Much activity in Ladybugland since the last post!

Our New Satellite Store is up and running at Renaissance Furniture on the Langley Bypass in Langley, BC, south of Vancouver. It is at 20560 Langley Bypass, (604.530.0692) on the right, when you are headed East.  The Langley Bypass is the extension of Highway # 10 and is easy to find. Of course, in this age of GPS and Google Maps, you just look it up!  We have set up our full selection of tapers, just like the home store, and have a selection of Danish Glass and Iron for you peruse, as well.  Renaissance Furniture specializes in reproduction and reworked furniture, with an emphasis on re-purposed wood and metal.  Many of the pieces are unique, specialty items you won't see anywhere else.  

Part of the store is set up as a Vintage and Collectables Gallery, which is where we are!  If you are wondering why we would be there, given that the only thing in the main store that qualifies as vintage might be the staff and owners, well, that is because this location allows us to pursue our interest in Antiques and Collectables.  Which is why this location is called Ladybug Candles & Collectables!

Of course, we haven't been neglecting the main store either.  With the end of our much missed neighbour, Continental Kitchen, we have returned to our roots and introduced new lines of textiles. Runners, tea towels, dishcloths, potholders and a wide variety of woven and cork-backed placemats, from famous North American companies, compliment our existing Swedish linens from Ekelund and hand woven placemats from Lori Davies on Saltspring Island. The bright colours and patterns really feel like spring!

We are continuing to expand our candle selection, as well, with more colours in our Danish pillars and drop candles.  This is also a great year for glassware. New patterns from both our friends at Mad About Glass in North Vancouver and John and Ulrike Paulsen at Dansk Glaskunst, fill the section with still more colour.

All in all, much to see at both locations!

Mention this post and get a free pair of H4 tapers with any purchase over $20.00 at our Victoria store!

Enjoy Spring!

Well, Here we are, the end of November!

Christmas is in full swing and the elves are very busy...  All of the orders that were still outstanding the last time I wrote, are in.  We have received a great selection of tea-towels, runners and table squares in Christmas and winter patterns from Ekelund of Sweden, which will appeal to anyone with a fondness for colour. Our Bronze candelabras and holders from Harrogate House have arrived, as well. Italian quality and style for an elegant table. 

Some things, like the electric candles from Abbott are going fast! We have the best price in town, as far as I can tell, for the "Real Flame" electric pillars and should sell out soon... 

When you get to the store, look for the RED Dot, GREEN Dot, find a Dot and save a lot, price tags on various ornaments on the outside table and throughout the shop.  50% off regular on the red dots, 25% on the green.  My treat.  Who says I'm Grinchy!

Well, tonight's the night! Yesterday Tina ran a test sale through the site and today we are going to review all the functions and then, if all goes well, we will be able to sell our taper candles on line! Woo-Hoo!

Meanwhile, the store is coming together. By the week-end the first round of stock will be in place.  Our order of Scandinavian themed cookbooks and mugs will be in in about another week and the Norse jewelry should be in soon, too.

There has been a lot of media chatter about "Christmas creep"; that is, the idea that retailers are starting Christmas decorating and selling earlier and earlier every year... As someone who has worked in retail for well over 30 years (really?

christmas candles on the morning table

Since I was 2?) I can say, with some authority, that while some retailers, usually the big box stores, have pushed the envelope, most of us still set up just as we always have. We begin to prepare in October, after Thanksgiving, by organizing and moving the stock into our Christmas format.  Then we put up the trim and load the inventory. Because we are open seven days a week and like to serve our customers, it takes about two weeks to totally convert the store.  The plan is to be finished for November 12th.  Our store has followed this format for over 25 years and every year folks say the same thing: "What, already?" The interesting thing is that some people start to shop quite early and ask for things in October. Can't please everyone!

One thing, though, we can all agree on: No Christmas music until December 1st. 

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Well, I have to admit that the blog seemed like a good idea when we redesigned the web site, but actually using it has been something of a challenge!  I often wonder were people find the time to have things like blogs...perhaps they are avoiding other tasks? 2009 was a year most retailers would like to forget and the shops at Mattick's Farm certainly were no exception.  Indeed, 2010 seems a little soft in the Victoria area, so far, as well.  This has made our loyal clientele more valuable than ever and I would like to say a heartfelt "Thank-you" to all of you who found your way out to us over the last months.

Business being a little quiet is no excuse for the store to be boring, we have been cheerfully chugging along as usual, looking for interesting new items and keeping the candle selection second to none!  We have added a new line of fancy tapers made of Danish wax by the "Old Time Candle Company" in Vancouver, at a special introductory price of $3.99 a pair, and are inviting feedback from our customers. Yes, you get to be "Beta-testers"!  We have also added a popular line of "Molca" candles from Holland, in pillars and floaters that have been very well received.  Our "Flatyz" candles from Lithuania have also been a great conversation piece.  They are a great decorative gift item, though, we cheerfully admit, not the greatest idea for practical burning during a power outage!

We have also augmented our selection of Danish glass vases and bowls from "Dansk Glaskunst" with new shapes and sizes and added a new line of locally made pottery from "Dragon Pottery".  Our paper napkin selection has grown, too, with the addition of "IHR" and "Home Fashion" serviettes from two premier German makers.

The best received new addition has been the beautiful collection of glass hummingbirds and dragonflies by Victoria's very own Mark Bateman.  We have been delighted to watch them fly out the door!  Add the new cards from local photograhper Stuart Clarke as well as fresh colours in our handwoven placemats from Lori Davies on Saltspring Island and the store is as cheerful and interesting as ever.

mf_stores221

The Mattick's Farm Tenant's Association has been busy planning summer entertainment and events to brighten your summer weekends.  Check out the Mattick's Farm website for details.

Leslie, Mary, Betty and I are looking forward to an entertaining Summer and hope to see you at "The Farm".  Mention that you read this post and we'll give you a pair of "H4" Danish taper candles with any purchase adding up to over $20.00!

One of the problems with being a "one man band" is that there are always so many things to do and, thus the poor website is the last thing on the list! We have had a better than anticipated Spring and Summer season and are very grateful for the community support and the tourists that find their way to Mattick's Farm.  Thank-you all very much!

As always, our popular lines have been supplemented with interesting new items to look at and buy:  Dichroic Glass earrings and pendants by local Victoria Glass Artist, Renate, are a huge hit.  Dichroic Glass was developed for the American space industry as a method of bounding metal oxides to glass under high temperatures.  The result of variations in the process is a shimmering glass that reflects myriad colours.  Each piece is unique and is like wearing a little work of art.  Renate is prolific, so our selection is ever varying.  Well worth checking out.

We have also added Mark Bateman's handmade glass Hummingbirds and Dragonflies.  These delicate little creatures add sparkle to any window and offer another opportunity to showcase local talent.

Geoffrey Lane has added Soy Wax to his candle line as well as a Beeswax blend to his main line.  These premium candles from North Vancouver compliment our huge selection of imported Danish candles.  Unscented, as always...

It being August, the Christmas orders are all going in to our Danish suppliers.  As well as the much anticipated new colours from our favorites candle makers, we are looking forward to new Glass from Dansk Glaskunst.  Our popular patterns will be augmented with a few well chosen (I Think!) pieces of their "free-form" glass in  their new colour ranges.  We are also restocking our Norse jewelry from Kalevala of Finland and Neils P Design from Denmark.  For fans of Celtic and Viking Age design these lines are a "must see".

New ornaments from Denmark and Sweden will round out our collection of "Nisser" and "Tompter" (those cute little Elves that live in the back corner of our store) and a new collection of wooden "pyramids", hand crafted in Germany, emphasize a traditional, European Christmas.

Leslie, Mary, Betty and I are happy to welcome Bonnie back from sick leave and are looking forward to welcoming all of you to the store over the Fall.

Finally, in answer to the numurous queries, we have been working on adding a mail order component to this website.  So some time before Christmas we will list the ranges of candles we always have in stock, so that our customers outside the Victoria can replenish their supplies!