Local Craft, Shared Roots: The Bloomfield Collaboration Story

One of the things we believe deeply at Bloomfield Schoolhouse Lavender is that small towns thrive when people create together.

From the very beginning, Bloomfield was never meant to stand alone. The schoolhouse restoration, the lavender fields, and the apothecary were always part of a larger vision rooted in community. We believe that when local makers, artists, and farmers support one another, something meaningful happens. The result is not just a product. It is a story that connects people, place, and craft.

Many of the items you will find inside the Bloomfield Lavender Apothecary were created in partnership with talented local makers who share our passion for thoughtful craftsmanship. These collaborations bring together different skills and traditions, but they all share one common thread: they are made close to home, with care.

Here are a few of the local partnerships that help bring Bloomfield to life.

Bloomfield x Lighthearted Candle Company

One of our most beloved collaborations is with Lindsay McDonald, founder of Lighthearted Candle Company in South Milford, Indiana.

Lindsay did not originally set out to start a candle business. After working as a high school English teacher, she chose to stay home with her young daughters and began creating handmade goods during quiet moments of the day. What began as a creative outlet slowly grew into a small business centered around the idea that scent can capture the small, joyful moments of everyday life.

Today, Lindsay hand pours each candle herself, carefully crafting fragrances inspired by comfort, memory, and home.

Together, we created the Bloomfield Lavender Candle, a special collaboration that combines Bloomfield lavender with Lighthearted’s candle making expertise.

Each candle is hand poured in small batches and designed to create a warm, inviting atmosphere with a clean, even burn. While lavender is at the heart of this collaboration, candles are available in a variety of seasonal and signature scents throughout the year.

Housed in a classic glass apothecary jar with a reusable lid, the candle reflects Bloomfield’s commitment to craftsmanship and thoughtful design.

Made in Indiana, this collaboration represents what happens when two local makers bring their passions together.

You can explore more of Lindsay’s handcrafted candles and story at Lighthearted Candle Company.

Riverwood Pottery

Just down the road in Shipshewana, Indiana, you will find the studio of ceramic artist Jesse Woodworth, the founder of Riverwood Pottery.

Jesse’s journey into pottery began years ago while apprenticing for a ceramic artist in Denver, Colorado. Inspired by the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains and the textures found in the outdoors, he developed a style that blends craftsmanship with organic inspiration.

After returning to Indiana, Jesse opened his own studio and storefront on historic Morton Street in Shipshewana. Today visitors can step inside, watch pottery being made, and explore shelves filled with handmade ceramic pieces.

At Bloomfield, Jesse created a limited collection of handcrafted mugs inspired by the Bloomfield Lavender Apothecary.

Each mug is made by hand, shaped with intention, and designed to be part of quiet daily rituals. Morning coffee, evening tea, or a slow moment on the porch.

Like lavender farming, pottery is a craft that rewards patience and attention to detail. Every mug carries the character of the hands that made it.

To see more of Jesse’s handcrafted pottery and the work coming out of his Shipshewana studio, visit Riverwood Pottery.

Everyday Herbal

Our lavender fields also inspired a collaboration with Amy Frost of Sturgis, Michigan, the certified herbalist behind Everyday Herbal.

Amy’s work centers around the careful craft of herbal tea and botanical wellness. She brings together years of study and practice as a certified herbalist, Reiki master, reflexologist, and holistic wellness consultant.

Together we created the Bloomfield Lavender x Everyday Herbal Tea Collection, a line of herbal teas designed to highlight the natural character of Bloomfield lavender.

Each blend was thoughtfully crafted to offer a different experience.

Flower Child is a playful caffeine free blend featuring lemon balm, butterfly pea flower, calendula, rosemary, rose, and Bloomfield Phenomenal lavender. With a bright citrus note and vibrant color, it becomes especially fun when a squeeze of lemon transforms the tea’s color.

Wild Child blends Himalayan white tea, blueberry, hibiscus, cardamom, eucalyptus, and Bloomfield Big Time Blue lavender. The result is a lively afternoon tea with a gentle lift of caffeine.

Moon Child is a calming evening blend made with catnip, apple, oatstraw, sage, fenugreek, and Bloomfield Vera lavender. It is naturally caffeine free and designed for quiet moments of rest.

This collaboration celebrates the intersection of herbal knowledge and local agriculture.

To learn more about Amy’s herbal work and the teas she creates through Everyday Herbal, visit Everyday Herbal.

Art by Katharine Taylor

Art also plays a special role inside the Bloomfield Lavender Apothecary.

Local artist Katharine Taylor creates the original oil paintings that hang on the walls of the shop. Her work is inspired by the beauty found in everyday moments, quiet landscapes, and the natural scenes around her home.

Katharine’s artistic journey began early in life. Raised in a family that encouraged creativity, she later studied at Hillsdale College, where she first discovered a love for oil painting and its rich colors and expressive brushwork. After years of work in design and teaching art, she completed her Master of Fine Arts in Painting at the Academy of Art University.

Today she paints from a home studio surrounded by the rhythms of family life and the quiet beauty of the countryside.

Many visitors do not realize that Bloomfield’s blank greeting cards are actually reproductions of Katharine’s original paintings that hang in the shop. Each card begins as a painting created for Marion before being reproduced as a beautiful piece of everyday art that can be shared with others.

It is a small way of sending local artwork out into the world.

You can view more of Katharine’s paintings and artistic work on her website and artist pages.

Handmade by Bailey

Another special collaboration comes from someone many visitors already know.

Bailey Rench, a talented local seamstress and friend of Bloomfield, creates many of the soft textile pieces found in the shop. Bailey and Marion first met after moving to Indiana in 2018, when their children were part of the same preschool co op.

Since then, Bailey’s creativity has become a part of the Bloomfield story.

She hand sews the lavender sachets, neck wraps, and eye masks that are filled with dried lavender grown right here on the farm. Each eye mask includes a removable, washable cover and is designed to bring calm, rest, and relaxation through the gentle scent of lavender.

Visitors may also recognize Bailey from the shop, where she works on Fridays and helps welcome guests.

Her work is a beautiful reminder that the Bloomfield story is shaped by the people around it.

Bailey’s handmade lavender sachets, neck wraps, and eye masks can be found here at Bloomfield, each one carefully sewn by hand.

A Community Effort

Bloomfield Schoolhouse Lavender began with a historic building, a field of lavender, and a dream to create something meaningful.

But it continues to grow through the creativity and generosity of the community around it.

Each collaboration adds another layer to the story. A candle poured in South Milford. A mug shaped in Shipshewana. Tea blended in Sturgis. Paintings created in a quiet home studio. Lavender sachets sewn by hand.

Together, they reflect the spirit of small towns and the power of local craft.

At Bloomfield, we believe the most beautiful things are often made not by one person alone, but by many hands working together.

To learn more about the lavender grown here at Bloomfield, explore our article on Types of Lavender: The Varieties We Grow at Bloomfield.