Author: WeeBox Clan

This July, WeeBox celebrates an icon of the Scottish Highlands – the ‘Heilan Coo’!

No-one can resist the shaggy appeal of these bonnie beasts and this month we bring you a glimpse of their wit and wisdom together with stunning gifts to bring your own coos to your ‘hame’ no matter where you are in the world!

The Wit and Wisdom of Highland Cows

Celebrate the undeniable charm of our beloved Heilan Coos with this heart-warming book packed with photographs of all varieties of Highland Cow in their bonnie habitat, accompanied by words of wit and wisdom that will bring a smile to your face and you make you pause for reflection.  One of our favourites is ‘don’t grab Hamish by the horns’!! 

Bring your very own Highland Coos ‘hame’

A sighting of this majestic, Scottish icon in the Highlands never disappoints! So WeeBox brings you an adorable, Heilan Coo cruet set, teatowel and bronze coo with a flash of red tartan to add a special touch to your own family home – straight from their Highland playground.

Look bonnie with ‘Clara the Heilan Coo’ from Scottish Keepsakes 

Wear your very own piece of hand-made Scotland.  Set on heritage tweed, Clara the Heilan Coo is the creation of Carol, founder of Scottish Keepsakes.  Inspired by Scotland’s rich cultural heritage, tradition and folklore, she lovingly makes each and every piece by hand for you to enjoy.

WeeBox met Scottish Keepsakes last year and adored their gifts immediately! So Scottish, original and fun.  And, did you know your wee coo is eco-friendly? Wrapped in a ‘green’ clear display bag that is fully compostable and biodegradable, Scottish Keepsakes worked with WeeBox HQ to find the best option.  So your wee coo won’t cost the earth.

Scottish Keepsakes’ full range can be found on their website at www.scottishkeepsakes.com and in their Etsy and Amazon shops.  

Indulge in the taste of the Highlands

For four generations the Maclean’s family have held the title of ‘Scottish Master Baker’ and we are proud to bring you their award-winning chocolate chip shortbread – hand-baked, straight from their Highland Bakery to indulge! 

Originally from the Western Isles, they now produce indulgent traditional shortbreads and sweet biscuits together with a range of oatcakes at their modern bakery in Forres, centrally located between the Highland, Speyside and Grampian regions of Scotland.  At Maclean’s Highland Bakery they have recipes going back over a 100 years, these recipes have been handed down from generation to generation of Maclean’s family bakers.  Over this time, many things have changed but there are some things the Maclean family will not change: quality of ingredients, quality of the finished product, eating quality and flavour. Most of these values are adhered to by not taking short cuts in the baking process. They are proud to say they don’t do things the cheapest way, or even the easiest way, but the RIGHT way. Paying attention to the little things really do produce results in the finished bakery products.

Watch their story here – celebrating 40 years! 

https://www.macleansbakery.com

Be transported back in time with WeeBox and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books this month! Clans, tartans & tweeds, ancient recipes and of course, castles.  Delve into the history and romance of Scotland wherever you are in the world!

‘Take me home to Lallybroch’

Hand-crafted within a hairsbreadth of Lallybroch (Midhope Castle) by Louise of Leviko Designs, we bring you this stunning bookmark of gemstone and crystals which surround the ‘key to Lallybroch’.  

Lallybroch is the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser, the fictional character in the Outlander series, set in 18th century Scotland. Jamie is a Scottish soldier and landowner, well-educated and raised to be the future Laird of Lallybroch. Midhope was built in the 15th Century and was built by John Martyne, laird of Medhope. It was rebuilt in the mid 1600s and remains much the same today.  

Claire’s Traditional Tweed

Outlander is inspiring innovative Scottish designers to breathe new life into Scotland’s heritage fabrics. The show’s talented costume designer, Terry Dresbach, who sources local materials for authenticity—has played a large role in this new Scottish style-spotlight. 

Dresbach credits Scotland’s “extraordinary” craftsmanship and the country’s “real integration of nature into the work that’s done here” for the long-awaited fashion reinvigoration. So we’ve found you this bonnie tweed purse, designed by Earth Squared, a local design house based in North Berwick, near Edinburgh … which one did you get?

Phoebe Sherston’s traditional bramble* jam (*blackberry)

Diana Gabaldon’s ‘The Fiery Cross’ brought us inspiration to create this exclusive bramble jam hand-crafted by Pipsqueak Preserves! The bramble or Smear Dubh was much valued by old Highlanders and this old-fashioned jam, is Pipsqueak Preserves re-imagining of what Phoebe Sherston would have brought to the battlefield at Alamance.  Enjoy and take a step back in time!

“Jamie and the Governor, shaken out of their nose to nose confrontation, had also retired to the shadows; I could see them, two stiff shadows, one tall and one shorter, standing close together.  The element of danger had gone out of their tête-a-tête, though; I could see Jamie’s head bent slightly toward Tryon’s shadow, listening.

“… brought food,” Phoebe Sherston was telling me, her round face pink with excited self-importance.  “Fresh bread, and butter, and some blackberry jam and cold chicken and…”

“Food!”  I said, abruptly reminded of the parcel I held under my arm.  “Do pardon me!” I gave her a quick, bright smile, and ducked away, leaving her open-mouthed in front of the tent.”

The Fiery Cross (Chapter 72 – Tinder and Char)

Wear Doune Castle with pride!

Own your own wee piece of Doune Castle or Castle Leoch, the seat of Clan Mackenzie! This bonnie, cotton bag bearing the stunning medieval stronghold was designed exclusively for WeeBox by our great pals at Brave Scottish Gifts.

It is here at Doune Castle, that we are introduced to many important Outlander characters, including Murtagh, Mrs Fitz and Laoghaire MacKenzie as well as Colum MacKenzie, Laird of the Clan, his wife Letitia and their son Hamish.  Much of the castle was used in filming. The huge courtyard, and great hall were used to great effect, as well as the surrounding grounds. One interesting exception was the Doune Castle kitchen. A set was built to exactly replicate the castle’s kitchen, presumably to help make filming easier.

We had 2 braw options for the ‘book’ element of this month’s WeeBox, so we decided to bring both for our Clan to try … which one did you get? 

Chronicle your own Scottish adventures

Celebrate the fight for love, honour, and the Scottish Highlands with this deluxe Outlander notebook, inviting you to pen your own inspiring travels

OR

Follow the Clan Fraser Origin Story 

Enjoy the stirring story of Clan Fraser from the beginnings in the mist of Caledonian history with this bonnie wee book.  Frasers of Lovat, Jamie Frasers Clan in ‘Outlander’ was in fact, a junior branch of the Clan Fraser.  It was during the 14th century when Clan Fraser split into two separate clans – the Lowland Frasers of Philorth, and the Frasers of Lovat – which are today recognised as two separate clans with common ancestry.

With ancient origins, Scottish Clans are celebrated across the world and this month WeeBox is brimming with gifts to help you create your own ‘Gathering’ no matter where you are!  So set the scene with gifts to eat, experience and fill your senses, taking you on a journey to glorious Scotland!

Create the ambience of an ancient Highland Gathering 

Light your bonnie candle for a walk through Highland landscapes with the aromatic unity of moss under foot, fresh citrus and greenleaf all inspired by Shearer Candles’ Scottish heritage.

Can you find your Clan Crest?

Ancient Scottish Clans are celebrated the world over and we are proud to bring you this bonnie Glen Appin teatowel, perfect to display in your kitchen or even frame!  

The tribal instinct is as old as mankind. The Scottish Nation, which came together between the 6th and 14th centuries, was to absorb many immigrants in the process of its creation.  Few aspects of Scotland’s fascinating history were as colourful, or as bloody, as the clan system. From ancient origins in the Celtic, Norse or Norman-French traditions, by the 13th century, the clans had grown firm roots in the Highlands of Scotland.

While the term ‘clan’ means family or children in Gaelic, not everyone in the same clan was actually related to each other. The clans lived off the land, with cattle being their main source of wealth and, along with border disputes, the prime cause of inter-clan unrest.

Today, many clans can be traced back to a specific part of Scotland, for example the MacLeods of Skye, the MacNeils of Barra or the MacNabs of St Fillan on Loch Earn. If you have ancestral ties and a clan history in Scotland, a trip to your clan’s homeland is an incomparable and moving experience like no other.

Toast your Clan! Slainte!

“Too much of anything is bad. But too much whisky is never enough” Mark Twain 

What’s a Clan Gathering without our national drink?! This luxury tartan hipflask from Couthie Gifts is perfect for the guid stuff whether you’re rambling in the Highlands or jigging at a ceilidh.

WeeBox HQ love working closely with Craig and his team at Couthie to bring you special wee gifts.  There’s always a hot cuppa and a wee biscuit too when we pop into their showroom to browse their stunning gifts!

Salute World Whisky Month and take a journey through whisky country ….. 

Ever wondered where your favourite wee dram comes from in Scotland?  Did you know May is whisky month? And what better way to salute this, than with the brand new ‘Whisky Pocket Guide’ by expert and founder of World Whisky Day, Blair Bowman.  Blair is an in-demand whisky writer and consultant and has created a this  whisky map which is a wee bit different.  It focuses on flavours instead of regions, concentrating on the tastes and textures of the tipples … braw fun to read!

Scottish artisan oatcakes from the Kingdom of Fife!

We guarantee these are the tastiest oatcakes you will ever have! Hand-rolled, rugged and multi award-winning ‘Your Piece Baking Company’ is famous for Fife oats and ‘Fife Cut’ (classic triangular shape) used by generations of Fife bakers – ideal for serving at your Clan Gathering! 

At Your Piece Baking Company they take their baking very seriously and are proud of Scotland’s culinary heritage (‘piece’ by the way is another word we use in Scotland for ‘sandwich’!!).

All the oats are sourced from farms in North East Fife and they never use any artificial additives or preservatives. The recipes are based on those used by Scottish artisan bakers for centuries. Crafted by hand they create unique, delicious products that are enjoyed all over the world. 

So, finally, light your Highland Collection candle, pour your favourite dram, sit back and dream of Scotland!

Slainte from all at WeeBox HQ!

The May ‘Clan Gathering’ WeeBox will be winging its way soon – can you find your clan?!

The Highlands beg to be explored and a wonderful way to do this is through our magnificent natural larder.  This month, WeeBox brings you a wee touch of this magical land to your own kitchen with exclusively curated, stunning gifts …. so hold your breath and dive in!

‘The Scottish Food Bible’ by Lady Macdonald, of the Isle of Skye

Scottish produce is celebrated the world over, so why not create your own Scottish feast.  So, you’ve made it all the way up to the Highlands and now the question looms in your mind, what should I eat? Why not try your hand at any of these traditional Scottish recipes, all sure to be delicious and a true Scottish experience! Lady Claire Macdonald is the author of 17 best-selling cookery books, including Seasonal Cooking, The Harrods Book of Entertaining, The Claire Macdonald Cookbook and Entertaining Solo. She is an energetic Patron of Scottish Food Fortnight and The Association of Scottish Farmers’ Markets. In recognition of her contribution to Scottish food Claire was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by National Farmers’ Union in 2011 and the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.

Your own piece of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Trail …

Bring authentic whisky making history to your table with the iconic, depth of flavours of Scotland and White Rose Creations whisky barrel shavings.  Ideal for your BBQ or home smoker for a true Scottish experience!

Each year, thousands of barrels that have previously contained rum, sherry, port, and bourbon are shipped to Scotland to mature and flavour our iconic drink – whisky. Once they have completed this task, often decades later, the barrels are broken apart ready to be sold as firewood.

This is where White Rose Creations come in. They handpick each piece of wood, recognising its potential to become something very special.

Run by husband and wife team Ollie & Abigail Ellis, White Rose Creations is based just 5 miles from Dufftown, the Malt Whisky Capital, where they source all of their barrels.  They are ideally situated at the very heart of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Trail – the only trail of its kind in the world – and are privileged to be able to offer such an authentic piece of whisky making history.

The thistle – national emblem of Scotland! 

This stunning slate, thistle coaster has been lovingly hand-crafted in Ayrshire, the perfect addition to any Highland Kitchen, no matter where you are in the world!  We first met Lesley of Slated a few years ago and knew we had to share her stunning work with you! 

She was formally trained as an artist at Edinburgh College of Art where she specialised in painting, becoming a wildlife and landscape painter.

In 2014 she became fascinated with working with stone. Enlisting the help of her husband Geoff, and his amazing cutting machine, Lesley started making her first slate designs and Slated was born!

Since those early days, they have been designing and making many slate shapes for their customers worldwide.

The Highlands … spirit of Scotland at its best

And after you have created your Scottish feast, relax with a hot cuppa in your very own adorable, heilan coo mug.  Not forgetting Mrs Tilly’s traditional Scottish tablet made to a secret recipe … and relax!

WeeBox HQ had a ball meeting THE REAL Mrs Tilly at her ‘Indulgence Factory’.  As a family run business committed to producing traditional Scottish confectionery of outstanding quality, her tablet is created by hand using traditional methods.  The wonderful tablet, made to a secret recipe, has deservedly earned a great reputation for mouth-watering flavour.  They only use the finest of ingredients and this world famous award winning confectionery is for you to indulge.

WeeBox HQ hopes you love your journey to bring the Highlands to life in your own family kitchen! 

Part of the stunning March ‘Scottish Highland Kitchen’ WeeBox – we are proud to have included this beautiful, hand-crafted piece from www.slated-gifts.co.uk

The heather-covered hills and the breathtaking Highlands, the  haunting cry of the bagpipes and ancient poetry … Scotland is well known as one of the most romantic places on earth.  And WeeBox brings that magic a wee bit closer to you this month! 

Pen your own Scottish Romance

Scotland’s romance has stemmed from our ancient poets and writers.  Follow in their footsteps with this genuine Waverley ‘Romance tartan’ notebook and pen by Gresham Publishing, a traditional, independent Scottish book company.

‘Your face is my heart and the love of you my soul’ …. Jamie Fraser, Outlander

Look bonnie with this stunning Heilan Coo pocket mirror by quirky, Scottish designer Cherith Harrison!  We loved meeting Cherith, a true artist with a real passion for animals.  When she was 7, she rescued an injured wild baby rabbit and ever since has been fascinated by the animals and wildlife that surround us in the countryside. She successfully captures the sense of tranquillity in our wildlife and hopes that this wee coo mirror gives you a little piece of Scotland wherever you go.

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A wee ‘smourich fae Scotland’

We’ve even sent you a wee ‘kiss’ or ‘smourich’ fae Scotland with the help of award-winning confectioner Sixpenny Blue, tied with the Flower of Scotland tartan!  We are only sorry we couldn’t include one of the MOST romantic things about Scotland …. our men in kilts! 

Devilishly delicious, melt in the mouth Scottish tablet, is a type of sweet crumbly fudge, but better, even if we do say so ourselves!  Lindsay from Sixpenny Blue cuts your tablet in these bonnie wee heart shapes which are just perfect for the month of love.

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Heart o’ Scotland

Embossed with the WeeBox signature thistle, your purple wee heart keyring means you can always take a wee piece of Scotland with you wherever you go.  Many thousands of young lovers, writers, painters and travellers for centuries have recognised and relished the beauty, magic, mystery and altogether special tranquility of the Scottish landscape which can be summed up in the word “romantic

‘My luve is like a red, red rose’ …. Robert Burns

Finally, based on the Mary Queen of Scots wild rose, bring the scent of Scotland closer with this bonnie, red rose scented diffuser from the oldest producer of lifestyle candles in Scotland, Shearer Candles! Delicate and romantic rose petals with sandalwood, the aroma is perfect to salute the month of love. 

Enjoy your wee piece of one of the most romantic places on earth … with love from WeeBox HQ x 

The incredibly talented designer Cherith Harrison brings you this adorable heilan coo – her very own design on a perfect little pocket mirror – we want!

What day of the year combines haggis, whisky and poetry with lots of fun and laughter? Burns Night of course! There is no better time of the year to toast the bard and glorious Scotland and WeeBox has all you need to host the perfect Burns Supper, wherever you are in the world!

This month, WeeBox was lucky enough to collaborate with the only Centre for Robert Burns Studies in the world (!) to work with their experts to bring you January’s WeeBox!  The Centre was established at the University of Glasgow over10 years ago and it’s mission is the development of research, scholarship and teaching in the area of Robert Burns, editing his work for the 21st century.  Take a peek at our very special ‘unboxing’ video by Dr. Pauline MacKay on our social channels, who expertly brings your WeeBox to life!

The first Burns supper was held in July 1801 when nine of Burns’ close friends got together to mark the fifth anniversary of their friend’s death. Taking place at Burns Cottage in Alloway, the night included haggis, of course, performances of Burns’ work and a speech in honour of the great Bard (now known as the Immortal Memory). The night was such a resounding success they decided to hold it again (this time in honour of Rabbie’s birthday), beginning the tradition we still enjoy to this day.

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‘The Burns Supper, a concise history’ book is hot off the press and we have it exclusively for you before anyone else! Clark McGinn is also a PhD graduate of the University and this book comes highly recommended.  Spanning the history of the phenomenon, from the year of its creation in 1801 to the present day, this book offers you everything you need to know about the Burns Supper, and the poet for whom it is held every year. From the origins of the custom to its modern day interpretations, from the rituals and traditions to the fun and fellowship, this first full-length study of the unique annual celebration of Scotland’s national poet answers every question you can think of, along with every one you can’t.

The perfect Burns Supper is all about setting the scene.  So, lay your Scottish table with these bonnie Burns napkins and hang your stunning stained glass window art of the man himself – gie the Bard pride a‘ place!  

Now to the feast – traditional haggis, neeps and tatties are a must! But as we cannae send you the real haggis, enjoy Mackie’s haggis and black pepper crisps! Try to be believed, perfectly ‘paired’ with Talikser (the single malt from the Isle of Skye) with its smokiness – not for the faint of hearts! The Mackie’s Crisps story goes back many years… to when the Taylor family began farming in Perthshire in 1927, to them teaming up with Mackie’s of Scotland in 2009, and beyond.

   Selkirk Grace

Some hae meat and canna eat, 

   And some wad eat that want it; 

But we hae meat, and we can eat, 

   Sae let the Lord be thankit.

Finally, don yer best tartan or kilt and to add a wee special touch with this exclusive Hamilton & Young Edinburgh jeweller’s necklace, bearing the Bard’s famous ‘Auld Lang Syne’ for the sing-song and remember to gie it laldie!

“Happy Rabbie Burns Nicht 2019” from all at WeeBox HQ!