I'd like to thank....

Erin (the Bondi living Soap Queen from Inner Earth Soaps) was kind enough to grant my little blog a 'Versatile Blogger' award. The idea, as it is with any of these awards I guess, is to showcase a handful of other blogs that have caught your eye and to spread the 'blog love'.

This award comes with a responsibility however - in order to accept I need to do the following:

Provide a link back to the generous person who nominated me

Spill the beans on 7 random facts about myself

Showcase 7 other blogs (letting the bloggers know they've been nominated also)

So, here are my 7 random facts:

1. I used to play the guitar (took years of lessons) but recently sold my guitar at a garage sale for $30

2. I can remember all my bank account details, my credit card number, my Tax File Number and ABN all off by heart - but I can't remember my husbands birthday!

3. I once 'appropriated' a rowing boat with a girlfriend and snuck it across a flooded river, using sticks as oars - we had a whole town out looking for us and just about to drag the river for our bodies. We were ten.

4. I can still swim a pretty mean butterfly stroke - try it, it's not that easy!

5. I held my mothers hand earlier this year as she passed away

6. I love kissing our black cat on the top of his head - it's just so luscious!

7. I have finally found where I 'fit' - my husband, our kids (cats), our beautiful home, our exciting new business and our new home state - never had that before.

And here are my 7 'blogs of distinction':

Epheriell Designs

Tabitha Emma

Fuffenscheit (otherwise known as Mrs Smith)

Loz and Dinny

Isismade

Boutique Markets

Recycled Relix

Enjoy!

Never thought you'd hear me say this.....

I'm just a little bit in love with Stephen Fry.

Mmmm... yeah.... I didn't see that coming either!

Hubby and I stumbled across a series of British Drama, based on author PG Wodehouse's work, titled 'Jeeves and Wooster'.

I think they were made in the early nineties and stars Stephen Fry and his quintissential partner, Hugh Laurie, as a incredibly intelligent Valet caring for his bumbling, hapless employer.

Perfectly cast and wonderfully written - though I get the overall impression that PG Wodehouse either hated women, was gay or at the very least had several terribly overbearing Aunts!

The women in the series are very harshly portrayed - but do their job of constantly getting Wooster (Laurie) into more trouble than he can ever handle without the aid of loyal Jeeves (Fry).

I tawled through Youtube to finds some snippets to show - this is a bit of an overview that might give you a rough idea, but it was hard to find a good snapshot that does the series justice.

the series shows the life of the 'idle rich' and the scrapes that they get into - usually by dumping someone else in the hot water.

Worth a look for the great period styling if nothing else.

We know Stephen Fry as an incredibly well spoken (if sometimes shockingly naughty) gent with amazing intelligence - he fits Jeeves pesona to a 'tee' and looks brilliant in the famed bowler hat!

So Mr Fry, I send this out with heartfelt adoration - well... just a little bit anyway!

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