Inspiring scenery

Holiday almost at an end but Wow! Driving through the small Cornish lanes overlooking the sea occasionally with the patchwork of farmers fields opens up the creative eye. With so much nature surrounding me I feel in my element. It's been a lovely week here in Cornwall and I'm taking home with me some lovely memories full of creative inspiration. The sun is out and It's a blessedly warm day. Now left Cornwall and in Devon.
Back to work on Monday!

Happy Crafting.

A Day At Sandringham Flower Show.

It's been some time since my last Blog post, yes I really need to post more often. 

I recently had the pleasure of a day out at Sandringham Flower Show. 

What a day! boy did it rain at a photo moment, just as The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall came along in the carriage.

Quick camera camera!!       
 Yes .. Got it!

Royal Wave.

Yes "Royalty" and yes the royal wave was seen, just about, photo snapped just before the security got in the way. OK now I get to say I saw Royalty ;).


Right back to the flower show itself...
Wow! Wow! and Wow! 

There were some amazing crafters with some really amazing handmade delights.
There was one that for me really did stand out.

This amazing lady quilted the item behind, along with the many others that I saw on display and for sale. The effect was amazing, colours blending into each other with such ease. A true talent!

My last words are to support Local Handmade...
Remember next time you see something handmade, or are looking for a gift maybe, or just a little treat for yourself, when we create we do it with love :) with every stitch, knit, pour, carve, mould and wrap. It is more than just time and talent we put in, it's a little piece of ourselves.
Support Handmade, Support Local! 

Buying Handmade

It's been a while since my last post so I thought I would update the blog on the go. Yes I have a new Android done LOL.
Did you no that many crafters who make and sell handmade go through a long process of training or obtaining certificates? Majority have insurance too and will be registered as a business. Depending on the craft it is often necessary.
For those of us who make products for the skin it is law, just the same as shops who display labels on products we also have to with ingredients, manufacturer, weight and batch no. All our products have to be tested and certified as safe by a qualified chemist. Records are kept and filed also.
It is hard to believe but you do find some people who don't follow these basic rules, which is part of the cosmetic regulations act. So why worry you ask? If you don't no what is in something, or if its make correctly or been tested, how do you no it is safe? The answer is simple. You don't!
So next time you see a soap seller without labels selling at a craft fair, or someone selling bath bombs at a boot sale, just check to be safe.
There are lots of wonderful handmade products out there to try and people who are serious and love what they do will be doing it safely, they will tell you about legality or how they are certified, they will have labelled products and even expain it to you. why? Because we love what we do and want you to enjoy our products as much as we do making them.
Stop illegal manufacturing and support local small businesses. Buy with confidence. Support handmade. Everybody's happy :)

Happy crafting.

And The Trials Begin.

With handmade products it doesn't stop with the product itself, but carries on with the packaging too.
That's where I just wasn't happy with my Wax Melts. I wanted something a bit more but still had that handmade stamp to it, and preferably by me.
The hardest part was deciding how it was going to look, the only way to decide was to research until i knew. So I did! 
I scoured Google, You Tubed and Blog Searched for months until I saw an idea and thought, Mmm I like that! I may need to do some tweaking though.


After many attempts .......

     

My handmade Wax Melts in the new packaging.




I hope you like them  :)

Time for something new

I has been a while since my last post as I have been venturing into the unknown, well for me anyway, in an attempt to be able to display my products more in the handmade way I always wanted.
Not being one for the fancy labels and packaging so much, I still wanted good packaging but still with my personal touch, only time will tell what I have decided on or indeed achieved.




In the meantime I decided to get stuck in with changing the size of the Bath Fizzers, and I was so pleased with the result that I decided to keep them this way.  :)

Anyone for Green Tea - Naturally of course

At last my latest creation is complete. With all the different types, colours and fragrances to choose from I just felt the need to create without them all. I love my "Traditional Soaps" and certainly have my favourites, what can I say, just can't help myself, English Rose, Sandalwood and Naturally Nettle are my personal choice to use.
Armed with botanicals, nourishing butters, and skin loving oils I got creating. 

I chose "Green Tea" due to it's positive properties concerning she skin.

I really am chuffed at the natural colour and effect, glad I decided on "Natural" :-)

Winter Warmers

October already and there is a noticeable change in the evening temperature. Time will seem fly by now and it will be woolly hats and cosy gloves before we know it.
With that though in mind and a chill through my spine with the thought of the cold to come i decided it was time to break out a new soap. I have been pondering for a week or two what type to make and decided it just had to be a traditionally made soap, the moisturising and skin nourishing butters and oils will be needed to help combat the cold attack on our skin too.

 I decided it would be great to have it in a nice warming fragrance, psychological therapy in mind :-)


For that warm cosy feeling reach for a slice - Traditionally made Winter Spice.

Summer Sun and Soft Skin.

How many body butters are actually butters? well I went into town several times last month to find out. The answer is very few....
From the big high street shops to the bargain hunters specials most have some type of body butter. Look at the label! One specific local shop in town had 2 that on first glance looked a good bargain....Until I read the label and found not 1 butter or even oil for that matter in the ingredients list. There a few out there that are good but look first at the ingredients label.
With hot sunny days and nights your skin needs extra pampering to prevent drying out in the heat. Scents-Ability has available in store now Body Whip! 
An intense moisturising body butter, that contains butters and oils without the extras.. with natural or aromatic available.

Little Luxuries

With the stresses of everyday life it is lovely to have a treat now and again.
Even better if it is calorie free.
Here are a few of the new Bath Bomb Cupcakes that will be available in store shortly.
Fragranced in delightful aromas and topped off with the luxury of a skin loving butter topping.

These are currently available at craft events I attend.

Revamped.

I am a lover of Lavender but felt my Lavender slice just didn't convey it, Revamped and a new name!

Lavender Fields Soap Slice by Scents-Ability.




Now this I thought said a lot more!

Time for some Fizzers.

I just love bombs and fizzers for my bath, I have really sensitive skin but all my products are fine for me to use, for some people that are more sensitive than me to colours and fragrances there is less choice.
It started with "Naturally Nettle", the new Traditional Soap, with no artificial colours or fragrances just the goodness from botanicals I was compelled to expand the range.
So for those who love Natural or are sensitive, here is the first of many in the Scents-Ability "Naturally Range" of Bath & Body products.

Naturally Rosemary and Lavender 
Handmade Bath Fizzers
Relax in the Natural fragrance from botanicals of Rosemary and Lavender. 


And for those who just love all bath goodies......

Rose and Lavender 
Handmade Bath Fizzers
Relaxing florals of Rose and Lavender.




Lookout for more new products being added to the website store.

Time to Revive Exfoliate and Refresh!

With the change in the weather and the official word that spring has now sprung why not give yourself a change too?
So whether  your looking for good old traditional and natural, or funky colourful aromatic, here it is!

Yes I have been busy again concocting more bath & body delights for a good refresh and pamper. My newest addition is my Body Scrubs, with just a few on the website but lots more to be added, and a bonus in the new " Naturally Range" with lots more to come. 

Traditionally Made Nettle Soap.

As many of you know I have been making a new soap, I decided I wanted it as natural as possible but with some added natural benefits. The decision was to use botanical's which are know to help in many medical conditions. 
With the said Nettle Soap made, cut and dried the next step was to show you all.

Here is my Naturally Nettle Soap.

Fragrance free with natural exfoliants :o)

Winter Warmers

With just a few more pictures to do and the new packaging firmly decided i thought it was time to pop up a picture.

One of my favourite home fragrancing options is simmering granules, they are convenient, easy to use and a cleaner option than many other mass produced products. These are not bought in and repackaged but are made by myself as with the other products on the website. 

On last count there was 240 fragrances available that i have in stock which is rather alot, so i think i will rotate the ones instore now and again for variety.

I must admit, i do have my favourites which i chose for my main picture. Blueberry, Apples & Berries, Vienese Black Latte and top of my list is Rose & Lavender. Now to update the website with the new pics and fragrances.

New Designs And Events

 Sunday was another Event day with a downpour of rain for a large part.

Good thing my new Raspberry Ripple Bath Bomb was ready in time, with a whole batch full loaded with lots of my other goodies we set off.

We pulled up at Plants That Grow hoping the rain would stop, off loaded into the empy greenhouse which was filling up with other sellers and set up.

Well the rain stayed with us and only let up now and again, but with some good music played by the local group Kegs and some new friends made, if you like olives or chutneys then watch out for the posting of their links in a day or so, the day was ok but exhausting.

The end of this week is the last of the events before Christmas. That doesn't mean no work mind!  ohhh no!

Lots of paperwork still to do and some new packaging designs i have been working on to finalize, not forgetting some more new items and designs i have too.. Ahhh you will have to wait to find out about those :o)

Happy Crafting.

Tis the season!

With Christmas creeping closer and closer i found myself once again in my apron and making a fragrant mess on the worktops. I have tried and tried but no matter what, i find it impossible to make Bath Bombs without making a mess.
So here is the latest, now available on the website and in true festive spirit!

Handmade Bath Bomb - Sweet Cranberry & Fig

It's That Time Of Year

With Halloween not far away i have been creating some fun soaps just for the occassion. I have large skull soaps, one in blood red colour, and a set of mini soaps i created that have been getting attention, these and some other new soaps will be at the next Craft Fair in Brightlingsea.

Latest addition to Halloween Soaps - Little Monsters 

With more Craft Fairs coming up before Christmas the time just seems to be flying by. It is nice to get out and about amongst everyone, its good to be there to get direct feedback and also be available to answere any questions too.

   New Halloween Soap - Scary Skulls

 Coming up craft fairs so far are Brightlingsea, Felixstowe, Grays and Chingford. Im spreading my wings :o)

Handmade Cold Process Soap - Lavender

My latest creation is my Lavender Soap
I wanted a very mild fragrance but nice and natural, so my choice was Cold Process using Essential Oil and Naturally Dried Lavender. I wasn't sure at first if i was going to colour it but i have been dying to use the Alkanet i have, so i just jumped in!

The Alkanet was infused in oil until it was a nice deep colour then it was strained and mixed in the soap mixture.
It is great having a totally natural Soap :o)

*If you use natural colours infused in oil, like Alkanet, you must account for the oil in your recipe*

The New Tropical Rum CP Soap

When i made this it was with the intention of it being a men's soap, but after it had hardened nicely i realised that although its already popular with my male customers (thanks for the feedback guys), it is also popular with some of my female customers. When i tried the first slice, as i do with all the soaps and other goodies i make, i was pleasantly surprised to find it more unisex than i originally thought it would be. Its kinda like those fragrances that you get that are for him and her which are really similar, but this is just the 1 fragrance lol.


It could be due to it being a Cold Process Soap, as the fragrance would be very different if it was one of my glycerin soaps. Well either way I'm pleased with the result and can't wait til the others are ready. Hmm others? yes you will have to wait too, no sneaky peeks so be patient.

Cold Process English Rose Soap Slices

My holiday is now over and with tomorrow being back to school day i can now get back to basics. I have my new English Rose CP Soap Sliced Wrapped and Tested, hmm may need to err test another hehe ;o)
Im somewhat old fashion in my favourite fragrances.

English Rose i adore and i total love Lavender. I find them both soothing and relaxing fragrances. I like most florals and fruity fragrances but i have my favourites.
I wasnt sure i was going to be happy with how this one turned out but i am. Halfway through a bar it smells just the same as when i first started it, yep! thats how i like it.It has a lovely soft silky feel to the lather and leaves the faint rose fragrance behind. ( Just perfect for me )
Well i have another to sort out and some new bath bombs so back to work i go.
Happy Crafting!!