The Suitcase That Started It All

There are some things we keep because they are useful.

And there are some things we keep because they hold memories.

For years, an old suitcase sat quietly among family keepsakes. It wasn't particularly valuable. The leather was worn, the corners were scuffed, and the brass clasps had long since lost their shine.

One afternoon, curiosity finally got the better of me. Inside I found more than I ever expected.

There were weathered notebooks, folded letters, handwritten recipes, pressed flowers, botanical sketches and scraps of paper tucked between pages. Some notes were carefully written. Others were hurried observations scribbled in the margins.

The suitcase belonged to Granny Jay.

As I turned each page, I discovered a world of cottage gardens, forest walks, harvest seasons, village traditions and recipes collected over a lifetime. Granny Jay lived in a then village - Sir Lowrys Pass in the Western Cape South Africa - rich in botanicals and deep in history.

Some pages spoke of herbs gathered along mountain trails. Others described creams, soaps, oils and remedies shared among neighbors. Between those notes were preserving recipes, household tips, stories, observations and memories.

Many of the recipes were incomplete. Some ingredients were unfamiliar. A few pages had faded so much that only fragments remained.

But what survived was something far more valuable than a recipe.

It was a glimpse into a way of life. I set out to explore this old world and thought I woudl recreate some recipes with a modern touch.

The Granny Jay Archive was born from a simple idea: what if these discoveries didn't remain hidden away in an old suitcase? What if they could be shared?

What if these forgotten recipes, rituals and traditions could inspire something new?

Over the coming months, I'll be carefully cataloguing the archive and recreating selected entries using modern ingredients and methods while staying true to the spirit of the original notes.

Some discoveries will become soaps, creams, oils and candles.

Others may become preserves, pantry treasures or stories worth retelling.

Whatver they may bring ... Every Archive Entry begins with a discovery.

And this is just the first page. Come back to hear the stories, the gossip and shared products and recipes.

— Jessica

The Granny Jay Archive