The Family

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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/