I've Moved!

This is a bittersweet announcement. I'm excited, nervous and just a little wistful all at the same time. This is my very last post here on my Blogger bloggity-blog.

I've moved to a new website, and taken this little blog with it. The new site is gorgeous and fresh and clean. Something I've been working on for a long time, but as with any new technology stuff, nervous about the first beginnings as there are bound to be glitches or hiccups along the way. Nothing that can't be tweaked, tho. And it's going to be so much easier to both customers and me too to use going forward. Gotta keep it fresh and up-to-date!

With the new site, however is a new space for the blog to live. This one will remain here for as long as I'm still working the soap biz. Nothing is going away, and there is an awful lot here to still explore.

But if you're looking to see what's cooking - all the new blog posts will over here. Just CLICK THE LINK and head on over.

And if you want to start at the very beginning of my new journey, I've written a little something about  why I made the change, with a little backdrop about my blogging history. It's Not My First Rodeo!

Please join me at the new hangout! I so appreciate all of you who are following along for the ride.

Skin Deep: Tea Tree Oil

 Tea Tree oil is kind of a big thing in your all-natural health and beauty cabinet. You might have heard the name but not know much about it. I am a big fan of Tea Tree Oil and use it in my Tea Tree & Blue Clay soap. So I'm here to give you the inside scoop. And it has nothing to do with tea - the kind you drink.

Oil from the tea tree (botanical name: Melaleuca alternifolia) is a miracle worker ingredient for skin because it has amazing topical properties -- it is antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral all at the same time.

The tree grows wild in Australia, but is now cultivated extensively to be a wellness and beauty product ingredient. Camellia Sinensis is the plant harvested for drinking tea, and it can sometimes be called the tea plant, tea shrub or even tea tree, but they have nothing in common and no connection at all - well except for the word "tea" in their name, duh. 

Tea tree oil should never be consumed internally, it's toxic! But it's perfectly safe to apply directly to skin, even in its pure form. It is used in soaps, liquid soaps, and many other skin preparations such as blemish treatments, skin masks, even owie and boo-boo preparations.

It has a clean, herbal scent, which some might find a bit strong or medicinal smelling in its straight form. As a fragrance, it blends well with lots of other essential oils. I particularly like it with lavender and mint, which is the combo I've created for my tea tree soap bar.

Acne Remedy

With its potent antibacterial and anti fungal properties, tea tree oil is an effective natural remedy for acne, breakouts, inflammation and redness. It works by unclogging pores and killing bacterial which are responsible for zits. And it helps prevent the formation of new blackheads or whiteheads too, when used regularly. It hydrates and soothes skin at the same time, calming irritation and reducing redness. 

Regular use of tea tree oil soap can help clear up acne, helping to create naturally glowing smooth skin. If you're interested in boosting its effects and speed up the healing of blemishes, you can dab a small amount of the essential oil directly onto your spots (clean skin only), using a cotton swab or Q-tip. To prevent future outbreaks, you can apply directly onto your clean face on a regular basis, but keep in mind that it is quite a strong disinfectant and might cause irritation if you have sensitive skin.  It's best known as a spot treatment, so start there. And if you feel a tingling sensation, it's a good idea to blend the tea tree oil with water, another carrier oil (like jojoba or almond) or with a bit of lavender essential oil. The lavender oil has similar properties, yet is much milder, and can help with redness and sensitivity too. Bottom line, fighting skin problems with tea tree oil is still proven much less irritating than the drugstore benzoyl peroxide acne treatments.

Body Odor

Tea tree oil can help beat body odor. Our Tea Tree & Blue Clay soap is the closest thing we have to a "deodorant" soap - which are antibacterial, but not antiperspirant. Tea tree oil is both antibacterial and antimicrobial, and bathing regularly with this soap will help diminish the bacterial that lead to body odor.

Infections

Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that helps heal cuts and scrapes, and is also effective against more serious infections. Daily bathing or showering with tea tree oil body products and shampoo has even been proven an effective method of decolonizing a person carrying MRSA, and at the same time, being much less harsh on patient's skin than chemical-based antibacterial agents.

Applying tea tree oil, or a tea tree oil based remedy on minor cuts, scrapes, abrasions, scratches, etc. can be a great way to stay all natural and plant-based, get effective proven results, and not worry about chemical irritation and side effects. 

Have you tried the Tea Tree oil soap? or any other tea tree product? What did you think? We'd love to hear your experiences with tea tree oil!

One of my favorite stories . .

comes from a customer who sent me an email years ago. I keep these things to re-read when I need a boost. But I think they make great testimonials too, and I've been added a few little shorter ones to my monthly email missives.

This one is a bit longer, but it's so good I wanted to share it. Just found it yesterday when I was doing a little clearing out of the computer files.  Here goes:

I so enjoy your products!  I don't know how many years I've been using them, but it's been quite a while. I want to tell you a couple of little stories.

Not the actual customer! Just a gorgeous woman.

A while back, I gave a co-worker a bar of your soap for her birthday.  She came in the next week, so excited!  She said she had given up using bar soap years ago because she found it so drying but when she took her shower that morning, she had taken off the wrapper of your soap, and used it.  She couldn't believe how it made her skin feel! She said when she got out of the shower, she dug the wrapper out of the garbage, read it and found it had olive oil.  She was so delighted that I made a copy of your flyer and brought it to her.

Story number two: I get a massage every two weeks.  I started about 11-12 years ago as the practice-dummy for my dear friend who was attending massage school.  It felt so good, that I've kept it up! She always comments on what nice skin I have and I work hard to accept that compliment because as I get older (almost 64 years old now), I'm getting age spots and little dry bumps, etc. About six weeks ago, she commented that my skin was so dry and asked if I had changed soap?  I thought for a moment and said that I had changed soaps in the shower -- that I was using a free sample of the new Dove Moisturizing bar that I had received in the mail.

She said, "Well, go back to what you were using, because it was better for your skin." Then, I remembered what my co-worker had said (I have to admit that I have never really looked at the ingredients of your soap) about the olive oil.  I went home, and tossed the Dove and put a new "Breakfast Soap" in the shower. I also mailed her a bar from the stash I keep on hand, along with a copy of your flyer.  She's going to order some for her daughter, who has dry skin.

Yesterday, I went for my massage and she immediately commented that my skin was back to "normal"!! - N.R.

So grateful to have happy customers!

Are you a "Pinner"? Me too!

Raise your hand if you sometimes get lost "pinning" on Pinterest. Maybe for hours without even realizing it. Anybody? I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

I can't say I'm addicted to Pinterest. Because I've gone days without going over there. I think. At least when I didn't have internet. :) But I have to admit I love it. Oooooh, all those pretty pictures. I rationalize it by the fact that I'm a visual person. And I need all those mood boards and pretty pins to inspire my creativity. And to help me visualize my ideas and plans and goals and stuff. Or just what to have for dinner.

I've been playing around on Pinterest for a long time. And honestly, I didn't really think I needed (or wanted) to share this little toy with the world. All the business blogs, social media experts and success gurus keep blah-blah'ing about how to maximize your content and increase followers etc through your Pinterest boards. Which made me want to run and hide even more.  This was my own little secret playground! But then, of course the other side of the coin. Why not?! The more the merrier, and all that.

I chased this around and around in my head for probably a year now. I created a new account for the business, started to make boards for a few hours and then quickly cancelled it. Then I spent time trying to plan out how to rearrange my own personal board to be a bit more "professional" and "business-like," ultimately ditching that project too. I just wasn't clear on what to do. Or why I was doing it.

But I just couldn't let go of the idea that sharing it with a wider group of people was a good thing. I'm still not entirely clear what my plan is for merging the business aspects with my personal boards. That is still evolving a bit and I trust I will figure it out in small steps, like everything else I've done.

What I finally resolved is that 1) I can. not. stand. people who make those ridiculous Pinterest accounts with like 8 boards of 12 pins each that mean nothing and are obviously doing it just for show. Nobody likes a faker. And we can spot the dupes and the self-promoters a mile away. 2) I wasn't going to be like that. 3) I just couldn't possibly spend the time to try to create and manage two accounts, one personal and the other business. Especially since so much of what I liked to pin was actually inspiration for my life and business and the whole thing just seemed to be completely and charmingly intertwined. Bottom line: I am just putting the whole enchilada out there. Whoever likes it, welcome. And if it's not your thing, no biggie. I get it. Just scroll on to the next newest viral vid and we're still pals.

This is what I will say: I am formally inviting you all to my Pinterest home for an open house. Since I've been pinning just for me all this time, I will warn you that there are a hella lotta food boards. Lots of home deco. The usual wanderlust, travel, babies, health and wellness, a little fashion. Just a small smattering of beauty - no fingernails, make-up or hair do's. I have obsessions for pretty soap, holidays and the seasons.

Oh, and just to be the tiniest bit professional, I've created a hybrid name for the time-being, just so I don't confuse my current followers. And I've spent a morning adding some of my own products and better blog posts, so that anybody who drops by will now know what the heck I'm doing for a living. That's about it. Enjoy!

Welcome to my Pinterest Boards.

Gift Cards Are FREE

Did you know that you can send a sweet little card with your gift order, adding your own personal message to the lovely recipient  - for FREE, zip, nada?!

Photo shoot day for the new products. Gift cards with your personal notes being shipped to your special lovies are always FREE! All you need to do is type the note in the message box and we'll send it along. Lovely assortment of blank cards. All hand made by local artists.

Soaping with Salt

One of my new spring seasonal soaps is the Sea Salt soap. Which probably sounds weird if you haven't ever heard of salt soaps before. If you have heard of them, or even tried them, then you'll want to just head over and grab a bar of this heavenly scented lovely version, because mmmmmm, it's swoonie.

So the rest of you, you're thinking, what?! Why put salt into my soap? Isn't that crunchy? and what's with all the food in my shower?

Have you ever had a little tropical vacation and spent some time bobbing in the ocean waves? Surfing and sunning all day, and then when you get back to the casa and showered off, realized that your skin felt silky smooth and actually pretty great looking? That's not the mai tai's  talking. It's a real thing. The salt content in sea water is a pretty nice thing. Just by getting wet, it dissolves off dry and dead cells, leaving your skin a little smoother and fresher.

If you've only been in the pool, you know that the chlorine totally dries you out. You can't slather enough lotion on yourself while your skin cracks like the desert and your hair turns green. But splashing in the real waves? It's actually hydrating instead of drying. Our human bodies are made of up something crazy like 60% water and salt is the only mineral we digest, even absorbing it through our skin while we're floating away our stress.

Salt water has the added benefit of cleansing and rinsing off debris, bacteria, foreign toxins and the like, curing acne, cuts and wounds (even if a big one stings a little). No matter what you've got, sea salt water is going to heal your irritations. 

So how do we get this fabulousness at home? Well, if you're a soaker, then the Dead Sea Bath Salts are a great way to surf for beauty in your bath tub. If you're like most people, you've only got the shower. THAT'S why we stuff the salt into your soap. A bit of sudsing with a salt bar gives you all the spa-like benefits of an ocean dip or a long soak in the mineral bath salts, just in the time it takes to belt out your favorite song in the shower.

February is as good a time as any to get salting yourself. Dry, pasty white, winter skin could use a little healthy glow right about now. Am I right? 

And this one soap bar smells as good as it feels. Essential oils of lavender, rosemary, mint and thyme give it that irresistible luxury spa fragrance you can’t stop sniffing.

Just a couple more notes about this one, since it will be just a tad different from the other bars you're used to: 1) it is definitely smooth and not crunchy or scrubby feeling. The salt already dissolved in the soap recipe, and any residue will also dissolve immediately when it hits the water. 2) The suds will be salty tasting, in case you happen to lick some, or your kids start swearing like sailors. 3) It might not be my first choice for a leg-shaving soap, especially if you're prone to nicking your ankles. 4) It's still got great lather and lasts just as long, but sometimes the last little sliver will crumble apart as it gets down to the last salt crystals. 

If you've had one of my previous salt bars and have comments, suggestions, tips, feel free to leave a comment. And if there is anything else I didn't cover, or you've got more questions, also drop it in the comment box below. I'd love to hear what you think of the salt soap craze!

Soap Mitts are back in stock!

The scrubby soapy mitts are back in stock and ready for sudsing. They've been on back order for awhile, but finally arrived. Get 'em while they're hot! These are really great washcloths that fit your hand like a mitten with a wonderful texture that exfoliates too. And only $4 each!!

Is it Spring Fever?

“It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”

― Mark Twain

Love is Everything

Happy Valentine's Day! Big hugs and a smooch to everyone reading along!

Valentine's Day is a celebration of love. Not just romance between two lovers, although that's what comes to mind first. But love in all ways, big and small. The intimacy between sisters or family, the bond between you and your pets, the admiration and respect for parents and grandparents. Your first love, your current love, your next love.

Love is everything. Everything is love. Love makes the world go round. Without love there is nothing. So if you find yourself without a hot date on Valentine's Day - one, you're not alone. There's gazillions of people who aren't doing the dinner and roses thing right along with you. But two, you're absolutely loved. Just trust that it's true and you'll begin see it. Send a little love out and it will boomerang right back and hit you squarely in the forehead. Cuz that's how love rolls.

I know I've mentioned it before, but I sincerely love and adore my loyal customers and followers. This grand experiment and adventure would not be possible without your partnership. Let's grow old together, shall we?

Spring Fling 2015

The Spring 2015 newsletter has just fluttered into inboxes and mail boxes everywhere, but if you're not on any of the mailing lists (shame on you!) then you can always find that latest news here too. And on Facebook. And of course on the website itself too. I just like to cover all the bases, because you never know how anybody out there in that big wide universe is finding you.

But to keep things simple, I'm only going to post this one link to the new Spring Seasonals Page, where you can find all of the new items announced below.  Just head on over!

SPRING FLING 2015

Spring Fever! Oh how Spring makes your heart flutter. After what seemed like an eternity, when Spring finally arrives fashionably late to the party, you can’t help but swoon, like a love struck dreamer. Starry–eyed and with a heart full of romance, you melt at the sight of first blossoms and tiny green buds. The warm breath of sunshine on your cheek feels like a kiss. And you can’t imagine ever loving any other season quite like this. 

NEW - SPRING SEASONAL SOAPS

Spring fragrances are naturally light, fresh, romantic. Frolicking in the new grass, dancing playfully in the blossoms, this season of new beginnings is clean and pure, soft, sweet and pretty. The new spring fragrances are limited in production and available February thru May. ($ 4.25 each or 4 bars for $16)

JASMINE LEMON  - Tender floral jasmine blossoms blended with bright, clean lemon. This bar is a pale shade of sunshine yellow. It’s bright and happy, soft and pretty – and was the top-selling spring scent last year, so it’s back for a repeat performance.

SWEET PEA – Delicate and fresh, heavenly little sweet pea vines are adored for their magnificent enticing fragrance in spring gardens. And this beautiful new soap is absolutely gorgeous. It’s a petal pink bar, incredibly pretty, and pure romance.

LILAC GARDEN – Spring just couldn’t be spring without the intoxicating lush blooms of a lilac bush dripping over the fence from the neighbor’s yard. Lilac blossoms are so luscious and sweet you can even sip the nectar out of the little stem of the flowers, which we did as kids. This year’s version is a little different (better!) blend, absolutely true to the flower – fresh perfection in a dark purple bar.

SEA SALT – Turn your shower into a relaxing spa! Rough, dry winter skin needs a little extra pampering and sea salt soaps are all the rage. It’s a fantastic way to get that “glow’ without expensive spa treatments. This soap recipe is packed with mineral-rich sea salts that exfoliate and soften skin, soothing itchy dry patches, and leaves you silky smooth and hydrated too. It’s NOT a scrub bar but rather a smooth textured soap – a moisturizing treat in the time it takes to shower. If you’ve never tried one of these, don’t miss it - you’ll be hooked! Scented with essential oils of lavender, rosemary, mint and thyme, it’s got that irresistible luxury spa fragrance you can’t stop sniffing. (100% natural)

CHANGES TO OUR REGULAR MENU

We’re taking the Oatmeal, Buttermilk & Honey soap up a notch. We’ve switched the recipe to fresh, organic goat milk! Goat milk soap has so many skin benefits, it seemed silly not incorporate it in our recipe. Its creamy feel actually comes from the cream - fat molecules that are extra moisturizing and gentle for dry or sensitive skin. It’s helpful for eczema and psoriasis conditions too, with higher levels of vitamins and minerals that protect from harm, repair damage, and boost skin health. Alpha-hydroxy acids, which you can find in expensive skin treatments, naturally occur in milk, removing dead skin cells while leaving the surface skin smoother, younger looking and more radiant – without any harsh chemicals or peels. Our new OATMEAL, GOAT MILK & HONEY soap still has the soothing ground oatmeal, and fresh raw honey for their beauty and health benefits, plus the same warm, sweet fragrance you’ve known and loved all along.

LEMON GINGER CARROT, our standout soap of last summer, is now on the regular menu and available year-round. Bright, sparkly, almost effervescent, this is a blast of citrus – sweet orange, lemon and lemongrass – blended with spicy ginger for a scent that is like liquid sunshine. We’ve oomphed up the superfood in this bar too. Loaded with rich organic coconut milk, carrot powder, and carrot extract, it’s super moisturizing formula is full of vitamin C and beta carotene, plus a host of other essential nutrients and antioxidants, especially good for mature or dry skin. (100% natural)

NEW - SPRING AROMATIC SPRAYS

This spring there are two aromatic sprays to match the seasonal soap scents. JASMINE LEMON and LILAC GARDEN are fresh, romantic fragrances that make a lovely spritzer for everything imaginable - delightful as a body spray, a great deodorizer for linens, rooms, closets, cars, plus a fabulous pick-me-up anywhere, any time. Prance around the house spritzing the scent of Spring in a bottle and bring the season of hearts and flowers indoors. (4oz bottle $6.00)

NEW – SWEET PEA DEAD SEA BATH SALTS

Love, love, love – a match to the new Sweet Pea spring soap scent. Our Dead Sea Bath Salts have so many benefits, from skin soothing to smoothing, and health-ifying detoxing to muscle relaxing. Adding a heavenly floral fragrance to calm stress and bring peace to your soul? Yes, please. A soak in these pretty new spring bath salts is just the ticket. (16 oz bottle $8.00)

SPRING EVENTS

It’s still early in the year!  This is what we’ve got so far, and will update the website just as quickly as we get notifications, confirmations and contracts. Check the site any time (“Events”button) for all the latest information, including booth locations.

March 28 - 29             

Best of the Northwest – Spring Show

Hangar 30, Magnuson Park, Seattle

Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5

Apr 16 – 19                

Spring Fair at the Washington State Fair

Artists in Action area, located in the Hobby Hall

Puyallup Fairgrounds

Thurs 2-10, Fri & Sat 10-10, Sun 10-8

Apr 17 – 19              

Tulip Festival Street Fair

Downtown Mount Vernon

Fri & Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5

Wishing you a happy, happy spring – full of new life, new beginnings and fresh starts.

New: Oats & Goats!

I know you've been waiting anxiously for the new spring products to arrive already. They are coming later this week. Really. Just putting the finishing touches on everything and making sure we've crossed all the tees. But to tide you over til Friday, here's a sneak peek at one of the new items. It's actually an old item that we've amped up a bit and given a fresh make-over, because sometimes you just have to kick that old 80's hairstyle to the curb, even if it's as comfy as an old ratty sweatshirt. Ouch, right? Just keeping it real.

Previously called "Oatmeal, Buttermilk & Honey" soap - we've taken this very popular bar up a notch!
Goat Milk has so many skin benefits, it seemed silly not to incorporate it into our recipe. Its creamy feel actually comes from the cream - fat molecules that are extra moisturizing and gentle for dry or sensitive skin. It's helpful for eczema and psoriasis conditions too, with higher levels of vitamins and minerals that protect from harm, repair damage, and boost skin health. Alpha-hydroxy acids, which you can find in expensive skin treatments, naturally occur in milk, removing dead skin cells while leaving the surface skin smoother, younger looking and more radiant - without any harsh chemicals or peels. 


Our new recipe still has the soothing ground oatmeal and fresh, raw, organic honey - revered for their luscious moisturizing and skin softening abilities.  These particular ingredients have been used for centuries to soften and calm skin.  From Cleopatra's bath to now, it's the most luxurious combination for pampering your skin, and the perfect complexion bar.

We haven't changed a thing with the fragrance either! It's the same warm, sweet scent you've loved all along, a blend of oatmeal, milk and honey yumminess. This is a comforting, calming and all around nourishing bar of soap for face, bath or showers.


Ingredients: Olive oil, organic coconut oil, sustainably-grown palm oil, organic shea butter, ground oatmeal, whole fresh organic goat milk, fresh raw organic honey, fragrance oil.