This coming weekend I'm all over Brighton like a rash.  Actually... that's a very inappropriate metaphor for someone making soap, forget I wrote that.  I mean that I am in a 'wide variety of places'.  Well, four to be exact.

Two of these are Open House Christmas Sales in the Brighton area, though as far apart as it is possible to be geographically, and still be in the same 'area'.  The soaps will be found at The No. 75 Open House run by Nigel Gray (fabulous cushions) in Saltdean (Saturday & Sunday 11-6, here’s the link www.aoh.org.uk/xmas-2014-festival-houses?item=1423) and also at the Surf and Turf Open House run by Emma Stanton (fantastic jewellery) in Hove (Saturday & Sunday 11-5 www.aoh.org.uk/xmas-2014-festival-houses).

In addition I will be taking part in the last of this year's Makers Boutique in the Unitarian Church in the centre of Brighton, just behind the dome (11-5 www.makersboutique.co.uk).  If you're in the area pop in for a spot of Christmas shopping from the very eclectic mix of crafty stall holders followed by really yummy tea and cake from the most colourful and ingenious of pop up cafés at the back of the venue.

Lastly my poor little soaps have been braving the bracing conditions down on the beach - well underneath the arches at the Brighton Fishing Quarter, where the folks from the Makers Boutique have a  little shop, open 10-5 Saturday and Sunday.

So that's four different venues in one weekend…simple…I just need a time turner.  If only that self-righteous Hermione Granger didn't hog all the best gadgets.  She's so irritating, I wish she'd just grow up.  Oh wait…she did.

Let's hope the sun shines.

Had an enormously busy run of craft fairs in the last few days and was feeling all washed out (pardon the pun) but managed to drag myself to the beautiful and uplifting Advent Carol Service at Guildford Cathedral this evening. If you've never visited then you've missed out.

What a marvellous treat of words and music from those fantastic choirs - a jaw-dropping standard as usual.

Came to a decision, somewhere in the middle of the second carol (yes, lovely carols already!) that I would donate £1 from the sale of every one of my Christmas Angels (sometimes actually labelled as Guildford Angels)

to the Guildford Cathedral Make Your Mark appeal. So I'll have a look at how many I've sold by the time I close for Christmas and donate accordingly.  This soap was originally inspired by the angel on the top of the Cathedral tower (albeit the style is a little different....) 

I first made them to sell at the Cathedral during the Cathedral's golden jubilee year in 2011 and, thanks to the former Dean, these soapy angels went all over the world that Christmas.

They are a little tricky to make (and extremely difficult to photograph) and can only be done in relatively small batches so I am usually quite relieved when I can stop making them for another year.  If you find they have gone out of stock it is usually only a temporary situation!

Time for a few carols now and my first glass of mulled wine....shame no mince pies yet but I'd better pace myself.

Anyone at Martha Kearney's do at Lambeth Palace tonight? 

www.beeaid.org.uk  This is a brilliant event supporting the work of Bees Abroad and Bees for Development

You lucky people will soon be in receipt of a neat little package like the one above, from us, containing a soap along the theme of either honey or honey bees, plus a small sample of one of our best sellers.

There should be just two of you that have something a little different.  Anyone opening their box to see either a spider

 or even  a lovely red scorpion should email us at info@englishhandmadesoap.com to receive an extra special set of free soaps.

I spent a wonderful day with Cathy from Lemon Yellow Photography recently, when she came to 'Soap Towers', to take some much needed product photos and vignettes. I am delighted with the photos - here's a little taster...