Christmas Preparations

We are not yet in full-blown Christmas mode but I definitely hear the pitter patter of little elf feet.  Letters to Santa are being written.  The countdown to the beginning of Advent has begun.  Paper snowflakes are being cut.  A lot of paper snowflakes.  The goofy singing and dancing Snoopy  is out.  The snowman and dog will be out soon.  Oh, and the outdoor Christmas lights are up and on.  Yep, we are getting pumped.

I thought it only fitting to design and make a couple of Christmas soaps as well.  My first Christmas soap is my Gingerbread soap.

Gingerbread soap is scented with ginger, clove and cinnamon essential oils with a dash of vanilla for sweetness and topped off with a drizzle of "icing."

My second Christmas soap was inspired by childhood tales/threats of stockings  containing only a lump of coal in the toe, or in some cases, a turkey leg.  I didn't really want to make a turkey scented soap and so Lump of Coal was born.

Lump of Coal is scented with peppermint and vanilla and coloured with activated charcoal.

In other soap news, I delivered my first wholesale order to a local pharmacy earlier this month.  The owner is a very nice woman and a fellow soap lover and I am very excited to have my soaps available in her store.  Would it be weird to go visit my soaps?  I just want to see how they look.  However,  a part of me is afraid to go.  What if no one is buying them?   Insecurity certainly does play a number with one's head, doesn't it?    

More Concoctions from My Soap kitchen

I loved playing with mud when I was  a kid.  We lived on a dirt road and I knew all the best spots on the road to find the different types of mud.  Armed with a bucket and a spoon, I would scavenge along the road, gathering mud and stones and then set to work making my mud creations.  Well, those days of mud pie are over but that doesn't mean I haven't found another way to play with mud.

Introducing Mud Pie soap made with Dead Sea mud.  The scent is a nice unisex blend of clove, bergamot and patchouli essential oils.

The fun with mud didn't stop there though.  I decided to give myself a Dead Sea mud masque with a special essential oil blend of tea tree oil, lavender and frankincense.  Oh, it smells so good.  I often will open the jar just to have a sniff.  It's an instant little aromatherapy lift.

Soap making has been happening at a fairly good pace here lately as I prepare for several craft shows during the holiday season.    I have designed two holiday soaps but I will share those with you next week.  Squeezed in between all the soap making, I have developed two facial oils.  Over the years, I have used countless facial moisturizers, only to be disappointed with the results or lack thereof.  Not surprisingly, I also wasn't fond of the long list of ingredients all those moisturizers contained.  I have seen facial oils at high end boutiques but they are ridiculously expensive.  Recently i began thinking, "Why can't I make my own facial oil?".  So after a little bit of research, I have and I love them.

I use a combination of golden jojoba, rosehip and evening primrose oils that are absorbed almost instantly into the skin, leaving it soft.  The essential oils in each facial oil are also specifically chosen for their skin-loving properties.  The daytime oil contains lavender, frankincense and ylang ylang.  The night-time oil is a blend of lavender and orange.  I also love using the glass dropper to dispense the oil.  It's just kind of fun, you know.  Or maybe that's just me.

All my new concoctions can be found here in my Etsy shop.

Next Time

I am feeling a little out of the loop.  It has been a while since I have been present in this space and have visited those of others.  I guess I have been kind of missing in action.  I have been wanting to return to this space but now that I have found the time, I'm not sure what to say.  Now I feel like I am blabbering.  maybe I'll just show you what has been consuming much of my spare time lately.

 
I have been preparing for the holiday craft show season.  My first show was on Saturday, October 1.  The above photo is a little peek at my set-up.  I like to do a mock set-up beforehand to make sure I have everything I need.  Good thing I did because I forgot to bring my camera with me to the show.  It wasn't a local show and the early rise made me a little fuzzy headed but I did enjoy the road trip.  

While preparing for last weekend's show, I also landed my first wholesale gig.  (Gig?  I can't think of the correct word at the moment but I love having the excuse to use the word "gig".  Makes me sound kind of cool, right?)    So every spare moment last week was spent making soap . . .

and soap . . .

and a little more soap.

I promise to have something more interesting to say or show next time.  Promise.

How It All Began

Prompted by a friend's question, I have been thinking a lot lately about what brought me to soap making and why I love it so much.

10 years ago, when I was finishing my degree in chemistry and biology, I started making lip balms, body butters and other bath products for personal use.  Books on the subject were not easy to find and the internet was pretty much nonexistent for me at the time.  Supplies were also difficult to find but a local health food store carried a small amount of beeswax, oils and butters.  I remember finding a book on soapmaking in a second hand bookstore.  By flipping through the pages of that book, I could imagine the stuff I could make if only I could find lye.  Lye was not easy to come by and I have to admit the process was a wee bit intimidating.  So my dreams of making my own soap lay dormant for many years until recently.

I keep thinking about it and I realize my journey to soap making did not begin ten years ago.  I think it actually began when I was a small girl.  You see, I was the little girl who loved to make concoctions (LOVE that word).  Unfortunately for my mother, that often involved her make-up and shampoos and whatever else I could find in a bottle.  I loved squeezing toothpaste out of its tube.  I loved watching a stream of shampoo as it poured out of its bottle.  And I loved using my hands to mix this shampoo with its matching conditioner or a hand lotion or a powder.  Mom, you knew I did this, right? Or have I unknowingly committed to something that was better left unknown. (Well, I know that you know about the time that I poured your make-up out the upstairs window because you caught me.  Keegan got revenge for you when he was two years old and he smeared a bottle of cream all over my bed.  I didn't get mad.  I know karma when I meet it.)  My experiments did not include only cosmetic products.  I liked paints, glue and don't even get me started on mud.  My mud pie adventures deserve a post all to themselves.

 

A couple of years ago I was reading something (blog, magazine, book).  I wish I could remember what I was reading so I could give the author credit.  The gist of it was that often, what makes a person happy as an adult is what made them happy when they were 5 years old.  That thought has stayed with me as I watch my two boys grow up and discover themselves.  It returns to me as I consider what seems to make me really happy as a 40 year  old woman -- mixing and pouring but with less of a nuisance factor involved.  I hope.

My Summer Soap Kitchen

My soap kitchen has been busy this summer and promises to continue being busy through the fall.  Here's a little look at the soapy goodness I have been creating.

Blue Clay Soap

Blue Clay soap contains shea butter, rice bran oil and, of course, blue clay.   I designed this soap specifically as a facial soap.   Blue Clay is efficient in absorbing excess oils and removing harmful toxins from the skin. Due to its potent purification properties, it is beneficial to oily and other problematic skin types. Rice bran oil promotes collagen formation and is easily absorbed into the skin with no greasy residue. Shea butter is rich in fatty acids which are needed to retain skin moisture and elasticity.  Honestly, this is the first soap I have ever been able to use on my face without it feeling dry, tight and "stretched".  There.  The horn tooting stops now.

Choco Mint Soap

The next soap was inspired by afternoon chats over coffee with a good friend.

Java Love Soap

Java Love is scented with coffee, vanilla and chocolate fragrance oils.

Chai Soap

I have recently fallen in love with shampoo soaps.

Lemon Squeezy Shampoo Soap

Lemon Squeezy Shampoo soap is scented with lemon and peppermint essential oils.  Instead of water, I used a rosemary herbal tea made with my own rosemary.  I was surprised with the interest shown in shampoo soap.  I currently have a second shampoo soap curing made with beer and scented with rosemary and peppermint essential oils.

Tiger Tail Soap

Tiger Tail Soap is scented with anise star and sweet orange essential oils.  When Mike smelled it, his first comment was: "Hmm, smells like jellybeans."  It is yummy.  The black colour is due to the addition of activated charcoal while the warm orange was obtained by infusing olive oil with paprika.

I recently took the plunge and opened a second Etsy shop devoted to my soaps.  Several of the above soaps can be found there.

Until next time . . .

From My Soap Kitchen

It's been awhile since I last showed you what I have been mixing up soap-wise in my kitchen.  So I thought I would give you a little peek today.

First up, oatmeal cookie soap scented with oatmeal fragrance oil and cinnamon essential oil with a little colloidal oatmeal for the final touch.

Oatmeal Cookie Soap

Next up is my Tea Girl soap which was inspired by a blog friend and her love of all things tea.  Made with Earl Grey tea and scented with lavender and bergamot essential oils.

Tea Girl Soap

Everyone loves a little chocolate.

Chocolate Swirl Soap

Finally, my newest soap is Midsummer's Daydream scented with lavender, peppermint and pink grapefruit essential oils.  The pretty pink colour is due to the addition of pink clay.

Midsummer's Daydream Soap

Not only have I been busy making soap, I have also been dabbling with some new products.

Body Butter

My whipped body butter contains cocoa butter, mango butter and sweet almond oil.  It has the consistency of room temperature butter and melts into the skin, leaving a nice glow.

And my latest creation:

Chocolate Cupcake Bath Bomb

The frosting is bubble bath and the cupcake base is a chocolate bath bomb containing cocoa powder, sweet almond oil and chocolate fragrance oil.  A little decadent perhaps but a heck of a lot of fun.

Expanding My World

I thought I would share some pictures from the last craft show I did on Saturday.  Due to a smaller table at this show, I had to change my display slightly and make it a little more vertical.  Here is the whole table.

Now for some close ups.

A good friend very generously donated the two iron shelving units and they worked out great.  Lots of space to display the soap and yet you still have the feeling like you are rummaging through your mother's or grandmother's dresser.  Not that I would recommend such behaviour but who among us hasn't done that at some point in our childhood.  It is an unexpected consequence of doing craft shows but one which I am fully appreciating.

I am still determined to keep the costs as low as possible while still displaying my soaps in an aesthetically pleasing manner, hopefully.  I found the silver dish below at the thrift store last week and love how the bubble bars look.

Beer soaps and other bath goodies

And now for the tiniest detail on the table but one of which I am very proud.  I needed something to hold the price signs with a minimum of cost.  As I have said before, I am . . . frugal.  Did some research, did some thinking but had no ideas.  Then, the day before the sale, I was doing a mock set-up and I had a genius moment.  (Okay, "genius" is an exaggeration but forgive me.  My days are made up of the little triumphs sometimes.)  Look.

 
I know it is only a toothpick stuck in a chunk of soap but there is something about it that I love.

As for the sale itself, it was a quiet day but still a good day.  First and foremost, I sent a little more of my love for hand made soap out into the world.  Secondly, each show is always such a learning experience and I have yet to end a show feeling like my day was wasted.  And finally, these craft shows are expanding my sense of community in the hand made world.  I knew that such a community existed but I guess I didn't really think it existed in my hometown.  Just as the blog world has introduced me to a more global hand made world, these shows have introduced me to a more local hand made world.  No longer do I feel that I may be the only person in my corner of the world who enjoys making things.

An Invitation

Lavender scented bubble bars

Busy, busy, busy today as I prepare for another show in two days.

Yesterday the very sweet Michele invited me to be a guest blog at Tierra Verde.  Michele makes beautiful handmade soaps and I feel pretty honoured that she invited me into her space.  Thanks, Michele.

From My Soap Kitchen

Soap Kitchen.  I was thinking about these words yesterday, preparing to write another post about the soaps i have been busy making.  I was thinking about how strongly the food that comes out of the kitchen, whether it is my kitchen, my grandmother's kitchen or that of a favourite cafe, influences my soap.  Coffee, lemon, oatmeal, honey, chocolate, beer.  Are you seeing the pattern too?  Food seems to be quite important to me.  I just wish I enjoyed cooking more.  Oh well, on to the soap.

Nan's Lemon Pie

Nan's Lemon Pie is scented with lemon essential oil and has a sprinkling of coconut on top, just like my grandmother used to serve her lemon pie.

Vanilla Bean Soap

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Soap

You had to know cookies were going to make an appearance.  Colloidal oatmeal and cocoa powder make this soap a little extra special.  A combination of oatmeal milk and honey and chocolate fragrance oils make it smell really yummy and kind of decadent.

Lavender Oatmeal Soap

Now to introduce my new fun soaps.

Hippy Half Pint

I have been wanting to make beer soap for awhile and I finally got around to stealing one of Mike's beers.  Okay, so it was his last beer and I may have gotten a dirty look the next time he went to the fridge but it was totally worth it.  I love the deep caramel colour.  I scented it with patchouli and lavender essential oils, thus the name Hippy Half Pint, and it smells musky and warm and spicy.  Love it.  And don't worry about Mike.  I went and bought him a case of beer today.

Breakfast of Champions Half Pint

Made with a wheat beer my father brought back all the way from Nebraska and then kindly donated to my soap making adventures, much to Mike's dismay.  Why Breakfast of Champions?  More oatmeal and scented with sweet orange and lemon essential oils.  My Half Pint Soaps will be ready just in timre for Father's Day.

This last photo isn't so pretty but let me explain.

Yep, I know.  It looks like . . . mud, let's call it mud.  It is a facial cleanser I formulated (Ooh, that sounds so important, doesn't it?  I just can't think of a better word at the moment.)  It contains ground almonds, rhassoul clay, rice bran oil and lavender essential oil and it is wonderful.  It is my new favourite facial cleanser.

Okay, gotta go pick up the boys.  Have a great Thursday, people!

From My Soap Kitchen

For those of you who were wondering, the craft show two evenings ago went really well.  It was held at a local church as a Ladies Night Out.  Those in attendance ranged from the young to the old, mainly women.  My father who helped my carry my stuff felt quite out of place as looked relieved, newly purchased peanut butter cookies in hand,  when my mother said she was ready to go home.  There was a great energy to the room, as groups of friends had gathered for the shopping and chitchat, often accompanied by a nice glass of wine.  One of the highlights of my evening was when two older ladies ran up to my table saying, "We heard you have a really good lip balm."  Why yes, ladies, I do.  My suitcases were much lighter when I left the hall later that night, after having spread a little bit of handmade soap love.

Preparations now continue for a show I am doing later in June.  Here is what has come out of my kitchen lately:

Peppermint Patty

Peppermint Patty soap is made with peppermint tea, scented with peppermint essential oil and a touch of vanilla fragrance oil.  Some finely ground tea leaves provide a little exfoliation.

Summer Breeze

Summer breeze soap is scented with lavender, lemon and pink grapefruit essential oils.

Pink Grapefruit Poppyseed

Kitchen Soap

My Kitchen Soap is made with brewed coffee and coffee grounds, lightly scented with orange essential oil.  Coffee soap is pretty amazing for getting rid of odours such as onion and garlic from the hands.  The scrubbiness of the coffee grounds removes any stuck on food bits like dough or ground meat when making meatballs.  (Yuck. Does the ground meat stick to anyone else's fingers?  Double yuck.) 

Blue Clay Soap

The Blue Clay soap contains blue clay, shea butter and rice bran oil and it is meant to be used as a facial soap but can be used on the hands and body too.  I can't wait for this soap to be ready.  My Rhassoul soap is one of my favourite soaps and I use it every night to wash my face.  It is the first time in at least 20 years that I have been able to use soap to wash my face without getting that tight, skin-stretched feeling.  I even use it to wash my hair but that is another story.

So that is what has come out of my kitchen lately.  So far, I have been trying a new recipe each time I make a batch which is exciting.  However, after recent sales, I am at the point where I am having to replenish my stock and make some soaps for a second time.  And that is exciting in a whole different way.

Full of Gumption

I have never been much of a go-getter.  More of a "if -it's-meant-to-happen-it-will-happen-so-i-am-just-going-to-wait-for-it-to-happen".  That kind of makes me sound like a total slacker but I wasn't.  I studied hard and I worked hard for what I achieved.  I just never walked up to a person and said: "I deserve this award/job."  That all changed last week.

Chocolate Swirl Soap

At the craft show last weekend, through talking to others I found out about a couple of upcoming craft shows.  I came home, discussed it with Mike and we came to the conclusion that if I wanted to make a go of selling my soap, well, I kind of had to go for it.  The next thing I know I am calling strangers, filling out applications and signed up for two upcoming craft shows -- making things happen.  Who is this woman?!  I don't know but I do know that she loves making soap and is mighty proud of the soap she makes.

Coconut Lime and Carrot Honey Soaps

 The above Carrot Honey Soap was made with carrot juice, honey and beeswax.  The beeswax gives the soap a really hard, silky texture.  I left the soap unscented because I wanted to let the ingredients speak for themselves.  I was also curious as to how it would smell.  It has a slight scent that reminds me of baked goods.  i love the feel of this soap.

I like to use mostly essential oils to add fragrance to my soaps but occasionally I cannot resist trying some fragrance oils.  Coconut Lime was one of those fragrance oils.  It smells sweet and refreshing and reminds me of Jamaica where Mike and I were married.

Chai Tea Soap

 

My Chai Tea Soap is made with chai tea, of course, and is scented with cinnamon and clove essential oils and topped off with choclate shavings and cocoa powder.   Warm and spicy.  Okay, so those aren't real chocolate shavings but they sure do look like the real thing.  The cocoa powder, however, is real.

As a result of my recent bout of gumption, I won't be adding my soap to my etsy shop for at least a couple of weeks.  I want to make sure I have enough inventory for my local shows.  I apologize if you were waiting for the soap to be in my shop.  If there was a particular soap you were interested in that I have talked about here or in previous posts, contact me and I may be able to help you out.  Gosh, that sounds so vain, like I am expecting you all to want to buy my soap.  I don't but felt the need to explain the lack of soap in the shop.  There, did you just see that?  That old lack of gumption attitude sneaking in?  Shoo, old attitude, shoo.

  Happy Monday all!