Soap making

I recently started making soaps, I ordered a bucket of soap base online. It was on special offer, I didn't think about how much a 20kg bucket actually was so was surprised and amused when the order arrived. Its palm oil free and clear, which means its easy for me to add bits to the soaps if I desire.

I've made a selection of soaps so far including

Rosemary Essential Oil (with Rosemary bits in) soap, Frankincense, Neroli and Rose Essential Oil soap, and I had an experiment with some Mixed Spice which I had in the kitchen. Doesn't look too pretty but its a yummy smell.

I had a request from my sister to make some black pepper soaps. Here they are setting, again not too pretty but they smell peppery.

I'm continuing to play with different scents, but you can guess what the family will have included in their Christmas stockings this year.

Randomness - How to wrap a cat

I wish my cat's were this sedate.

Yuletide greetings

Ok, so t'is a bit early for the season to be jolly, however I thought I'd share my Yule decorations which will hopefully sell during the craft fairs that I'm going to in the weeks leading up to Yule or Christmas.


For those who would be interested in these they are priced as follows, your comments on whether you think the pricing is right is very welcome:

These are 25p each

These are £1.50

These are 75p each

These are 50p each

There are a number of other things that are going to be added to the stall, but they haven't been made by me and too numerous to list anyway, so this is just a taster of the things that are included for sale. Hopefully it will be successful. Wish me luck :)

Christmas Craft Fair

I've agreed to do a stall at a Christmas Craft Fair in November. So I'm busily making Yule decorations that could be sold. Here are a few of the things I've been making to go on my little stall.





I've created 12 mini wreaths so far. I think the wreaths could do with some ribbon to hide the glue but I'm happy with the results so far.

I'm still deciding what to charge for the items, I'm sure I'll come up with a good price.

Elderberry and Apple Jelly

There was an elder in the back garden of the cottage we're living in. It takes up most of the garden and we agreed with our Landlord (i.e Daddy) that it should be removed. Before my hubby began cutting it back he's collected the elderberries for me. He's also brought some home from a garden he's tidying up for a neighbour. So with this in mind I've been given some apples from my parents and I've made Elderberry and Apple Jelly. Here's me in the process

And here's the result.



I'm gradually building up quite a stock of preserves so will be giving some of these jars away as gifts.

A neck warmer for the pip

At the weekend I decided that I needed some fresh air and a good ramble across fields and along hedgerows. Me dad would be so proud.

I decided it would be nice to take Pip, so got her ready, with collar, coat and lead and did us a flask of tea (yes I made enough for me and Pip). Off we went on our little ramble or amble.

It was a bit of a blustery day and Pip decided it was far to chilly to continue, so part way round I gave into her protests and leg hugging and walked along a road instead of across my planned route to bring her back home to the warmth.

The walk however showed me that her coat has a gap above the shoulders and so the wind was probably winding its way down and making her cold and therefore complain. She's only a baby whippet so not much meat on the girl so I can forgive her for not liking the cold wind.

So I've knit her a neck warmer which she seems to like, time will tell if she can stand the cold outdoors a bit longer than an hour and a half.

So above is my creation to keep the little miss a bit cosier.

Blessed be.

And it all ran slightly amock

My apologies for the very long pause between posts, life has been somewhat hectic. Hubby and I have moved to the town where I grew up, where we're renting a little cottage from me par. Since moving I also found a job in London of all places, so life currently consists of a lot of travelling and sleeping and not a lot else. My life does seem to be less fulfilling because I have no time for the stuff I love to do, but there is an unfortunate need for money at the moment.

Anyway, have just put an offer in on a new home and with all luck we will be in by Yule, which means I can resume my pursuit for self-sufficiency with gusto next year. It has a decent size garden and a mammoth greenhouse, so I think I should be able to grow maybe 80% of the food the two of us would be eating. :) I've also been asking family for chickens and their kit as presents. So come next year I should be getting eggs regularly to either cook with or barter with.

I'm already planning a hearth outside for my tripod and cauldron, I hope to be able to cook outside as much as possible during the summer months, just because I like it. Hubby has been told he's going to need to build me 4 raised beds, so that will keep him occupied in his workshop. :)

My plans for my business are there in the background. Mulling away and maturing. This current job means I'm self-employed, but putting it together with my other plans of preserves etc is taking some doing. I start my college course for one element of my portfolio business, the sign-language which will be my security to ensure there is money coming in for bills etc. It will take me 2 to 3 years to get my level three which will put me to a level of earning a respectable income from it.

So although I have been somewhat quiet on the blog front, there have been a lot of changes going on and a lot in my little head to start putting into place to get where I want to be, living a life that I want for myself.