Gracefruit.com - Making Soap, Living Well

Catching Up!

2011-11-28T17:55:00.003Z

We've been busy at Gracefruit these past few weeks as our customers prepare for their Christmas rush. Rob the guru has found time to set up a lovely Facebook page for us.

Gracefruit Limited on Facebook

Please have a look if you get a moment!

A Year!

2011-09-10T09:47:00.003+01:00

Could it really be a year since I've updated? On one level, it's surprising that so much time has passed, but I've been busy - and being busy makes time fly.

Gracefruit has really grown over the last few months, and I've opened a new little shop selling hard-to-find items for baking and sweets-making. It's called Jellybee, and we have a fantastic selection of flavour oils for cooking and baking.

Home life has been busy, too, with the addition of two new family members. Meet Magnus:

And Teddy:

When I'm not working, I'm usually out walking with these two!

EcoWrap Paper -- Now in Stock!

2010-09-03T10:57:00.002+01:00

Our EcoWrap paper is the economical and environmentally-friendly way to package your handmade soaps. Each sheet of greaseproof EcoWrap is made of recycled paper, and is free from petrochemicals. The sheets completely biodegradable, and come pre-printed with the words ‘handmade soap’. EcoWrap is breathable and allows the scent of your soaps to be enjoyed without having to unwrap them.

EcoWrap is available in two sizes and can easily to be cut to fit any size bar of handmade soap. Pack size = 50 sheets.

Regular - 200mm x 250mm

Large - 250mm x 405mm

Winner!

2010-08-09T10:59:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to Henrike Siegert! You've won the gift certificate. I'll send it over to you by email today.

Free Gift Certificate!

2010-08-06T11:15:00.001+01:00

All orders placed between now and Sunday, August 8th at 11.59pm BST will be entered into a drawing for a free £25 Gracefruit Ltd gift certificate. We'll announce the winner on Monday morning.

New Lip Balm Pots

2010-07-16T14:12:00.000+01:00

We are delighted to announce the arrival of our new 6ml lip balm pots. Lid colour choices include black, blue, natural, pink, red, white, and yellow. Available early next week!

Clamshell Moulds are Here!

2010-07-07T14:55:00.001+01:00

Our gorgeous new clamshell moulds are now in stock! Made from recycled plastic, they're the perfect way to mould and package your melt & pour soaps, wax tarts, and travel soaps. There are four styles from which to choose.

Fragrance Clearance!

2010-07-05T11:33:00.000+01:00

We're making room for new fragrances. Save up to 30% on our clearance fragrances while supplies last.

Summer Sale -- This Weekend Only!

2010-07-02T11:15:00.003+01:00

We're having a huge 15% off sale on all orders over £100 at Gracefruit Ltd! There is no discount code and all orders over £100 will be discounted at check out.

The sale begins today, Friday July 2nd and ends at 6pm BST on Sunday July 4th.

Happy Shopping!

Gracefruit's Summer Florals Collection is Here!

2010-06-11T10:41:00.002+01:00

Gracefruit’s Summer Florals Collection is here! Our ten new fragrance oils are all tried, tested, and gorgeous! Each new fragrance is intensely feminine and full of summer sunshine. Choose from Cherry Blossom, Cut Grass, Gardenia, Jasmine, Magnolia, Orange Blossom, Pink Pepper, Sweet Pea, Violet, and Wildflowers.

Coffee Butter & Organics

2010-06-04T18:47:00.002+01:00

We have a limited quantity of gorgeous coffee butter. Our coffee butter has a rich, roasted coffee scent. Coffee butter is commonly used in anti-cellulite treatments, but it's also wonderful in creams, lotions, body butters, and especially lip balms.

Also, please check out our growing range of organic ingredients. We've added organic shea butter (refined and unrefined), unrefined avocado oil, castor oil, virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and sunflower oil.

New Zip Pouches at Gracefruit Ltd

2010-05-29T13:57:00.002+01:00

We have several new stand-up zipper pouches for your salts, scrubs, potpourris, and butters. Choose from our 500ml black windowed pouch, 500ml silver windowed pouch, 200ml silver/transparent pouch, and our 200ml black/transparent pouch. Also, our popular 250ml kraft zipper pouch is back in stock. All of our zipper pouches have a double reinforced zipper mechanism and are suitable for food as well as bath and body products.

We also have a limited supply of gorgeous, creamy macadamia butter available in the Special Offers section.

Olive Butter & Lip Balm Tubes

2010-05-22T10:23:00.008+01:00

We have a limited quantity of luxurious olive butter available in our Special Offers section. Our olive butter is high in oleic acid and vitamin E, and it can help to add hardness to Castile soaps. Also great as a massage butter.

We also have new lip balm tubes. These cute little natural twist up tubes are great for showing off your lip balms, cuticle sticks, and solid balms. Each tube stands approximately 67mm tall and will hold about 4.5ml of product.

Free Gift Certificates!

2010-05-14T16:34:00.006+01:00

Between now and May 23rd, we're giving away free gift certificates. You read that right -- free! With every paid order totaling £100 (excluding VAT and shipping) or more we'll include a free £10 Gracefruit Ltd gift certificate!

New Products @ Gracefruit Limited

2010-05-11T17:33:00.000+01:00

We have some super new items this month. For those who like to make scrubby soaps and body treats, we have several new seeds. Choose from raspberry, cranberry, and camelina seeds. We also have some fabulous unrefined cocoa butter with a lush chocolate scent.

Soapmakers might like to try our hi-oleic safflower oil.

Also, all fragrances are back in stock!

Sale!

2010-04-23T13:19:00.004+01:00

We're having a massive 20% off sale at Gracefruit Limited between now and Tuesday, April 27th at 8pm. The discount applies to all orders over £75 and does not require the use of a code. The 20% will automatically be deducted upon checkout.

We also have two lovely new oils for you...

Grapeseed Oil – Light, clear grapeseed oil contains vitamins E & C, as well as beta-carotene. Great as a carrier oil and perfect for all skin types.

Meadowfoam Oil -- extracted from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant, this stable oil is packed with vitamin E. Meadowfoam is quickly absorbed by the skin without feeling heavy or greasy. Perfect for all skin and hair care applications.

Happy shopping! :)

Blog Reader Discount

2010-03-26T19:34:00.006Z

I'd like to thank all of our lovely Gracefruit blog readers with a special discount promotion. Between now and March 31st, you can use the code 'bloggy' to take £10 off any order over £50 (excluding VAT and shipping).

This offer begins today, March 26th and ends at 8pm BST on Wednesday, March 31st. To receive the discount, enter the code 'bloggy' (all lower case letters) in the 'discount coupon code' box and then click the 'apply' link upon checkout.

Please note that orders received without the discount code applied can not be amended. Adding the code to the comments box will not apply the discount.

Happy shopping!

Soapmaking Course in Scotland!

2010-03-23T16:27:00.004Z

My friend Sarah of The Soap School will be travelling to Glasgow in June to teach three soapmaking courses.

- Saturday 5th June - Traditional Cold Process Soap Making 10.00a.m – 4.00p.m £99

- Saturday 5th June - Compliance & Labelling Course 4.30p.m – 7p.m £50

- Sunday 6th June - Making Natural Liquid & Cream Soaps 10.00a.m. – 4.00p.m £99

The centrally-located venue is in the beautiful West End of Glasgow at the Argyll Hotel. The hotel has a sister guest house opposite offering rooms from only £35 -- great for anyone coming for the full weekend. Please contact the Argyll Hotel directly regarding accommodation.

Full details of the Scottish soap courses can be found at Sarah's website. Or you can ring Sarah between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m on 01484 310014 or email sarah.janes3@ntlworld.com any time.

Spaces are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.

Congratulations Gartenzwerg!

2010-03-17T20:04:00.005Z

From Randomizer:

1 Set of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 19 -- Unsorted
Job Status:
Set #1:
11

Congratulations, Andrea! You've won the £25 gift certificate. Please drop me an email so I can send it to you.

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful moving advice. Music was played, cups of tea were consumed, and lots of lovely fragrance oils were sniffed. I'm happy to report that we're safely in our new warehouse and nearly organised. We'll start shipping orders again on Monday.

Closing Reminder/Giveaway

2010-03-10T08:22:00.003Z

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we'll be closed from Monday, March 15 until Friday, March 19 inclusive. We'll begin processing orders when we return on Monday, March 22.

Sadly, we're not on holiday but are moving -- AGAIN! Hopefully for the last time, too. :) As you know, moving is stressful, and I'm looking for ways to keep myself and the Gracefruit team calm. I have a £25 gift certificate for a random commenter.

Please leave a comment telling me how you'd cope with the the stress and bother of moving. All comments will be entered into a drawing for the gift certificate. I'll pick a name 'out of the hat' on Wednesday, March 17th at 8pm GMT.

Good luck! :)

Thank you, Ulrike!

2010-02-18T16:26:00.003Z

Today I received the most beautiful parcel from the lovely Ulrike -- a box of chocolatey goodness! There are two yummy candles, a gorgeous lip balm made with coffee butter (my favourite), a pretty chocolate soap, and a bar of white chocolate with apricots and raspberries. My winter blues are cured!

Birthday Party (slightly belated)

2010-02-13T10:20:00.006Z

Happy Birthday to us! I can't believe Gracefruit.com is four years old. We've come a long way, thanks to our wonderful customers.

We're having a little party to celebrate. No goody bags, but I do have a £10 voucher for any order over £50 (excluding VAT and shipping). Just use the code BIRTHDAY4 at checkout. The offer ends on Monday, February 15th at 10:00am GMT.

Winner!

2010-02-05T14:36:00.002Z

From Randomizer:
1 Set of 1 Unique Numbers Per Set
Range: From 1 to 23 -- Unsorted
Job Status:
Set #1:
6

Congratulations Ulrike! You've won the £25 gift certificate. :)

And thank you to everyone else who left wonderful advice on how to beat the winter blues.

The big news, if you haven't guessed, is our shiny new website which went live today. I'd like to thank Rob and the team at Cyberzia for the wonderful job they did on the site. It's gorgeous and I'm well pleased.

I still have a few more tweaks to do before sending out the newsletter. There will be a gift for every reader this time. :)

Elizabeth x

One more day...

2010-02-03T18:52:00.004Z

One more day until the big reveal. Nearly there!

But for now, how about a giveaway? :) I have a £25 gracefruit.com gift certificate available to a random commenter.

I've been suffering a bit of winter blues this year (it's been a hard winter here) and could use some uplifting advice. How do you shake off the blahs of cold winter months?

Please leave a comment telling me how you cope with the long, cold darkness. All comments will be entered into a drawing for the gift certificate. I'll pick a name 'out of the hat' on Friday February 5th at noon.

Good luck!

Excitement!

2010-01-30T13:04:00.002Z

Exciting news coming Monday or Tuesday -- or possibly Wednesday, depending on how much work I can get done between now and then. :)

Happy Burns Night!

2010-01-25T08:50:00.003Z

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.

Whew!

2010-01-21T20:41:00.004Z

I'm happy to report the bitter cold and snow have moved on for now. It's been almost springlike the past two days. I even saw a crocus beginning to push up through the ground outside my son's school on Friday. I don't think I've ever been so glad to see a plant. After a horrible winter, an early spring would be quite welcome.

Better weather means a more motivated me, and I've added a lot of lovely new items to the Gracefruit website. There are four gorgeous new micas in purple, emerald, orange, and copper; a delicious new allergen-free hazelnut flavour oil; and some darling little glass dropper bottles which are perfect for packaging serums, facial oils, and lip treatments.

Well, that's a start

2010-01-15T15:53:00.004Z

2010 has begun with a bang -- a seriously loud one. It started with some of the worst weather seen in the UK in over 30 years -- airports closed, roads impassable, and scarily cold temperatures. When the thaw finally began, so did the burst pipes. We had two in as many days.

The first was in the cellar at my house. I happened to hear it pop and was able to get the water switched off quickly. I wasn't so lucky with the pipe that burst at the warehouse. It was completely flooded! Luckily, nothing was damaged as we keep everything on shelves there. Cleaning up was not a lot of fun, especially while trying to get orders out. Eep! But I'm happy to report everything is spic and span, and considering how bad things could have been, we got very lucky.

Still, I have to moan a little. :) And would gratefully accept any spare sympathy.

Happy New Year from Gracefruit.com

2009-12-31T12:39:00.003Z

Happy New Year! We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our customers a healthy and prosperous 2010. We’ll be back at work on the 5th of January and will start shipping orders that day. If you’ve placed an order over the holiday break, it will be despatched by Friday, January 8th at the latest.

As of January 1st, 2010, the VAT rate for the UK will increase from 15% to 17.5%. We will be implementing this change in the early hours of the 1st, so the web site may not be available for a few hours then. We should be up and running again by 6am on the 1st. Orders placed and paid before 01.01.10 will not be subject to the VAT increase.

New Products:

Black Mica
Our lip-safe micas are a wonderful way to add colour, sheen, and sparkle to your soaps, lip balms, lotions, creams, and mineral make up. Our Black Mica adds a black tone and sheen to products.

Bright Gold Mica
Our Bright Gold Mica adds a bright gold tone and sheen to products.

Thank you for all of the mica colour suggestions! There are more new colours on the way.

Lip Balm Flavours
We’ve added a lot of new lip balm flavour oils to the website. Choose from Bubblegum, Cheesecake, Fruit Fizz, Ginger, Green Tea, Plum, Pomegranate, Toffee, Vanilla Cream, and White Chocolate. Now in two sections for easier browsing:
Flavour Oils A-M
Flavour Oils N-Z

Wishing everyone a prosperous start to the New Year.
Kind regards,
Elizabeth & The Gracefruit.com Team

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-24T12:35:00.000Z

Just a Reminder...

2009-12-12T22:32:00.002Z

Our last shipping date before the Christmas holiday is Thursday, December 17th. To qualify for this shipping date, your order must be received by 6pm BST Wednesday, December 16th. Orders received after Wednesday, December 16th will be processed when we return on Tuesday, January 5th.

Voucher Codes!

2009-12-07T16:04:00.001Z

If you're in the UK and looking for Christmas deals, check out this list of voucher codes. I'm off to shop now. :)

Tins and Micas!

2009-12-01T22:14:00.004Z

I'm delighted to report that I have taken delivery of some beautiful new mica powders. There are seven new shades from which to choose, and more will be arriving shortly. These micas are lip-safe which means they're perfect for lip balms, soaps, bath bombs, and mineral makeup. Please keep the colour suggestions coming!

We also have some cute retro-styled lip balm tins. These rectangular slide tins are a great way to package lip balm and solid perfumes. So cute!

New Stuff at Gracefruit.com

2009-11-20T17:22:00.005Z

We have been super busy shipping orders, but I've still managed to find time to add a few new items to the website.

We have new lip balm and mineral make-up packaging in the form of these cute little 6ml jars and these beautiful 8ml stacking jars.

We also have lovely citrusy lip balm flavour oils. Choose from citrus delight, key lime pie, and orange. Yum!

Lastly, I've just taken delivery of lots of new labels for packaging. We have 25mm rounds, 49mm rounds, 64mm rounds, and some really cute 40mm x 30mm ovals. I've also restructured the pricing for all of our labels. Some pack sizes are now up to 60% less!

Dairy Powders at Gracefruit.com

2009-11-06T15:38:00.004Z

I've been able to negotiate a better price on our buttermilk and yoghurt powders, so I've reduced the price of both. Some of the smaller sizes are 60% less! I'm also offering a new 5kg pack size for even bigger savings. I hope to be able to offer reductions on goat's milk powder and sheep's milk powder soon.

Thanks to everyone who has taken time to give me feedback on the mica colours. I've compiled a list of the most asked-for shades and will have them in stock within the next couple of weeks. Please keep the suggestions coming!

A wee makeover

2009-11-05T16:47:00.003Z

My daughter is quite the artist! And the cartoon in my new banner is her interpretation of me popping soap bubbles. Thank you, H!

Today we tested several new micas. Why didn't anyone ever tell me how much fun they are? We made lipstick and two eyeshadows, and now I'm keen to try mineral makeup. Of course, I'll get tips from my friend Sally. She's an expert on the subject.

Lip Balm Colours are Here!

2009-11-01T12:06:00.003Z

Our oil-soluble, lip-safe lip balm colours are a wonderful way to colour your lip balm and other anhydrous products. Our basic colour palette allows you to blend the perfect shade for your products. The matt colours may be enhanced with mica to add sparkle, shimmer, and sheen.

And speaking of micas, we have a new range of lip-safe mica powders. We'll be expanding our range over the coming weeks and would love feedback and colour suggestions.

Moved -- Again!

2009-10-30T19:58:00.004Z

We've moved into our new premises and have managed to organise everything. And of course, more room means more new items! I've been busy testing lip balm colours and some very pretty micas, and they'll be added to the Gracefruit.com website over the next few days.

I've also taken delivery of some Special Offer products! We have macadamia butter, olive butter, and spearmint essential oil.

Luxury Lip Balm with Olive Oil

2009-10-17T10:26:00.004+01:00

Since giving up my soap business back in January, I rarely make cosmetics any more (unless I'm testing fragrances in soap), so last weekend my daughter and I decided to make lip balms. I had some new colourants I'd been meaning to try, so it was the perfect opportunity to get started on items for our Christmas hampers. This year friends and family are getting lots of handmade bath and body products.

I usually use castor oil in my lip balms because I love the feel of it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I discovered there was none in the house. I decided to look at the ingredients I had to hand and come up with an entirely new recipe -- and the result is the nicest lip balm I've ever made.

Some of the ingredients are a bit exotic (I get samples of lovely oils and butters frequently), so I'll give easy-to-find alternatives that will work just as well. The main ingredient in this lip balm is olive oil which neither expensive nor hard to find.

Gracefruit's Best-Ever Lip Balm

30% Olive Oil (use a good virgin olive oil here, not pomace)
22% Beeswax
15% Cocoa Butter
10% Mango Butter (you can use shea butter or avocado butter)
10% Macadamia Butter (or olive, sunflower or almond butter)
9% Avocado Oil (any oil will work -- sweet almond, apricot kernel, etc)
2% Vitamin E*
1% Squalane*
1% flavour oil or essential oil (peppermint essential oil is lovely)

In a pyrex or microwave-safe container, melt the beeswax with the olive oil. I do this is 2 minute intervals to avoid anything boiling over or burning. Once the beeswax has melted, add the butters and stir until they've melted, too. They may melt rather slowly, but it's important to add the butters this way so that your lip balm doesn't become grainy later.

Once the butters have melted, add the rest of the ingredients and stir well. Once everything is incorporated, your balm is ready to go into the containers. I've designed this balm to be firm enough for lip balm tubes. I wouldn't recommend tins or pots as the balm will be fairly hard.

I added a speck of colour to these, but it isn't necessary. They are just as lovely without.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. I've made a lot of lip balms in my time, and this is by far the best.

*if you don't have these, just increase the amount of your oils a little to keep the oil/wax/butter ratio correct.

Landing View

2009-10-16T17:17:00.003+01:00

I love the view from the landing this time of year. The light takes on a really beautiful golden glow, and the trees haven't yet gone bare.

Sometimes there are horses and sheep in the field just beyond.

New Fragrances at Gracefruit.com

2009-10-15T20:30:00.003+01:00

I am thrilled to announce that we have four fantastic new fragrances oils:

Banana -- A rich, sweet ripe banana fragrance. This is the most realistic banana we’ve ever tried! Don’t judge this one out of bottle. It needs to be soaped to be believed.

Linden Blossom -- A fresh vintage floral fragrance composed of crisp green notes resting upon a floral heart of hyacinth, rose, lily of the valley and a touch of carnation.

Dill & Green Tea -- A cool, masculine fragrance where green celery, cool breezy ozone and refreshing citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon rest upon a sophisticated, masculine heart of green herbal notes, lavender and lily of the valley. The base is composed of a subtle woody effect twisted with earthy patchouli, moss, amber and musk.

And the most exciting of all...

Double Cream – I’ve searched for a fragrance that could compare to Lush’s American Cream, and finally found it. Top notes of buttery honey lead to a heart of vanilla, coconut, and caramel. The base is walnut, soft woods, amber, musk and tonka.

News & Press Releases at the European Directory of Soap and Cosmetics Makers

2009-10-12T21:39:00.003+01:00

Do you have a new product, service, or event you’d like to promote?

The European Directory of Soap and Cosmetics Makers is now accepting news articles and press releases from our members. Let us help get you noticed by professional media, bloggers, search engines, and customers with our SEO-friendly syndication service. It’s free to all of our members. You can submit your ready text and images to us at sale[at]soapmakers.eu.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Flavour Oils at Gracefruit.com

2009-10-10T21:13:00.002+01:00

I've just taken delivery of fourteen fanstastic new flavour oils for lip balms. Choose from Amaretto, Apple, Chilli, Chocolate, Coconut, Coffee, Honey, Irish Cream, Mixed Berries, Spiced Chai Tea, Strawberry, Tiramisu, Vanilla, and Violet. Our Chocolate, Coconut, Honey, and Strawberry flavour oils are allergen free!

We'll have more flavours soon.

Elspeth Delivers!

2009-10-03T15:13:00.001+01:00

They were all out free ranging today when Elspeth went into the 'big girl' hen house. I found her in the nest box and thought she might be napping. Turns out, she was laying her first egg. Go Elspeth!

News & New Products at Gracefruit.com

2009-09-29T18:39:00.002+01:00

We've added a couple of new products this week:

Peach Kernel Oil
A light oil which easily penetrates the skin. High in vitamin E and wonderful in creams, lotions, serums, and lip care products.

&

Natural Vitamin E
Our 100% natural vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant containing a mixture of alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherols. Great in all skin and hair care products.

And a bit of news: my lovely husband Paul has joined Gracefruit.com. He’s taking over a lot of the administration duties, and you may receive email replies from him. Please join me in welcoming Paul to the Gracefruit.com team! He can be reached at customercare(at)gracefruit.com.

Just a reminder: Please come and join us at the European Directory of Soap and Cosmetic Makers! It’s free! A free basic listing includes a web link, an email link, a company description, and one photograph or image to represent your business or products. The premium listing allows you to better showcase your products by giving you three additional photographs for a one-time cost of just £15.

Introducing...

2009-09-19T15:56:00.003+01:00

Gabi

And Elspeth

Gabi and Elspeth are Scots Dumpies - one of the rarest breeds in the UK. Scots Dumpies originated in the Highlands and were thought to be extinct by the mid 1970s. Luckily, someone found a flock of these amazing birds in Zimbabwe and the breed is making a comeback.

They're really cute hens with short little legs. Gabi is a black variety with a beautiful green sheen to her feathers. Elspeth is a cuckoo. Both should lay a tinted cream-coloured egg.

They're already the best of friends, too!

The Directory is Live!

2009-09-18T13:34:00.003+01:00

The title says it all. Well, nearly. There isn't enough room to thank everyone who's signed up. So thank you! And thank you to Rob at Cyberzia for reading my mind and making my thoughts a reality. Also, thank you Gabi for being a great sounding board, and for helping me with the banners.

If you've not joined the Directory, you can sign up at the Joining Page.

Thanks again, everyone!

Free Premium Listing Reminder

2009-09-17T08:52:00.002+01:00

Just a quick reminder that the offer for a free premium listing at the European Directory of Soap & Cosmetics Makers ends tomorrow. If you'd like a listing, please sign up by 10:00am BST. I'll be officially launching the site tomorrow at noon, and I'd like to have all of the listings completed by then.

Thanks to everyone who has signed up so far!

Crinkle Cutters at Gracefruit.com

2009-09-15T15:37:00.004+01:00

I've just taken delivery of some fantastic wavy soap cutters. These sturdy stainless steel-blade soap cutters are the perfect way to give your soaps a decorative edge. With an easy-to-grip plastic handle and a cutting range of 140mm x 115mm, this cutter will neatly cut soap loaves into wavy-sided bars. Each cutter comes with a plastic blade guard to protect you and the blade when the cutter is not in use.

Supplies are limited, and at just £8.99, they're bound to sell fast. You'll find them in our Special Offers section.

The European Directory of Soap and Cosmetics Makers

2009-09-12T12:07:00.004+01:00

I am pleased to announce the near-launch of my newest project – The European Directory of Soap and Cosmetics Makers. The idea of a directory specifically for European soap makers has been rolling around in my head for nearly a year, and I’m excited to see it become a reality.

The aim of the directory is simple: To bring artisans and clients together. I’ll be marketing it to shops, magazines, boutiques, beauty bloggers – basically anyone who has an interest in handmade soaps, cosmetics, candles, home fragrance, skin care, hair care, and bath & body products. My goal is to have it become the premier meeting point for sellers and buyers.

For those interested in buying or featuring handmade soap and cosmetics, we’ve made sourcing what you want easy! You can browse by country or category and then contact the artisans directly about their products and services.

For sellers of handmade soap and cosmetics, the site could not be easier to use. Simply go to the joining page and sign up for a basic listing. It’s free! And it comes with a web link, an email link, a company description, and one photograph or image to represent your business or products. The premium listing allows you to better showcase your products by giving you three additional photographs for a one-time cost of just £15.

I’d like to offer a free premium listing to anyone who joins the directory by September 18th, 2009 when the site officially goes live. Just go to our joining page and sign up! Please make sure your photo is 180 x 180. Once your listing is active, I’ll contact you about the additional photographs for the premium listing. And be sure to pop over to the membership logos page to pick up your membership banner.

Beautiful Blue

2009-09-04T18:50:00.002+01:00

I've just taken delivery of a limited number of some gorgeous new packaging.

These white 150ml polypropylene airless pumps are the perfect way to package your lotions, creams, and gels. Airless technology means your products are cleanly and hygienically dispensed. Great for air and oxygen-sensitive products, and exceptionally user-friendly. Each unit comes with a cylinder, pump, and a beautiful blue dust cap.

They can be found in our Special Offers section. Supplies are limited, and we won't be adding them to our regular line, so please stock up!

Polysorbate 80 (and 20, too!)

2009-08-30T18:48:00.004+01:00

I'm happy to report that after a somewhat long absence, Polysorbate 80 is back in stock. So as not to run short again, I've bought in a ton (quite literally!) and can now offer a price reduction. Both our Polysorbate 80 and Polysorbate 20 are now just £6.99 per litre!

If you haven't signed up for our newsletter, please take this opportunity to join our mailing list. We have a fantastic offer going out tomorrow -- and some very exciting news being announced next week!

Tottles! So Cute!

2009-08-25T16:17:00.003+01:00

These darling little 25ml tottles are wonderful for packaging your speciality creams – perfect when you only need to sell a small quantity. Use them for eye creams, lip treatments, and travel-size lotions and shampoos. The base/dispenser is made of sturdy polypropylene, and the containers are HDPE.

These lovely new items are available from Gracefruit.com from Tuesday, August 25th.

Lush in The Independent

2009-08-17T16:42:00.004+01:00

photo credit Richard Cannon

There is a really interesting article about Mark Constantine (the founder of Lush) in today's issue of The Independent.

New CP Soap Colours at Gracefruit.com

2009-08-13T14:23:00.002+01:00

I'm delighted to announce three new gorgeous shades of Gracefruit CP Soap Colours.

Denim -- a lovely faded, washed blue.

Apple -- A true Granny-Smith green.

Plum -- Pinky-purple and very pretty.

Saponifier's Raves for Faves

2009-08-12T20:14:00.003+01:00

From Saponifier's Beth Byrne...

Here we are again, collecting data for the Saponifier’s 3rd annual “Raves for Faves” article. So many of you participated in this survey in the past, and I hope you’ll do it again, or complete it for the first time.

The companies that are listed, consist of last year’s winners. We’ve also included a ‘other’ open option that you can use to nominate your choice of any supplier for each category.

The first year, all of the questions were open-ended, and the votes were tallied to find the most popular, 2nd, and 3rd, and so on. Last year, in order to make the tallying less laborious, we listed the three top companies voted upon the year before, and included a blank space for another supplier. We did the same this year.

Thus, it’s not that we are arbitrarily selecting companies to vote on - that’s how the votes came in.

CAST YOUR VOTE! http://saponifier.2009-awards.sgizmo.com

Thank you ahead of time for your willingness to help out. Your time and attention is great appreciated by me and by your fellow artisans.

Please note: The Survey closes August 27th.

Optiphen at Gracefruit.com

2009-08-11T13:38:00.003+01:00

I am delighted to announce that we are now selling Optiphen!

Optiphen is a globally-approved, paraben-free, and formaldehyde-free liquid preservative system which consists of Phenoxyethanol in an emollient base of Caprylyl Glycol. The combination of these ingredients provides optimized protection against microbial growth while imparting exceptional feel to the finished product.

Along with providing broad spectrum preservation against bacteria, yeast and mold, the presence of caprylyl glycol imparts an exceptional feel to the finished formulation making it useful in creams, lotions, sunscreens, color cosmetics, body washes, and shampoo applications.

It can be added directly to your formulation, either before or after emulsification -- at or below 60°C (140°F). Optiphen has no pH restrictions and is compatible with most raw materials. Recommended use levels: 0.5 - 1.5%.

Massive Clearance @ Gracefruit.com

2009-08-08T09:45:00.002+01:00

We're clearing out lots of vegetable and seed oils, organic infusions, and fruit powder to make room for some exciting new products! We've marked down these clearance items by 35%.

Choose from:

Black Seed Oil
Brazil Nut Oil
Chamomile Infusion
Comfrey Leaf Infusion
Cranberry Seed Oil
Eyebright Infusion
Grapefruit Seed Oil
Moringa Oil
Papaya Seed Oil
Passion Flower Oil
Poppy Seed Oil
St Johns Wort Infusion
Strawberry Seed Oil
Tomato Powder

Once these items are gone, they're gone for good, so please stock up while supplies last!

New Fragrances & a Free Gift!

2009-08-02T15:01:00.003+01:00

I am excited to bring you two new gorgeous fragrance oils inspired by the lovely Saara :

Birch Leaves is a refreshing, woody fragrance with notes, birch, pine, and fir with floral notes of jasmine on a base of amber, patchouli, olibanum and musk. It's the scent of a proper Scandinavian sauna.

Twinflower is a warm, sweet woody floral fragrance combining almond with a multitude of fresh florals, sandalwood and musk. Like a walk in the great Northern forests.

Free Gift!

We're offering a free soap trimmer/cutter with every order totalling £50 (excluding VAT and shipping) or more. These handy little trimmers create a wavy edge and are a great way to add a decorative touch to your soap bars. This offer is available until August 14th. No discount code needed!

New Allergen-Free Fragrances at Gracefruit.com

2009-07-10T05:49:00.002+01:00

We have eight gorgeous new allergen-free fragrance oils here at Gracefruit.com. Our allergen-free fragrance oils do not contain any of the 26 potential allergens outlined in the seventh amendment of the EU cosmetics directive. Choose from:

Apple & Walnut
A clean, crisp apple scent with notes of warm, rich walnuts on a base of musk

Carnation
A flowery, spicy fragrance reminiscent of carnation with a hint of rose and ylang.

Peach
A fruity, floral peach fragrance with hints of orange and apple mixed with delicate floral notes.

Peppercorn
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.

Soapy Clean
A fresh, clean fragrance with floral top notes supported by a herbal, floral body on a woody, musky and powdery base.

Spellbound
A spicy, powdery fragrance enhanced with notes of ylang, a hint of jasmine, rose and patchouli supported by tonka, spices, musks and woods.

Tea Rose
A vivacious, elegant floral fragrance where top notes of sparkling cassis, bergamot and lemon uplift a full blooming heart of rose otto, softened by sweet violet. The soothing base is composed of soft woods, amber and musk, sweetened by a whisper of vanilla.

White Tea
A fresh, fruity floral fragrance opening with tea, mandarin and lush green notes supported by a heart of rose, peach and lily of the valley resting on a delicate base of dry fruits and flowers.

Our new allergen-free fragrance oils are available from July 10th!

Cosmetic Tips from Petra at Kosmetikmacherei

2009-07-04T11:19:00.001+01:00

Petra shares tips for making pressed powders. There are also clips on how to make your own cosmetic pencils, lipstick, and mixed pigments. The videos are in German, but very easy to understand, as Petra is a natural teacher.

To see all of her videos, just type 'Kosmetikmacherei' in the search box at You Tube. Enjoy!

New Products at Gracefruit.com

2009-06-24T14:00:00.003+01:00

I'm delighted to announce the addition of some exciting new products at Gracefruit.com. We now have:

Hemp Wax
This hard wax has a melting point of 67C and is wonderful substitute for beeswax in your vegan products. Great in lip balms, lotion bars, and body butters. Hemp wax is also particularly useful in lip care products.

Rice Bran Wax
A very hard wax with a melting point of 70C. High in palmitic acid, this wax makes a fantastic addition to soaps when added at just 10%. Rice bran wax is great alternative for those trying to avoid palm oil

100ml Airless Dispensers
Our white 100ml polypropylene airless pumps are the perfect way to package your lotions, creams, and gels. Airless technology means your products are cleanly and hygienically dispensed. Great for air and oxygen-sensitive products, and exceptionally user-friendly. Each unit comes with a cylinder, pump, and clear dust cap.

150ml Tottles
These beautiful 150ml tottles are perfect for packaging lotions, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, and shower gels. The base/dispenser is made of sturdy polypropylene, and the containers are crystal-clear PET.

June Special -- Lip Balm Assessment

2009-06-02T07:26:00.003+01:00

If you're selling at markets this year and would like to expand your product line, why not do so with our fantastic Lip Balm Assessment? Our tried-and-tested formula for lip balm is flexible and a great seller - and there are vegan variations! Our assessment covers the following formula:

25% Beeswax or Olive Wax or Jojoba Wax
35% Vegetable/Seed Oil of Choice:
Sweet Almond Oil
Cherry Kernel Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Rice Bran Oil
Avocado Oil
Olive Oil
Blackcurrant Seed Oil
Borage Oil
Melon Seed Oil
Plum Kernel Oil
Raspberry Seed Oil
Passion Fruit Seed Oil
Papaya Seed Oil
Calendula Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil
Carrot Tissue Oil
Cranberry Seed Oil
Strawberry Seed Oil
Black Seed Oil
Grapefruit Seed Oil

10% Castor Oil
14% Shea Butter
14% Cocoa Butter
2% Flavour or essential oil (as outlined on the assessment)

As you can see, the possibilities are nearly endless! We're offering 20% off our fabulous Lip Balm Assessment throughout the month of June.

Blog Break

2009-05-23T12:27:00.002+01:00

I'm stealing a virtual page from Teresa's blog and taking a blogging break. I've been neglectful lately as life has become incredibly busy. I'll still update with Gracefruit.com news from time to time, but for now I'm away. I hope everyone has a lovely summer!

Elizabeth x

Crying Babies

2009-05-17T18:48:00.004+01:00

For the third year in a row, a mama starling has decided our loft is the best place to lay her eggs. And this is despite our removing last year's nest. And of course she's chosen the space right above our bedroom cupboard, so every morning between 5:30 and 6:00 we are awakened by the desperate cheeps of some very hungry little birds. Judging from years past, this fun morning ritual will last about a month before the babies fledge and leave. Needless to say, I'll be up in the loft blocking any available entryways as soon as they're gone. Those little pests are extremely lucky that we love animals.

Headless chicken

2009-05-12T21:38:00.002+01:00

Isn't that an awful title for someone who keeps hens? :)

Life has me by the tail at the moment and I'm struggling to keep up. Sadly, I've ignored my blog again. There just aren't enough hours.

Thanks to everyone who is reading - sorry for the lack of content! I've hired some additional help at work and hope to have things back on track very soon.

E xx

Happy Things!

2009-05-02T14:22:00.006+01:00

It doesn't take much to make me happy, and today has been a banner day for it. My daughter and I went shopping this morning at TKMaxx (TJMaxx for US readers) and I found three items from my favourite artist!

Two sets of note cards and an address book by Josh Agle (Shag)! In the bargain section, too. You'll be happy to know that I didn't embarrass my daughter by squealing.

And when we came home, we discovered that our fat, lazy Wyandotte Alice had finally laid an egg. It was laid in the run instead of the nest box. She really is that fat and lazy. :)

Welcome Hobipunkt!

2009-05-01T19:42:00.002+01:00

Please join me in welcoming the newest member of the Gracefruit.com family – Hobipunkt! Owned and operated by Helen Idarand, Hobipunkt has been operating since 2005. From her shop in Tallinn, Helen sells all sorts of crafting materials such including beads, jewellery-making supplies, silk, felt, and lots of soapmaking supplies, including Gracefruit fragrance oils.

I am delighted she’s joined the Gracefruit.com family of suppliers, and would like to wish her every success!

All of Our Cats

2009-05-01T17:25:00.002+01:00

We do have more than one cat. All of them are quite lazy.

Scarce

2009-04-30T19:00:00.001+01:00

With out-of-town guests and a very busy work week, I've not had much time for blogging. I'm sorry I've been so scarce.

I hope everyone is doing well and having a good week. I'm limping towards the weekend.

Big Ginger Feet

2009-04-24T13:33:00.002+01:00

When napping, it's important to have your feet in just the right spot.

Speckled Egg

2009-04-22T16:38:00.001+01:00

Could Alice finally have laid an egg?

I Scream

2009-04-19T18:27:00.002+01:00

For ice cream!

A few weeks ago, I splurged and bought myself an ice cream maker:

I love ice cream, so my new ice cream maker quickly became my favourite kitchen gadget. I use it almost daily, mainly for making frozen yoghurt, but occasionally, my kids pester me for the real thing.

I've tried lots of ice cream recipes with all sorts of ingredients. I've cooked custards, whipped cream, and faffed about with quite a few so-so recipes. It was out of desperation that I discovered the best vanilla ice cream recipe ever.

I was digging about in the cupboard looking for something sweet when I found a can of condensed milk. To this I added 300ml of double cream (heavy whipping cream for those of you in the US) and 300ml of single cream (I believe this is similar to half-and-half). I whisked the lot together with a bit of vanilla paste (you can easily use extract), popped it into the ice cream maker, and thirty minutes later had the best ice cream I've ever tasted.

This recipe makes a great base for other ice creams, too. Tonight, we're having it with crushed Oreos. My poor waistline!

Soaps from El Sapone

2009-04-17T16:56:00.002+01:00

I've been a fan of El Sapone's soaps for a long time. I could tell from the photos that each soap was lovingly crafted -- the attention to detail is amazing. So you can imagine my delight when the El Sapone DaWanda shop went live. I rushed to purchase some of these gorgeous creations.

I purchased Vergißmeinnicht and Liaisons, and was sent a bar of Garden Eden as a gift. To say I'm thrilled with all of them would be an understatement.

Thank you, Sannyas! Your soaps are even more beautiful in person.

Piewacket

2009-04-16T17:54:00.004+01:00

Do you like pretty things, crafty projects, lovely food, and fantastic photography? I do, which is why I adore my friend Lara's new blog Piewacket.

Lara is a professional photographer, home-cooking chef, retro connoisseur, and one very crafty lady. She's also a whiz at home decorating. I've threatened many times to adopt her. :)

Be sure to check out Lara's cool Orla Kiely decorating project. It's fab!

Introducing Gracefruit's CP Soap Colourants!

2009-04-06T18:05:00.003+01:00

Now you can bring exquisite colour to your creations with Gracefruit’ s exciting new range of soap colourants. These vibrant, highly-concentrated, EU-compliant soap colourants deliver consistent and even results – so you can create beautifully coloured soap and eye-catching effects just the way you want, time and time again.

Gracefruit Soap Colours are easy to use in drops, making it even easier for you to get exactly the results you want. Soft pastels to bold primary colours are easily achieved.

Gracefruit Soap Colours are specifically designed to remain stable in the high-alkaline environment of cold process soap. And because our colourants don’ t bleed, they’ re also ideal for both hot process soap and melt and pour.

Gracefruit Soap Colours present outstanding value for money. Just 5ml can colour an entire kilo of cold process soap to a nice medium shade.

For more information, please visit the Gracefruit.com website.

Away for a bit

2009-03-31T13:34:00.003+01:00

I'm away for a little break for the next week or so, and I'll have some most exciting news when I get back. :)

I hope everyone has a lovely Easter!

Fib Found!

2009-03-27T08:53:00.004Z

My fib was easily found. Most everyone guessed right away. If you didn't, here is the big reveal. :)

1. I once attended a taping of the Oprah show. It was soap opera hunk day, and after the show, I got to meet Oprah and take a tour of Harpo Studios.

True! I went with my sister-in-law, and while we were there, we met up with one of her college friends who worked for Oprah. She gave us a tour and introduced us to Oprah. I also got to meet 'Jack' from All My Children.

2. I was in Berlin when the wall came down and actually helped remove part of the wall with a hammer and chisel.

True! After seeing video on the news of people dancing on the Wall, I drove all night from my home in Kaiserslautern to Berlin. Here I am doing my part:

3. I was taught how to be an etiquette teacher by Liv Tyler's grandmother.

True! I attended the Protocol School of Washington in 1997. The school was founded and run by Dorothea Johnson who happens to be Liv Tyler's gran.

4. I jumped out of a plane to celebrate my 21st birthday.

Fib! I am horribly afraid of both flying and heights.

5. I was crowned Little Miss Zip Code by the postal service to promote the use of zip codes in the early 70s.

True! But I must admit that nepotism was involved. My granddaddy was a post master, and my grandmother made my little uniform. I did have my picture in the newspaper, though. I have no idea who the man is with me in the photo. And please ignore the flashing underpants!

Thanks to everyone who played along!

Find the Fib

2009-03-25T20:21:00.002Z

Here are five facts about me. Four of them are true and one isn't. Can you find the fib?

1. I once attended a taping of the Oprah show. It was soap opera hunk day, and after the show, I got to meet Oprah and take a tour of Harpo Studios.

2. I was in Berlin when the wall came down and actually helped remove part of the wall with a hammer and chisel.

3. I was taught how to be an etiquette teacher by Liv Tyler's grandmother.

4. I jumped out of a plane to celebrate my 21st birthday.

5. I was crowned Little Miss Zip Code by the postal service to promote the use of zip codes in the early 70s.

New Door

2009-03-20T20:37:00.003Z

I love my Cube hen house, but the door into the run just wouldn't do. It was tiny, and only my nine-year-old son could get into the run if there was some sort of minor emergency (like the time Ruby couldn't find her way into the house to go to bed). Today we upgraded to a larger door:

The girls don't yet realise they're no longer safe from cuddles and cameras.

Nudge gives me the what-are-you-doing-here look.

Ruby and Alice aren't sure what to make of my being in the run with them.

Everyone eventually settled down and went back to ignoring me, except for Toast who is hiding behind the ladder. She doesn't trust me one bit.

iRRi style

2009-03-19T13:17:00.004Z

Sometimes language isn't a barrier at all. I don't read or speak Lithuanian, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying the beautiful iRRi style blog. The author focuses on pretty handmade paper-type items like photo albums and notebooks, as well as one of my favourite subjects -- sweets! They are gorgeous and drool-worthy:

There are also a few photos of one very cute little Siamese cat.

Spring!

2009-03-18T16:31:00.004Z

It's so lovely outside today. The thermometer in my car says it's 15C! After a very long and cold winter, this warm, dry spell is a welcome change.

Nella and I were on the patio for a little while. Since we have no grass in our garden (it's turned up for re-seeding), we had to make do with a few bits of shaved hemp.

(I'm the one with the stylish space wellies.)

The cats are in the conservatory in various stages of sleep. Logan, our big ginger tom, is an expert at deep sleep.

I hope it's warm and spring-like where you are today.

Olive is a Clever Hen

2009-03-14T14:09:00.000Z

Olive's first egg.

Lotion-Making Ingredients at Gracefruit.com

2009-03-14T11:16:00.003Z

It's been a busy week of adding new products to the Gracefruit.com website, and our lotion/cream-making ingredient list is coming along nicely. We now have both cetyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol as well as Emulsifying Wax NF.

We're also offering Hydrolysed Oat Protein which is particularly exciting to me as a soap maker. Aside from being wonderful in creams and lotions, it's a fantastic vegan alternative to silk protein and makes a lovely addition to soaps.

Olive & June

2009-03-13T16:26:00.004Z

Ruby and Alice have moved out of the Eglu and into the larger hen house. An empty Eglu can only mean one thing -- new hens! Meet Olive (front) and June (back).

Olive is a cream legbar and lays green eggs. June is a light sussex who should lay a sort of cream-coloured egg. She's quite young, though, and probably won't start laying for another month.

And so our flock is complete. We have four hybrids and four pure breeds which means we'll have lots of eggs all year round. Yay!

Thank you, eri-c!

2009-03-11T11:51:00.003Z

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Japan-Seife, so you can imagine my excitement when I received a parcel from the owner of this gorgeous soap blog, eri-c. The soaps are breathtaking, and my attempts at photography don't do them justice. I can't wait to try them out.

Eri-c, thank you so much for the lovely soaps, sweets, and paper items. I am in awe. You are definitely my soap hero!

Coffee Cakes

2009-03-09T13:38:00.002Z

Espresso cupcakes with mocha icing. Heaven.

Nudge's Goose Impression

2009-03-08T10:46:00.004Z

The egg on the left is Nudge's normal egg. The one on the right? All I can think is 'ouch!'

Four Ingredient Cooking

2009-03-07T10:08:00.004Z

If you like delicious, uncomplicated food, you might enjoy four ingredient cooking. I discovered this way of cooking a few years ago when my mom gave me a copy of The Cook's Encyclopedia of Four Ingredient Cooking by Joanna Farrow. Every recipe I've tried has been something special, and I love the variety of unpretentious meals. The four ingredient method is perfect for the terminally busy, or for anyone who likes home cooking without the faff and fuss.

Hazelnut Soap

2009-03-04T18:33:00.001Z

Plain, simple, and really nice on the skin. I use it as a complexion soap.

50% Babassu
25% Olive
25% Hazelnut

You can sub coconut for the babassu.

New Gracefruit.com

2009-02-26T18:31:00.003Z

We've been working behind the scenes to upgrade the gracefruit.com web site, and I'm happy to report it's finished. The changes should make shopping easier and more streamlined. We've put all of the fragrance oils in one place, and all of our cosmetic packaging in another.

Butters, oils, & waxes are also now in one place.

And joining our mailing list is now easier than ever.

New Products at Gracefruit.com

2009-02-24T14:06:00.002Z

I've been busy these past two weeks getting new products added to Gracefruit.com. We have new packaging in the form of 50ml airless dispensers and 120ml double-walled cream jars. We also have some beautiful new 250ml zip pouches available in clear, kraft, and silver.

There are two new fragrances -- Davinia for Dove Soap lovers, and Carena for those who like the scent of Nivea Cream. We have a new allergen-free fragrance - Strawberry Smoothie which is delectable, but not edible. :)

The products I'm most excited about are the new Value Range of fragrance oils. These high quality oils are available at modest prices, starting at just 95p! They performed very well in our cold process soap tests, and I'm delighted with their quality.

Ruby's First Egg

2009-02-21T10:53:00.002Z

Thank you, Ruby!

Beautiful Handmade Jewellery

2009-02-21T08:50:00.004Z

Do you like hand-made jewellery? I do, especially when it looks like this:

This delicate piece was made by Jaana, the owner and designer of Helmiliina jewellery. Not only is Jaana talented, she's also lovely. I've been in touch with her by email recently was really touched -- she's so friendly and sweet!

If you'd like to keep up with her newest designs, you can see them at her blog. She's an excellent photographer, too.

Japan-Seife

2009-02-20T13:32:00.004Z

I know I've mentioned this blog before, but it's had a makeover, and there are so many new gorgeous photos to see.

Japan-Seife

You don't need to speak Japanese or German to enjoy this blog. The photos alone say everything you need to know -- ie, beautiful soaps!

Here is a sneak peek:

Amazing!

New Girls

2009-02-19T13:41:00.005Z

Our Silver Penciled Wyandotte. The poor wee thing was very stressed to be caught and put into a cat carrier. She's quite young, and I hope she'll settle okay.

Our Welsummer. She seems to have dealt with the transition much better. I can't wait to see those dark chocolatey-brown eggs.

No names for either yet. I am hoping they will name themselves.

EDIT: We've named them! Alice (top) and Ruby.

Help Hunting Hens

2009-02-17T19:07:00.004Z

Thanks to everyone who gave me hen advice. I think I've finally settled on four new birds: A Columbine (hybrid), a Light Sussex, a Welsummer, and a Wyandotte. It was really hard to decide which birds would fit in well with our current lot, and which are happy enough to live in a large run.

Being in Scotland, I'm a little limited in that there doesn't seem to be a large number of breeds available, and to get to them, one has to travel quite a distance. So I began looking at what was available close by and worked backward from there. While searching for information on the various breeds, I found this handy reference. It gives a good overall picture of each breed and tells you about its general personality. If you're undecided about which hens to choose, please do have a look. It helped me a lot.

Planting Fruit and Coveting Hens

2009-02-14T08:04:00.005Z

We planted three rows of raspberries on Thursday, and a giant pot of strawberries on Friday. All of the plants are dormant, and look quite sad. I was sure the strawberries were dead, but the lovely lady at the garden centre assured me they were only sleeping. Having been told a similar story about roadkill by my parents, I'm not completely convinced.

Looks like our new hen house and run will arrive on Monday. I've located a breeder in Doune (near Stirling) who specialises in rare breeds, so I hope to visit them later in the week. They have lots of bantams, and some big girls, too. The Wyandottes and Croad Langshams are gorgeous. There is another breeder by Oban who has Marans, Barrnevelders, and Scots Greys. Argh! It's hard to choose.

Would any chicken owners out there have any suggestions? I would be grateful.

Still Snowy

2009-02-11T16:47:00.000Z

Afternoon sun.

I'm so thankful the days are getting longer. At midwinter, it's dark by 4:20pm. It's now almost 5pm and there is still plenty of light. Despite the cold, I do like this time of year. February can be a cruel month, but at least there are signs of spring.

Oh! The raspberry canes arrived today.

Igloo!

2009-02-09T14:00:00.003Z

Will the person in charge of the snow machine please turn it off now?

Roll on Spring!