Oh My Goodness - Fab new soap evolving!

Yup, another one that is Palm free, think I must be on a roll now.  This is a soap I have been wanting to make for a long time, tried a couple of times and it did not work, but too busy to keep going.  Finally decided to try and crack the Salt Bar soap  -  Why you might ask... well we all know how health giving and healing salt can be, it makes a fantastic bar of soap,  I have used 75% natural, Portuguese sea salt in this trial batch along with lots of coconut oil and Castor oil for bubbly properties.  Its still very young - some bits hard, some bits very sloppy out of the mold - but has now hardened up beautifully.  Its like polished marble.  I have been using some already and it it bubbly, and lovely, scented with peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils - really fresh and invigorating.

Well, I need a name. I am hoping that eventually this soap could be part of a new Portuguese soap range -  have come up with lots of really naff names (Sea Breeze - see below) but need something that says it all, Atlantic coast, white icing sugar sand, lots of wild waves, very cold sea....... can you help?  have a look at the pics and let me know what you think, all comments gratefully received

A close up of the top of one bar, shows the seasalt embedded in the top

 Another picture of a collection of bars

HELP! I would really love a name that reflected everything I am trying to convey, Summer holidays, Beautiful coast, surf, fab sandy beaches etc.
A really great prize available to the best name......................
Thanks, in anticipation

FINALLY!! A PALM FREE SOAP THAT I AM REALLY PROUD OF

Yes folks, after trying out lots and lots of different recipes as well as trying to source a good sustainable supply of unrefined Palm oil things have moved on.  I have hit on a recipe that I am really thrilled with.  It uses lots more olive oil so, while that is great for your skin, it does mean the soap is a lot softer getting it out of the mold and cutting it up, in fact it was really sticky and I did have to force myself to keep going.  3 weeks later it is already lovely and hard, a gorgeous golden colour and it smells wonderful.  I just hope the scent lasts as its citrus based, I used lemongrass, sweet orange and grapefruit essential oils, together they are fab.

I have used full fat, really fresh local goats milk from my favorite supplier Norsworthy Dairy Goats http://norsworthydairygoats.blogspot.com/ and that has just added to the wonderful creamyness of this soap.  It really is great and while I will still be looking for a good source of sustainable palm oil the rush is over.  If customers like this soap I think I will slowly change all my range to this blend.

The soap will be ready for sale soon and up on the website within a week or so.

A brilliant blog for you to have a look at!

Its not often that I'm lost for words but this blog is hilarious, I don't think anyone can look at it without laughing out loud - really.......  http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

I absolutely promise you will love this - and keep going back for more.  Let me know what you think?

EASTER BUNNIES

I just made two for Lola, they are soooo nice, it was lovely to sit in front of the fire sewing instead of making soap!!!  sometimes its nice to do something different.  I bet my lovely niece Amaya in San Diego makes one - she is so good a sewing.  Let me know Amaya if you do make one.........  Any of you let me know and send me pictures of what you have made.  I will post mine after Easter Sunday when I give the two I have mad to Lola!!

MAKE THESE TOTALLY CUTE BUNNIES FOR EASTER

I love these really sweet bunnies, Thanks to Purl Bee for the idea http://www.purlbee.com/

They are so easy to make, Im definitely going to get sewing this week to make a couple for Lola.

Aimee has done so well while we have been away in Portugal, looking after the mail order side of things and generally keeping it all going.  I came back so inspired after a mammoth soap make with my mate Shelly.  We made 300 bars of rose bud soap for a ladies only Portuguese night out, it was their 25th anniversary so a bit special and they wanted something pink and lovely to give as gifts.  It was our first big Portuguese order, hopefully the first of many.  Anyway, sorry for being so lax with the blog lately, just came back to so much work I had to get on top of that first.  By the way, just to let you know, click on the facebook link on this page to find out about my latest offer for facebook fans, worth it if you like bubbly goats milk soap.

So get sewing guys!  speak again soon.

Cutting

Using the template cut two bunnies from the white felt and two from one of the bright colors.

Sewing

Sandwich all four pieces together with the two white pieces on the outside and the two bright pieces inside.  Pin them together.
Starting at a bottom corner sew through all four layers right along the edge with a small running stitch.

Sew in this manner along the first side stopping at the base of the ear.

Divide the felt into two ears each consisting of two layers of felt (one white and one bright color).  Sew through only the first ear along it's edges.  Leave the other ear unsewn for now.

Resume sewing through all four layers of felt once you get back to the head of the bunny as shown above.

Keep sewing in this manner until you get to the bottom edge of the body.

Open up the bottom of the shape so the bright felt is on the inside of the opening.  Sew through only two layers (the white and the bright felt) of the bottom edge of the puppet.  Then continue on sewing along the opposite side through just the other two layers.  This will form the finger opening.

Once you're done sewing the body sew the second ear together along the perimeter with a small running stitch.

The Bunny's body is now done and ready to be embroidered.

Embroidering the Face

Draw a face on the bunny as shown on the template.

Using the pink embroidery thread and a satin stitch embroider the nose.

Embroider the eye with a couple of back stitches.

To make the whiskers: Tie a little knot leaving an inch long tail in the cream embroidery thread.  Pull the thread though one of the whisker markings.

On the opposite side wrap the thread once around the needle. Pull the needle through this wrap, forming a small French Knot, and then trim the embroidery thread.

Repeat this for the two other whiskers and trim them so they are all about the same length.
Spray the puppet with water to get rid of the fabric marker markings.

Making the Pom Pom

Wrap the cotton yarn around two of your fingers several times.

Pull this gathered yarn off of your fingers and wrap the yarn around the middle of this gathering tightly and tie a little knot.

Cut the loops to form a pom pom.

Trim the pom pom so it's fluffy and round.

Using the cream colored embroidery thread sew the pom pom tail onto the puppet.

WEDDING CUPCAKE SOAPS THAT ARE 'SWEET-N-CLASSY'

I have finally created a new page on my website, well quite a few actually, but I'm very pleased with this one.  Mainly because of my new absolutely stunning photos taken by Nigel Cheffers-Heard - thank you Nigel as always http://www.cheffers.co.uk/

My new cupcakes are going crazy, I'm already sold out of Rose Garden and Love Spell is rapidly going the same way.  Oh well, a little less for poor Aimee to wrap and pack up while Im away I guess.  Our Portugal trip is looming ever closer and I just can't wait.  More about that in another post.  Anyway, I have taken the plunge and gone for 4 issues of advertising in Brides Magazine - the UK's leading bridal mag and (ouch!) its expensive, but has to be done to see if I am on the right track.

  So this is the copy for the new page and it makes up the new press release too, available on the press pack page of the website if you are remotely interested!

If you are looking for an elegant and sophisticated gift for your friends with a little quirky twist to make them smile look no further.  I can custom design my stylish and fun little soaps to match a theme, colour, scent, the dress, flowers even your wedding cake.

All I need is 4 weeks to design, make, decorate and wrap your unique wedding favors and deliver them directly to you.  I am happy to help you with ideas over the phone or in person if you prefer.  You can send me samples of your colours, fabrics and ideas for flowers for the tops (if you wish) and together we can come up with the perfect design.  You may be looking for something with a bit of character or a twist on you lives and loves - favourite sports, pets you love, places you like to go - I can make ANYTHING in soap - well almost anything, just try me!





Left is a cupcake tower of Summer Time Mini Soap Cupcakes  and below is Rose Garden.

Then I added a bit of silliness, I just hope it works and tempts more people to get in touch....


Cupcake soaps cater to the kid in us all..... a bit of cupcake psychology
Cupcakes are known for their kid-like appeal but there is a softer, sexier side to these little lovelies that cannot be overlooked.  Research shows that a cupcake is the perfect way to seduce someone!  Honestly, more than biscuits, sticky fudge brownies, cakes and the rest.

Their size means that the person receiving one doesn't have to share.......  Unless they want to that is, and of course mine are made for shared showers. 

Basically cupcakes are beautiful, sexy, colourful and most of all fun.  Laughter is the stuff of romance, the allure of one of my cupcakes (along with the divine scents) is in the eye of the beholder and the laughter comes when they realise that they are made from soap.  My cupcakes can morph from innocent delight into a weapon of seduction all within the twinkle of an eye.  Imagine how great it would be to bring more couples together at your wedding using the power of a sweet scented, special gift.....  Oh dear, perhaps you may have to re-think the seating plan!

 

Let me know if you think I might have gone too far!  There is time to make some changes

 

A SERENADE WITH SOAP AT BUDLEIGH SALTERTON!

http://budleighbrewsterunited.blogspot.com/2010/01/serenade-with-soap-at-new-budleigh.html

Thanks to Michael Downes, who writes the Budleigh & Brewster United blog celebrating the pleasures of Budleigh Salterton.  He came to do a piece on the new Farmers Market site and how it was going for the traders and customers and ended up getting mixed up with soap, cupcakes and my enthusiasm for what I do!  Those of you who know me will know what that is like.  Anyway, thank you Michael (and Annie) for your kind words, much appreciated, come and see me again.