Rainbow Magic

Easter Camping

We had the most amazing Easter in quite a few years.  So relaxing for a change.  For the last 5years I have been part of one of the many festivals here at Redcliffe on Good Friday for the Brisbane to Gladstone Boat Race.  This year I decided that I would not be at any festivals and instead Bill, William and I went away camping to Mt Warning Rainforest Park just over the border.  What an amazing place and the owners were so friendly that we have already booked for next easter with a longer stay.  We were amazed that the weather was quite good except for Sunday Night when the heavens opened up but thats the joy of camping.

I have been neglecting my blog lately and I am sorry for that.  Presently my full time work has been quite stressful but hopefully at the end of the week when I lose a chunk of it I will be able to get back on top of things that I truly enjoy.  With this in mind this was the reason for the camping trip.

After spending 2 hours in the traffic.  Note to self next year we will be leaving a day earlier.  So many campers and caravans out on Good Friday.  Everyone had the same idea this easter.  We arrived at our destination.

Camp all set up now to sit back and relax

 

The scenery was magical

 

 

 

 

Beautiful little creek nearby

 

I could sit here all day and listen to the birds and the water.  Truly magical.

 

 

 



Quaint little bush cafe just up the road.



 

 

 

 

 

Never been so relaxed.  Bill and I.

 

Tropical Fruit growing close by.

 

Even the wild life were friendly.

 

 

Easter Sunday saw a visit from my youngest grandchildren with their mum and dad.

 

 

Everything was perfect for the weekend.  Not even the rain on Sunday Night bothered us.  We were so impressed by the place that we have booked again for next easter as well as a week in October.

 

I am really enjoying camping and in 2 weeks time we are heading to 1770.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Soap doesn't dry your skin

I have been making Natural Soaps for some time due to the fact that commerical soaps dry out my skin.  Recently a Dove Soap has had an advertisement on the TV on why people shouldn't use soap.  They are stating all soaps are bad for your skin.  How wrong can they be.  Handmade natural soaps are full of goodness.  Real Handmade Soaps are natural.

What is really on the store shelf?
We have become accustom to mass produced soaps in the supermarket and $2 shops. But did you know quite alot of the soaps we purchase in the supermarket are really beauty bars full of chemicals including Dove.  Lets look at their ingredients label of Dove Soap.

 Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate, Slearic Acid, Sodium Palmitate, Aqua Lauric Acid, Sodium Isethionate, Sodium Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Parfum, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, zinc Oxide, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Alumina, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citronellol, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool.....

I don't think any of these ingredients are good for your skin.


Homemade Cold Process Soap
Real homemade soap is natural. It starts with three simple ingredients: water, sodium hydroxide and oil. The water dissolves the sodium, allowing it to be evenly distributed during mixing. The sodium solution is then mixed with the oils. The sodium reacts to the oils using aggressive mixing. This reaction is called saponification, which literally means “to make soap”. There is absolutely NO SODIUM HYDROXIDE remaining after the mixture saponifies.

Handmade soap is not mass produced and soapmakers around the world take pride in their products.  Real Handmade Soap doesn't dry your skin because it is made from nourishing oils.

 Lets look at the oils I use in my soapmaking.

OLIVE OIL: Contributes to: soap hardness, stable lather, slippery feel, conditioning, moisturizing, Olive Oil attracts external moisture to your skin, helping to keep skin soft and supple.

CASTOR OIL: Contributes to: fluffy lather, stable lather, conditioning, moisturizing, quicker
trace, softer soap. Often used to superfat soaps. Castor oil is unique in being almost entirely composed of ricinoleic fatty acid, found in no other oils and possessing a high affinity for water molecules. This makes it an excellent humectant, attracting and holding moisture to the
skin.

COCONUT OIL:Contributes to: soap hardness, fluffy lather, quicker trace. Coconut oil makes soaps lather beautifully . It will make a very hard, white bar of soap that lathers well even in very hard water - even in sea water. Coconut oil is light and not greasy and is resistant to spoiling. Used in skin care formulations, coconut oil is emollient, moisturizing, conditioning and protecting to the skin.

GRAPESEED OIL:Used in soaps as a superfatting oil, grapeseed oil is a lightweight oil that absorbs into the skin quickly without leaving a heavy greasy feeling. It has mildly astringent qualities and is said to be useful for acne and other skin complaints.

SUNFLOWER OIL: Contributes to: stable lather, conditioning, silky feel, softer soap, slower trace. Sunflower oil contains Vitamin E, so it naturally resists going rancid.


RICE BRAN OIL: Rice bran oil is moisturizing and is a good choice for inclusion in formulations intended for mature, delicate or sensitive skin.

All natural oils that are great for your skin.

I can actually call my soap soap but Dove has to call their product a beauty bar.  I know what I would prefer to use.

Soapmaking & Candlemaking Retreat

Last weekend was the first Soapmaking & Candlemaking Retreat that I held at Coolum Beach.  It was 6 months of planning and some late nights leading up to it but what a great weekend we all had.  The very large house catered for all of us and the view to the mountains and the ocean was spectacular.  The company was great and new friendships were made and loads of learning.

 

Everyone left the weekend loaded up with Handmade Cold Processed Soaps, Salt Bars, Melt n Pour Soaps, Bath Teas, Lip Balms, Soy Melts, Bath Melts, and Candles.

 

Planning another one later in the year.

 

 

 

 

Its been awhile- Been super busy

Its been awhile since I have done a blog.  Its been so busy here lately with my fulltime job as well as Green me up Granny stuff.  Those of you that don't already know I was interviewed by the Sunday Mail in Queensland on Handmade Soaps and the photographer came out to the house to take some photo's of myself and my soap.

We have had some crazy weather up here in Sunny Queensland lately and the humidity has been terrible.  So much that the purchase of a De humidifier was needed for my curing room and unfortunately after much thought decided maybe selling soap with no wrapping wasn't the best thing to do so now my soaps are wrapped with plastic so they are protected from the weather.  Over the last couple of weeks hubby and I have had a marathon of soap wrapping.  I estimate we wrapped close to 1000 soaps.  Funny how I thought I had plenty but after I filled a few orders I realised more now is needed and this will be a regular thing to do when I come home from work each night.

My soaps are now available in a few places for purchase including Handmade on High Street, a delivery of our soaps this Saturday to Mimmis means if you are in the Forest Hill district you will be able to purchase a range of my most popular soaps from Miriams amazing shop.  Side Street Vintage
also has a range of my Natural range of soaps for people who have very sensitive skin and my soaps and candles will be available next week from Homespun .

 

I have been creating new wonderful soap recipes including a Chocolate Peanut Butter Soap and yes made from real peanut butter and a new take on my oranges and lemons soap. 

 

Last weekend saw me at my first market for the year and loads of happy people taking home their Natural Soaps.  I have two more new markets this month to attend.  Rock a Buy Boutique Markets and Markets at EP. 

 

My first Soap and Candle Making Retreat is only a month away so busy preparing for it at the moment plus also looking for more venues locally in the SE Queensland area for more soap or candlemaking workshops.  If you know of anyone who has a Retail outlet with an area available please let me know so I can make contact about renting the space. 

 

 

This year will be a busy one for this Granny.  

Hello 2013

Happy New Year everyone.  I have been away on holidays on the Sunshine Coast soaking up the sun and not really doing a great deal but now back to work and planning the year out.

While I was away something beautiful happened.  My 5th  grandchild arrived a few days early.  Only two days before my birthday.

Ava Rose Price

Born: 29th December 2012

          9lb 2 oz

          51 cm length.

 

 

I feel so blessed to have now 3 grandsons and 2 grand daughters.  Words cannot describe the feeling.

 

 

 



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