Friends - Friends old, friends new, friends borrowed and Cupcakes!!

A bit of a cryptic title I realise........  Let me explain

Years ago, a lot longer than I care to remember, I was employed as a nanny to look after an 8 month old girl as her mum was running a very busy, stressful cafe business in Totnes, Devon.  Sounds simple - however I was 19/20 years old, did not really know what I was doing and just winged it, like you do when you are young and desperately needed a job!!

Funny thing was that within a week I was smitten, Melody was a lovely child, happy, smiling and really fun.  She was not walking, still on bottles and a nap during the day but I coped.  I gradually got more and more into the role, began to love her mum as much as her and before I knew it I had a life long friend, I have probably known and trusted her mum Gill as a dear friend longer than anyone I know.  The three of us did a lot together including going on a very memorable holiday to Morocco - Mels was not walking, had two mums running around after her, a pool, scrambled eggs for breakfast and sun - what more could a little girl want?

Morocco

Gill and I had quite a lot more to contend with, let me tell you.  Two women alone in Morocco on a package holiday in a dodgy Tangiers hotel on our own......  say no more!

Well we survived.  I used to take Mels swimming to the local pool in Totnes almost every day, swimming was my thing, I loved it and I was determined she would love it too.  She was great, I got so sick of people telling me how my baby looked just like me that I stopped bothering to tell them that she wasnt mine, she did look like me, dark hair, tall, etc. I sometimes forgot she wasnt mine!!  (sorry Gill) we had such fun together.  I even  photographed her on the Dartington Hall donkey (if you know Dartington Gardens, Totnes, Devon you will know exactly where I mean).  Every child born in the area just HAS to have their photo taken on the donkey.  I have one of myself, aged the same as Mels (about 10 months) and have one of both my own children too (we still have to get a picture of Lola on it).  Here she is:

Mels on the donkey with Ish

Time moved on and so did we all, Gill eventually did not need a nanny any more but we still stayed friends.  Our friendship grew and changed over time, one of those strange things where two women share stories, loves, battles and bottles of wine late into the night, secrets never to be repeated, horrid times, hard times, laughs, fun and unimaginable joy.  I lived with her for a while when I split up from a long term relationship, we tried out different kinds of life when she and her husband split, had a household full of women at one point - what fun that was!, parties, different guys, lots of music and dancing.

Gill then settled with Steve, husband, lover and father to her two subsequent kids.  As all relationships change so did ours, we had our kids, drifted apart, but came together again when we needed to.  She saved me when I suffered an awful divorce and I hope I was there for her when she needed me over the years (though not as often as I - and probably she - would like).  Anyway we are still friends - still love each other - still enjoy making and creating and bouncing ideas off each other when we can make time to do it. 

To cut a long story short, and the whole point of this blog - my lovely first baby is now 28 and getting married! I spent yesterday down in Totnes with them all, Gill and my first baby Melody, my real first baby Aimee and her first baby (my lovely granddaughter Lola) - Are you confused yet? all having a wonderful day, making cupcakes for the wedding cake!!  How totally fabulous is that?

There are a very few times in life when you get a brief, clear and warm realisation why we are here on this planet, why we do what we do and why we keep hold of those who are so dear to us despite changing lives, changing times, moving house and the rest of it.

So here I send my best wishes to my very first baby Melody, her husband to be Sam, her kids, the whole family and most of all MY FRIENDS.  Thank you all for being there when I needed you, I hope I can do the same whenever you need it and I hope our families can carry on the bond.  I am so looking forward to being with you all on your special day this Saturday.

And most of all thanks to you Mels, putting up with me practicing being a mum on you!!

Me and Melody XX

Remember your friends - they are always there for you and always special.

My day job

So what do I do when I'm not making soap, designing soap, selling soap, all the other things that go with running your own business, keeping chickens, walking dogs, looking after my lovely granddaughter Lola, running a house, re building a ruined farmhouse in Portugal and generally running about like a headless chicken?   You might well ask...

I'm an Arts Development Officer for our local government authority East Devon District Council.  For how much longer?  That's another story.  With all the government cuts we are a dying breed unfortunately. I used to work full time but had my hours cut to 3 days a week, then 2 and it's just not possible to do the same job in only two days, nor is it possible to live on the salary.  That's one of the reasons I decided to create Naturally Made Soaps last year so perhaps it's not such a bad thing after all.

Elmfield House Honiton - Thelma Hulbert Gallery, my office is ground floor on the right, desk in the window

I am based in the most beautiful Grade ll listed Georgian building Elmfield House in Honiton, East Devon.  The house was the last home of the artist Thelma Hulbert, hence the gallery name.  We have just undergone a major transformation thanks to the support of Arts Council England and the District  Council. Our gallery now occupies the whole of the building with a stunning new ground floor gallery space that was formerly Thelma's studio so it's very apt. We also proudly boast a dedicated learning room, a project room and a shop with refreshment area.  We have also been able to retain a room dedicated to showing the work of Thelma Hulbert.  Thelma's work has largely been overlooked by the British Arts establishment. She was a teacher at the Camden School for Girls but, following a successful exhibition of her work at Whitechapel in 1962, she was persuaded to give up her teaching job.  Thelma was a contemporary of Victor Passmore and Barbara Hepworth to name a few and although these artists became far more famous Thelma produced some striking and well loved painting.  She moved to Honiton late in her life and continued painting until her death in 1995.

Our lovely new gallery space

I am based at the gallery and do feel very fortunate to work in such a lovely environment.  I work with a great team of people and, though it can be very stressful managing artistic staff and having overall responsibility for the gallery and arts provision in the area, it is a great job.

I now face the difficult decision of deciding when it will be right to give up the day job and concentrate fully on soap. It's a tough one and I know I'm not the only person with this difficult dilemma.  Do I give up my income that pays my housekeeping bills allowing Naturally Made Soaps to grow and expand or do I give it up, thereby freeing up much needed time?  I really do need the time too, an extra two days would be bliss.   Anyone out there had to make this move?  I'd love to hear how you fared and what you learnt.

New images and a brigher feel to the website

Hi everyone, it's is your hopeless blogger Soapchick here!
I really have been meaning to update my site more often and I really promise that I will more often in the future.

Firstly can I say a huge big thank you to all my new followers, it is so nice to know that what I write doesn't just disappear into the ether, never to be read or noticed and I really do appreciate all your lovely comments too.  After a long hard day, and there have been lots of them lately, there is nothing nicer than logging on to see if anyone has made a comment and I get so excited when I see I have a new one, sad but true.  Im not sure why I dont have more followers, I need to nag people on my facebook page I think, oh and twitter.  By the way, if you have a little time on your hands do go and look at some of the other blogs and websites Ive listed down the right hand side of this blog, they are fabulous and will really give you some great ideas and inspiration - not just soap either.

Thanks also to the new blog followers from the Soaps-n-lotions forum, its a good place, very nice helpful people and a wealth of fantastic soaping information.  In fact, I always think there is too much, I could spend ages just flicking through the stuff especially the pictures of other peoples soaps, the trouble is if I did I would never get anything done,  I just love soap porn, don't you?  Anyway thanks to Topcat http://titaniasdreamydelights.blogspot.com and Lindy http://www.malaspinasoapfactory.ca/ for taking a trip to my blog and following me, thanks guys!
If anyone is interested in taking a look at the forum and my last post - an introduction as I have not posted for so long I thought I had better start again!, go to
http://www.soaps-n-lotions.com/introduce-yourself-f2/soapchick-from-sunny-devon-uk-t2113.htm#26795

So where am I?  Life is very full on, Ive just completed two really big wholesale orders one for Germany and one in the Isle of Wight so Im feeling a bit smug about that, Ive dreamed up a few different colour combinations for new wedding favors which look cute and Im really getting down to Christmas soap designing.  Yes I know, go on moan!! I feel the same way but honestly Im really not wishing the dark days of winter upon us its just that the time it takes to get a design into some kind of production, work out new labels, take photos, do the marketing and allow enough time for the soaps to cure, before I know it November is upon me and then I start to panic.  Im trying hard to get in early this year so it wont be so hectic - wishful thinking I know.

My new Wedding header

Mini wedding favors 1 (Scent - Lavender eo)

Mini Wedding favors 2 (scents - Strawberry and Vanilla Bean)

I'm pleased with these little lovelies, Ive used my new leaf cutter and I'm very happy with the results, especially how the leaves now have a slight curve in them which looks so much more lifelike, and that is what I am always striving to do.  I'm planning to try some new cutters to get away from the daisy flower look so watch this space.

Anyway, I have also been trying to refresh my website a bit, some of you may have noticed if you have visited lately.  Ive re-taken lots of new photos and added extra ones to the product descriptions.  Its funny how over time the soaps morph into different looking things and unless you go back and look you just don't notice.  I now make my White Chocolate and Strawberry Gateaux in a totally different way from how I did in the beginning so keeping everything updated is a long and constant process.  I used to use Melt &Pour soap for the curls and hearts but I am really trying to get right away from M&P, I hate the way it weeps everywhere and I really don't like the ingredients either so, as I am getting better at manipulating Cold Process soap now Im trying to replace the M&P additions wherever I can and the Gateaux is a perfect example, it now contains only great qualiy CP soap - YIPEE!

Old original White Choc & Strawb Gateaux

The New White Choc & Strawb Gateaux

Actually now I come to look at it, I really like the top one too.  Its just such a shame that M&P soap is a pain and drips everywhere.  Living in Devon its always damp and rains rather a lot (that's why its so green) and any soap with M&P in is just impossible to sell in an outdoor situation unless its tightly wrapped in cling film.  As this soap is packed with cocoa and shea butter I really like people to be able to pick the soap up, feel it and smell it, all the senses need to be used not just one, with cling film covering it that is not possible and it really frustrates me.  Perhaps the time has come to see if I can make my own clear soap from scratch?  What do you think? 
Do you like the original or the new one better?
Id love to hear your opinions.
Speak to you all soon - sooner that last time I promise!!

PHEW- What a week, finally over

Yes it has really been crazy this week.......................

Honiton Agricultural Show on Thursday - my first really big show, in the craft tent with my two wonderful helpers Nigel (From the Bridge Inn and my fantastic photographer) and Dot my friend from Poland,  both were so great, I could not have done it without them.  After 12 hours Dot and I dismantled the stall and hotfooted it to Taunton to set up in the New Riverside Craft Tents for the best and biggest flower show in the South West.  We had to get out of Honiton show and up to Taunton, then set up before 9pm when they closed the show site......

We did it!  then back home to sleep.  Taunton on Friday was great, I had my new soap slave working with me - my lovely, ever supportive boyfriend Rik

       My Lovely Soap Slave!                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The stall looked great except for the backgound tent - I didn't know it would be an ugly marquee, but when it rained the second day I was very pleased to have it!!

The cupcakes, soapcake and new range of Kiss Me and Jasmine sold really well but the best was 'Dirty Dog' it really flew off the stall.  I met so many lovely people and had a really brilliant two days at this show - this is just one comment I came home to via email:-

Hello

Happy to have met you and your lovely assistant today at the Taunton Flower Show.

Your website looks great! I have bookmarked it for future purchases.

In the meantime, we had a laugh giving a 'piece a cake' as a present!

Wishing you all the best,

Ron (chap in the wheelchair) and Maggie (his carer)

 

How lovely is that?  It makes it all worthwhile for me.

 

Today I was at Sandy Bay just outside Exmouth.  Its a huge caravan park but they are very happy for local Farmers Market traders to come along every Sunday and I do really well there.  Everyone is so happy, they are on holiday and really pleased to be in such a beautiful part of the world.  I had my good friend Lindsay helping on the stall and there were lots of my Farmers Market colleagues there too, we had a really great and fun day - its such a nice place, I have to thank Brian and the management at the park for organising it.  I really have to add a special word for the entertainments team at the park who spent quite a while mixing up a horrid concoction (they called it gunk) full of soup, custard, mushy peas and lots of other stuff, then they gunked the guy from their team who had made the least money for their children's charity and the half marathon they are running.  they are such an enthusiastic lot, make Butlins Red Coats look like amateurs!!

Then - maybe best of all - Rik came back from flying (to a Belgium fly in) and we went to the Bridge Inn - probably the best pub in the world, my beer for the Bridge Inn Beer Bar comes from here, along with my Honiton Show helper and photographer Nigel, I already knew that they had tapped one of our favourite beers - Firebox, then the evening just got better - the light was beautiful and I took a couple of pics to show you all why we love this place so much

 

Now that's why I live in Devon!!













 

The BIGGEST EVER Rock n Roll Bride Giveaway and Readers Survey 2010

 Hi everyone, sorry I have been so lax with the blog lately, just been super crazy selling and making soap.  Don't forget that I am appearing at both Honiton Show and Taunton Flower Show this week, check out my blog a couple of weeks ago for details.  It would be so nice to see you there, come and say hello.

I just wanted to pass on this information from Rock n Roll Brides latest blog http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2010/08/the-biggest-ever-rock-n-roll-bride-giveaway-readers-survey-2010/#more-48041

Have a look and take part in her survey if you can - £900 worth of fantastic goodies as first prize!!

Kat said.......

I’ve been meaning to do a new readers survey for like, aaaaages and after the crazy few weeks months I’ve had, I’ve finally found the time to put one together so pwwwease won’t you take 5 minutes (and it probably won’t even take that you long!) to fill it in for me? The questions are super simple and not that personal (I promise) but your answers will really really help me make Rock n Roll Bride even bigger and even better!
The survey is open to all my readers – brides to be, grooms to be, photographers, other wedding professionals, bloggers – I want to know about all of you and what all of you think and want. PLUS as an added incentive I’ve called in a favour with some of the best (and some of my utter favourite) wedding suppliers to collate a Rock n Roll sack fit to bursting with prizey goodness. Seriously…check out what I’ve managed to blag  for youVERY lucky readers!

And guess what, 6 of my cupcakes are included!!  So go on give it a go!!  check out item number 23 on her prize list...............

Rock n Roll Brides, Rockabetty Studios and Restoration Cakes!

Well with names like that these three intrepid, enterprising, exciting, wacky, fun and fantastic companies all run by women must surely grab your attention!

All three are on Twitter and that's how I became aware of their fantastic businesses.

I'm relatively new to Twitter but currently have the pleasure of tweeting with Duncan Bannatyne of Dragons Den fame, Andy Murray (although he doesnt tweet much) and Ben Bradshaw to namedrop a few...........  If you want to be one of my followers tweet @soapchickuk and say hi or follow the link on this page - it's fun.

Best of all I have made some really good contacts for the business particularly people who live locally.  I went and visited a new photographic studio in Exmouth called "Exmouth Studios"  funnily enough - run by Edd King and Claire Sloan they have taken over a lovely old building, done it up beautifully and are offering a wide variety of service from portraits to photo printing (they have a very large photo printer).  The studio is located in the old Red Cross Hall on South Street in Exmouth, opposite the side of the Blackmore Theatre. Post code for sat nav is: EX8 2SA.  They are a very friendly bunch but don't just take my word for it, go and say hello - Edd makes a wicked cup of tea!

Anyway, I digress.  I wanted to tell you more about the three linked businesses I have met on Twitter.  They all have something to do with weddings.

Rock n Roll Brides is run by Kat Williams who runs a bridal service with a difference, in her own words

"my aim is to provide a little haven of kick ass weddingness in the overly poofy, pastel and often puke-worthy wedding world. If you’ve ever picked up a bridal magazine and felt queasy, or trawled the internet and felt disheartened by what you didn’t find, well my friend you are in the right place!"

My kind of girl - her blog is excellent (click the link above) its funny, fully of brilliant photos and ideas, I really recommend you have a look.  I was so chuffed when she featured my cupcakes recently.   Kim has also featured another two wonderful businesses Rockabetty Studios and Restoration Cakes on her blog. 

This is one of the terrific photographs from Kims blog, taken by Rockabetty Studios who specialise in wonderful photo shoots with fab vintage clothes and accessories with the aim of turning any bored housewife or working girl into a stunning glamor puss!!  Its a picture of Charlotte Gamble of Restoration Cakes whose celebration cakes have a stunning vintage feel and will really bring that WOW factor to your party or wedding.  Do take the time to visit these three ladies sites, I promise you will not be disappointed.

I now need to go away and count up the pennies, I would sooooo love to have one of those studio shoots, I am the most non photogenic person in the whole world, if they could make me look even one tenth as good as Charlotte I would be amazed!!

Naturally Made Soaps appearing at Honiton Show and Taunton Flower Show

Yup, come and see us, the new Budleigh Soap http://naturallymadesoaps.blogspot.com/
will be on sale and so will the new Devon Cream Tea cupcakes which are selling like hot/cupcake/scones ........... to be sure!!

Honiton Agricultural Show - Thursday 5th August

Here is the map of the show site at Honiton, print off this one, showing where the craft tent is and I will give you a free soap of your choice!  Come and meet me and my lovely helper Dot.  We will make you very welcome.

Taunton Flower Show 6th & 7th August

Do the same with this map for the Riverside Craft Area at the Taunton Flower Show, make sure you bring this print off with you and get your FREE soap.  This show is the premiere flower show in the area, come to the historic Vivary Park and see a real British flower show at its best, lots for the family to see and do.  A kids/family area with a wild west theme will feature this year.

Im sooooo looking forward to meeting you all, have a great summer and lets hope we have some good weather.