photo 'phun' at sanctum

After meeting a local photographer at a business networking event, we had the opportunity to have some interior shots of sanctum taken - we hope to get them onto the website and the blog so folks can get some idea of what the space looks like before visiting us.

Inspired by Dave, we had a play for ourselves after he left, with some of our tea, our hot stones and the new olive oil soap we've just brought in. Fun!

Need to take some more shots of the soap as this was one of the better ones and didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped.
Anyway, till next time......

just can't help myself......

It's an illness.... I'm sure of it...

I just can't help it..... I'm obsessed....

I swore I wouldn't.... but I did....

I bought more new fragrances!!!!!

It's partly Erin's from Inner Earth Soaps fault really - she was offering some fragrances she doesn't use anymore up for sale and led me to a whole new supplier I hadn't known about!

Based in Queensland Big Tree Supplies has a huge range of goodies for us soapers and candle makers to revel in.

So far I've bought:

Asian Pear & Lily - top notes of nashii pear, apple and leafy greens, middle notes of jasmine, lily of the valley and rose petals and finished with pear nectar, musk and peony blossoms

Green Apples - an amazing true Green Apple fragrance - tangy, sweet and delicious!!

Black Raspberry & Vanilla - delicious dark raspberries with warm vanilla - sweet, juicy and very moorish

Ginger Lime - warm, spicy ginger teamed with freshly squeezed lime

Manuka Honey & Lavender - freshly harvested lavender, with a hint of bergamot and a dash of manuka honey

Orchid Bouquet - a unique blend of fresh orchids, peony blossoms, water lily, aloe vera and bamboo

So now I have even more fragrances to play with for my candles and soaps.

Such fun.....

back in stock...

Our very popular Fragrant Reed Diffusers are back in stock at sanctum, after a sell out weekend at the last Niche market.

These guys have been a bit of a surprise hit at both the markets and in at sanctum.

Fair warning though folks, I've needed to increase the price from what I had them for as my suppliers have raised theirs as well.

Still for only $25.50, they are the perfect way to fragrance a space by simply setting them up and forgetting about them.

The one I have going in sanctum is still going as strong as ever, even after 6 months!

We have some great fragrances in like:

Honeysuckle Jasmine - a heady combination of these two florals

Peppermint & Eucalyptus - lovely fresh notes with hint of sweetness

Very Vanilla - a firm favourite for so many people

Mulberry Tree - fruity and perfect for freshening up a stuffy room

Frangipani - for those of us who are trying to hang onto summer

Plus more!

There are generally only one of each fragrance in stock, so get in quick!

Apologies for the 'spacey' blog entry, I seem be having trouble with either having too many or no spaces in the entries of late!!

Local Talent

A collection of very good friends are part of a current Design Exhibition here in Tassie running as part of the 'Ten Days on the Island' program till April 4th. Such clever folks down here! It's called 'Furnished' and is being run by DOT (Design Objects Tasmania - Australia's longest running design collective). Check out the website for some wonderful design finds! Current fav's are: Isis St Pierre and her brilliant armchair! Abigayle Tett and her hand formed chandelier. Joanna Gair with Martin Vinnicombe with their combined book terminus. Loz Abberton and her light shade. The simplicity of Stuart Williams standing lamp. And the smooth lines of Belinda Winkler's vessels. Worth a look if you are in this part of the world.

The Next Niche....

It's that time again (already!)....

The St Giles Niche Designer Market is on this weekend. Chock-a-block full of great stalls and clever people, you are sure to find just what you are looking for.

For full information see the Niche link above.

With everything that had happened with my Mum and since every other April Niche market has been at the end of the month, I was daudling around thinking I had all of March and most of April to get myself organised..... whoopsie.

So have been a little frantically batching and pouring and tagging and labelling.

Think I am on top of things now.

I have some new goat milk soaps to try - Lemongrass & Ginger and Charcoal with Tea Tree, Lavender & Lime - so will see how they go. The Charcoal one looks really eye catching - will get some piccies to show soon.

Heaps of candles as per usual and am just finishing off the last of the Fragrant Soy Melts as well.

The lovely folk at St Giles have been doing some great advertising so hopefully we'll have a really good turn out.

Fingers crosssed for the weather.

See you there!

Niche Market

Friday 1st April 4pm - 8pm

Saturday 2nd April 10am - 4pm

Tram Sheds at Inveresk

Closing a chapter....

Dear All,
Am writing this wishing I had better news, but unfortunately things with my mum didn't end how we had hoped they might.
After fighting the good fight, she passed quickly and peacefully on the 19th Feb and we buried her next to her own mother in Mackay.
We had as much family with her at the end and so many more made the long journey to help us to give her a good send off last Friday.
I'd like to thank everyone who prayed, who had us in their thoughts and who even sent her cards!
I know it may not feel like much, but please believe me when I say that it truly does help.
So, I am back in Tassie, surrounded by some beautiful people. Back in at work at sanctum, caring for my beautiful clients and back in touch with some of my family that I had let slip away over the years.
I think she would have been thrilled to see her family all come together just for her.
Be at peace Mother Duck.....

Update..

Hey folks,
Just an update on how my mum's doing. Lots of you have asked how she is. Bless.
It seems she may have contracted an infection - not great as the chemo has severely compromised her immune system - and we are watching and waiting on results from tests and scans.
Two of my brothers are on their way to her in north Queensland as we speak and as for me, I am waiting for some more news before I can decide whether I should to zip away to be with them as well.
Not the best news, but I spoke to her nurse today and she recommended to just wait the night out and decide tomorrow.
Will be keeping fingers crossed and prayers heading upwards.