I am Jenny Ballantine and I am the artisan soap maker here at Bessie's Soapery. Bessie's Soapery started in 2021, right in the middle of the covid pandemic. Bessie's is named after my Gran. My Gran was a truly inspiring person. She always had something crafty on the go whether it be soap making, sponge baking (best in the country) crochet, knitting or basketry or making up gift baskets. Gran would make her soap in the old copper back in the day in the old farm house. My Dad said they would use her soap in the kitchen, laundry and the bathroom.
We are fortunate to have a small olive grove in Tokerau Beach, where Paul and I and the children (when available to help) harvest our own olives on the Karikari Peninsula, Far North of NZ. We take our olives to the press in Taipa and get back the most beautifully and fresh olive oil. We are lucky to get a harvest some years with our recent changes in climate, it is a little touch and go but we always do our best.
When we have our own olive oil available, we can then use this in our beautifully handmade olive oil soap range.
Predominantly I use the cold-process soap making method. I do a hot-process method when I make my upcycled soap which is made from offcuts and scrapings of soap produced from my soapery. I don't let anything go to waste, rather like my Gran.
I believe paper packaging and labelling to be the best option for our environment today. If I use cellophane bags, I opt for the biodegradable option as preference.
In my process of making soaps I use quite a few plants from our garden in the botanical range of soaps. Using plants/flowers as oil infusions and teas both used in the bases of the soap recipes and also a sprinkle on the top is my favourite kind of soap to make.
In 2021 we set up a workspace and shop at our house. Sometimes I'll open to public, and always open by arrangement with longer public hours towards Christmas.
I hope you enjoy shopping in my felt shop, and please come back for more or contact me if you have a query or problem due to shipping or website and I'll do my best to help out. We do offer a pickup option also.