Handmade Journals

I am making some of these 'to order'. Love the idea that the purchaser has in mind for them. She is gifting them with a book 'to our children's children' which is full of inspirational quotes and ideas for preserving your family history for years to come. The journals have 'home cut' heavy weight cartridge - approx 50 sheets inside and beautiful patterned papers for the front and back covers. After checking out the book she is giving, I think I'd like a copy myself!

Remarkables Market

The girls were keen to sell some of their 'bath fizzers' at the markets that have started up near Remarkables Park. On Saturday they had their opportunity. Miss K worked like a trooper on selling them, Miss A however seemed to just be there for the profits...Mr E was only there for a bit...then Jase took him home! The view we had out from behind our table was fantastic (photo top left) That's the base of the Remarkables. When we turned around the view was just as nice (photo bottom right). After paying for their table and buying first a punnet of raspberries and then a punnet of cherries, a bacon buttie each, a coffee and a crepe for mum and three water bottle purchases they still walked away with some pocket money. All good. They are keen to do another one later in January but with only a few fizzers left...they'll need to use their profits to get some more of the materials to make them. Bubblegum, turkish delight and green apple were the best sellers. They even gave their recipe and instructions to kids who purchased fizzers...some holiday fun perhaps?

we've been making again!

non-paper creations

The girls did some online research to find some recipes to make the bath blasts above. They are deciding on names for their bath balls...frangipani sparkle and peppermint twinkle are the current favourite names :-) We have ordered more citric acid to make some more of these as gifts.

While they were busy researching, I set to making some castile soap based on directions from Wendyl that I read in her 'Home Companion' book. I can see lots of possiblities with this recipe but the test will be when we can actually use it in 3 weeks or so after it has fully dried out. I also think this batch will last quite a while to get through!

There was quite a bit of 'chemistry' learning going on for the kids with both of these recipes...saponification, acids, bases...