Summer Soap Adventures, Sea Breezes & New Skin Loving Ideas
July has been a scorcher, and I hope you've all survived the spontaneous melting with minimal drama. Everything seems to take twice as long in this heat, but we still managed a seaside escape, a soapmaking saga, and some exciting new developments for our natural skincare range.
A Break by the Sea
We spent a few lovely days in Burnham‑on‑Sea, just a short stroll from the beach. With July's heatwave in full swing, the sea breeze was bliss. We visited family, enjoyed good food, a few drinks, and one of those evenings full of chatter that reminds you why summer is so special.
The Slab Mould Soap Disaster
Now for the soapmaking chaos.
John. our gold‑medal eBay browser — found some larger slab moulds so we could upscale our handmade soap production. He assured me they were simply four times the size of my usual moulds. Technically true… but they're narrower and taller, which turned cutting into a geometry puzzle.
A slab cutter arrived next, but it only cuts in 5mm increments. Not ideal when you're trying to make beautifully sized artisan soap bars rather than giant bricks.
We cut the slab anyway. The bars are monster size. Absolutely huge. We got it wrong. But we're not beaten, we'll sort it out and perfect our new batch sizes soon. Handmade soapmaking is always an adventure.
Foot Cream Assessments: Still Missing
My foot cream assessments still haven't arrived, despite my gentle reminders. The assessor insists he sent them (he definitely hasn't). I'm now speaking with his admin team to track them down. The joys of product testing!
A New Herbal Collaboration
I recently met Rebecca, a qualified medical herbalist in Emsworth. She's full of knowledge and passion, and we're hoping to collaborate on new skin‑loving, botanical skincare products. I'm excited to blend her herbal expertise with our natural, small‑batch formulations.
Enjoy Your August
Whether you're navigating school holidays or heading off on holibobs, I hope August treats you kindly.
If you're travelling, don't forget your Lemon Sherbet natural soap and shampoo bar, great if you're prone to getting bitten. And if your skin is sun‑soaked, treat yourself to one of our luxury handmade soaps and an After Shower Smoothie to keep your skin soft, moisturised and beautifully scented.
We'll be at several markets throughout August, and of course you can always shop our natural skincare and artisan soap online.
1st August Walton
2nd August Petersfield
8th August Ripley
9th August Weybridge
15th August Emsworth
22nd August Cobham
23rd August Farnham
31st August Downside & Hatchford Sports & Family Day
Thanks for reading and supporting handmade,
Laura x