Au Revoir to 2019...

We opened our little shop a year ago and my heart has been flooded with a plethora of emotions this year... A lot of fear and doubts that what I have to offer the world may not be good or desirable enough, tremendous joy, love, and passion for what I am creating, a strong dose of impatience and frustration for not getting the wanted results when I am expecting them, and the longing for connecting, servicing, and building community.  I have also felt an enormous amount of gratitude for having the chance to live a life where I get to follow my joy and share my passions.  My word for 2020 is detachment.  Detachment from feelings and thoughts that are stunting my growth and detachment from desired outcomes and results.  I also want to start leaving more room for God to do his work and not holding anything too tight.  We have a lot of exciting new projects and products in store for 2020 but for now, I would like to say thank you for taking the time to visit us here and follow our journey. I do not take any of you for granted:)  I wish you all many blessings and a lot of learning and dreaming in the coming year!  Merci beaucoup!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

Winter Tree For the Birds

I love gardening and being surrounded by wildlife.  With many feet of snow on the ground and negative temperatures, it is often hard to enjoy time outdoors during the cold season so I thought I would share how we had wildlife come to us a few winters ago. We gave a second life to our Christmas tree and positioned it right outside our living room window.  My son and I made fruit garlands and bird seed ornaments and we enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels feast on them. Upcycling our Christmas tree and giving it to the birds was such a fun project and a nice way to teach our son about birds and wildlife. 

Here is what you will need to make birdseed ornaments:

• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 

• 1/2 cup hot water

• 3 tablespoons corn syrup

• 3/4 cup flour

• 3 cups bird seed 

• Muffin tin

• Jute or yarn

• Non-stick cooking spray

TUTORIAL:

*Mix together 1 envelope of gelatin and 1/2 cup of hot water until the gelatin is dissolved.

*Stir in 3 tablespoons of corn syrup.

*Add 3/4 cup of flour and mix until a paste is formed.

*Pour in 3 cups of birdseed and combine until well coated.

*Spray your muffin tin with cooking spray and fill each muffin cup half way.

*Make a loop with jute twine or yarn and gently press into the mixture.

*Fill each muffin cup to the top with the leftover bird seed mixture and press firmly.  Let it set for 12 hours before hanging.

*To make the fruit garlands, I strung thick slices of apples and oranges with a needle and jute twine.

Voilà!  Simple and easy to make decorations that birds will enjoy all winter!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

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Christmas Stove Top Potpourri Gift Idea

I enjoy having a potpourri simmering on our woodstove during the colder months. It makes our home feel cozy, festive, and welcoming. For the holidays, I like to fill a pot with herbs, spices, and fruits that embody the Christmas season.  I gave this homemade stove top potpourri as gifts a few years ago and I thought I would share the recipe with you today. 

Here is what you will need to make this Christmas stove top potpourri homemade gift:

• 4 sprigs of rosemary

• 5 cinnamon sticks

• whole nutmeg

• 1 tablespoon of whole cloves

• 1/2 cup of dried cranberries

• 1 orange

• Burlap bag 

• Jute twine

*Fill a burlap bag with rosemary, cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg, whole cloves, dried cranberries, and whole orange.  You can use ground spices instead of whole by simply putting them in a little plastic bag.  

*Tie the burlap bag with jute twine.

*To use, slice the orange and place in a medium pot with all the other ingredients.  Add 5 cups of water and let it simmer uncovered, adding water as needed. 

I hope you like this simple and inexpensive gift idea!

Thank you so much for stopping by and cheers to a naturally scented Christmas!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

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Baking Soda and Cornstarch Christmas Ornaments

For the past decade, I have embraced decorating our home with a homemade, natural, and simple approach. During the holiday season, I enjoy handcrafting garlands and Christmas ornaments. Over the years, I have made pom-pom, cranberry, pop corn, felt, pine cone, and fresh evergreen garlands, and all kinds of Christmas ornaments.  I find many advantages to making our own holiday decorations.  It is inexpensive, eco-friendly, we create wonderful memories as a family, and we don't have bins of stuff to store each year.  

One of my favorite Christmas ornaments we have made are these pure white baking soda and cornstarch ornaments.

Here is how to make these simple ornaments:  

*Affiliate link provided for your convenience.*

BAKING SODA AND CORNSTARCH CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS   

• 2 cups baking soda

• 1 cup cornstarch

• 1 1/4 cup water

• Holiday cookie cutters

Combine baking soda and cornstarch in a medium pot.  Add water and mix well.

Place the pot over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to thicken.  When you reach a 'mashed potatoes' consistency, remove from heat. 

Form the dough into a ball and cover it with a damp cloth.  Let it cool for 15 minutes.   

Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness.  Using holiday cookie cutters, cut out shapes.  

Gently poke a hole at the top of each ornament with a drinking straw.  Let your ornaments air dry for 24 hours, flipping them once.  

Voilà!  Beautiful homemade ornaments that will add a little magic to your décor this Christmas!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

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Our Vintage Christmas Collection

We are so excited to share with you our vintage Christmas collection, which includes 12 new handcrafted sheep goods. We can all agree that this past year has been challenging as a collective whole. We hope that this vintage Christmas collection will bring you joy and a touch of nostalgia for days past and that it will inspire you to disconnect with the superfluous and reconnect with what truly matters. Thank ewe so much for supporting our family business and adventures!

JOLLY PEPPERMINT SWIRL SHEEP MILK SOAP

Lather up this holiday season with our all-natural jolly peppermint swirl sheep milk soap. Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home, our limited edition jolly peppermint swirl soap is made using fresh milk from East Friesian sheep. Each bar is cut by hand and is made using nourishing oils and shea butter, nutrient rich sheep milk, detoxifying french green and pink clay, and invigorating pure peppermint essential oil.

CLAWFOOT TUB SOAP DISH

Add vintage flair to your home this holiday season by displaying your sheep milk soap in a clawfoot tub soap dish. This vintage looking mint color bathtub soap dish is made of metal with an enamel finish and measures about 5.5" long x 2.5" wide x 2.75" tall. There are 3 holes on the bottom of the tub for drainage. This will keep your sheep milk soap dry between uses and help it last longer.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT SWIRL SHEEP MILK BATH SOAK

Take a moment for yourself this holiday season and enjoy all of the benefits of our jolly peppermint swirl sheep milk bath soak! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home using high quality and all-natural ingredients, our special blend of sheep milk, Epsom salt, baking soda, french green clay, pink kaolin clay, and peppermint essential oil will help detoxify, invigorate, rejuvenate, and soften your skin.

SHEEP HOLIDAY POSTCARD

Connect with your loved ones this holiday season with a unique sheep postcard. This picturesque postcard is printed on linen cardstock paper and comes with a white envelope. It features our sheep Onyx, Pearl, and Marble hiking in a wintry Vermont landscape.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT BEESWAX WAX MELTS

Turn your home into a Christmas wonderland with our jolly peppermint ewe and lamb shaped beeswax wax melts. Hand poured in small batches in our Vermont home, our all-natural ewe and 6 lambs wax melts are made using 100% pure beeswax, coconut oil, and peppermint essential oil.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT ROOM AND LINEN SPRAY

Freshen up your homestead this holiday season with our jolly peppermint room and linen spray! A few spritzes is all that you need to welcome your guests with the sweet and inviting aroma of peppermint as they enter your home.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT SWIRL SHEEP MILK BATH FIZZIES

Get into the holiday spirit with our jolly peppermint swirl sheep milk bath fizzie! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our limited holiday edition jolly peppermint swirl sheep milk bath fizzies are made using 12 all-natural ingredients. Our jolly peppermint swirl sheep milk bath fizzie features nourishing sheep milk, coconut oil, and shea butter, soothing baking soda and cornstarch, detoxifying Epsom salt, bentonite clay, french green clay, pink kaolin clay, citric acid, and witch hazel, and invigorating peppermint essential oil.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT SHEEP MILK SUGAR SCRUB

Our 100% all-natural handcrafted jolly peppermint sheep milk sugar scrub features pure cane sugar, coconut oil, sheep milk, vitamin E, hibiscus flowers, spearmint leaves, and peppermint essential oil. Our jolly peppermint sheep milk sugar scrub will gently polish, soothe, and nourish your skin, while the invigorating aroma of peppermint will keep you energized all throughout the holiday season.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT SHEEP MILK BATH TEA

Let yourself unwind from the busyness of the holidays with our peppermint sheep milk bath tea. Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home using all-natural ingredients, our jolly peppermint sheep milk bath tea will soften your skin, relieve sore muscles, and boosts circulation. This all-natural aromatic bath tea blend features cocoa butter, Epsom salt, whole milk powder, saponified sheep milk, peppermint leaves, and peppermint essential oil.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT SHEEP MILK BEESWAX CANDLE

Bring holiday cheer into your home with our jolly peppermint sheep milk beeswax candle. Hand poured in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our limited holiday edition jolly peppermint sheep milk beeswax candles are made using 100% pure beeswax, fresh sheep milk, peppermint essential oil, hibiscus flowers, peppermint leaves, and natural cotton wicks. Each 9 oz candle comes in a beautiful hexagon glass jar and will burn for approximately 40 hours. The addition of sheep milk truly makes our beeswax candles unique and we hope that you will enjoy the warm glow and the inviting and festive aroma of our jolly peppermint sheep milk beeswax candle.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT GRAZING PASTURE SHOWER STEAMERS

Get all of the aromatherapy benefits of peppermint essential oil with our grazing pasture shower steamers! These three flower shower fizzies will help open up your airway, boosts you mood, and invigorate your body. Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our limited holiday edition jolly peppermint grazing pasture shower steamers are made using baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, french green clay, witch hazel, and peppermint essential oil.

JOLLY PEPPERMINT SHEEP GIFT BASKET

Celebrate your loved one’s this holiday season with our jolly peppermint sheep gift basket!

This limited holiday edition sheep gift basket contains all of our handcrafted jolly peppermint products:

• Jolly peppermint sheep milk soap

• Jolly peppermint sheep milk sugar scrub

• Jolly peppermint sheep milk bath fizzie

• Jolly peppermint grazing pasture shower steamer

• Jolly peppermint sheep milk bath soak

• Jolly peppermint sheep milk bath tea

• Jolly peppermint sheep milk beeswax candle

• Jolly peppermint ewe and lambs wax melts

• Jolly peppermint room and linen spray

All of these jolly peppermint sheep goods are nestled in a lined wired basket filled with fresh hay. Each product is labeled and comes with directions. Our jolly peppermint sheep gift basket also includes a metal sheep bell and a customizable holiday sheep postcard printed on linen cardstock.

Thank you so much for choosing the Sheep Shop this holiday season!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

Our Countdown To Christmas Box

I am back today with our countdown to Christmas box. My son is 7 years old and we have been enjoying this box since he was 2. I purchased the papier mâché box on Etsy. You can find a similar one here by the same artisan. It has 25 little drawers and instead of treats, I picked activities that we could do together as a family every year.  I wrote the activities on 25 tea stained tags and I put one tag in each drawer.

Here is the list of activities I chose to put in our Christmas countdown box:

• Color a Christmas picture

• Make a Christmas ornament

• Write a letter to Santa

• Decorate our Christmas tree

• Read a story about the birth of baby Jesus

• Make Christmas playdough

• Read a holiday story

• Make Christmas cards for grandparents

• Sing Christmas songs

• Watch a Christmas movie

• Bake and decorate holiday cookies

• Donate clothes and toys

• Build a gingerbread house

• Make homemade gifts for family, friends, neighbors, and teachers

• Make a snowman

• Drink hot cocoa

• Go to Santa's Village

• Play a game together

• Bring treats to an animal shelter

• Visit Santa Claus

• Buy a gift for a child in need

• Go sledding

• Go on a Christmas lights drive

• Take a family photo

• Merry Christmas!

I grew up eating all the chocolates in my Advent calendar WAY before Christmas and I wanted to start a tradition with my son that I felt was more meaningful.  I really look forward to this countdown to Christmas every year and I can’t wait to build some new memories with my family this month. Do you countdown the days before Christmas in a special way?  I would love to know.

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

How To Force Bulbs For Holiday Blooms

I love decorating our home with natural elements and Christmas is no exception. In today’s post, I will show you how to force amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs to bloom around Christmas time.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term 'forcing', it is the process of coaxing a bulb to bloom out of season.  Unlike a lot of other bulbs, amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs do not need a chilling period.  Amaryllis usually take about 6-8 weeks to bloom after planting and paperwhites flower after 4-6 weeks.   

Here are a few tips to help you force amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs this holiday season:

• Purchase large and healthy bulbs. They should feel firm to the touch, and show no sign of mold or decay.

• Decide whether you would like to force your bulbs in soil or water. I usually force amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs in soil but the water method works just as well. To force your bulbs in water, simply fill a container with rocks and add water until it reaches the bottom of the bulbs or you can use one of these fancy bulb vases. Do not submerge your bulbs or they will rot! To force your bulbs in soil, choose a pot with a drainage hole and fill it with potting soil. If your pot doesn't have a drainage hole, create a drainage layer by filling the bottom with rocks or pebbles before adding potting soil.

• Plant the bulbs (pointy side up) and anchor them firmly in the soil leaving one third of the bulbs above the soil line.

• Water regularly and rotate your pot every few days to keep the stalks straight and prevent them from leaning towards the light.

• Paperwhites have a tendency to flop over so here is a little tip to grow shorter paperwhites. Wait until the shoots are 1 to 2 inches above the bulbs and add alcohol to the water. Alcohol diluted with water will stunt their growth to 1/3 shorter than normal but will not affect the size or amount of flowers. Mix 7 parts water to 1 part hard liquor (40% distilled spirit) such as gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, or tequila. Keep watering your paperwhites with this special cocktail and voilà! Shorter paperwhites that won't flop over!

• Optional: Add pine cones and greenery for a festive touch!

Thank you so much for stopping by today and please let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to share any other tips in the comment box below or connect with me on Instagram or Facebook. 

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

Best of Christmas Past…

I was hoping to deck the halls this weekend but my son is fighting a cold and I have a couple of wholesale orders to fulfill. Instead, I decided to look back at some of the Christmas pictures I took of our home from the past two years and I thought it would be fun to share them with you today.

First up, a neutral palette inspired by nature with lots of handmade decorations and thrifted finds.

A SIMPLE FARMHOUSE WHITE CHRISTMAS (2017)

I made a lot of these baking soda and cornstarch star ornaments a couple years ago and I am planning to share a tutorial with you in a few weeks.

One thing that comes back every Christmas in our home are those little wreaths that I hang on our kitchen cabinets. I love how they make our kitchen feel cozy on cold and snowy days.

⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄ ❄ ⛄

I don’t usually decorate with red but when my husband found an antique pair of red skis in our garage last year, I knew I wanted to incorporate them in our Christmas décor.

A JOLLY CHRISTMAS (2018)

I made this Christmas tree farm sign a few years ago and I have been having fun moving it around our house every year.

And let’s not forget about all of our two and four legged friends:)

I hope these pictures of our Christmases past gave you a little bit of inspiration and a few ideas for your holiday decorating!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

Making and Cutting our Jolly Peppermint Swirl Sheep Milk Soap (video)

I am excited to share with you a video on how I made our vintage Christmas jolly peppermint swirl sheep milk soap. I hope you find the process interesting and relaxing to watch:) I wish you all an amazing week!

With love and gratitude!

Marie-Hélène

Our Uplifting Tangerine Calendula Collection

It is officially ‘‘stick season’’ in Central Vermont! This is the time of year when the leaves have fallen and the snow has yet to settle on the trees. It can be challenging to keep our spirits high and our skin smooth and nourished when the days are getting shorter and colder. Today, I would like to introduce our uplifting tangerine calendula collection that will brighten up your mood and help soothe dry and itchy skin.

UPLIFTING TANGERINE CALENDULA SHEEP MILK SOAP

Lift your spirits with our tangerine calendula sheep milk soap! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home, our uplifting tangerine calendula soap is made using fresh milk from East Friesian sheep. Each bar is cut by hand and is made using nourishing oils and shea butter, nutrient rich raw sheep milk, calendula flowers, and 100% pure tangerine essential oil.

UPLIFTING TANGERINE CALENDULA SHEEP MILK SUGAR SCRUB

Exfoliate your skin with our uplifting tangerine calendula sheep milk sugar scrub! Infused with 100% pure tangerine essential oil and calendula flowers, our tangerine calendula sheep milk sugar scrub will help heal damaged skin and make it look younger and suppler. The pure cane sugar will gently exfoliate your skin while the rich combination of the coconut oil, vitamin E, and sheep milk will leave your skin smooth and nourished.

UPLIFTING TANGERINE CALENDULA SHEEP MILK BATH FIZZIES

Brighten your day with our uplifting tangerine calendula sheep milk bath fizzies! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our tangerine calendula sheep milk bath fizzies are made using 11 all-natural ingredients. Smile as these bright bath fizzies release nourishing sheep milk, coconut oil, and shea butter, soothing baking soda, cornstarch, and calendula flowers, detoxifying bentonite clay, Epsom salt, citric acid, and witch hazel, and uplifting 100% pure tangerine essential oil.

UPLIFTING TANGERINE CALENDULA SHEEP MILK BATH SOAK

Bring sunshine to your bath routine with our uplifting tangerine calendula sheep milk bath soak. Indulge yourself in milky water and calendula flowers with our special blend of sheep milk, Epsom salt, baking soda, bentonite clay, and 100% pure tangerine essential oil. Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home using high quality and all-natural ingredients, our tangerine calendula sheep milk bath soak will uplift your mood and help soothe dry and itchy skin.

UPLIFTING TANGERINE CALENDULA SHEEP MILK BEESWAX CANDLE

This uplifting tangerine calendula sheep milk beeswax candle has a sweet, earthy, and citrusy aroma! Hand poured in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our tangerine calendula sheep milk beeswax candles are made using 100% pure beeswax, fresh sheep milk, tangerine essential oil, calendula flowers, and natural cotton wicks. Each 9 oz candle comes in a beautiful hexagon glass jar and will burn for approximately 70 hours. The addition of sheep milk truly makes our beeswax candles unique and we hope that you will enjoy the warm glow and the uplifting aroma of our tangerine calendula sheep milk beeswax candle.

UPLIFTING TANGERINE CALENDULA SHEEP MILK GIFT BASKET

Treat yourself or a loved one with our uplifting tangerine calendula sheep milk gift basket!

This sheep milk basket contains our entire uplifting tangerine calendula collection:

• Tangerine calendula sheep milk soap

• Tangerine calendula sheep milk sugar scrub

• Tangerine calendula sheep milk bath fizzie

• Tangerine calendula sheep milk bath soak

• Tangerine calendula sheep milk beeswax candle

All of these uplifting tangerine calendula sheep milk goods are nestled in a lined wired basket filled with fresh hay. Each product is labeled and comes with directions. Our uplifting tangerine calendula sheep milk gift basket also includes a metal sheep bell and a customizable sheep greeting card. Simply enter the recipient’s name and a gift message at checkout and your loved one will feel special and appreciated.

You can browse our other collections here. For the farmhouse lover in your life, we are also offering sheep cutting boards, coasters, throw pillows, and gift cards.

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

Dyeing Fabric With Goldenrod

The days are getting colder here in rural Vermont and we just harvested the last of our garden. One project I wanted to tackle this Fall was to dye fabric with goldenrod.

This is a picture of the front of our homestead that I took last month. As you can see, it was goldenrod galore!

‘‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.’’ -Theodore Roosevelt

I love this quote and how it describes how we strive to live our lives as homesteaders. In a world where social media is so prevalent, it is easy to start feeling like we have less than and we are less than. When I fall in the less than trap, I try to redirect my focus and my heart on abundance and gratitude.

One thing we have an abundance of on our homestead is goldenrod! I started researching the benefits and uses of this perennial plant and I would love to hear your suggestions in the comments box below.

I have always been fascinated with the process of dyeing clothes naturally using flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Last month, I went ahead and dyed some fabric for the first time using goldenrod. For this project, I snipped goldenrod flowers and added them to a pot. I filled the pot with water using a ratio of 1 part goldenrod flowers to 2 parts water.

I let the goldenrod and water simmer for about 1 hour. My son Marcialito wanted to join in and got his own little pot:)

To prep the 100% cotton fabric to receive the dye, I dissolved 2 tablespoons of alum in a pot filled with water. I submerged the fabric in the water and let it sit for 45 minutes.

I strained the goldenrod flowers from the first pot and was left with the most beautiful golden yellow dye. I rinsed the fabric in cold water and added the fabric to the dyebath and let it simmer for another hour. You can let the fabric sit longer until you obtain the desired shade.

Voilà!

This was such a fun project and I can’t wait to experiment with other colors. Did you ever attempt at dyeing fabric naturally? I would love to hear your tips and tricks.

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

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Our Comforting Autumn Spice Collection

Happy Autumn! The last few weeks have just flown by with family visiting, back to school activities, painting and restocking our shop, and getting ready to launch our new fall collection. I hope you are able to take time to engage in good self-care and embrace the new season with all of its beauty and bounty.

Today, we are so excited to introduce our comforting Autumn spice collection! We worked very hard at creating a collection that we hope will bring you warmth, joy, and comfort on cool Autumn days. This is a limited collection that will be available until Thanksgiving, or while stock lasts.

COMFORTING AUTUMN SPICE SHEEP MILK SOAP

Enjoy the comforting aromas of Fall with our Autumn spice sheep milk soap! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home, our limited fall edition Autumn spice soap is made using fresh milk from East Friesian sheep. Each bar is cut by hand and is made using nourishing oils and shea butter, nutrient rich sheep milk, ground cinnamon, and pure essential oils of cinnamon, clove, and tangerine.

COMFORTING AUTUMN SPICE SHEEP MILK SUGAR SCRUB

Our 100% all-natural handcrafted Autumn spice sheep milk sugar scrub has delectable notes of cinnamon, clove, and tangerine. Our limited fall edition Autumn spice sheep milk scrub features pure cane sugar, coconut oil, sheep milk, vitamin E, ground cinnamon, ground clove, and essential oils of cinnamon, clove, and tangerine. Our comforting Autumn spice sheep milk sugar scrub will gently polish, soothe, and nourish your skin, while the warm and spicy aromas of cinnamon, clove, and tangerine will help boost your mood and strengthen your immune system.

COMFORTING AUTUMN SPICE SHEEP MILK BATH FIZZIE

Get all the fall feelings with our comforting Autumn spice sheep milk bath fizzie! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our limited fall edition Autumn spice sheep milk bath fizzies are made using 14 all-natural ingredients. This comforting Autumn spice sheep milk bath fizzie features nourishing sheep milk, coconut oil, and shea butter, soothing baking soda and cornstarch, detoxifying Epsom salt, bentonite clay, citric acid, and witch hazel, stimulating essential oils of cinnamon, clove, and tangerine, and cleansing ground clove and ground cinnamon.

COMFORTING AUTUMN SPICE SHEEP MILK BATH SOAK

Spice up your bath and beauty routine this Fall with our comforting Autumn spice sheep milk bath soak! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home using high quality and all-natural ingredients, our special blend of sheep milk, Epsom salt, baking soda, bentonite clay, ground cinnamon, ground clove, and essential oils of cinnamon, clove, and tangerine will help detoxify, stimulate, and rejuvenate your skin while relaxing and balancing your nervous system.

COMFORTING AUTUMN SPICE SHEEP MILK BEESWAX CANDLE

Cozy up your home this Fall with our comforting Autumn spice sheep milk beeswax candle. Hand poured in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our limited fall edition Autumn spice sheep milk beeswax candles are made using 100% pure beeswax, fresh sheep milk, essential oils of cinnamon, clove, and tangerine, ground cinnamon, and natural cotton wicks. Each 9 oz candle comes in a beautiful hexagon glass jar and will burn for approximately 70 hours. The addition of sheep milk truly makes our beeswax candles unique and we hope that you will enjoy the warm glow and the comforting aroma of our Autumn spice sheep milk beeswax candle.

COMFORTING AUTUMN SPICE SHEEP MILK GIFT BASKET

Warm up your loved one’s heart with our comforting Autumn Spice sheep milk gift basket!

This limited fall edition sheep milk basket contains our entire Autumn Spice collection:

• Autumn spice sheep milk soap

• Autumn spice sheep milk sugar scrub

• Autumn spice sheep milk bath fizzie

• Autumn spice sheep milk bath soak

• Autumn spice sheep milk beeswax candle

All of these comforting Autumn spice sheep milk goods are nestled in a lined wired basket filled with fresh hay. Each product is labeled and comes with directions. Our comforting Autumn spice sheep milk gift basket also includes a metal sheep bell and a customizable sheep greeting card. Simply enter the recipient’s name and a gift message at checkout and your loved one will feel special and appreciated.

You can browse our other collections here. For the farmhouse lover in your life, we are also offering sheep cutting boards, coasters, throw pillows, and gift cards.

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

How To Make a Wildflower Wreath

One thing I wait for with great anticipation every year is to grab a basket and a pair of scissors and head outside to cut wildflowers.

Is there anything more blissful than basking in the gleaming August light in a field of goldenrod?

It is wildflower galore this time of year in rural Vermont and I love tucking Mother Nature’s beauty and bounty in every nook and cranny of our home.

One thing that fills my cup is wreath making. Today, I will show you how to make a simple, quick, and inexpensive wildflower wreath. This late summer wreath is sure to add a touch of farmhouse charm to any room in your home.

This is what you will need to make a wildflower wreath.

Please note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission on the sale of an item through these links but the purchase price remains the same for you. Thank you for supporting this blog!

SUPPLIES:

• Wreath form

• Floral wire

• Wire cutter

• Scissors

• Bunches of wildflowers

TUTORIAL:

• Grab a bunch of wildflowers and lay it on top of the wreath form. Secure stems to wreath form with floral wire.

• Lay another bunch of wildflowers on top of the stems from the previous bunch. Secure stems with floral wire and repeat by overlapping bunches of wildflowers on top of stems until the whole wreath form is covered.

• When the whole wreath is covered, cut the wire and tuck in a few extra wildflowers to hide the wire.

I hope this inspires you to grab a basket and a pair of scissors and to bring some late summer color and beauty to your home.

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

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Midsummer Garden Tour 2019 (Video)

I am back today with our midsummer garden tour. I am excited to announce that our first Sheep Shop video is live on Youtube and I am looking forward to take a stroll with you and look at our perennial garden, our fruit orchard, our potager, and our market-style garden.

Thank you so much for stopping by! It means a lot to us!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

Our Relaxing English Lavender Collection

With July coming to an end and our lavender in full bloom, I thought I would introduce our relaxing English lavender collection of sheep milk soaps, scrubs, fizzies, soaks, and candles. This collection combines the relaxing scent of lavender with the skin nourishing benefits of sheep milk.

RELAXING ENGLISH LAVENDER SHEEP MILK SOAP

Our rich and creamy relaxing English lavender sheep milk soap is handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home using fresh milk from East Friesian sheep. Each bar is cut by hand and is made using nourishing oils and shea butter, nutrient rich sheep milk, and 100% pure lavender essential oil.

RELAXING ENGLISH LAVENDER SHEEP MILK SUGAR SCRUB

Exfoliate and revitalize your skin with our relaxing English lavender sheep milk sugar scrub! We have combined the skin nourishing benefits of sheep milk with pure cane sugar, coconut oil, vitamin E, lavender essential oil, and lavender buds. The pure cane sugar and lavender buds will gently exfoliate your skin while the rich combination of the coconut oil, vitamin E, and sheep milk will leave your skin soft and nourished. You will also feel the amazing benefits of aromatherapy with our 100% pure lavender essential oil.

RELAXING ENGLISH LAVENDER SHEEP MILK BATH FIZZIE

Let the tensions of the day fizz away with our relaxing English Lavender sheep milk bath fizzie! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our lavender sheep milk bath fizzies are made using 11 all-natural ingredients. This luxurious relaxing English lavender sheep milk bath fizzie features nourishing sheep milk, coconut oil, and shea butter, soothing baking soda and cornstarch, detoxifying bentonite clay, Epsom salt, citric acid, and witch hazel, and relaxing lavender essential oil and lavender buds.

RELAXING ENGLISH LAVENDER SHEEP MILK BATH SOAK

Restore balance with our relaxing English lavender sheep milk bath soak! Pamper yourself in milky water and lavender buds with our special blend of sheep milk, Epsom salt, baking soda, bentonite clay, and 100% pure lavender essential oil. Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home using high quality and all-natural ingredients, our relaxing English lavender sheep milk bath soak will leave your skin smooth and revitalized, and bring a sense of peace and serenity to your whole being.

RELAXING ENGLISH LAVENDER SHEEP MILK BEESWAX CANDLE

Relax with our creamy English lavender sheep milk beeswax candle! Hand poured in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our candles are made using 100% pure beeswax, fresh sheep milk, lavender essential oil, lavender buds, and natural cotton wicks. Each 9 oz candle comes in a beautiful hexagon glass jar and will burn for approximately 70 hours. The addition of sheep milk truly makes our beeswax candles unique and we hope that you will enjoy the warm glow and the scrumptious aroma of sheep milk, beeswax, and lavender.

RELAXING ENGLISH LAVENDER SHEEP MILK GIFT BASKET

Give yourself or a special someone the gift of self-care with our relaxing English lavender sheep milk basket!

This sheep milk gift basket contains our entire relaxing English lavender collection:

• English lavender sheep milk soap

• English lavender sheep milk sugar scrub

• English lavender sheep milk bath fizzie

• English lavender sheep milk bath soak

• English lavender sheep milk beeswax candle

All of these relaxing English lavender sheep milk goods are nestled in a lined wired basket filled with fresh hay. Each product is labeled and comes with directions. Our relaxing English lavender sheep milk gift basket also includes a metal sheep bell and a customizable sheep greeting card. Simply enter the recipient’s name and a gift message at checkout and your loved one will feel special and appreciated.

You can browse our other collections here. For the farmhouse lover in your life, we are also offering sheep cutting boards, coasters, throw pillows, and gift cards.

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

How to Make Laminate Countertops Look Like Wood For Less Than $100.00

Some of you may know that I was the voice behind the blog Kingsbury Brook Farm. One of my most popular posts was a project I tackled in the summer of 2016 when I made our laminate kitchen countertops look like wood. I thought I would share this DIY project with you today and show you how I was able to transform our laminate kitchen countertops for less than $100.00 and give you an update on how they look 3 years later.

This is a picture of our laminate countertops back in 2016.

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I love the warmth of butcher block countertops but our budget did not allow us to make the upgrade. It took me a few weeks of research, trials and errors, and lots of scrap board pieces before I came across a product called Stainable Primer.  This is a primer that has wood particles in it and is stainable. You can transform any hard material into a stainable wood surface. At the time, I was not able to find anyone who attempted to stain their laminate countertops but I still went ahead and purchased a quart of Stainable Primer. Unfortunately, this product is now harder to purchase online. I found another product, which is very similar to the original Stainable Primer, and comes with the option to pick your wood color (Light Wood, Medium Wood, and Dark Wood).

I started the process by thoroughly sanding our kitchen countertops before applying two coats of Stainable Primer. Right after I applied the second coat, I used a wood graining tool and made a wood grain pattern.

The next step was to apply two coats of stain and I chose Minwax Dark Walnut.

Like any wooden surface, the countertops needed to be sealed.  I went with Minwax Polyurethane in a satin finish and I applied a total of three coats.  I always prep food on a cutting board so I wasn't concerned about using polyurethane.

The cost for this project was less than $100.00 and I am beyond happy with the outcome. Our countertops have help up beautifully since 2016 with only a few minor dings and scratches.

As a homesteader, I am always striving to be content and work with what I have and this project was a reflection of that. I hope this inspires you to take a risk and embrace the journey you are on.

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

What We Have Been Up To...

The past couple months have been filled with lots of exciting projects on our homestead, which have kept my hands busy in the dirt instead of on the keyboard. I turned the big 4-0 last month and my sweet sister surprised and blessed us with a fruit grove for my birthday. We planted two apple trees a few years ago and we just added two pear trees, three european plum trees, one cherry tree, and one mulberry tree.

I love seeing the two freshly planted plum trees against the old apple tree, the weathered swing and the worn out well…

We also added a few new beds to our kitchen garden.

We garden in zone 4a and it can sometimes be frustrating to garden in a cold climate but it looks like we will finally be able to harvest some grapes this year.

One of our biggest projects was to rototill our back lawn and add a market style garden.

We only planted the left section so far with cantaloupe, watermelon, green beans, snap peas, winter squash, butternut squash, pumpkins, corn, and lots of zinnias, nasturtiums, and sunflowers. The right section will be planted with asparagus, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, bush cherries, and other small fruits. The middle circular section is dedicated to culinary and medicinal herbs. The planter in the middle of the herb garden was a free Craigslist find. It is beautifully handmade and came with 8 terrocotta pots that still need to be filled with herbs and flowers.

The row garden still has a long way to go but it is now a working garden that will provide produce for our friends and family instead of being a big patch of lawn that has to be mowed every week. I would also love to add a rock wall and an arbor at the entrance of the garden and build a greenhouse on a little area nearby.

My husband fenced in our chicken coop with leftover material found on our homestead. We still need to build a door and attach it to the arbor but it is coming along nicely. We currently get about 12 eggs a day from our 13 hens and we are selling a few dozen eggs every week to our local coop.

Our Maremma sheep dog is trying to keep cool in the heat of the summer and our sheep are scheduled to be sheared this week.

Our boy has been busy learning about ants and is taking good care of his little ant farm.

And of course, the endless watering and weeding chores are keeping me busy everyday but I am making a point to stop daily and take in all of the beauty like the vivid colors of the delphiniums and the daylillies…

The smell of the lavender in bloom…

…and the sound of the Sunday morning church bells.

We are also working hard at restocking our shop and we are making new batches of sheep milk soap, scrubs, fizzies, soaks, and candles. We are also currently planning for the upcoming fall season and we can’t wait to introduce our new autumn scent.

Finally, we are giving the shop a makeover and doing some painting, organizing, and decorating. I will have a few posts about the transformation in the next couple months.

I hope your summer has been enjoyable so far and I would love to hear what you have been up to…

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

Easter Table | Dying Eggs Naturally

I am back today with our Easter table and a quick tutorial on how to dye eggs naturally. As much as I enjoy looking at Easter table inspiration filled with the newest plates, napkins, table runners, and bunny decorations, it is not viable for us to splurge on new stuff every season and every holiday. I still aim for mixing things up every year and enjoy getting creative, but the older I get, the more frugal and intentional I have become about deciding what is coming into our home. We are hosting Easter brunch every year and when I was thinking about this year's table, instead of thinking of what I would like to purchase, I thought of what we already have in abundance. One thing that is overflowing on our homestead is chicken eggs. We currently have 17 hens and 3 roosters, and the hens lay about 10 eggs a day. Our 7 year son has a little business of his own and sells the eggs at our local coop but we still have lots of eggs to share and use for crafts. Here is a quick tutorial on how to dye eggs naturally with ingredients from the kitchen.

To dye the eggs blue, simply bring to a boil 1 cup of crushed blueberries and 3 cups of water. Remove from heat, strain blueberry mixture in a fine wire mesh sieve and let it cool. Add 6 tablespoons of vinegar and submerge the eggs (I let mine sit overnight) until desired color is reached.

To dye the eggs yellow, bring to a boil 2 tablespoons of turmeric and 3 cups of water. Remove from heat and let it cool. Add 6 tablespoons of vinegar and submerge the eggs (I let mine sit overnight) until desired color is reached.

After I let all the eggs dry for a few hours, I nestled them in some bunny rabbit ears made out of folded ticking napkins. For the dishware, I simply used flea market ironstone plates and utensils that I already owned and mixed them with beautiful bee glasses I bought 2 years ago.

For the table centerpiece, I put some daffodils, ironstone tureens, and beeswax candles on a blue ticking table runner.

I also had fun printing our Easter brunch menu on a bunny cutout I made in less than 10 minutes.

Voilà! A simple, quick, and inexpensive Easter table that set me back only $7.00, which was the cost of the daffodils at our local grocery store. I will enjoy the flowers for a week or two and then I will plant the bulbs in our landscape and enjoy these daffodils again next year.

I hope you enjoyed a little bit of Easter inspiration today… I wish you all a wonderful weekend and a Happy Easter!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

Decadent Gluten-Free Spearmint Chocolate Mug Cake

After introducing our refreshing garden spearmint collection last week, I thought I would be back today and show you how I use spearmint essential oil, not only in our sheep milk soaps and body care products, but also in baked goods. This decadent gluten-free spearmint chocolate mug cake is a favorite of mine and one that you can whip up from start to finish in minutes. We have a huge patch of spearmint on our land and I can’t wait to potter in the garden and harvest some mint every morning but in the meantime, I will enjoy this spearmint chocolate mug cake and I hope you will too:)

DECADENT GLUTEN-FREE SPEARMINT CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

ACTIVE TIME: 5 MINUTES | YIELD: 1 SERVING

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tablespoons gluten-free flour

• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cacao

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

• 4 tablespoons maple syrup

• 2 tablespoons almond milk

• 1 beaten egg

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt

• 1 tablespoon semisweet chocolate chips

• spearmint essential oil

• mint leaves

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until batter is smooth.

2. Dip a toothpick in spearmint essential oil and stir the batter with the toothpick.

3. Grease mug with coconut oil.

4. Pour batter into mug.

5. Microwave on high for 90 seconds.

6. Let it cool for a few minutes.

7. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

8. Garnish with mint leaves. Enjoy!

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène

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Our Refreshing Garden Spearmint Collection

Our shop is ready for Spring!!! We are welcoming the new season with our refreshing garden spearmint collection of sheep milk soaps, scrubs, fizzies, soaks, and candles. This collection combines the invigorating and rejuvenating aroma of pure spearmint essential oil with the skin nourishing benefits of sheep milk.

REFRESHING GARDEN SPEARMINT SHEEP MILK SOAP

Our creamy and refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk soap has a luscious lather that will cleanse and nourish your skin. Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont home, our garden spearmint soap is made using fresh milk from East Friesian sheep. Each bar is cut by hand and is made using nourishing oils and shea butter, nutrient rich sheep milk, french green clay, spearmint leaves, and 100% pure spearmint essential oil.

REFRESHING GARDEN SPEARMINT SHEEP MILK SUGAR SCRUB

Invigorate yourself with our refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk sugar scrub!  Our special blend of sheep milk, pure cane sugar, coconut oil, vitamin E, and spearmint leaves will gently exfoliate your skin and leave it smooth and rejuvenated. The 100% pure spearmint essential oil has a cooling and revitalizing effect that will help soothe inflamed skin, stimulate the growth of new skin cells, and promote better circulation.

REFRESHING GARDEN SPEARMINT SHEEP MILK BATH FIZZIE

Delight your senses with our refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk bath fizzie! Handcrafted in small batches in our Vermont kitchen, our spearmint sheep milk bath fizzies are made using 11 all-natural ingredients. This refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk bath fizzie contains nourishing sheep milk, coconut oil, and shea butter, soothing baking soda and cornstarch, detoxifying Epsom salt, french green clay, citric acid, and witch hazel, and refreshing spearmint essential oil and spearmint leaves.

REFRESHING GARDEN SPEARMINT SHEEP MILK BATH SOAK

Awake your senses with our refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk bath soak! Handmade in small batches in our Vermont home using high quality and all-natural ingredients, our unique blend of sheep milk, Epsom salt, baking soda, and french green clay will leave your skin detoxified, soft, and nourished. The invigorating aroma of the 100% pure spearmint essential oil will ease fatigue and rejuvenate your body and mind. The spearmint leaves floating in milky water is sure to elevate your bath experience.

REFRESHING GARDEN SPEARMINT SHEEP MILK BEESWAX CANDLE

Reminiscent of freshly picked spearmint on a summer morning, our refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk beeswax candles are hand poured in our Vermont kitchen using 100% pure beeswax, fresh sheep milk, spearmint essential oil, spearmint leaves, and natural cotton wicks.  Each 9 oz candle comes in a beautiful hexagon glass jar and will burn for approximately 70 hours. The addition of sheep milk truly makes our beeswax candles unique and we hope that you will enjoy the warm glow and the invigorating aroma of our refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk beeswax candle.

REFRESHING GARDEN SPEARMINT SHEEP MILK GIFT BASKET

Spoil yourself or a loved one with our refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk gift basket!

This sheep milk basket contains our entire refreshing garden spearmint collection:

• Garden spearmint sheep milk soap

• Garden spearmint sheep milk sugar scrub

• Garden spearmint sheep milk bath fizzie

• Garden spearmint sheep milk bath soak

• Garden spearmint sheep milk beeswax candle

All of these refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk goods are nestled in a lined wired basket filled with fresh hay. Each product is labeled and comes with directions. Our refreshing garden spearmint sheep milk gift basket also includes a metal sheep bell and a customizable sheep greeting card.

You can browse our other collections here. For the farmhouse lover in your life, we are also offering sheep cutting boards, coasters, throw pillows, and gift cards.

I wish you all a beautiful Spring filled with new beginnings, new growth, and new dreams🌱 🌱 🌱

With love and gratitude,

Marie-Hélène