Summer Newsletter 2009

Yo - just cross posting the new summer newsletter here in case you're not on the mailing list. The website has been updated too - links are here.

Dear Friends,

The seasons don't read the business section. The sprouts and petals have no clue about the economy. Daisies aren’t worried about the swine flu. Summer shows up no matter what the stock market says, reminding us that life is to be enjoyed and worries need a vacation too.

When summer rolls around, my cozy little house feels a bit too small and closed in. I spend more time in my “outdoor” rooms – the patio and garden, where I can feel the warm sun on my face, listen to the birds twitter and bees buzz, sniff the rich earth and fragrant blossoms, Everything just feels better outside – meals taste better from the grill, lemonade sweeter on the deck with friends. An entire happy memory can be conjured up with one summer word – like picnic, ballpark, hammock, sailboat, beach, cabin, camp. I’ll have more of that please.

Life is short. Toes need air and the squish of fresh grass between them. Summer feels divine Dive in.

SUMMER SEASONAL SOAPS

In a tribute to summer’s joys, I’ve created some special soaps and bath goodies to reflect the tastes of the moment. These unique soaps are available only for the summer season and are made in limited production. ($4.00 ea or 4 for $15.00)

PEPPERMINT GRAPEFRUIT: Cool and tingly mint, with the energizing pop of pink grapefruit and sweet orange. Colored with a pinch of tomato powder, it’s a luscious cantaloupe color. (100% natural ingredients)

SEASIDE COTTAGE: Throw open the windows of your little beachfront cottage and let the sea spray kiss your face. This is a light, refreshing and captivating scent – ocean breezes mingling with fresh air. This scent is so fresh and clean, you’ll want to linger in the shower all day. It’s a gorgeous pale aquamarine color. (99% natural, fragrance oil)

LEMON ZEST: Bright lemon and bergamot, with a zesty sprinkle of spice and mint. I swear this is the scent of happiness and sunshine. Great fun in the shower, charming in the kitchen, and if you can bear to part with it for a guest bathroom – expect it to go missing when they leave. (100% natural ingredients)


SUDS FOR A BRIGHTER DAY – NEW SCENTS

The “Suds for a Brighter Day” sets, which I introduced this spring, are little packages of 4 mini soaps,
roughly half the size of my standard bars, 2x2 inches square, and weigh 1.5 ounces each. Half of the proceeds for these new packages will go directly to Kiva, the world's first person-to-person micro-lending organization, empowering individuals to lend directly to struggling entrepreneurs in the developing world. Tiny little loans of $25 go towards goals of several hundred or a thousand dollars, whatever is needed for a small business owner in a developing nation to get the help they need to make their business sustainable. I’ve already been able to make a couple of loans, and am looking forward to a prosperous partnership, with continued sales of these charming little soaps.

The first set of soaps, and still available, are fruity scents: Apricot Peach, Berry Delight, Grapefruit Splash, Pink Posy. In addition, for summer I’ve added a set of new flavors, a little more earthy: Rose Geranium, Cucumber, Juniper Sage, and Black Tea. ($10 each, 4 mini soaps in a jute gift bag).

SHEA BUTTER MOISTURIZING BALM

I’ve retired the Foot Balm to make room for a new, more sumptuous moisturizing balm – for feet, hands, elbows and all over.

This new balm recipe includes 25% Nilotica Shea Butter and 25% Virgin Coconut Cream Oil, both 100% organic and super luscious. Nilotica Shea Butter comes from Northern Uganda, rather than West Africa, It is far superior in texture, nutritive value and aroma, plus it’s creamier and softer too. Nilotica shea butter is a highly nourishing ingredient that is remarkably effective in healing dry and cracked skin, eczema, psoriasis and sun damaged skin. And it is a noteworthy anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling and easing muscular aches and pains. The Virgin Coconut Cream Oil is obtained from freshly harvested coconut meat that has been grated and then expeller pressed to produce the coconut milk. It is a light, creamy and penetrating oil, which is anti-fungal and has a high Vitamin E content too.

The recipe also contains Sweet Almond Oil, which is beneficial for eczema, psoriasis and itchy, dry and inflamed skin conditions, plus it’s rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and E.; and pure 100% natural, beeswax. It’s unscented, but has a lovely, warm, buttery aroma, Bottom line: this new moisturizing balm is the perfect thing for dry skin anywhere, from lips to heels. (2 oz tin, $5.00)

The Healing Salve is still a great option for gardening hands, or cracked feet, conditions in which the healing power of herbs can be put to good use. A wonderful moisturizer as well, the Healing Salve has a bevy of herbs infused in it, which lend antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, to speed up healing of cuts, scrapes, burns, cracked skin – anything which needs both moisturizing and a shot of nature’s miracles. ( 2 oz tin, $5.00)

SUMMER FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

I get so excited each year to pop up my tent and start another season of street fairs and festivals because I get a chance to meet and talk to all of you. For more details on my summer schedule, including booth locations, check out the CALENDAR section on the website, SoapworksStudio.com.

Let’s all scream for ice cream!

Heidi Risse