Hancox Homestead

Our interview write up for our Golf Driving range that is coming real soon....

2011-06-17T15:33:00.000-04:00

Hello June

2011-06-05T11:08:00.000-04:00

June is here already and this month I am taking part in a giveaway for "Love your Body" month via Let it Unravel. Up for grabs is one of my Organic lavender bars of soap from my new luxury line! Pop on over to see Stacy on her Let it Unravel blog to find instructions on how to enter!

http://letitunravel.com/2011/06/june-love-your-body-giveaway-1/

As mentioned before my new line is now underway and arriving online, favourite sellers like my Lavender shampoo and conditioner are now in, there is more to come keep posted!

Life in general is busy here, we had my mom come and stay with us for five weeks, she arrived back in the UK this morning! We have been trying to get going on the gardens but it has been way too wet, I think I may get to till the veggie patch this morning. I potted up new herbs as I couldn't get them in the ground. I really feel like I am behind!

The Driving Range will be opening we are delayed due to weather and a tree permit, so it will be later this month. We are so excited and nervous at the same time! Everything is ready we just need the lane way putting through! Yesterday afternoon I took my first walk on the Driving range grass~happy days! I would of done a grass angel but my four wet dogs would of ended up diving on me! I also took my first drive of the golf cart, should of added warning plates!

Our future is really changing, fingers crossed for the better.

This afternoon my eldest daughter and I go back horse riding we haven't been since last October, a hobby that my daughter just loves. However, I think she will need a bigger pony as she has been growing like a weed!

My youngest is running everywhere at just 16 months she is very advanced, we have just started her in day care one day a week. This means I will have a day to get everything done including all my online selling world!

That's all for now, thanks for stopping on by and thank you to those who have just joined my blog as part of the giveaway! I shall try to update more often.

I am off on a date with the garden so take care all, Helen <3

Spring is coming......

2011-02-24T13:16:00.002-05:00

One of last years Spring arrivals

Spring is coming...So I hope!

Wow my last blog was titled 'where has January gone' and now I am wondering the same about February! I guess life has got really busy here!

I saw another Birthday come and go this month, I wish they would slow down! We have been busy training our puppy Amber who was my Birthday pressie from my hubby and girls. Although my eldest daughter refuses to admit that she is mine and claims her as her own! Amber is doing so well and between you and I, I love the 7am walks outside it is a great way to wake up, especially those mornings when I am in my dressing gown and snow boots with the cold snow whipping at my legs! Buster our eldest dog is still with us and happily I can say the impact of having the new puppy has made him rather youthful again, he is fourteen and almost blind!

Our old guy!

Sadly we had to say "goodbye" to Winnie the guinea who passed away this weekend, it had to be on the day we were taking our girls for their portrait updates didn't it?! They were all smiles and it wasn't until a day later when we went out to feed the others that my eldest daughter realised he had gone and there were tears however, nothing a MacDonald's happy meal couldn't cure!

My husband had another hospital appointment this week and the cyst he had removed from his gum/jaw is nothing more than a cyst~thankfully! The only downside, he is back on pureed foods again! This will be his fourth week now, he had just started on solids for a few days! He is looking a slim Jim and certainly needs a smaller size~way to get a new wardrobe!

That's a little news of our home life now onto the Driving Range which we are planning on opening in three months!

We have a website we are currently working on, it is live now but we are in the process of updating it; hancoxhomesteadgolf.com

Well we had a mass thaw last week and when we went back to see if there was any sign of grass seed appearing there was not. We are sure it will come when the time is right! Hubby did find a huge buck antler so he came back with my new ornament! We are fencing the area as soon as we can but we have always encouraged wildlife on to our property so hopefully they won't get too upset when things are up and running as it is still going to leave them 30 acres of woods to play in!

The lane way and parking area have been mapped out and we are ready to go when the weather allows us. Could all my friends join me in the 'sunshine dance' PLEASE! Our equipment from Green Joy who we distribute for is getting processed and we finally decided on a design for the office/building for the Driving Range. It has a screened in porch so our customers can sit and take in the scenery after they have swung away!

My most exciting part of all this was picking out a golf cart, as it will be my new mode of transport from May till September!

Other news;

My online shops are still going and as most of you will know I have been adding new items, some OOAK (one of a kind) jewellery has been listed and Easter soaps, gift packs are starting to come.

Organic Easter egg soaps

I try and get involved with what my fellow friends and talented artists are doing and will be donating again to Heather at The Pine Cone Tea Cup who does the Cancer 'Relay for Life' and Anna at Artibility who does the 'Toys for Tots'.

If you have your own handmade craft shop/items and wish to donate to these to great causes please send a message to these lovely ladies;

Heather; http://www.facebook.com/thepineconeteacup

Anna; http://www.facebook.com/ARTIBILITY

I think that is all my news to date so I shall say bye for now and thanks for taking the time to sit and catch up with me,

Helen & family :)

Where has January gone?

2011-01-25T08:19:00.000-05:00

I can not believe where January has gone, one minute it seems like we were wishing in the New Year and making resolutions~mine was to get organised, and I continue to do so!

So far this year it's shaping up to be a good one;

Work is progressing on the Driving Range, we are right on plan! I shan't bore you with all the details like how I was very excited to be a proud owner of deluxe porta potties (as a female it was important to me and ranked high on my list!) Especially as I will be spending my days over there running things!

I have taken on the task of designing and maintaining our website which I hope to have up and running very soon. Not only will it give details of our Range but you will be able to purchase our Green Joy products directly from it! I shall post the link once it is live!

As word spreads around the community we have been approached by people/companies who are very supportive and have offered their help~people really can be wonderful and we are excited to be meeting them!

Our hobby farm has a new addition~Amber the Australian shepherd joined us last week and is training up nicely!

My youngest daughter celebrated her first Birthday this month, which really made me sit and reflect on the past year. Time flies and before you know it they are walking and talking as if they have from day one!

My online businesses saw a few changes I decided to drop a site and downgrade one which I think I will remove in this next month. I need to spend my time wisely!

Little ladybird organic soap

I have just introduced Organic and non bleeding colourants to my Bath & Beauty store. Watch over these next few months as my line is expanding! Bath salts, shampoo's, conditioners and more are coming.

As for Helsia Jewellery well I have found a love for Vintage and will be implementing more.

Lets not forget the day for l<3ve~Valentines! My products have been arriving online since December;

Love birds Valentine bottlecap magnets

The one thing both my stores was lacking was products for men! There is now cufflinks in my Jewellery shop and more beer soaps along with a line of shaving products will be coming to Hancox Homestead Bath!

Customised cufflinks

That's the majority of January's news from Hancox Homestead, so I will bid you well and as always thanks for sharing in my update and on our journey.

Warmest wishes, Helen & family

In memory of my sister Lindsey

2011-01-11T06:51:00.002-05:00

It is coming up to three years ago that I lost my younger sister Lindsey. There is not a day goes by that there isn't some reminder of her in my life and whilst I would of loved a lifetime of memories I cherish the ones we made.

They say that time is a healer and I really used to believe that, now I believe that time allows you to adjust to not having that person you love in your life.

It was such a sad time and I realise now that it also set me on my own personal journey. You do a lot of soul and answer searching as I am sure that those of you have lost someone dear know.

The things that I learnt when I was back in the UK sorting through Lindsey's small amount of belongings~we weren't that different! We had the same books, Cd's, Dvd's. The Cd's I had wanted to buy but never got around to were in her collection which I inherited. It took me a little time to play them without crying and now I sing them to the best of my singing ability~I am tone deaf! I know wherever Lindsey is she is laughing at me doing so.

There are still songs I have to switch off the radio and movies I will probably never watch again with a dry eye that were her favourites.

For some time I thought she was mad at me, until I found our/my family portrait in her book by her favourite poem.

Pictures of Lindsey hang in our home, my eldest and only daughter at the time was only two and whilst has some memories of flying back to the UK doesn't remember what for. We have not yet discussed with her what happened as we feel she is too young. Whilst never meeting her Aunty Lindsey, I know her Aunty Lindsey is watching over her.

Lindsey and I were from a single parent home we lived with our mom and the majority of the time fought like cat and dog. I blame it on the hormones! I spent most of my teenage years looking after Lindsey whilst mom had to go out to work. At times I really resented that I was stuck in looking after my younger sister~again!

Then one day it happened, we became the best of friends! We talked every day, sometimes about the most random stuff , we always teamed up together if there was something that needed sorting and out of pure boredom had the best burping competitions!

When I left home to move in with my now hubby, we would get together in the week, go shopping together and always got together on a Friday night or the weekend for a girly night out or sometimes I would do dinner and try out new recipes~when Lindsey was feeling brave enough to eat it, red wine was always on hand to make anything taste better!

Lindsey helped us move to Canada nearly ten years ago, she spent three weeks here and enjoyed every minute of it, especially the get lost car rides that found us completely in the wrong places but we got to take in all the great scenery we wouldn't had we of stayed on track! For those of you who know me I have this annoying little tune I tend to hum when I get lost, have no clue where I am and starting to panic! Lindsey soon picked up on this and had great delight in joining along and teasing me!

Now the only little tiff we had those three weeks was over a pack of chocolate chip cookies! We are both cookie monsters so imagine my surprise when I was in desperate need of a cookie fix to find the empty packet in the cupboard! Lindsey made it up to me by sending me packets of cookies for Christmas and my Birthday!

We finally got around to painting the hallway which was very hard for me as on one of Lindsey's visits she had slipped down the last few stairs of our wooden staircase with a bottle of beer in one hand and cigarette in the other. The beer went flying all up the wall and she snapped her cigarette in half! The beer runs stained the wall and whilst they are now painted over, they will always be there in my memory along with a giggle over the fact she was more upset she had snapped her cigarette in half than anything else!

I had always hoped that one day she might follow in my footsteps and move out here, move away from a place that hadn't always made us happy. Sadly it was not meant to be.

As stubborn as me, Lindsey chose her own path in life, unfortunately it caused a few troublesome years. Always the one in the middle trying to hold things together I was constantly on the phone normally telling her to give her head a shake and pull it together. It's hard trying to deal with things when your thousands of miles away. There was times I just wanted to fly over to kick her arse into shape but the truth of the matter is she was always stronger than me!

Then came the day when I was just plain exhausted from all the family expecting me to do something from afar. I had phone calls that demanded to speak to me when I was in the shower so I would get out soaking wet and stand there playing phone around again! I had to step away and that is what I did!

I don't feel guilty as I know that I did more than most would do and I know that Lindz knew that. Yes I wish I had of rang up in what were her last months and had a normal chat instead of ranting. I think we can all look back and wish things had been different or we had acted in a different way.

Lindsey drowned in the pond she loved to walk around frequently and after all the inquests they deemed it as suicide. We will never know what happened and never got the chance to say goodbye.

I found this really hard to cope with given the fact that she had spent the last few months of her life turning everything around for the better.

At this time every year my heart goes out to the brave members of the Burntwood sub aqua club, who not linked to the police but friends of our family did the dive to find our Lindz. These remarkable people had never recovered a body before and are my family's hero's for giving us closure! (The police did not have the resources available) They asked and were the pall bearers at the funeral.

I have to thank those who have come on the emotional ride with me and helped me along, I have to thank those friends who unknowingly came into my life at the right times.

Lindsey would of been 30 this year, so instead of feeling sad we intend to celebrate her life!

Hancox Homestead Driving Range update

2010-11-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Hello there dear friends, fans and followers,

As most of you are aware my family has been working on a new project, one slightly different from crafting. It's a crafting of sort! I am proud today to share with you an update on our Driving Range that is due to open next Season.

With the help of some great people/companies we got the grass seed down! The weather here in Iona Station, Ontario has started to turn cold and time was limited.

Our first shout out is to Fleetwood Farms, who not only allowed the seeder access to our land (we are busy working on the road through but there is trees to be moved and the ground has to be dug) they also did some sub contracting for us and made sure the ground was cultivated and in tip top condition before the seed arrived. This is a family operated farm located near to us and if your require any further details for them please contact me!

Next up is Mr Dan Denniss and his colleagues at Fingal Farm Supply. Dan is a very knowledgeable, helpful gentleman who took care of all our seeding needs. This great company has been tending to Farmers/Land owners needs for over 40 years! Be sure to check out the website below and if you chose to contact them, tell them Hancox Homestead sent you!

http://www.fingalfarmsupply.ca

Now to the fun part, the pictures of the amazing seeder in action;

Sadly I didn't get to have a go, but I have added one to my Christmas list!

I hope you enjoyed this update and there will be many more to come, featuring more big machines!

Warmest wishes to all, Helen & Family.

My first online Birthday is coming up

2010-11-02T14:40:00.001-04:00

I can't believe where the time has gone, we are into November already and the end of this month sees my first online Birthday! When I first started out with online selling, I didn't really have a clue what I was doing, and having high hormones as I was heavily pregnant didn't help. I am happy to say that both my babies are growing into complete darlings!

It's hard not to get demotivated and feel rather lack luster about online selling. If I had known then what I know now springs to mind alot and I really wish I had of had friends that were doing similar ventures so that I could of emailed or rang them for help, instead of sitting shouting at the PC and tearing my hair out!

Happily I have met so many kind, talented artists and realised at one time or another we all want and feel the same. Whilst there are many that spring to mind; I would like to name a few that I class as friends who always have a cheery word and pom poms at the ready when I need a little cheering on;

Heather at The Pine Cone Tea Cup, who has made my family shed tears with her custom designed quilt!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/59500466/christmas-crow-shelf-sitter

Elfie at Painting from the Heart, always with words of encouragement and virtual hugs!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60579826/personalized-wooden-hand-painted

Eileen at Painting by Eileen who always has a positive outlook and shares her awesome wildlife pics!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/43664999/snowman-hand-painted-spoon-ornie

Donna at Threads of Magique who I enjoy having little chats with, a very interesting lady who recently started a new venture herself.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/22461482/maple-spirit-doll

Melinda at Just Scraps and Things has done me some wonderful custom cards and bag toppers and is just a lovely person;

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60277014/primitive-christmas-tree-tags-embossed

And last but not least is Amber aka Mommy the Marketer and also Tate Skye Designs who's blogs, advice have just been a super help to me to make things alot clearer!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/48816398/paris-with-a-kiss-fine-art-photograph

Also in a year I am happy to say I have improved my photography and kissed goodbye to my homespun beloved checked background.


Run, run as fast as you can......

It took me days to set up this blog page and in minutes I type this, but I am disappointed that my blog gets left out~alot! Facebook you can catch me on daily http://www.facebook.com/HancoxHomesteadFan, it is all about priority and balance; something I have not yet perfected although it has come along way in a year!

I am busy gearing up for Christmas adding listings to My two Etsy shops, Zibbet and Artfire studios and still working on setting up our Driving Range which we plan to open to the public the end of next May. I should really blog more often to keep connected to you all and whilst I may not send a like or a note on a daily basis, you are all appreciated and got me to my First online Birthday~Thank you one and all!

Handmade Spark - Helsia Jewellery - Jewellery

2010-10-02T12:38:00.000-04:00

Handmade Spark - Helsia Jewellery - Jewellery

Two blog awards!

2010-05-09T19:41:00.001-04:00

I just received this great award twice for my blog from Mommy's Dream and The Pinecone Teacup! Which was a great surprise, both these lovely ladies come across as having such warm personalities and they create amazing crafts. I am honoured to have them feature me! Here are their blogs, be sure to check them out; The Pinecone Teacup, Mommy's Dream
I am not sure if I should answer fourteen questions as nominated twice!!

So, the rules of this award are that I have to share seven things you might not know about me and then pass it on to seven other bloggers that have blogs worthy of the Kreativ Blogger Award. Here goes...

1. Ten years ago we visited Canada for one week and decided to take a gamble on life and brought our house, not knowing anyone or anything! Thankfully it has turned out super for us! We went back to England and announced our plans to family which came as a bombshell!

2. I still have a strong English accent (which I don't think I'll lose!) and have trouble ordering Tim Horton's I asked for Cafe Mocha and an assortment of ten Timbits and got a chocolate milk and one plain Timbit! It happens alot!! :D

3. I have a BTEC in Travel & Tourism and a Masters in Microsoft and I used to work as a PA and did company training before giving up work to move to Canada.

3. I love cooking and drinking tea! My husband spoiled me with an AGA a few years ago as it was the oven I had always wanted and we had been using the one the previous owners left! Roast dinners are my fave I guess I am still a typical Brit! :)

4. I started crafting more during my pregnancy last year as I was on or in bed the majority of it! My husband became the domestic man of my dreams and I fell in love with him in all over again, he cooked my fave roast dinners, cleaned, took care of me and our eldest daughter and even planted up my veggie patch whilst working full time! Bless! <3

5. Gardening is my other passion, our hobby farm is fifty acres and I re-landscaped four of it into flower gardens. I have a Helie House out back nestled in the woods where I like to go and have me time. We have candlelight suppers in there in the good weather and enjoying roasting chestnuts on the fire in there in the winter months.

6. I love animals! We have three Border Collies two of which flew over from England with us and who like to round up the chickens!, two cats, two rabbits, two Guinea pigs, two aquariums a koi pond and eleven hens! My first six hens I had eight years ago became my pets and all had names! I once got so excited at finding my first garter snake in the garden I picked it up and carried it into the house to show hubby, it managed to slip out of my hands and head along the hallway! Hubby is not overly keen on snakes!! Snakey was soon re-caught and released back into the garden, I now call hubby over when I find some new and exciting wildlife!

7. I am into Woodlot management having 35+ acres of it, we do our best to preserve and nurture it. I love nothing more than seeing a carpet of pink and purple wild geraniums in the Spring.

Now for the seven blogs to receive this award (it was hard to pick just seven!)...please be sure to visit these blogs and get to know these amazing people on a different level than just from their shops! I have had the privilege of getting to know each of these amazing women a little bit and I think you'll like them as much as I do!

Threads of Magique
Aspen healing art
Gia Bowtique
Artistic glass decor and more
Sew Brookie Designs
Mommy the Marketer
Edith & Elizabeth

Warmest wishes to all, Helen

Hancox Homestead update

2010-04-28T15:26:00.003-04:00

I decided to take to my blog today to share with you the latest goings on of Hancox Homestead and life in general.

Lets start with life; the majority of my time is spent with my two beautiful girls and I am adjusting to having my second who has just gone 14 weeks. I am so blessed to have them and they are really good girls. I was always told "your only playing at it with one!" I agree, having two is hard work. My youngest (14weeks) is 2ft tall and over 15lbs in weight, she started her first foods early (2 weeks ago) and is enjoying and savouring every mouthful! My eldest who is 4 1/2 is starting soccer in a few weeks and I am really looking forward to being a 'soccer mom' sitting on the benches cheering her on.

What most of you don't know is that we don't have the benefits of having family around the corner to help us out, they are all back in the UK. We decided to take a chance on life and move to Canada nine years ago with my husbands job, the plant was brand new and my husband got to help build it up from the ground and eventually he was to become plant manager a dream for us. Sadly we have found out that the plant is closing next year and that dream will not be reached. We refuse to move again as we totally lucked out with our home and adopted family as I lovingly like to refer to my wonderful neighbours and friends!

Faced with the uncertainty of the future we decided to take Hancox Homestead further, we have taken our selling of Golf course and driving range equipment to another level and my husband is now the sole distributor for Michigan and Ontario. We have been very busy doing this as when the plant finally closes we want to have our business so successful that my husband won't have to look for further employment.

We are still selling firewood, we lovingly maintain our land and with 35+ acres of woodlot it is a great way to make money from moving overpowering and uprooting trees. This is a very labour intensive job and my wonderful husband does most of it, the chainsaw and I are not friends and I can't see us ever been! But, the log splitter and I get along great so that's where I help!

We sell the free range eggs our delightful feathered friends bestow upon us at $2.00 a dozen and as you know I am selling my crafts. I don't seem to be selling as much as I had first hoped through Etsy, so I am also looking at outlets. I have just made batches of lemon and lavender soaps and have a large collection of jewellery I must add!

This time of year is particularly busy with my vegetable patch starting and my gardens to dig etc... As mentioned before one day I would love to be totally self sufficient. I am also interested in hydroponics but that is on hold for a short while.

With two young children, three dogs, two cats, two rabbits, two guinea pigs, two aquariums a koi pond, eleven hens and a husband! life never stops still and I wanted to share with you.

Some other great news; my mom who has battled cancer for the last five years has just been given the all clear so something to celebrate! :)

So now you know where my time has shifted too, but I want all my fabulous friends and fans to know that whilst I am not around as much it doesn't mean I don't like you any less and you are all appreciated! <3

Variety is my spice of life!

2010-03-25T10:05:00.000-04:00

My husband asked me "what is your general product in your shops?" My reply was "I don't have a general product!"

At this moment in time you will see jewellery and bath & beauty in my shops and whilst I am working to improve the existing products and my photography, I am already thinking about other product categories to list.

I also told him "that's why it is called Hancox Homestead not Hancox jewellery etc..!"

For those of you who know me you will know my crafting history, for those of you who don't you are about to find out!

I should start and tell you why its called Hancox Homestead, well as you know my surname is Hancox and Homestead came from the hobby farm we live on, Hancox hobby farm didn't have the same ring!

Hancox Homestead isn't just about me, it is a family company my husband sells firewood (and is also a talent woodworker) and we sell the freerange eggs our happy chickens lay - for now! I am researching dairy goats in hopes to have them this Spring as I would love to use it for my soaps, plus I love animals!

My crafting started twelve years ago, I started with flower arranging, dry & real and then I expanded on to making greeting cards with my mom. It was short lived though as my mom was diagnosed with cancer and the distance of working together was too much. Mom is in the UK I am in Canada. My mom has recovered (infact next month see's her treatment finished!) We sold all our stock and raised 600GBP which we gave to the hospital that has looked after my mom so well. I still like to make cards and you will see some on my store.

Always one to be getting crafty I started making crafts for my home, twig and berry wreaths for my walls, wreaths for Christmas, Halloween etc., mason jar lamps, twig tree decorations & flower arrangements, toy & storage bags the list goes on. It also flows out in to our gardens with the bird houses I have made with my eldest daughter who is four.

My family and friends are my guinnea pigs!, they have been receiving my products for years. It was with their encouragement that I decided to set up and sell in November 09'.

I have lip balms, candles, cross stitch, sewing projects and I am working on wool pets as well as my soaps and jewellery. So for me variety really is my spice of life and whilst you may not get to see all I do as I tend to add items that will ship at least now you have more of an insight in to Hancox Homestead.

Our latest bird house with Scamper cat who was feeling photogenic!

Spring clean = free shipping!

2010-03-07T12:35:00.001-05:00

I am Spring cleaning my shop so to speak as of today 7th March 2010! As I have lots of new designs/items I want to add I would love to see some of my existing stock sold so I have decided to pay the shipping on existing items in my store. Any purchase made on existing stock I will refund you the shipping this is a limited time offer until 14th March 2010!

Just in time for Spring

2010-03-06T16:17:00.003-05:00

With the long winter hopefully drawing to a close and the sun shining brightly in the blue sky it is that time of year when our thoughts turn to Spring. We look forward to the singing of the birds and the Spring bulbs starting to poke their little heads up out of the soil. If you are like me you are probably looking at what seeds you are going to start indoors to plant out when Jack Frost has gone. Spring brings beautiful splashes of colour that brighten up our lives and sweet little lambs hopping over the pasture we could watch for hours. With Spring in mind I have made these items:

Pink Flutterby necklace

Bunny soap

Daisy chain necklace