New soaps for Midsummer

Last weekend, I finally got into the kitchen to create some new soaps and have a play around with the new moulds I ordered a while ago.  And here are the results! ...

This is Midsummer Goddess Shea Butter soap (SLS-free).  It's scented with a sensual blend of patchouli, ginseng and cinnamon and it's has a beautiful depiction of The Goddess in shimmering golden mica on a purpley summer sunset coloured background.  Available now in my Folksy shop!

This is my Nectarine and Honey Blossom Shea Butter soap.  A luxury, SLS-free glycerine soap, in the shape of a teardrop with intricate Victorian style patterning. With added moisturising shea butter and scented with a lovely feminine nectarine and honey blossom fragrance oil.  Also available in my Folksy shop!

Folksy Friday: ~*Africa*~

I thought for this weeks Folksy Friday, I would find items inspired by Africa or made with African sourced materials as it's the World Cup at the moment, which, if you hadn't noticed (!) is being hosted by South Africa this time round.  I'm also half South African, thanks to my late Dad and I was also born in Johannesburg, so Africa is rather close to my heart :)

 This beautiful bone and glass necklace can be found in Daeb

 This vibrant choker can be also be bought from Daeb

  

 These cute African animal finger puppets can be found in MuNGBEANS

 And finally, this stunning Africa sunset greetings card can be found in Annie's Cards

Honey, Honey, Honey!!

It is now the height of Summer, our lovely bees are now making honey and the Midsummer full moon is known as the 'Honey Moon'.  Honey is wonderful for the skin as it's a natural humectant, meaning that it attracts and holds in moisture.

To celebrate this time of year, I have made a Somerset Honey soap, using SLS-free glycerine soap base, beautiful golden mica and pure honey from local Kingsbury Episcopi bees.

Available now in my Folksy Shop!

A Honey Cake is a perfect way to celebrate Midsummer, or to give as a gift. Make it with locally produced honey if you can. (Recipe from www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk)

Ingredients:

225 gms Butter
250 gms Honey
100 gms Dark Muscovado Sugar
3 Eggs, beaten
300 gms Self-Raising Flour

Cut the butter into pieces and heat slowly, adding the honey and the sugar. When fully melted, turn up the heart and boil the mixture for one minute. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Add the beaten eggs to the cooled honey mixture. Sift the flour into a large bowl and beat the liquid honey mixture into it until you have a smooth batter.

Pour the mixture into a round lined sponge tin and bake in a preheated oven at 160C for about 50 mins - or until the cake is well-risen and springs back to the touch.

Cool on a rack and glaze with a few tablespoons of warm honey.

Folksy Friday - ~*Summer Solstice*~

This week's Folksy Friday is dedicated to the Summer Solstice or Midsummer Day (the longest day and shortest night of the year), which is just around the corner...

These beautiful Summer Solstice bath salts can be found in Spiral Moon.

I love this hedgerow inspired bowl that can be found in Chololatefrog.

This sterling silver Goddess pendant can be found in Sailing to Byzantium

This pretty wild flower necklace can be found in MadamCC

And finally these copper oak leaf and acorn rings can be found in beauSHAMBLES

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Here are some my soaps that would make great gifts for Father's Day (June 20th!!!)  These are all available in my Folksy shop (click on images to view listing!)

Shaving soap made with SLS-free vegetable glycerine and with added vitamin E packed Meadowfoam seed oil and Fuller's Earth.  Available in various fragrances!

Beer Soap!  Luxury SLS-free vegetable glycerine soap, with added Shea Butter. Scented with a freshly-poured light beer aroma with tangy hops and sweet malty barley.

Peppercorn - Luxury black and white SLS-free glycerine soap, with added Shea butter and scented with 'Peppercorn' fragrance oil - a sumptuous woody, herbal fragrance where notes of cool peppermint, clary sage and crisp black peppercorn rest upon a rich lavender heart and a woody base.

Dragon's Dance - A luxury purple SLS-free vegetable glycerine soap, laden with shimmering blue and green chunks AND with added super-moisturising Avocado oil. Scented with a mystical blend of Sandalwood, Jasmine and Patchouli.

Cool Cucumber Mint - A luxury SLS-free glycerine soap, scented with a subtly sweet cucumber and cooling peppermint fragrance oil AND with added super-moisturising avocado oil. Perfect to use in the shower after a workout at the gym!

Folksy Friday: ~*Woodland*~

For this week's Folksy Friday, I have chosen woodland inspired items. This is because over the Bank Holiday, my hubby, daughter and I went to visit Wayford Woods. A beautiful nature reserve in Somerset and about 30 mins drive from us.

It was a really nice walk and the rhododendrons where in bloom. A perfect way to spend a bank holiday!

Anyway, back to Woodland Folksy Friday! Here are my picks (I chose 4 this week as there are just too many to choose from!)

This beyond cute wood mouse card can be found at Ethel and Iris

This beautiful and elegant fern necklace can be brought from Esme Dodsworth Design

This gorgeous little amigurumi acorn can be found in Cute Designs

 This lovely, 'Quiet Woods' necklace can be bought from earth sea and sky

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Top 5 new soaps for summer

Here's a little showcase of my latest summer soaps that are currently on sale in my Folksy shop...

Zesty Lime and Pineapple: Luxury SLS-free glycerine soap, scented with an uplifting and zingy blend of lime and pineapple fragrance oils. This soap will give you a real energy boost!

Mathilda Faerie: 

Luxury SLS-free glycerine soap, scented with a cheery blend of juicy strawberries and creamy coconut fragrance oil with added moisturising shea butter. This is pure summer in a soap!

Bit of a story to this soap...I chose to name it after my daughter because when she was newborn, she smelled just like sweet strawberries to me :)

Cool Cucumber Mint: Luxury SLS-free glycerine soap, scented with a subtly sweet cucumber and cooling peppermint fragrance oil AND with added super-moisturising avocado oil. Perfect to use in the shower after a workout at the gym! This soap is very popular with the gents, but is also loved by the ladies!

Avocado oil is rich in plant steroids, which are reputed to reduce age spots, help heal sun damage and scars and also help to soften the skin.
It also helps to relieve the dryness and itching of psoriasis and eczema.

Watermelon Slice: Luxury SLS-free Watermelon slice glycerine soap, with added poppy seeds! Scented with a mouth-watering melon fragrance oil.

Refreshing Citrus Basil:  Luxury SLS-free vegetable glycerine soap with added moisturising shea butter, scented with a blend of clean fresh tangy citrus fruits and earthy green basil.

A great 'pick-me-up' soap to use in the shower!