Summer has arrived early in the Finger Lakes region of New York. We've had temps in the 80's, and even 90 one day, and it's still May! For a few minutes, anyway. LOL It's done amazing things. The lilacs were almost done for during the Lilac Festival, things are in bloom that I've never seen bloom in May before, and we've had the a/c on. I never allow a/c before June.
The long term effects, I don't know. I do know that we need rain, though. And, I do know that most of us are thoroughly enjoying this warm and wonderful weather!
Many of us are getting outside to work in our gardens and so we're getting dirty. We have a soap for that. In fact, we have a bunch of soaps for that, both solid and liquid.
Buy 5 soaps for $25 + $4 shipping!
We have: *Love My Lavender, Gingered Orange, Summer Rose, Fresh Clean Herbal, Rice Flower, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rochester Lilac, *Daybreak (spearmint & eucalyptus), *Gardener's Soap, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Spun Sugar, and *Groovy Patchouli. I also have a few Midnight Merlot soaps left.
To get the special, just contact me by email (beth@soapandgarden.com), through Facebook (Soap and Garden), or when you leave a comment here, and I'll take care of you.
Order today!
Not on my site:
Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender*. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz., plus any other soap scent listed above.
If I'm successful, you'll see photos from the HSMG conference.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
HSMG Convention
I was fortunate to have attended the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild annual conference in Denver, CO. Not only was it my first trip to Denver, but it was my first HSMG conference, as well.
I have to say that it was a terrific experience from beginning to end. Well, I could do without the flying, but even that was without incident.
Keynote speaker was Carol Moseley Braun, "a recovering politician," as she describes herself. Her address was very inspiring, as she is an accomplished woman from humble beginnings.
We then were offered sessions on soapmaking techniques to business to the science of soapmaking.
It was hard to make choices as to which one to attend! I attended one by Ann-Marie of Brambleberry, on liquid soapmaking. While I've made quite a few batches of LS, I wanted to see what she had to offer, and am excited about trying out thickening my soap with salt water instead of borax. This will be a great thing for those, as few they may be, who are sensitive to borax.
Stay tuned. More tomorrow!
I have to say that it was a terrific experience from beginning to end. Well, I could do without the flying, but even that was without incident.
Keynote speaker was Carol Moseley Braun, "a recovering politician," as she describes herself. Her address was very inspiring, as she is an accomplished woman from humble beginnings.
We then were offered sessions on soapmaking techniques to business to the science of soapmaking.
It was hard to make choices as to which one to attend! I attended one by Ann-Marie of Brambleberry, on liquid soapmaking. While I've made quite a few batches of LS, I wanted to see what she had to offer, and am excited about trying out thickening my soap with salt water instead of borax. This will be a great thing for those, as few they may be, who are sensitive to borax.
Stay tuned. More tomorrow!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Favorite Herbs
*Please note: Soap and Garden is closed for business from April 27 - May 1. Questions will be answered and orders filled in the order they were received beginning on May 2. Thanks for your understanding.*
It's no secret that I love herbs. I love to grow them, I love to cook with them, I love to make home herbal remedies for my family, and I love to make soap and cosmetics with them. One of my passions is gardening, and I love herbs because most of them grow well for me, they're beautiful, and they smell/taste great. I love to use them in soap and cosmetics because they either contribute to better looking skin or they provide color. I'm going to spend some time introducing some of the ones I like using the most and why, but it's important to say upfront that my usage in my product line is limited to color and cosmetic value, not medicinal value.
It's interesting to note also, that herbs contain vitamins and minerals that make them a nutritious part of any diet, as well as delicious! Using them on the skin may impart
qualities that make you look and thus feel, more beautiful--or handsome, as the case may be.
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) - I grow this outside in the summer, and inside in the winter. Because of our northern clime, I can't grow enough to supply all my needs, but I do use it in soapmaking and a few other things. Aloe is native to East Africa, Spain, Indonesia, and the Caribbean, and has been used for thousands of years, and is still used as a laxative and for burns. In soap and cosmetics, Aloe is emollient.
Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) - This is an herb I can grow, but again, I supplement with purchased product as the root is a little difficult to harvest and deal with. Marshmallow is native to cool, wet regions, and of course, grows best in those areas, still. It was mentioned back in the 4th century for
coughs, and yes, it was used to make the original marshmallow confection, as well as eaten as a vegetable (roots). Soaked in cool water, the mucilage is extracted, and that's what I use in soap and lotions to make them even more smooth feeling.
Pot Marigold (Calendula) - Not to be confused with the common garden marigold, Tagetes, Calendula is a wonderful herb. It's a beautiful annual to grow, the flowers are 
edible, and it has numerous cosmetic uses. I love how soft the petals are. Historically, Calendula was used for general health; in fact, the English and Germans ate it all winter long to boost their health, and to heal ulcers and liver ailments. I have grown Calendula in the past, and appreciate how easy it is to grow, harvest, and dry, as well as its uses in my products. The leaves can be ground and added to soap or left whole and will keep their color where most other herbs will turn black. It will add some yellow-orange coloring, also. Calendula contains mucilages, and will make soaps and other products feel better on the skin.
May special - Gardener's Soap - It's time to get out in the garden! If you're like me, you're just beginning to get out and survey what needs to be done and getting started at digging out weeds and dividing perennials. Our Gardener's Soap will help you wash off that dirt and grime.
For the month of May only, get two bars for $10 + shipping. Save $2.
or. . . Spend $50 (before shipping) and get a free bar of soap
or. . . Spend $70 (before shipping) and get a free bar of soap and free shipping
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Not on my site: Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea. Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00 Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7 Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
http://www.soapandgarden.com
Find me on Facebook: Soap and Garden
It's no secret that I love herbs. I love to grow them, I love to cook with them, I love to make home herbal remedies for my family, and I love to make soap and cosmetics with them. One of my passions is gardening, and I love herbs because most of them grow well for me, they're beautiful, and they smell/taste great. I love to use them in soap and cosmetics because they either contribute to better looking skin or they provide color. I'm going to spend some time introducing some of the ones I like using the most and why, but it's important to say upfront that my usage in my product line is limited to color and cosmetic value, not medicinal value.
It's interesting to note also, that herbs contain vitamins and minerals that make them a nutritious part of any diet, as well as delicious! Using them on the skin may impart
qualities that make you look and thus feel, more beautiful--or handsome, as the case may be.Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) - I grow this outside in the summer, and inside in the winter. Because of our northern clime, I can't grow enough to supply all my needs, but I do use it in soapmaking and a few other things. Aloe is native to East Africa, Spain, Indonesia, and the Caribbean, and has been used for thousands of years, and is still used as a laxative and for burns. In soap and cosmetics, Aloe is emollient.Marshmallow (Althea officinalis) - This is an herb I can grow, but again, I supplement with purchased product as the root is a little difficult to harvest and deal with. Marshmallow is native to cool, wet regions, and of course, grows best in those areas, still. It was mentioned back in the 4th century for
coughs, and yes, it was used to make the original marshmallow confection, as well as eaten as a vegetable (roots). Soaked in cool water, the mucilage is extracted, and that's what I use in soap and lotions to make them even more smooth feeling.Pot Marigold (Calendula) - Not to be confused with the common garden marigold, Tagetes, Calendula is a wonderful herb. It's a beautiful annual to grow, the flowers are 
edible, and it has numerous cosmetic uses. I love how soft the petals are. Historically, Calendula was used for general health; in fact, the English and Germans ate it all winter long to boost their health, and to heal ulcers and liver ailments. I have grown Calendula in the past, and appreciate how easy it is to grow, harvest, and dry, as well as its uses in my products. The leaves can be ground and added to soap or left whole and will keep their color where most other herbs will turn black. It will add some yellow-orange coloring, also. Calendula contains mucilages, and will make soaps and other products feel better on the skin.May special - Gardener's Soap - It's time to get out in the garden! If you're like me, you're just beginning to get out and survey what needs to be done and getting started at digging out weeds and dividing perennials. Our Gardener's Soap will help you wash off that dirt and grime.
For the month of May only, get two bars for $10 + shipping. Save $2.
or. . . Spend $50 (before shipping) and get a free bar of soap
or. . . Spend $70 (before shipping) and get a free bar of soap and free shipping
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Not on my site: Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea. Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00 Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7 Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
http://www.soapandgarden.com
Find me on Facebook: Soap and Garden
Monday, April 19, 2010
Flowers, Flowers, Flowers!
After a week of colder, rainier weather, we seem to be in for another week of sunshine. Temps are expected to be more seasonable, in the 60's, which will be good for the blossoming trees and flowers. And there are many blooming flowers and trees! We have yet to see tulips, but magnolias, Bradford Pears, Redbud (a personal favorite), and others are in their glory.
I watch my lilac bush every day, observing the flower cluster developing, anticipating that distinct scent when it blooms. Of course, I'm hoping it doesn't bloom before our Lilac Festival in mid-May! It's always more fun when the lilacs cooperate with the festival dates.
For my job, I am taking classes in floral design, so I am posting a picture of the two-tiered arrangement I made. What fun!
To continue on with my favorite oils, I'd like to feature a few of the ones I haven't mentioned yet--fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, and rice bran oil.
Fractionated coconut oil is a unique one. The solids are removed, making it a colorless liquid. Besides containing many of the properties of coconut oil, it has the following benefits: it remains liquid, it lasts virtually forever, and it "glides" nicely for massage, with the added advantage of not staining sheets and clothing. Besides massage, I like using FCO for lotions, whipped body butter, body spray, and cream.Jojoba Oil - Pronounced, "ho-ho'-ba," this oil is actually a wax pressed from the seeds of the jojoba plant, found in the US Southwest. Jojoba is closest to human sebum, and as such, is thought to help regulate the skin's natural oil flow, benefitting both oily and dry skin. I use it in a wide variety of products, such as creams and lotions, lip balm, moisturizer, and body spray.
Rice Bran Oil - A light oil which rarely elicits allergic reaction. It is high in vitamin E and many other antioxidants which benefit the skin. Women in Japan having been using RBO for centuries in their beauty treatments. I like to use it in soap and many cosmetics. Lotions and creams and lip balm, as well as hair products, are greatly improved by the addition of rice bran oil.
Now, on to business:
It's time for the April showers so we can have May flowers. It's also time to be showered with savings!
Make your own sale:
10% off of any 3 items
20% off of any 6 items
30% off of any 9 items
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Shea Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not on my site, but available by contacting me are:
Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
You must email me to get the savings. Simply mention: April Showers B.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, April 12, 2010
This weekend, my garden club went on an excursion to Lamberton Conservatory, a lovely, but all too obscure place in Rochester, NY. It was a beautiful spring day, sunny and temps in the mid-60's, so we took a walk through the Poet's Garden, as well.
My daughter with the artful eye took some photos.
Enjoy!
Monday, April 5, 2010
This week, the 3 A's!
The weather here in Rochester, NY, has been amazingly summer-like. We've broken two temperature records, and it's been warmer here than in some parts of the south! I, for one, am not complaining. :-) What has your weather been like?
I've been pointing out the qualities of the various oils I use in products; and this week, I'd like to discuss the three A's, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, and Avocado Oil.
Sweet Almond Oil - Light, yet moisturizing, nourishing, almond oil is often used in massage and skin care. It's sweet, nutty odor is appealing, but subtle so that it doesn't interfere with other ingredients. High in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D, and E, SWO is used in all face and body
products.
Apricot Kernel Oil - Related to the almond, AKO is also a light and moisturizing oil, and is used in virtually all skin care products. Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B17 and E, it is particularly useful in aging, dry skin, or inflamed skin. It's non-greasy feel is particularly appealing.
Avocado Oil - Like olive, Avocado oil is pressed from the avocado fruit, itself. It is thick and rich in vitamin A, making it a valuable contributor to products for anti-aging. Positively indulgent!
Blog readers: this week only, take 10% off an order of $25 or more! Just mail me the code, GMAP4. Sale ends on April 12th at midnight. To get what you want, don't delay.
The following products are not on my site, but are available:
Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
Donations made to Missionary Flights International and Cleantheworld.org., bringing soap to people who can't afford it, stemming disease in third world countries.
http://www.SoapAndGarden.com
beth@soapandgarden.com
Facebook: Soap and Garden
I've been pointing out the qualities of the various oils I use in products; and this week, I'd like to discuss the three A's, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, and Avocado Oil.
Sweet Almond Oil - Light, yet moisturizing, nourishing, almond oil is often used in massage and skin care. It's sweet, nutty odor is appealing, but subtle so that it doesn't interfere with other ingredients. High in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D, and E, SWO is used in all face and body
products.Apricot Kernel Oil - Related to the almond, AKO is also a light and moisturizing oil, and is used in virtually all skin care products. Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B17 and E, it is particularly useful in aging, dry skin, or inflamed skin. It's non-greasy feel is particularly appealing.
Avocado Oil - Like olive, Avocado oil is pressed from the avocado fruit, itself. It is thick and rich in vitamin A, making it a valuable contributor to products for anti-aging. Positively indulgent!
Blog readers: this week only, take 10% off an order of $25 or more! Just mail me the code, GMAP4. Sale ends on April 12th at midnight. To get what you want, don't delay.
The following products are not on my site, but are available:
Herbal Bath Teas: Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey, Purely Herbal Blend, Four Milk Blend, and Relaxation Blend - just $2/ea.
Liquid shower gel: All natural. 2 oz. for $4; 4 oz. $6.00
Lotion: Hand and body lotion - 4 oz, $7
Foaming Soap: Comes in the seasonal Apple Pie, plus Gingered Orange, Summer Tropical, and Lavender. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
Donations made to Missionary Flights International and Cleantheworld.org., bringing soap to people who can't afford it, stemming disease in third world countries.
http://www.SoapAndGarden.com
beth@soapandgarden.com
Facebook: Soap and Garden
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Herbs of Spring; it Has Sprung!
Today was beautiful. It was sunny and warm for the northeast, so I had the chance to check out my gardens, such as they are. In this region, perennials are just waking up from their sleep and poking their leaves up as if to check things out. If it's warm and sunny enough, they seem to be thinking, they'll burst forth into the song of spring and grow amazingly fast. It makes me wonder; if I stood looking long enough, could I watch them grow?
I welcome them back, the mints and Sweet Cicely that will soon flavor tea and fruit salads, the thyme, chives, sage (I hope), and perhaps even parsley that will enrich my cooking with their fresh flavor. I see the Bouncin' Bet, aka Saponaria, that I struggle to control every year, and it looks so harmless! I've used it in soap, but want to experiment with it more, and my chance is coming up soon.
Some of the "weed" herbs, such as Dandelion, Chickweed, and Plantain, are showing themselves. Maybe I'll actually get to the Dandy before it gets too bitter and use it in salads and stir-fry. I often miss those first, tender leaves, the ones that taste best and must be harvested before it flowers, but not this year! Of course, I'll also dig them out afterward as I have a love/hate relationship with them.
I haven't seen them yet, but I'm looking forward to the violets. They are one of my favorite spring herbs. They're edible, and I also infuse them in oil for an eye cream. Last year, I made a wonderful syrup with them, and look forward to doing that again.
I only wish my camera was working so that I could capture that fresh spring look. They're small and unintimidating, clean, and promising. They won't last that way for long!
Yea, spring!
This post is part of a blog party hosted by Cory at Aquarian Bath, http://aquarianbath.blogspot.com . Check it out!
I welcome them back, the mints and Sweet Cicely that will soon flavor tea and fruit salads, the thyme, chives, sage (I hope), and perhaps even parsley that will enrich my cooking with their fresh flavor. I see the Bouncin' Bet, aka Saponaria, that I struggle to control every year, and it looks so harmless! I've used it in soap, but want to experiment with it more, and my chance is coming up soon.
Some of the "weed" herbs, such as Dandelion, Chickweed, and Plantain, are showing themselves. Maybe I'll actually get to the Dandy before it gets too bitter and use it in salads and stir-fry. I often miss those first, tender leaves, the ones that taste best and must be harvested before it flowers, but not this year! Of course, I'll also dig them out afterward as I have a love/hate relationship with them.
I haven't seen them yet, but I'm looking forward to the violets. They are one of my favorite spring herbs. They're edible, and I also infuse them in oil for an eye cream. Last year, I made a wonderful syrup with them, and look forward to doing that again.
I only wish my camera was working so that I could capture that fresh spring look. They're small and unintimidating, clean, and promising. They won't last that way for long!
Yea, spring!
This post is part of a blog party hosted by Cory at Aquarian Bath, http://aquarianbath.
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