Return of The Soap Lady

The annual Christmas at the Barn event is over again for another year. To everyone's relief the weather held and the sun shone for us all day. As usual the day was a huge success and a large amount of money was amassed for the Cancer Charity. Most of the familiar faces were present, although we all missed Angela not being there this year.

Lucinda was marvellous - as lovely and welcoming as ever, while the excellent Nigel, ably assisted by Brad, did a superb job of keeping the traffic flowing smoothly along the narrow country lane, and ferrying us back in the Land Rover to the neighbouring farmyard where we had left our cars. 

An excited Cyril, (a lively Spaniel) was closeted, but later escaped, tail wagging exuberantly at one hundred miles per hour, frantically eager to participate in the goings on.  Unlike Flora's beloved cat, who once released from confinement in the bedroom upstairs, beat a hasty retreat under the table at the sight of so many people in the kitchen.

The soaps were duly admired 

and the stall complimented. 

I had no sooner arrived when I resumed the mantle of "The Soap Lady". 

The only problem arose when all the boxes that I had made up sold out first, leaving me with a rather bare looking stall and disappointed potential customers who wanted to purchase boxed soaps rather than single soaps,

but unfortunately the time element had rather dictated the number of boxes. Ah well, the very fact that the boxed soaps were so popular had to be a good thing, and my disappointed customers were informed that boxes were available to be made up to order.

This year I had taken my inspiration for the soaps not only from the flowers and herbs grown at the allotment, 

but also from a source that I have had considerable exposure to over the past few months...... namely a paint chart and tester pots!

Omitting the stronger shades that I have used before for my Winter Spice collection, I opted instead for a very subtle colour of soaps, lightly infusing them with different herbs to produce a soft palette of different colours.

There is no doubt that my duck-egg blue and pale pink display had more of the look of Summer than a Christmas theme, 

but with the sun streaming through the windows and the merciful absence of the raucous Christmas songs that often accompany many a Christmas Craft Fair, (Noddy Holder informing us again that 'It's Christmaaaaaaas....") it was hard to believe that it was actually November and Christmas is only a matter of weeks away. 

Indeed, I confess I was very pleased when several people commented on how "French" the stall looked.

As a well-earned glass of wine was enjoyed at the end of the day, everyone's thoughts turned to next year's event.......... After a night's rest it will of course be time to start planning again!

Big Hug and Thanks to Lucinda!

xxx