Sunday Soaping!

Lemongrass Verbena

Jasmine & Green Tea

This does look grey and green but it's actually green and white! The lighting was really bad here, sorry! But still, fab photos too.

Jupiter Fruit

Jupiter Fruit... odd name I hear you say? Well, it wasn't it's original name but I changed it after feedback on Facebook when I showed some rough "just cut" pictures.  So many people said "it really reminds me of Jupiter" ... and, as it's fragranced with my own blend of dark blackberries, tangy tangerine and juicy yellow peach, what else could it be but Jupiter Fruit?!

This one went crazy on me and I almost had soap in a bucket ... it gelled almost before it got into the mould so it was a huge race to get the colours in and get everything in the mould to make sure it was a viable soap! But, I think, I managed it, again! Crazy fragrance oils, they can be such a challenge - but I love it when I win!!!

So here is Jupiter Fruit, enjoy!

This will be fully cured by 20 February and will be available online at http://www.iamhandmade.com so make sure to drop in and check us out.

Cherry Blossom & Kismet

I managed to get into the kitchen for long enough yesterday evening to cut the two loaves of soap you will have seen in the last video ... and then I made a video about them! So here are Cherry Blossom (a floral bouquet of cherry blossom, regal iris, jasmine, rose, lily of the valley & soft freesia on a base of musk & deep amber) coloured with pale pink, pale green and white and Kismet (a blend of patchouli, orange, lemongrass, lavendin, pine, gardenia, sandalwood and musk).

If you watched my other videos, you'll know I was worried that Kismet would be full of mega air holes as the soap set up so quickly on me - this one's a mover (and I didn't use any water discount or anything, full water, cool temperatures etc), but it worked out really well .. a couple of air holes here and there, but hey, don't they help the soap to breathe right?

For the cherry blossom, I wanted to make something that reminded me of my Mother ... not old fashioned or anything but as cherry blossoms were her favourite tree, I just wanted to make something that brought me the feelings I have when I remember her.. hope that doesn't sound to sappy!

Anyway, enough writing... here is the new video.. enjoy!



If you can't view the video directly here, the direct link is http://youtu.be/42Z5psWn2t4. 

Incredible Review

Firstly, I, yet again, have to apologise for my absence on the blog.  The Christmas season is so incredibly busy and I'm working very late every night for the last few weeks just making, making, making, labelling, wrapping, boxing, posting, making ... well, you know how it is.  


I'm SO not complaining, I'm really chuffed that people want to purchase my products, it really just makes me so happy.

I received this incredible review on my site and I just wanted to show it to you... I was so chuffed and rather blushing to say the least.


"Celine has totally restored my faith in handmade because she is a total perfectionist...no where else will you get the whole package...I love Celine's Double Whipped Body Butter, have loved Pink Grapefruit and Pomegranate is amazing!! One thing I would like to make clear is I have psoriasis and using Celine's body butter along with her fab soaps really do soothe my skin in a way coal tar and other dangerous lotions and injections I use never did! Her beautiful marbled soaps come in the most beautiful packaging and make affordable luxury gifts. It's a joy to receive an I am Handmade order cos even the packaging is so beautiful you don't want to open it!! No order is too small and Celine is happy to source your fav oils and make bespoke items just for you!!! Thanks Celine xxx"


But I have to say, No, Thank YOU Cathy and thank you to everyone who's bought my soaps, scrubs, body butter and lip butters.  I wouldn't be here without you.  

I've been a little busy this weekend making videos!

I've been a little busy this weekend making videos .. I've not made one in a while and just felt like showing people how I made my soaps.  I got a great response from the making of Adam & Eve video that I did another two today, both cutting soaps ... Black Raspberry Vanilla and the Adam & Eve shown in the previous video. 

So, here you go, for your viewing pleasure, two new videos:

Cutting Black Raspberry Vanilla:



Cutting Adam & Eve: 



Hope you enjoy!!!

New Video - The Making of a Soap

Well, I've run out of a few of my most popular soaps so have been working too get them made and cured before people start shouting at me!

Last night, I did a remake of our very popular Adam & Eve soap, a black and white, Vanilla Anise fragranced soap (this is a DIVINE fragrance) and Titch and I decided to video the whole process. 

There are a few technical issues in the video... for one, the video was in 3 parts originally, the first part was silent for some reason (I have no idea why I didn't speak), but I managed to get them all together.  Then I left a spoon in one of my jugs and promptly poured a ton of soap on it (d'oh!) and then the video cut off again. 

But, no matter, it's a good video (I think) so I wanted to show it to you.  I'm embedding the video itself but I think that doesn't show up on the email subscription so I'm including the link too.

Enjoy!!

http://youtu.be/fpTwxwK849k

Laundry Day - Cut Pictures

Well, you've seen the picture and small video of the making of this, the cutting video and now, here are the cut pictures.  This is the most photographed soap I've ever made... a total movie star!

Laundry Day - a clean, fresh, comforting fragrance that reminds me of freshly washed laundry blowing in a summer's breeze or the fragrance when you snuggle up into a freshly changed bed.  I love it, it's soft and clean and just wonderful.

Hope you like the pics!

If you're interested in pre-ordering one of these, just drop me a line at info@soaperstar.com - they'll be fully cured by 5 October. 

All images copyright @ Soaperstar and Taken By Titch, 2011.