I'm from N. Wales and just retired from being Skills Officer  for adults with learning difficulties so now I've time ( I hope)  to do things.

I've "made things" ever since I can remember and have printed stuff and Corn Dollies on my web site but haven't yet put the handmade felt things on nor the soaps (melt'n'pour with butters, honey, beeswax, herbs, oatmeal etc.) or herbal infusions with oatmeal, salts, butter shavings and some with bubbles as I've only recently had the assessment/certification through and haven't had time to take photos yet.

I found this site at the weekend and have been browsing around ever since - still haven't read all the forum posts.

ElaineJ

Hello Elaine

I'm new too but already feeling at home... WOW you have a safety assessment! Briliant... cant wait to see photos.

Emmag

Hi Elaine,

Hey, to be honest, we are all new here so you've just joined a whole bunch of newbies, it's just some are slightly less new than others, lol.

Thank you for introducing yourself, it's fantastic to have you here.  The forum is growing very quickly but the way things operate is all down to the member's suggestions and comments, so do feel absolutely free to make suggestions.

You sound wonderfully creative and it must be wonderful for such creativity to be liberated now that you have more time!  If you have a website, please submit your weblink to the community and (here she goes again), would love to see the piccies!

Thank you so much for joining us and we can't wait for you to pass on your pearls of wisdom and I also hope you gain some useful knowledge by chatting with others.

Thanks again and a huge warm welcome from me!!   

I've put in the weblinks (I think) - one for my craft site and one for my personal site (no soap but there's info from the uk.food+drink.indian newsgroup and lots of steam engine pics as Jones is something of an "anorak")

I have one or two pics of soap which I'll sort out and post when I find the right forum place.

ElaineJ

Hi Elaine,

I just published your links!  I love the family website, the introductions gave me a giggle, especially Mr Kit's occupation, lol!  Do you do craft fairs and things like that to sell your creations?  I love those straw dollies.

If you want to email the piccies to me, that would be great.  I'm still working on the gallery but I'm beginning to get quite a few to go on there now, the pictures of soaps and lotions the merrier!!

Sadly Mr. Kit is RIP - I'll have to get a pic of current cat, Garrett, online - actually lots of that site needs updating as Child is now 28 and a double MA(first)!!!

I've put a page with descriptions at
http://www.briallen.co.uk/misc/Soaps/
(thought it would be easier than email - you can grab the stuff from there if that's OK)

Aww!  RIP Mr Kit & well done on the MA (child, lol) 

Those soaps are fantastic!  I love the coal soaps, how unusual and the loofa soaps are so interesting - do they exfoliate too?

I will dip back in as soon as I have set up the gallery and take you up on your kind offer of the pictures - Thank You! 

Well it is good to have you here & look forward to seeing more of your creations and hearing more about you and yours... 

It's a very friendly group - going by everbody's posts on the boards.

I looked at MP sites and bought a small kit, then I bought an assessment package from JaS (wasn't available yesterday) but quickly realised that it had lots of stuff that I wouldn't use and didn't have lots of stuff that I wanted to use (honey, more EOs and herbs) so I joined the two ukYahooGroups on Soaping and MeltandPour and quickly found an assessor (think he's the same as Helen's as he is not able to take on any more home soapers/cosmetics makers).

I've put my soap pictures at
http://www.briallen.co.uk/misc/Soaps/
until Helen has sorted out a gallery.

ElaineJ

Elaine Your soaps are lovely... I am really keen on developing bakery cakery type soaps but not sure about certifying yet.... do you know if they are labelled for decorative purposes only, if I could get away with not getting them assessed? Also what about pet products do they need to be certified too?

Also love the corn dollies - they are fab and a dying art!

Thanks for the compliments.

I don't know about decorative soap certifying or pet products - I'll go elsewhere and check and get back to you - there's a great little petshop in town, attached to vet surgery.

Hi, Elaine and welcome. I've just had a look at your soaps and they are lovely!

Went to the petshop and asked - they sell stuff by Johnson and Sinclair but the shampoos and things didn't have any info on - we looked at a few and there weren't any ingredients listed. The girl gave me Sinclair's web address - but there's nothing on there.

She also said that if someone's pet has sore paws etc. the vet prescribes (vet owns the shop).

So I've just done a google and found:

www.scavenger.net/product.php?productid=2196&cat=311&page=5

which has:

Product details
Document date    February 2007
Document type    UK Market Synopsis
Publisher    Cobweb Information Ltd
Price    £11.99

Product access    This is an electronic document in PDF format. You will be sent an e-mail with download instructions shortly after payment.

Contents

    * Introduction
    * Market summary
    * Key statistical indicators
    * Key sector developments and market segmentation
    * Consumer profile
    * Current market trends
    * Emerging trends and influences
    * Standards and legislation
    * Key sources of sector information

The pet care and pet services sector encompasses a broad range of animal-related products, services and activities. It can be divided into three main areas of activity:

    * The provision of pet care, including veterinary services, complementary therapies and boarding facilities.
    * The provision of pet services, such as grooming, walking and obedience training services.
    * The sale of products designed specifically for pets, including clothing, toys and food.

This report looks at the business opportunities arising in the pet care and pet services sector. It reviews the key trends facing the market, and considers potential future developments. It also looks at the major standards and legislation affecting businesses operating within the sector, and lists sources of further information.

That's fantastic information Elaine, thank you!

I think emmag was wanting this sort of information if my memory serves me correct!