Blog Archives

Thursday 26th November 2015

28/11/2015

Good Morning,
Well what a week I have had. As you all know from my previous rambles I have been very busy getting orders out and making more stock for Markets.
I have spent several hours every day in the last fortnight making and wrapping
things to have them ready for this weekend and hopefully to keep me going through December then to top it off My computer keyboard lost a couple of keys and needed a lot of fiddling to get them back on so I could use them.
Facebook then decided to send me to the naughty corner or something like that as I could do nothing but look at posts and share previous posts not sure why but this went on for several days.

I reported the problems to Facebook expecting to hear back from them but they don't communicate individually I saw on one of their help pages. Even made my daughter an admin to see if she could find anything wrong then the next day after that all wrongs were righted and I was allowed to do everything
on my page like before. So weird but it made me realise just how dependent we have become on computers actually I would be lost without mine as I use it so much for everything I do.

In the soap room this week I have been restocking my lotions and potions also labelling and wrapping soaps. Still have a couple to make but they will be done next week when I review what stock is left after the two Markets this weekend.

I will also be selecting the name for the 4 milks soap that I made at the end of last month as it is ready for cleaning up and labelling also. Will let you all know which one I selected either today or tomorrow.
I also need to get out my stall Christmas decorations and see if any need replacing or maybe adding to the lot as my table layouts have changed since last Christmas. Need to look at putting up my Christmas tree and lights at home as well but I leave that until mid December as my tree is huge and takes up a lot of room. Do you do much to celebrate Christmas?

Next week will be busy as well as I have several gift packs to get ready for delivery and more soaps need making so here is hoping that it is not to hot as I like to keep the soap room at a fairly even temperature when I am in there working. I find early morning is the best time as the western wall gets full sun after midday and is usually to hot for me to work in there even with the fans going.

Do you need any Gift Packs made up or orders filled if so and you are in my local area (Ipswich to Toowoomba) I do free delivery. You can choose your own products for the gift packs or I can make one up to a $ value. There are somethings that I make as ordered like the bath milks and bath salts also the reed diffusers and room sprays. This means they are fresh and full of flavor for you so if you want any of these just let me know.

Today is going to be a bit warm so I had better get going and get things done early. Stay safe and well.

Blessings

Tuesday 24th November 2015

26/11/2015

Good Morning,

We didn't have any Markets over the last week end and I am glad we didn't
as Saturday it reached 41 degrees Sunday was a mere 32 degrees as a Southerly wind started up through the night. I stayed inside and labelled everything I could just so I could sit under a fan. We close our house up and pull the curtains and while it does heat up it is not to bad with the fans going. If it gets to bad we put on the air conditioner.

We will make up for it this weekend coming as we have two busy markets in Toowoomba to go to. If you want to come and buy some great handmade soaps and other body products we will be at the Toowoomba Farmers Market at the showgrounds on Saturday and The Handmade Expo and Vintage Market at Clive Berghoffer Centre at the University.

I have been busy making stock and labelling for over a week now as have had a few orders to fill as well as restocking the Market boxes. It is amazing how much time I spend on doing this part as I don't really notice it when everything is fully stocked and I just have to make a couple of things each week as they sell but when the whole stock starts to get low it is a big job to get it all done and be ready for the next market. Just as well as it is a labour of love as I do everything myself as well as kepping the house and garden going. Somethings fall by the wayside or else I get help in for the outside bits.

Well Christmas has snuck up again and will be here before we know it. I must get organised there as well as have the tree to get out and my market decorations probably need looking at and some replacing plus I need to make the Christmas cake and pudding as well. I think a few Nanny Naps will go by the wayside in the next few weeks as there doesn't seem to be enough time.
I like to put my feet up for a couple of hours after lunch but can do without it I guess.

In the soap room I have been drying and infusing dandelion flowers and will be cutting some Lemongrass and trying that as well then while the dehydrator is out and going I want to dry a lot of my herbs so that I can make my own mixed herbs for the kitchen or possibly infuse some in oil for soaps and balms etc, who knows where I will end up putting them.

While I am in the soap room I need to do another order as some of my ingredients need replacing so if you want something in particular made then now is the time to ask as the suppliers are so busy this time of the year and some will be closing soon for their breaks.

Well that is all for my ramble today I am off to do more labelling so take care and be kind to each other.

Blessings.

Saturday 20th November 2015

24/11/2015

Good Morning,
It is hot and dry here at the moment but we don't really feel it unless we go outside as we shut the house up and have fans in every room also air con if it gets really bad. Just as well I have Solar on my roof as my power bill would go up a lot as it is we generate heaps of power that goes back in the grid.
I get out in the garden early and make sure all the bird dishes are full and the garden is well watered then I am inside until the sun has almost disappeared.

This week has been fantastic in the soap room as I have been so busy and made so much soap for restocking my market boxes as well as getting the orders out. Now I have some cremes to make for other orders and restock as well. Just as well we have no Markets this weekend what with the weather and all this product work I have I don't have the time to go.

Have you put your name suggestion for my new soap yet if not better hurry as competition will be closing a week early as I have 2 Markets next weekend and want it on the shelves foor them. I am still favoring Nutty Camel and Goat Milk Bar but if you have a better one then please let me know. Nutty as I have used Cocnut and Macadamia Nut Milk as well as the Camel and Goat Milk so put your thinking caps on and come up with a better one if you can.

As well as being busy in the soap room I have been harvesting Dandelion flowers and drying them. I found a huge patch of them out the back in the cow paddock behind next doors place so I had to climb over the barbed wire and also the chicken wire then jump down to the ground and go pick them. There are so many flowering at the moment that I will be drying some flowers each day so that should guarantee me enough infused oil for all the year. I add infused Dandelion flowers to infused Calendula flowers to make this lovely soap and it is very popula. Have made one batch already and it should be ready for labelling in another couple of weeks.

Well I have to go now as the wind has come up and house needs to be shut up before the hot north westlies make it unbearable. Stay safe everyone and don't forget the fur kids and wildlife need to stay cool as well.

Blessings

Tuesday 17th November 2015

19/11/2015

Good Morning,
Well another busy week here in the soap room as am making lots of goodies to fill my new market shelves. Yesterday I made soaps to restock the market boxes in a few weeks as things are starting to get pretty low.
Also made some new massage oils plus finally did the Lavender shampoo so it is ready to go.
Today I have already made some bath milk and have foot soak lined up next plus making more soaps then I have soap stamping to get done and labelling as well. Oh yes and a new product to try out so keep your eyes on the facebook page and the website as I will be adding or changing photos sometime soon.

We had a great day on Saturday at the Toogoolawah Railway Market despite it starting to rain while we were on our way over there. Had to set up in the drizzling rain but then it cleared off and the customers came out so all was well with lovely music and heaps of stalls as it was the biggest market yet. Loved chatting to everyone and seeing lots of new people make their way through the throng. No markets this weekend as this month is a funny month where it was the 2nd Saturday but 3rd Sunday in the same weekend.
We made the decision not to go Queen's Park on Sunday mainly due to the weather forecast and yes you guessed it the day was nice and sunny should have known not to listen to the forcasters but never mind as we will be at 2 Markets in Toowoomba at the end of the month.

I finally found some dandelions growing of all places under the tea trees in my own yard so they are drying out at the moment and then I will infuse them in Sunflower oil and store them away in a dark cupboard. I had one lot infused a few weeks ago and will have the soap I made yesterday ready by the end of the month I hope. Shouldn't run out for awhile now as one of my customers is also going to pick them for me. I love the soap that they and Calendula flowers make and customers like it as well. I will be separating this and other natural soaps out into their own album to make it easier for you to find them probably when I am on my market break after Christmas.

Christmas OMG! that is not far away and end of school year so if you want some lovely gifts for Secret Santa's and Teachers Gifts check out my range in the albums and you can either pick out what you would like in the gift or give me a $ amount and I will make a gift to that value for you.

Well I am off to play in the soap room so have a great week everyone and don't for get to keep your eye out for new photos etc.

Blessings.

Friday 13th November 2015

15/11/2015

Good Morning,

I had expected to have a reasonably quiet week this past week as had nothing in my calendar except having a haircut and taking Ivan to his diabetes specialist but it wasn't meant to be.
Monday we did the grocery shopping so were away from home all morning as we can't just pop to the shop living in the country. We are a good half an hour drive away from any small town or an hour if we want to go to Toowoomba.
That wasn't to bad but as the pantry and freezer are now stocked up for a few weeks.
Tuesday Colleen my friend and I went on a day trip to donate lots of goodies for the Buy a Bale Market as I was asked to have a stall there but can only be in one place at a time so had to say we couldn't do the market.

I went over and picked up Colleen up then we drove through the back roads
admiring the scenery and farms with lovely green grass now that we have had some rain. We had morning tea down at Allora after heading up through
Ma Ma Creek then we went back to Clifton to drop off the car load of goodies.
Colleen donated heaps of her lovely bags like the ones I used to sell for her and also some of her Ceramic pieces as she used to have a ceramic studio
while I donated some gift packs and goat milk soap. Hope these things sell well and so help the organisers to buy lots of bales as the farmers out west sure need our help.

Yesterday I made more yummy Lemon Myrtle Soap for restock and also Sugar Scrub with citrus Essential Oils as it is so popular. Then I labelled and wrapped soaps. Today I am doing deliveries so the week has flown by and my garden is still full of weeds aaaghh! Never mind will get to them eventually.

This weekend we will be at Toogoolawah Railway Markets as well so if you are in the area pop in and see us to say hi.

Well that has been my week and I hope you all have had a great week also so stay well and be kind to each other.

Blessings.

Friday 6th November 2015

9/11/2015

Good Morning,
We had some lovely rain last night in a storm. The garden had a good soak and we even had a puddle out the back. We don't often get puddles here as usually there is not enough rain to make puddles. Don't know how the frogs get on as we have lots of them around. They camp in our down pipes during the day and have been croaking for a few days usually around 4 am so I don't need an alarm clock.

Have been very busy in the soap room this week making up products for orders and also for restocking my market stall. Lavender goats Milk soap is now ready for labelling and available to purchase plus I have a new batch of Black Raspberry and Vanilla to get out and photograph before I label it.
Also restocked Sleepy Time and Headache Relief roll on as I managed to find the small roll on bottles again. These products are a great help if you suffer with headaches or have trouble sleeping as both have lovely soothing Lavender Essential oil in them along with other oils in a Jojoba Oil base.
It is never safe to apply pure essential oils directly to your skin so I always use Jojoba Oil as my base.

Speaking of Lavender Oil I have had a request to add some to my shampoo from a customer so I made up one bottle with a bit extra for me to try. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed after I used it as I have suffered with an itchy scalp for years and no matter what I try I still get the itches after a few days. It not only stopped the itches for a lot longer but it made my hair feel lovely and soft again. I will make a few bottles up and put along side my unscented shampoo so that if anyone wants to try it I have it ready to go.

We are back at the Mulgowie Markets this weekend so if you are looking for a lovely country atmosphere then come on out for a visit. We often have a lot of caravan visitors as they can camp on the other side of the community hall where the markets are held. If it was further away from where I live I would take my van out and camp there the night before as it is in the middle of farming country and the skies must be so beautiful at night with no street lights to bother you.

Well that is all for this post so do hope you all have a lovely weekend and remember be kind to each other.

Blessings.

Sunday 1st November 2015

3/11/2015

Good Morning,
We had a great day at the Toowoomba Farmers Market. Good site and friendly people so glad I found out about it as will be going each month now unless it is raining or we are away travelling. Even the weather smiled on us as it was cool and cloudy with some reasonable wind but the sandbags held the gazebo in place and we were under shade as I tied one of our side shades onto the car rack and pegged it to the frame to hold it out of the way.

On our way home we called into one of our regular customers to drop off some product and picked up some blue salvia cuttings. I love blue salvia and have had some in the garden for a few years so these ones will enhance what I have as they grow much taller than the ones I have. She also let me pick the dandelions down the back fence so now I have the flowers dried and am infusing them in oil to make another log of Dandy Calendula Soap. Hope this one is as good as the last one as I loved it and so did the customers.

I have a few things to make in the Soap Room this week as well as start wrapping the soaps that are ready. Earlier this morning I cut all the logs that were made last week.
There was over 100 soaps in that lot including a new one that I experimented with not sure what I will call it as it has 4 different milks in it. Any suggestions there is goat and camel milk along with Coconut and Macadamia Milk I had little bits of each and wanted to use them up.
I can only think The Nutty Goat & Camel Bar let's see what you can come up with and I will give a prize to who ever has a better one and I choose to use it instead of mine.
It won't be ready for wrapping until the end of November so that will give us the whole month to put our thinking caps on. I probably will never make it again but then if it proves to be popular I might have to.

We are off to the recyclers today. We recycle all our newspapers ( Ivan must have his paper everyday) and all of the cans and bottles etc. They go upto ANUHA where some lovely handicapped people sort and bag then sell them onto other firms for reprocessing into cardborad and other stuff. Did you know that one milk carton makes 4 A4 sheets of paper. I have been doing this for years as no matter how hard I try there is always so much packaging that otherwise would go into landfill.

OK Off to load the car and get the day started as have been sitting here wHile drinking my cup of coffee
we had pancakes for breakfast so now ti is time to work them off.

Hope you have a wonderful sunday and don't forget be kind to each other.

Blessings

Friday 30th October 2015

1/11/2015

Good Morning,
I am feeling accomplished this week as have made heaps of soap 5 logs and 3 rounds plus some hearts, also been on a day trip to my supplier and now am making body butters for a wholesale order. Good to keep busy.

In the middle of my getting all this done we have been getting some lovely rain including one that had gale force winds that destroyed a few homes in a town that we shop in not far from here.
Had to call over there about 20 minutes away from home yesterday for prescriptions and could not believe my eyes as there were trees down everywhere and others snapped off up fairly high and hanging down. There was a veritable mountain of green waste piled up just out of town and an army of people shredding it for mulch. We did not drive around garping at everything all this was seen as we made our way to the shopping centre and back out the way we had come. My heart goes out to the people who are affected by this disaster and I will be seeing what I can do or give to help them. I thank God we were only on the edge of this storm and so sustained no damage as what winds we had I thought was bad enough.

I did however rescue a baby butcher bird and "butch" has been entertaining us ever since. He was so young that he had the fluff still on his head and looked like one of those penguins. I now have to find him a carer as I only kept him to fill him up (he was starving) and make sure he survived. He is doing well now so time to go to someone who knows what they are doing with him.

We are off to a new Market this weekend as I have been accepted into the Toowoomba Farmers Market on at the showground so if you are in the are pop out and see us and have a chat and maybe start your Christmas Shopping as it is that time again.
We can make up a lovely Gift Pack right there and you get to choose what you have in it just have to ask. Also soap makes a wonderful small gift for Teachers as School Year is also near.

Well I am off to the soap room to finish making the Body Butter and then give the room a good clean.

Hope you all have a wonderful day and remember be kind to each other.

Blessings.

Author

Hello my name is Robbi I have been soaping since 2005 and it has become an obsession with me.
I have 3 children 18 grandchildren and 15 Great grandchildren

I am not doing regular Markets anymore but have opted for doing , Fairs and Shows and will list them when I know which ones.

My products are available at the Darling Downs Handmade Shop in Toowoomba in the Wilsonton Shopping Centre

Marburg Pharmacy has a limited range of my Soaps

Serenity Hill Massage at the Crossroads on the Warrego Highway has most products.

and also at The Old Church Gallery and Café in Moore.

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