Do What You Love To Do ..

As a few of you know I love making Artisan Soap, Body Scrubs, Lotions, Cleansers, Face Masks, Lip Balms etc, but what you don't know is that I daydream about turning my hobby into a business ..

People have been asking to buy my soap from day one, but I honestly had no interest in selling back then .. I explained I was just learning through experimentation but was willing to give free bars to anyone willing to provide detailed feedback, specifically negative so I knew where to improve .. As circumstance would have it more often than not the feedback was very positive, and within a few months my new hobby had turned into an full blown addiction that had me making copious amounts of soap that my testers describe as "luxurious" and "non-drying" .. And again the offers to pay for more flooded in ..

Six months later I began daydreaming about one day setting up a stall at the local markets, or online, and then it was suggested I could sell out of a few arty-farty shops in town .. Nearly a year later and I'm now thinking wholesale accounts with the B&B's around here would be ideal too, or teaming up with one of the winery's or local brewers to produce a special line incorporating their product (I already soap with various milks, beer, wine, sea water, and other usual and unexpected additives with great results) ..

I'm certainly not rushing into anything mind you .. I need to be 120% sure my soap will still be top quality even if left in a sock draw or bathroom cupboard for six months .. And of course writing business plans, deciding on the target market, packaging, working out financing & insurance, not to mention formulating a whole range to meet the numerous individual skin types! Plus design choices like texture, shape, colour, fragrance .. It all needs to be considered and takes time ..

I think that's what I love about saponification the most though, the perfect blend of science and art .. Soap is such a personal thing, and is definitely NOT all the same .. Sure people have their favourite 'brands', but few can tell you more than "I like the smell" or "that one makes my skin itch" .. Someone with allergies might read labels but still won't understand what properties various oils or synergies bring to the texture of a bar, to it's lather, it's cleansing ability etc, that takes a soapmakers knowledge and more importantly experience ..

Anyhoo, R&D is well under-way (probably will be for as long as I make soap!), but I have no idea when I'll actually open shop .. If I do ?!

Desert Rose



Here I've saponified Olive Oil with Goats Milk & Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to create an ultra mild bar, with the addition of Organic Ground Oats and Aussie Red Clay to help exfoliate and cleanse without stripping the skin of it's natural oils .. Finished off with premium quality skin safe fragrance of Fresh Cut Roses - absolutely nothing artificial or perfume counter about this scent, it's real roses, stems and all!

New Years Eve V's Full Moon Madness..

Happy New Year! Have you seen the Moon lately?

It was sitting pretty above the Tipi poles yesterday morning ..

The Full Moon is always a time of high energy and creativity for me, so while it was quite exciting for that to coincide with New Years Eve, it also created a bit of a conundrum .. I already have too many projects in full swing and need to keep my focus, certainly not take on anything 'new' if you know what I mean?!

Anyhoo, Surfer Boy drove up from Christchurch to camp out back in his *new* tent, so we ticky-toured during the day and partied through the night .. He was in charge of drinks, the girl managed the music, and I provided entertainment with a bit of a light show using flowlights = LED lights I've strung together and swing like poi ..


That's my kitchen window in the background

Now that's what I call a Rainglow!


Gardenings (garden things): Elderberry has already come away nicely, and the Mulberry Tree has finally found a permanent home! More Tomatoes & Cucumbers potted on, as well as Basil & Mizuna .. Lawns = a mix of grass, red clover, plantain, yarrow, and a few other pretty 'weeds', are all enjoying the extra water and attention .. Hop vines in wine barrels have also been repositioned so I can set them to climb up the fence line and across to the roof, creating an enclosed courtyard outside the sun-room - I know it sounds odd to shade a sun-room, but it's peak tourist season so cool and private is what I want ..

I also turned the skirt of the tipi (East) and cleaned the air mattresses, which really is hard work as much fun as it looks!

It's hard work

But somebody has to do it


It doesn't sound like much when I write it down, but combine this with school holidays, grandparentals visits, Solstice/Xmas/NYE, Animals, Gardening, House/Cooking, Soapmaking & Lotion Crafting etc - it's been flat out!

I'm also still coughing, congested, sneezing etc, but regardless of that feeling great :D

So here's to 2010