About Lavender-Blu
Cultivating
Calm
My name is Ludmila Haynos-Owen and I am the owner of Lavender-Blu. Since 2007 Lavender-Blu has been hand-crafting value added artisanal lavender products and teaching the public about the multifaceted beauty of lavender via workshops and community-based activities. Lavender-Blu is comprised of a hobby farm, a lavender garden and a lavender artisan studio. Our mandate is to beautify our community, to create unique hand-made artisan products as well as to educate individuals on the subject of lavender.
Why Lavender?
I have an eclectic work and study background from Canada as well as Europe. Parallel to developing my knowledge in the field of natural cosmetics and medicines, I pursued higher education in the field of communications and eventually I began my career in this direction. Yet, my dream was to somehow unite the two worlds together.
I have always led a creative life, however establishing a family has really connected me to my creative side and has pulled me back into nature. Serendipity waved its magic wand when as a gift I received an organic lavender cream. I was immediately reminded of lavender’s healing qualities and after some research I discovered the incredible versatility of this ancient herb. This was the missing puzzle piece I’ve been searching for. It was the link that inspired and motivated me to look back on my work and research experience in the field of natural cosmetics and medicine AND to combine my knowledge of communications and the love of the arts.
Since 2007 I have travelled throughout Canada from Vancouver Island to P.E.I. visiting lavender farms, lavender artisan studios and meeting lavender growers. Further trips to the US as well as Europe allowed me to elaborate on my knowledge of lavender and its versatility. I am now applying my knowledge here on our farm in Seagrave to create a local lavender artisan gathering place.
End of 2013 we relocated to our current location - a three acre hobby farm on the shore of Lake Scugog. We have over 50 farm animals, a small orchard, a large vegetable garden and 3,500 plus lavender plants are now growing on our property.
Lavender’s natural healing powers, aroma, flavour and colour have for centuries contributed to the improved quality of life world-wide. Through Lavender- Blu, I feel it is my role to communicate this message and broadcast it as ‘loudly’ and widely as possible so that we may continue benefiting from one of nature’s most unique and mystical gifts.
Lavender-Blu Studio
As an artisan, I have chosen a somewhat unprecedented medium – lavender. I consider lavender “living art” – it is an ancient herb of a very versatile nature, one which for centuries has been utilized in many different art forms and due to its well-known scent, adds yet another dimension to an artisan studio.
The versatility of lavender is so broad that it touches many artisanal avenues: ceramics, weaving, painting, photography, the art of distillation, landscape design, culinary arts, aromatherapy, flower arranging and horticulture to name a few. Therefore, running a lavender artisan studio encompasses a broad spectrum of these avenues with the lavender acting as the keystone and binding thread.
In the lavender studio I work with textiles, wool fibres, watercolours, clay, raw organic substances, aromatic essential oils, fresh pliable lavender as well as the dried lavender buds to create unique lavender artisan products. Lavender-Blu also collaborates with many local artists who are enthusiastic in featuring lavender in their art work. In addition, an array of workshops presents visitors with the opportunity to become active members in creating their own ‘piece of art’. This is a lovely journey as spectators and onlookers suddenly become participants. This is the art of lavender. Our Lavender-Blu studio now features over 80 lavender-inspired products!
