Spring Newsletter 2010

I've just mailed out the Spring 2010 Newsletter to the mailing list, and emailed out the same info to the email list, so I'm posting it here too, just to cover all the bases. Like before, rather than spend a huge amount of time adding links to each and every product mentioned, I'm just adding one link to the Seasonal Products Page, where you can see all of the new items at one glance.

Here is the Seasonal section of the websitewhere you can find it all. And below is the full text of the newsletter:

Dear Friends,

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, I don't even have to tell you that Spring is on it's way. With the unseasonably warm, dry weather we've had this month, bulbs and leaflets are beginning to pop out all over. Crocuses! A pink cherry tree in bloom! Gardeners are itching to get their hands in the dirt and get going - the anticipation is irresistable. When the whole outdoors begins new life, you can't help but feel hopeful and happy and ready for new beginnings.

SPRING SEASONAL SOAPS

To celebrate the season of love, flowers, and new beginnings, I've cooked up a few new soap fragrances. For me, Spring scents are inherently flowery, even a a bit girlie, unlike most of my other scents throughout the year. After months of dead leaves and barren trees, the whiff of blossoms in the breeze is a breath of fresh air. Pretty flowers, flouncy skirts, tip-toeing through the tulips - that's Spring!

White Lilac - A runaway hit when I introduced it last year, this one is a repeat for spring. Absolutely true to its name, it's a gorgeous lilac fragrance, just a blush fresher and lighter than a darker purple bloom. Sophisticated, elegant, lushly floral in a creamy white bar.

Jasmine Mint - A few years ago I featured this stunner, and I've recently been craving this particular blend, so it's back for an encore performance. It's a marriage made in heaven, with sweetly floral jasmine blossoms paired with fresh mint leaves. It's light, cool, and perfectly lovely. Pretty pink petal-colored, it's love at first whiff.

Orange Blossom & Lily - If you've ever walked into the lobby of some fancy spa or hotel and stepped into a fragrance cloud of pure tropical floral heaven, you'll understand that there is nothing dreamier and intoxicating. The scent of this soap is elegant, luscious, and blissful in the way that only an opulent bouquet of flowers can be. Classic orange blossom, or neroli, blends with tuberose and lilies, with hints of jasmine and gardenia. It instantly transports you to paradise. The color of a juicy peach, it's enchanting and captivating.

Sweet Dreams - This soap is a companion to our long-standing linen spray of the same name, it's an aromatherapy blend of lavender and chamomile essential oils. Both of these natural oils are calming and relaxing, soothing and healing - who doesn't love that? A very light, soft purple color, it's sweetly herbal and clean, with just a wisp of violet. (100% natural soap.)

Other Additions and Subtractions - Since we're still (supposed to be) in the middle of sniffle season and grey skies, I'm keeping the Eucalyptus Lemon soap in stock. I'm also bringing back the Cinnamon Pear from the Autumn seasonal list, due to the gazillions of requests for it. The Red Currant & Tangerine and Sacred Smoke are being discontinued.

PRICE INCREASE

We haven't had a price increase around here since 2005, when the soap bars went from $3.95 to $4.00. This year they will increase to $4.25 each, and I'll keep the 4-bar discount, which will now be 4 for $16.00.

For a 4.5 oz bar, it's still a better price and value than most of the other handcrafted soap out there, locally or nationally. And we like to think it's still better quality too.

DEAD SEA BATH SALTS

Our Dead Sea bath salts are so lovely, so nurturing, and such a great value that they rank high on the list of most popular products. These rustic, chunky salts come directly from the Dead Sea. Soaked in for centuries, these pure, fresh salts have a mineral content that is 7 times greater than other types of sea salts. They work wonders on purifying and detoxifying, improving circulation, moisturizing skin, soaking away stress, and relaxing muscles, aches and pains. And did I mention, the unbelievably soft, silky smooth skin? Oh my. For little foot baths or long evening soaks, these are the best bath salts I've ever tried. Giant 16 oz bottles of beautiful spa-quality soaking salts ($ 8.00 each).

I'm keeping the standard scents of French Lavender, Vanilla Bean & Honey, and Almond Ginger that have been on the menu all year. And I am adding two new Spring scents of Grapefruit Lemon and Mandarin Orange, both incredibly juicy, bright, and sunny citrus blends that are luscious for soaking in and cheering up the dreary winter blahs.

SPRING SEASONAL SPRAYS

In addition to the soap, I'm also bringing back the Jasmine Mint spray. It's such a sweet, fresh, happy fragrance to lighten up your surroundings for Spring. (4 oz bottle, $ 6.00 each)

And, of course, the Lilac Garden spray is one of our standard scents, but especially lovely in the spring too - mmmm, dreamy.

Or pair our Sweet Dreams spray, Sweet Dreams soap and the new Sweet Dreams lip balm too in a beautiful gift set.

NEW SPRING LIP BALM FLAVORS TOO!

These are all natural flavoring blends, for 100% natural lip balm. Sweet Dreams (lavender, chamomile and vanilla), Jasmine Tea, and juicy Passionfruit. Wickedly delicious. Don't forget - there's a kissing holiday coming up and you'll want to pamper your pucker! (1/2 oz tin, $2.00)

SUDS FOR A BRIGHTER DAY

I started this idea last spring - a new product line of mini-soap bars packaged in sets. The bars are roughly half the size of my standard bars, 2x2 inches square, and weigh 2 ounces each. I've changed the packaging this year, and selling them in groups of four, packaged in sweet little polka-dot organza bags. The four scents available are the four new spring scents: White Lilac, Jasmine Mint, Orange Blossom and Sweet Dreams.

The "brighter day" part is that half of all proceeds for these soaps goes directly to Kiva.org, a person-to-person micro-lending group, empowering individuals to lend directly to entrepreneurs in the developing world. Tiny 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 needed to start their business, or take it to the next step towards sustainability. It doesn't take much to help somebody who is struggling to make their little business a livelihood for themselves and their families. I'm so grateful that for the last 14 years I've been able to make a living with my own micro business that I want to share just a little bit of what I have to help others do the same.

VALENTINE'S DAY GUILT-FREE TREATS

There's plenty of time to order a gift for your favorite sweeties. Bath goodies are the perfect thing for those of us with healthy New Year's resolutions. And I've got sweet pink polka-dot organza bags, charming heart-patterned ribbons, and vintage postcards to dress up just a single bar or a whole basket full of treats. Check out the web site to see some of my ideas, or give me a call to rustle up your own.