4 EASY Winter Skin Care Tips

Lots of us think that because we hide under layers for warmth in winter, we can neglect our skin.

 But, this type of hibernation is not the best way to take care of ourselves. The air is cold and dry, and cold winter winds help our skin to become dry, cracked and flaky. There are some simple steps that can help maintain a feel good glow all through the colder months.

1) Once a week- exfoliate. All over, not just your face. Sloughing off the dead skin cells and boosting your circulation is invigorating, renewing and warming.

2) Every day- moisturise all over, and your face (unless it's particularly sensitive), twice a day. Carry lip balm and use it regularly, not just once your lips start to dry and crack.

3) Treat- think about what special treatments you use, and if you can use products smarter. Eg, can you use a hair masque once a week and stop the creation of split ends? Use a bath oil in a hot (ish) bath once a week for an all over moisture boost?

4) Take care of yourself- keep warm, hydrated, and  sleep lots. There's nothing better for you!

Cranleigh Trivia Night Gift Bags

I needed to put together 15 gift bags for the Cranleigh School Trivia Night.

Over a couple of weeks, as I made orders I would mix & package a little extra product.

That was the easy part.

Then I needed to make them pretty.

A few weekends ago, I was lucky to house sit for a friend who is a Stampin' Up!

demonstrator, so I used the opportunity to make bag toppers with music notes.

Each bag has two samples from the top picture, plus a face washer or shower puff.

Hopefully, someone will take a pic on the actual night for me load later.

I have also donated some 50s rock'n'roll ducks embedded in soap as lucky door prizes.

New essential oil blend: Optimism

I have created and released a new essential oil blend for use in many D2BN products.

Optimism Blend contains bergamot, lavender and pink grapefruit essential oils.

Bergamot, may alleviate depression, anxiety, and skin problems

The many benefits of Lavender oil have been listed in an earlier post devoted entirely to that essential oil.

Pink Grapefruit oil may stimulate both mind and body, is said to be antiseptic, induces a positive feeling and hope, cures depression and relieves of anxiety and stress.

Optimism Blend is a lovely oil to use in products that start your day to get it going on a positive note, or at the end of the day when you need to shrug off the things that have weighed you down.

It is available in:

Soaps

Body Wash (shower gel & bubble bath)

Hand & Body Lotion

Bath Milk

Bath Salts

It may be appropriate in other applications, please contact me for details.

Naturally or plant derived- what does that mean?

Sometimes, if you pay close attention to the ingredient list on body products, you'll notice some long, complicated names that are listed as being plant derived, or naturally derived.

What does that mean?
Simply put, these ingredients come from a non-petroleum mineral, another natural source (such as water), a plant or a fruit-based source — not from an animal or petroleum source.

D2BN does not use any ingredients that have been tested on animals.
Never have, never will.

The only animal products used in our products:

•  beeswax, which is used in my balms- foot balm; sinus balm; calm balm; sleep balm (and my now discontinued lip balms, whihc some customers may receive as free gifts from time to time). Every time I come across a balm formulation without beeswax, it produces a runny, sloppy goo that's just not nice.
• milk products: goats milk, which is such an invaluable ingredient for sufferers of eczema and psoriasis; buttermilk & skim milk powder which I use in my bath milks
• I have also recently added "milk & honey" soap to my product range, after investing in the ingredients in my failed attempt at making solid shampoo bars

The majority (but not all) of my ingredients are naturally derived. The ingredient names may sound long & scary- for instance, just what is Capryl Glucoside? Well, it's a sugar, made from palm kernal oil, and is a mildly foaming cleanser. Now, the few times a product does contain a synthetic ingredient, it's often to prevent using a sulphate or paraben.

I have also ensured that I have sourced soap colours that are vegan-friendly. I have several customers who are vegan, or who have family members who are vegan, who find it really difficult to source products that are animal free. I hadn't even given a thought to my colourants, and had to make many enquiries to suppliers before I could source colourants that are acceptable to vegan customers.

However, I have not found a solution to the lovely lady who contacted me for goats milk soap for her grand-daughter..... who's a vegan.

Mother's Day at Cranleigh School

As mentioned in an earlier post, I was asked to make 80 soaps for the mothers of Cranleigh School students.

As usual, one of my simple ideas quickly grew into a craft bonanza. I can get a little manic in my head when given free reign to craft up.

Making the 80 soaps was probably the most straight forward part of the process. As I have 10 mid-size guest soap molds, I figured I would just make 8 different sets- 8 smells & colours. So I settled on:

yellow = melonberry

orange = orange rockmelon

pink = baby powder

red = red cafe

light blue = sun showers

dark blue = chai

light green = kiwi kisses

dark green = hummingbird

Halfway through making the 80, I realised I needed more soap base, so I fired off an order to my supplier, ordered more cello bags,  and labels, and waited....


It's the waiting that does it every time, because then I start thinking.

How to pretty them up?

Fire off another email ordering organza bags, the ones I had were either a smidge too small or too incredibly big.

More waiting.

Tags- one of my hobbies is making cards & bits and pieces, and I have a friend who is a Stampin' Up! independant demonstrator, so I have lots of (woefully underused) craft bits.

So, 80 tags, colour co-ordinated with the soaps.

Tags done, waiting recommences.

Soap arrives! So, 80 soaps, ten every 2nd day for 8 days.

Cello bags arrive, one afternoon spent bagging them.

The labels arrive the next day (of course!), so that afternoon spent labelling.

So, a three day wait for organza bags. Another afternoon bagging them up in organza bags, and then working out the best way to tie the gift tag on- I'm a bit ribbon challenged.

So, here is the final result. 80 guest soaps to spoil the beautiful Cranleigh Mums.

Taking the Pledge

A few weeks ago, a FB friend of mine, Sarah from Home Poured Creations, posted the following pledge to only create original products:

http://contemporaryhandmadealliance.blogspot.com/p/handmade-originality-pledge.html


I read the Pledge, and after mulling it over for a couple of weeks, have likewise taken the Pledge.

Why did it take me 2 weeks or so? Well, I didn't want to take it lightly, but also, it's not just a matter of saying "I won't copy".

Firstly, because, well......

I do.

When a customer writes and tells me their husband will only use (famous brand) soap and she really wants him to change to a natural alternative, can I make an organic soap that is the same shape, colour and smell, what do I do? I copy that product. I use my organic & natural ingredients and set out to make the best version of that soap.

Now, I haven't then gone on to launch a whole line of "famous brand" rip off soaps, but the bald truth is that I have copied that product.

Likewise, when someone emails me that they haven't been able to find goats milk & oatmeal soap, I think: I have oatmeal, I have goats milk, easy- and I'm away. Or if someone has used a certain scented product in the past but can't find it now, and ask if I can produce something in a similiar scent. The first thing I do, is contact my oil suppliers and see what I can get in that scent.

And when someone suggests I make a line of soap that's a natural alternative to Solvol- with exfolliant, using oils that strip grease, etc- my Bloke Soap was born. Now, Bloke Soap does not look, feel or smell like Solvol, but I am using their idea to create a product that I make, and sell.

Recently, when my cousin told me she's getting married and asked me to help make her invitations, place settings, table decorations, etc, the first thing I did was ask her her colours, then Googled weddings in those colours. Again, I'm not going to launch a whole wedding line, but I got a lot of inspiration of what other people have done. And, in this instance, I'm not doing it as "D2BN", but as her cousin, so she'll buy the materials, ingredients, etc, and I'll make them up for her without charging for my time, etc, as I would if I were doing them as D2BN. In all likelihood, I'll be doing more crafting than I will soaping, but the principal is the same.

Having said that, several weeks ago Sarah posted a picture of a soap she'd made, and the picture & description was so divine, I had to buy a slice.  And when it came, it was all she'd described- and more! When she had a free post offer a week or so later, I tried to buy some more but it had sold out. I'm not going to try and replicate that soap- I don't think I could, she's just too talented, and uses different methods than I do, and I'd feel uncomfortable doing so. If my Mum visited and liked the soap, I'd order some off Sarah (she assures me she'll make some more in a few months) and have her send it to Mum. If for some strange, unknown reason a customer wandered into my bathroom and asked me where I got the soap?? Hmmm, it's probably lucky I don't get too many customers wandering through my house, lol, but it's a conundrum.....

So- why do I think it's OK to copy one piece of work and not another? After all, we've all bought a "cheaper version" of an expensive brand. D2BN currently offers several Designer (type) fragrances for use in soaps, shower gels, bath salts, etc.

Well, firstly-famous brand versus someone I sort of know- we've never met, but we've become FB friends and I feel like I do know her a little bit. I don't know why I think it's ok to mimic a big corporation's product but not a fellow soapers, but somehow it is.

Also, it's just not cool to profit off someone else's creativity. I'm not going to troll other's soapers sites and see what I can rip off. I love what I do, love having a creative outlet amidst all the other things I do- and have to assume all those other sites are run by similiarly motivated people.

Also, in soaping, it can be really difficult not to copy. I make melt & pour soap, which means I buy a chunk of soap, melt it, mix various things into it, then pour it into a mould. In the M&P soap world, we're pretty much all using the same moulds (unless you're one of those amazingly talented people who can make your own molds from latex, which I'm not. I tried, but I sucked at it!).  Many of us use the same suppliers (even recommending them to each other), the same fragance oils, the same bits and pieces. Many of us even belong to the same crafting groups. When someone posts a picture of a soap using a mould I have, the chances are if I like what they've done, I'm probably going to do something similiar at some point in time. What am I going to- not glitter a buttefly soap's wings because I've seen someone else do it?

I've also walked through shops, markets, etc, and been inspired by someone's take on something, and thought "I could do that" or "I could use that". It may not even be bath product related- it may be the way they've used colours, or texture, in their product that I think I can use in something of mine. After all- all inspiration comes from somewhere, right??

So, yes, I have taken the Pledge.

I won't blatantly rip off anyone else's work and sell it as my own.

If I see something on someone's site that I make, or can make, for cheaper than that site is offering, I'm not going to message their customers and tell them to bring their business my way.

And, yes, if you want to know where that divine soap came from, go to Facebook and type in Hand Poured Creations. If you buy anything, tell her Cid sent you!

Balance Blend- benefits & uses

"Balance Blend" is a blend of certified organic essential oils,

comprised of:-

* Sweet Orange, said to calm down the mind, bringing happiness and delight

* Cedarwood Atlas, which promotes steadiness and balance

* Lime, with benefits of being antiseptic, anti-viral, astringent, bactericidal, disinfectant, and restorative

* Bergamot, may alleviate depression, anxiety, and skin problems

* Frankincense, a calming and relaxing oil which causes breathing to become deeper and slower, inducing a tranquil state of mind. Additionally,it can help with asthma, bronchitis, coughing, and laryngitis.

* Ylang Ylang, believed to be useful as an antidepressant, aphrodisiac, sedative, and is calming. It has been found effective in reducing difficulties resulting from anxiety, stress, and depression.

 *Geranium, which speeds up healing of wounds and cuts; aids in treatment of acne, dermatitis and other skin diseases; is useful in treating infections of nose, throat and other respiratory organs; may relieve symptoms of PMS; further, it has great mental uplifting effects and so can be very effective in treating depression, anxiety, anger etc. 

Balance Blend is available for use  in the following D2BN products:

Organic Soap (Vegetable Glycerine)

Shea Butter Soap

Body Wash (Shower Gel / Bubble Bath)

Hand & Body Lotion

Bath Salts &  Bath Milk

Lavender essential oil

Lavender essential oil is one of the most commonly used oils for aromatherapy, home health and natural medicine. The therapeutic properties of lavender oil are antiseptic, analgesic, anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, anti-rheumatic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, bactericide, and diuretic. It acts to expel gas from the intestines or the stomach, promotes the discharge of bile from the system, fights infection, works as a decongestant, deodorizers, soothes nervousness, reduces redness in skin, aids sleep and is effective in wound care.

Lavender oil has a soothing and calming effect on the nerves, relieves tension, depression, panic, hysteria and nervous exhaustion in general. It is effective for headaches, migraines and insomnia. It can also very beneficial for problems such as bronchitis, asthma, colds, laryngitis, halitosis, throat infections and whooping cough and helps the digestive system deal with colic, nausea, vomiting and flatulence.

Lavender oil relieves pain when used for rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago and muscular aches and pains, especially those associated with sport. On the skin, lavender oil tones and revitalizes and is useful for all types of skin problems such as abscesses, acne, oily skin, boils, burns, sunburn, wounds, psoriasis, lice, insect bites, stings and also acts as an insect repellent. In ancient Arabic medicine, lavender was widely used as an expectorant.

Lavender oil combines well with almost any other oil and can stimulate, strengthen and complement the effects of other oils because of its highly complex nature.

• For PMS or mood swings try combining lavender with ylang ylang or clary sage essential oils.
• For respiratory support combine with eucalyptus or rosemary essential oils.
• For depression symptoms use lavender with orange, bergamot or sandalwood essential oils.
• For insomnia use chamomile (Roman) with lavender for a soothing essential oil blend.

• For Insect bites and stings try mixing lavender with tea tree or geranium essential oil.

The uses for lavender oil doesn't stop with the body because it keeps going with household cleaning. With the flawless antiseptic properties, it works great as a disinfectant for toilets, counters, floors, tubs, and sinks. Add a little baking soda to a lavender-soaked sponge, and clean toilets, tubs, and sinks. The cheap lavender you can buy in the medicinal oil of your supermarket should only ever be used for this purpose.

 

Before you go out and buy lavender oil , make sure not to buy the wrong one. Oftentimes, lavender oil is offered at a bargain price, but the bargain isn't for you; it is for the person selling the product. Make sure you are buying a high-quality lavender essential oil that is meant for health use.

 

Finally, a caution. For some lavender oil may also be contraindicated during pregnancy, as it may bring on labour. It may also increase sweating,
and as noted in an earlier blog the rarely used spike lavender contains ingredients that may cause convulsions.

 

As with any ingredient, everyone should be cautious when using lavender oil for the first time.

 

Fragrant Oils (FO) vs Essential Oils (EO)

I am often asked whether I use fragrance or essential oils in my products. I actually use both. Is one better than the other? Both have positives.

 

Essential oils are different from fragrance oils.
The quality of the essential oil is what makes the
difference between being therapeutic and being fragrant, though of course most essential oils are also fragrant. 


Fragrance oils tend to be more affordable than essential oils. There are famous and much beloved scents that can only be found in a fragrance oil- there is no essential banana oil, for instance. Some fragrances simply cannot be mimicked through essential oils. Making and supplying affordable, high quality product is key for D2BN, so price is a factor in every ingredient we buy. Over time, I have managed to collate a group of suppliers that I trust to provide good quality oils every time.

Fragrance oils do not offer the same botanical properties that are found with essential oils. However,  as scent can be a strong mood enhancer, using a bath product with a scent you find relaxing, refreshing, calming or stimulating, can only be a good thing. 

There are people that are particularly sensitive to fragrance oils. For the majority of the population, however, if a product is carefully made and the fragrance oils are carefully measured and added in the recommended amounts, the amount of fragrance actually used is generally unlikely to cause a reaction. Reputable suppliers will have scents that are formulated according to the RIFM (Research Institute for Fragrant Materials) standards. This means that the scents are safe for use in bath and body products. D2BN only sources my oils (both fragrant and essential) from suppliers who have proven to produce oils of the highest quality.

Essential Oils

As well as  some scents where there is no essential oil available, or where the EO is much too costly, there are some essential oils that are environmentally irresponsible to use. Being someone who is trying to be as ecologically responsible as possible, this is no small concern- essential oils are derived from the leaves, roots, bark and flowers of plants- the botanical properties that make the oil "essential".

Some essential oils can be very reactive when used on the skin. Many carry warnings that they should be avoided during pregnancy. This includes: basil, cedarwood, clove, fennel, rosemary and thyme.  People that suffer from epilepsy should be careful when using certain essential oils in aromatherapy, since some contain neurotoxins which may have a convulsant effect. Nutmeg and thujone have a psychotropic effect, but the convulsant effect from rosemary, fennel, sage and hyssop essential oils have always been the classical oils to be avoided in epilepsy. The following oils also contain convulsant compounds: camphor, spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia) [DO NOT confuse it with normal lavender - which is Lavandula angustifolia], tansy, thuja and wormwood.

Additionally, there is some speculation that some aspects of the soapmaking process actually kill a majority of any of the positive properties of essential oils. Research hasn't managed to determine this categorically, however.

It would be very difficult to throw doubt on the efficacy of essential oils used for their therapeutic properties.


The "Mood Blends" used by D2BN are high quality, certified organic, essential oil blends that may impact mood, and are all skin safe for use in your favourite bath products:

Aphrodite- ylang ylang, sweet orange, white grapefruit, patchouli

Autumn-lavender, white grapefruit, ginger, patchouli

Balance- sweet orange, cedarwood atlas, lime, bergamot, frankincense, ylang ylang, geranium

Breathe- lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, lemon & peppermint

Christmas- clove leaf, sweet orange, cinnamon bark

Courage- lime, sweet orange, lavender, geranium, frankincense, sweet fennel

Inner Harmony- rosewood, rose geranium, mandarin, lavender, sweet orange, calendula extract

Happy- sweet orange, lemon, bergamot, patchouli, cinnamon leaf, clove

Outback- sweet orange, eucalyptus Australiana, eucalyptus peppermint gum, lemon myrtle, aniseed myrtle

Positivity- white grapefruit, lime, lavender, sweet marjoram, pink lotus, rose

Seduction- lemon, bergamot, sweet orange, ylang ylang, patchouli, clove leaf & sandalwood

Sensual- cedarwood atlas, lemon, lemon grass, ylang ylang

Vitality- lemongrass, rosewood, eucalyptus peppermint, lime, lemon myrtle

  They contain the vitamins and nutrients that keep the plant alive - the essential constituents that keep the plant free from disease and growing strongly.These oils undeniably have been found to carry positive properties from the plant materials they were extracted from.

Markets and Fetes

In the three years that D2BN has existed, I have done many, many fetes, markets and shopping centre stalls.

Stalls are always a double edged sword. You never know what you're getting yourself into, even if it's a stall in a place you've been before. You see the best and the worst of people, you have to have thick skin, and you have to love it.

I love it, as I get to meet my customers face to face. I always list on my facebook and website pages when and where I am having stalls, and it's rare for me to go an entire day without someone popping in to introduce themselves.

I get thrown the trickiest questions: are your lip balms suitable for people with coeliac disease? Are your soap colours vegan friendly?

Yes, and yes, as it turns out! I had to double check the first question, but the second was easy, as a good friend and customer has a daughter who is vegan, so I have always used vegan appropriate soap colours.

People show me their festy feet, fungily fingers and scaly crusty bits. Because I have samples of everything there, people with super sensitive skin can try a bit of something, walk around the market, then come back and buy the product if they've not reacted to it. People often suggest new product ideas, asking me to come up with something they haven't been able to find- goats milk moisturising cream being the latest request.

Last year, I did a kids & babies' market in an upscale area of Canberra. Every woman who picked up my "Monkey Farts" body butter swooned, I swear! Horrified! Gasp!! However, it's my best selling kids scent, and last weekend sold out of it before any other product. The Banana Mascot from (not sure where she was from actually, I'm assuming the local fresh food market?) even posed with Emma holding some. Not sure she got the joke though, that Monkey Farts smells like banana!

It's a given in Canberra that when you do a market, that people will tell you they could make your stuff at home- I'm sure they could, I do! They'll tell you something stinks, or they only use a different brand of your products, or something equally rude. It's also a given that the weather will stress you out! I have sat in 42 degree heat, I have been so cold I have worn a beanie, scarf, coat, slippers, and stood on an electric blanket (inside!) If I can possibly manage it, I will go inside as it reduces my stress levels by about 80%. It's also a given that I'll be "panic making" extra products a day or too before a market, and lay awake the night before, wondering if I have enough/too much, have I packed my table cloths, etc.

Also, sometimes you don't exactly know how much room you'll have. A 3x3m stall could have 4 sides showing, 3 showing, or just the front. I've had to invest in a pop up marquee, tables, and find creative ways to create height.

Sometimes, I'll sit all day and sell 3 things. I'll go back and do the same market the next year, and be close to sold out by the end of the day. If at all possible, I'll try and badger a friend into spending the day with me, or at least spot me an hour or so, so I can go to the loo, look around at other stalls, or just people watch and laugh with them. A six hour day can be LLLLLOOOONNNGGG!

My hopes for a market are always low:

1) Cover my costs

2) Make one new regular customer

3) Meet one previously unmet customer

Having said all that, I have met some of my favourite people doing market stalls.

The couple I met one Mothers Day, when the wife retrieved the husband who was buying her a battery charger (yes, really!) and told him anything on my stall would be prefereable; the local pollie who's fingers were so cracked and peeling he was starting to avoid shaking hands with people and who now buys copious amounts of my Heel Balm; the many, many kids in Canberra who use Goats Milk Soap and so are pleased to be able to get it in fun shapes.

Now, I must get on and make that Goats Milk Hand Cream......

D2BN Supports...

Last year, I was approached by numerous causes- all very worthy- to donate prizes for their fundraisers. I donated gift packs to numerous schools, community centres, online auctions and charity nights for Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Trivia Nights, Art Shows, Charity Dinners, and to raise awareness for local schools and numerous causes including breast cancer, homeless pregnant women, epilepsy, diabetes and SIDS. I have similiarly been approached this year to give prizes,and I will when & where I can, but have decided to take a more targetted approach and have a main nominated charity.

Sometimes, these donations result in repeat business, and this is a bonus. But, it's not why I donate. I donate because I think everyone who has been blessed should pay that blessing forward.

This year, I have decided that while I will still donate gift packs to other causes from time to time, I am focusing my fundraising efforts on Cranleigh School. Cranleigh School is a school here in Canberra that teaches children, aged 5-12 with disabilities, ranging from mild to severe.

Last year, I donated small prizes that supported their Trivia Night, Peter Blackshaw Charity Dinner (which raised money for the recently installed Liberty Swing), Mothers and Fathers Days  & their annual Art Show.

I am currently making 80 soaps for all the Cranleigh School mums for Mother's Day. The school has paid me for soap materials, and I am donating my time, as well as the extra craft bits & pieces to "pretty them up". I shall post pics when they're complete.

I am attending a meeting tomorrow to discuss this year's Trivia Night, where I intend to donate small "table" prizes, as well as 1 larger prize for the night. I'm not saying this to "big note myself", but to let you know what I'm up to, and also to let you know why sometimes I may be unable to donate to other, equally worthy causes.

I will help where I can, but please be aware that I am a fledgling business, and all $ I make from the business, is fed straight back into the business. There are times when I will not be in a position to donate items, or due to time constraints (I also work 2 part time jobs, and have a family) be unable to contribute.

So, from time to time, I'll be posting pics & posts of Cranleigh donations. I hope you like them- all other donation requests should cone to me via email, rather than via FB wall posts or Blog Comments: cid@dare2bnatural.com.au

Parabens

Why does D2BN avoid the use of parabens?

From Wikipedia:

"Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives  Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical/parenteral pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution, makeup, and toothpaste. Their efficacy as preservatives, in combination with their low cost, the long history of their use, probably explains why parabens are so commonplace. They are becoming increasingly controversial, however, because they have been found in extremely low concentrations in breast cancer No causal link between parabens and cancer has been established, however."

Because parabens have been proven to penetrate the skin and can be traced in the blood for some time after application, it is theorized that they may have adverse effects on the body. One study found parabens present in the breast tissue of 18 out of the 20 breast cancer patients that participated in that study.

Please note there there are studies on both sides of the argument:  parabens are bad and parabens are ok. But since there have been studies that say there may be cause for concern, I have chosen to take the precautionary route and not use products containing them if I can help it, and use natural alternatives when and where possible.

According to some organic cosmetic manufacturers, parabens are actually unnecessary, as products made from high quality organic ingredients may be shelf-stable for approximately two to three years. I always recommend that D2BN customers use their products within 12 months of opening. Balms are best kept in the fridge during particularly hot weather (I always keep my balms in the fridge, then I know where they are! Except for my sleep balm, which I keep in the drawer next to me bed). I also keep all my perfumes and sprays in the fridge, rather than in the bath room- the heat & humidity in bathrooms can cause you to lose a third of each bottle to evaporation.

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Gift bundles

One of my very favourite things to do with D2BN products, is make gift bundles. It really gets my creative juices flowing.

Sometimes, a customer's request will be very specific, telling me exactly which products & fragrances they'd like me to bundle together. Other customers less specific- only telling me their budget and leaving the rest to me. One lovely customer's husband will text me "$xx, birthday, date- you know what she wants" and leaves it to me to put together something for his wife.

I have been asked to make the usual occasion gift bundles- birthdays, Mother's Day, Christmas etc, and also for some unusual occassions- meeting interstate family for the first time; Aussie packs to give overseas visitors;  my favourite being the "Congratulations on dumping the jerk!", closely followed by "Need an emergency gift for the feral neice"

I often make gift bundles to donate to schools, fetes, raffles, charity auctions and the like. I sometimes use this as an opportunity to have a play or experiment with something I haven't tried before, even if it's just new packaging or something.

Baby bundles are common. At one stage a few years ago, I had two customers (unknown to each other) order a bundle for a co-worker who was about to have twin boys. The two customers worked in two different places, but Canberra being as small as it is, I wondered- what are the odds? I checked with the customers, and sure enough, same couple, so I was able to make up two very different bundles. And the Mums of those two boys still buy my goats milk soap for their sons.

Sometimes people just want a small token gift for a pregnant co-worker or friend of the family, or something much more extravagant. I was recently asked to make a baby bundle for a family member about to have her 6th child and who "must have everything by now!", so my customer was looking for something a tiny bit different.

 I thought this would be a good opportunity to put together some "Green Sheep" gift packs. Jenni, Emma and some others had suggested my doing this a few times, so it was finally time for me to get to it. My "Green Sheep" gift bundles contain a "Where is the Green Sheep?" board book, a Goats Milk Soap, and a Tommy Tippee novelty bottle with a green sheep design- BPA free, of course! This went down so well with the receiver, I have put one aside for my gorgeous sister in law who is about to have baby number 8.

So far, I have to say my favourite type of gift bundling has been for weddings. My cousin, Kerrie, was married last year and asked me to make small wedding favours for all her guests (left) as well as thankyous for her bridesmaids, groomsmen, celebrant and organiser. That was so much fun! I branched out a bit into candles for that one. Another cousin is getting married next year, so I hope to be able to another wedding then.

So, if you're ever stuck, please don't hesitate to call! I may just be able to whip up the perfect, unique gift for whatever occasion you might like to celebrate.