Antibacterial soap concerns

Interesting post about the possible health effects of triclosan, an antimicrobial chemical.

My favourite part - FDA states: “At this time, the agency does not have evidence that triclosan in antibacterial soaps and body washes provides any benefit over washing with regular soap and water.”


Learn to make your own soap!

Soapmaking and Natural Cosmetics course

Make your own Soap and Natural Cosmetics

Love rich creamy soaps? Love pampering? Adore taking luxurious baths? Love all the beautiful products for creating a home spa experience, but find them a bit pricey? And maybe you’re a little concerned about the additives in the cheaper ones?
Well, now you can learn to create those luxurious products, at a fraction of the price, using ingredients that you can easily find in your supermarket, health food shop, hardware store or pharmacy. Make lots for yourself, and maybe even make a few for your friends for presents. Who knows, maybe you could even build a business selling them?
Following on from the success of this and last year’s courses I'm offering a course in making your own Soapmaking and Natural Cosmetics on Sunday May 23rd in Mullingar Educate together NS from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Cost is €75.
Participants will learn how to make soaps from scratch, using both cold process and rebatching methods. They will also learn to make Body creams, Exfoliants and other natural cosmetics . In addition they will learn to make origami boxes to package them in. The origami boxes have proved to be the hit of previous classes.

All materials will be provided, including a wide variety of essentials oils to scent the products. And they will go home with clear recipes showing how to replicate these at home.

I have been invited to teach this course at The Organic Center in Leitrim later this year. That's almost fully booked, and the last soapmaking course was sold out, so book now!

To book, call/text Anna at 087 222562, or email annambrowne@gmail.com

All quiet here

Great weekend in Belvedere - the bunting was admired - one lady even told me that it could become an addiction - which I well believe.

Photo above shows the undergardener (aka Brian) and I in our stand - it was colourful, we were busy - we had lots of entries for our competition, and oldest son was a tremendous help on Sunday.

Belvedere was beautifully safe for kids to run around, the FAS garden looked great, there was no 'junk' on sale. I think everyone there had a great time.

Now I'm busy with my homework from a train the trainer course, trying to find a school to do my teaching practice (I'm going back to college in September) and publicising my Summer Camp in Mullingar in July.

So not much time to be crafty right now - but I really do want to make some more bunting - reckon it would make a wonderful hostess gift....

Bunting

This is what the bunting looks like - I made my own bias binding to string it all together - a first for me - I'm really happy with how it turned out. It will be in use tomorrow at the Belvedere self sufficiency show. Drop by my booth to admire it, and enter my competition.

Getting ready for Belvedere Self sufficiency show

I have a stand at the Belvedere Self Sufficiency Show, here in Mullingar this weekend. I'm speaking both days - about bread making, but I'll also be promoting my other courses - like natural cosmetics, soapmaking, Christmas crafts, Natural beverages.

I was busy last night making bunting to decorate the stand - I have been wanting to make bunting for some time now to use up some pretty scraps of fabric, and finally I found the motivation! It turned out great - will post a photo later.

I'm trying to think of what will be fun activities for the stand - last year I was baking flatbread - it was great for kids - they could roll out their own, and bake it right there and eat it - but it was a load of work, and hard to keep everything up to scratch hygiene wise. And loads of equipment to bring.

This year I have made lots of soap, so if anyone wants to sign up for my mailing list, I'll be giving them some soap as a taster. But that just shows one part of what I do.

So I'm thinking I can have 2 activities:
Making paper pots, and planting seeds - I have lots of purple pea seeds - to illustrate the garden side of the business.

Making bath bombs - for the crafty , cosmetic side of things.

And I'll bring some seedlings and bread to decorate the stand - bunting only goes so far...

What do you think?

Must try this

Seems like adding peat to your beauty products has great benefits - my father would laugh. Will have to spend a day at the bog, and see what I can find to add to my natural cosmetics....I wonder if someone needs help with footing turf....some good photos here