Pigeon Creek Handcrafted Soaps

What I Have Been Doing Lately

2011-12-14T07:53:00.000-06:00

This has been a very difficult summer for me with the business. My primary Farmer's Market has made some major changes which have resulted in loss of revenues. I ended up withdrawing from my second Farmer's Market for a variety of reasons. The only really good news is that I picked up a new Farmer's Market in a fantastic small town that has worked out great. In a few days I plan on telling you more about this town because it is super place to spend a weekend.

My last 3 craft shows of the year have been about as bad as they could possibly be. Two were completely rained out and the 3rd, well I think there were more vendors than customers. I understand much of this has to do with the economy but gee whiz it sure is frustrating and depressing. I have had real difficulty in buckling down and working on anything to do with my soap business. That doesn't mean I haven't been busy though. I just wouldn't call it work.

$50.00

The 1st thing I did was put together some wreaths from gingerbread men I had made from white glue and cinnamon last year along with some other ornaments I made and some I bought. What do you think? They actually smell better than they look. I have some of the gingerbread men ornaments that I made when my kids were small (My twins are now 32) and they still have a faint fragrance. I also sliced up some not so sweet oranges and some leftover lemons and threw them in my dryer and added them to the wreaths as well as to the 12 foot strand of gingerbread/cinnamon men orange slices on our Christmas tree.

My next project is one that I have been waiting almost all summer to work on. I guess the Altziemers is setting in because right now I can not remember where I actually bought the table but I do know I did not pay very much for it. How do I know? Because I have been financially strapped all summer and could not afford to pay very much. All I know is that I have never seen a gate leg table made like this and I love it.

The table's top was definately battered, bruised and terribly abused and took a great deal of patience and elbow grease to strip and sand down to the original wood. Now I love painted finishes, especially distressed finishes but this beauty needed to have her glory be shown. I just wish I had thought to take pictures when I had her outside in the light where you could see all of her true beauty, but I didn't and I am truly sorry about that. I just could not wait to put her in my dining area and just did not think about showing anyone else, so I apologize for the quality of the photos because I don't have any windows in my very small dining area.

One thing I love about my table is that when it is folded up it takes up very little room but when both arms are extended it will actually seat 10 people. Now that would be quite a crowd in my dining area but still possible.

My next projects were making and finishing off these blackboards. I actually have 3 blackboards but my batteries died and it is 4 am and the stores around here don't open until 7 am. I will just describe the 3rd blackboard until I get it listed on Artfire. It is the same size as the first board pictured here. I have to say I

$39.00

$29.00

love the finish on the light cherry blackboard but the paint finish on the 3rd board is beautiful. It is a color wash mixture of blue/green almost a turquoise. I am guessing that it is going to be difficult to get a good picture of the actual color because if you look at it from different directions it seems to be different colors. Both it and the light cherry blackboard are 21.75" X 15.5"

My next project was the picture frames. This was one of my favorite, mainly because I have tons of pictures of grandkids & kids and tons of frames. My problem is deciding to let some of them go to the Artfire shop to be sold. I have forced myself to leave these two available and I promise I will make more in different sizes and types if anyone shows any interest in them. The 1st one is an antiqued and distressed frame with a pieced burlap mat made for a 5"X7" photo. The way this is made you could actually center a smaller photo and use the brown matting as a background and have your photo still look great.

$25.00

The next frame is also an antiqued and distressed white frame that has a base coat of bright red and then has been treated with a specialty treatment that gives your wood a faux antique crackled look. I have created a toile mat from a elegant red & white oriental toile. This mat is made for an 8"X10" photo.

$25.00

I am just getting started so I hope you are patient. I think I may just show you a couple more today and save the rest for another day so I won't bore you or wear you completely out.

I was very fortunate this summer and was given a number of cabinet doors by a great guy who used to sell them and was going out of business. Among the regular flat paneled doors he had a very (very) small number of small 4 light doors which I fell in love with. I knew immediately what I wanted to do with at least one of them and I did it. You can't see it but it is actually hanging on my wall in the dining room/area.

I love old/antique and ornate keys and locks. Unfortunately I had never thought of a way to display them until I saw the 4 light cabinet doors and it instantly came to me. I have enough keys and locks to make a dozen more but I don't have the doors. To be honest, I have been dreaming about finding an old 10 or 12 pane window or door to do this to but I doubt if I will ever be that lucky.

$65.00

The 2nd 4 light door is set up to be used to display photos or just about any other goodie you could dream up. I have these photos up with a piece of double stick tape but you could use many different methods to keep an object mounted. The finish on this one is a distressed dark/medium green.

$49.00

Like I said, I haven't made any soap lately but I have been busy. Maybe if I did these full time I would get tired of it, but I really wonder. Perhaps in the next few days I will get back and show you some more of my projects.

If you see something that you are interested in and I haven't listed it yet on Artfire, feel free to email me about it at PigeonCreekSoaps@insightbb.com

New Winter Use for Great Summer Best Seller!

2011-12-08T17:35:00.000-06:00

When I created Bite Be Gone it worked so well for mosquito and minor insect bites and skin irritations, after testing on friends and family (and myself) with such great success I was so satisfied I did not pursue any more potential uses. That is until this past week.

This past week we had a family emergency that took us out of town rather quickly. I was in a hurry packing and did not pack my usual traveling pharmacy/cosmetic aisle. I found myself away from home with skin so dry and itchy that I found that I was breaking the skin on my legs by scratching so much and still not getting relief from the itch. Here I was 200 miles from home with no Dead Sea Salt Bars (which I use every night once the furnace starts running) nor any lotion to moisturize or even just slow down the itch. Then I remembered that I still had my emergency supply of Bug Off and Bite Be Gone in the glove compartment of my car left over from this summer.

It occurred to me that the Bite Be Gone might be helpful since it has all the EO’s for fighting inflammation and skin irritation. One heavy application is all it took to stop my skin from itching, take the soreness from the areas where I had broken the skin from scratching so hard and ease the dryness of my skin until I got home 4 days later.

Just thought I would let you know a great new use for a great old product! I do intend to work on finding larger packaging and doing some further testing, but I hope to have a new balm/stick out specifically made for relief of dry irritated skin. Hopefully it will be in the near future.

NEW 15% OFF COUPON GOOD UNTIL NOV. 30

2011-11-24T15:15:00.000-06:00

All you have to do is go to the website at http://pigeoncreeksoaps.artfire.com/ and when you check out write HOTLIST in the space marked coupon code and you will automatically receive 15% off your entire order! This is only good until Nov. 30 and you can only use this one time. Thank-you for being great customers and hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Newburgh Fiddler Fest

2011-09-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know that we will be at the annual Newburgh, Indiana Fiddler Festival this weekend. Saturday it runs from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday hours are from 11-5p.m. Look for both great music and great catfish fiddlers along with some neat crafters and other great foods!

Gettin Old is Not Fun or How to Save Face

2011-04-09T16:02:00.001-05:00

I have decided that I truly do not like getting old. Now I have to admit that Maurice Chevalier had it right when he said that “Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative.” That I would definitely like less. It is not the fact that I am in my 60’s because in my head I am still in my 30’s. It is the rest of me that is in my 60’s like my joints, my back and all the creaks and groans and misery that comes from the osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and the just plain deterioration that comes from over 60 years of living.

My husband and I were talking the other day about my grandmother and how much energy and vitality that she had even into her 80’s. Every day she would be up at dawn and working. She had a huge garden of about ½ an acre, a grape arbor, peach and apple trees and a huge yard that she took care of without fail. She was also incredibly wise which is the reason that I am writing this.

At the age of 84 she had the most beautiful complexion of anyone I have ever known. I can remember only 2 things that she did to maintain her beautiful skin. When I would visit her and she would shame me into going out and helping her in the garden she would always wear a large straw hat and I was also expected to wear one that she reserved for those of us who were not smart enough to bring our own. Beside the door was a wooden hat rack that my grandfather had made for her many years ago. If she was going out in the yard or garden in the sun she would always wear her straw hat. I am relatively sure it was her Southern roots that made her believe that sun was bad for the skin. One reason I believe this is that the hat she kept for those of us who were not smart enough to bring our own had belonged to her mother. One of the very few memories that I have of “Grandma Jack” was that she never went out the door without a hat.

The other thing that I know that she did for her skin was her nightly application of Pond’s Cold Cream. The 2 commercially made products she used without fail were the nightly applications of Pond’s Cold Cream and the Jergen’s Hand Lotion she used every time she washed dishes. Whenever I smell Cherry Almond fragrance I am transported back to that kitchen filled with love.

I have to admit that throughout most of my life the only problem I had to worry about my complexion was it was too oily, until the last couple of years. Whether it is because I am getting older or perhaps it is due to the Type 2 diabetes my skin sometimes is so dry I have alligator skin if I do not use a lotion or cream. The discussion with my husband brought back the memory of my grandmother and her Pond’s Cold Cream so I decided that perhaps I should work on making some cold cream and try using it to see if it would help my dry facial skin.

Once again the wisdom of my grandmother is proven to me.

I worked on a formula of cold cream that that is infused with skin loving herbs and a few other additions that benefit the skin and have been using it for almost 3 weeks. My skin is feeling like it did many years ago. I am so pleased with this that it will soon be in production and listed on Artfire and I truly expect it to be one of my best sellers in my new line of natural skin care products. I won’t tell you everything that is in it yet until it is ready but think-CUCUMBER. Cucumber is super for the skin! It will reduce the dark and puffy areas under the eye, lighten the freckles on our face, hydrate and moisturize and best of all it is loaded with silica. A deficiency of silica and hyaluronic acid accelerates skin aging because connective tissues cannot hold water efficiently. It promotes the production of collagen and inhibits skin aging. Now I don’t know about you but as for me anything that slows down the effects of getting older is great.

Beer Solid Shampoo Bar with Rhassoul Clay, Silk and Dead Sea Salt

2011-03-30T22:51:00.004-05:00

Beer Solid Shampoo Bar with Rhassoul Clay, Silk & Dead Sea Salt

Having problems with thin, limp hair? Is itchy scalp or dandruff a problem? Then this is the shampoo bar for you.

We use locally crafted dark ale as the entire liquid to make this all natural solid shampoo bar and Bokek Dead Sea Salts to reduce or eliminate itchy scalp and dandruff. This rich and moisturizing bar was created to use as a shampoo but it is great as a body bar also.

by engindeniz

Loaded with minerals such as magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, as well as Biotin and Vitamin B, the ale makes hair seem thicker and adds body. The proteins found in malt and hops are traditionally known to help repair damage to the hair shaft and the sucrose present in b eer improves shine by tightening the cuticles of the shaft. The Biotin also works to prevent dandruff along with the Rosemary and Tea Tree Essential Oils that we have added to this shampoo bar.

Dead Sea

According to Bokek, a major supplier of Dead Sea Salts to the industry, dandruff is a an excessive shedding of the skin cells of the scalp resulting in white flakes and itchiness. “Dandruff, although a natural growth process of the skin, is caused by excess oiliness of the scalp and is therefore seasonal. Contrary to common belief that it would be more severe in summer due to sweating or dryness, dandruff is worse during the winter months.

Dandruff is caused by:

- Use of hairspray and gels

- Overuse of chemical hair treatments

- Use of curling irons and curlers

- Exposure to cold dry weather or dry indoor air

- Tight fitting hats or head scarves

-Stress, anxiety, trauma and tension

Bokek™ Dead Sea Salts contain sulfur in a natural form. In addition, the other minerals assist in detoxifying and cleansing which is vital to restore the balance of cells to reduce the oiliness of the scalp.”

We have also added Rhassoul Clay to this bar. The Rhassoul leaves your hair beautifully clean, smooth, soft and glossy.

Rhassoul clay, mined deep within the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, has been used for over 1400 years as a beauty treatment for skin and hair. It is being rediscovered and used in the most renowned spas throughout the world. Rhassoul clay contains high percentages of potassium, magnesium, silica and other trace minerals. This traditional African hair care ingredient removes excess oils and toxins to leave your hair and body unbelievably clean and detoxified. Once these impurities are removed it exchanges them for the nourishing trace minerals.

Comfrey

As with our other shampoo bars we have infused the luxury oils that we use to make this bar with hair lovin’ herbs. Nettles, Horsetail, Comfrey and Marshmallow Root all work together to give your hair fantastic shine and conditioning.

Last, but not least, we have added hydrolyzed silk proteins to this shampoo bar. Silk aids in moisture retention due to its strong hygroscopic (taking up and retaining water) properties. Silk adds luster, body, and manageability to your hair.

Horsetail

As a note we should let you know as with other natural Dead Sea Salt filled bars, don't expect loads of lather. We don't add any SLS or other chemical sudsing additions to this all natural solid shampoo bar. Wet your hair and rub the bar through your hair until you can tell that the soap is dispersed completely throughout your hair and to the scalp. Then rinse as you normally would.

As with all of our solid shampoo bars we suggest that you use a natural vinegar rinse following your shampoo.

Bars weigh between 5.3-6.3 oz.

Beer Solid Shampoo Bar with Rhassoul Clay, Silk & Dead Sea Salt

Herbs, Cures, Treatments & Natural Face Care Recipes & Formulas

2011-03-27T21:00:00.075-05:00

Herbs, Cures, Treatments & Natural Face Care Recipes & Formulas

by Willfca

Part 1

When I began thinking about this blog entry my earliest plan was to give you easy recipes (formulas) to make your own completely natural facial cleansers and tonics. As I started working on a basic outline I found that as I began to explain about why you should use natural products I felt like I had to give you a little history of how my interest in natural products started which has ultimately convinced me to write a series of articles on natural beauty treatments and products and natural herbal and folk treatments for minor problems with a little history thrown in the mix.

Commercially made or store bought facial cleansers, toners, moisturizers are often loaded with ingredients that are totally unnecessary and sometimes are not really good for our skin. Why do we use them then? More often than not, we use them because they are convenient. Another reason we use them is because we have never known that there is another way to have the skincare we need without spending loads of money.

If I had only my mother as a role model for purchasing and using facial and body care products I would probably not have developed my own business. When I started developing allergies and becoming sensitized to different chemicals used in soap and other products that we use daily, I probably would have had to take a different path and start buying the very expensive hypoallergenic commercially made products.

by Jen Son

I was very fortunate though. I had a grandmother whose heritage tracks back to a family line that comes from the Appalachians and practiced folk or “granny” medicine as well as firmly practicing self-sufficiency.

Granny medicine was developed because of a lack of access to modern healthcare and a tradition of independence. Families owned and worked their farms, many of which were hours or even days away from a traditional doctor and modern healthcare. Sometimes the herbal treatment or cures were imbued with rituals and mixtures of animal products or were timed on the sign of the zodiak. The knowledge of the cures, treatments and uses of herb to maintain health is often handed down from old to young.

The first time I actually remember my grandmother using one of her folk treatments on me was when I was 5 or 6 years old. My parents had gone to a veterinary medical convention somewhere out west and my brother and I stayed with my mother’s parents. I started having a minor earache on Friday night which by Saturday was extremely painful. I have to admit that much of the crying and carrying on by me was probably due to the fact that I was a mama’s girl and this was the first time I had been away from her for more than a weekend. It was painful though-I swear.

Aspirin was the first thing she gave me. Okay parents, don’t go ballistic. This was 1955 and the potential side effect of developing Reyes Syndrome, a deadly disease that affects all the body’s organs was unknown at that time. I don’t think the aspirin helped at all because by early Saturday I was weeping and wailing.

Mamma told me we were going for a walk and we did. We walked across the barn lot, through the smallest pasture and into the apple orchard that my grandfather had planted for her when they first moved onto the farm in the late 1920’s. She walked up to a huge plant that was taller than I was with huge hairy leaves and topped with a stalk of pretty yellow flowers. She took her butcher’s knife and whacked it off almost even to the ground. She did this to several plants. I can remember dragging this huge plant behind me and trying to climb over the fence stile with it. Now for all you city folk a fence stile is like 2 small ladders built and fastened at the top that goes over the top of a fence. This makes it easy to cross a fence and eliminates the necessity of building a gate.

We walked back to the house and she went into the basement and pulled out one of the 4 window screens that she had saved from the old house before it was demolished. She cut off the flowered portion of the plant and set it aside. The rest of the plant she cut into pieces and spread out over the screen that was sitting on a couple of cinder blocks to dry. The flower stalk of the plant we carried back into the house and she cut it up into small pieces after rinsing it off. She then pulled out a saucepan, added the mullein plant into it and poured olive oil over the weed.

At that time my grandparents had a gas stove fueled by a huge lp gas tank that sit outside the house. This was the first non-wood burning stove that my grandmother had ever owned. Until my grandfather built the huge Bedford stone home in the early 1950’s my grandmother had only used a wood burning stove to cook on.

I remember the burners on the gas stove had 2 separate rings that the gas came out and was burned. The inner ring was very small and this was what she heated the mixture with. I cannot tell you how long she kept it on the stove but it seemed to take forever. I do know that it was night time and my bedtime before she took the warm liquid and filled an eyedropper and put it into my ear and then pulled a tiny bit of cotton from the roll she had in a big blue box and stuffed it into my ear. I remember the warm oil feeling good and giving me a modicum of immediate relief. What I remember best though is waking up in the morning with no pain and and it not coming back. She continued using the warm drops a couple times of day for the remaining time before my parents came to pick us up.

I also remember my mother taking me to our family doctor and being told that there was nothing wrong with my ear.

What I have found out since then is that the mullein plant has many uses in herbal medicine and it has been a valued medicinal herb since antiquity. One of the first people to write about the medicinal uses was a Greek physician Dioscorides. He told about using the herb for curing diseases of the lung over 1800 years ago.

Medical uses and benefits of Mullein

The high content of mucilage and saponins found in the leaf along with the plant's antibiotic and antiviral qualities makes this herb ideal for the treatment of a broad range of respiratory ailments. Mullein is strongly anti-inflammatory and has been used in the treatment of bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, pneumonia and allergies. It is one of the great natural expectorants (rids of mucus and congestion). Because of its anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties it has been used successfully as a treatment reducing boils and other skin inflammation and infections.

The 1917 edition of Potter's Therapeutics noted: "It has long been a popular Irish remedy in pulmonary affections" (asthma and whooping cough particularly). An infusion of the dried leaves in milk was recommended as a valuable expectorant that also eased coughing and improved the general condition and stated it was useful for cystitis, irritable bladder, and diarrhea as well.

In the South and the Appalachians it is commonly used mixed into a poultice with fat and applied to boils to bring them to a head.

A strong tea made from the leaves and applied locally soothes and reduces the pain and inflammation of hemrrhoides and perineal itching and soreness.

Part 2 of this series will contain recipes, formulas and uses for the mullein plant which is one of the most used and effective herbal treatments.

Playing in the Mud (Moor Mud) -Fun or Therapy?

2011-03-24T16:55:00.000-05:00

Dead Sea Mud, Moor Mud & Rhassoul Clay Facial Masque

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2044164

If someone told you that they had a tub full of mud and it would clean your body of harmful toxins, rid you of acne, slow the forming of wrinkles on your face, moisturize your skin, alleviate the pain of arthritis, rheumatism and muscle strains and sprains; and if you drank it your ulcers would heal along with your cystitis, you would think that they were either lying to you or were mentally unstable. Strangely though each one of these have been scientifically tested and validated. You can go to Medscape and do a search on Medline for moor mud or peat therapy and find the citations about this amazing natural mud.

For over 200 years, it has been said to have magical properties, which today can be explained through science. Its popularity has however not decreased and is still being used. To add to all the properties mentioned it is also said to induce relaxation as it stimulates the body’s natural production of cortisone.

The actual therapeutic properties of Moor Mud have been known for thousands of years. In fact, as far back as 120 B.C., Romans took advantage of the curative powers of Moor Mud and Renaissance physicians praised it as the Quinta Essentia.

Moor Mud Bar Healing Natural Acne Soap Buy 2 Get 1 Free

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=3042570

What is Moor Mud?

During the Pleistocene glacial epoch great glaciers pushed their way into fertile valleys, trapping rich abundant plant life under glacial lakes.

For over 200 years, it has been said to have magical properties, which today can be explained through science. Its popularity has however not decreased and is still being used to: Cleanse the body of toxins, hydrate the skin and helps alleviate health problems like arthritis, chronic skin conditions and ease muscle tension. According to some sources it induces relaxation, as it helps to stimulate the body's natural production of cortisones.

Moor Mud or Balneo-Peat is an organic substance, a product of natural decomposition of multitudes of plants under special conditions. It is unlike any other mud in the beauty, spa or medical industry. Containing almost no clay it is comprised of the organic remains of flowers, plants, herbs and grasses. Over a period of thousands of years these residues turn into a paste that easily dissolves in water and has an unusual concentration of bio-minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, plant hormones and fatty acids. These substances are readily absorbed into the skin due to Moor Mud's unique colloidal structure, making it ideal for cosmetic and therapeutic use.

Moor Mud increases collagen and skin cell production and can even stimulate the fibers of the nervous system between skin cells, improving the look and feel of maturing skin. It is suitable for all skin types and its astringent properties can be used to treat various skin conditions including acne, eczema, and psoriasis.

The natural acids and nutrients in peat (Moor Mud) are the force behind its healing abilities. As one aspect of peat opens the skin pores allowing nutrients in and acids out, another aspect actively draws out lactic acid and metabolic wastes from tissues.

The therapeutic properties of Moor Mud have been known for thousands of years. In 120 B.C., the Romans took advantage of the curative powers of Moor Mud and Renaissance physicians praised it as the Quinta Essentia. Scientific research has demonstrated that Moor Mud is an effective astringent, absorbent, ion exchanger, hormone balancer, anti-inflammatory, and cell regenerator.

For ages, Moor Mud has been used successfully in spas all over Europe as a natural preventative medicine because of its curative qualities. Modern scientific research has uncovered new applications and techniques for Moor Mud in many therapeutic treatments, particularly in the fields of Rheumatology and Dermatology.

Because moor mud has chelatic properties (it binds heavy metal isotopes) it is a strong natural detoxifier. It cleanses skin of impurities, detoxifies, helps to preserve skin thru presence of natural tanning elements, improves circulation and makes skin look and feel rejuvenated.

Recently Moor Mud’s ability to alleviate the problems of both acne and maturing skin has been its primary uses in the beauty industry. Locally I found that Moor Mud was virtually unknown. I was the first to create and sell Moor Mud bars in this vicinity. After making my first batch of Moor Mud bars I had no sales for several weeks until I ended up giving about 15 bars away at no charge other than they had to promise use it for a month and then come back and tell me how it performed and if they liked it.

Moor Mud Rejuvenating Bar for Mature Skin Buy 2 Get 1 Free

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=3042617

That was back in July, 2007. A number of those in that group ended up using it all through their high school and college years and became my most persuasive sales persons.

Only recently have I changed the formula and created a bar dedicated to mature skin. I have begun receiving feedback that is as good as the initial Moor Mud bar’s feedback.

I have over the last few years come to believe as I use natural additives such as moor mud, Dead Sea Mud, kelp, and the many herbs and flowers that are gifts of nature that there are natural cures for everything. Whether God or evolution created these, I cannot begin to say. What I can say is that in my mind there are many more out there and all we have to do is find them.

Another Great Silhouette SD Giveaway from Decorchick

2011-03-21T17:57:00.000-05:00

You can win a Silhouette SD from Decorchick! This fantastic machine is something that every crafter should have in their bag of tricks. Check it out here: http://www.decorchick.com/giveaway/silhouette-machine-giveaway-and-a-discount-code/

Want to win a new Silhouette SD? Check this out!

2011-03-21T16:53:00.000-05:00

You can win this fantastic piece of equipment that every crafter should have. My very favorite blog is having a super giveaway and you could be the lucky winner. Go here and check it out-- http://www.remodelaholic.com/2011/03/silhouette-giveaway.html

My Etsy Shop is Closed & Artfire is our Home!

2011-03-20T14:49:00.001-05:00

I have been gradually notifying my customers that I would be closing my Etsy shop and focusing solely on my Artfire shop. The day has finally come and my Etsy shop is officially closed. I have to admit it was a very difficult decision for me. Since I opened the shop in 2008 the business had slowly but steadily been growing. Even more important than the fact that the income from the Etsy shop was substantially greater than my Artfire shop is the fact that I had made many friends that started out as customers and I pray they come visit at my Artfire shop if not to buy to stop by and say hello and let me know how they are doing.

Come visit me at : http://pigeoncreeksoaps.artfire.com/

A few of my customers have asked me why I had planned to close my Etsy shop and I promised that I would share some of my reasons in the blog. The easiest answer would be to say that it is a financial decision and that the Artfire shop is less costly to maintain. I was lucky and managed to sign up for a PRO account during their special promotion. This was a fantastic deal where it only costs me $5.95 a month for the PRO account. I have unlimited listings (no more $.20 for each item which doesn't turn up in a search after 8-10 days) and in particular, no percentages due when I sell an item. Those are the financial reasons- not the important reasons.

I began hearing warning bells in early 2010. I began to hear mutterings about sellers being muted in the forums because of negative statements they had made about Etsy. At first I thought they must be false accusations because Etsy had waved the flag of the 1st amendment numerous times when items were flagged for being offensive, in particular this one is my favorite. Many items by this seller are disgusting and reprehensible, but when brought to the attention of Etsy they were totally ignored -that is until CNN ran this spot http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/01/07/jvm.greeting.cards.hln

Kalin's answer to this the CNN segment- "It is important to us that we allow members of the community to express their own sensibilities, and to develop their shop identity to suit themselves and their market. What is offensive to some may be intended as a statement about culture by an artist." Then he proceeded to state that the offensive items and the artist's shop would remain.

And he meant it- at least for a minute.

A website called WomensRights.Change.org began a petition asking for Etsy to remove the listings, which received over 17,000 online "signatures" and he rather quickly changed his tune.

As per AuctionBytes, "The policy has been revised to state that Etsy will no longer allow items or listings that promote, support or glorify hatred toward or otherwise demean people based upon race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation, including items or content that promote organizations with such views."

In other words all one has to do to foment change is get the media involved. Bringing problems up on the Etsy forums and questioning policy will only get you muted. It seems that Etsy has developed a "dictatorial habit of quashing debate on its own users forum". There is actually a list somewhere out there on the internet. I have seen it but can't seem to find it now but I will tell you that it is immense.

These are several of the problems that have driven me off of Etsy, but I actually started making plans to leave around the 1st of October. For sometime I had been noticing that my sales were begining to slow down. This was strange since Jan. 2010 my sales had (for me) skyrocketed. I thought for awhile that it was just a minor glitch and the sales would go back to the way they had been- but they actually got worse. Then I found out why. Here is the best explanation I have found for the reason that mine and many other sellers sales have plummetted.

From http://etsybitch.blogspot.com/search/label/search

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Etsy search and categories limited to 50,000

Do you feel that? You’re getting screwed. I know I know, Etsy’s little limp noodle doesn’t make much of an impact, but your wallet sure does feel it.

Etsy made “minor adjustments” to the search pagination resulting in a return of only 50,000 results when a buyer searches for something. The reasoning:

“our data has shown that purchases drop to .000001% on item listings beyond position 50,000 for a given search”

Yeah, so why help those items sell? They’ll just keep pimping out the constant renewers

Cuz guess what, the results get returned by – recently listed date! (and check out the latest weather report - the backlog of unsold items keeps growing by hundreds of thousands)

To quote an Etsian: “This does nothing to help sellers or buyers find items they may be looking for. This does everything to line Etsy's pockets with more renewal fees, your motivation is so transparent Etsy.”

Oh yeah, and it affects browsing categories, too. So if you haven’t renewed in the last 2 to 4 weeks, your item isn’t being returned in the category when a shopper is browsing. Didn’t you pay for 4 months?

“Only 3% of the items listed in jewellery are now accessible when browsing.

That's a staggering $324,019.60 spent on listing fees for items that are inaccessible. When sorting by price, you can not browse items between $4.49-$139.”

And that thread – more than 1100 posts and no admin response. Surprised?

So rather than updating the hardware, Etsy is simply screwing all of you to get you to pay more to be seen.

Oh this is going to be a GREAT holiday shopping season!

Twit This!

Posted by The Righteous One at 4:53 PM
__________________________________________________________________________________

I know that each time I paid $.20 for an individual listing I expected to be able to be searched for the entire 4 month period that I had paid my $.20 for and I don't like and won't tolerate being screwed!
I know this has been an extremely long "rant" but I did promise to tell you why I was leaving Etsy. I do have one more comment.

I LOVE ARTFIRE!

One of the main reasons is that they listen.

Fabulous new Giveaway by thedesignconfidential!

2011-03-06T10:24:00.000-06:00

Check out this fantastic giveaway http://www.thedesignconfidential.com/2011/03/giveaway-the-milan-wall-art-sunjel-fireplace/#comment-4252

This is a beauty and the blog is VERY interesting!!! Lots to learn here.

New Giveaway!

2011-02-25T15:28:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note to let you know that Drakestone Primitives is holding a giveaway of a wonderful Sweet Bear. I have fallen in love with it. It looks like an old expensive Steiff bear. I would love to be lucky enough to win this one. Check it out friends! http://www.drakestoneprimitivescountrycabin.blogspot.com/

Great Giveaway from One of My Favorite Blogs

2010-11-09T19:33:00.000-06:00

I read Perfectly Imperfect every day no matter what is on my schedule. I have been known to carry my laptop to bed with me just because I haven’t had time to check out her blog that day. No she is not another soaper or a cosmetics maker or even an herbalist. She is a decorator with fantastic ideas and great taste and a super sense of humor.

CSN is giving a $45.00 gift certificate to use in one of their over 200+ stores online. Shaunna is reviewing this beautiful lamp for CSN. I am green with envy!

Pop on over to Shaunna’s blog and sign up for the gift certificate. The address is

http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/2010/11/csn-review-and-giveaway.html#comment-form

Catching Up and Asking for Help!

2010-10-10T15:10:00.000-05:00

This is just going to be a short blog to catch you up on what is going on here at Pigeon Creek Soaps. The 2010 Farmer's Market season will be over soon with our last dates being Oct. 22-23. I have to admit that this has been the longest and most difficult season that I have ever worked. Plus the most costly due to losing 2 tent canopies. Part of the reason it was so difficult was due to the extreme heat and partly because I have been going to 2 markets this year instead of just our regular Downtown Evansville Farmer's Market.

To be honest, some of the difficulty may be just due to age creeping up on me. Honestly it was much easier to lift and carry heavy tubs of soap 20 years ago. I hadn't thought much about gettin older until yesterday. My birthday is coming up on the 12th of October and my husband was cracking jokes about my being an "old" woman this month. Normally, age has never been a problem but I realized that I am going to be 60 this year and it hasn't been that many years ago when I though that 60 was ancient.

This ancient soapmaker has a couple of weeks more of the Farmer's Market and then the plan is to buckle down and concentrate on my new Artfire shop, writing for the blog, working on promoting the Artfire shop and working on my not so secret passion of refinishing furniture and a variety of small crafts.

I have started playing around with small sewing and painting projects in honor of the season. I started them for my own family's use since Halloween has been our family's most favorite holiday to decorate. My daughter Seanna, who has William's Syndrome, is 31 this year and still loves dressing up for Halloween parties and trick or treating.

Here is where I would like to ask for your help. Do you have any suggestion for what you would like to see in this blog? Would you like to be a guest writer for the blog or do you know someone who might be interested? The topic does not have to be on soapmaking or toiletries. If you have noticed the original name of the blog and business was A Scentsible World, so anything that makes sense in the world around us is an appropriate topic. Tutorials would also be great. If you are interested or know someone who may be interested please email me at bjrussell@insightbb.com Be patient please. My computer is down so I am having to share with my husband until he gets my computer fixed or I get a new one. (Fingers crossed)

Also, before I forget I wanted to let you know that I took up Artfire on their offer on their Pro Account and I am in the process of making Artfire as my main sales venue. Please check it out at http://www.pigeoncreeksoaps.artfire.com/

Great Giveaway on Another Blog!

2010-09-23T16:58:00.000-05:00

I found this fantastic blog with a wonderful giveaway that you should check out. I have to apologize for not writing more lately but between 2 Farmer's Markets, early Fall festivals and craft shows and my on line shops I have been swamped. I promise I will catch up and have some goodies for you in the next few weeks.

In the mean time, check out this great blog with her fantastic crafts. Also, she is running this giveaway for a week starting from Sept. 19 so go check it out soon! Here is the address

http://laurathoughts81.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-giveaway_19.html

How to Beat the Heat!

2010-07-25T14:25:00.005-05:00

As the temperature rises and the risk for heat stroke increases, people should be aware of how their bodies are handling the heat. Many of us vendors of handmade items depend on the money we make at Farmer’s Markets and craft shows throughout the summer months. Minimizing the stress of heat on your body by staying hydrated will help keep you healthy throughout the summer.

Heat-related injuries can range from a relatively minor problem like heat cramps to a more serious condition like heat stroke, which can be fatal, so we need to pay close attention to ourselves as well as our neighbors.

Tips to stave off the sizzling summer temps!

• Slow down! Strenuous activities should be reduced or eliminated, or rescheduled to a cool time of day. Try going early and giving yourself extra time to set up. Take your time and if you possibly can, leave before the extreme heat of the day. I have found here locally that most of my customers come early during the hottest days of summer, especially at the markets with little or no shade. I have found no major decrease in my earnings if I leave at 1 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. I have even handed out notes that I put with my customers purchases that explain that during times of extreme heat & humidity that my hours will be different that normal. I also have handed out coupons with 10 to 15 % off to ease the inconvenience as well as giving my home phone number and telling them to call me and we can arrange a pickup at their convenience.
• Drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic fluids. Your body needs water to keep you cool and functioning. Drink plenty of fluids even if you are not thirsty. Caffeine drinks should be minimized. Water and sports drinks are better for you.

• Don’t take salt tablets unless prescribed by a physician.
• Dress for summer! Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothing in single layers. Light colored clothing helps reflect the heat and sunlight and helps you maintain normal body temperature.
• Stay out of the sun! If you don’t have a tent to cover you and your products bring an umbrella. Always wear a sunblock (SPF 15 or greater) even on cloudy or hazy days.
• Please keep an eye on your neighbors. Older people and children are more susceptible to heat injury and often do not recognize it in themselves.
• Get a small "Playmate" type cooler, and fill it with ice and water. Take a small towel (an older, thin dish towel is great) and soak it in the icy water in the bottom of the cooler. When you need to cool off, take out the towel, wring it out a little, and drape it either over your head or across your neck and shoulders. If you have a large enough towel and it is especially hot you can fold it over and wrap up some ice, letting is slowly melt and cool you off. At the extreme heat and humidity that many parts of the country are experiencing it is more important to keep cooler than being “well dressed”. Heat stroke or heat exhaustion can be deadly.

• Recognize the signs of dehydration, heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Thirst, dry skin, fatigue, lightheadedness, confusion and dry mouth and mucous membranes are symptoms of dehydration. In cases of mild dehydration, simple rehydration is recommended by drinking fluids. Many sports drinks on the market effectively restore body fluids, electrolytes, and salt balance. More serious cases of dehydration should be treated as a medical emergency and a trip to the hospital will be necessary.

• Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life- threatening emergency. Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following: an extremely high body temperature; red, hot and dry skin(no sweating; rapid strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; unconsciousness.
• What should I do if I see someone with any of the warning signs of heat stroke?

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:
• Get the victim to a shady area.
• Cool the victim rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
• Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
• Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

WHY USE A MUD MASK OR THE DO IT YOURSELF FACIAL

2010-05-31T21:54:00.002-05:00

We often forget about giving our skin the TLC that it so richly needs and deserves. We need to suppliment our daily skin care routine with a weekly mud mask facial. A mud mask is often the only way to remove the dirt and debris embedded deep in our skin layers. Our skin cells are constantly being replaced while dead cells accumulate and slow down our epidermal (outer layer of skin) function. The regular use of a mud mask removes those dead cells and stimulates the circulation of blood in your face. It can bring oxygen and other essential nutrients to the skin. Using a mud mask once a week to hydrate and tone your skin is the best way to help encourage healthy skin.

HOW TO USE A FACIAL MASK

First cleanse your face completely and rinse well with warm water. If you have oily skin you can use our All Natural Exfoliating Dead Sea Salts prior to using a mask.

For a real treat you can apply some honey, (preferably organic) under your eyes and dip some cotton balls into your favorite (cooled) herbal tea to place on your eyelids while you are relaxing during your treatment.

Apply the mask thinly to your face with very gentle strokes, moving your fingers away from the center of your face except under your eyes. For the eye area, gently stroke from the outer cheekbones inward towards your nose. Once the mask is thoroughly spread over your face, massage lightly into the skin. “For those of you who are like me and can not afford the sybaritic pleasure of a facial massage done by a professional, I always put a comfortable chair in our bathroom. Here is where I lie back into the chair with my eyes closed and covered with cotton balls dipped into a cool herbal tea and gently and slowly stroke my mask covered skin. If you are stressed out, worn out or just plain tired-This is the cure.” If you have a partner, talk them into a mutual facial. This can be a great experience. You just have to be careful and not completely spoil your partner!

After applying the mask lie down in a peaceful, comfortable place or relax in a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes. To enhance the serenity and add to the experience dip cotton balls into cooled chamomile or your favorite herbal tea and cover your eyelids.

To remove the mask spread a warm washcloth on your face to soften the mask and then the mask will more easily wash off. Follow by dipping the washcloth in cool water and apply to your face. This will help close the pores of your skin and while refreshing you.

We recommend you use our Dead Sea Mud Mask with Moor Mud & Rhassoul Clay.

This mask is great for all skin types from dry to oily to acne prone. It evens out skin tones, soothes and calms your skin while it firms and improves elasticity.

This unique, natural and effective mask is formulated with Dead Sea Mud, Moor Mud, Rhassoul Clay and Coconut Oil which has been infused with skin loving herbs. This natural mask boosts cell renewal and revitalizes your skin while it tightens your pores. As the mask begins to dry the rhassoul clay gently pulls out toxins and impurities known to clog pores and cause visible signs of aging. The Moor Mud which contains almost no clay and consists mainly of organic remains of flowers, plants, herbs and grasses. Its mysterious ability to heal, nourish and detoxify has been observed by people for millennia and has been used scientifically in European Spas for well over a century. It is used not only to beautify, but also to heal. It has anti-aging, natural antibiotics, biochemical and anti-inflammatory actions.

The small molecular structure of coconut oil allows for easy absorption through the skin, giving it a soft, smooth texture. Easily absorbed into the skin the coconut oil which has been infused with Gotu Kola, Comfrey and chamomile carries the beneficial herbs into the skin. Gotu Kola strengthens the skin, increases the concentration of antioxidants in wounds, and restores inflamed tissues by increasing blood supply to connective tissue. It enhances the synthesis of collagen that results in the thickening of the skin which we know is necessary to combat wrinkles created from thinning skin. The comfrey has an ancient reputation as a wound-healer. The comfrey is loaded with the healing agents mucilage and allantoin, a cell proliferant that speeds up the natural replacement of body cells while the chamomile reduces inflammation, irritation, skin redness and it promotes granulation and skin cell regeneration.

For acne prone skin we recommend that you begin your facial treatment by cleansing your skin with our Moor Mud Bar. You can find the Moor Mud Bar here here You can add some of our All Natural Exfoliating Dead Sea Salts to the suds that you create with the Moor Mud Bar and gently exfoliate your skin to brighten, refresh and help firm your skin while removing oil and bacteria known to clog pores and dull your skin. Then follow up with our Dead Sea Mud Mask with Moor Mud and Rhassoul Clay
For dry or maturing skin follow up your mud mask with a quality facial moisturizer.

Someone Else Likes our Herbal Vinegar Hair Rinse!

2010-05-31T13:29:00.000-05:00

Wow! Even though this has been a terrible month for many of Etsy's wonderful crafter's and artist's, including me, because of Google's tweeks to their algorithms I am still a happy camper. One of my products was mentioned again on the Truth in Aging blog by another of my fantastic customers!

She was responding to the article “Junko- Old Hair and New Hair”. Laura wrote 2 responses to Junko mentioning my Herbal Vinegar Hair Rinse and my newest product "Packaged Herbs for Creating Your Own Herbal Vinegar Rinse or Hot Oil Treatment".

You can find the article and Laura's responses to it here: http://truthinaging.com/hair/junko-old-hair-and-new-hair

If you get a chance you should check out the Truth in Aging Blog at http://truthinaging.com/ It is full of interesting information.

You Can Make Your Own Hair Care Products!

2010-05-15T17:04:00.001-05:00

I finally have received and packaged up all the herbs necessary to create your own Herbal Vinegar Rinse or Herbal Hot Oil Treatment that is specifically targeted for your hair.

It is easy to create your own special blend of Herbal Vinegar Rinse and Herbal Conditioning Hot Oil Treatment All you will need is Apple Cider Vinegar from the grocery for your rinse. For your Herbal Conditioning Hot Oil you can use Olive Oil from your local grocer. If you want a lighter oil you can infuse your herbs into Apricot Kernal Oil or grapeseed oil if you want an even lighter oil. Usually you can find these oils in your local health food store. The only other thing you will need is a quart canning jar or a jar with a lid that has a rubber seal.

Each package of herbs has been carefully chosen for you. Now you can make your own Herbal Vinegar Rinse or Herbal Conditioning Hot Oil Treatment and save money. These packages include enough herbs to make 1 ½ gallons of Herbal Vinegar Rinse and/or Herbal Conditioning Hot Oil Treatment for less than the cost of 2-8 oz. bottles of already prepared Herbal Vinegar Rinse. You could also use the same blend of herbs to create a weekly conditioning hot oil treatment. Each order contains a brochure with the complete instructions on how to make your own Herbal Vinegar Rinse and Herbal Conditioning Hot Oil Treatment. Choose from these herbal packets:

Blonde Hair- contains chamomile, calendula, horsetail/shavegrass, nettles, lavender, lemon balm, comfrey, mullein and marshmallow root.

Brunette Hair- Rosemary, Sage, lavender, nettles, horsetail/shavegrass, Lemon Balm, peppermint, marshmallow root, calendula

Red Hair- nettles, horsetail/shavegrass, rose, hibiscus, lemon balm, peppermint, comfrey, plantain, ginger, sage & rosemary

Dandruff Blend-peppermint, arnica, cloves, juniper, lemongrass, nettles, horsetail/shavegrass, rosemary, comfrey, plantain, orange, licorice root, ginger, Dead Sea Salt and Tea Tree Essential Oil and Rosemary Essential Oil

You can order yours here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/46430563/packaged-herbs-for-creating-your-own

My Stolen Weeds

2010-04-28T22:48:00.000-05:00

Some people, if they knew the truth about me, would probably try to have me committed to the nearest mental institution. Several years ago we moved from our huge 2 story Victorian home with its substantial yard. I had devoted years of work to my garden with all the perennial beds, herb garden, rose bed and my “natural” lawn with its treasure chest of common weeds that provided me with a bounty of herbal delights. My husband was responsible for the mowing and I took care of all other gardening which to me was not work but a joyful pastime. But as we got older and he became more disabled, the huge house with the large utility bills and upkeep and yard with its demands became too difficult to maintain and we decided we needed to downsize. We sold the house and moved into a lovely triplex with a beautiful lawn surrounding us on 3 sides and a tiny but manageable private backyard.

Like idiots we ended up moving in the middle of the snowiest February recorded in the past 50 years. After a couple of months to settle in I decided that I was pleased with the change. But then Spring arrived and I realized that I was going to make a major change in my life. I was no longer going to be able to step out my back door with my bucket in hand and stroll through my yard and pick the major portion of the herbs necessary to make many of my products. The dandelion, chickweed, boneset, red clover, milk thistle, stinging nettles, shepherd’s purse, coltsfoot, burdock, eyebright- had all been eradicated from our yard because someone’s idea of a lawn is a perfectly maintained green expanse of Ky. Bluegrass, not marred, nor broken by weeds. This was a disaster!

As that first Spring and Summer passed I would enviously look at some of the neighbor’s yards so blessedly full of the unruly drifts of puffy dandelions, noxious spreading chickweed and the spikes of plantain that reach up over the grass to let you know it is time to mow. Finally I knew what I had to do. I had to plant weeds! I would cagily take my dog out for walks in the evening as the light was fading and “borrow” the puffy seedpods of the neighbors dandelions and break off the seed producing spikes from their mature common plantain. Thankfully I don’t think anyone ever saw me while out on these hunting trips and no one ever asked me what I was doing. It would be difficult to explain. But this is my third summer in our triplex and I am happy to announce that I have a glorious yard full of carefully stolen weeds.

Apple Cider Vinegar, a Girl's Best Friend

2010-04-24T16:15:00.006-05:00

Recently, one of my customers sent me an email letting me know that she had mentioned one of my favorite products in an article that she wrote for a fantastic blog, called Truth in Aging. It was a small mention at the end of the article but it felt GREAT having one of my products mentioned with some of the great hair cair companies such as Aubrey Organics and Nutri-Lift. Check out Kim's article and the Truth in Aging blog here: http://truthinaging.com/hair/kim-my-hair-journey/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeandanna/

Vinegar, most especially Apple Cider Vinegar, is one of nature's finest gifts to mankind. All alcoholic
beverages, whether made from apples, grapes, hops, wheat, or plain white sugar will turn naturally to vinegar, once it is exposed to air. Bacteria in the air converts the alcohol in cider, wine, and beer, into acetic acid, which gives vinegar its characteristic sharp sour taste.

As far back as 5000 BC the Babylonians used the fruit of the date palm to make wine and vinegar. They used it as a food and as a preserving or pickling agent. Around 400 BC, Hippocrates, prescribed apple cider vinegar mixed with honey for a variety of ills including the common cold. Roman soldiers drank a drink of diluted vinegar (posca) as an tonic to energize them, just as modern atheletes now drink "power drinks".

Apple Cider Vinegar has a long history of use for many health benefits, including being used as one of the earliest recorded hair "conditioners".

Renoir

The outer layer of the hair, the cuticle, covers the hair shaft and protects it like bark on a tree trunk. The cuticle on the shaft of the hair is made of overlapping layers of scales that lie along the surface of the hair like shingles on a roof. It is the condition of the cuticle scales that determine whether you are going to have a bad hair day. When the cuticle is in good shape, your hair has a smooth appearance. When the layers of the cuticle are tightly knit together, the light reflects off the cuticle. This is what makes hair shine! The cuticle opens when we shampoo our hair. When the cuticle layers are open and not knit together, the hair will feel rough, coarse and brittle. The hair will absorb the light rather than reflect it, which gives the appearance of dull and lifeless hair.

The use of Apple cider vinegar (ACV) helps to create healthy hair. The acidity of ACV is very similar to natural hair. It is a great cleaning agent. Rinsing with apple cider vinegar will help balance the pH of your hair and remove the buildup that can result from the use of styling products and inexpensive shampoos. Commercial shampoos contain conditioners that weigh your hair down.

The acids and enzymes in ACV kill the "bottle bacillus", a bacteria which is one of the main causes for scalp and hair conditions such as dandruff, itchy scalp, hair loss and sometimes baldness.The bacteria clog the hair follicles which cause dry crusts to form that itch and flake.

For an easy treatment for dandruff and itchy scalp, apply about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of our Herbal Vinegar Rinse to your scalp, rub in, and leave on for a half hour to an hour BEFORE washing your hair.

We infuse all of our natural Vinegar Hair Rinses with nettles, plantain, calendula and horsetail for the benefits they give to your hair. Plantain has historically been used for dry, irritated scalp, dandruff, and seborrhea. Horsetail or Shavegrass is loaded with silica to strengthen the hair shaft. Nettles contain
biologically active compounds that reduce inflammation. The astringent properties of nettles have been known for centuries and it is used for dandruff and overly oily hair and scalp.

Chamomile and Citrus is healing, soothing, and mildly antiseptic. Citrus will lighten hair, combat oiliness, promote microcirculation of the scalp and is great for blondes or light colored hair.

Rosemary & Lavender- Rosemary is stimulating and invigorating to the hair and scalp. It promotes healthy hair growth and shine. It is antiseptic, antibacterial, and antiviral. It is excellent for all hair types but especially good for brunettes. Lavender is a cleansing, balancing herb that has antibacterial properties.

Rose & Nettles- Rose is cooling and astringent, but very gentle and soothing. It has been used for centuries to treat skin wounds and inflammation. Nettles thickens hair texture, helps eliminate dandruff, aids in preventing hair loss and aids in restoring hair growth.

You can find these in our shop by themselves at this listing: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2092732

Or if you want to order our special all natural shampoo and herbal vinegar Hair Pair here:http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2044279

Everything You Want to Know About Natural Laundry Care

2010-04-05T18:29:00.007-05:00

Pandorea

Maybe this should read as “Most Everything I learned from my grandmother about “Old Fashioned Laundry Care”. It amazes me that the older I became, the smarter my grandmother became. One of my very first memories of my grandmother is helping her push her old wheeled Maytag Model N 'Chieftan' out the basement door onto the concrete pad of the back porch. Every Monday, rain or shine, was laundry day. If it was raining, she would wash clothes inside in the basement and carry the baskets upstairs to the side porches on each side of the house where my grandfather had placed clotheslines. If the weather was good the laundry was hung on the 4 strands of clothesline that ran from one side of the yard to the other.

I can remember the wonderful clean scent of freshly washed and dried clothing as I undid the clothspins and grasped each garment to my chest to keep them from dragging on the ground. I couldn’t understand why my mothers laundry never smelled like my grandmothers’, but my mother was a “modern” housekeeper. Her washer was almost a twin of the one I use today, plus she had a wonderful time saving electric dryer. Our clothes never saw the light of day except when we wore them. Sunlight is part of the formula for wonderfully white clothes and linens. Bleach is great but often bleach can actually cause the “graying” of your white clothes or linens. If you have a medium to high manganese content in your city or well water the bleach will interact with it and turn your clothing grey.

Mantas Ruzveltas
Laundry-The Natural, The Environmentally Conscious Method or How My Grandma Taught Me

Pre-Treat

Simply pre-soaking with your detergent or laundry soap for ½ hour will help clean heavily soiled clothing.

Wash

1. Add your laundry soap or http://www.etsy.com/listing/44411420/nature-clean-all-natural-powdered in 1st- Let powders dissolve or liquids dilute before adding clothes.

2. Loosely load the washer with dry, unfolded clothes. Overloading can be the cause of poor cleaning, extra wear and tear on fabric, extra lint and overworking your washer.

3. Load larger items 1st, then small items and then the medium articles.

Solutions for Stains

Ink stains- a. Moisten with vinegar, then add paste made of vinegar & cornstarch. Let dry then wash as usual.

b. Place cream of tartar on stain, then squeeze a few drops of lemon juice on top. Rub into stain for 1 minute then rinse well.

Perspiration stains- a. Saturate with equal parts vinegar & water and let set for ½ hour. Wash as usual.

b. Add 4 T. salt to 1 quart very hot water. Saturate and let sit for ½ hour.

Perspiration Odor- Add ½ cup of vinegar to wash cycle.

Stained or stinky socks- Dissolve 1/3 cup baking soda with 1 gallon of warm water and let soak for 30-45 minutes.

I Forgot the clothes were in the dryer odor or mildew odor- Run the clothes through an extra rinse cycle with either 1-2 cups of vinegar.

Playingwithbrushs
I Use Bleach but my Whites Are Not White!

How Do I Whiten my Laundry?

First you need to find out what makes your clothes dingy. Until you find out the cause the solution may escape you. Too much detergent or improper rinsing and/or hard water are often the main causes of dingy looking whites. Using less detergent is often a simple solution. Also I find that I overload my washer if I am not paying attention. Smaller loads with higher water levels will often help as well as simply adding a ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.

The absolute best method of whitening your whites is something many people are re-discovering, Laundry Bluing. I have only used one company’s which is Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing. It is the only one I have ever found and it was a difficult search. I had to go to four different groceries before I found it. Bluing is fantastic. It whitens whites and also brightens colors—Without harsh chemical! It is not only biodegradable and non-toxic, it also prolongs the life of your clothes.

What is Bluing and How does it Work?

Bluing is a simple, very concentrated liquid made of a fine blue iron powder mixed with water or a colloidal suspension. “Mrs. Stewart's Bluing is a simple, concentrated blue liquid that optically whitens white fabric. It does not remove stains, does not "clean", but adds a microscopic blue particle to white fabric.”

This is the explanation the Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing gives for why it works. “Because blue-white is the most intense white, most artists, when painting a snow scene, will use blue color to intensify the whiteness. As color experts would explain it, the proof comes when two pieces of fabric are placed under a spectrograph - the one with blue added will reflect more light, making the fabric appear its whitest.
Other great uses for Mrs. Stewart’s Bluing:

My absolute favorite use of bluing is one that I learned when I was 6 years old. My constant companion and very best friend was a parti colored Black and White Cocker Spaniel. Our “playground” was 120 acres of tilled earth that was planted with corn one year and soybeans the following year. It consisted mostly of a yellow clay that was impossible to wash out of my long haired dog. The solution for making “Tammy’s” white hair bright white and her black hair beautifully shine was a simple solution of ¼ teaspoon of bluing to 1 gallon of warm water.

According to MSB farmers use it in stock tanks and homeowners use it in bird baths, fish ponds and fountains to retard algae growth.

I have learned another great use for bluing. Are you tired of all your white flowers? Stick your freshly cut flowers in a container filled with a fairly strong bluing solution in warm water. Ever seen a blue rose?

Bluenight72

No Admittance

2010-03-24T12:25:00.002-05:00

It is now 8:07 p.m. and I have been sitting at my desk for the last three hours doing one of my very least favorite jobs, working on our yearly taxes. I had to take a break before my eyes literally crossed from looking at all those figures on the lines and tiny little boxes.

My husband is in his room working on a friends computer so the television in the great room is off. I have already listened to all of the day's news on NPR and the house is silent for a change. Usually it is not this quiet until after midnight but tonight I am doubly blessed. We are having an early spring this year so I have my window in the office open. Normally I hear one of my favorite sounds long into the wee morning hours. Across the road and midway across an open field the county built a lake on this property. The county owns, I would guess about 80-90 acres of land surrounding one of it's newest buildings built on the edge of town. I find myself, a long advocate of the "Early to bed, Early to rise theory, staying up later and later working in my office with the window open listening to the lonely, haunting calls of the Canadian Geese flying in and landing on the lake on the property. Tonight, I hear an owl for the first time since selling our house and moving to "the city".

Several days ago just before the sun dipped completely below the tree lined drive I happened to hear a sound that I was unfamiliar with. Similar, but different to the honking of the Canadian Geese. I looked out my window just in time to see a pair of huge white birds fly in below the tree line onto the lake. That was the last I had seen of them until yesterday morning. A pair of big white birds drifting across the end of the lake dwarfing the geese in size. A pair of Trumpeter Swan? A rare event anymore. Their nesting grounds have all disappeared and like many of America's natural beauties, an almost dying breed.

Strangely, I want to walk down this gently curving drive and follow it to the lake that seems to beacon to me with its water's that ripple and reflect the morning's light sending little pricks of sunlight that are there and then almost instantly vanish to be captured and sent in another ripple and off in an other direction. I want to stand and admire the raucous Canadian Geese who fly through the night honking and calling as if they were coming in from a boozy night on the town. I want to search to see if that is truly a pair of Trumpeter Swan that I have seen.

The land is gently contoured with a slope falling gradually to the edge of the water. There is an back entry drive that curves round about from the road beside my house and passes around the far edge of the lake and leads up to the building with a line of trees that obscures most of the lake. Across this drive is a barricade forbidding entry to this property save for those that have a pass and a valid reason for entry.

Still, I want to enter the property. I want to share in the beauty the county has provided with a small pocket of green grass and still waters with homes for the ubiquitous Canadian Geese, the lonely noctural owl and the rare Trumpeter Swans. But, I have no valid reason- unless I do walk down that drive to the lake. That would give me a valid reason! Yes, I could become a resident of that county building by walking onto the property since the property is the new City/County Jail.

With My Deepest Gratitude

2010-03-18T23:30:00.000-05:00

Today I was very honored to have my products and myself mentioned by one of Etsy's most creative and inspired crafter/artists, Mikiye of Mikiye's Creations at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mikiye To give you an idea of the diverse skills and beautiful work she does here are some photos from her shop.

Be sure to check out her shop (especially you brides to be) at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mikiye

and take a peek at her blog (It is one of the prettiest I have ever seen) at http://mikiyecreations.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-favorite-bath-and-body-shops-joyful.html

I am in LOVE!

2010-03-18T16:32:00.001-05:00

I was thumbing through Etsy again yesterday and I think I have fallen in love, that is if one can fall in love with inanimate objects. I have always admired the work of many potters. In fact, I have always had a secret desire to play with clay or mud but never had the funds nor room to own a kiln or the space to put one. I did take a class about a hundred years ago in my freshman year of college. All that did was whet my appetite for more but the opportunity never presented itself. Now all I can do is admire the work of others and I definately admire the work of Tara of AugustMoonArt. You can find her shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/augustmoonart

Her work is beautiful and unusual. I have been trying to pick my favorite piece to lead this this off this article but that is impossible. I will just take them in line as I find them.

Blue Sponge/Soap Holder

You can use this beauty in your bath or your kitchen to hold either your bath sponge or kitchen sponge plus a bar of soap. This sponge "cosy" is wheelthrown, then altered with slots on the side to hold the sponge. She also adds drainage holes on the bottom but she isn't satisfied with plain old circular drainage holes she adds lovely teardrops.

Agate Butterfly Pump Soap/Lotion Dispenser

Of all of her Soap/Lotion Dispensers I love this the most. Probably because I am a butterfly nut. Of all of God's creatures on earth I think the butterfly from egg to caterpillar to butterfly are each miracles. As Tara's description reads, "This wheelthrown bottle is glazed in a wonderful Agate green glaze, and adorned with a leathery looking ring of butterflys. A natural bark top cork adds an organic element that holds this dispenser a head above the rest. "

White Crackle Teapot

Now I have to admit that I am an addict, teapot addict that is. I am only moderately addicted though, since I only own 6 of them. I inherited two of them and back during the time when I used to have money (pre-disability) I bought the other four. And before you ask, yes I do drink tea although my primary drink is coffee. This teapot is a beauty. I love the crackle finish on it. Here is Tara's description.

"This teapot is wheelthrown with Speckled Brownstone clay, and glazed white, with a white crackled accent glaze, and a deep dark chocolate brown interior. The handle is hand-pulled and has a comfortable feel. Enjoy your tea!

Approximate dimensions 10" wide x 5 1/2" tall.

Holds 5 cups or 40 oz.

Microwave, dishwasher, & food safe.

Pierced Agate Jar

The stoneware jar in the above pictures has a hundred potential uses besides just sitting and being beautiful. I grow elephant garlic and this would be a perfect vessel for it!

Wheeltrown and pierced with teardrop and round piercings, and glazed in a wonderful Agate with a dark rich Temmoku inside. This stoneware jar is no lighweight; it is quite substantial and weighty.

Useful in many ways.... I love it with a candle lit in it in the evening, wish I could capture a pic of that but I'm not so camera savy and can't turn off the flash! It can also be used in the kitchen as a garlic keeper, in the living room as decoration, to keep knick knacks in, or in the bathroom for cotton balls etc...
Approximate dimensions are 7" x 7".
Food safe.

Remember her shop is here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/augustmoonart She has many more beautiful and different pieces. Check them out!

Good News/Bad News

2010-03-12T23:43:00.000-06:00

I’ll start this off with the good news. I had tried for several years to get into the Women’s Club of Newburgh Arts and Crafts Show. I was either too early, too late or they already had too many soapmakers. After several years I finally gave up on it which was too bad since this was one of the prime shows of our area. I suppose that was all I had to do was give up because this past summer I was approached by 2 different members of the Womens Club and asked to apply to the show, which I did naturally.

The show was on Feb. 27 and it was fantastic. Not only did I do well, but I had a great time and met some very talented and nice people. And of course I came home with a lot of goodies!

Unfortunately, I will have to tell you the bad news now. I have been so excited and hyped about the new Zibbet shop that I opened for Pigeon Creek Soaps. It was supposed to have all the bells and whistles for the shopowners that Etsy lacked. Plus, I had gotten in early and the rate for a Premium shop was extremely reasonable.

Sadly, after spending hours and hours building the shop and creating the marketing, plus the money for the ads and new labels, it turned out to be a disaster. A number of people told me that they could not join in order to purchase and of the actual purchases each one had something major wrong with it. I have decided to close my Zibbet shop when this payment period is over which is in just a couple of days. In the future I may consider opening a shop on ArtFire, but I am going to put a great deal of thought into it before I make the leap.

Those of you who also have shops may understand my reasoning behind my desire for a different sales venue. I definately love Etsy, but with the price of almost all of my materials having increased, then I have to pay to list on Etsy, pay when it is sold on Etsy and then PayPal gets its' share. On a venue like ArtFire or Zibbet you pay a monthly fee and nothing else except your PayPal when sold.

If you have any thoughts on this, send them my way. Tell me how you have handled this changing economy or if you have any suggestions, let us hear them.

I would like this blog to be a place where people feel free to drop in and say hi and tell us how they are doing and what they are thinking. Tell me what you would like to see here!

All in the Family or I found Some Great New Jewelry!

2010-01-29T17:36:00.001-06:00

If Etsy was a book, I would say that I was leafing through Etsy the other day and got very lucky. But Etsy is not a book but I still am very lucky because while looking through Etsy I found a pair of (yes, a pair) of talented jewelry makers. You can check out their shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/bythecreek and tell them where you heard about their shop.

Monika, does beautiful polymer clay cane work along with her other talents. This is the first time I had seen such fine and delicate work with the acrylics and the added Swarovski Crystals.

Then I looked further and I saw my favorite! Her husband makes beautiful and unusual copper jewelry.

Is this not a delightful piece of jewelry. Per their listing ""Naja" - Crescent shaped pendant hanging from the end of a squash blossom necklace. The crescent "Najah" is believed to go back into Moorish designs".

I would have a fight on my hands if I owned this. I would have to fight my husband over who would get to wear it. Monika's husband has a great eye and the vision to carry it through.

A very simple but beautiful piece.

The only problem I can see with this web shop is that when they are truly discovered they are going to have a very difficult time keeping items in their shop. So Monika and husband, you might want to work some more because your work is great!

Our Skin and A Simple Daily Regimen to Care For It

2010-01-24T21:15:00.000-06:00

I was in the doctor's office the other day and had a conversation with a lady who was not quite as old as I am. In our conversation we discovered that we both had Type 2 Diabetes. She told me that she was amazed that with the diabetes my skin looked so normal. Now to be honest the word normal was not the one she used but I am trying to be humble here. Of course this was an opening to tell her what I make and sell and to extol the benefits of using handcrafted soaps. But further into the conversation I found out that she bathed twice a day in hot water and she used a commercially made deodorant soap. After thinking about her I decided that maybe some information might help my readers. We lead such full and busy lives that we can't be expected to know everything.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Our skin is our body’s largest organ and our protective barrier against the environment that we live in. It actually breaths and can absorb many things through it. We often take it for granted and fail to realize that it needs daily care just as brushing our teeth. If our skin is not taken care of properly it can become dry, flaky, cracked and inflamed. This can make it vulnerable to infections, fungi and even wart viruses. We should all practice a daily skin care regimen.

We all have a natural oil covering our skin. This oil, called sebum is created by tiny glands in the skin. When we remove this oil by using harsh drying agents such as most modern commercial soaps, frequent hot showers or baths, the skin becomes very dry which can lead to flaking and cracking. This can bring inflammation and itching.

Daily Skin Care

1. Each day that you take your bath or shower use warm water, not hot water. If you are sore and achy by all means have a hot bath but do not do it daily. Lukewarm or body temperature is actually best. Hot water dries out your skin. Limiting your bath or shower to 10-15 min. is best. You should only bathe once a day or risk removing your skins natural oils.

2. Avoid using harsh soaps that dry the skin. Naturally, I would recommend handcrafted soaps since all the natural glycerin is left in the bar and most are superfatted to help condition and moisturize your skin. If you must use a commercially made soap we recommend using Dove or Basis. We do NOT recommend the use of deodorant soaps as they are very harsh and drying as well as having chemical ingredients.

3. When drying off always blot or pat dry with the towel rather than rubbing the skin. It is best to leave your skin slightly damp.

4. Next, while your skin is slightly damp, apply a good moisturizer. If you have oily skin you can safely skip this step. A good commercially made moisturizer for normal skin is Lubriderm.

5. This is a very important step! All areas that are exposed to the sun, hands, neck, face, ears, arms or any exposed area of skin should have sun block with a moisturizer or a sunscreen of SPF 15 applied daily. Sun screens and sun blocks prevent UV damage to the skin. With UV damage you can have wrinkles, age spots and most importantly skin cancer.

New Pairs and Trio Listings and General Musings

2010-01-23T09:56:00.004-06:00

I have to apologize for being so remiss in writing regularly. I guess it may have to do with this Winter weather. Now I love a good snow because there is nothing more beautiful than a bright winters' sun reflecting off of snow drift. I also love to watch the birds greedily feeding on the black sunflower seeds that they have knocked off of the feeder onto the packed snow underneath. As you can see from the photo above I have a fairly nice view from my office window. I share it with T-Bone now. He has a chair that sits in front of the window where he lays his head on the window sill to watch for the deer that often come out of the woods to feed.

But that is not what we have had for the last few weeks. We had 2 short days of wonderful snow and the rest have been gloomy, dreary rainy days. Not a glorious storm that shows us the great power of Mother Nature. Not the rainy days of Spring that precede the early blooms of crocus and early spring flowers, just dreary and cold enough to remind us that we have a long time before we can expect those blooms and buds.

O.K. now back to business! I have started some new listings in the Etsy shop. I am listing pairs of products that go together and giving a discount for purchasing both items together.

The first pair (which I have already listed) is the Hair Pair. You have your choice of Herbal Vinegar Rinses and your choice of Shampoo Bars. Normally by themselves they cost $8.95 for Vinegar Rinse and $7.95 for the Shampoo Bar. I am knocking off a $1 off the price of the pair together.
You can find this listing at
http://www.etsy.com/listing/44918149/hair-pair-handcrafted-shampoo-bar-and

Later today I will be listing at least one other pair and one trio. This will be for our Bug Off and Bite Be Gone and the Trio will add our Jewelweed Balm to that Duo. Check it out. Remember that Spring and Summer will come and bring mosquitos and chiggers with them.

You can find these listed on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39172470

and http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39172014 .

The Family

2010-01-12T16:30:00.001-06:00

I had written a comment on someone elses blog when it just occured to me that I had not posted any pictures of my family on the blog. So I am going to put some up here. I don't have many of my children (digitally that is). I have many of them as regular photographs. I guess that might tell you they are not "youngsters". Sorry, Cheri. I have many of the some of the grandkids though.The ones that live within a thousand miles of home. Of course, what self-respecting grandparent wouldn't? I have a couple of grandkids that haven't got their pictures up here yet. I can't find the files, but I will put them up here when I do.

Chaos or My First New Year's Resolution in Ten Years

2010-01-11T17:29:00.001-06:00

Okay, so it’s 4 p.m. on Jan. 11 in Southern Indiana. Is that to late? I usually don’t make New Years resolutions because I never end up keeping them. This year I decided to make one, and for me it is a doozey. For you non-Hoosiers a doozey is something big. I have decided to bring order from Chaos. Alright you say, what the devil does that mean? Chaos is the name we have given my office/ soap room/ craft room. About 2 to 3 times a year I decide that I am going to go into this room and throw absolutely everything away that I have not used or looked for or thought about using for at least 6 months. Then reality sets in and I end up playing Scarlett O’Hara, “I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow.” As the old proverb goes “Tomorrow never comes.”

It constantly amazes me how much space a very small business can occupy, especially when I had more or less closed everything down with the intention of going out of business less than a year ago because of some health issues. I had been attending the weekly Farmer's Markets and doing many shows but it became to much for me to handle with the back problems and uncontrolled blood sugars. With the help of good doctors, some rest and an Etsy shop that pretty much took care of itself instead of closing the business we have jumped back in full force. This brings me back to the Chaos Theory or how do I find anything in here.

We live in a 2 story 3 bedroom triplex with very little excess space. The extra bedroom has become a combination office and soap room. Most everything with the exception of the carrier oils, butters, stainless steel pans and actual soapmaking equipment is stored up here. Then the other crafts that sneak in the door like the duvets and pillows I like to make, my photography equipment, fabrics, boxes of fabric trims, sewing machine,sculpey clay, etc. are also stored here. Then we have the shelving units to hold the drying soaps and the finished soaps, the completed toiletries and not to mention the desk with the computer, printer & everything that goes with that is stored in here.

I have seen beautiful and fantastic neat craft rooms with everything having a place and everything in that place that I truly envy. Many have shelves completely lined with matching containers and color coordinated and neatly labeled boxes to store each and every item that their craft requires. All of their shelf units match the perfectly coordinated office furniture making an absolutely gorgeous and perfect room.

I have to admit that color matched, perfectly coordinated furniture and containers would be great, but expensive. I just wonder how much time I would have to spend keeping it perfectly neat and arranged. What would I have to give up to be able to afford just one of those beautiful wicker file baskets. Would I have time to do my work for the business and have play time left over to do the "fun" things I like to slip in and do when the soap biz and my schedule allows?

Would I have time to make things for myself that I could not afford to buy like the matelasse and toile duvet I made or the lampshade that I made to go one the $.75 yard sale lamp that I found? Or the Christmas wreath with cinnamon and flour gingerbread ornaments & dried oranges that I saw on one of the other handmade sales sites (not Etsy) that sold for $95.00. Would I have time to strip and paint an ugly pressed wood chest of drawers that sat out on a curb to be picked up by the trashman later that day. I think I have changed my mind and will permanently give up on New Year’s Resolutions. In the course of about 20 minutes I have managed to screw up my first New Year’s resolution in 10 years. I will have to pretend to be brilliant and learned and will quote NIETZSCHE. “You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.”

Win a Scabble Tile Pendant and Check Out a Great Blog

2010-01-10T19:41:00.000-06:00

I found a great blog with a contest with a prize of a great Scrabble Tile Pendant. You will have to move fast because this contest will be over and the drawing held Monday morning. Sorry guys, I wish I would have found it faster for you. If you knit or you like great knit items you should check out her Etsy shop also. She has great knit items, knit pattern kits, knitting specialty items (beautiful I might add) and all kinds of goodies. Check out her blog at http://jlyarnworks.blogspot.com/
Then check out her etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jlyarnworks

Just a Few Words

2010-01-05T23:45:00.001-06:00

It's been a long week and an even longer night but I promised myself I was going to add a few pictures of my newest soaps to the blog.

My favorite of the earlier bunch I listed this week was Damask Rose. It is my all time favorite rose scent that I have managed to create. Made with Rose Water, Rose Otto and a bit of Rose Attar along with loads of Shea Butter and Avocado Oil, this is a winner and just in time for Valentines Day. You can find it at http://www.etsy.com/listing/37808094/damask-rose-shea-butter-soap

Hazelnut Cappuchino-Absolutely to die for fragrance with scads of Shea and Avocado also.

Here is the listing for this bar
http://www.etsy.com/listing/37808440/cold-processed-hazelnut-cappuchino-shea

New Listings on Etsy

2009-12-19T13:47:00.001-06:00

I don't know why I didn't do this earlier. I forgot about having a gift certificate until I read a Storque article on Etsy. I think I lost some business but this is not my first mistake and I am sure it will not be my last. Gift certicates are available in any amount. Just convo me and I will set you up for the amount you desire. We can send them directly to you or the giftee via convo, email or snail mail. Each certificate will have a number on it and that is all that is necessary when they use it. If the purchase is more than the gift certificate value, we will send you an updated invoice via Paypal to finish your purchase. If the purchase is less than the value of the gift certificate, you will receive an email with your remaining balance. You can purchase your Gift Certificate here.

Unscented Dead Sea Salt ph Balancing and Moisturizing Soap

Are you spending loads of money for expensive prescriptions and treatments for your eczema and psoriasis with very little benefit?Dry Winter skin giving you the blues? Then this is the bar for you! I have many customers that depend on this bar year after year. Our Bug Off,http://www.etsy.com/listing/28404736/bite-be-gone-balm-for-mosquito-bite and our Unscented Dead Sea Salt ph Balancing and Moisturizing Soap have become the core products of our Farmer's Market business.

Lavender/Tea Tree Dead Sea Salt Soap

Lavender and Tea Tree Essential Oils are combined to create a cleansing and deodorizing bar that refreshes tired skin. We have added genuine Dead Sea Salts harvested from the southern Dead Sea in Israel where the mineral content is at its highest.

Aphrodite Soothing and Nourishing Dead Sea Salt Bar

The enzymes present in kelp and seaweeds are potent antioxidants with skin healing and rejuvenating properties. This soap bar cleanses your skin and removes dirt while simultaneously infusing your skin with the minerals and trace elements that are essential to keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized by restoring its natural balance.

Hopefully I will get back to writing more after the holiday season. I have been busy working on a wholesale order along with all the Christmas shopping and house cleaning and Christmas decorating. I have also taken time to start working on some promotions including a newsletter, so if you would like to be on the list to receive our monthly newsletter and any sales promotions please let me know! Either leave me a comment here or a convo at Etsy. I will be having some giveaways coming up so you might want to get your name in the pot.

If I don't talk to you between now and the 25th, please- Have a Merry, Merry Christmas!

New Soaps for My Newest Show Coming Up!

2009-12-13T16:13:00.001-06:00

I am so excited! I have been accepted for the Newburgh Women's Club 2010 Arts and Craft Show at Castle High School on Feb. 27, 2010. I have been waiting for a number of years to get into this show and what makes this so great for me is that they actually approached me. Hurray!

I have many plans for the New Year coming up and one of those is a new formula for our basic soap bars and I promise you that you will love it.

Now I have a question for you. I have not officially changed the name of the business yet. It is difficult after so many years. I have been told because of the spelling that I should come up with something simpler, but here I am still hanging on. So I am asking your opinion. How about dropping me a word here and letting me know which one that you like best. 1. A Scentsible World or 2. Pigeon Creek Handcrafted Soaps.

Now I will quickly tell you about our 3 new soaps coming out. The first is a fresh and clean Rosemary Mint. What a great scent to wake up to in the shower in the morning or to take a quick shower after work to refresh and recharge for the evening. New bar sizes too.

2. Unscented Shea Baby Herbal Blessing It may not have fragrance oil or essential oil in this bar but the herbs give it a wonderfully light essence. The oils have been infused with Chamomile, calendula, plantain, comfrey & lemon balm. This one is loaded with shea butter, avocado oil, goat milk and aloe. Your skin will thank-you!

3. Blackberry Merlot Wine & Sake Soap The name may not turn you on but the frangrance certainly will. All the water has been replaced with Merlot and Sake. Red grape skin and seeds are filled with cell-renewing polyphenols. I am sure you have heard of the life prolonging benefits of resveratrol in wine but it also applies to your skin. We have filled this bar with Merlot and Red Wine Extract to give you the extra boost of antioxidant. Sake and Red Wine are also said to have a skin smoothing and lightening effect. I have just started using it to see if it will naturally lighten these freckles I have been blessed with. I will keep you updated.

Just Say NO!

2009-12-11T23:16:00.000-06:00

Did you know that the widespread use of palm oil and irresponsible palm oil production has been scientifically documented as a cause of substantial and irreversible damage to our natural environment? The production of palm oil is a major contributor to the deforestation of the rainforests in Indonesia, Malaysia, Ecuador, Cameron and several other countries; habitat loss of critically endangered species; and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil; "Orangutan habitats have been threatened by palm oil production. In 1900, there were around 315,000 orangutans. Today, fewer than 50,000 exist in the wild, split into small groups with little long–term chance of survival. Scientists say the palm oil industry is the biggest threat to orangutans, with the species driven to extinction within 12 years unless the devastation of their natural habitat is halted.” A report from the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says that palm oil production also promotes destruction of the rainforest, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia.. Further loss of forest may push endangered animal species, including orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and Sumatran rhinos, into extinction.

Some environmentalists believe that in 15 years, over 98 % of the rainforests in Indonesia and Malaysia will be gone unless drastic action is taken.

The expansion of oil palm plantations has almost always been preceded by the expropriation of land from small poor landholders by deceit or force with little or no payment whether the land has been in Indonesia, Ecuador, Cameroon or Costa Rica.

Even with the growth of the amount of sustainable palm oil that is available now manufacturers and retailers are not purchasing it. As with any product that is green the price tag is a bit higher and all but a few have decided not to invest in the health of the planet for fear of adding a few pennies onto the price of your chocolate or soap bars.

This is one of the few times I feel like I have to draw the line in the sand. It may cost me a few cents more to make a bar of soap but it will not take away from the quality of our soap,.I promise you that. I haven’t actually used any palm oil in the making of my soaps for almost a year. I have been researching this matter over a year and considering my options. Yes, I am a very small operation and in the scheme of things the amount of palm oil I buy will not devastate the planet, but the tree fell in the forest and I heard it.

"Consumers should understand that a seemingly small decision in this country—what kind of cookie, cracker, or hand lotion to buy—can have major consequences on the other side of the world.”.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RANVideo#p/u/2/5-jqRVOwBJQ

http://understory.ran.org/tag/oil-palm/

Special Sale with Free Soaps on Etsy

2009-11-23T09:34:00.000-06:00

Because of the season I have decide to give my customers a super deal. When they purchase the 3 Bar Special I will send them 2 Free Bars of the Soapmakers choice. They will be receiving $12.75 in free product with this special.

If you know someone who loves handcrafted soap you might want to let them know about this special.

I Don't Really Want To!

2009-11-14T10:56:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I just like to look through Etsy to see what other Etsians are making. I love handcrafted items no matter what they are. Crafters, no matter what the medium put their essense or spirit into their craft whether it be a piece of jewelry, art, photograph or even a soap dish.

Now to inject myself into this post. Unfortunately this Fall I have had to cancel all of my out of town craft shows which are normally the cake and icing as opposed to our bread and butter existance on our disability income. I drive a huge un-green SUV and the back brakes have gone out completely, costing almost $350.00 total to repair. Why do I tell you this? Basically to let you know why 1. No out of town shows 2. No unnecessary purchases. But that doesn't mean I can't trade. Hence back to the subject of this post.

While I was looking through Etsy I happened upon an Etsy shop of a woodworker and stopped to admire the most beautiful and unusual wooden box that she had made. This box is Pinon with inlaid Turquoise. Her shop address is http://www.etsy.com/shop/Granddar.

I emailed her and we ended up trading my soaps for some of the most beautiful soap dishes I have ever seen. Now I told you that she was a woodworker but I didn't tell you that she also works with stone and marble. Here are some examples of the fantastic soap dishes I received from her.

These are just a tiny teaser of the types she makes. She also does custom orders. I took a peek at her sold orders and they are fabulous. she made a 3 story (I believe it was) marble soap dish for someone. She loves to work with mesquite. I have to admit I am envious of her skill with power tools. Check out her shop, she has other decorative items also. Now, I have to make myself put these on Etsy to sell with my soap. It is going to be difficult letting them go, especially the flagstone. Then again, the Rain Forrest Brown Marble goes so well in the upstairs bath---

Finally Away From The Computer

2009-11-12T09:06:00.000-06:00

Since the Farmer's Market ended in mid-October I feel like I have been glued to the computer. I can't remember the last batch of soap I made. I made loads of soap in late October for a show in Vincennes but unfortunately I was unable to attend.The day before yesterday I made soap. I should name it The Everything But the Kitchen Sink Soap Bar. It has Rhassoul Clay, Moor Mud, Green Tea, Honey, Vitamin E and is superfatted with Cocoa and Shea Butters. This is one of my best selling bars at the Farmer's Market, but I did not realize I was running so low until I had an order from a customer on Etsy. I am down to 2 bars left, so I thought I had better get my act together and make some more in case someone decides to buy the 3 bar special. I would have been in a pickle if I hadn't made more.

Beautiful Bags!

2009-11-08T20:55:00.000-06:00

I have to mention a fellow Etsy seller today. kimmykingsbury sells wonderful bags and market totes. We worked a trade this past week, my soap for one of her bags. I received it Friday and it is fantastic. The workmanship is superb and the bag is even better than I imagined. The bag is beautifully lined with lots of pockets and the stitching is flawless. It is gorgeous. Kimmy uses upcycled, recycled and previously loved materials as much as she possibly can. She even takes custom orders.

The bag above is very similar to the bag I received.

Check out her website at http://www.kimmykingsbury.etsy.com/

These bags would make wonderful Christmas gifts- That is if you could make yourself let it go!

Make Your Own Body Powder

2009-08-19T11:59:00.001-05:00

From the days of the ancients to now, body products have been used to seduce, romance, relax, enhance, refresh, entice and heal. Plant essences have been worn to prevent sickness as well as to cover body odor.

We can spend a small amount or a huge amount of money to cover ourselves with lovely fragrances in one form or another. But what is better than creating your own healthy and fragrant scents from right out of your own back yard? You can use a single note or several from your garden. You may have many choices that you haven’t thought about.

Do you have a single, beautiful rose bush by your back door? Do you raise herbs for your kitchen such as sage, rosemary and thyme? How about that beautiful lavender that you planted several years ago? Peppermint is a fantastic addition to a fragrance blend. Rose geranium or lemongrass plants from your kitchen garden are also 2 great choices.

One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways of creating and using your gardens bounty is to make your own Body Dusting Powder.

Simple Body Powder

Remove 5-6 rose geranium leaves from plant or
Petals from 2-3 rose buds or
1-2 teas. Lavender buds or
1-2 teas. Sage leaves (Your Choice) Place them in warm dry area with good ventilation for 2-3 weeks until they are completely dry, without moisture and crumble easily in your fingers.

½ cup rice powder- Often found at Chinese Groceries
½ -1 cup cornstarch
¼ cup arrowroot powder (totally optional)
5-20 drops of favorite scent of essential oil such as rose, rose geranium or lavender

Crush your garden material in your hands as finely as possible. Then add all ingredients to a quart jar with a lid and shake very well. If you choose you may put all ingredients in a blender and mix, but be forewarned it may be difficult if not impossible to remove the scent. I have one that I use only for crafts. Bought it a Goodwill for $2.00 over 6 years ago and it is still going strong.

I buy lidded glass candy jars at the Dollar Store and make my own powder puffs for them out of fake fur and fabric or just fake fur. They sell great especially around Christmas and Mother’s Day. If anyone needs directions feel free to email me at bjrussell@insightbb.com and I will send them or if you would like a premade All Natural Body Powder and container, check this out!

Dead Sea Salt Bars

2008-10-21T02:34:00.004-05:00

The Dead Sea lies about 400 meters (1280 feet) below sea level at the bottom of the African Rift Valley. The waters of the Dead Sea are unique with a total salt concentration 10 times that of the oceans. That is not what makes the Dead Sea so extraordinary. It contains a combination of 26 minerals and trace elements. Over 2000 years ago Roman historian Flavius praised its healing qualities. Galenus said the water was good for arthritis, psoriasis, eczema, relaxation and relieving tension. King Solomon, in the Biblical book of Samuel gave the Queen of Sheba with Dead Sea salts upon her visit to the Holy Land.For every ounce of oils and butters in these bars there is an ounce of Dead Sea Salt.

This bar unclogs pores and eliminates the toxins from the skin. In addition to this, Dead Sea Salt has one an amazing quality in particular. It does not matter whether you have dry skin or oily skin. The Dead Sea Salts restore the natural balance of your skin to its correct ph whether it is dry or oily. Your skin will be hydrated and super soft.These bars will calm your soul and treat you to a fantastic bathing experience. These bars are cold-processed and made from the finest oils and butters. You can kiss your alligator winter skin goodbye.

If you are having more severe skin problems such as psoriasis or eczema we recommend that you choose our larger size Unscented Dead Sea Salt Soap Bar

T-bones Best Friends

2008-10-15T22:24:00.000-05:00

I introduced T-bone the Terrorist the other day and now I thought I might introduce the more sedate members of the family. The leader of the pack and the boss is Paradigm. We inherited him from a friend of my husband. They were a 5 cat family but every time my husband would go to visit this one would always try to follow him out the door. Finally they told him to take the cat home with him. He is the friendliest and most gregarious cat I have ever met. He never met a dog he didn’t like.

The next member of the family is the old lady of the group. Her previous owner had terminal cancer and when her daughter moved in to care for her the dog had to go. I will not comment further on this. My husband who is more or less housebound was looking for a companion and she was perfect. She is probably the smartest and best trained dog we have owned since the 1st dog we owned. I also think she is a mindreader as well as being the disciplinarian with the puppy. I believe if I stayed out of the picture she would train him for me.

Bug Off Buddy or Today I Smell Like Lemon

2008-10-15T22:18:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is the Farmer’s Market and I just noticed I only had 2 bottles of Bug Off. So another day goes by without getting my etsy widget up here. I don’t mind doing this though. This is one of my favorite things I make because my house smells so good when I make it. I like it so much I even made candles from the essential oil blend. They work great outdoors to keep the skeeters and gnats away, but I burn them inside also because I like the fragrance. I don’t sell the candle though because there is to much potential liability.

What is Bug Off?

There is no DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) here to endanger your health or the health of your children.

Our Bug Off is made from 100% organic or natural ingredients and is a fantastic alternative to chemical laden commercial products.
This is an essential oil blend formulated to repel flies, mosquitoes, nasty chiggers and other biting insects. This repellent has an herbal infused organic aloe base and contains Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil which was recently approved by the CDC (Center for Diseased Control) as an effective repellent. It also contains Catnip Essential Oil, Lemongrass Essential Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil and several other Essential Oils in the blend to make it a very effective as well as a fragrant repellent. This all natural bug repellent is a quick fix against black flies, mosquitoes and other biting insects.
The base of this blend is aloe vera gel made from the unique aloe vera plant. Its gel is a natural medicine for helping to cure almost any skin ailment from burns, rashes, wounds, acne, stings, cold sores, insect bites and even as an anti-ageing cream. The aloe vera gel according to scientists is comprised of more than seventy-five compounds, including polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates), steroids, organic acids, enzymes, antibiotic agents, amino acids, and minerals.
Not only have we used a fantastic organic aloe vera gel base, this one is infused with Organic Horsetail, Organic Gotu Kola, Organic Comfrey and Organic Dandelion. While you are repelling mosquitoes and other insects you are giving your skin a spa treatment at no extra cost!
Bug Off is an all natural insect repellent, safe for families and pets. It repels black flies, deer flies, mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and chiggers also.
Our customers come back time after time for this product!

Check us out at our etsy shop at http://bjrussell.etsy.com/

Handcrafted Soaps

2008-10-15T22:08:00.000-05:00

Over the last fifty years thousands of chemicals have been discovered and are being used in our agriculture, skin care, and our environment. Since the skin is our body’s largest organ and up to 60% of what we put on our skin ends up in our bloodstream, it is no surprise in that same 50 years that the rates of eczema, psoriasis and cancers have all increased. We may not be able to avoid all these chemicals, but we believe it makes sense to avoid as many as possible when we can. We have found as the years go by that we discover many more people that have developed sensitivities to many of the chemicals present in many modern toiletries.

As mankind moved into modern times we found substitutes for many of the natural oils and elements of nature that had served us so well in the past. We replaced Nature with chemical creations. Year after year we are hearing of more and more of our friends and neighbors becoming sensitive or allergic to many of the products that end up on our grocery and drugstore shelves.

Plants have been used for healing long before recorded history. Ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal plant uses. Indigenous cultures (e.g., African and Native American) used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems such as the Chinese. Scientists found that people in different parts of the world systematically use the same or similar plants for the same purposes.

As you walk down the aisles of your local pharmacy seeing the variety of brightly colored bottles and jars whose contents are designed to treat an almost endless variety of beauty deficits, could you ever imagine them as flowers once growing on a forest floor or as a bark cut from one of its trees? Almost every label has a natural element listed boldly across the front. Tea Tree, Chamomile, grapeseed, oatmeal, jojoba oil: ingredients from every continent are represented on every type of skin care product represented.

A Scentsible World offers fine handcrafted soaps and toiletries created with the finest natural oils and butters available. All of our soaps are crafted in small batches with loving care. Quality is not a forgotten word in our vocabulary. Our soaps are made by Cold Process soapmaking in three to five pound batches. We use all natural vegetable oils in all of our soaps with coconut, palm, olive, rice bran oil, babassu oil, castor oil, soy oil, avocado oil, canola oil, shea butter and cocoa butter with their wonderful conditioning properties as our main basic ingredients. Each oil and butter contributes to the overall end product making it the gentlest and most moisturizing bar available.

2008-10-13T22:40:00.001-05:00

I now have a new personal favorite bar of soap! I have been sniffing this fragrance from Scent Works almost every day since it was delivered and drooling over the bars of soap on the rack since I made them. It is finally ready and I took it off of the rack this evening and almost ran to the tub. Did I mention that I twisted my husband's arm and had him make me 2 candles from this fragrance? I have been saving the 2nd candle for this occasion. I made this fragrance into an Herbal Bath Oil also.Since the children are now grown I don't have to lock the door when I bathe, but I was tempted to lock it tonight. Between the water scented with the Satsuma Guava, the bar of soap and the wonderful fragrance of the candle it was like a mini vacation in the tropics. This is a luxury that you can afford. Take it from me, you will love this fragrance and your skin will love you.

Herbal Bath Oil

2008-10-12T12:07:00.003-05:00

No procastinating today! I turned off CNN and am concentrating on making more Herbal Bath Oils. It seems like todays news is the same as yesterday's news. What on earth will they have on the news after the election? A new war? Another stockmarket bust? An assasination? With all the whipping up of emotions, I would not be surprized.

On to better things! Right now I am straining my infused oils for Herbal Bath Oil . This batch is infused with Calendula, Chamomile, Shavegrass, Lemon Balm and Nettle Leaf, all fantastic for the skin benefits they give. Straining is a pain in the neck. First I strain with a kitchen strainer, then I strain with muslin. There are always teeny, tiny flecks in the oil even after both of these steps. Finally, I strain the oil through a coffee filter. It always seems that I lose about 1/4 to 1/3 of the oil by this final step, but the results (clear oil) are worth the work.

Now you can enjoy a luxurious and fragrant bath that soothes and relaxes as it nourishes and moisturizes your skin. Indulge yourself in a unique blend of luxurious oils infused with skin loving herbs. No oily ring, no slippery bath tub. With the addition of Polysorbate 80 a fantastic emulsifier you have no nasty bath tub ring or slippery tub. Just step into aromatic bliss after a hard day of work or play. Pamper your skin with our exclusive dispersing bath oils.These http://www.etsy.com/listing/15120652/blooming-herbal-natural-bath-oil moisturising bath oils leave the skin feeling silky soft and well cared for. Each Herbal Bath Oil is blended by hand in small batches to ensure freshness.

Today I am creating an Herbal Bath Oil with the super fragrance of Satsuma Guava, one of my all time best selling fragrance. This is one of my best sellers at our Farmer's Market and most of my craft shows.

You can also order this Herbal Bath Oil in any fragrance we have on hand. Check out our list of fragrances on this listing in Etsy, http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16130839.

Neat Idea!

2008-07-20T13:09:00.000-05:00

I found these great goodies when I was on a forum on Etsy the other day. What a neat idea!

This is Jen's description:

Now you can have a fresh face cloth every day of the week. This set of 7 circular face cloths is hand-crocheted from soft 100% cotton yarn in robin's egg blue. Each cloth measures 5 inches (13 cm) across. They are soft enough for delicate skin, but have a distinct texture for gentle exfoliation and massage.Durable, colorfast cotton yarn can be machine washed and dried (full laundering instructions always included).

She also says that if you want something in a different color please feel free to ask!

Check these out and her other neat goodies on Etsy.

http://jenhintz.etsy.com

They come in other great colors too!

End razor burn! Moisturize and give your legs a treat that they deserve!

2008-07-20T12:38:00.000-05:00

These bars are loaded with luxurious shea and cocoa butters, aloe and olive oil infused with chamomile, calendula, horsetail and nettles. We have added bentonite clay to put a lovely soothing layer to help float the razor as it glides across the skin for a close, neat and comfortable shave. This creamy barrier, full of moisturizing ingredients, ends nasty razor bumps and burn yet still gives you that close shave that you demand. If you are used to using foaming products with lots of lather, this will be a new experience for you. No thick fluffy heavy foam here. Just enough of a smooth layer of creamy soap with infused herbal essences and bentonite clay to float the razor blade and help it glide.

Satsuma-A wonderful Citrus blend of bergamot, lemon, grapefruit and mandarin with luscious fruit notes of peach, mango, apple, raspberry and hints of fig notes with base notes consisting of a sweet musk and oakmoss.

Organic Tropical Blend-Not quite orange, not quite grapefruit, not quite tangerine, but hints of all. A great blend that will quickly become your favorite.

Pomegranate- An exotic blend of peach, apple & strawberry with a touch of vanilla. This one reaches out and demands to be you all time favorite!

Weekly Rant!

2008-07-20T12:30:00.000-05:00

I sure am glad I don’t live in a 3 story house! It doesn’t matter where I live, I still manage to have my office and soap room on the second floor.

I finally brought everything upstairs that I brought home from the Farmer’s Market and carried it upstairs. As I was putting everything away I have noticed that I am almost sold out of the Organic Tropical Blend Shaving Bars. This is not good! I am out of the Organic Tropical Blend fragrance oil.

I have been buying all of my all natural fragrances from Royal Aromatics, now called Trilogy Fragrances. They have had the best fragrances for the most reasonable prices for years, plus they have a fantastic line of all natural fragrances.

Hold on a minute whilst I climb on my soap box.

I started buying from Royal Aromatics about 5-6 years ago. At that time they had a minimum order of $25.00. Not too bad, but in the last year or so they have changed that minimum order to $50.00/$75.00 and now you must have a $100.00 minimum----plus you have to buy 5 lbs of each fragrance you order. Now that really adds up especially if your company is as small as mine.

Most fragrance oils and essential oils have a limited lifespan. I would probably end up wasting half of what I bought. It seems that the bigger they have grown, the more difficult they become to deal with and to hell with the little guys like us. Oh well my rant is over now.

T-Bone the Terrorist

2008-07-20T11:06:00.000-05:00

About 30 years ago I had a dog that had a litter of 12 puppies. It was then I swore I was never going to have another puppy. Since my oldest daughter was born (think bicentenniel) since she wouldn't want me to mention her age, I have had dobermans. I have had a couple of german shepards throughout the years, but I have always considered myself a doberman person. Jake was my last one. Jake was a humane society reject. I truly believe in the history of the local humane societies around here, he was the 1st dog they didn't charge to adopt. Could have something to do with the fact that he had a massive case of heartworms. Or the one thing they failed to tell us when we adopted him was that he evidently had been abused by a man, so whenever a man got down in his face he had a tendency to try to rip that face off.

After 6 years of lots of love, good training and very expensive veterinary care he became one of my favorite dogs. Did I mention that he weighed in at 126 lbs. I had to have him put to sleep because of an advanced case of bone cancer which devastated me for months.

As I stated before, I said I would never have another puppy. Well, NEVER, say NEVER. My husband who is a semi-invalid, has an Australian Shepard. Generally I have to walk the dog, but we finally moved and now we have a ramp where he can take his electric wheelchair outside. We took his dog, Cinders, out for a walk a few weeks ago. It was a gorgeous soft southern evening. One of those evenings when everyone wants to be outside. That included a neighbor lady, her 5 year old daughter and 3 puppies. Guess what?

He may be cute but he is really a Terrorist in disguise!

The only time he isn't causing trouble is when he is sleeping! It must be the Jack Russell Terrier in him. They told me the mother was a Jack Russell and they think the father was a fast talking working Peke A Poo that lived next door.

Moor Mud

2008-07-20T09:14:00.001-05:00

I originally wrote this about a week ago when I was putting together my first blog on Word Press. I have since been told that one can't put an Etsy widget on Word Press, so now I will try to put it on Blogspot. Wish me luck!

Today I have been driving myself nuts trying to put my Etsy widget on this blog. Now by now most of you have realized that I am old as dirt and anything more advanced than a pencil is pretty tricky for me. I did succeed in placing the etsy widget on my My Space space. See! I told you. I don't even have the language mastered yet. Yes, I got the widget on My Space, but then it disappeared.

What do I do when I can't successfully master the computer. I go play with the mud to relax! Moor Mud that is. I love it. It is one of Mother Nature's finest gifts to mankind (and womenkind). It is just to bad I can't squish it through my toes.

Today I made more Dead Sea Mud Masks with Moor Mud and Rhassoul Clay. They have become one of my 3 best sellers.

What is Moor Mud?

Moor Mud is an organic substance, a product of the natural decomposition of a multitude of plants under special conditions. It is unlike any other mud in the beauty or spa industry. It contains almost no clay and contains the organic remains of flowers, plants, herbs and grasses. Over a period of thousands of years these residues turn into a paste that easily dissolves in the water and has an unusual concentration of bio-minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, plant hormones and fatty acids.

The natural acids and nutrients in peat (Moor Mud) are the force behind its healing abilities. As one aspect of peat opens the skin pores allowing nutrients in and acids out, another aspect actively draws out lactic acid and metabolic wastes from tissues.

Ø It improves the look and feel of mature skin.
Ø It helps heal & clear acne.
Ø Increases the collagen and skin cell production.
Ø Used to relieve pain of arthritis, fibromyalgia, sore muscles and joint stiffness.
Ø Helps in the treatment of eczema, psoriasis.

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Moor Mud can be used alone or in conjunction with a number of other materials to create fantastic products that love your skin. We make several, including our best selling product http://www.etsy.com/listing/43009873/dead-sea-mud-mask-with-moor-mud-and We also make a great Moor Mud Bar- http://www.etsy.com/listing/38212247/moor-mud-soap-healing-and-detoxifying Try one or all of them today! Check out our etsy site at http://www.bjrussell.etsy.com/ for our Moor Mud products!

Goat Milk Cucumber Soap

2008-07-20T09:06:00.003-05:00

Today I took the Goat Milk Cucumber and Aloe Soap Bars off the rack. I couldn't wait to try one. This was the first time I had used fresh goat milk instead of powdered. It may be all in my head but I swear there is a huge difference. This is also the first time I have used the cucumber distillate instead of a fragrance oil also. I love it! I bought the goat milk from a fellow vendor at the Farmer's Market here in Evansville. I also bought 2 dozen free range eggs from him. They haven't lasted very long. I can see my cholesterol rising off the chart, but boy are they great. It is difficult to explain the difference to anyone who have never eaten an egg from a free range chicken.

Nature’s Best Known Skin Softener

Hydrate, nourish & rejuvenate your skin with our Goat Milk, Cucumber and Aloe All Natural Facial and Body Soap Bar. Indulge in the natural moisturizing properties of a soap made with both whole goat milk and whole cucumber. Goat milk contains naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acids, proteins, minerals and high vitamin levels that can help slow the effects of aging.

We use the whole ground cucumber in this fantastic soap. Cucumber is loaded with Vitamin E and natural oils. Cucumber acts as a natural emollient that softens and hydrates the skin after prolonged environmental exposure. It improves and helps rejuvenate mature skin. Cleopatra had her own recipe for a cucumber mask consisting of cucumbers, milk and honey.

This bar is made from nature’s finest oils and butters, goat milk and cucumber distillate and handcrafted in small batches by the cold process method. Your skin will thank you!