Merry Christmas

 

 

Merry christmas from my family to your family.  I hope you all have a beautiful day how ever you celebrate.  Thank you for following my blog throughout the year. 

 

 

 

Sue  xxxx

Soapmaking and Candle Making Retreat 2013

Over the last few years I have been asked many times if I teach the basic soapmaking and candlemaking.  Well 2013 is the year that I will be conducting Retreats.  Our first one is in March.  This is a great weekend of fun, food, learning a new craft as well as making some new friends.

Soap Making & Candle Making Retreat

5.30pm Friday 8th March until 3.00pm Sunday 10th March 2013

 

Have you ever wanted to learn the art of Soap making and Candle making? Green Me Up Granny is now offering a full weekend of Basic Soapmaking and Candle Making at Coolum, Sunshine Coast.

Limited spaces of only 8 people NB. Only 3 spaces left.

 A great way to learn a new craft. Have a fun weekend away. Meet new people.

Cost: $400 per person

What does it include: Includes your accommodation in a beautiful Tri-Level Home close to the beach. Beautiful views. (Please be aware that some people will be sharing a room). It includes Nibbles and Drinks on Friday Night. A Continental Breakfast on Saturday & Sunday. Lunches on both days and a BBQ Dinner on Saturday Night. Both workshops and all the equipment. You will be able to take home your creations that you made. Plus buy some candlemaking and soapmaking kits to take home.

For more information please email Sue at Sue@greenmeupgranny.com

To reserve you spot $150 non-refundable deposit within 10 days then the balance by 14th February 2013. Payment plan can be made.

 

 

 

Christmas Time

You know I love christmas.  It is the best time of the year.  I love searching the shops and markets looking for the gift for that special person.  I love looking at all the christmas lights and this year we have quite a few houses in my Street in the festive mood.  I enjoy the christmas festivities.  So far in the last couple of weeks during work I have enjoyed 2 christmas luncheons and day of carols.  Last week a night at the Coffee Club for dinner with some work colleagues and tonight with the girls I spend most of the week with at the Comedy Club at Albion.  It has really been a busy time this year especially the relaunch of all my soaps at various markets around the area as well as my candles.

Last night was my last market of the year which was in King George Square in the city.  I remember as a child Mum and Dad taking us into the city to see the Myer Christmas windows.  This is when Myers was originally in Adelaide Street and who can forget the massive christmas tree in the square.  As a child I loved it and last night bought back all those memories.

Even though the tree has had a massive facelift and lights up on solar it still looks magnificant.  Last night the square was packed with markets as well as Myer Christmas Parade.

 

If you get a chance before Christmas why not head into the city and check out the tree.  Even though the market was only for last night the city looks amazing and the parade is on nightly.

 

Thank you to all the BrisStyle Angels who worked so hard to make this market and every market run smoothly. 

 

Thank you to all my customers who continue to support me and all my new customers from last night.  There will be plenty of people getting some fantastic candles and soaps this year.

 

Thank you to my family especially my hubby and daughter for all the help through the year with markets and new products.

 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

12.12.12 the magical date.

They say today is a magical date.  December 12, 2012.  I think it has been a magical year especially the last couple of months.  This date won't happen again so now is the time to do something special.  I have been reading today that it is a great day to marry.  At least I suppose you won't ever forget your anniversary.  What  ever you are doing today make some part of it special.  Enjoy this day.

The Handmade Expo- Morayfield.

I would have to say when I talked previously about getting my Mojo back in my last blog who would of predicted the last couple of weeks. With christmas fast approaching I have been so busy creating new product lines and twigging the old so they look totally amazing for the markets I attend.  I have had a market every weekend for the last 5-6 weeks so it has been quite busy.  Last weekend was the new Handmade Expo which was held at Morayfield Leisure Centre.  It was a fabulous market for their first one being held there.  The Handmade Expo has certainly grown over the last few years.  Who would of thought that a little Handmade Expo which started in Ipswich Showgrounds would now continue to grow throughout Queensland with new ones popping up around the place.  The team has grown and I do believe the people have spoken and now so many people are embracing Handmade.  Below is a few photos I managed to take of some amazing handmade goodies. 

 

 

 

Its now time. I'm in a good place.

Its now time.  I''m in a good place these days.  I feel over the last month or so I have that old get up and go feeling back.  I lost that feeling nearly 2 years ago.  Stopped doing alot of things.  Trying to come to terms over losing my little sister but now I believe the greiving is finished.  You know I will never ever stop thinking about her.  Tell me is it normal for a sister to grieve this long?  I'm not sure.  I know when I lost my older sister I didn't feel that way.  May be because she had terminal cancer and she was in so much pain we all prepared ourselves.  Any way a new start for me.  I have been fiddling around for the last year or so with Green me up Granny and not really going to far with it.  That was my choice.  I really didn't have a vision as such but now I have. But what amazed me was a handful of beautiful people stuck by me and continued to support me.  Thank you. 
 The new website Green me Up Granny has just gone live on the weekend.  It was perfect weather in Queensland to stay in doors and build this site.   In the coming months I will be making a presence regularly at local markets etc.  I am also looking at restocking and making contact with previous retailers who use to stock my goodies.  I have loads of new soaps and body products.  I am releasing my Soy Wax Candles in the next couple of weeks. 

Next year will be great.  I am determined eventually to some day reopen my little retail business.  It will be a few years down the track.  I'm on a 4 year plan to do this.  Not sure where.  I would like one local but you know since my Tassie holiday a year ago I can't get that magical place from my mind.

 

 

 

Scavenger Hunt- Our Pets.

Wow has the week flown or what.  I join Deb from Ramblings of a Square Peg in a round hole once again for the weekly hunt.  This week our pets.

I have one beautiful cat called Lucy.  Lucy has been with us for close on 12 years now.  Lucy is pure bred Burmese.  She is one of our children.

 

Always on the table.  Lucy is checking out our homegrown Sunflowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catching some sun.




 

You want soap- You've got soap

Its been awhile since I have had a chance to write something.  This is the businest time of the year for markets and of course my soap.  At one stage this year I was trying to get away from making soap but you ask any soap maker and it is an addiction.  So now I go with the flow and don't fight the addiction any more........

Enjoy the photo's

Bubblegum soap


 

Oranges and Lemons Soap
 

lavender fields cupcake soaps

 

Blueberry cupcake soaps

Cream Soda Cupcake Soaps.

 

Loads of wrapped cupcakes about to head to the markets this weekend.


 

If you are in the Hamilton Area this Saturday why not head to Racecourse Road for the BrisStyle Eco Markets. Some of these soaps are still curing and won't be available but I have lots of other beautiful soaps for sale.  I will also be conducting Kool Candle workshops throughout the day.  Any one will be able to make a candle with no heat for $5 and take it home with them.

My Favourite Smells.

I truly love Sunday mornings.  This is when I can sit down at the computer and go through the list of blogs that I subscribe to and enjoy reading.  This week Deb  from Ramblings of a Square Peg in a Round Hole has chosen favourite smells for our weekly scavenger hunt.  This is going to be fun.  I love fragrance and smells.  I believe smells and aromas can set the mood.  Most of you are aware that even though I work fulltime I also have a small business of making candles and handmade soaps.  So smell plays a very big part in my life. 

The smell of a new born baby.
This is a photo of my first grandchildren.  Yes twins.  They are now 7.  Now I have 4 grandchildren and another due in 2 months.

Handmade Bubblegum Soap.

Christmas Fruit Cake.

Lavender.  I adore the smell of Lavender. 
This is the Lavender Farm in Tassie.















 

Something Crooked

Once again joining Deb from Ramblings of a Square Peg in a Round Hole  for the weekly scavenger hunt.  Something Crooked and I already spring to mind an amazing tree we spotted while travelling around Tasmania last year.  I know I have used the photo before but I never tire of it.  I love Tasmania so much we are now planning a camping trip around Tasmania for about a month late next year. 



This is one of the easter biscuits we decorated.  Unfortunatley my drawing of straight lines are not the best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend of camping and memories.

Last Saturday saw us heading out to Rathdowney for camping.  It was great to visit down that way.  I hadn't been back to Beaudesert since we moved from there 12 years ago.  I really forgot how hot it gets and last weekend was certainly a hot one.  I could not believe the changes within the 12 years and the progress.   We bought the family home many years ago  that my husbands grandparents lived in.  This home was amazing.  The gardens in their glory days had won many garden shows.  So many memories.  But progress happens and was told by the local lady at the newsagent that  in 6 weeks time it would be gone for redevelopment.   The house looked so sad and I needed to take one more photo. 

I also  forgot how beautiful this time of the year is and all the Jacarandas through the streets were out in bloom.  Beaudesert had certainly grown up now.  Loads of new shops, more traffic lights, more people and houses but if you get in those back streets it still has that country feeling.

 

The old family home

 

 

 

After stopping off in town we headed off out the back to our destination.  The dry conditions of late was certainly showing on the journey.  No rain for awhile means very high fire danger by christmas.

 



 

We finally arrived at our destination.  Set up camp.  Enjoyed the weekend even though it was so hot during the day and freezing at 3 am in the morning.  Rathdowney certainly bought back some memories for us.  We even managed to have a visit at 2.47am from one of the resident possums who managed to get in the outside room.  It wasn't pegged down completely as we were only staying one night.  Next time we will take the time to do it.  Bill managed to get him out.  All in all it was a fabulous weekend and can't wait to head out again soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 









Scavenger Hunt- Whats in your 3rd drawer.

Yes its that time of the week to join Deb for the weekly scavenger hunt.  This week is whats in your 3rd drawer.

I chose the 3rd drawer in the kitchen which houses a couple of aprons, birthday candles, dishcloths,and the plastic and foil wrap.

 

 

 

Scavenger Hunt- A book I would recommend.

Again this week I am joining in with Deb in her weekly scavenger hunt.  This week it is a book I would recommend.  I have so many but narrowed it down to one of my favourite recipe book that I truly would miss.  If you have ever watched the Gourmet Farmer with Matthew Evans then you really need to check out his books.  I have a couple of his plus his DVD's but this is the book that tells me everything I need to know about fresh food, homemade goodness.  This was a christmas gift from my daughter Sarah last year.  The Real Food Companion.

Felting

Fantastic morning spent learning how to wet felt.  I had only attempted felting soap some years ago and failed miserably but armed with my sushi mat, squeeze bottle and towels Sarah and I headed over to Imogens Art Space for a workshops on basic felting. 
This workshop was organised by the Brisbane Brown Owls which I am a member of.  I was so happy it was on a weekend plus a weekend I had vacant.  The workshop was run by Sandrine.  I had only really ever heard of needle felting so this was something new. 

I am so glad I went.  I created a beautiful piece of felted material which is now at home in a frame.  I also added some beautiful bridal beading material that I picked up at Reserve Garbage a few weeks ago.

So happy with the results I am now trying out the soap felting again.  So next market you will see some felted soaps to my stall.

I hope everyone else has had a wonderful weekend.  Like normal it went way to quick.


Keep creating people!


Sue x

The Boys new Toy

Last weekend we purchased a used Camper Trailer in excellent condition.  Today since the weather again was beautiful the boy's decided to set it up before we head to Rathdowney next weekend for camping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy supervised the boys.

 

Bill testing it out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcycled Jars

A few weeks ago I posted a photo of some jars that I had painted.  I keep all my jars after we have used them because they can always be reused.  My son loves eating Mighty Mite very simular to Vegemite so I have had so many jars in the cupboard.

 

 

 

Over the last couple of weeks I have been  making a candlelabra out of these jars.  I am quite happy with the finished result.  The piece of wood looks amazing.  Since it is buy nothing new October I didn't go out and by a wood stain from the hardware.  Instead I used Rosehip tea and Red Clay and painted it on the wood a few times.  After I got the desired look I wanted I added a clear lacquer which I had in the cupboard.  Anyway see for yourself.  This will look amazing over the table outside and will definitely be a talking point.

 



Do you recycle/upcycle things as well.  I love turning things into masterpieces.  I now have a box of old records at home.  I know how to make bowls from them and have recently turned the record covers into little boxes but I am going to try making a handbag over the coming weeks.  Stay tuned.

 

 

Let me know your ideas.  Have a great week everyone.  BTW haven't blogged about my diet last week but did lose just over a kilo.

 

 

Sue x