For more information on Country Living Events for 2024, please contact Ellie Craig, Artisan Growth Manager at [email protected]
Lux Yorkshire Wreaths
This year we are lucky enough to have Harrogate-based wreathmakers Lux Yorkshire Wreaths joining us at our Christmas Fair in Harrogate. We recently caught up with them to find out more about this beautiful brand, their ethos and their plans for the future – read on below!
How did it all start?
It started with a passion for flowers by our co-founder Jane. Jane has always taken a keen interest in floristry – even making all of the arrangements for her daughter Francesca’s wedding – and what once started as a hobby, has now turned into a profession and a business.
Lux Yorkshire Wreaths specialises in handcrafted Christmas wreaths, dried floral bunches and centrepieces. We very much love the joy that flowers and wreaths bring – even more so at this magical time of year!
The story behind the name…
We toyed with a few names but always wanted to reflect our luxury, local hand-crafted quality so we (eventually!) decided on Lux Yorkshire Wreaths.
Where are you based?
In Harrogate, Yorkshire.
What inspires you?
The natural world, the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, moonlit nights, summer meadows and forests dappled with sunshine.
What is your creation process?
We spend a lot of time just holding flowers and foliage in our hands and experimenting with various shapes and colours until we find something we think works. Jane often wakes in the middle if the night with ideas so always has a pen and paper by her bedside to note any ideas down, however in the morning it can be tricky for her to try and work out what can sometimes be almost illegible handwriting and drawings!
What makes you, your brand or products unique?
We design every piece ourselves so each wreath is truly unique. And being a mother-daughter business, we create each wreath with our own fair hands – for example, from wiring on dried cinnamon and oranges to adorning some of our creations with lights.
What is your next project?
We’re currently focusing on Christmas and you’ll see us popping up at local fairs across Yorkshire. We’re also always working on new wreath designs.
What are your plans for the next 12 months?
To expand the business and to hold wreath-making workshops – whether it’s Easter, spring or an autumnal wreath – we’d like to showcase how people can use their creativity and make one for themselves – it also makes for a great morning/afternoon out!
What is your biggest achievement?
Jane’s biggest and happiest achievement was decorating her daughter’s wedding venue, it was incredibly special. Jane grew flowers from seed over two years so it was a very long project! The two days previous to the wedding was spent arranging vases with flowers, filling baskets, decorating with garlands of flowers and hanging various arrangements from the ceiling.
What is your best-selling product/line?
One of our best-selling products is a wreath called Summer Meadow. It’s made of dried oats, wheat, nigella pods, pink, yellow and white delphiniums and red and yellow helichrysum, and the bright design always makes us smile. A lot of our customers hang it as a piece of art from the wall as it really ‘pops’.
Your experience of your first Country Living Fair (year, exhibiting or visiting)/ What are you looking forward to the most about exhibiting at the Christmas Fair?
We’re looking forward to getting into the festive spirit, meeting new people at the fair and showcasing our designs.
What do you love about Country Living Fairs?
Meeting wonderful crafters and makers and discovering their creativity and passions. We also think it makes a great festive day out! Interestingly, one of the things that inspired us to found our business was actually attending the Harrogate Country Living show!
Your three top tips for crafters and makers…
- It’s never too late to nurture your creativity.
- Use time wisely… for us it can be hard to accept that after hours of work that sometimes a design just isn’t working.
- Seek help in the areas where you most need it.
Any advice for fledgling businesses…
Keep at it! We have gradually built our business up, and this worked well for us.