Happy Holidays from the Team at Riverlea Soap

It has been a busy and long year. Thanks to all our regular clients, new clients and suppliers for making this a great year. Have a happy holiday and see you in 2011.

Welcome Tigger

I cannot believe I have been absent for SO long. Sorry guys. It has been a very busy Christmas period and I am quite glad to be able to take a short break, but before I do I wanted to introduce a new member to our team Tin aka "Tigger". It is great to have someone as passionate as us and who loves the soap as much as us. Welcome aboard, we need your energy to help with sales next year.

Welcome Eeyore!

Riverlea Soap recently had an addition to their team, a rep in the Western Cape region. She has proven to be reliable and hard working. Well done and WELCOME Paulette aka Eeyore! Piglet and Pooh are very happy to have you on board.

Piglet and Pooh visit Delmas November 2010

       

  

I never knew market preparation could be so much work! Piglet and Pooh had to pull and all nighter to get themselves ready. Then we had a LONG 4 hour drive and still had to set it all up.
We had a LOT of fun but too much work for us.
We met some amazing people  and hopefully we made some sort of an impression on them.

Piglet and Pooh are on the move!

Amongst all the "Doap" making and other soap making Piglet and Pooh will be travelling. Piglet's off the bright lights and cold, big city of London and Pooh bear is on her way the the boat show in Cape Town. She will also meet our new agent while she is down there.YAY
Hopefully we will have loads of exciting things to share when we are back.

 

The Garden Show

I was asked by a friend of mine to deliver some pamphlets for her for the stand she had this years garden show. I went along happily with no expectations. WELL I was blown away at all the effort and attention to detail that went into everyone's stands.

Have a look at some of the most beautiful - in my opinion.

 

A bed of Roses from the Midlands Rose Society

Summer is coming and so is Christmas

I know it is a while to Christmas BUT the fashion buyer in me will probably always plan ahead. Above is a sneak peak at our new tree decorations that are also soap - AKA Doap (decoration soap). So now I am a doap dealer, not my childhood dream but ya gotta do what ya gotta do! Okay laugh if you want but I think it is clever. They have a GREAT minty smell and are fun to look at and to use after Christmas.

See the catalogue here. Send us an email here to order your set of Doap.

Happy Birthday Piglet

Yay it's my birthday today! Would love to take the day off but no such luck.

Yay New signature- I like

Mathematics

I cannot take credit for this. I saw it on another blog but thought it was really amazing!

Beauty of Mathematics!!!!!!!

1 x 8 + 1= 9

12 x 8 + 2= 98

123 x 8 + 3= 987

1234 x 8 + 4= 9876

12345 x 8 + 5= 98765

123456 x 8 + 6= 987654

1234567 x 8 + 7= 9876543

12345678 x 8 + 8= 98765432

123456789 x 8 + 9= 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11

12 x 9 + 3 = 111

123 x 9 + 4 = 1111

1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111

12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111

123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111

1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111

12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111

123456789 x 9 +10= 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88

98 x 9 + 6 = 888

987 x 9 + 5 = 8888

9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888

98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888

987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888

9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888

98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888

Brilliant, isn't it?

And look at this symmetry:

1 x 1 = 1

11 x 11 = 121

111 x 111 = 12321

1111 x 1111 = 1234321

11111 x 11111 = 123454321

111111 x 111111 = 12345654321

1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321

11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321

111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321

Mind Boggling...

Now, take a look at this...

101%

From a strictly mathematical viewpoint:

What Equals 100%?

What does it mean to give MORE than 100%?

Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%?

We have all been in situations where someone wants you to GIVE OVER 100%...

How about ACHIEVING 101%? What equals 100%in life?

Here's a little mathematical formula that might help answer these questions:

If:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Is represented as:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26.

Then:

H-A-R-D-W-O- R- K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

And:

K-N-O-W-L-E- D-G-E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+ 5 = 96%

But:

A-T-T-I-T-U- D-E

1+20+20+9+20+ 21+4+5 = 100%

THEN, look how far the love of God will take you:

L-O-V-E-O-F- G-O-D

12+15+22+5+15+ 6+7+15+4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:

While Hard Work and Knowledge will get you close, and Attitude will

get you there, It's the Love of God that will put you over the top!

Have a Laugh!!

This is from an Mpumalanga Hospital Register, sent to me by 

my sister in London. 

1. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.

2. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.

4. Patient's medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only 

11kgs weight gain in the past three days.

5... She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was 

very hot in bed last night.

6. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

7. On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it 

disappeared.

8. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to 

be depressed.

9. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

10. Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.

11. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert but 

forgetful.

12. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

13. She is numb from her toes down.

14. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.

15. The skin was moist and dry.

16. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.

17. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

18. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

19. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, 

until she got a divorce.

20. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical 

therapy.

21. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.

22. The patient refused autopsy.

23. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

24. Skin: somewhat pale but present.

26. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.

27. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

Truffle Soap - Well sort of

     
After the chocolate course I have been dying to try my hand at the techniques I have learned and try to apply them to soap. It is ALL ABOUT soap isn't it? Will there ever be a time when I am not obsessed with soap and soap making? I dream about soap and the things I can create when I am asleep and pretty much do the same when I am awake!

Odie

Just Gorgeous Chocolate Workshop

  

Can you believe I made these truffles myself? I had the pleasure of attending a chocolate workshop hosted by Just Gorgeous. Click here for the website (still under construction but some things are working) and here for the blog. This is the most fun I have had in a long time and I learnt a new skill. Thanks Lara and Ashley.  

 

Odie

Piglet and Pooh Bear go to Market

Saturday 31 July
Thomas More Market. Linda and I had a chance to ply our wares at the market on Saturday. Fun but hard work.

 

Odie

Ladies Workshop

        

Last night was a blast! Great fun and wine was had had by all. Oh of course some products were made.

Odie

Happy Birthday Pooh Bear

Yesterday, Monday 26th, was Linda's (AKA Pooh Bear) birthday.
Hope you had a great weekend away and are revived and ready for a LOT of work.

Piglet Introduces Pooh Bear!!

This will confuse you but I - Odie - have signed in as Linda to introduce her to you.

My husband has always called me "Piglet" and the name has now just stuck.

A few months ago Linda, my cousin, officially joined Riverlea Soap. After years of being the unofficial guinea pig, she now gets paid to be tested on. And now Piglet and Pooh (Linda) test their creations on each other. And who says we are against testing on animals?!!!!!

Ha ha.

Will I ever be sick of making Soap?

I must be one of the luckiest people around. I love what I do. I am just wondering if there will be a day when I don't. In the mean time I will enjoy it. Making the new "Market Cupcakes"

 

Soccer Fever

I had the great fortune to attend the soccer match between Spain and Switzerland on Wednesday the 16th June. WOW. What an experience. I have to be honest - I was quite sceptical that we as a country could pull it off. I have been put in my place. It was really amazing. The stadium is beautiful, the match was exciting and the experience on the whole was first class. Well done Durban and well done South Africa!

Ginger Spice Recipe

I am going to assume that you already know how to make Cold Process Soap.
If you do not then click here

I would also like to thank Crawford from Woodman designs who has a MARVELOUS product - SoapMaker software. Without this program my little company would be in shambles, I am sure.

Ginger Spice part 1 - The Curls

BASE OILS:

Sunflower 600.96 gr

Stearic Acid 42.93 gr

Coconut 429.26 gr

Palm 1073.14gr

LYE & WATER:

Lye 290.5g Discount: 7%

Water 727.7g

ADDITIVES:

Base Oil: Carrot Oil 45.53 ml

Color: Orange PT 72.84 ml

MIX Carrot and Orange colour tog.

Heat your oils to - 100 F

Cool your water to H2O- 100 F

Once they are at the correct temps then add your Lye to your oils and stick blend until trace. Add the colour and carrot oil then pour into your mould.

Leave overnight to set, then take out of the mould, cut into slices and curl it.

Ginger Spice part 2

BASE OILS:

Sunflower 190.40 gr

Stearic Acid 13.60 gr

Coconut 136 gr

Wooden Spoon 340 gr

ADDITIVES:

EO: Cinnamon 7.62 ml

EO: Ginger 3.81 ml

EO: Orange 7.62 ml

Powders: Orris root powder 1.52 ml

LYE & WATER:

Lye 92g Discount: 7%

Water 231g

Place your curls in your mould.

Heat your oils to - 100 F

Cool your water to H2O- 100 F

Once they are at the correct temps then add your Lye to your oils and stick blend until trace.

Add your Essential Oils, blend a little more.

Pour the oil and lye mix into your mould being careful not to mess up your curls.

 

Cover with an old blanket to keep warm and leave over night. Turn out from the mould and cut, leave to cure for 4-6 weeks.