Soon be...

....Valentines Day ;o).  I've been sat making these gorgeous dainty hearts over the Christmas period.  They've been very calming.  Yesterday I spent the evening sorting out the paperwork for the craft fairs and for various craft associations I'm hoping to join.  I've popped a little Craft Fair list on the left hand sidebar...it would be lovely to see you there if you're in the neighbourhood.

Off to pop the hearts in the shop now.  Hope everyone has a lovely New Year's Eve, however your celebrating (or not).  Here's to a good 2012  :o).

A Day For Soap

 (Lemon and Ginger)

I've had two days of cooking, eating, entertaining, upwrapping, building lego, feeling like a beached whale, being spoilt, so today I decided (after having a quick tidy up) that I would make some soap.

As I only had one soap mould I have to choose very carefully which one I want to make, so I decided on a new one - Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Pine.  Then hubby came home and said he could make me another mould if I'd like!!  Of course, yes please!!  So he made two!

So I now have three lots of soap sat cooling under towels, two of which I forgot to photograph! 

The other two are new too -The first one is Lemon and Ginger and then one I've wanted to make for ages but because it is made in 2 parts, with the first part having to sit for 2 weeks, I've had to wait.  This one will be an Orange Scrub soap with oatmeal....ooooh, I can't wait for that to be ready.

Organised or not?

Remember the soap bundles...well I didn't like the twine I'd tied them with so I changed it to wide ribbon.

 Much better don't you think?  The lady who bought them had made some small felted bowls for them to sit in.

 I'm also researching boxes I can use for gift sets.  I love the idea of these two, although the pizza style box may be too big...I'll have to try it with the pretty stuff as well as the soap.

 And what do you think about my chocolate frog earrings?  I may put a couple of pairs in the shop if people like them.

And, as I'm so organised, not, here are some more Christmas card and decoration ideas.  Actually, you could say I'm just really organised for next year ;o).

I'm feeling it...

I'm starting to feel that Christmas buzz again...yipee.  Back to the soap though ;o).  Today I have managed to make some mandarin shaving soap in pots!  These are quite big (over 200g each) and will be available with a brush.  I'm hoping to get some lovely teacups for a more feminine shaving pot.  Anyway, these will be ready 18th January 2012.

I've also made some patchouli and orange, and this time I've added some of the powdered orange peel as I thought it looked fantastic in the christmas soap.  This will also be ready on 18th January.



While your here I wanted to ask your opinions on salt and sugar scrubs.  I made the above one for a swap gift but I wondered whether people would actually buy them online because of the cost of the postage.  So, would you only buy something like that from a shop/craft fair or would you buy online, where the postage may be in the region of a fiver?

Slowing down?

How about you?  Are you still on the mad rush ready for the big day or are you all ready?

I'm definitely on the mad rush as there is also a birthday in the house tomorrow, but, I think I'm nearly there with everything else Christmas-y.  Last minute orders being prepared (piccie up there) and new packaging being looked at.  Also, big news for me, is my first craft fairs for next year have just been confirmed.   That means I've got to crack on with the soap making as the first one is in 6 weeks time!!!!

Ready!!

I forgot to say that the ylang ylang, the lemon and tea tree and the mandarin cinnamon and clove soaps are all ready and in the shop.  I should also mention there is only one of the mandarin, cinnamon and clove bars left!! 

The give-away which I had on 'this enchanted Pixie' was won by Sian, so well done, your soap is on its way :o).

MmmMmm

Soaps ready to take to a group.

Christmas cake finally made.

Hubby's work Christmas party attended (selling a few bars of soap while I'm there ;o) ).

Panto this weekend.

Nephews birthday party this weekend.

Putting up, painting and filling our new retro wall units in the kitchen.

Envelopes to fill and send out for customers.

Heck....I think I may need to order a few more hours in the day...do you think I'll get my order fulfilled?!

Give-away!

I'm having a little give-away over at this enchanted Pixie.  Pop over and enter for your chance to win three bars of gorgeous, handmade, completely natural soap :o)

Variety is the spice of life

More soap orders going out.

Samples dropped off at potential buyers.

My first Craft fairs booked for next year.

Another card made which I'll finish and show you later.

A give-away planned for next week with another wonderful crafter on her blog.

A new blog button over on the right hand side there.

Blimey it's been a busy few weeks.  Hope everyone else is busy too :o).

Joy

 Soap ready for parcelling up and sending out.

Another wreath colourway - I sat making this at home ed group yesterday while teaching some of the non-sewing Mum's how to make one....wonderful :o)

Lets get busy with it...

Ready in time for Christmas...mandarin, cinnamon and clove soap (ready 13th December) and... 

..more lemon and tea tree (ready 12th December).

I also need to make more shaving soap as I've nearly sold the entire batch!!

Went to Plan

Amazing...that actually went to plan ;o).  I made a couple of mini Christmas Wreaths so I'm off to pop them in the shop now.  More soap making today as my afternoon appt with the business advisor has been re-scheduled...woohoo for extra time.

Back to it then :o)

Back to it with gusto then.  Ylang ylang soap made this morning (ready 10th December).

I've started attending some free workshops provided by a local enterprise scheme to help with the marketing side of things (I'm truely pants at this sort of thing).  So with their advice still ringing in my ears I've set up a twitter account, eek!

@MyHandmadeHaven

The link is in the sidebar on the right if you like that sort of thing :o).

So this afternoon I shall be doing a little housework, a little play with the kids, and hopefully a little sewing as that's been sorely lacking in these parts.  Hope your all having a productive day :o)



Heck

 Lavender

 Mandarin Shaving Soap

 Patchouli and Orange

Samples/favours

Well, that never went to plan.  I think the shock of actually passing my driving test put me right out of kilter!  I'm back on form now and the soaps are in the shop ;o)



Back to it

Trying to get back into it after having and passing my driving test, having a weekend away then going to see Sarah Millican.  I've had a few days catching up with washing and driving round, today is home ed group then tomorrow I shall get back to making stuff ;o).  A couple of soaps need adding to the shops too, so it looks like I shall be having another busy weekend.



(Today is my Dad's birthday)

Plans?!?

Well, things just haven't gone to plan at all this week.  I've not made anything new for the shop which is not good!  I have been to see a business advisor though...whoop-de-do ;o).

Anyway, here's the new card that I've had made for a while.  It was for a lovely customer who was expecting a baby, but she didn't know what sex it was.  I wanted something bright as well as unisex, so I hope that the rainbow baby words work.

Patience is not my strong point!

I should have taken photos yesterday when the rain had actually stopped and the sun was shining, but I had a horrid headache (migraine, probably but I'm not sure!) and had no energy for anything.  Today I am out to see my Nan but I wanted to get some pictures on here but the sun isn't high enough so the pictures are not good.  Also, the make-up bags and other tins are still in the storeroom, AKA the bedroom, where the other half is sleeping!!  I may be back later when I've taken some decent pictures.



PS I did get my first batch of shaving soap made a couple of days ago - mandarin.  Ready 9th November.

Quick update

I have got lots of things to show you - tins, make-up bags, mandarin shaving soap, cards - but the light here has been terrible for the last 3 days so I've not been able to get any decent pictures.  Hopefully we shall have some sunshine in the next few days...lets keep our fingers crossed ;o).

At last

 The new ingredients for the soap arrived.  I shall get started on the new 'flavours' on Monday.

Making the make-up bags (you'll see them in a couple of days) I thought I'd sew one of my labels into the lining.  I've never done that before...looks really good.

I've also been making new tins, a birthday card (for the hubby) and a baby gift (for a lovely customer).

Not much housework listed there!

A Busy Week



I've spent a good few evenings sorting out the website, trying to make it look more professional, adding more information on certain things, removing things I didn't like, and (on the advice of some lovely friends) added an 'about me' page so you lovely customers can see who's making the items.  I've still got a couple more things on my list that I want to add to the website, but I'm yearning to do some sewing, so they will have to wait. 

See up there?  They're going to be make-up bags that will be new items in the shop.  There will also be pencil cases, and tins with names on (why didn't I think of those before!).  With all the sunshine gone, and autumn definitely getting a grip, I know what I'll be doing over the weekend :o)

Solving a problem

 Remember my swatch card I made last week, with the two little mistakes on it?  Well, I thought I'd rectify that by adding all the colours that my supplier had :o) 

 The delivery arrived this afternoon, so I set to work cutting and sticking.

 This is the swatch with the new colours on.

And this is the swatch card all done.  I now have 52 gorgeous colours to play with.  This will be added to the website later on this evening, meaning that customers can choose any of the colours for many of the felt items I have for sale.

So...

...after a really rubbish night's sleep I thought I'd do some of the paperwork for the shop.  I've now added an information page for the soap.  Go take a peak and see what you think.  I also posted some gorgeous tins this morning for an order but forgot to photograph them!  I need to update the photos for tins so this seems like the perfect excuse to make some more ;o). 

Quickie

No piccie but just to say I got some more soap made this afternoon..lavender this time.  This will be ready 30th October.

Making some more tins and cards this evening, including a new card which I can't actually show you yet as the very first one is destined for something special :o)

Hope your all having a lovely weekend in this wonderful mini-summer we're having.

Soap

Patchouli and orange now setting on my shelf - ready 29th October.  Hopefully I'll get another batch done tomorrow of one of my usuals, then the ingredients for the new ones will be here next week...yipee.

Hits and Misses

 One draft swatch card...note how I added a colour I don't stock and missed off a colour I do ;o)

 A commissioned 40th birthday card...I love the champagne flute with the bubbles.



I don't like this one as much though.  As this card is on a smaller scale I need to draw a better, smaller glass so I get the same effect as the bigger (A5), commissioned card. 

 Yippeee...coconut oil actually in stock from my supplier so I can get on with the soap making too....

...just after I've finished another tin order :o)