tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42027702383471640652024-02-18T23:39:15.613+00:00Colne Soap MakersHand made soap from natural ingredients.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-39561543568466578272012-06-22T17:30:00.000+01:002012-06-22T17:30:00.123+01:00Luscious Lavender<span style="font-size: large;">Luscious Lavender</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XmxwxEdtpNqZfQ_pALK5OvVQidevHsHv1ACbyAePxgcSMk7AJRZmaIhKuJT26CFN4CxCGHNMTBQ4oswpaUt48sWD58KYvPU1mFQ-aJQkUHxfuKMyNnJr8hf_X4bjGj7DpXoQ0XUOX29F/s1600/DSCN2935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XmxwxEdtpNqZfQ_pALK5OvVQidevHsHv1ACbyAePxgcSMk7AJRZmaIhKuJT26CFN4CxCGHNMTBQ4oswpaUt48sWD58KYvPU1mFQ-aJQkUHxfuKMyNnJr8hf_X4bjGj7DpXoQ0XUOX29F/s320/DSCN2935.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A view of our curing rack showing Luscious Lavender, which contains lavender essential oil and lavender flowers, to provide a soft ex-foliating soothing bar, based on the original Colne Bar recipe.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKZcyiICWOZNScpwRWU0ia1b3JFZ6dFeiJaGH3UVavlP5HZC6tcUm1v59nOrramiI9z4Y6UM_YT8CQ8fGQbrECun7n-AzGc-Pgbr1xHbYuuNSjsZrhUBrQYH5NHZOeMs9zPXnQFkfBItY/s1600/DSCN2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKZcyiICWOZNScpwRWU0ia1b3JFZ6dFeiJaGH3UVavlP5HZC6tcUm1v59nOrramiI9z4Y6UM_YT8CQ8fGQbrECun7n-AzGc-Pgbr1xHbYuuNSjsZrhUBrQYH5NHZOeMs9zPXnQFkfBItY/s400/DSCN2940.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-47875607935449536902012-06-21T13:30:00.000+01:002012-06-21T17:08:23.483+01:00The Natural Food Store<h2>
New outlet in Colchester</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFCiPWmzpcRrEKIayLWAFdcr546gN8sfM2Y2nNLIxh-r1pglt2vVzkQCuRVNidmW1UqInPPTzdPWS7t1ugk9flTUHzS34pt1YMX5y-7HMlAFsfNFBrqnzZQmPxK30jrieewLKISRmMudO/s1600/NHSColnewbanner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFCiPWmzpcRrEKIayLWAFdcr546gN8sfM2Y2nNLIxh-r1pglt2vVzkQCuRVNidmW1UqInPPTzdPWS7t1ugk9flTUHzS34pt1YMX5y-7HMlAFsfNFBrqnzZQmPxK30jrieewLKISRmMudO/s320/NHSColnewbanner2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We are pleased to announce that the Natural Health Shop Colchester, now stock our soap.</div>
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Medieval Festival</h3>
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We met Celia and John of the <a href="http://www.naturalhealth-shop.co.uk/" target="_blank">Natural Health Shop Colchester</a>, over the June Jubilee weekend at the Medieval Festival in Colchester.</div>
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Natural Products</h3>
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Their shop provides a wide range of natural products including quality vitamin and mineral supplements, herbal and homeopathic remedies, natural body care products, wholefood drinks and sports nutrition.</div>
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You can visit John and Celia, at the Natural Health Shop, 27 St Issacs Walk, Colchester.<br />
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Products in store</h3>
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<a href="http://www.colnesoapmakers.co.uk/2011/02/we-kid-you-not.html">Just Kiddin</a></h4>
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Goat's milk and Sweet Orange swirled with Calendula Petals.</div>
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Gentleman's soap</h4>
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Cedar wood, Clary Sage & Rosemary presented in a creamy white bar, not only for gents.</div>
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<a href="http://www.colnesoapmakers.co.uk/2011/02/un-scented-soap.html">Dave's</a></h4>
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No Scents, No Colour, just gentle cleaning for extra sensitive skin.</div>
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Luscious Lavender</h4>
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Bursting with lavender, swirled with buds slightly ex-foliating.</div>
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<a href="http://www.colnesoapmakers.co.uk/2011/02/ebb-tide.html">Ebb Tide</a></h4>
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Seaweed extracts, natural sea salt, Rosemary and peppermint in green and white layers.</div>
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Maldon Mermaid</h4>
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Patchouli, Sweet Orange & Clary sage in lilac, burgundy and cream swirls topped with Jasmin flowers.</div>
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Grubby Gardener</h4>
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Designed for the gardener, a Tea Tree, Cedar wood & Sweet Orange antiseptic mix in a moisturising burgundy bar to wash those grubby green fingers.</div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-36837781784207579642012-06-14T15:56:00.001+01:002012-06-14T16:14:23.846+01:00In The Circle and Showing off<h3>
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I first came into contact with <a href="http://www.15queenstreet.org/about" target="_blank">15 Queen Street</a> <span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span>via Colchester Digital meet-ups, which has nothing to do with our soap, but my work in the digital-world.<br />
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Then, on a cold Friday morning in February, <a href="http://www.15queenstreet.org/about" target="_blank">Alex</a> walked up to our stall at Colchester Art's Centre (Colchester Farmers Market) and enquired if we would be interested to do a talk. We had both enjoyed <a href="http://www.colnesoapmakers.co.uk/2011/10/day-out-at-school.html" target="_blank">our day at St Lawrence Shool, Rowhedge</a> and we thought it would be an ideal opportunity to explain to the people in Colchester how we make soap and what we are up to. So we signed up.<br />
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I didn't realise at the time, that this would also involve an interview and an article in the <a href="http://www.thecolchestercircle.co.uk/article/593/soap-with-a-clean-conscience/" target="_blank">Colchetser Circle magazine</a>. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/jjdoyleoriginal" target="_blank">John Doyle</a>, their resident journalist and photographer, came to visit us towards the close of Rowhedge Farmers Market, and returned to base with some wholesome spicy soup, to conduct the interview and shots.<br />
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I must say that our experience with with <a class=" twitter-atreply pretty-link" data-screen-name="15QueenStreet" href="https://twitter.com/#!/15QueenStreet" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #9d582e; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><s style="color: #c49a81; text-decoration: none;">@</s><b style="color: inherit;">15QueenStreet</b></a> has been most enjoyable, they are a thoroughly professional and well organised organisation who have contributed so much since their start about 18 months ago.<br />
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We have attended a few of their events which have been extremely interesting and insightful as to how much artistic talent there is in and around Colchester.<br />
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Well done Mark, Alex, John and everyone else at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/15QueenStreet" target="_blank">15 Queen Street</a> for your work promoting arts, culture, music, artisans, independent businesses and the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thecolchestercircle" target="_blank">magazine</a> in the Colchester area.<br />
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Long may it continue!<br />
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We are not only in the circle this week, but also <a href="http://www.meetup.com/Creative-in-Colchester/events/64066332/" target="_blank">Showing Off</a> next Thursday 21st June 13:00-13:45 at 15 Queen Street, Colchester. Hope you can make it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-81885341232833930042012-05-02T04:23:00.000+01:002012-05-25T15:48:11.536+01:00Our Woman in Heybridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDoLc1akXEPDkF13vcWvf_F1OQBffbrCYxN9c_oSXikBf-ISUAq-bes5Gmnt0Hb79JfoSCN5AK-8sr-lQAAPXFoPNncSZXqwV3epv1X6kNALiRElRLsQ3Kbbgk4EKjhHrbJ7xFWLtP2hv/s1600/OurWomanInHeybridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDoLc1akXEPDkF13vcWvf_F1OQBffbrCYxN9c_oSXikBf-ISUAq-bes5Gmnt0Hb79JfoSCN5AK-8sr-lQAAPXFoPNncSZXqwV3epv1X6kNALiRElRLsQ3Kbbgk4EKjhHrbJ7xFWLtP2hv/s400/OurWomanInHeybridge.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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We are pleased to announce, during our recent visit to Maldon, we managed to recruit our new agent in Heybridge. She holds stock and is able to supply our customers in the Maldon / Heybridge area. Contact us as normal and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=620472122" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Belinda</a> will arrange your order.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Maldon, Essex CM9, UK51.731805 0.67144851.7121365 0.631966 51.7514735 0.71093000000000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-61905343627332690012012-04-29T20:45:00.000+01:002012-05-25T15:40:59.896+01:00Surviving Maldon Mud Race 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-leFPYzlVbyzP958TOAKSIKzDL3govW5N1plORCi5pou33w-v-Xwk7F_Athz_ixHMYvrxO3TLcLBPakDl1bUhT9UKkBDllrfymjnHwGDbDMIVqBu1d2O-Zrhuh8ACKl-uRcoqY0-rGl6R/s1600/race1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-leFPYzlVbyzP958TOAKSIKzDL3govW5N1plORCi5pou33w-v-Xwk7F_Athz_ixHMYvrxO3TLcLBPakDl1bUhT9UKkBDllrfymjnHwGDbDMIVqBu1d2O-Zrhuh8ACKl-uRcoqY0-rGl6R/s400/race1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Yes, it's a cold, wet and windy Sunday morning and I'm not sure who maddest around here, is it me, for daring to venture out from under my warm duvet and only to drive 45 mins into the deluge of a storm which has been going now for over 24hrs. Or is it the mad Maldonites for inventing <a href="http://www.maldonmudrace.com/index.php?page=events" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Maldon Mud race</a>, in the first place.<br />
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We arrive late, and snuck up to the end of a line of 5 stalls, not much was happening and we started to unpack. It was beginning to rain quite hard now, but we needed the gazebo up to keep our stock dry.<br />
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We got it half up when it really began to blow and despite having all four weighted feet and anchoring guy ropes on each corner, at one point I thought we were about to take off.<br />
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Anne did well, all 8 1/2 stone of her, clinging onto the flailing gazebo covers it looked like holding back a stay-sail on a gaff cutter. These pop-up gazebos although being quite well designed for a leisurely Sunday afternoon, sipping pimms by the pool, the designers clearly did not consider that anyone in their right mind would "<i>put-up"</i> the "<i>pop-up"</i> in a howling gale, but that is exactly what we were trying to do.<br />
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It is only half up, but also broken in three places and I find myself carrying out emergency field repairs, just to make it safe for when I take it down again. We're tied down with two extra make-shift straps, and Anne is sitting bravely, in the centre of the shelter, trying to sip a coffee as I survey how the locals have secured their shelters.<br />
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I realise I have to make a decision soon, we're beginning to look a bit silly now, our 5' gazebo, no stall, no products, not even a table, just Anne, sipping her coffee, now on the far side still looking very brave, and not getting too wet. Do I embarrass myself, ourselves, in fact Colne Soap Makers and admit defeat in front of these hardy Maldonites, or do I go for plan B, one box on the table, no table cloth and make all attempts to keep things dry !<br />
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You've probably guessed, we are still optimists, and the gaps between gusts seem to be getting longer, we go for plan B. And eventually probably about an hour and a half after arriving, manage to open our stall.<br />
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Anne bought a hot coffee & breakfast, our friends Noel & Belinda arrived, things were brightening up.<br />
The race was shortened in the end, it went along not across the river this year due to the bad weather.<br />
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But Anne managed to get some photographs.<br />
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As we were packing up, the wind began began to show signs of easing off it was becoming a pleasant afternoon after all. A little too late for us this time, all packed up with steaming wet jeans the heater runs full bast and we head off to <a href="http://www.mlsc.org.uk/?page_id=129" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maldon Little Ship club</a> to enjoy some home made soup and rolls.<br />
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We were wet through, but not all washed out at <a href="http://www.maldonmudrace.com/index.php?page=events" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maldon Mudrace 2012</a>.<br />
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Maldon Mud race 2012 photographs by Anne.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com017 Park Dr, Maldon, Essex CM9 5JQ, UK51.725752196313 0.6931686401367187551.720834196313 0.68329814013671875 51.730670196313007 0.70303914013671875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-6260498110297601712011-10-20T23:00:00.000+01:002011-11-07T23:46:39.987+00:00A Day out at School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We have just spent a very stimulating day at St Lawrence primary school in Rowhedge.<br />
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It is Community week at St Lawrence school and we as a local business had been invited to talk to the children this Thursday. We had planned a <i>walk through</i> of our production line from inception to wrapping and selling, hopefully fitting into the 45 minute slots that had been allocated to us.<br />
<br />
It was a little daunting at first, but soon the enthusiasm of the children swept us along and I was honestly quite relieved that there were 3 teachers and assistants with the year 4's or else things might have got a bit out of hand during the scent exploration session, there were rose petals and cotton buddies everywhere. Apparently we were very stimulating, which is a good thing in this day and age of play stations and X-Boxes.<br />
<br />
Anne heard one little youngster ask the teacher at the end of the day, "<i>Are we going to make soup now?</i>".<br />
<br />
So maybe we weren't quite as brilliant at getting our message across, as we thought.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Rowhedge, Colchester, Essex CO5, UK51.8573492 0.944291451.8475422 0.9245504 51.867156200000004 0.9640324tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-31552733779364833942011-10-13T18:02:00.029+01:002011-10-13T18:02:00.227+01:00Purple Herbal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNo2fGrDSB2I17vrceQVaNd2ws5C3oqbh9Eb5ZeSDvW4-SgLjKgPyrWI9v6fPqFMkmbX-2_nGwhk2_panmZTOjPCD59Gf7GmGEnrWqdA9U87iT0f7Aukhpek5x8NDdd228snIqT4cLug/s1600/DSCN3436.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582574845044796482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNo2fGrDSB2I17vrceQVaNd2ws5C3oqbh9Eb5ZeSDvW4-SgLjKgPyrWI9v6fPqFMkmbX-2_nGwhk2_panmZTOjPCD59Gf7GmGEnrWqdA9U87iT0f7Aukhpek5x8NDdd228snIqT4cLug/s320/DSCN3436.JPG" style="float: right; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 400px;" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div>The swirled, almost indigo hue of <b>Purple Herbal</b> complements the deep, musky, but still sweetly herbaceous scent of the <b>Clary Sage.</b></div><br />
<div>The recipe for this soap begins with an inky purple infusion of <b>alkanet root</b>, which takes a few weeks to fully give up its colour to the olive oil in which it is steeped.</div><br />
<div>Careful measurement and trials help us to make natural plant colours with varying degrees of intensity.</div>Anne Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552920319021993884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-69441601942904475682011-10-12T17:24:00.002+01:002011-10-12T17:24:00.896+01:00Bladderwrack Seaweed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_mSPo90kCDubpf2jUE_VmuHdNlmaN0XO80Z8AOQRUZvsk2H2BS77KrfsUCoB1YH7p1cH0-sgGmV4AZ4agE3-XYTA9YmWJXd5gTHCfA2km9TReDjleZD3K3O2cWnQROWyTS_V4zpNdUqg/s1600/2011-09-30+13.35.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_mSPo90kCDubpf2jUE_VmuHdNlmaN0XO80Z8AOQRUZvsk2H2BS77KrfsUCoB1YH7p1cH0-sgGmV4AZ4agE3-XYTA9YmWJXd5gTHCfA2km9TReDjleZD3K3O2cWnQROWyTS_V4zpNdUqg/s320/2011-09-30+13.35.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Bladderwrack drying in the sun.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-88767648248868490512011-10-11T11:23:00.002+01:002012-04-12T01:34:39.760+01:00Calendula petals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEy6T7NEFQzNtb707Z9T5tUQw1rwOlEQ_E2A8qTWGFcg6Fx2FBjIERH8Zcw7wDH-SyCCLjg2S0EaoEWPrE93io2nVGEuYv-4z7OqnOadHZ4d_lnNYPwTMTzlZHw_0nPglwSZ89CqJksfm/s1600/Calendula479x359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEy6T7NEFQzNtb707Z9T5tUQw1rwOlEQ_E2A8qTWGFcg6Fx2FBjIERH8Zcw7wDH-SyCCLjg2S0EaoEWPrE93io2nVGEuYv-4z7OqnOadHZ4d_lnNYPwTMTzlZHw_0nPglwSZ89CqJksfm/s320/Calendula479x359.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
We started to cultivate an allotment plot this year. We grew Marigolds as companion plants with our vegetables, now they have been cut and hung to dry. Their colour is so much stronger than the petals we have used before. Anne wants to make a strong citrus soap with grapefruit and sweet orange, calendula petals will feature too.<br />
<br />
Update 12 April 2012, we have made this now, <i>Lou Lou's Belated Birthday Bubbles</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-74029581576649629602011-06-02T20:46:00.000+01:002011-06-02T22:45:58.057+01:00Colchester Farmers Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately we will not be at Colchester Farmers Market tomorrow 3rd June, this is not due to any fault of our own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7xgMP9xqudpRE1fpG0Vh4HhcGgaAAYW2fqEX-x2G9KdonC1OsF_lCcaqQG8vvkkx5axhuicnuQMrvJQ4VXv1rjJ1UOC-sM-9uamdFBX5lovyilB67utxNv6RWkJxA20Hn_bRxBDB_B0D5/s320/DSCN3895_12.5pc.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
We would like to apologise to our customers, that we can not be there this month, but En-Form (the local funded organisation that runs the Colchester Farmers Market) have asked us not to attend tomorrow.<br />
<br />
The market is being held in Culver square and they told us that they have run out of space.<br />
<br />
So you will be able to get your vegetables and meat at the market, but will have to trundle down to your super market and buy a detergent based soap, containing multiple chemicals, which has travelled miles, because they do not regard soap in the same category as the other stall holders' products.<br />
<br />
I would have thought that soap (hygiene, washing your hands) is very much a complementary product with food.<br />
<br />
You can contact en-form (Rowly Castiglione) via email <a href="mailto:localfood@btinternet.com">localfood@btinternet.com</a> or by phone on 01206 367776Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-29128086922395813542011-06-02T19:38:00.001+01:002012-04-12T00:47:14.073+01:00New Hemp Bar - Quinti Scential, inspired by KatherinHere is an image of our new Hemp Bar fresh out of the mold.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94djPZWSea9shAj0BiUtclk_q_cMstFvLkvjwqIk6lUYWiQIu0kuxfFuIkMKnhthiMrBmxwJvFveWYZt3nGCqDecm-_AZhXgq3-yg1dJbFZD78I6S0hyphenhyphen7gV3TZAPUxZh8vg_zgudukpUF/s1600/DSCN3854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94djPZWSea9shAj0BiUtclk_q_cMstFvLkvjwqIk6lUYWiQIu0kuxfFuIkMKnhthiMrBmxwJvFveWYZt3nGCqDecm-_AZhXgq3-yg1dJbFZD78I6S0hyphenhyphen7gV3TZAPUxZh8vg_zgudukpUF/s320/DSCN3854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It it contains hemp oil instead of Shea butter, and has three strong colours deep burgundy, alkanet indigo with touches of pure creamy white.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4EFLtwQ8BhVDjou0cQTJj7WHNOhLjRor8LdQ82HK9hoM6lfxMeHwiJQc040Zg1XiaijW5_iDGV88I8cPQ8F2xAygU02lNMVKH92pPvvzC1xhPQ9c9JA51Oe6wo_qY44r9u-OSJ11N3tk/s1600/DSCN3859_25pc.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4EFLtwQ8BhVDjou0cQTJj7WHNOhLjRor8LdQ82HK9hoM6lfxMeHwiJQc040Zg1XiaijW5_iDGV88I8cPQ8F2xAygU02lNMVKH92pPvvzC1xhPQ9c9JA51Oe6wo_qY44r9u-OSJ11N3tk/s320/DSCN3859_25pc.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We went a bit wild with the fragrances and mixed the deep base tones of Patchouli and Clarey Sage which is countered with a zingy citrus Sweet Orange, this was rounded off with touch of Lavender and a little Geranium rose. 5 Scents in all and one of our most complex in terms of fragrances, but they have been carefully chosen to compliment each other.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
We call it Quiti Scential<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br />
</span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-18755975174704262412011-05-20T15:34:00.000+01:002011-05-20T15:34:42.171+01:00Shea Butter and Latex sensitivity<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thank you Katherin</span></div><div><br />
We owe Katherin Flett a big thank you for recently pointing out that people who suffer from latex sensitivity may also be sensitive to Shea Butter. We met Kathrin last Saturday and Otley College's Big Day Out in Suffolk, she spent some time perussing all of our current range and eventually asked if we made one which did not contain Shea Butter, we showed her our Hemp Bar, which contains Hemp Oil as a natural moisturiser instead of Shea Butter. She walked away smiling and eager to try her new Basil, Black Peper and Lavender scented soap.<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
We are often asked questions by customers who have skin conditions, so this inspired me to do a little research about this topic for this article.<br />
<br />
So where does Latex and Shea Butter come from ?<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Latex</span><br />
Latex is produced from the sap of the Rubber Tree (<i>Hevea brasiliensis</i>) a tropical plant, orginally from South America, although most production is now in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia. It is a member of Euphorbiales order. There are many plants that produce a white sap when cut, Dandelions (<i>Taraxacum officinale</i>) is a common example in the UK, the Rusian Dandelion (<i>Taraxacum koksaghyz</i>) has been used to produce rubber.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Shea Butter</span><br />
Shea Butter is produced from the nut of the Karite Tree (<i>Butyrospermum parkii</i>).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMSJfHUqLshuXTM80WufHjNwtmi6wx23HF1QRTTZiy_kPvki2Kj91eqj1BS1H8zIipmK1NEt6o8Ju-twjnlzFjE0tPYNQxiFQOHOGRga0ApgR8GEDsHUyy4ZdUeeUCnuxftGTXmoiQZ8D/s1600/shea-tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMSJfHUqLshuXTM80WufHjNwtmi6wx23HF1QRTTZiy_kPvki2Kj91eqj1BS1H8zIipmK1NEt6o8Ju-twjnlzFjE0tPYNQxiFQOHOGRga0ApgR8GEDsHUyy4ZdUeeUCnuxftGTXmoiQZ8D/s200/shea-tree.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mature Karite Tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It is member of the Ebenales order, grows naturally in the African savanna zone from Senegal to Ethiopia. The tree produces a nut which is about the size of a plum.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCt9kGLzwxYFTMz2e2Clp97yVreBkO4eO-ZSGOX6NI4U_P0hm00nmmmA4-QdB7Grl8FdPckE0QP5Rqrri3ZitOsQnPonHo7h7mlr-mdY2O8h0Id1hyphenhyphenlTddMEGTx242Rk7QAG2Qu4TTCaK/s1600/sheanuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCt9kGLzwxYFTMz2e2Clp97yVreBkO4eO-ZSGOX6NI4U_P0hm00nmmmA4-QdB7Grl8FdPckE0QP5Rqrri3ZitOsQnPonHo7h7mlr-mdY2O8h0Id1hyphenhyphenlTddMEGTx242Rk7QAG2Qu4TTCaK/s200/sheanuts.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karite nuts</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cross Allergens</span><br />
People who allergic to Latex may also be allergic to certain foods. This is most likely because of the similarity between the latex proteins to proteins found in the food. The most common of these foods for latex suffers are banana, avocado, chestnut, kiwi, although there are others (see end of article for link to the full list).<br />
<br />
I could only find anecdotal evidence (but quite a lot) indicating that people with Latex sensitivity may also have a reaction from Shea Butter. This is probably a similar cross reaction as in the foods, since the two plants Karite and Rubber tree are not closely related.<br />
<br />
Not everybody who has a latex allergy gets a reaction to Shea butter.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Other Nuts</span><br />
The Karite nut is considered to be a tree nut by the FDA (USA Food & Drug Administration). So if you are allergic to tree nuts such as cashews, almonds, pecans and walnuts among others, this might include Shea Butter too.<br />
<br />
The peanut is actually a legume. However, some children do have an allergy to both peanuts and tree nuts, best to check with your doctor.<br />
<br />
It is worth pointing out that if you have a sensitivity to something and unsure, then it is always best to check with your doctor or do a patch test on your arm, before using anything in any sensitive part of your body.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Don't forget the vanilla fragrance.</span><br />
I also noted, that Benzoin (<i>Styrax benzoin</i>) is also a member of the Ebenales order (like the Karite tree), and is the source of Gum Benjamin. This is used in perfumery and incense, since it provides an economical alternative to vanilla oil, <i>Styrax benzoin</i> can also be an allergen.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So what do you need to look out for on the labels.</span><br />
The cosmetic industry have defined a standard list of names of ingredients. Known as the INCI list (International Nomenclature for the Cosmestic Industry).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Shea Butter</b> has the <b>INCI</b> name <b>Butyrospermum parkii</b></div><br />
You might also come across other names for the same plant. The official name for the karite tree is actually <i>Vitellaria paradoxa</i> (and this is what you will see in wikipedia), you may also see <i>Butyrospermum paradoxa</i> . There is also a change in the Order which this plant is a member some documents will use <i>Enenales</i> others will use <i>Ericales. </i>This is due to new new schemes for naming and classifying plants as methods improve for classification, we can now use genome mapping which was unavailable until recently.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Why use Shea Butter in the first place ?</span><br />
It is a vegetable oil, composed of five principal fatty acids, oleic 46%, stearic 41%, palmitic 4%, linoleic 7% and arachidic 1%, so it can be used in soap making. Variations in percentile values exist depending on region, these figures are average values. The high oleic content (also in Olive Oil) produces a soft oil.<br />
<br />
It has 10 Phenolic compounds which known to have antioxidant properties. The phenolic profile is similar to that of green tea, and the total phenolic content of shea butter is comparable to virgin olive oil.<br />
<br />
Shea butter contains high levels of UV-B absorbing triterpene esters, including cinnamic acid, tocopherols (vitamin E), and phytosterols.<br />
<br />
It acts as a natural moisturiser, it contains a high percentage of un-saponifiables, (they do not form part of the soap making process and remain in the finished product), such as phytosterols (campesterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol , and alpha-spinosterol) and triterpenes (cinnamic acid esters, alpha- and beta-amyrin, parkeol, buytospermol, and lupeol), and hydrocarbons such as karitene (1, 2).<br />
<br />
Allantoin, another unsaponifiable compound, is responsible for the anti-inflammatory and healing effect on the skin.<br />
<br />
It has been used as a skin salve in Africa and applied to the naval of new born children. It is a natural skin conditioning and emollient, it's high content of oleic fatty acid means it is soft and therefore also used in cosmetic creams. It is good to cook with and for soap making, the EU have accepted it as a Cocoa Butter Equivilent (CBE) and is an ingredient of some chocolate as a substitute for cocoa butter.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What do Colne Soap Makers produce ?</span><br />
<br />
We produce two types of soap bars at the moment.<br />
<br />
Colne Bar contains Shea Butter<br />
Hemp Bar contains Hemp Oil<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Further Reading</span><br />
<b>Wikipedia</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butyrospermum_parkii">Karite Tree</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shea_butter">Shea Butter</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latex_allergy">Latex Allergy</a> </li>
</ul><br />
<b>Independent Newspaper</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/butter-that-brought-fat-profits-to-the-mud-huts-of-ghana-829324.html">article about the economy of shea butter in Ghana</a> </li>
</ul><div><b>Manufacturer</b></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><ul><li><b>Sekaf Ghana Ltd </b>Manufacturers <a href="http://www.sekafghana.com/sheabutterfaq.html">faq</a> </li>
<li><b>Shea Butter village</b> <a href="http://www.sheabuttervillage.blogspot.com/">Blog</a></li>
</ul><br />
<b>PROTA (Plant Resource of Tropical Africa)</b> <a href="http://database.prota.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=QBE_QUERY&BU=http://database.prota.org/search.htm&TN=PROTAB~1&QB0=AND&QF0=Species+Code&QI0=Vitellaria+paradoxa&RF=Webdisplay">Database Entry</a><br />
<br />
<b>Scientific papers</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_24648053">Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Shea Butter (Vitellaria </a><a href="http://scholar.mak.ac.ug/jbagea/files/shea_butter_oil.pdf">paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) oil from the shea districts of Uganda</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.worldcocoafoundation.org/scientific-research/research-library/documents/Fold2008.pdf">Transnational Sourcing Practices in Ghana’s Perennial Crop Sectors</a></li>
</ul><br />
<b>A good Source of Plant Relationships</b><br />
Jack Campin's, <a href="http://www.campin.me.uk/Food/related-plant-list.html">A Related Plant List</a> shows the relationship between plants, but also lists their common alleric characteristics, his article was was written with inspirational help from Marion Bowles, an allergy dietitian based in Edinburgh.<br />
<br />
<b>Support Group website</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>anecdotal article releating to <a href="http://www.allergicchild.com/tree_nut_allergies.htm">Tree nuts, and allergies</a>.</li>
</ul><b></b><br />
<b>American Association of Family Physician</b> Articles about Latex allergies<br />
<br />
<ul><li>A short leaflet summarising, <a href="http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/1215/p1419.html">What is latex allergy</a></li>
<li>A comprehensive article about <a href="http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/1215/p1413.html">latex sensitivity</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/1215/p1413.html#afp20091215p1413-t3">Table of foods</a> commonly associated with latex allergies</li>
<li>An article about <a href="http://www.aafp.org/afp/980101ap/reddy.html">Latex Allergy</a>.</li>
</ul><br />
<b>Forum Articles</b><br />
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Discussion about Latex allergies with a couple of people mentioning <a href="http://www.allergy-details.com/allergy-c/products-containing-latex/">Shea Butter reactions</a> too.<br />
A good response to a forum thread correcting some <a href="http://hooahwife.com/2006/04/18/life-with-latex-allergy/#comment-123560">urban myths that developed during the discussion</a>.<br />
One persons <a href="http://www.hosiaonline.com/shea-butter-black-soap-faq.php#can-be-allergic-shea-butter">view explaining connections between Shea Butter and Latex allergies</a>.<br />
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Shea Butter Production<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-8864967935691340232011-04-05T19:45:00.000+01:002011-11-14T13:25:30.436+00:00Un - Scented Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0yQDebZsnN_kfgxYv6AueDk6mepS9HUoXOKJqesGIfvXVgUWjzX0DeZ6EU2K9pZPNr0TSTPtnb6Hw1xmohgqk8_k9T1HK0BQlX-zkDHzKkcXb8ckKpW6BuMQLzeDmJc3bOUWGigEmik2/s1600/DSCN2996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0yQDebZsnN_kfgxYv6AueDk6mepS9HUoXOKJqesGIfvXVgUWjzX0DeZ6EU2K9pZPNr0TSTPtnb6Hw1xmohgqk8_k9T1HK0BQlX-zkDHzKkcXb8ckKpW6BuMQLzeDmJc3bOUWGigEmik2/s320/DSCN2996.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dave's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Non-Scents</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> Soap</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span>The ultimate in simplicity in our Natural Soap range contains no-scents no colours at all.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsvfEeTmVSd6H6bjyj6Wlah9OUmx6J_Y5cHmG8sXWeuH0QUwZODMimLmA1dTNRA-uGt4xF5tNCoMLxaqaGKCJZLoobBlJNG0_xq_AMNVW_xZoDDfoKzQwc4O2I94PAyTd2w0TfGJQygvu/s1600/DSCN2998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsvfEeTmVSd6H6bjyj6Wlah9OUmx6J_Y5cHmG8sXWeuH0QUwZODMimLmA1dTNRA-uGt4xF5tNCoMLxaqaGKCJZLoobBlJNG0_xq_AMNVW_xZoDDfoKzQwc4O2I94PAyTd2w0TfGJQygvu/s320/DSCN2998.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-77165161660167371392011-03-10T20:16:00.004+00:002011-03-17T03:20:58.144+00:00Goats Milk Soap - we kid you not<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582574126579798290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcItK__w16cd5W93H4cRvMgrWmlFoUwJewHLmq39CqLefyR07NAVbSMhBSlzeVAaDHeTGotVbin4ZA9kvQERFspbLVPjf0meDjQJI4QX1Zt4KEKzesfkdbZI7W7rtXcVCaEgAMWkbMak/s400/DSCN3415.JPG" style="float: none; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 400px;" /></div><br />
Goatsmilk soap was a challenge. The qualities of the milk that give the extra creamy lather complicate the soap-making. There is a very rapid generation of heat from the fats and proteins in the milk, so you have to work quickly and keep checking the temperature of the lye mixture.<br />
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If you get past this stage without incident, the soap mixture can still become unstable during the super-heating process that happens naturally once it has been poured into the wooden mould. If this happens, some of the oils that should remain in the soap are driven off, seeping out through the bottom of the mould and the soap is ruined, with gaping holes<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>left in it. Not very appealing.<br />
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So the perfect method took three attempts to evolve and we still make this very special soap only in small batches, just 12 bars at a time, as it is easier to control the heat this way.<br />
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The smell of the finished soap is amazing and worth all the effort. The milk gives the soap its <b>nutty caramel colour</b> and sweet, warm scent, slightly reminiscent of toffee and the kitchen after baking.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>To complete the fragrancing of <b>Just Kiddin</b>, Sweet Orange essential oil is added, plus a swirl of golden calendula petals within and on the top. One of my favourites, there's a bar of it in the shower at the moment.<br />
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AnneAnne Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552920319021993884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-26774437619635740152011-02-28T09:50:00.002+00:002011-04-07T14:23:49.805+01:00Ebb Tide - A Salty Sea Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIkJz9CwmwNBnzeq8anmmg1a2g6cvtDYB50Z_2K349530taML0OQygLxduLsGkJaSxIy3v9TSCdoSYkQYqvvBRwd-Y3VsiBZwTUYKgrkxzmRSLfM5r_1mbWW4AK-rz0iPme7DuA6oMzqb/s1600/DSCN3717_scaled768x576_ET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIkJz9CwmwNBnzeq8anmmg1a2g6cvtDYB50Z_2K349530taML0OQygLxduLsGkJaSxIy3v9TSCdoSYkQYqvvBRwd-Y3VsiBZwTUYKgrkxzmRSLfM5r_1mbWW4AK-rz0iPme7DuA6oMzqb/s400/DSCN3717_scaled768x576_ET.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I wanted to make a salty sailor's soap that smelt of the coast and when the seaweed hit the hot soap in the pan, the whole room smelt of the sea and I knew this could be done.<br />
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So this soap is kind of tidal, with a slightly minty green Spirulina base topped with a creamy white layer, with natural sea salt and speckled with Bladderwrack seaweed.<br />
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As for the fragrance, it's a combination of the seaweed and a mix of essential oils, including Peppermint and Rosemary, which is also known as 'Mist of the Sea'. Lovely stuff to use when you'd rather be on a yacht than in the shower.<br />
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After all this work, we had a distinctive but still anonymous soap. Then late one night moored between East Mersea and Brightlingsea, and after rowing us back to shore against the ebbing tide, Noel and Belinda came up with the name.<br />
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Mermaids like this soap too.<br />
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GG is a very cleansing bar with finely ground madder root and tea tree oil, known for anti-bacterial and deodorising properties. The scent of this bar is given extra depth with a blend of sweet orange and cedarwood essential oils. These fruity and woody scents are a very good foil for the slightly astringent, but clean-smelling tea tree. </div>
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This is one of our best-selling soaps, but don't leave it in the shed to use at the garden tap, as a customer's friend did. The mice clearly liked Grubby Gardener too, as the many tiny teethmarks demonstrated. (I will add here that our soap must <b>not</b> be eaten) </div>
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You might also want to try one of the soaps with exfoliating coffee grounds - Devilish Dark and Spice Macchiato. </div>
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</div>Anne Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01552920319021993884noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-30016847141648535212011-02-21T18:30:00.002+00:002011-03-15T15:25:07.085+00:00Rosy Soap range<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVowdUbSVLBRGDG0d-arF2mkl-C98IhCNQpQiO737KRpxqb5IlS1JuiJwPOkQHX7ZEoupptavndwwR6Pcgd3nO34uEyoRAVJCbUG_YwWi09RgVaqDxGG6HwFET5mf1BFXjaYkeDFHOBRn/s1600/DSCN2876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVowdUbSVLBRGDG0d-arF2mkl-C98IhCNQpQiO737KRpxqb5IlS1JuiJwPOkQHX7ZEoupptavndwwR6Pcgd3nO34uEyoRAVJCbUG_YwWi09RgVaqDxGG6HwFET5mf1BFXjaYkeDFHOBRn/s320/DSCN2876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Rose Petal Top</span><br />
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Our Rose Soaps are some of the first soaps that we developed, however they have proved to be a very popular family of soaps, based on Rosy theme.<br />
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Geranium Rose is the base fragrancy, however our bars gain much of their appeal and aroma from the rose petals and buds which are incorporated.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijB4qd_y5UqJ8DjxpnH7TH55noepv0fb7w8S6j1M2WwEOM0iJ3SJTW8QFML3J8EAGdCnwC3PezihUOyqxEv0BChovmyD-eKe00fDERBSc_7PsY5ulvqZ32REGsyDUxmfeM4hBPrABZQdkE/s200/DSCN3022.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Rosy Swirl</span><br />
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The gentle swirls of pink Rose Madder power gives a natural soft rose colour to the white of the natural soap. We roll the freshly made round bars in a bed of rose petals, to enhance the colours and fragrances.<br />
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These <i>Rosy Swirls</i> have just been cut and are now ready for decorating.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">The round bars are also very popular with our retailers who have made gift sets and hampers included our <i>Rosy Swirls</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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Rose petals are pressed liberally onto the crisp white rose scented soap loaves after they have been removed from the mould, but before cutting into individual bars.<br />
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Cutting with the petals, produces random grooves on the surface of the cut as some petals are dragged down through the soap with the blade. This was unforeseen but quite attractive visually, making every bar slightly different. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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Rose Buds are inserted into the top of the layered loaf, making delightful gifts.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-6448976650343887522011-02-16T23:59:00.000+00:002011-02-17T13:07:35.374+00:00How to make Lavender Soap - Colne Soap Makers<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Make your Own Soap at Home</span><br />
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This is something we filmed over nine months ago, when we were developing our soap, it;'s been edited so it condenses <i>"How to make Soap",</i> in less than 10 minutes. For some reason I didn't release it at the time, and didn't even include a recipe, durh!<br />
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I just found it again, here it is, I will find a good starter recipe in the next couple of days, so you could make your own soap at home. I hope you find it interesting. It's a typical <i>BBC Blue Peter,</i> "<i>How you could do it home with fruit juice moulds</i>", but I hope you find it interesting. (BTW, We don't quite do it like this any more, and have purpose built moulds, but you'll get the gist).<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oTb09JY83Pc?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-10125847793425576832011-02-15T04:30:00.001+00:002012-04-26T14:27:15.642+01:00Moroccan Moon - with Coffee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Honey and benzoine give this tan specimen a rich nutty caramel fragrance. A sprinkling of dried coffee provides two dark layers and soft exfoliating characteristics to the soap.<br />
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It has been poured in three layers and scalloped on the top surface. It also combines a tube of pure Colne Bar, to make a moon affect, set above a Moroccan landscape (with a little bit of imagination and squinting you might see it too).<br />
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Probably our most adventurous, when we made it, incorporating several techniques and combinations. I had to work fast during the final stages, as it was prone to set quickly.</div>
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Moroccan Moon has evolved into several soaps in their own right. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Spice Machiato,</span> takes the Coffee theme a little further and combined with a coffee brew, it makes a masculine bar. The embedded dried ground coffee, provides the base colouring and embedded lightly through out, gives a definite ex-foliating quality to the bar.</div>
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Customers have expressed surprised exclamations, and have come back to tell us, <i>"That coffee thing, you know it actually works!"</i></div>
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Well we hoped it would. (I'll let you into a secret, it wasn't all guess work).</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><A NAME="maldon_mudlark">Maldon Mudlark</A></span>, is rich dark brown and combines cinnamon and coffee to make this an extremely fragrant bar to use, good for working hands but being based on <i>Colne Bar</i> is moisturising too.<br />
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An invigorating bar to use at the end of your day.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-45257527147786493742011-02-14T01:41:00.001+00:002011-04-13T13:59:41.127+01:00Wrapped Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdY4eatW2_-YPB7DdaujsIgIZb9_lLBzgYRgACdrkkCIP0FLVGKbRrDhgYfE7t__QAgY8PJu9vCWN8OZCkSb_La5sVafH43vQZe4pIzgQFGnp2mx4nMB3JVmuXtPdezmrjf89kOJs6rbo-/s1600/DSCN3629_scaled768x576Seamless.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdY4eatW2_-YPB7DdaujsIgIZb9_lLBzgYRgACdrkkCIP0FLVGKbRrDhgYfE7t__QAgY8PJu9vCWN8OZCkSb_La5sVafH43vQZe4pIzgQFGnp2mx4nMB3JVmuXtPdezmrjf89kOJs6rbo-/s400/DSCN3629_scaled768x576Seamless.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Current Stock</span><br />
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You can now see our current stock in the gadget on the top right column. It tracks our batches directly so it is up to date, if you can't make it to one of the Farmers Markets or local outlets, then you can always email your order to orders@colnesoapmakers.co.uk.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKwty0KENrsBG0mMlAS5a-KKjd0_3ZKTHwnAkMijRBALp6cl8IdMvmcmUAEkko0r9H7KdAsiS9ey2D3eg7Ws43FliQdWyBLhGjWfHkGOvs9LKcT69hkVCKvZkh9ygmGNn1I9LcBzxMNRG/s1600/DSCN3665_scaled768x576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKwty0KENrsBG0mMlAS5a-KKjd0_3ZKTHwnAkMijRBALp6cl8IdMvmcmUAEkko0r9H7KdAsiS9ey2D3eg7Ws43FliQdWyBLhGjWfHkGOvs9LKcT69hkVCKvZkh9ygmGNn1I9LcBzxMNRG/s200/DSCN3665_scaled768x576.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wrapped Soap for Sale</span><br />
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The photograph above shows our soap wrapped ready for sale in one of our soap boxes.<br />
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The waxed paper protects the soap after curing, but it still allows the colour to show through slightly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-85604690106329193502010-08-24T21:24:00.000+01:002011-02-17T16:30:48.991+00:00History of Soap making<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkdms8SoJLYgja9jf6nFls5AkjAbO1kDoHGPNKuSyZ9nTpor58cZ-w_3wlE4U5oiijpf6ywr6n6bJEKyaN2iDGVBtyJy6NDtfsT-rph7DfuZawbV77UPTsOxWN19K1uLOFCfHH_Ma/s1600/1501_08_4_prev.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509077089467780578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkdms8SoJLYgja9jf6nFls5AkjAbO1kDoHGPNKuSyZ9nTpor58cZ-w_3wlE4U5oiijpf6ywr6n6bJEKyaN2iDGVBtyJy6NDtfsT-rph7DfuZawbV77UPTsOxWN19K1uLOFCfHH_Ma/s320/1501_08_4_prev.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 214px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>An occasional history of soap making...</b></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">'as old as olives'</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Christian and I were talking about the olive tree the other night. This was possibly because we were eating olives, with a glass of wine, while Christian was cooking a goat stew.</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">There's more about goats later, but to get back to the olive tree - it gives us shade; the leaves are said to be medicinal; we can eat the fruit and also press it into my favourite oil for culinary use and natural skincare (including our soap). It is no accident that olive oil is the largest ingredient by weight in our Colne Bar. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">As well as all this, the tree gives you a nicely grained hardwood that can be used to make beautiful bowls and furniture. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The olive tree is thought to originate from Syria, which is still a significant producer of olive oil. From Syria, the olive spread fast to Mediterranean countries, most notably Ancient Greece, where the tree was considered holy and you could be punished for cutting one down. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Maybe the olives are a small diversion however, (patience grasshopper) as the first recorded recipes for soap contained different oils. The earliest record of the production of soap-like material dates back to around 2800 BC in Ancient Babylon. This was a formula for soap consisting of water, alkali and cassia oil, written on a Babylonian clay tablet around 2200 BC. However, I quite liked the recipe (550 BC) for soap containing ashes, cypress oil and sesame seed oil, "for washing the stones for the servant girls". It must have made the lives of those hardworking young women a lot easier. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The ashes provided the alkali necessary to saponify the oils to make soap. Wood-ash was, and still is the alkali most readily available for the production of handmade soap – hand made of necessity, by homesteaders in the wild west and elsewhere, and still today, in countries with lower levels of material well-being. Tallow or other animal fats were used by homesteaders, however in places where vegetable oils can be economically extracted, these might be used too. I've recently read about some new soap-recycling schemes aimed at the less economically developed parts of the world. This is one of them: <a href="http://www.cleantheworld.org/">http://www.cleantheworld.org/</a>– but perhaps there are other interventions that could be effective in helping control disease and wouldn't involve energy expended in mechanically re-processing and transporting used bits of soap thousands of miles. Making soap by hand involves very little energy and is something people have done for millennia. I note however that there are significant tax benefits for the US hotels participating in this scheme. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">So, oil and alkali and the beginnings of soap in Ancient Babylon. </div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">There is a soap museum in Sidon, in Lebanon- part of the Ancient Babylonion empire. <a href="http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist/RTV/2010/03/15/RTV649210/?v=1&a=0">http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist/RTV/2010/03/15/RTV649210/?v=1&a=0</a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Searching around all the sources on this, I found the 'old as olives' quote, which I like very much. Here it is in full:</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>'Soap industry on the Lebanese coast is as old as olives. The age of olives extending in the area from Palestine towards the Lebanese coast goes back to thousands of years BC'</i></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i></i>I'd guess that the soap in the Lebanese museum could still produce a lather, but might have lost a lot of its water content over all those years. I've always wanted to go to Lebanon...</div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="http://www.discoverlebanon.com/introduction_movie_presentation.php">http://www.discoverlebanon.com/introduction_movie_presentation.php</a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Aah the goats, oops nearly forgot about them. A clue- goatsmilk <i>lovely</i> stuff. As good in soap as olive oil. (not to be confused with Olive Oyl)</div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eiBIhO9a3pO7T_nm67obBnbO52o_FPbI1WA3TfEAVqeIp1qH9P_iGA8_CWWu6SoNQpOhthTi1a6PMEF4kqCJIkKzg8OoUYfqVmaxRauPwGBAQ1k-PuJTnzN_vbTR4of4HE5PoMnI/s320/Soap_Museum.jpg" /></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Photo of Sidon Soap Musem: - copyright of the photo pertains as follows:</div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GNU_Free_Documentation_License</a></div><div class="western" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span></div><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-18710611676648673552010-07-11T19:47:00.000+01:002011-02-14T06:29:26.232+00:00Product page updated<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K9LuIFtEQl4O858IgrtT_03OBmWGzUq-pp22qkdyXjoGFAGbYVucz7clmPUbu7rSoKsBEErMmXtnjDkarRGIiBd_RKatejBgejVAFxyviajdY1AKfdSUzqaHkY3tsxHjwy0MGB0VGTPK/s128/DSCN2876.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7K9LuIFtEQl4O858IgrtT_03OBmWGzUq-pp22qkdyXjoGFAGbYVucz7clmPUbu7rSoKsBEErMmXtnjDkarRGIiBd_RKatejBgejVAFxyviajdY1AKfdSUzqaHkY3tsxHjwy0MGB0VGTPK/s128/DSCN2876.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 96px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 128px;" /></a><br />
After cutting the latest batch of Grubby Gardener this morning, I have managed to get our products page updated with the <a href="http://www.colnesoapmakers.co.uk/p/products.html">Summer Soap photographs</a>. These soaps were launched at the Rowhedge Regatta last Saturday. <br />
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</div><div>Some people who saw us at the Regatta have stopped me in the street and asked for a product list so I made an A4 flyer, and have now completed an on-line version with photographs of each soap. </div><div><br />
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</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-30644376939200841702010-07-09T16:59:00.000+01:002011-02-14T06:27:29.038+00:00A Real success at Rowhedge Regatta<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrknt0Op6iIIQc6kbZ6t6z4LqiwDQmf2rXi42T8q69utniFSlbd41uabxZP6v4zc6m9phVbR45HXqL2lh3UWFcouaXdoAAsRK9IX__unSGNvFwP5nXDV9-mqG2VH0360bORLKYtrGY_ys/s288/Regatta%20stall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrknt0Op6iIIQc6kbZ6t6z4LqiwDQmf2rXi42T8q69utniFSlbd41uabxZP6v4zc6m9phVbR45HXqL2lh3UWFcouaXdoAAsRK9IX__unSGNvFwP5nXDV9-mqG2VH0360bORLKYtrGY_ys/s288/Regatta%20stall.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 245px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 288px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">3rd July arrived and everything was packed and ready for the stall. Fabian had lent us a beautiful yellow trestle table and late the previous night, Clare had located the only spare gazebo in the village still intact after the windy Saturday of the Strawberry Fair. So on the morning of the Regatta all we had to do was take it all across to the quay, set it up and sell soap... And so we did!</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I liked to see which soaps interested different people, (and why) and the most popular - on that hot and sticky day - was the refreshing and cleansing tea-tree oil soap we call Grubby Gardener. It also has sweet orange and cedar wood essential oils, as well as rose madder root, which colours it a deep red/maroon. Perhaps it was because I told everyone that the first thing I do when I get home on a hot day is use it to wash my feet. (well, not until we've made some more, I won't be, as we nearly ran out of it on Saturday- only a few bars left until the next batch is ready)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Christian's Volcanic Lava Swirl came a close second- sweet orange oil again, but this time mixed with geranium oil- a lovely combination. Lots of things noted from people's comments and suggestions for the next range- clove, cinnamon and orange for winter will be a definite, I think.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Lavender was popular and we also gave out samples of Dave's Soap (with nothing in it) to several people who need to use very pure soap on their skin.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">We offered hand washing opportunities on a small table in the gazebo- a chance to wash off the ice-cream and candy floss and try different types of soap. There were several children with extremely clean hands that afternoon, having made extensive use of this facility. Friends' children were however very useful for running errands - Charlie kindly ran home to re-fill our water container and Tilly left us a cuddly lamb, for company.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">The gazebo provided a shelter for some of the visiting grandmas, too. Our stall was right on the front of the quay, offering unrivalled views of the duck race, blindfold canoeing and visiting barges and smacks. The ladies we accumulated over the course of the afternoon therefore had a shady place to sit, in our very comfy fold-up chairs and they didn't miss a thing (we might do them a nice cup of tea next time). Maz's mum, down from the North, for her very first Regatta: 'Well, I liked your stall, but I've really enjoyed just sitting here these last couple of hours' she said, as she made her way off to check if she'd won the lucky programme draw.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Look out for some of Christian's photos of Regatta day and the River Colne, coming soon...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-31776542857876297792010-07-07T00:51:00.000+01:002011-02-14T06:28:16.374+00:0010 simple ways to use less oil | Greenpeace International<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Saw this on Facebook this evening:</span></div><div><br />
</div><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/climate/10-simple-ways-to-use-less-oil/blog/12883">10 simple ways to use less oil | Greenpeace International</a><br />
<br />
The simple ways to use less oil in relation to products are:<br />
<ul><li>Prefer products packaged without plastic.</li>
<li>Buy beauty products (shampoo, soap, make-up) based on natural ingredients, not oil.</li>
<li>Prefer locally produced products (less transport involved).</li>
</ul>These all apply to our soap- and, in addition, handmade cold process soap uses very little energy in the making- our natural vegetable oils are melted and heated for just a short while, to get them to the correct temperature before we add the lye-water and that's it. Everything else is done by hand. So a lot greener than mass-produced cleansing products. And no parabens or SLS.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4202770238347164065.post-59765092259685585462010-06-14T21:35:00.000+01:002011-02-14T06:41:30.593+00:00Sunshine stencil<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWal-zTxYZ-wK8Dx7bPG41DuIvUr7_dfF3qLsTHAMCIlcBAzTtNQaNFCoNSSq5K0aaI3bobEmB6gKOsr14CykMBB6pMJwO5MfBpCulbSBamPiNcxAhb3ja2vao33NAzXZdwY5uEuq7/s1600/Photo-0248.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482759901000835570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWal-zTxYZ-wK8Dx7bPG41DuIvUr7_dfF3qLsTHAMCIlcBAzTtNQaNFCoNSSq5K0aaI3bobEmB6gKOsr14CykMBB6pMJwO5MfBpCulbSBamPiNcxAhb3ja2vao33NAzXZdwY5uEuq7/s320/Photo-0248.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 232px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The long, light days are so good. The sudden, rapid growth of plants always surprises me. Yesterday I tied rows of string between two birch branches Christian had found for me to support bean plants. When I looked this evening, two of the plants had already reached the string and were curling up and around and above it. A bit of sun and rain today and away they went.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You can see Saturday's sunshine through our stencil </div><div><div><div><div><div><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rows of soap on the curing racks are moving gradually to the table where we've wrapped and labelled them. Over the weekend, Christian spent some very productive time working on our soap making identity - signs for when we sell direct, as at Rowhedge Regatta, and stencilling on the wooden boxes that we use for storage, transport and display. This involved spray paint as well as sunshine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(and 50 soaps wrapped before the England game started). So we are pretty much ready for Regatta (including the gazebo)- and and and- Christian has taken with him to London a sample box of our soap. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0