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

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Introducing..... Holiday Packs!

Hello.  Welcome to the holiday season.  Just wanted to introduce you to these cute little holiday packs.  They are in limited supply and are already selling like hotcakes!  Sometimes it can be hard to tell by a photograph, so I will tell you that each of the li'l soaps in the pack are what I like to call "hotel-size".  Perfect little sampler - stocking stuffer - mid-Hanukkah - for your hairstylist - chiropractor - massage therapist - neighbor - etc...

The Christmas Trio sells for $5.95 on etsy:

The Hanukkah Set sells for $3.95 on etsy:

And the winner is....

This was a tough one.  There were so many lovely entries on the Sudstress facebook page that it was difficult to decide.  There are a few names I am going to keep in mind for future soaps and when I use them, I will send a bar to the person who gave me the idea.

Mademoiselle

Free Spirit

Spellbound

Blue Lagoon

Thank you for all the entries!  

I'm proud to introduce....   ENCHANTED

Thank you and congratulations to Heather Montes for your winning entry!

 

Name That Soap!

It's that time again.  I have a perfectly lovely soap and I just can't seem to come up with a name.  The contest will run for one week and the winner will receive a free bar of this very soap!

You can vote here by leaving a comment, or on the Sudstress facebook page.  There is no limit to the number of entries per person.  The scent is similar to the Philosophy brand fragrance Amazing Grace. It's a very feminine scent, slightly tart, slightly floral and powdery. Very beautiful.  The bottom is accented with a subtle vanilla.  Thanks for your help and I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with!

Churnin' it out.

I'm here in Denver.  I made it.  I got my soap operation up and running about a month ago and have been trying to churn it out as often as I can.  It's late, I'm tired, but I wanted to share pictures with you.  So, I'm keeping it short and sweet and let the soap porn speak for itself.

Thanks for looking and thanks for your patience!

Black Raspberry

 Warm Autumn Spice (spiced apple)

 Moonlit Forest

 Fairy Floss

 Name TBD

 Love & Light (a Hanukkah soap)

 tops of Love & Light

 more Love & Light

Holiday Trio (packaging incomplete)

Hope you like!  Some of these are already available on my Etsy site, and the rest will become available in the next few weeks.

New Spring Soaps!

sweet magnolia

ozone

cloud 9

stargazer lily

Euca-Lemongrass

soap sampler

emerald isle

victory garden

Later this week, you'll be able to find these soaps in the local Atlanta area at Young Blood Gallery & Boutique.  Otherwise, head over to my online etsy store to purchase.

Also a quick update: I'm headed in for surgery on March 20th and will be putting my etsy shop in vacation mode until I feel well enough to pack and ship soap.  This could be a few days or a few weeks.  I'm sorry I can't be more definitive than that.  So, if you are going to want soap soon, please order by Wednesday, March 14th.  If you'd like to learn more about my experience with Graves' Disease, you can go to my other blog:  a lump in my throat.

Thanks for your support and thanks for looking. 

Wedding Favor Samples ...duh, can't believe I didn't think of it sooner.

I know wedding season doesn't start until May, but I make stuff that has to be thought of ahead of time.  I got a late jump on the Christmas season, so I'm getting an early one on the wedding planning season.  If all those radio ads are true, there will be a bunch of ladies walking around with some new jewelry, ready to make one of the biggest promises of their lives. 

The result of this, weddings!  The result of weddings...   wedding favors!

I feel like such a dummy for not offering this publicly before.  Anytime someone has contacted me regarding wedding favors, I describe them to the best of my ability, but I know they sound small to some people.  Granted they're favors and are supposed to be small, but it's also soap and people think twice about tiny soap.  That's when I offer to send a sample so they can actually see what they're giving their guests.  I've never had a future bride not sign on as a client once they hold it in their hands.  So, I've set up a listing on etsy - my commerce site - for ordering a sample.  Easy peasy.  No email necessary, no long description, just a sample in your hand. 

The sample costs $0.20 because that is the minimum listing value on the site.  Just pay shipping and it's all set.  I can't guarantee the color / scent combination since they are previously made, but that won't really matter too much.  Each sample will come packaged to give you the total effect.  Here are a few examples:  You can order one by clicking here.

The season is upon us and Li'l Z.

The holiday season always sneaks up on me.  One minute it's August, the next, it's Halloween, the next Christmas lights are up all around town.  With my preferred six week cure time for my soap, by the time the weather starts feeling wintery, it's mid-November.

I really wanted to do the Avondale Estates Christmas Market this year and fortunately for me, they were full, but somehow found room for me.  So, I will officially be participating in the Holiday Market.  You can find Sudstress on Sunday December 11, from 12-6 p.m. in the clubhouse at Lake Avondale.

Here is a link to the site.

So, needless to say, I've been making soap like crazy as I also need to make a delivery to Young Blood Gallery & Boutique.  Here is some of the soap you'll be seeing at the show:

Yet to be named - smells like holiday spice & Christmas trees.

Pumpkin Spice soap with carrot juice and nutmeg.

Carrot & Shea facial soap with sustainable rosewood, patchouli & carrot seed essential oils.

French Green Clay men's shave soap with lavender, lime & petitgrain.

My favorite so far, Lemongrass - Eucalyptus pumice soap.  

Piece o' Cake - smells like chocolate cake, but yummier.

....and not to go unmentioned, my birthday was a couple of weeks ago and my great gift was a quick trip to see my niece who is now six months old.  I haven't seen her since she was only 5 weeks, and it's been tearing me up.  I finally got to see her in Boulder and I just love Li'l Z.  Her name is Zora and she's such a joy!