Family – Page 2

Candy Floss Wax Melts Coming Soon

These could be the best melts at South Shore Soap Company so far. Basically there is a formula to making melts if you want them to be long lasting in terms of scent and cuteness.

Sometimes melts look flaky or the added mica forms clumps. Whilst others may not notice, the flaws of badly made melts can have effects on the scent burning time. If you use parfum oil it has a combustion point so you must be careful. The melted wax can pop and bubble.

The best formula for good quality soy wax is to melt the wax to no higher than 90 degrees then add the colour. Let the wax cool to 70 degrees before adding the oil or parfum. Pour into moulds at 55 degrees.

These are Candy Floss Melts and I am seriously telling you they smell just beautiful. They are non toxic. Cruelty and allergen free.

And a good point to make is you do not need a license to make and sell melts. So when you see all these people banging on about their melts being compliant. All they have done is stick a warning label on the packet. But of course, It is necessary to do this as there are those with no common sense out there. Most of which can be found on sites like Facebook and Twitter for most of their time. No wonder the world is in a mess. I believe social media is a ‘social’ or ‘bulletin’ bit of kit and should not become a lifestyle that consumes hours of time each day. Either let everyone go on it or ban it all together. Erasing opinion only diverts it and all opinion is life.

Candy Floss Wax Melts coming soon to South Shore Soap Company. I do realise there is a lot of work ahead but life is not just about money and rivalry. It is a balance. All we need is a space, some crafty things, our favourite food, always Cafe Jazz (and a blog to treasure our best and worst moments). There’s enough problems in a day without looking for drama.

Tiff at South Shore Soap Company. X

May 9, 2021May 17, 2021 by Tiffany Belle Harper

Pink House at the Back and p.s.

This last year has flown by. If you have been following here thank you! I have my soap and wax ready to set up and continue with my hobby aka South Shore Soap Company. A few rooms to dress – but since I wanted a few days off, I decided to stay at the back of our place and get some kind of organisation with the little yard. We are pink! I haven’t spent out on anything as I already have too much clutter so we potted up the tubs I have collected over the years. There is so much I want to do out here but this is a start.

Thanks this week to everyone who has helped here. You are always so welcome. It is still time bonding with new space and energy. To sage, to feel the crystals below the boards manifest their work. To watch plants grow (hopefully). To stay in a good place with an open heart and not allow any negativity to hinder such a great and transitional journey. As for the yard – next year we will be a bit more creative but this is lovely for now. It’s clean and fresh, although there are not as many seagulls up here. But I am between both so it’s a great contrast.

It was lovely to see my youngest son and the cats this week. Always miss them when they go home. I am getting lazy with the internet, apologies. Have a great weekend.

ps We made a wardrobe out of two tiles and some pipe. Waiting for splash back for the shaker kitchen. Door security locks on. Crow lamp hanging in the attic room. There’s a huge bath in a dark grey bathroom and the blinds are coming next week. They are the best blinds I have ever designed. It’s so freckin’ neat here! OOhh baby …

Tiff. X

April 23, 2021May 8, 2021 by Tiffany Belle Harper

The Joy Journal is so Healing by Tiffany Belle Harper

I enjoy Instagram when I want to find something or to see what those I care for are up to, because it’s comparatively positive compared to other media platforms that are causing a lot of hysteria not to mention algorithms and fake news. There are some vulnerable people out there living in the horrors and they should stop looking at it!

Last week I started following Mrs (beautiful) Laura Brand on instagram – long over due. I believe she works with cyclical cycles and you can feel her words describe nature – it’s sincere and passionate. Her instagram page is just lovely – there’s no bravado – you can fall into her descriptive – you want to be out there with her rummaging amongst the flora and fauna looking for petals and potions to make good use of craftiness. Perfect for anyone feeling stuck indoors and in particular those caring for children or with mental health problems heightened by this situation. Like I say, please try to stay with the positive. It is not all doom and fear out there. There’s hundreds and thousands of people doing fantastic things in the real world. Actions really do speak louder than words and that’s why when I go online, I love to look at pictures of nature and interiors. Baking and positive quotes – not to mention street art and good causes. It makes me feel so good about each day when I begin to fall to concern about the future, in particular for those less fortunate than me. I have been there and the fear of not knowing whether you have a home the next day is not worth beginning to describe. I worry about everything. I don’t want people to suffer this way.

Laura herself is a mum of two but you don’t have to be a parent or guardian to enjoy her little projects and you don’t need money either which makes all this hugely elaborate – especially in current times. She’s making things with nature and basic resources. Playing outside with kids in the mud and the elements – it’s really healing so please take a look as you may too find play to take your mind from many factors to include creative blocks which can come alongside depression or a sense of despair. There’s even beauty tips, for instance soap and mud masks that cost little to make.

Playing in the garden and the local woods is what I loved best about being young and it takes me right back to my own childhood when I used to wander around with a stainless steel mixing bowl collecting leaves, stone and soil and really believing I was making cakes for squirrels and fairies to eat in my nests (I made a lot of dens). You don’t see enough of this in the modern times and the great thing is outdoor play is free. Her book’s named The Joy Journal which is good as it invites a second, a third and on. Laura Brand is lovely. She reminds me so much of a friend of mine Nel Kuk. Nel bought her first child up completely in a forest in Poland. She’s is totally sustainable. It is amazing how we can use nature to bring the best to children. It’s time and resources that are readily made to enjoy.

I live happily with my inner child – it can help me through anything – as all we need is love, play, a roof over our head and goals to accomplish. But ‘out time’ for recreation is best enjoyed with nature. Nature is with us all year round – you don’t rip it out of packets at Christmas. The Joy Journal is good parenting. And good parenting is applicable to our inner child = a book for everyone who wants to play because everyone can afford it. It’s a healing book. Healing for nature as all to often we forget it is there. A lot of my friends are sustainable and I try to be. Living by the sea means we have pebbles, sand and stones. The seagulls – feathers. But I do miss the rawness of grass and soil too. Yet, I am thankful as there are those living in flats without gardens who must be missing nature and I worry for them.

Today I am feeling anxious about my project as I want to start sharing it but I am going to hold back as I feel so protective of the space. It’s our heart and soul so we are waiting for better times as I cannot be in two places at once. Although we do have a guardian taking care I just want to nest. A strong sense of laying down roots. There will be plenty of sky gazing. Please bring clarity. Be kind. There’s so much work to be done to help our planet. Every step counts. Just being at one with nature is good for the soul. Green is the new Black. And you Laura – keep going. I know it must be hard work taking care of your family, putting together craftiness and doing so much in one day but it will all be worth it. Keep your ideas flowing and maybe a seaside inspired Journal next!

Tiff. X

April 23, 2021December 6, 2021 by Tiffany Belle Harper

My Kids were Skaters and Stuff

These are hard times and we don’t know what the future holds – but we never have anyway. The good news for me last week is Panda and Vicky had their second baby ‘a boy’ and we are so thrilled for them. My youngest son is a god father to their first. I was so emotional when I found out.

My youngest son during his time in Blackpool pushed his boundaries and structured so many great little designs in Blackpool, working closely with Blackpool Council and the planning department, as we had plans drawn up specifically for the project. Now he returns to Leeds and has the confidence to build furniture for landlords so that tenants have comfy rooms in accordance with health and safety. He has his wings.

When my kids were very young they used to build skate ramps and loads of other stuff out of old bits of wood. They became semi pro sk8’rs and I was so proud. I would drive them all over The Midlands to enter comps. It wasn’t winning or anything like that. I was taking part, the music, the sound of wheels hitting the ply wood. I loved it and it became a huge part of my social life. Eventually they got sponsored and didn’t have to pay for their clothes etc. (This saved me money … lol).

I have been working hard. You can never totally switch off. There’s always problems but we have to remind ourselves each of us is only responsible for our own journeys and to be thankful for what we have going on. Education is so important, to keep learning and progressing as individuals and there is education everywhere. We just have to think about ideas and progress with people around us who are like-minded. Bitterness and jealousy are worthless emotions. I had to add a photo of this woman. She is one hell of a determined person and has made me laugh so much today. Josie is Dutch. She is from The Netherlands. Has a muslim son who lives in Brazil, he owns a hotel too.

Mum (Tiff) X

July 20, 2020February 12, 2021 by Tiffany Belle Harper

July = focused + heart = bliss

It was lovely to have some time with my family last week. Also to catch up with my heart. To have some space. Nice to get home to my friends too. Somethings are best kept personal. A wasps nest is in my shed. It’s fascinating what nature can do. The grey piece of art work below is another masterpiece by Mother Nature. Many of you would want to remove the wasps but the trouble is with a lot of town and city folk they believe that hampering with nature is progressive. It’s not. Let them come to you. If you try to tame any animal they struggle to adapt to the wild. That’s why I don’t call Percy down or expect him to perform like a monkey in a circus in a mainstream pivot of fake news that costs money and time. He comes here when he wants and small moments I share when he allows. Nature isn’t a show piece. As ‘that’ we are probably starting to ‘increasingly’ realise, with recent events. Let’s enjoy being ‘personal’ it’s right. Less is More. Saves money too. Watch out for the quiet ones, they’re making music.

Tiff. X