Wake Up! Tea Tree Mint Soap, Ready for Your Shower!

Tea Tree Mint

This soap will get you going in the morning! Tea Tree Mint is definitely an eye opener. These 3.5 oz, green beauties are made from a combo of our finest oils, lye and purified water. Tea Tree oil and Patchouli essential oil have been added for scent, dried mint herbs for texture and hemp oil makes it this wonderful olive green color. We also added Shea Butter chunks for moisture and lather.

Come check out our super-fine Tea Tree Mint soap at Sugar Pine Boutique, maybe something else will catch your eye there as well....

Valentine's Day Hearts in Origami Box

Primative Hearts in Elegant Origami box.

Cherry Almond and Chocolate....Yummmmm!

Careful....they look good enough to eat.

Smell good enough too!

The boxes come in many colors, come pick out your favorite here!

Secret Little Silver Box

Schmashing....isn't it? I finally found a list worthy way to box up my bubbly soapy, soap!

Awe, cute, isn't it?

Come check out these cute guys and more at Sugar Pine Boutique.

Thank you as always for stopping in, smooches!! ; )

Wow! Made the Treasury!!

Somehow in the midst of all the thousands of items listed on Etsy, one of my little soap packs made it!! Wow, I'm so honored!! If you'd like to check it out, here the link.

Woodland Soap Box

A pretty little soap.........

In a Neatly Folded Box........

All wrapped up for someone special.

Purchase yours at Sugar Pine Boutique today!!

Happy Hempy Soap

Now I know that makes you smile! Happy Hempy soap was made in my kitchen with my daughter in mind. She loves dragonfly's, hearts, flowers, and well...yes stamps. So When this slightly green soap came out, it seemed like a good idea to do some stampin' on it.  Of course you can see Happy Hempy here at Sugar Pine Boutique, but this is more about the story of how and where she came about.

Happy Hempy started in the usual way. There were oils, lye and water involved...but this one was a bit different.

First, we used hemp oil...a wonderfully new oil to me in this soap making business. Not only does it make the soap a pleasing green-tinged yellow, it also has many skin-happy properties. A few of these are, but not limited to, a large amount of vitamins A & E, lots of fatty acids and a friendly disposition that lends itself to helping those with dry irritated skin, eczema and psoriasis. Plus it's hemp...how fun is that.

Another difference is that I didn't just throw some water into the mix with this soap. I carefully brewed some lovely chamomile tea...lots and lots of it. When done, the brew was very strong, very sweet-smelling and good. This was added to the lye in the normal way and with the oils and all went well in happy saponification. Yeay!

The remaining ingredient was ginger. Ginger in small quantities helps with consintration, it's an antiseptic (good for the skin), and smells so spicy and warm. Mmmmmm.....This little bar of soap smells like the best Whole Foods store EVER!!

The stamping was fun, the cutting in not-so-perfect squares was a blast (all soaps are approximately 2 oz though...) Dragonflys, two types of flowers, and a 'go green' stamp were used.

Yep, great times. As I said, you can visit this little soap at Sugar Pine Boutique, or just enjoy the little dragonfly's here, the choice is yours! ; )

Have a wonderfully creative day! Errr...Night?

Samples--Free Samples!! Ooh Me!! Pick Me!!

Ok, as you can see I'm a little excited. After browsing around the net for new scent ideas for my handcrafted soaps, I stumbled on a great site: Snowdrift Farm. It has everything a soaper could want, plus much, much more.

As I was perusing the site, I found that I could order samples for most of their essential oils. This was HUGE, I can't tell you how many times I've ordered from other sites, thinking I was getting one thing and got something else. And when it comes to e.o.'s, that's no small investment....Anyway all you have to do is send them a list and self-addressed, stamped envelopes and they will give you a sample. I know it's nothing new really, but I'll tell you now that it's tough finding a place that will send out samples if you're not already a larger, established business.

So, you've been warned, prepare to see many more scents in the not-so-far-off future! I'm going to go on a scenting ramage! Mooohahahahaaaa!

Have a wonderfully creative day! ; )

Craft Fair! ; )

Today they are holding a craft fair at the Fernley, NV Intermediate school. I was fortunate enough to have a friend take my little soaps in for me (as I am taking my son to his Football Championship game this moring.) I know, good friend!

Anyway, I spent a good part of the day making brochures, business cards, labeling and wrapping many of the handcrafted soaps I have on hand. Phew!!

I took a few photo's, but due to the hurry-up nature of this morning, they are in semi-ok condition.....Wish me luck, if you're in town, check it out and have a great Saturday!!! ; )

As always thanks for visiting!!!

Notes of Gratitude and Epiphanies

Ok, I've been creating little soaps for my Etsy shop for oh, 3 months or so. I know that it really isn't a very long time to be up. And I can be patient, but after so many looky-loo's and no sales, I was getting quite sad. (Thank you though Mom, for my first sale!!) And then, a beautiful friend of mine, who I had given a small sample to, loved it so very much, she purchased 2. It may not seem like much, but it did make me feel that I wasn't crazy about creating my soaps in greater quantity than my immediate family can use. Anyway, thank you, thank you to my generous friend for lifting my spirits and encouraging me on my soapy way!


The most important thing I learned? Soap doesn't sell online like it would in a shop, out of your home, at the soccer field or farmers market. People have to be able to smell it, touch it and see your passion for it. They want to try a sample, find it in the work break room to wash the grit from their hands. A bit of wonderful luxury in their busy, tiring day. That's how soap sells.

No worries though. I will still be posting items to my Etsy shop, though more as a way for these folks to get ahold of me. (I'm not really into giving my personal number out). I will still be posting, but just not hanging my hopes on one shooting star, as they say. I am betting every venture has it's bumps and discouragements...mine is no different. ; )

To end on a good note and celebrate the fall season,  I have compiled a few gift packages that will be on Etsy and featured on a table at our local craft fair. I had so much fun creating the eco-friendly basket (made from organic fabric and recycled vinyl). The soaps are all unique, the packs included a mixture of lavender, tea tree mint, almond and perhaps a cute, little pumpkin soap. And let's not forget the Aloo items! Check out this yarn here. My mom created this little lovely's to enhance the gift packs. I know, she's something else, isn't she?

As always, have a great week and happy creating!! ; )

Climate Change

In some parts of the country, the change from summer to fall to winter is a gradual, lovely affair that can be cherished for a few weeks. Here in northern Nevada, it seems more like summer crashing into winter. As September clicks away into October outdoor temperatures drop like a rock.

You out there, you with significant others may have the same seasonal convo as we do around our house. I'm one for energy conservation, not to mention sub-doer of humongo gas/electric bills. In summer, I figure we can servive at 77'C, in the winter 70'C should be fine....granted you might have to put socks and long sleeve shirt on. But every year my husband and I do the thermostat war. After a week of haggling the numbers up and down, up and down, we generally come to the settle at a happy 73'C...or 74'C.  Does this happen to you? : )

Living quarter temps aside, I've been patiently turning and gazing upon my little pumpkin soap that I made a month ago and it is finally FINALLY, ready for everyone to see. I'll be posting several on my shop page today. But also will be putting together several for a craft bazaar at our local junior high school. I figured this is the way to go. People need to be able to touch and smell soap...no picture can replace tactile experience. I'd consider hooking up with an experienced craft fair seller and striking a deal. Absolutely awesome exposure.

Pumpkin Patch: Hand-crafted Sculpted Soaps

Can you feel it? The nip in the air that spells out the coming of fall? Yep, that first snappy night is a message to me, an indication that I need to get cracking on my fall inspired soaps!! Since cold processed soaps need a bit over a month to 'cure', I figured now's that time to get my ideas for this fall underway.

Two weeks ago, I made my Ultimate Pumpkin Patch soaps. These beauties were made from olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, soybean and almond oils; lye and water. Pumpkin Spice Cake scent (fantastic!!) was added along with paprika and allspice for coloring and texture.

After the cooking process, I made sure this smooth 'batter' was hand-friendly. After the a-ok, I formed them into balls. Next I took a bamboo stick and started making them into pumpkins. Each one is unique, just as in nature, and sport a cute little stem.

These sweeties will be prominently displayed in my Etsy Shop come the first week of October, just in time for the spicy fall season!