Thursday, 14 June 2007

Ingredients



I thought you might like to know a little bit more about my soap. Real soap is always made from fats, oils and spring water mixed together with an alkali in exact proportions and at a carefully controlled temperature to start a one way reaction called saponification, this produces a really mild soap rich in natural vegetable glycerine. I use olive, palm and coconut oils for my base and often add other luxurious emollients such as cocoa and shea butters. I am lucky enough to have my own spring to provide the clear chlorine free water.
I use the "cold process" method which is very energy efficient, it's a bit of a misnomer really as the soap does heat up due to an exothermic reaction between the oils and the alkali, but what it really means is it's not boiled to within an inch of it's life like commercially produced soap.

I only use food grade oils of extremely high quality. My soaps are coloured with mainly organic herbs, spices and clays with the exception of the Rose Geranium which is coloured with ultramarine pink pigment. I don't add artificial hardeners, preservatives or salt as this is completely unnecesary in properly made soap.
I make 8.5kg blocks which are cut by hand into logs then individual bars, every batch has 165g of essential oils in them which is why handmade soap is more expensive than commercial soap or "melt and pour" which requires very little essential oil indeed perhaps only 15-30g per 8.5kg batch, most commercial soap is fragranced with artificial chemicals.
All of my soap is wrapped by hand in fairly traded petal paper finished with a crisp band which carries all the relevant information required by law.
I love making soap, it is my passion!!! I hope it shows in my product

Wednesday, 13 June 2007

Stockists




I have been asked to provide a list of my outlets, here goes...

Spirit of Colour Jewellery, Kirkharle.
Pebbles Art Cafe, Allendale.
New Horizons, Bellingham.
Percy House Gallery, Cockermouth.
The National Trust, Holy Island.
Pretty & Practical, St Georges Market, Belfast.
The Gates, Oswestry.
The National Trust, Wallington.
Michael House School Shop, Heanor, Derbyshire.
Northacomb Farm shop, Stocksfield.
Jaspah Crafts, Hexham.
Alston Wholefoods, Alston.
The National Trust, Petworth House.
Floors Castle Garden Centre, Kelso.
The Eco Box, Hants.
Artisan for unususal things, Teynham, Kent.
Poppies Gift Shop, Shrewsbury.
Lanehead Gallery, Ryton.
Be Admired, Crowthorne, Berks.
The National Trust, Cragside.
Gate Gallery, Alnwick.
City Library & Arts Centre, Sunderland.
Bonita, Harleston, Norfolk.
Natural Crystal Shop, Rothbury.
Bishops Gallery, Bishops Castle, Salop.
Dilly Dilly, Warkworth.
Quirky Women, Alton, Hampshire.
Newcastle Tourist Information Centre.
HL Gallery, Ingleton, North Yorkshire.
Davids Bookshop, Letchworth Garden City.
Grindon Farm B+B, Haydon Bridge.
Artisan Organics, Stourbridge.
Blanchland Post Office, Blanchland.
The National Trust, Seahouses.

Tuesday, 12 June 2007

New gift boxes













Here is our new gift box, it contains four of our best selling soaps nestled in a bed of sexy black paper, it proved very popular at the Home & Gift trade fair, looks like a best seller for christmas!

Gallery



Soapmaking area in the old "Game larder"




A block of Rose Geranium in the traditional wooden mould



Soap being cut by hand into logs





Soda Ash being planed off the logs





The wrapping area in the packing room




We used 99.9% recycled packaging.

Monday, 11 June 2007

Ebay shop



My ebay shop is now open http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Bellingham-Soap-Company for all my customers who don't have a stockist nearby, if you do not like buying from ebay why not ask your local gift shop to stock my products.

Our new address

Shankfoot Farmhouse
Plenmeller
Haltwhistle
NE49 0HX
01434 322066

Home and Gift, Harrogate

I will be exhibiting at the Home and Gift trade fair in Harrogate, 15th-18th July. Why not come and see my products, I am on stand 36 in the craft marquee. I love trade fairs, it's nice to talk to all of my existing customers and perhaps gain a few more. You can register online here http://www.homeandgift.co.uk

Well I have moved!


I am all nicely installed in my new workshop, the office is set up and the soapmaking room is underway. I have a lovely view of the South Tyne valley out of my window, very peaceful.
My shop is no longer open at the Kirkharle Courtyard but the soap is still available there at Lorna Speight's "Spirit of Colour" jewellery shop in the Stone Barn. http://www.spiritofcolourjewellery.co.uk/
I'm sorry to leave Kirkharle but the changing nature of my business meant that it was no longer time efficient for me to run a shop so I have become trade only.