Since my last post, much has happened...
I quit my job as I almost had a nervous breakdown in January 2015 due to authorised workplace bullying. If anyone wants to work for Apple - DON'T. Seriously, one of the worst jobs and the perks aren't that great. Since then I have been passed pillar to post around the workforce. Bullied in my next job and I am the one who gets terminated, not the woman doing the bullying. Next was a cash in hand job when the barely post teens thought they were better than me, lied to the boss and got me fired. Heck, what is it with me this year?? I am currently working a temp job that takes me on average 2.5 hours EACH WAY to travel. Not happy and I am suffering the consequences of no home life, just work, travel, bed.
In between all of this, I have finally moved. Back home to the house I grew up in. Now, it is just me, the man and the fur babies. Mum and Dad are now gone and the two greatest gifts I got from them was life and the chance to own a home. All mine, including leaky roof, rusty guttering and my now half painted lounge room in two shades of lilac with a ceiling that still needs to be prepped and painted. One day I will get to it, along with the other walls, bathroom and kitchen renovation and if we hit it rich, an extension for another 2 bedrooms.
Soap...well, I picked up a twice a month market in April and Sunday was my last day at the Berowra Fine Food Market. Expensive as hell per stall (could be worse) and I was barely making back stall fee. I have picked up another two markets with another organiser. Bella Vista Farms and now Cherrybrook. On the downside, there is another soap seller but she is selling non handmade soaps at a fraction of mine. I can't win. But the bellydance community has had my back with a great day at the Wollongong Bellydance Festival this last weekend.
My soaping time is very limited right now with new fragrances screaming to be tested and old favourites (9 in total) in desperate need of being remade. Yay for weekends where I don't have a market. I just need those winning lotto numbers to get myself rolling and have my store with soap, corsets and all things girly and luxe.
I do still feel the need to mention a bad experience. A few people know about this and know the woman involved...
A woman came to my stall about 2 months ago desperately wanting my soap to sell alongside her aromatherapy line. She came, she saw, she sniffed, she selected, she paid and then proceeded to tell me that all my EO blends were wrong and only she knew how to blend as she is a qualified aromatherapist. She then also proceeded to tell me that she was repackaging my soap to sell as hers with no mention of the maker. Whilst I was quite annoyed, I kept my mouth shut to be polite and an agreement was made that we would not venture to each other's markets. Well, she broke that agreement almost immediately as she turned up the next weekend at one of my regular markets. She has then proceeded to tell all and sundry around her how bad my product is how it is problematic and how DARE I turn up at HER market. She also bad mouthed a friend who makes a healing balm accusing them of using a premade base and not making it from scratch. She has also told her customers not to deal with me, fellow stallholders not to deal with me and again, remind them just how bad my products and I are. This lady has also bad mouthed me to a fellow soaper who sent me a copy of the email with said slander in it. She uses a thyroid problem and her autistic son as an excuse for not remembering our agreement that was reiterated on at least three occasions the day she purchased my stock. She is one of the reasons why I am leaving Berowra market as she threatened me that if I miss one market, she will take my place. And she has. For any Aussie soaper, you may know who she is, if not, message me if you would like to know. She is difficult and plays the victim well. Even market organisers that I know are wary of her. 'Nuff said.
Back to soap... Bath bombs have been added along with foot bombs. I really want to add more to the line up but I have several things running against me - time, money and will anyone buy the product. I have had solid bubble bar ice cream scoops just sit for months without a peep. Prices are fair for a huge scoop that you would get 4 baths out of. I may need to reconsider packaging, again. I am stumped.
Anyways, back to soaping this weekend and I will try to attempt, weather permitting, to clean out and tidy one of two sheds. The smaller for soaping, the larger one I will have to do later when I have the $$ to hire a skip bin for the years of built up junk.
Soapy love and light
Kayla
Coming soon: an open letter to market organisers
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Friday, December 26, 2014
Bring on 2015
I know I have been quiet for a very long time, but due to personal issues, I have kept away from the public eye.
2014 has been the biggest year from hell. What started out positive with a new job quickly turned around to being a nightmare. I lost my dance teaching job thanks to my day job and my day job is the job from hell. I know we aren't supposed to like work, but working for Apple has been THE WORST experience EVER. Bullying is rife, not caring and frequently making the job harder and harder to achieve targets is getting beyond laughable (believe me, I am not laughing, quite the opposite actually).
Soaping... What I have learned so far:
1. Never underestimate the popularity of Dragons Blood
2. 10 degrees Celsius is NOT a good difference in oils/lye, especially when working with cream in the batter. Seized before I even got the fragrance in.
3. Definitely freeze your goats milk before setting off on a batch.
4. Never, ever, ever make bath bombs when it is raining, overcast or at least humid. Not happy.
5. Soap cupcakes... Why? The time and effort, are they really worth the results. Made 2 batches and I think that will be it. (2015 update, I still have most of them and can't even give the buggers away!)
6. Stick to in the pot swirls, the other techniques, whilst gorgeous, take time and time is money.
7. Lilac scent is not as popular as I thought it would be. Yep, left with LOTS.
8. No posting massage bars, exfoliating bars or bath truffles in summer. Arrive in a mess. Not happy.
9. I love my silicone mould but love my 2.5kg wooden moulds even more.
10. People have loved my soap. I am so happy I started this venture. Now to make 2015 even better.
11. Heat transfer method. Hell, no! Never again! Talk about acceleration, crap and that was before the fragrance went in!
Bright blessings everyone for an amazing 2015.
Soapy hugs
Kayla
Black Peacock Soapery
2014 has been the biggest year from hell. What started out positive with a new job quickly turned around to being a nightmare. I lost my dance teaching job thanks to my day job and my day job is the job from hell. I know we aren't supposed to like work, but working for Apple has been THE WORST experience EVER. Bullying is rife, not caring and frequently making the job harder and harder to achieve targets is getting beyond laughable (believe me, I am not laughing, quite the opposite actually).
Soaping... What I have learned so far:
1. Never underestimate the popularity of Dragons Blood
2. 10 degrees Celsius is NOT a good difference in oils/lye, especially when working with cream in the batter. Seized before I even got the fragrance in.
3. Definitely freeze your goats milk before setting off on a batch.
4. Never, ever, ever make bath bombs when it is raining, overcast or at least humid. Not happy.
5. Soap cupcakes... Why? The time and effort, are they really worth the results. Made 2 batches and I think that will be it. (2015 update, I still have most of them and can't even give the buggers away!)
6. Stick to in the pot swirls, the other techniques, whilst gorgeous, take time and time is money.
7. Lilac scent is not as popular as I thought it would be. Yep, left with LOTS.
8. No posting massage bars, exfoliating bars or bath truffles in summer. Arrive in a mess. Not happy.
9. I love my silicone mould but love my 2.5kg wooden moulds even more.
10. People have loved my soap. I am so happy I started this venture. Now to make 2015 even better.
11. Heat transfer method. Hell, no! Never again! Talk about acceleration, crap and that was before the fragrance went in!
Bright blessings everyone for an amazing 2015.
Soapy hugs
Kayla
Black Peacock Soapery
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
MiA & Depression
Hi everyone
Al huge apology to those who drop by my blog. In recent month, work has gotten progressively harder to deal with. I work in a form of call centre. I actually work from home and the call are routed to me. In recent month due to staff leaving in droves and managements desire to make our job even harder, my depression has returned with a vengeance and I shut all and sundry out. Everything that I enjoy becomes a chore, it is easier for me to sit and cry or sleep.
Situational depression or adjustment disorder, call it what you will. I was diagnosed with it officially around 7 years ago. My then boss sent me to a psychiatrist (yep, I worked for a Dr.) as he claimed I had anger issues (arrogant Dr. vs Gemini). The verdict, situational depression, adjustment disorder or when life gets too much, I emotionally shut down.
At present, we are living in a duplex that is falling apart as the owner and/or the estate agent refuses to repair anything (we'll do it when you move out) and on top of that, the couple who live upstairs, are hot heads and the guy especially. For years we have listened to the arguements, the beatings and aggression. We are trying to move but it has been a long process. We are near the end but still have more things to shift out from the new home (old home really, moving back to the family home as everyone is now at rest) before we can full on move it. Still hoping for early 2015.
So between crappy rental house, agro man upstairs, a slow move, issues with the dance school I used to teach for (that is another story in itself) reduced work hours and craptastic working conditions, I have gone downhill emotionally and physically over the last 6 months to the point where I am frequently sick, injuries are not healing quickly and the social isolation has really made me retract from everything. I am still making soap, just don't seem to brood over it as much as I used to. I am hoping this will pass soon, I really do.
In a nutshell, I will be back, but if I am quiet and MiA, you know why. The black dog has come around and he isn't leaving any time soon. Bring on 2015 and a brighter future.
Soapy hugs
Kayla
Al huge apology to those who drop by my blog. In recent month, work has gotten progressively harder to deal with. I work in a form of call centre. I actually work from home and the call are routed to me. In recent month due to staff leaving in droves and managements desire to make our job even harder, my depression has returned with a vengeance and I shut all and sundry out. Everything that I enjoy becomes a chore, it is easier for me to sit and cry or sleep.
Situational depression or adjustment disorder, call it what you will. I was diagnosed with it officially around 7 years ago. My then boss sent me to a psychiatrist (yep, I worked for a Dr.) as he claimed I had anger issues (arrogant Dr. vs Gemini). The verdict, situational depression, adjustment disorder or when life gets too much, I emotionally shut down.
At present, we are living in a duplex that is falling apart as the owner and/or the estate agent refuses to repair anything (we'll do it when you move out) and on top of that, the couple who live upstairs, are hot heads and the guy especially. For years we have listened to the arguements, the beatings and aggression. We are trying to move but it has been a long process. We are near the end but still have more things to shift out from the new home (old home really, moving back to the family home as everyone is now at rest) before we can full on move it. Still hoping for early 2015.
So between crappy rental house, agro man upstairs, a slow move, issues with the dance school I used to teach for (that is another story in itself) reduced work hours and craptastic working conditions, I have gone downhill emotionally and physically over the last 6 months to the point where I am frequently sick, injuries are not healing quickly and the social isolation has really made me retract from everything. I am still making soap, just don't seem to brood over it as much as I used to. I am hoping this will pass soon, I really do.
In a nutshell, I will be back, but if I am quiet and MiA, you know why. The black dog has come around and he isn't leaving any time soon. Bring on 2015 and a brighter future.
Soapy hugs
Kayla
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Neglecting My Blog, But Not My Soap!
It has been a hectic and stressful few weeks and alas my little blog was neglected even though I have made plenty of soap and have had a few hauls come in. Hectic is about to pick up again and the stress, well, in a nutshell, I am currently trapped in a crappy job and desperately trying to get out.
I have had some great sales over the last month with orders coming through from family and friends who I really cannot thank enough for their support. Here's hoping more will come in for Christmas. I have two sales gigs to go unless I have other opportunities arise.
Soap porn below!
Soapy hugs
Kayla xx
I have had some great sales over the last month with orders coming through from family and friends who I really cannot thank enough for their support. Here's hoping more will come in for Christmas. I have two sales gigs to go unless I have other opportunities arise.
Soap porn below!
Soapy hugs
Kayla xx
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
More Soap Porn and Musings
I have been posting my soaps up on Facebook for quite a while. It was only recent that I pulled a Facebook page together for the business side of things. I never believed (after other business pages of mine have never sold a thing) that I would start selling soapy goodies almost straight away. Three gift baskets later and a custom order for lemon myrtle and goats milk. Wow, hopefully I am on the right path and I can leave this soul destroying job.
Also, I have made so much soap, I am quickly running out of base ingredients!
Soapy hugs
Kayla xx
Also, I have made so much soap, I am quickly running out of base ingredients!
Soapy hugs
Kayla xx
Monday, September 8, 2014
Mini Haul: Week of 8 Sept 2014
A mint hail from Natural Candle Supply. I am still not sure about the fragrances as they seem quite subtle to my nose. Here's hoping.
Soapy hugs
Kayla xx
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