History
The little brewery on the farm at my husband Mats-Erik's childhood home has long been unused but previously served as both a storage room and a garage. We know very little about the house, but it was occasionally rented out as a summer residence and perhaps also used as such by the family.
The main building dates back to 1872, so the brewery should be from around the same time. There used to be a wood stove in the room, which were common during the latter half of the 19th century. However, the house could be older, as the log joints have a special hexagonal shape that was common in the late 1700s and early 1800s. In 1900, an old-fashioned paper ceiling was installed, as evidenced by a couple of pages from a newspaper from the same year found in the ceiling. It was customary to leave a message in this way when building or renovating a house. The paper ceiling is long gone, but countless nails remain. We've managed to remove about half of them. Now, between the outer and inner walls, there's a copy of the newspaper "Land," an issue of Gefle Dagblad, remnants of the old newspaper and a letter from us containing information about the house, left for future owners to discover. Many of our customers have memories of both the house and the farm in general since the Sundin family was hospitable, and many played here as children.
The Dream of a Shop
In September 2020, we started clearing out the brewery. As we cleared, the idea of starting a shop there began to grow. The environment could become very cozy. Low ceilings and a beautiful tiled stove added to the charm. Actually, it was probably the tiled stove that I wanted to save when I encouraged Mats-Erik to renovate the house. The more we cleared, the clearer the dream of a shop became. It would have a somewhat old-fashioned feel with local elements. My first job (in 1982) was in a shop, and I had several other retail jobs before finding other career paths. So, you could say I'm back to square one again, but as a business owner this time.
The Major Renovation
In spring 2021, we started the renovations. The roof was replaced, a new chimney was built, the exterior paneling was removed to reveal the logs, and electricity was installed. Inside, Mats-Erik put beadboard on the walls, giving the room an old-fashioned feel. Yes, a lot of paint was used, both inside and out. On July 18, 2021, we opened the doors to Humlebacka Hantverk & Present (Humlebacka Crafts & Gifts). The name Humlebacka comes from the place where we live, about 200 meters away from the shop. That's where I started making rhubarb baths in concrete, which were the first product and the beginning of our trade, you could say.
And then...
Since then, things have been rolling along. The range of products in the shop has tripled, and local craftsmen and artists have contributed their creations. Here you'll find products that aren't available in the big chain stores. The products have a somewhat old-fashioned style with a romantic touch. You'll find delightful soaps, bathroom accessories, teas, cloudberry jam, old-fashioned candies, candleholders, and brick molds in various designs. Among the handicrafts, there are rag rugs, wheat pillows, kitchen towels, aprons, and cast pieces. There are also products with local ties, such as dialect posters, photo posters, the Hedesunda book, the Hedesunda calendar, films, and more.
You'll find gifts for many occasions here. Feel free to come in and soak up the atmosphere. Explore what's available. When you need a gift, you'll know where to find it.
Welcome!