we are experiencing some technical difficulties...

Just a quick note...
If anyone is wondering where on earth I've been for the past few weeks, our hard drive has crashed and we are still trying to recover all of our files!
All of my photos from Niche are on there so I can't show how great a time we had!!
Fingers crossed we will be up and running again soon!
Oi!

Just around the corner...

Well, in just over a day or so, we will be well into our first day at the Niche market. I am really looking forward to being back behind the stall - I've missed it. You always meet great people - both ones who come visit your stall and the other stall holders. You get feedback on your creations and get to see all the other devilishly talented folks out there.
You just hope to make some money - not to pay the site fee, but to be able to go and buy all the cool stuff on the other stalls!

Niche all wrapped up Friday and Saturday 10am till 4pm.

See you there.

We also dropped into the Tamar Visitor Centre last weekend and got to see the display of my products that the ladies had done up. I've pretty much got pride of place as you walk in. Yay me! Here's hoping they sell well.

Once more with feeling.....

Yep! It's that time again.... the St Giles Niche all wrapped up Market is coming up next weekend - Friday 27th and Saturday 28th August.

It's come around really quickly and I just hope that I haven't forgotten anything!

Just a little bit of labelling to do and I think I am ready to go. Having said that, I am already having dreams where I am late for setting up and am as far from ready as can be! Hmmmm...

Here's looking forward to lovely weather and a huge crowd!

On other news, I was very fortunate enough to pick up a new stockist locally. Very exciting!

The Tamar Visitor Centre at Exeter is a lovely space created by Karen Burnett and run with the help of a wonderful team of volunteers. As well as tourism information and bookings, Karen has stocked a great retail space of local goods and crafts and has been kind enough to give my little products a go.

Well worth a drop in when next you are in this area.

Soap on my mind....

Is it just me, or is there something seriously saucy and sumptuous about a big bowl of soap?!

I was taking some new shots of my products and just found myself getting caught up in the moment...

I'm hooked aren't I...........?

A Niche-ing we will go... a Niche-ing we will go....

Yep.... it's that time again....

Niche Market is nearly upon us and it's time to start cranking up the old stove, melting some wax, trimming some wicks and stirring some pots.

My order finally arrived today so I can get started on the last of the candles I will make for next months market.

It will all have to wait a few more days however as I have been off work sick (you know... throat feeling like you've been gargling with molten lava; joints and muscles aching like they've been swapped with an arthritic 85 year olds...). Back at work tomorrow, all going well, so after a bit of catching up there I can get a start in on the weekend.

I've condensed my products lines, but introduced a few new things. I found out I will be at the Inveresk Art Space, same as before, but there is also a large number of stalls at the Boathouse as well. More news as it comes along.

wrapped in plastic....

You know when you hear one little fact that stops you in your tracks and just makes you look at things in a totally different light.

Well this one did that for me....

Did you know that every scrap of plastic EVER MADE is still around?

Every shopping bag, every bottle, container and ounce of packaging. Every piece of every Barbie doll you ever owned is still on this earth.

Not enough time has passed for any plastic we have ever created to actually degrade down to nothing. Pieces may have gotten smaller, but the total sum of them is still here. Chances are it's on a beach somewhere clogging waterways and animals digestive systems.

I have to say, that kind of scared me a little.

Kind of makes you think huh?

Tea for Two...

My house is smelling pretty amazing right now. As with many other soapy folk, I have a rather deep seated obsession with fragrances. My latest is called Linden Blossom.

From the awesome Bramble Berry fragrance range - it has this amazing sweetness to it that blends citrus notes with the Linden Blossom and light florals as well. Mmmmmm..

Now.... what to team it with....?

Well to be honest, this pairing came together simply because of the name.

Red Tea and Linden Blossom

Rolls off the tongue quite nicely doesn't it?

So off I went to my local wholefoods store, bought myself some beautiful Rooibos (Red Tea) loose leaves and away we went.

Instead of using filtered water for my lye solution, I used the infusion of red tea. It started off this amazing russet red colour and I didn't think to add any other colourants to the batch. As it has cured, it's become a lovely soft cream. To give it a little 'zing' I dabbed dried red tea leaves onto each soap ball. What do you think?