Handmade soaps on Zibbet!

Black Crown soap available to buy here

I don't know whether it is the recent change in Etsy's status, or the relevancy search but so much is new at Etsy since last year and the lights appear to have gone out! I am going to stick with it anyway, and try and find out how to get my shop moving with the times! 

However, I have opened a second SoapyChica over at Zibbet, as there is a lot more going on over there now for the genuine handmade crafter and the community as a whole seems to be very pleasant.

 I should be receiving my new gift packaging in the next day or so, so there will be a few photos to show the new soaps in their gift wrap by the end of the week.

Facebook shop now open!

Facebook SoapyChica Become a fan and get 10% discount when you shop via Facebook. It is actually much easier to find what you need, and of course one of us is usually on hand to help, so shout if you need anything :D

A little blog feature!

I was delighted today to stumble upon a little feature on the Craft Gossip Bath and Body blog . Previously I was unfamiliar with the blog, but it looks good so I will be following it from now on, I am constantly amazed by all the new goodies available on the internet!

Parcels all arriving ok!

Duck Egg Heart

Well my fears were allayed, and everyones parcel has arrived safely so thats great-well one hasnt but we've sorted that out - it was en route to the USA. Its the only one this year so far that went missing. Well three new moulds have arrived this week and I shall post the results asap- two childs soap moulds and one fancy floral one. I have had a few Victorian hearts to make this week, and have veered toward a tiny bit more green to make a true Duck Egg blue, they all came out beautifully I am happy to say, with copper flowers. I am feeling the urge for some special moisturiser and that kind of thing this week as the weather turns ever more Wintry, you know when you can feel it in your skin? Well last year I remember I was using products from Maia Skincare which are my most very favourite- a bit like the Liz Earle range but in my opinion better. I must get onto that site and order some more for this winter-they have balms and potions to die for! And they smell amazing too. Body lotion I can get away without using because of the special ingredients in handmade soap, but I sometimes suffer from dry skin on my face where the weather gets me when I am out with the horses and dogs.
I find myself relying on 'smells' a little more now its colder, also as a pick-me-up, I am using a honeysuckle soap in my bath, taking turns with a lavender bar, and a hazelnut bar.

Pamper evening!

I was invited to have a table at a pamper evening organised at my local primary school last week and I thought why not? It ran from 7-9pm so was not too long to attend on my own. I took all sorts of soaps because I really could not decide what to take! I was quite nervous also :) I sold quite a few simple spa soap slices-they were really the best seller and I had them piled in baskets at the front. One white chocolate and one coconut truffle bath butter jars were sold, and I think it helped when I actually opened a few up for people to have a 'go' at, and placed them in the centre of the table. The fancier, pricier soaps I did only sell a couple of but on the whole I was pleased with the evening and had great fun attending! There were some lovely candles and things there but I held myself in check admirably on the spending front for a change! I was able to use the stands I had got from off Ebay that are meant to be for cards, following EJ's tip off about them, they were easy to put together and I used them for my gift boxes and jars. I suddenly remembered half way through to take a picture of the table set up for future reference and also to show my sister liz , who has been such a help!

Soap Gift Sets

Chocolate and Pear Brocades

I love these new sets. Liz my sister has taken better pics-but I am using these for now! I have had a great time putting sets together because I have had several requests for gift baskets etc recently so here we go :) Its a job to find enough hours in the day though at the moment!

Chocolate and Duck Egg Daisy

The new studio/workshop

Well I don't know what to call it really- I have almost finished painting it. At first I was not going to bother, but it was a vibrant yellow and orange with blue carpet and I just dont think I can work with that ! Also it has been used as an office for 5 years so looked a bit worn in places. I unearthed a massive tub of white paint that we had around and painted the main work space, and for the little foyer bit I chose Classic Duck Egg, which I think looks gorgeous. I think I will do the glossing tomorrow afternoon which I have arranged to have free of work (doggy work that is) and then I can get on with making soaps at last. I am looking forward to experimenting with more products as well now that I can really spread out. Obviously I had to paint before I started-not after! My hair and clothes are bad enough-covered in splotches tonight!
Not only that, I really didnt think I had so much soapy paraphenalia until I had to move it-Nightmare on Elm Street!
Oh and I havent taken any pics yet - because it looked a bit like Macdonalds before, and its not quite finished yet, but I will!

Almond Coffee

When I was pouring this soap, the whole house smelt like a coffee shop. The fragrance is almond milk but I coloured the soap with coffee which means there is a goodish coffee smell about the soap. I made three colours of soap and then poured them all together to make the soap a little bit swirly. There is Rhassoul clay in there, which is one of my favourite soap ingredients, shea butter and avocado butter and a little copper mica. The finished soap reminds me of an appaloosa pony!
I am planning to make another couple of soaps next week with this plain mould, and then hopefully by the second week in June my new moulds will have arrived from America and I can get busy with those!

Some usable soaps (hopefully)

I decided to make some nice plain bars for my SoapyChica shop, since so many people tell me they could never actually wash with my soaps and I thought that was a shame! I have made soaps with the half round moulds and they make a nice large bar. I cant really use my SoapyChica stamp on them-that is the only drawback, but I love them anyway as they are so smooth . I have used shea and avocado butters and two types of clay, including my favourite Rhassoul, and some of my favourite fragrances as well so I have really enjoyed making them, and I want to make some more next week. The silly thing is I want to try one and I am too scared to use one and spoil it :)
Here is a pic of the Honey Pudding one I took today.

Misi - Make it Sell it

This morning I had an email inviting me to join Misi which is a site where you can sell things that you have made-the lovelier the better! I have had a little look, joined the site, and so far so great. In fact I emailed the administrator Emma about a query I had, and she replied straight back and was extremely helpful (its 7am) . The site appears to be smooth to use and has a nice clean look about it so I am rather pleased!

MakeBelieve Boutique

Makebelieve Boutique

I am delighted to have my soaps featured on the Makebelieve Boutique, a brand new blog by Lynde of the Handmade Showcase and Bath, Body, Candle . Lynde has written a lovely article about SoapyChica and I wish her every success with the new blog.