A few more blog mentions

We were featured in Modish for our lip balms:

http://modish.typepad.com/


and Mixed Plate:

http://www.mixedplateblog.com/

Coming up next

The oils are poured for Nighttime Blend and Gingergrass Lime. After that I am looking to make Lush Blend which is Orange, Peppermint, Vanilla and Lavender. After that I'm making Lettuce Spirulina, Bergamot Grapefruit, Peony and Apple Mint. I think.

Rose Petals...new version

This soap turned out very very pretty. Pure white with red rose petals throughout. The fragrance is Victorian Rose an old fashioned blend of English and Heirloom roses. Because of the petals throughout I'm still calling it Rose Petals but the fragrance is different from last time.


Soundtrack: Van She, Van She EP

Strawberries & Champagne

This is a custom soap for a client that I decided to make bigger to give her lots of different bars and it sounded good too. Its made with Pink Kaolin Clay and Colloidal Oatmeal and created to lather well. The fragrance is a blend of Strawberries, Grape, and Sparkling Wine modelled after the Victoria Secret perfume. This soap is certainly pretty in pink and turned out nicely.

Soundtrack: Blonde Redhead, 23

Lemon Rosemary, again

Another batch of Lemon Rosemary. This was initially created as a kitchen soap because of its culinary fragrance and its ability to take tough odors off of hands. But its a vry nice soap that deserves to leave the kitchen. Made with Poppy Seeds and Lemon Peel Granules, this soap has some scrubbing power too.


Soundtrack: White Stripes, Icky Thump

Mint Thyme

This is a classic: Thyme with Spearmint for an herbal delight thats great for everyone. Its made with Thyme leaves to give it a bit of pizzaz. A nice soap that I like to keep in stock.

Soundtrack: The Editors, An End Has A Start

More press!

We were featured on:

Indie Fixx

and

Pretty Crafty Thing

and

Miss Malaprop

and

Scoutie Girl

and

sock prØn

Once again, the molds are filled!

All of the molds are full (even the ones I don't like very much) and I am away for most of next week. So no soaping until late next week at the earliest. The oils are poured for Lemon Rosemary and Mint Thyme. There are several essential oils and fragrances waiting to go including:

-Strawberry & Champagne
-Fresh Blend (Orange, Eucalyptus, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang)
-Peony
-Rose Petals
-Apple Mint
-CinnaMint
-Lettuce Spirulina
-Bergamot Coriander
-Lime Gingergrass

and more!

They'll all get done in the next couple weeks.

Sea Cucumber

Thanks to June of Rising Sun Earthworks for making me think of this scent. Its a blend of Cucumber, Aloe, Sweetgrass and the Sea. Powdered Kelp, Sea Clay and Spirulina make this soap spotted, green and ocean-y. It is fresh and clean smelling. Made with fragrance oils.


Soundtrack: Peter Bjorn and John, Writer's Block

Wholesome Blend

This is a blend of Tangerine, Gingergrass and Vanilla that was a hit last time it was made. People have beed requesting it in lotions as well. Its a fresh baked scent created with essential oils and colored with a touch of oxide and the natural orange hue of Tangerine. It is quite orange.

Soundtrack: Nickle Creek, This Side

Vanilla & Ylang Ylang

This is similar to the Aveda Madagascar scent. 100% Essential Oils. It is both exotic and homey at the same time. Made with Coconut Milk, this vegan soap is rich and warm. It will most likely turn brown which is a bummer because it doesn't smell brown if you know what I mean. Right now it is a light khaki color and I wish it would stay that way, but that's not in the cards.


Soundtrack: The Shins, Wincing the Night Away

Rosemary Mint

Last time I made this soap I made it a shampoo bar, and it didn't go over very well. This time its just a regular soap. Rosemary essential oil with a touch of Mint, its invigorating and astringent. This time I used Spearmint essential oil just to try it out.

Rosemary is one of the essential oils that smells a bit "off" another one is Ginger. Recently a customer said that she received a soap that smelled strange. I knew immediately that it was the Ginger Lime, it just doesn't smell like ginger lime made with frgrance oils. The ginger is not liked cooked ginger but rather a more intense raw ginger. Rosemary is similar, the essential oil is earthier than the spice you use in the kitchen...darker somehow. I am hoping that the lighter mint of Spearmint as opposed to the Peppermint I use normally for this soap, will make the scents less earthy. Those who area fan of Rosemary and like the earthier scents like Patchouli might like it the way it was. Or the Spearmint might make no difference at all. Time will tell.

I also added Sea Clay to give this soap a hint of green. Also contains Kiwi Seeds for some exfoliation fun.


Soundtrack: Metric, Grow Up and Blow Away & Live it Out

Oatmeal , Milk and Honey

This is a fragrance oil that smells like a warm bowl of oatmeal. I used actual rolled oats in this soap since people seem to like having actual oatmeal in their soap because it makes it fun. The funny thing is that rolled oats has none of the actual benefits of oatmeal used this way. Colloidal Oatmeal is what one actually wants in order to get the soothing properties of oatmeal. So I added that too.


Soundtrack: White Stripes, Icky Thump

Chamomile Neroli

This is a large batch of Chamomile Neroli Soap. Neroli is s a plant oil similar in scent to bergamot produced from the blossom of the bitter orange tree. So it is a bit spicy and exotic.

I made this with double-brewed chamomile tea this time instead of water. I normally make it with single-brewed tea and this time the tea water was so dark that I thought it would effect the color of the soap but it looked about the same color. The soap is also made with a lot of chamomile extract at trace. Chamomile Extract is used as an anti-inflammatory and also as a mild sedative. On the skin, it helps to reduce redness and is soothing on inflamed skin.

Another difference this time is that I used whole Egyptian Chamomile in the oil to infuse it and I left the large blooms in the soap instead of straining it. I'll be interested in hearing how people like that.



Soundtrack: Interpol, Our Love to Admire

Our Reviews

We've been in some blogs lately and I keep forgetting to acknowledge how grateful we are for the positive reviews:

Trousseaux to Treasure

The Dreamy Giraffe

Wickedly Chic: Daily Ditties; June 19th


I know I'm forgetting some and I will update when there is more.

Filled Molds

The molds are filled so no new soaps until next week when I hope to make:

-Mint Thyme
-Lemon Rosemary
-Chamomile Neroli
-Vanilla & Ylang Ylang
-Oatmeal, Milk & Honey

(Another Batch of) Lavender Tea Tree

This has to be my 20th time making this soap, its very popular. Years ago I modeled the blend after the California Baby scent I have since modified it to be slightly stronger on the Lavender end. I like to make this Purple for fun. Some find it too colorful, others like to use this on their children so its fun. This time its kinda grayish purple, I Hope it doesn't get too gray.

Soundtrack: Silversun Pickups, Pikul

Lily of the Valley

I have not made this is a long time but I received many requests for a flowery soap and this scent is floral and old fashioned. Colored with a touch of Red Palm Butter at trace, this soap is naturally light yellow. Also because the Red Palm Butter is added after the saponification process is retains all of its healing values including its natural vitamins and antioxidants and its high content of carotenoids.


Soundtrack: Nouvelle Vague, Nouvelle Vague (self-titled)

Pineapple Cilantro, again

This scent went over quite well the first time so I made a larger and slightly stronger batch this time.

It's described as ripe pineapple juices are complemented with coconut shavings, bursting orange notes and sparkling cilantro. Warm vanilla and mists of musk complete this zesty aroma! It is strong on the pineapple end.

Made with Organic Dried Cilantro this soap is also colored with a touch of cumin. But not enough of either this time.


Soundtrack: Van She, Van She -EP

Valencia

This is a great scents made with citrus oils like tangerine, lime and sweet orange blended with White Tyme essential oil. We make this with Pink Kaolin Cly and a touch of Yellow Oxide to produce a rich salmon hue that makes this soap distinctive.

Soundtrack: Beck, Guero

Coffee Scrub Soap, the Sequel

This soap is made with triple-brewed coffee instead of water, lots of Coffee Butter (including some at trace) and coffee grounds for a good scrub. Also added to the soap at trace is a sugar solution that helps the soap lather like mad. Made without a fragrance but naturally scented this soap smells like coffee without any artificial ingredients.

Coffee Butter is high in anti-oxidents and is rich in phytosterols which promote excellent moisture retention.

Soundtrack: Blonde Redhead, 23

Looking for scent ideas.....

I am going to be getting some new scents and I was wondering what people were wanting in the way of soap fragrances....if you have a scent you are craving post a reply here and I'll do my best to accomodate.

Thank you!

Wrench in the works

Well, there is a wrench in the works or rather we are missing a wrench. I got my supplies yesterday and my supplier changes drum tops to a kind that needs a special wrench so no soap making until it arrives. Plus, I have another cold so soap making is delayed.

Back to soapin'

I am back from vacation and completed my intensive week-long class on play therapy and I'm ready for some play myself. I need to restock several favorites including:

-Valencia
-Lavender Tea Tree
-Lemon Rosemary
-Rosemary Mint
-Pineapple Cilantro
-Chamomile Neroli
-Mint Thyme

Then I will also be doing some new favorites:

-Vanilla & Ylang Ylang
-Oatmeal, Milk & Honey
-Lily of the Valley


So not all of these will be made this week, but I hope to get the molds emptied tomorrow and start soaping on Tuesday