Making Soap.

We had a great day out at our local market on Sunday.

I had new soaps out and ready to go.

Here is a few of the new ones for 2016

Green tea and Lavender ..

Green tea has anti-bacterial benefits as well as being high in Vitim C,  We drink green tea so why not add it to our soap for health benefits. Lavender essential oil helps to alleviate stress and headaches.

With this combination this soap will leave you feeling refreshed and energized.

 

Lavender and Green tea.

Orange essential oil has been used for centuries as a treatment for acne, the scent of Orange oil also has a calming effect similar to Lavender. I thought I would mix all 3 together and what a great soap to start or finish your day with.

Lavender, Green tea and Orange.

I sometimes get asked if my soap will last as long as store bought soap?

Good question..Most commercially made soap is made using Palm oil and tallow predominantly these help to make a hard soap.

I use Coconut oil as my base which also gives a hard soap, coconut oil is softer on your skin, not to mention the benefits...which would be another whole blog post. My soap does not leave that fatty feel as commercial soap does. I also use Olive oil, rice bran, sweet almond, Castor and macadamia oils as well as shea butter.

My soaps are left 6 weeks minimum to cure as this also helps them to last longer.

Orange

 My handmade cold pressed soap is made right here on our farm, we are not a large factory churning out bar after bar of soap. Each batch I make  is thought out using the finest ingredients on hand.
We sell here at our on farm shop and at local markets...
When you buy my handmade soap you are buying local and allowing me to continue to do a craft that I love..

Sandalwood

 Sandalwood soap...I am so happy with this soap, being a old hippy at heart Sandalwood is my absolute favorite scent...To make this soap that I feel smells as good as some of the imported soaps has been a triumph for me. The pure sandalwood powder is grown in Western Australia.


 Sandalwood has long been known for its effects on the mind and soul. Its not surprising it is used in aromatherapy to offer relief from stress, anxiety and depression.

Benefits in soap is.....Makes the skin supple, soothes the skin, Fights body odor and has anti-bacterial properties.
Whats not to like about this soap..

I am continuing to experiment with oils, powders and scents to bring you the finest soaps...If you have any suggestions feel free to leave a comment....

Have a great week...

Mandy

A Country Wedding....

If there one thing I love to do and that is decorate....

and when it is for my daughters wedding..........even more so.

The brief

A country wedding in our local hall.

Wedding was a day time wedding 11:30 for ceremony and 2:30 for reception.

Well we took this old Hall and made it shine...I must admit I have done this Hall a few times for weddings, so trying to make it different was a challenge.

Logs cut to hold simple jars of baby's breath down the isle.  Some hessian as a runner down the centre ...This was a surprise for the bride as Cassie really wanted a runner.

We put bales of hay for the bridal party to sit on as it was a hot day.

This worked out so well. 

Love the fact that Abby got a bit hungry and got some biscuits to share....

So it was very simple and

 the Bride and Groom took centre stage.

The reception was at another local hall over in the next valley.

As there was 135 guests we needed a larger hall.

Before

Cassie wanted logs as center pieces on the table so that is where the whole theme evolved from.

Loved the name holders as little cowboy boots. They were also a gift for the guests to take home.

Again the flowers were very simple..

 As the reception was at 2:30pm Cassie chose to have a high tea...But she still wanted every one seated.

We choose to have each table set up with the high tea individually.

 It was a lot of work and yes we needed so many more cake stands for the tables....But it was a great way of doing it.

Yes even a log for the cake stand....

 Every thing was perfect 

I could enjoying doing this full time......

Mandy

Coffee and Cake.....

Hello and welcome.

We have been getting some wonderful Spring rain and the garden here 

is alive with colour and smells.

New in we have weaving kits...

Every one is enjoying weaving at the moment.

If you don't want to weave your self I have some weaves for sale.

$30

Had a great market at 

Toowoomba's Queens Park on Sunday.

The rain held of and it was a great day, one of the best markets I have done..

Also new to the market was my Dad with his wood work.

Lots of trap Art in before Christmas, over 50 different colours available, but be quick as they are going fast and I won't be getting any more until the new year.

We are now doing Coffee, Tea and cake so pop on in for a cuppa in the garden.

There is plenty of spots to sit and enjoy..

Have a great week.

Mandy

Rearranging things........

Hi All

Thanks for dropping by.

Last week end saw us do our back to back markets.

Below is our market at Ipswich.

This is a handmade market with a lot of great stalls.

It is a big day for us though but worth it.

Sunday sees us doing Toowoomba Queens Park.

I love the vibe of this market, as you can see by the photo below I have different stuff for this market.....I have a lot more yarn...

On Thursday I decided to rearrange The Old Dairy.

I have a lot of yarn now and needed some new shelving to store it all on.

Below is a before shot.

The shelving is from Aldi and I love it...makes it so much

easier to see what there is.

The soaps and creams are still on the same bench.

A close up of the shelving display....

The 2nd room got things rearranged as well.

I love the table and chair under the window in this room, a nice spot for tea and cake.

 Well that all from here, I am going away for a few days to visit my daughter.

Enjoy your week

Mandy

Yarn yarn and more yarn......

Last time I was on this blog it was still Winter, well  now  Spring is well and truly here...

Some time ago I shared that I was stocking a new yarn called 

Trap Art.....

This is a t shirt yarn and great for baskets and rugs.....I am now doing the Toowoomba Queens Park markets and it has been a real hit there..Do you use it? What have you made ?

I have also become a supplier of Darn Good Yarn.

This yarn is made from recycled saris from woman in India...

There is so many different yarns from Banana fibre, silk and chiffon to name a few.

We have been making every thing from Spring scarves to handbags to baskets.

I am even using it in my weaving.

Friday craft is a real time of stopping and enjoying other women's company and learning new skills.

I know this is my favourite day of the week.

Saturday saw me host a group of ladies from Toowoomba that came down for 

Coffee & Cake

I know I enjoyed having them and I am pretty sure they enjoyed all that is on offer here.

From feeding the sheep to sitting and enjoying a coffee.

This Sunday I am running a 

Soap making demonstration....

Things are busy here at 

The Old Dairy....

Have a great week and keep crafting.

Mandy

The Shed reveal.....

I am so amazed at what we have got done in the last week..

This Old Shed has had a major overhaul.

The area below is a outdoor kitchen, gravel floor and all.

Well with the help of our amazing Chek Republic backpackers it now has 

a new floor. These pavers are all being reused from another area that Micheal (below) pulled up as well.

To say I am happy with this is a understatement!!!!!

A outdoor kitchen somewhere for people to sit and have a cuppa....Also

This area is where I will be holding my Soap making classes, which will be starting here next week.

A nice big table to gather around for Friday Craft days..

Love the cool arrow I picked up and have hanging so people realise there 

is more out the back..

Remember last post and the mess in here?

Well it is a lot cleaner now.

Come in and have a look......

Bruce has put every-thing up on pellets....

You can now walk through here and see what is there.

Am I happy with what has been done...

Sure am

Thanks to a amazing Husband that takes my ideas and makes them a reality...

Till next 

Mandy