Hi all,

My name is Karen and I've caught the soap making bug!!! 

I live in Essex with husband Nick and daughter Ella and and have spent loads upon loads of hours researching and making body care products after it was suggested a year ago that making bath bombs for Christmas presents would be a fabulous idea!!!!!!

Sadly, I didnt get to make all the gifts I intended as I lost my Mum very suddenly and totally unexpectedly just before Christmas.  However, through the midst of the pain and grief I have made the decision to seize and experience to the full opportunities of which soap making and body care products is one.

I still have the day job so experiementing and putting my PIF together for assessment and certification is limited to evenings and weekends.  There seems to be so much paperwork - it seems to be taking forever!!!  The forums in Fresholi have helped so much over the past few weeks since I located the website and I am sure that I will be "bothering" you with lots of questions in the coming weeks!!!

It is great to read all your introductions - so much knowledge and experience as well as being great supports to each other.

Speak again soon......    Karen M   

Hi Karen and welcome. I am new here too, but I have been made very welcome.  I am at about the stage you are at, made lots of soaps and considering getting certificates, probably in the new year when I have time to dedicate to it.
Hope to speak to you soon.
Corrie

Hi Karen lovely to have you here so sorry to hear about your mum I lost both my parents with just 6 months of each other and yes its very hard...
anyway keep up the good work and hope to chat to you soon take care Edith

Hello Karen,

A very warm welcome to the forum.  I'm glad to hear that it has been useful to you over the past few weeks and I'm thrilled to bits you have decided to join us.  Goodness, last Christmas couldn't have been much fun for you, I am very sorry Karen.

There is such a mixed bag of experience here and everyone has something to offer (but I'm sure you know this already  ) - its great that you are making progress with the PIP (a bit of a slog isn't it) but once its done, its done!! 

Thanks again for joining us Karen, I'm sure your fresh knowledge of PIP'ing will be bait for many fisher

Ooh!  There are going to be some changes made to the forum over the next week, so it might be worth just having a peep at the annoucement regarding this - just to let you know 

Good to have you here!!

 :hi:Hi and Welcome to these parts...
I am so sorry for your loss...
I got my certs recently too..and with all the paperwork, website, and other bits...I sooo relish the times I get to actually make soap!!
See you around!

Hiya...

I'm a newbie on this board myself...

But it's a nice place to spend some time and full of really helpful information - so I'm sure you'll enjoy it here...

x

Hi Karen, Sorry to hear about your loss.

welcome to the board and the addiction,
 I used to be an Essex girl myself, am not that far away now only in Suffolk.
Every one on here is really friendly, and easy to chat to.

if you have any problems, or questions with body and bath products including soap, yell, one of us can probably help you out.

I work from home so I'm around most afternoons and evenings until late.

Mai

Hi Mai,

Suffolk is a beautiful county.  I love Southwold...!  I am not originally from Essex but my husband is and certainly my daughter Ella is an Essex girl!  Live in a village in mid Essex which is great.

Do you sell your products in Essex?  Would love to see them.  Do you also use local suppliers as keen to minimise environmental impact and support local businesses where possible....

Karen X

Hello Karen,

You'll find a great deal of info here.

I don't know Essex very well - had a three month Hospital Practice (placement) in Romford in the 1960s (not the best part of Essex I think) and last year we had a long weekend, staying at a pub in Thaxted and going to the show at Barleylands, apart from the steam, tractors and horses there was a good craft section - both outside and in marquee, plus the permanent workshops on site (goodly glass) - not much soap though.