News from L&F

Storm Darragh, ladies and gentlemen.  As I write this, safe in rural Lincolnshire on the eastern side of this fair land, I still hear the wind tearing it up outside and the rain rattling onto the windows.  For those on...

Tomorrow, as I’m sure you all know, is Stir up Sunday, the day when families traditionally gather to ‘stir up’ the Christmas pud.  Here, we’re starting to wish we hadn’t spent so long lovingly establishing  the family traditions over the...

Last weekend we had a wonderful two days selling in Fakenham, at the Norfolk Artisans Christmas Fair.  It was fabulous to be back in the mix and out in the crisp (that’s a euphemism if ever there was one) East...

Sad though we are to see the back of Halloween and therefore all things pumpkin, we’re SO EXCITED that it’s now properly November and that the run-up to the L&F Christmas can begin! Our renewed and refreshed website is laden...

Yet more excitement at L&F HQ this week as our Christmas stock arrives, in a flurry of deliveries, phone calls and (whisper it) real paper paperwork. Callie the L&F pooch has been on hyper-alert, warning us of incoming traffic, racing...

Here at L&F HQ we are, we hope, in the throes of placing our final orders of 2024.  It’s always a tricky call to make – brutally, we don’t want to be left with seasonal stock that might in theory...

It’s nearing the end of June, so of course our thoughts turn to … Christmas.  If you feel that the whole world is Christmas mad, and you think it starts too early, my only words of advice to you would...

... so named, because they are!  The key here is the mincemeat:pastry ratio, and the lack of lid.  Traditionally I do a star for each, and I will draw a veil over the behaviour of some of my family -...

Reader: I’m a year older than when we last spoke.  My birthday was yesterday, and I’ve fought hard all my life to keep it distinct from Christmas.  Increasingly it’s swallowed up in the general gaiety, and as time goes on...

Stockings!  Where do we stand on stockings?  Without doubt, they’re my favourite bit of Christmas.  I hope I don’t shatter anyone’s Father Christmas based illusions when I say that creeping around the house in the dark swapping empty kilt/welly socks...

Yesterday was the last of our 2023 Fairs, this time at the magnificently named Grimsthorpe Castle – and it was as jolly cold as it somehow sounds.  From now on it’s all downhill to Christmas, and if the lack of...

Speaking of new traditions, as we were …. here at L&F HQ it has become something of a thing that Isobel and I go and choose the trees for inside the house.  (There’s a huge Wellingtonia in the garden that...

Another day, another two firsts: we’re at Sandringham Christmas Fair this weekend; and the glorious new baubles, which are going like hot cakes.  Christmas music in the background (thank you Michael), cold enough to feel seasonal, full enough for atmosphere...

Right: don’t tell anyone, but it’s almost November.  Which means it’s nearly December.  Which means we’re in the run up to Christmas (having had our first retail order for Holly Ovengloves as long ago as May!).  The utterly gorgeous new...

All the right people got married, the weather didn’t beat us and even a last minute disaster with my outfit failed to spoil a truly wonderful weekend.  So now it’s back to matters L&F with a spring in our step,...