wish on the magical wishing tree.
Come join us for this fun filled weekend at Serenity Lavender Farm!
Why have a beautiful hand made wreath just for Christmas, when we can welcome in Spring with an Easter Wreath too. Come learn how to make an adorable wreath for your door to celebrate spring! We’ll use decorative mesh and ribbon, and lots of Easter extras.
All materials provided. The class is $45.00 plus hst for a couple of fun, relaxing and creative hours… just… for… YOU!!
The class size is limited to 10 participants. Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-wreath-workshop-tickets-43181274354
Here’s a nice easy recipe for Lavender Lemon tea cookies that we’ve adapted from Dietitians of Canada, COOK! A tea time favourite- oooh so pretty too! They are a perfect pairing with a cup of Serenity Lavender’s Lavender Earl Grey tea on a cold winter’s day or just a nice treat to chase away the winter blues.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup Serenity Lavender’s lavender sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/3 cup non-hydrogenated margarine
1 large egg beaten
1/2 cup 2% milk
2 tsp lemon extract
Frosting:
1 cup icing sugar
2 1/2 – 3 tbsp 2% milk
2 tsp non-hydrogenated margarine
1 tsp lemon extract
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C)
In a large bowl, combine flour, lavender sugar and baking powder. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
In a small bowl, whisk together egg, milk and lemon extract. Pour over flour mixture and stir just until a stiff dough forms (do not over mix).
Drop 1 tablespoonful (15 mL) about 2 inches (5 cm) apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until bottoms are golden. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.
Frosting:
In small bowl, combine icing sugar, milk, margarine and lemon extract to form a smooth, thin frosting.
Drizzle frosting over cooled cookies and top with Serenity Lavender’s Culinary lavender buds.
Makes about 30 cookies
Excerpted from Dietitians of Canada, COOK! by Mary Sue Waisman, photos by Colin Erricson © 2011 Robert Rose Inc. 
A perfect day for a cup of tea…. we’re tasting some new teas and can’t wait to share our new releases with you! Of course they are all blended with our own lavender grown locally at Serenity Lavender Farm. The flavours of our culinary lavender varieties are matched to enhance the flavours of the tea. We grow a number of varietals that are unique to Ontario and Canada. So, coconut ice with it’s spearmint flavours and aromas are a perfect match to our Spearmint tea, which incidently is a great tea to help with digestion. All of teas are fair trade and where possible organically grown. We are always looking for recommendations.
So,what’s your favourite tea?
Perfect dessert to share with your loved one this Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
Crust
- 10 oz Oreo cookies
- 2 oz melted butter
- pinch of salt
Cheesecake
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 2 tbsp cream
- 3 tbsp lavender simple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Raspberry Compote/paste
- 4 oz fresh raspberries
- 2 tbsp sugar (simmer for 15-20 minutes until thickened)
To serve
- 3-4 oz fresh raspberries
- Sliced Almonds
- Extra Lavender Syrup
- Confectioner’s sugar
Instructions
Crust
- In a food processor, place the Oreos and salt, and process until you get cookie crumbs.
- Then while running the food processor on its lowest setting, drizzle the butter in. This should make the cookie crumbs moist enough to be pressed into a cheesecake base.
- Take 4 omelet rings or tart rings and butter the insides. Place these on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet or tray. (Alternatively, you can use 4 mini fluted tart pans as well).
- Place some of the cookie crumbs inside and using a flat bottomed glass or tart tamper or the back of a spoon, press down the crust to form a flat base.
- If you prefer, use your fingers to press the cookie crumbs onto the sides of your tart rings as well to form the sides of the cheesecake (this is optional, just the base would be sufficient, and easier)
- Let the tart bases freeze for a few hours, or until you need them.
- When you’re ready to use the tart bases, carefully remove the tart ring by using a sharp knife to loosen the edges. Be careful not to break the base. If you have molded the sides as well, you may need a blow torch to warm up the sides slightly, to make unmolding easier.
Raspberry swirl (can be made ahead of time)
- Place all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil on medium heat.
- Lower the heat and let it simmer until you have a thick raspberry coulis/paste – about 10 minutes.
- Set aside to cool and store in the fridge until ready to use.
Cheesecake
- In a bowl, place all the ingredients. Whisk until you have a smooth paste.
- Add as much of the raspberry paste/coulis as you need to create a ripple effect. You can alter the amount according to your preference. I added about half. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge until ready.
- Optional – store the cheesecake in the fridge in a piping bag fitted with a wide round nozzle.
Assembly
- Remove unmolded tart bases from the freezer (about 10 minutes before serving).
- Spoon the cheesecake or pipe in the cheesecake evenly onto the four bases.
- Stud the top with 3-4 fresh raspberries.
- Drizzle a little extra lavender syrup on top.
- Sprinkle some sliced almonds and confectioner’s sugar.
- Serve immediately.
( Via adishofdailylife.com )
