Music to Soap By - Slade

I was there for this one. I remember it being released. Course, I was waiting for its release cos this was my fave band during my teenage years. OMG... I played this one so loud my bedroom windows vibrated. I made myself hoarse screaming out the chorus.... and my poor dad made himself hoarse yelling at me from the bottom of the stairs to turn it down!

That Christmas was memorable for me. 1973, the year that saw gifts such as Chopper bicycles and the game of Mastermind on most childrens list in England - including my brother. For me, it was serious wow time, as I took the wrapping off a desperately longed for new record player.

OMG... it played three different speeds. 33, 45, and 78s. It was stereo, and even had two speakers that I could position around the room. And the piece de resistance I discovered by accident... that if I pulled the record stacking arm back, it played the one song on repeat F-O-R-E-V-E-R! One record of my choice, over and over again? It was hook, line and sinker for me right there and then, and I have never lost the love for playing songs like that.

The workshop door is open. Order boxes are being packed, and the music is on repeat. The office may be closed for Christmas break, but behind the scenes is never still. Sing it loud, now.... "Merry Christmas Everybody!!!"

Slade, 1973 - Merry Christmas Everybody

Holiday Hours Reminder

Just a reminder that the office closes at the end of today for our annual Holiday break. All orders placed before 5.00pm today will be packed and shipped by Friday the 16th. Happy Holidays!

A Bit Of Raw Video

You'd think having a techy guru like I have in Jason, that we'd have a state of the art video camera. We don't. Jason's a still-shot kinda guy.

On a "Snowflake" photo shoot in the workshop a few weeks ago, Jason switched his Nikon over to movie mode. He was experimenting to see what it did, and gave me no cue at all other than: "I wonder what it'd be like if I switched to video. Hmm...okay, we're live".

The first minute of film was me asking him what was he talking about, and then a short back and forth happened between us about testing sound and focus etc. While the movie mode continued its few minutes run, I picked up a log of the Snowflake soap Jason had just been photographing and started talking. Surprisingly, when we played back the three or so minutes of film, we found a half decent minute's worth of raw video worth sharing.

The movie mode on the Nikon only runs for a few minutes, but it's shown us that it's long enough to give a proper glimpse of life behind the scenes. There's the camera placement to sort out and some restrictions on focus that will need to be respected, but with a bit of understanding of what our limitations are, I can see me doing more of this kinda thing.

A Mug Or The Soap

A good day's soapmaking is always measured by the mess left behind for the clean up. Oh, and the tea mugs. It wouldn't be a work day without an army of empty ones scattered about the workshop.

And office.

And packing room.

And... oh, every room you can imagine. Yes... it's a close call between which I love best - making soap or a cuppa. Please, don't ever make me choose!

Music To Soap By - Guster

It's taken me all week long to track down this one. I first heard it last weekend on a telly commercial and was hooked. Needless to say it's already on loop in the workshop, and I just can't get enough of it!

It's feeling so good standing at the workbench right now that the soap bars are almost wrapping themselves!

Guster, (unsure of year) - Tiny Tree Chrstmas

Music To Soap By - Darlene Love

Okay... we're into December! On loop in the workshop today is this one from Darlene Love. I actually heard her sing this live on Letterman earlier in the year... and despite the years having gone by since her original was recorded, the woman can still belt this out - and then some!

To the families of all those who serve our country... I know you know the lyrics to this one only too well. I thank you for lending us your loved ones in keeping us safe.

Darlene Love, 1963 - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Night Time Is The Right Time

It's an absolute joy to be popping this third level freebie into the order boxes from Thanksgiving week.

The smell of "Night Time" is incredibly aromatic with its synergy blend of Chamomile, Lavender, and Plumeria. Wonderful extracts of oat and green tea help soften and soothe, and all that's left for you to do is pour... and breathe the day away.

In the November order boxes now, compliments of the freebie page!