June Blooms

5 for $25! Only $4 shipping for 5 bars! Don't miss out on this one.

Top news for me is that my daughter, Emily, is in Kansas City, MO, competing at Skills USA. They are allowing the first place winners in each state to compete against each other this week. I am so excited for her, I can hardly stand it. She is part of the photography division, and has worked very hard to get where she is. Stay tuned for the outcome! She is also participating in her graduation ceremony on Friday, if all goes according to schedule.

The garden has been fun and challenging. My hubby is helping me reclaim an area of the yard that is overgrown. We live by a woods, so it came to my fallow garden, and now must come out. As a result, we both got poison ivy. We learned that it's imperative to come in and wash thoroughly as soon as you know you've had contact. Do not wait until you are finished with your job. Yuck.

On the fun side, things are growing and blooming like crazy. I've harvested Heal-All, Lemon Balm, and Anise Hyssop. God's natural order of plants is astounding! The great thing is that I purchased a Nikon Coolpix camera on the advice of aforementioned daughter so I can take pictures of everything. My previous camera broke just before the HSMG Conference, so I was without. I'm enjoying the new camera, but it has lots of bells and whistles that will require a learning period in order for me to use it to its full capability. Posted are flower photos, of course. :-)

As far as soap is concerned, I've added two new scents of gardener's soap. The first is Cedar and Sage, which is for men, and the second is Summer Path, for the ladies. Cedar and Sage is very masculine, and one that women like to smell around their men. Summer Path is decidedly feminine, what all that summer offers--grass, herbs, and flowers, rolled into one bar. In the photo above, Cedar & Sage is on the left, and Summer Path, on the right. Of course, we still offer our original bar, with marvelous essential oils that love skin.

So, what are you growing? To take advantage of the sale, please tell me what you're growing. Perhaps you'd like to include what you'll do with it, or your successes or challenges. I can't wait to hear from you!

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Soap Sale! Get 5 bars for $25! + only $4 shipping

Scents include: Lavender*, Gingered Orange, Lilac Breeze, Groovy Patchouli*, Black Raspberries & Vanilla, Rice Flower, Mint Medley*, Sultry Sandalwood Vanilla, Fresh Clean Herbs, and Spun Sugar. (*essential oil), Daybreak (spearmint & eucalyptus)

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Not on my site, but available for purchase 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.
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Did you know that many people in the world cannot afford the basic necessity, soap, and that many become ill and die simply from the lack of something we take for granted? We at Soap and Garden participate in efforts to provide people with life-saving soap.

Thank you for reading, and God bless you.

Lovin' Summer

Why do I like being out in my garden? It is peaceful, the most noise coming from the bird songs around me. I am alone with my thoughts and it gives me time to pray and to contemplate. I love the fresh air, the sunshine, the scent of "green," and whatever flowers are blooming at the time.

Today, I smelled lovely Valerian flowers. What a stark contrast to the dirty sock scent of the roots! I'm wondering if I can use the flowers or leaves in tea or some other herbal preparation. I'll have to do some research on that one. Many of my hardy geraniums are blooming, a welcome sight, for sure. Sweet Cicely, always one of my favorite herbs, is beginning to form seedheads. Soon, I'll have to deadhead so I won't have so many volunteers next spring, although the seeds are tasty to munch on. Roses are blooming with their welcome, heady sweet scents. They are always pleasurable to me, and I must make a point of gathering petals tomorrow. I use them for various purposes, from potpourri to cosmetic oils to syrup.

I have been reading on The Essential Herbal Yahoo Group about rose syrup. Mmm . . . If you love herbs, join the group! It exists for the magazine, "The Essential Herbal," which is a treasure trove of information, recipes, and ideas. Check it out!

Now, it's confession time. I nearly always wear gloves when I garden. Surgery several years ago on a sliver that went right to the bone on my thumb pad convinced me they were a good idea. Today, however, I didn't follow my own rules, and was amazed at not only how dirty my hands could get, but how the mud dried them out! Ugh. Of course, I have the advantage of a good supply of my own gardener's soap, which helps me clean my hands well, without being drying. A good washing, including a brush for under my nails, and my hand lotion, and my hands don't look too much worse for the wear.

Still, gloves are on the agenda for tomorrow. . .

What's up this week on the business front? Our 5 for 25 sale continues. Get five bars of soap for just $25.00, plus only $4 shipping! You'll save $1 on each bar, and a bunch on shipping. What a deal!

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, and/or anything on my site. * indicates essential oil

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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*, plus any other soap scent listed above. Just $7/bottle for 6 fl. oz.
Body Glow - A delightful exfoliant. It does the job without taking your hide off or drying out your skin. $12/jar

You must email me or message me on Facebook or my blog to get the savings. Simply mention BLOG.
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Donations made to Missionary Flights International and Cleantheworld.org., bringing soap to people who can't afford it, fighting disease in third world countries.

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Early Summer!

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.

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!

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

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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

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
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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)
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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.
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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!