New! Soapscriptions!!

Soapworks Studio's Soap-of-the-Month Club is now a SoapScription!

No more panicky moments in the shower, wondering if you’ve got another bar for tomorrow.  With a “SoapScription” you’ll know that you’re always in the suds because you’ll be receiving regular shipments of soap bars so you never run out!

Club SoapScribers will join me on a journey through the seasons, sampling some of my year-round favorites and my seasonally inspired new scents. 

Your SoapScription will arrive in your mailbox at the start of each month with two full-size bars of handmade, artfully created Soapworks Studio soaps in a padded envelope, plus the latest seasonal newsletter detailing my inspirations and descriptions of the current crop of products.  You will also receive a 10% off coupon to order other products or more of something you have fallen deeply in love with.

Your very first delivery will include freebies -- a scrubby soap mitt and a natural wood soap dish as a gift to get you started on your sudsy adventure.

Junior – 3 months                                 $12.00 per month = $ 36.00
Half Naked – 6 months                         $ 11.50 per month = $ 69.00
The Full Monty – full year                      $ 11.00 per month = 132.00

All shipping and taxes are included in the subscription price. You can renew at any time to continue receiving your monthly fix, and you’ll be notified of your final shipment so that you can re-order at that time also.

If you have requests or an aversion to something, please email us and let us know so that we can make sure you get the best possible package.

This makes an awesome gift too! We would be delighted to send this each month directly to your gift recipient, and will include your personal message in a gift card with the goodies.  Type your note in the message box to the right, or call the office with all your information.

The holidays are right around the corner, so this might be the perfect no-fuss gift for all kinds of folks on your gift list.  Start off with the winter holiday seasonal soaps in December, and by February, the spring soaps will be ready to sample too!  There is no better gift than a special treat that gets used up and cherished instead of sitting on a shelf, especially if it lasts for months and months. 

Chapped Lips

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine was chatting with me and mentioned that she was having such a hard time finding a lip balm for her 'sensitive' lips.  She had such a chap going on that it was painful.

She thought she had really sensitive lips because so many of the things she'd tried in the past made her puff up, get red, hurt or worse.

I told her that she probably wasn't as sensitive as she thought.  It's just the SPF.  Use anything that does NOT have some kind of SPF to it, and you're probably ok.  She tried my lip balm and it worked like a charm.  She loves it!

Over the years, I've had so many people talk to me about lip balm.  They all think they have some kind of problem with their lips.  They are afraid to try anything new because they've had so many bad experiences.  It's almost always the danged SPF they put in all lip stuff.

I know, I know.  We are bombarded every day with fear-mongering about how the sun will give you cancer and that you need the very highest formulation of sun protection or 30+SPF, and you need to slather this stuff all over every inch of your skin if you even think of going near a window.  Unless you live 24/7 in a cave, you are AT RISK!!!

I don't buy it.  I will of course put on some sun block on my skin when I go to Hawaii.  Or when I'm out in the sun exposed for more than a couple of hours.  I hate the feeling of sunburn.  But for more than half a year here in the Pacific Northwest, we don't have all that much sun.  And for most people (unless you are an avid outdoors-person) you don't need to slap on the SPF lip stuff every half hour.  It's just not necessary.  And in fact, it's become a real problem.

It seems like 85% of everybody now seems to have some kind of sensitivity on their lips to the chemical ingredients they use for the SPF.  That's not a verifiable number from Google, just my personal experience. How do you know?  Your lips feel chapped.  So you put on more.  And they don't feel better, or they get worse.  Nothing you put on makes them feel better.

Unless of course, you use a lip balm that is all natural and does not have those chemical SPF ingredients.  Like mine.  My lip balm is all natural vegetable oils, natural flavors and natural sweeteners.  No chemicals.  No SPF.  And it moisturizes appropriately.  It heals the chap.  It stops the redness.  It feels good on your lips and tastes great too!

I've got a new fall flavor of Blackberry Pomegranate that is yummylicious too.

So if you think you might be one of those people - the ones that can't seem to find a good lip balm?  Maybe try mine.  Just sayin'.

It's Wednesday. No humping jokes.

Gosh, it's been days or maybe even week since I last stopped by here to post something.

Sorry.  Whirlwind time.  After the newsletter goes out, there is always a little frantic flurry of orders, calls, emails, questions and just stuff that goes on.  So I've been a little buried in all of that.

Plus the fair just started.  The new (in name only) Washington State Fair.  Well, to be fair (eh, pun) they do have a new ride. And a new luminaria exhibit. But mostly it's the same fair you've known since you were a kid and loved every year in September.  Sacks of Fisher scones. Krusty Pups. Earthquake onion burgers. And all the hawkers and vendors and rides and animals and concerts. The rodeo part just ended, and now we're into the concerts.  Tonight Cheap Trick is playing.  Tomorrow it's Ceelo Green (fun!)

I've been working down there a lot over the weekend, and back again to re-stock my little display.  It's been pretty busy in our little Artists in Action store, and we've got new artists, lots of demos - it looks good.  I'll be working again both of the next two weekends, just in case you want to say "hi" while you're scoping out the excitement.

Not much time for making products this last week, and I need to get going on that too, or there won't be anything to sell in the next few months.

And I'll just say that this week's weather is dazzling gorgeous and it's such a crying shame to have to head inside, to the basement of all places, to work on my stupid work. Ok, it's not really stupid. It just feels stupid to miss these last few days of perfect sunshine and warm weather before the rains come back.

Autumn Newsletter 2013

As I always do, I'm publishing the new Autumn 2013 newsletter on the blog for those of you who might not be on my mailing list.  Just want you all to know the very latest news!

And to save time, I'm just going to do one single, but very special linkie-poo to the seasonals page on the website, which contains everything in the newsletter, rather than trying to link each new item to its own page.  There are only so many hours in the day people.  You'll have to do one extra click to save me like hours of extra work.  Seems fair, right?

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”

Lauren DeStefano,

Wither

Dear Friends,

We squeezed every last drop of summer out of the tube – splashing in the waves, picnicking in the parks, and chasing the ice cream trucks like it would never end.  But end it has. Autumn peeped around the corner and flipped the switch - on both the lights and the thermostat. 

But oh, what a glorious thing is this new season!  Mother Nature is throwing a party and has decorated the whole place with such a riot of color.  Golds and reds, oranges, yellows, and burgundies – the trees glowing with a beauty they’ve saved up all year.

The dwindling hours of sunlight make it even more precious – perfect rays dappling through the trees, ending the days with ever more gorgeous sunsets.   We head inside to the comforts of home, the contentment of well-worn routines, and the tranquility of quiet evenings.  Warm socks, cozy sweaters and spiced cider are just some of autumn’s abundant luxuries.  Like the biggest pile of leaves on the block, let’s jump in and revel in it!

AUTUMN HARVEST SEASONAL SOAPS

This year’s Autumn Harvest soaps highlight our favorite fruits and spices, taking the very best of the season and celebrating nature’s bounty.  ($4.25 each or 4 bars for $16.00)

Almond Ginger:  A companion to our very popular bath salt – we’ve made a soap with the same scent so you can layer your personal fragrances or match up items for gift sets.  Sweet, nutty almond, a touch of cream and warming ginger – it’s absolutely delectable and delicious.

Clove Orange:  Making orange pomanders is a favorite craft project for the holidays – sweet oranges studded with cloves and tucked into bowls around the house.  This soap is scented with sweet orange oil, spicy cloves and a pinch of cinnamon stick.  Lighter and fresher than our Breakfast Soap, it’s the perfect fragrance for fall. (100% natural soap)

Cranberry Harvest:  Most requested fall soap last year!  Tart, juicy cranberries and zesty orange peel, loaded with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and pepperberry. This is a soft red bar - brightly fruity with a nice compliment of traditional spice.

Honey Bee:  Fresh honey is the special ingredient in this soap, gently soothing and calming skin while adding extra moisture.  Scented with warm beeswax, sweet honey, and pretty orange blossoms, it’s soft and comforting.

Pumpkin Moon: Traditional pumpkin, vanilla and spices blend with earthy, woodsy Nag Champa and moonlit forest.  It’s a bewitching and unique take on a pumpkin scent blend. 

In addition, I have all of the summer seasonal natural veggie soaps on the menu.  Pure Pumpkin and Carrot Ginger fit autumn perfectly.  And the Cucumber Yogurt and Tea Tree & Blue Clay are special any time of year.

Autumn Home Fragrance Sprays

New this year – Apple Harvest spray.  An irresistible blend of tart, juicy green apples, bright orange peel, and spice notes of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.  It’s the quintessential scent of Autumn and one whiff transports you to nostalgic memories of apple orchards, cider presses, the crack-snap of crunchy leaves and bobbing for apples.

And it’s not too early to start spritzing a little festive spicy holiday spirit around the house too!  Holiday Spice is our most requested seasonal spray - every year since the very beginning. Oranges, cranberries, spices and greens all blend together for the perfect scent of magic and delight. (4 oz bottle - $ 6.00)

BLACKBERRY POMEGRANATE LIP BALM

Our newest lip balm flavor for fall:  Blackberry Pomegranate.  Pucker up! Rich berry and tart fruitiness make this delicious – and necessary too, as we head into drier weather and heated homes.  Our natural lip balms are chock-full of super moisturizers like avocado oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, vitamin E, and on and on.  There are flavors for everyone: watermelon, mint, grape, raspberry, coconut, vanilla, lavender.  Check out the site for the full list of yumminess – I’m sure you’ll find one you can’t resist. (1/2 oz, $3.00)

THE SEASON OF SHOWS, SHOWS, SHOWS

The next few months are chock full of craft shows, fairs and festivals too.  I’ll be doing what I can to bring the goodies to your ‘hood.  See the enclosed calendar or log onto the website to get more details on the “Show Schedule” page.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your loyal business throughout the year, and wish you a brilliant and abundant harvest season!