Ethics are at the core of the Bellingham Soap Company’s ‘Working with Nature’ range of skincare products. Soaps are handmade, hand cut and hand wrapped. Moisturisers are helped into their pristine jars by teaspoons, not machinery. You won’t find any mass production in their country workshop, just fine artisan skills practiced keenly since 1997.

I’m always curious about people’s work studios, the equipment and utensils they use and the processes they follow. This is owner, Allyson’s workshop.

For UK orders, buy direct from www.bellinghamsoapcompany.co.uk. Free postage applies to orders over £30. And if you want to buy in dollars, go to www.allybsc.etsy.com.

Just time for one more post before I head off to start the weekend.

Herban Lifestyle is about well being. Recognising that everything we put onto our skin is absorbed into our bodies, Herban Lifestyle promises never to use chemicals, preservatives, synthetics, artificial fragrances, artificial colors or GMOs. Not ever. All of their lotions, potions and creams are made from natural and organic ingredients. And what’s more, they care about the planet too and have a pretty impressive list of what they do to lessen their carbon footprint. Right down to the inks they use on their rather attractive bottles.

Find out more and shop online at www.herbanlifestyle.com.

Don’t forget Fairtrade Fortnight.

A Christmas stocking wouldn’t be the same without a few toiletries. From Hetty Horner’s garden workshop comes a luxury range of handmade soaps, bath bombs, scented candles and perfumed tree decorations.

But hurry, there’s only a few more posting days left. Go to www.hettyhorner.co.uk.

Wooden Heart with Rosehip - £2.50
Vanilla Spice Scented Candle - £4.00
Ceramic Candle Set - £4.00
Glitter Pink Bath Bomb - £2.80
Wooden Star - Fragranced with Frankincense & Myrrh - £2.50
Cook’s Soap - £3.00

Hetty Horner brings you a quintessentially English range of handmade soaps, bath salts, bath bombs and scented candles. From a garden workshop in Wiltshire, these luxurious items have been created using the finest raw ingredients, inspired by the countryside. The packaging is designed to encourage re-use and recycling, causing minimal impact to the environment.

Whether you’re looking for a gift or you’re treating yourself to something special, you’ll love this little corner of rural England.

And check out the Gardener’s Small Gift Box. It would make the ideal Father’s Day gift.

Andrea Garland is an Aromatherapist who has produced a stunning range of natural beauty products. Everything you see on her website has been handmade in her Hackney kitchen and made from natural, ethically sourced products. Absolutely nothing has been tested on animals.

Andrea’s wonderfully indulgent potions and creams are beautifully packaged in amber glass bottles which can be recycled and re-used. The hand drawn labels add to the unique and personal presentation and wouldn’t look out of place in an apothecary’s shop window. And the eclectic range of vintage tins and pill boxes filled up with organic lip balm are just delightful.

Shop online at www.andreagarland.co.uk or in person at Brick Lane’s Upmarket, most Sundays.

If you’re feeling a bit sluggish after the Bank Holiday, sit back and relax for a few minutes and read all about Elizabeth Carnahan of Longcroft Soap and a typical day in her life.

The Day Begins

My day usually begins at 7.15. The first thing I do is make my way to the kitchen and fire up the espresso machine. I like a few minutes of quiet time before waking the children for school, so I’ll drink a couple of cups of ristretto while I check my orders and email, and make a plan for the day.

Along with making soap, I also run a cosmetics-supply company. Most days, I’ll have a few orders to fill, so I head over to my warehouse after the morning school run to pack parcels. Once that’s done, I go back home and make soap.

‘The best bit is adding the fragrance and colours because they’re what give the soap its personality’

There are eight varieties of soap in my current collection, so I try to make at least five kilos of each kind every week. I find this helps me keep enough stock to meet both my retail and wholesale demand. The highlight of my day is making the soap batches because I love the creativity it affords me. It’s always exciting to the raw ingredients (oils, water, and caustic soda) come together to form the soap. The best bit is adding the fragrance and colours because they’re what give the soap its personality. I love adding my signature hearts to the tops of the soap loaves.

I also try to do a bit of packaging every day. It isn’t my favourite task, but at the same time, it isn’t demanding, and I find I do my best thinking while my hands are engaged with paper, tape, and scissors. I try to use only biodegradable packaging, and keeping the products interesting can be a challenge. Lately, I’ve been using recycled scrapbook paper to wrap my soaps, and I’m really pleased with how they look.

‘After lunch, I’ll take a short walk if the weather is nice’

Lunch is usually an informal affair and I’ll generally have something simple. My favourite lunchtime dish at the moment is a cheese toastie with homemade tomato soup. Not very exciting, but it hits the spot on a regular basis!

After lunch, I’ll take a short walk if the weather is nice. If the weather isn’t great, I’ll work on my latest Showcase piece for Saponifier Magazine.

Mid-afternoon is parcel pick-up time, so I make sure everything is ready to go when my courier arrives. Then it’s time for the afternoon school run and my working day is effectively over. I collect the children from school, help them with their homework, and start dinner.

I love being self-employed because it gives me the flexibility to run a successful business and manage a busy family life. It also gives me a tremendous amount of freedom, both personally and professionally. I feel extremely fortunate to work for myself because I wouldn’t be happy stuck in an office somewhere.

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You can buy Longcroft Soap products online at www.longcroftsoap.co.uk.

A big thank to Elizabeth for sharing her day with us.

Lady Wurlitzer, purveyor of fine lather, cordially invites you to her new online home. Lady W made her sudsy debut at the Miso Funky Market back in June 2006. Since then she’s been keeping us well groomed and squeaky clean with her indulgent bath soaks, silky balms and rich lotions.

And who is Nana Moon? A bit of an enigma, Nana Moon is drawn to anything shiny, pretty or handmade. She has recently teamed up with the glamorous Lady Wurlitzer and the two of them can be found sipping tea and eating cupcakes in their elegant parlour. (Well they do in my head.) Having accumulated an impressive hoard over the years, Nana Moon has thrown open her lavender scented cupboards to vintage lovers, handmade aficionados and retro romantics everywhere.

You can buy online at www.ladywurlitzer.com. And while you’re there check out We are Fuzzy Felt Folk for vintage and thrift events, gigs and parties.

If you’ve been walking around with your eyes closed, it may have escaped your attention that it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday. (For the UK anyway.) If you’re struggling for inspiration we’ve put together a few ideas.

1. Evelope and Tag Set by Beverley Hicklin

2. Candyfloss Neckwarmer at Betty Joy

3. Wristie in Ivory at Tilly Jane

4. Ice Cream Cushion by Hunky Dory Home

5. Vanilla Bean Noel (Bath and Body Works Type) Goat’s Milk Soap by Cozy Moments

6. Blue Elephant Key Fob at Sweet Acorn Store

7. Geisha Girls T-Shirt at Cute Culture Clothing

8. ‘You’ll make a good girl crazy, if you don’t treat her like a lady’ Necklace by JBee Jewellery

9. Annabelle Clutch Bag at Betty Joy

10. Wool Scarf- Recycled Argyle by Thinking Mama

11. Hidden Tulips Tee by Urban Tulip

12. Waiting - Original Coloured Pencil Drawing on Paper by Art Angel

Note: Some of these sellers are based overseas. Therefore, if you need delivery by the weekend you’ll need to get your skates on.