The Evolution of Lavender

Recently I discovered Full Sail beer from Oregon.  (I swear this will lead to Lavender)  It retails for the same price as the watery domestics, but tastes exponentially better.  They have a series called LTD that uses a different recipe each time.  Sort of like I do with my soap.  It's part of what keeps it fun and fresh.  As a side note, I  fell in love with the LTD 06 - Black Bock over the holidays.  It was De Lici Ous!  From their website:

LTD means Limited Edition. But around here it means something even more: Live The Dream. We're doing something every brewer dreams of: Concocting an ever-changing series of small batch beers, available for a limited time only. Each new LTD Series brew will showcase an original lager recipe, busted out by our ace crew of libationary wunderkinds.
LTD is dedicated to everyone who's livin' the dream whatever that dream might be. We started Full Sail to make killer beer - goes without saying. But more importantly, we started it to live our dream: To seek that perfect balance between work and play, art and commerce, friends and family. It's not always easy being independent. In fact, it's almost never easy. But there's no other way we'd have it. If you're living your dream, props to you. Peace.  - The Full Sail Crew.

 As I learned about this concept, my thoughts drifted to my Lavender soaps.  I've don't believe I've ever made the same batch twice.  Each time I make a new batch, I play with a different blend of essential oils, while keeping Lavender as the main focus.

The latest batch was inspired by the spring season.  Halfway into my first year living in the Denver climate, I have been reminded at how intense spring fever can be when you have an actual winter.  The other day, I got the spring cleaning bug and spent almost 4 joyous hours cleaning with the windows wide open.  At a mere 55 degrees, I realize I'm building a tolerance.  Denver 55 is much warmer than Atlanta 55.

Thoughts of planting an herb garden and maybe some lettuces in the back yard raised bed garden definitely influenced this blend.  There's a hint of basil and a couple of other goodies.  I was tempted to include some black pepper, but I think I'll save that for the next one.  This recipe is garden fresh and the quintessential spring scent.

Lavender is a beloved scent and is a great little bar of love to give to Mom for Mother's Day.  You can find it in my etsy shop while it lasts.

And now...    presenting...      The Evolution of Lavender according to Sudstress:

seems it's also the evolution of my photography and editing skills...  yipes!

 hot processed lavender - 2006

 Lavender Rosemary - 2011

 Lavender & Juniper-berry 2012

 lavender patchouli wedding favor 'soap rocks' - 2012

 Spring Lavender 2013

 To get the latest Sudstress news, subscribe to the Sudstress newsletter here:

Subscribe to our mailing list

last two shows of the season this weekend

Happy Holidays

Enjoy the Season

I have been thoroughly enjoying the twinkling lights scattered among the houses from one neighborhood to the next. From Avondale Estates to Cabbagetown to Virginia Highland; from simple, elegant, single color light displays to gaudy, over the top decorations a-la Clark Griswold, I love them all. I wish there were more opportunities throughout the year to decorate with light.

Coming up this weekend are your last two opportunities to check out Sudstress products in person. This Saturday I am excited to take part in Pink Saturday inside the cute Cabbagetown cottage of miss Talulah B. for Talulah's Annual Holiday Shopping Extravaganza. The first 30 attendees will receive a free gift bag which will each include a sudstress cutie pie slice among other goodies from all the vendors.

Please join us on Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 11 am to 4 pm at the Cabbagetown studio for some serious holiday shopping (for others or for yourself). Festive snacks and beverages will be served and swag bags will be given to the first 30 guests to arrive.

Talulah's Cabbagetown Studio
667 Gaskill Street SE Atlanta, GA 30316

Akola Bead Project
Concrete Lace
Emily G's - Jams of Love
Fiona Lottamore
Madame Mandala
Sudstress
Sweet Talkin' Lola ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Then on Sunday December 13, 2009 you can find me at the 17th Annual Avondale Holiday Market from noon - 6 pm. Several vendors will be set up in the clubhouse by the lake in the Avondale Estates neighborhood.

59 Lakeshore Drive
Avondale Estates, GA 30002

I hope to see you there!

I wish you a warm holiday season and time spent with loved ones. Happy Holidays from Sudstress!


You can sign up for the sudstress newsletter to receive special subscriber only secret sales that you won't find on my blog or website. There may even be one coming up soon...

Click here to subscribe.

gaH! ...tired

Delirious. I've been up for 15 hours already and it's just after 8 pm. I had a holiday show today and there is always an accompanying lack of sleep. I have one more weekend of shows before the big 2-5. You can swing by on Saturday or Sunday to whichever one floats your boat.

Also, I have resolved to be consistent in my newsletters now that I've joined Mail Chimp to make it easier to keep peeps up to date on new product news and offer subscriber only discounts, sales and special deals.

join our mailing list

* indicates required

Email Address *

Email Format

• html


• text


• mobile

Close

Newsletter.

Last year I started a newsletter. I had initially planned on making it a monthly occurrence but ended up sending out six issues. They were lookers though. If you'd like to be included on my mailing list, send me an email either from my profile page or directly to openwindowsoapworks@comcast.net