Hey look!! The cherry blossom tree has burst into fluff!!
I am sure I will be taking a stack more photos… when its not raining and windy..
Its the most beautiful tree in spring!
Okies… soap stuff… A few things happening.
Sharon and I had another ‘in town’ workshop that went really well. 6 people came along. There was meant to be 8 but had two no shows. We hung about waiting then sent a message – they got back to say someone was sick and they weren’t coming! Sigh. Would probably be better manners to let people know.
So we started the class a little late.
But it was a fun bunch and we did some creative soaps
I brought home the loaf ones to cut
Sprinkles!
So cute!
Activated charcoal and saffron powder
A lovely drop swirl… and the fragrance was a mix called the ‘Thieves Oil’
The student had brought her own essential oil mix and told us the story of the mix which was interesting – Grave robbers during the bubonic plague in the 14th century used this mix to ward off the disease.
I had a quick google and there are a few different versions.
I like the final fragrance!
And of course I got to show off doing a demo or two. The cut loaf I can’t show you because one student decided she wanted to buy the whole thing! Who am I to argue?? Wish I had a photo… it was so pretty!
(Leftover mixture made these:)
The black raspberry and vanilla fragrance is so popular. I need to make a bunch of soaps this week… its high on my list!
Then making the demo design..
Love the blues in this!
The bottom is really wing-like
All cut. Very keen to do this kind of colour combo again.
While I am on soap… I had a market stall at the Rhododendron Gardens on Saturday – their spring festival!
I sold a ton of soap!
Lots of people were there and people that hadn’t really seen my work – and I was able to have a bigger display too!
And while on the selling topic… I sent my parents a box full and I think all of it has sold within their retirement village!! So I need to go pack another box for them!
Yay!
I got into the garden for a bit yesterday… these poor tomato plants getting quite leggy!
I put three into the hothouse and 10 into the outside garden.
I planted them quite deep – up to about where that stick is
Outside I’ve covered them up for the nights as they are not hardened off
Today I lost two!!! Between uncovering, going for a walk and returning! Blackbirds I think. Will have to keep covered or net or something annoying while they are getting established
Mostly they wilted, but today most of them had perked back up
Also a lot of little seedlings in the snow pea patch… so dug a few up and popped them in the dedicated tomato patch
So tiny compared to the others!
Garlic doing well… and all the potatoes are up!!
The weeds growing well here… so attended that and popped in some beetroot seeds!
I’ve sadly and tragically run out of pickled beetroot so.. time to work on making more!
The one remaining lettuce that I didn’t kill from the three punnets is looking quite good.
Will be able to harvest leaves soon!
Well… thats about updated.
Hope everyone’s week has started really well!
Cheers
the confetti soap is so much fun to look at! glad to hear that you’ve had an uptick with soap sales. lately i’ve been using a neighborhood app to sell houseplants. but i imagine facebook marketplace might be similar.
gardening here is winding down with fall’s arrival, but over the last month i’ve been able to rearrange my beds at my apartment/rental to accommodate some additional plants i’ve picked up for free from that same neighborhood app. my iris tuber collection has tripled now, and i have some established black eyed susans and a purple cone flower. i’m shifting more towards perennials and herbs just because this last year was such a struggle with all the critters. maybe i’ll get lucky soon and have a small house of my own to move to with the plants. would love to enter in some of the early summer garden tours they have around here. does your area have garden tour days? for us they only last a day, and several homes around the neighborhood enter. you get a map and can walk/drive to the homes and wander through their gardens to see all the clever and unique designs.
Hi Lee!
Lovely to hear your updates! Great idea using a local app to sell houseplants!
I hope you do get a place with a yard to play with – how fun that would be! Your iris sound lovely. I am enjoying watching mine bloom at the moment!
I am not sure what garden tours they might do here. It would be awesome to see what other people are up to. You always get some good ideas that way!!
Absolutely love all of the new soap. Each is its own little utilitarian art work! Would like to have smell-a-vision for the black raspberry and vanilla. I like that for a home made ice cream flavor, but only make it every few summers.
Thanks Pj!! Yes, that black rasp. and vanilla is crazy popular! I’ve been having fun the last few days with soaps!