GHA Trade Fair

I have just done my first trade fair, here in Sydney. The lead up to this four-day fair was exciting and somewhat daunting. The response to my products, especially the cup cake soaps, was very positive. I have met some wonderful people from all over Australia, even Japan. It is amazing the interesting business that people create and it was wonderful talking to the owners about their businesses. Look out for my products in gift and other stores as far away as WA and Tassie, over the next month or two. I have also received a number of enquiries from hotels, wedding bonbonierre and gift hamper businesses and look forward to working with them.

Bon Savon Soap

Some friends of mine, Gina and her sister Mary, have just launched their new soap business called Bon Savon. They have gorgeous essential oil soaps topped with flowers, citrus and shells that smell as good as they look. Here's cheers, wishing them all the best.

Photographing soap

After a very busy Christmas period, I have been re-photographing my soaps for the website, playing with light boxes and big sheets of white card to get great, shadow-free shots. This one has to be my favourite. It is of five floral soaps, from top to bottom: Gardenia, Orange Blossom, Lilac, Romantic Rose and Lavender Citrus.

Gorgeous Gift bags

I found these divine box/bags that look like handbags and knew that they were perfect for my Gift Packs

Heritage Rose Cupcake Soap

A client and I were discussing the possibility of making a Rose version of my soap, but I was unsure how to colour it without going overboard on pink. She had on her desk the most beautiful full blown roses - apricot with pink tips on the petals - I was inspired! The rose on my soap is also apricot with pink tips and the colours are followed through in the cake. With it's soft old fashioned look and scent, I have called it Heritage Rose.

Gardenia Soaps

Yesterday, was a beautiful Spring day and I had a very sucessful market. The favourite soaps of buyers seemed to be the Gardenia soaps, both the cupcake and bar soap varieties.

The cupcake version looks sophisticated with a melt and pour flower soap on top and an all-cream colour theme. The bar soap version is a swirl of green and white. The Gardenia fragrance is quite a strong scent, just like the heady scent of real gardenias. My own gardenia plants are starting to bud and I can't wait until my garden is filled with the same divine smell.

Blogged by the Soap-Queen

Wow, imagine my delight and surprise when I discovered that Anne-Marie of Brambleberry in the U.S. has posted about me and my cupcake soaps on her blog (see her Oct 5 post)

http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/2008/10/soaps-on-barbi.html

Brambleberry make the delicious smelling fragrances that I use for my cupcakes soap and Ann-Marie's blog is one of the soaping communities most popular. If you are into all things soap, you will love her blog.