Soap Deli News

Spring Cleaning, Naturally

Rebecca — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:58:32 GMT

Make spring cleaning healthier by cleaning with natural products rather than those comprised of harsh chemicals that are neither good for you or the environment. Visit Mountain Rose Herbs for Natural Spring Cleaning Recipes that include a Herb Soap Concentrate, Citrus Scrubber, Fragrant Wood Polish, Disinfectant Air Freshener and more. Read all recipes.

Fragrant Wood Polish

Makes about 1 cup

This formula forms a soft paste that can be applied with a wool or cotton rag or lamb’s-wool pad. I use it on fine furniture about once a year.

1 ounce beeswax
8 ounces mineral oil
1/2 teaspoon essential oil of Peru balsam
1/4 teaspoon each essential oils of lavender,
orange, tangerine, and lemon
1/8 teaspoon each essential oils of bergamot, rosemary, and spruce

Visit Mountain Rose Herbs for full directions.

Other Recipes You Can Try:

5-Alive Air Freshner Recipe
Gel Air Fresheners
Crystal Gel Air Fresheners

Handmade Soap Sale

Rebecca — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:52:20 GMT

I'm having an online soap sale! Right now, buy any 5 regular priced soaps and you'll receive a 6th bar of lesser or equal value free. Simply purchase all six soaps and mention FREEBAR in the notes to seller. The price of the sixth bar will be refunded with any shipping over payments (see profile for details) once shipment is made. Offer ends May 16th, 2008 at midnight ET. Shop soaps now.

Caribbean Beauty Splash

Rebecca — Sun, 11 May 2008 17:18:35 GMT

You can purchase ingredients for this recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Ingredients:
1 cup water
10 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops rose essential oil
4 drops rosemary essential oil
1 tbs witch hazel

Instructions:
Mix the ingredients together. Pour a small amount into your hand. Massage your face with cleanser, then rinse. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 10 days.

Sugar Leg Wax

Rebecca — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:22:08 GMT

Recipe compliments of Kitchen, Crafts, & More.

Ingredients:
2 C sugar
1/4 C lemon juice
1/4 C water
2 tbsp vegetable glycerine
waxing cloth strips (buy at the drugstore) OR use strips of linen cut to the size of these strips
wooden popsicle sticks (to stir the wax and to apply)

Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Stir frequently while heating to 250 degrees F or softball stage. Pour into jars and cover with lids. If you use plastic jars, you'll be able to microwave this mixture instead of heating it on the stove. That's it!! You just made your own leg wax/sugar that you'd pay $20 for in the stores!

Usage:
Heat in the microwave for ten seconds on high. Using a wooden stir stick, stir VERY well. It should be warm but not HOT. Please be very careful when heating up this wax as it's very easy to burn yourself. If the wax isn't warm enough, place it back in the microwave for five seconds, and stir again. Remember, this is hot sugar syrup – if it gets too hot you'll be badly burned.

Lightly powder the area to be treated. Spread a thin layer of the wax on in the same direction as the hair grows. Apply the waxing cloth strip over the applied wax, and rub down well to get the wax to stick to the cloth. Pull your skin taut, and in one quick motion pull the fabric off of your skin AGAINST the direction of hair growth. Continue with the other areas of your leg or wherever you're waxing.

When you're done waxing a complete area, rub in lotion, aloe vera gel (fresh is best) or oil to soothe your legs.

You can use the homemade waxing strips again if you soak it in soapy water to dissolve the sugar off the fabric and then toss it in with your wash as normal.

Reverse Photography?

Rebecca — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:23:17 GMT

I apologize for falling behind on my posts, but the pollen has been excruciatingly plentiful this year and I have an upper respiratory infection as a result. I've spent the past three days in bed and am only now starting to get some of my energy back. However, I would like to share some pictures my husband has taken recently. He used a reverse lens for all of these shots allowing him to get super close to some very interesting subjects.

"Slowpoke," (c) M. Adam Kendall
A common variety of caterpillar found in VA.

"Little, yellow, different," (c) M. Adam Kendall
A close up shot of a little flower he found in the neighborhood complete with a spiderweb in the corner.

"A little off the top," (c) M. Adam Kendall
A blade of grass.

"Yum," (c) M. Adam Kendall
A black widow having lunch.

"Nautilus," (c) M. Adam Kendall
A fossil for sale on the Roanoke City Market.

"Inside a rose," (c) M. Adam Kendall
A close up of a rose on one of our rose bushes.

"Black ant," (c) M. Adam Kendall

" A spider in the tree," (c) M. Adam Kendall

"A peek in the 'lion," (c) M. Adam Kendall
The inside of a dandelion.

"Larvin' around," (c) M. Adam Kendall

New Organic Skin Care Recipes To Treat Various Ailments Naturally

Rebecca — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:17:03 GMT

Article by sadhivm

Whether it is a tired eyes, wrinkles, insect bites or burns, there are times that things can happen to your skin. With the following organic skin care recipes and tips, you can treat various ailments naturally, leaving behind many of the man made pollutants that are absorbed into our bodies through most over the counter aids.

Insect Bites

Recipe #1: Mix 1 drop of organic almond essential oil and 2 tablespoons baking soda and 4 tablespoons of distilled water to form a paste. Apply to bite and let sit for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and pat dry

Recipe #2: Mix 8 ounces distilled water with 2 tablespoons Epsom Salt. Apply compress made of a wash cloth soaked this mixture.

Oily Skin/ Acne

Recipe #1: Make a mask of 1/4 organic apple (cored but unpeeled), 1 organic egg white, 1/2 organic lemon (peeled and deseeded), 30 organic Thompson seedless grapes, 4 tablespoons organic watercress (finely chopped). Blend all ingredients on medium for 3 minutes. Apply to face using cotton balls and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Recipe #2: Mix 1/4 cup organic yogurt (plain) with 1 tablespoon brewer 's yeast. The mixture should be runny; if not, add a bit more brewers yeast. Apply to oily zones and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Recipe #3: Mix 1/2 cup organic oat flour, juice from 1/2 organic orange, and 1 teaspoon organic honey. Apply to face and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Scrapes

Recipe #1: This remedy should be made in advance and kept for times when it is needed. First you will need to create 4 special oils. You will need organic extra virgin olive oil, three airtight, glass jars and 4 fresh organic herbs: calendula, plantain, red clover, and St. Johns Wort.

Let the herbs wilt for one day, then put each type in its own jar and cover the herbs with olive oil. Close the jars and leave in direct sunlight for two weeks. Strain oil to use. Once your oils are made, you will need 1/4 cup of each of your special oils and 1 cup organic beeswax.

Melt the oils and beeswax in a large, microwave safe bowl, pour into an airtight, glass jar and let cool. If the mixture is too runny after completely cooling, you need to add a bit more beeswax and melt again, if it is too thick, add a bit more oil and melt again. Apply to wounds when needed much like you would with ready made antibacterial ointments.

Recipe #2:Soak the area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it.

Splinters

Recipe #1: Soak the area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it. Because Epsom Salt draws toxins out of the skin and acts as an anti inflammatory, this bath will draw the splinter to the surface.

Recipe #2: Bandage a thin slice of organic potato over the splinter and let stay overnight. Potato draws things out of the skin and the splinter should be to the surface by morning.

Sunburn Relief

Recipe #1: Mix 5 organic cucumbers (pureed) and 2 1/2 cups powdered milk in a bowl. Pour mixture into tepid/warm bath and soak burned areas for 20 minutes. The mixture can be applied directly to the burned skin, if you prefer.

Recipe #2: Soak the burned area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a tepid/warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it.

Tired Eyes

Grate raw potato and wrap in cheesecloth. Apply to eyelids for 20 minutes, wiping the starchy residue away before applying makeup.

Wrinkles

Recipe #1: Cut organic Thompson seedless grapes in half and crush on wrinkles, especially near eyes and mouth. Leave the juice on your face for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water, repeat daily.

Recipe #2: Mash a very ripe organic banana extremely well, apply to entire face and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

About the Author:

Keep YOURSELF looking great with these great Free Beauty Tips from http://www.NaturalElements.co.uk
In just seconds you can access over 36 Beauty topics that will keep you looking younger and more radiant
You can now get the very latest information on Organic Skin Care by subscribing with RSS.

Homemade Jewelry: Your Personal Touch

Rebecca — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:47:22 GMT

Article by jimmycox

Interesting jewelery can be made from ceramics, and the instructions below will get you started on a lapel pin.

A special clay, a fine-textured white clay with a high flint content which intensifies the glaze colors is best for the purpose of jewelery making. Either gray or terra cotta pottery clay may be used. For jewelry, the gray clay will be more attractive if covered with colored clay slips and a transparent glaze, or if covered with opaque glazes. The terra cotta clay may be partially covered with colored clay slips, fired once and left unglazed, or painted with transparent glaze.

Jewelry should be fired to Cone 06,1800 F., in the first firing; the glaze firing need not be as high. Lower temperature (such as Cone 015,1430 F.) glazes, with an alkaline or boracic base over the special clay for jewelery, will give brilliant clear colors (including red) particularly desirable and suitable for small objects. It will be necessary for you to experiment at first, as your results will depend on the clay in use, the slip colors available, the results desired, and whether you have a test kiln or must send the pieces to be fired elsewhere.

When the jewelry is completed, fired, and maybe glazed, metal or plastic pin-backs or clips, must be attached to the backs of the pieces with duco or other cement. They can be obtained from jewelry and ceramic supply houses.

LAPEL PIN.

Materials - 2 lbs. jewelry clay; glazes; findings
Tools - plaster bat 4" x 4"; wood tools; wire tools; pointed tool

Make several designs for a pin about 2" in the largest dimension. Try a geometric design, using overlapping rectangles, a triangle and square, a circle and triangle, or any other combination of shapes. Wedge the clay thoroughly in your fingers.

Each time clay is used - before beginning any project, or when resuming work if a piece is put away before completion - the clay must be wedged. The purpose of wedging is to remove all air pockets and holes which would cause a piece to explode in the firing; to eliminate foreign matter such as nails, cloth, and leaves; and to secure an even consistency. Never use unwedged clay.

The clay is patted or rolled into a flat rectangular mass, cut in two with a wire or knife, and the two pieces slammed together on the table with the cut edges facing in opposite directions. It is then rolled and kneaded like dough, patted into a rectangular mass, cut in two, and slammed together with the cut ends facing in opposite directions. This operation is repeated about twenty times. If you have a wedging table, the clay is cut in two by pushing it against the wire.

Now pat a piece of clay on a plaster bat to about 2" square and 1/8" thick. Draw your design on it. Model your design, making one unit higher by adding extra clay, and the other slightly lower by adding less clay or cutting into the background. Use your tools to smooth and shape surfaces and edges. Round off the edges.

You can put a texture on the background by stippling it with the pointed end of a tool. When leather hard, paint the two units of the design in different colored clay slips. When dry, fire in a test kiln to 1800 F., or have it fired. Paint the pin with a transparent glaze and fire a second time. All clay shrinks in drying; in jewelry allow about 10% for shrinkage.

Make a second lapel pin using an animal form. A horse head, a fish or a bird form, will make an interesting pin. Model in very low relief, using only shallow planes or incised lines about 1/4" deep. Do not attempt to be realistic, but keep a feeling for decorative treatment. Eliminate details and work for a flat linear or plane design. When dry, fire in a test kiln to 1800 F., or have it fired. Apply one or more opaque glaze colors, any combination that suits you, and fire again.

About the Author

Discover What Makes Ceramics History So Interesting And Learn To Make Pottery Like A Pro! Click Here For Free Online Ebook: http://www.ceramicshistory.com/

Go Green with Soap Nuts

Rebecca — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:15:06 GMT

Article by Matt Johnson

All of us have heard something about pollution and the depletion of the environment at some point in our lives. Even the media is constantly bringing up the topic of conservation of our environment and much emphasis is being laid on how every individual can contribute to saving our planet from contamination. One thing that all of us can do is to incorporate nature in our daily tasks like cleaning, bathing and laundry. We can prevent tones of chemicals from becoming a part of our drains and our future.

So how can we incorporate nature in our lives? Look no further, soap nuts are here! Soap nuts are small berry like fruits that grow in warm, tropical and sultry climates. They are native to India, Nepal and some other South Asian countries and consist of a small yellowish Brown fruit covered by a hard outer covering. It is the former that is mostly used in the various products that are now available in the market. The main ingredient in soap nuts is saponins which make them an excellent cleaning utility that can be used to clean almost everything ranging from clothes to dishes and regular household cleaning.

There are a number of ways in which soap nuts can be used to make our living greener, natural and more environmental friendly. Let us look at some ways in which soap nuts can be made a part of our daily chores and eliminate the use of chemicals.

Washing Clothes

Soap nuts are excellent for dong your laundry without using chemical detergents. All you have to do is tie together 4 to 6 shells of soap nuts in a thin cloth like a muslin cloth and add it to the washing machine drum. This will take care of 4 to 5 loads of laundry. The advantages of using soap nuts as laundry detergents are:

Fabric is soft after wash and no fabric softeners need be added separately

It leave the colors intact and fading does not occur after wash

It removes dirt and smell form the clothes leaving a neutral fragrance

Soap nuts are ideal for people with allergies to chemical detergents and synthetic perfumes, children's clothes and pets.

Bathing

Soap nut can be used instead of soap for bathing and also for washing your hair, eliminating the need for shower gels, soaps and shampoos. They leave the skin feeling smoother, softer and protect it from infections. Soap nuts are completely natural and even babies and pets can be washed using them. They reduce skin problems like itching and infections. Washing your hair with soap nuts leaves it smoother, thicker, shinier and rids the scalp of dandruff, lice and other problems.

Around the house

Soap nut solution can be used to clean your house and to clean items you normally clean using chemical solutions. A mild soap nut solution can be used to spotlessly clean almost every item of your house such as windows, statues, decorative pieces and so on. A few drops of soap nut solution added to your car wash water followed by a polish will result in a cleaner shinier car. Soap nuts have insecticidal properties which makes them very useful in the garden. Black flies and Aphids can be kept at bay by spraying a diluted soap nut solution on the plants in your garden. Soap nut solution can also be used to wash dishes. Simply take a small bowl. Add little soap nut powder and some water and voila your cleaning solution is ready. This solution can be used to wash cutlery, glasses, pans and the usual dishes. Keep in mind that since soap nut is totally natural it does not contain any foaming chemicals and no foam will be seen while cleaning.

Detoxifying and cleaning food

A spoon of soap nut powder added to a litre of water acts as a solution for cleaning and detoxifying food at home. Fruits and vegetables can be soaked in this solution for about ten minutes then rinsed and used. This will remove any residue or chemicals from the food.

Where to find soap nuts

http://www.BuySoapNuts.com

http://Stores.HotterThanHealth.com

Penne Alla Vodka

Rebecca — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:28:24 GMT

I found a recipe for pasta recently that is just to die for! It calls for 1/4 cup of vodka and has a wonderful spicy flavor. The recipe, Penne Alla Vodka, comes from the book "Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen" by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich. Give it a try... Maybe your husband will "forget" to burn off all the alcohol as well.

Ingredients:

Salt
One 35-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes (preferably San Marzano) with their liquid
1 pound penne
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 cloves garlic, peeled
Crushed hot red pepper
1/4 cup vodka
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil for finishing the sauce, if you like
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for passing if you like

Preparation:

You can read the preparation details here.

Read more about the recipes found in "Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen."

Lavender Lovers Soap Trio Giveaway

Rebecca — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:14:47 GMT

Enter to win a Lavender Lovers Soap Trio from Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen.

These lavender lovelies come in the following scents:

Lavender and Basil

This soap has a clean, fresh scent that combines the summery aromas of lavender and basil.

Herbal Lavender

Straight out of the herb garden is my Lavender Soap. This lovely all natural bar contains no artificial scents or colors. Treat yourself to a large chunk of this "herbalicious" bar with no artificial colors or scents.

Lemon & Lavender

This soap is scented with lemon and just a touch of lavender. Delicious even for those who don't like lavender, this bar is fresh, clean, and uplifting. Additionally this bar contains lemongrass for exfoliation.

All of my soaps are rich in moisturizing oils and butters for happier, healthier skin. You're sure to love the thick, creamy lather of my soaps so much, that you'll be back for more before you know it! Each bar weighs between 4oz. and 4.5oz. Retail value: $15

To enter to win this soap trio, simply visit Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen, then leave a comment below with the name or url of your favorite item from my shop. This contest is open to US and Canadian residents age 18 and up. Limit one entry per household. The contest will end on May 31st, 2008 at 12am midnight EST. The winner will be chosen from among all eligible entries on or around June 1st and notified by email to supply his or her shipping address.

View and enter all current contests.

75% off Everything Sale at Crafters for Critters

Rebecca — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:36:13 GMT

Crafters for Critters is temporarily closing their shop on July 1st, 2008 in order to rethink and reorganize. They hope during this time to work toward becoming a better fundraiser for animals in need. In an effort to clear the store out before July they are offering 75% off everything. Simply enter coupon code BUYSTUFF in the voucher box of the shopping cart and click recalculate. Offer ends June 30th, 2008. All proceeds from sales are donated to animal charities. See here for a list of charities Crafters for Critters has made donations to.

New Chamomile and Neroli Soap

Rebecca — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:59:04 GMT

This 100% natural bar is scented with chamomile, neroli, and petitgrain essential oils. It features bits of chamomile seeds and blossoms throughout for exfoliation. Great as a scrub for ridding your body of dead skin cells resulting in softer, smoother skin. Vegan. Like all of my other soaps, this one is also rich in moisturizing oils and butters for happier, healthier skin. It's perfect for both cleansing and shaving due to its thick, creamy lather.

Ingredients: Coconut oil, distilled water, canola oil, olive oil, palm oil, sodium hydroxide, rice bran oil, shea butter, chamomile, neroli, and petitgrain essential oils, and chamomile blossoms/seeds.

Shop all natural soaps now.

Chamomile, Sage, and Laminaria Seaweed Scrub Cleanser

Rebecca — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:25:56 GMT

Recipe from Soothing Soaps: For Healthy Skin, by Sandy Maine.

A mildly abrasive scrub cleanser exfoliates the surface of the skin, removing the dead and dying cells before they clog your pores. Used on a regular basis, the scrub can smooth scarring. Please note, however, that using a scrub on skin that is erupted will only aggravate, not help, the condition.

The following recipe calls for making a soap containing sage and seaweed and then shaving it into a mixture of dried chamomile flowers and powdered oatmeal. Chamomile and oatmeal are anti-inflammatory. Sage is an astringent and disinfectant.

Ingredients:
1 cup glycerin soap base
1 tablespoon powdered laminaria seaweed
1 tablespoon clary sage oil
1 cup dried chamomile flowers, chopped
1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal; grind in a blender until coarse

Instructions:
Combine melted base and herbal materials. Stir until blended, then pour into molds and cool. Shave with a cheese grater, finest shred. Add shavings to the following:

1 cup dried chamomile flowers, chopped
1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal; grind in a blender until coarse

Mix well and store in lidded, dark containers. To use, make a paste in the palm of your hand with 1 tablespoon of scrub cleanser and a little water. Gently rub on the face in a circular motion for one minute, then rinse.

Soothing Soaps: For Healthy Skin by Sandy Maine

About the Book: Sandy Maine combines gentle soaps with the healing power of herbs to create recipes that support health and natural well-being. From the garden to the soap pot she shows how to create soaps that are a pleasure to use and a delight to share.

New Lotions Available

Rebecca — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:56:13 GMT

I have two new lotions available. Falling for You Lotion, by request for several customers, and Tropical Mango Lotion. These fabulous lotions leave your skin feeling moisturized, soft, and silky smooth. They contain a combination of Goat’s Milk, Honey and Shea Butter in addition to aloe, sunflower, and soybean oils - all wonderful ingredients for hydrating your skin. The lotions are nice and thick, and great all over. Each bottle contains at least 8.5oz. of lotion by weight.

My Falling in Love Lotion is a scent similar to Philosophy's Falling in Love products. It is an alluring blend of Lemon Peel, Vanilla, Musk, and Mandarin. While the Tropical Mango is a blend of juicy, tropical blend of mango with notes of citrus, green, mango, pineapple, grapefruit and floral apple. It's a very sweet and smooth fruity scent.

Shop lotions and butters now.

An Interview with Potter, Jayn Avery

Rebecca — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:57:35 GMT

Jayn Avery is a local artist from Floyd, VA and owner of Blue Heron Pottery. She sells her work regularly on the Roanoke Farmer’s Market every Saturday from March to December. She is a self-taught potter, and an advocate of simple living and personal independence. She creates hand-built, lace impressed, functional, stoneware pottery and free form sculptured vessels. Following is an interview I conducted with her about her work.

How long have you been producing pottery?

Since 1972.

What type of pottery do you create?

Hand-built, functional pottery.

How did you get started making pottery?

I took a beginner’s class in pottery at the student union in the University I was attending while I was working on a Masters in Environmental Education. The smell of clay changed my world. It took two years for me to decide to become a potter instead of a teacher. I had never imagined the possibility.

What was on of the first pieces you ever made?

The first piece I remember was a big clunky jar I made on the wheel. It had a big bulge in the bottom and a thin neck. Later I would recognize the shape when I went to a Saxon Pottery Museum in England. I guess it was in my DNA.

What inspires your art?

I discovered that clay could be impressed by very find texture. I also loved the way it moved as a slab - sort of like heavy canvas. I grew up sewing and made many of my clothes and learned to apply some of those techniques to clay.

At what other venues have you sold your work?

When I married, my husband and I shared the desire to homestead and live independently from the work of our hands. He was a musician but we knew pottery would work better as a livelihood since we wanted to live in the country. We sold our work at craft fairs throughout the Eastern Mid-Atlantic states. Our kids - two daughters - grew up in the craft fair world. It was hard work, but fun.

What tips do you have for someone doing their first art or craft show?

It is important for your work to stand out. Display is very important. Even more important is a sincere interest in the customer. It is not just about selling. You are also there to educate and inspire.

What mistakes have you made along the way that you wish you’d had advice on before you started selling?

It took me a while to get that small shows were often better than big ones. Also that attending the same fairs year after year built a sort of clientel or customer familiarity with your work.

What do you love most about making pottery?

I still love the smell of clay. I love its practical function and its uniqueness. I especially love working at home on my own time and pace. And I have learned that after 35 years there is still room for improvement - always new ideas.

Share one thing most people wouldn’t know about you?

I’m an introvert.

Use five words to describe yourself.

Grounded.
Naive.
Independent.
Open-hearted.
Open-minded (air-headed.)

Anything else you’d like to share?

I did not give up my love of nature and concern for the environment that I held in the ’70s. I chose to live the a life of simplicity to model a more harmless way for humans to be on this earth. I have had solar panels for my electric for 20 years. I grow much of my own food. I require few things. I live quite happily without a TV.

You can view examples of Jayn’s work on her website located at http://www.blueheronpotteryweb.com.

Bath Oils

Rebecca — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:45:03 GMT

Create your own bath oils for smooth, silky skin and a relaxing bath experience. Ingredients for these recipes can be purchased from the following sources: Mountain Rose Herbs, Camden-Grey, and From Nature with Love.

Silk Road Bath

Recipe courtesy of Everything Shea.

Ingredients:
3 teaspoons [15 ml] grapeseed oil OR shea oil
2 drops each:
sandalwood essential oil
patchouli essential oil
orange essential oil
4-6 drops vanilla absolute

Instructions:
Recipe yields one treatment at a time. You can increase as needed. Make sure you have a nice supply of soft, all cotton towels. And yes, some elbow grease and cleaning supplies so you can scrub the bathtub the next day! Happy Bathing!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Frothy Bath Oil

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup corn oil
1/2 cup almond oil
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp clear honey
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vodka
1 Tbsp mild soap flakes
3 drops essential oil of your choice

Instructions:
Beat together the eggs, vegetable oils, and honey. Add the milk, vodka, soap flakes, and essential oil, still beating. Pour into bottles, cover, label and store in the refrigerator.

Add about one tablespoon under the faucet when running the water for a warm bath.

Makes about 4 1/2 cups.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Bath Oil

Recipe compliments of CanolaInfo.

Ingredients:
1 cup canola oil
1 Tbsp vitamin E oil
1 tsp essential oil

Instructions:
Small amount of dried cones, pods, twigs, grasses, vine tendrils, rose hips and petals, statice, nigella, baby's breath, larkspur and/or everlastings. Combine canola oil, vitamin E oil and essential oil. Place small amounts of dried material in a sealable decorative container. Pour oil mixture into decorative bottle. Seal. Use 2 Tbsp (25 mL) per bath.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Hawaiian Bath Oil

Recipe compliments of Kitchen, Crafts, n More.

Ingredients:
1/8 cup canola oil
1/8 cup apricot oil
10 drops mango oil
10 drops coconut oil
10 drops gardenia oil

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Bottle until ready for use. To use: Add to warm running water as you fill your bath tub.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Almond Spice Bubbling Bath Oil

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Foaming Concentrate
1/4 Cup Aloe Vera Gel
1/4 Cup Bottled Water
2 Tablespoons Almond Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Almond Fragrance Oil
1/8 Teaspoon Cinnamon Fragrance Oil

Instructions:
Stir water, concentrate and aloe vera gel together until completely blended. Add almond oil and fragrance oils and stir well. Bottle. Use 2-3 Tablespoons under running water in the tub.

An Interview with Jewelry Artist, Anne Vaughan

Rebecca — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:25:07 GMT

Anne Vaughan is a local jewelry artist from Floyd, VA who sells her work semi-regularly on the Roanoke City Market. Anne creates beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. She also gladly accepts custom work in order to meet the unique needs and desires of her customers. Anne's jewelry is earthy and chunky, yet versatile and elegant, and many of her pieces contain turquoise. In addition to her jewelry, Anne is also the mother of two beautiful children who gave up teaching in order to enjoy her art and her family. Following is an interview I conducted with her about her work.

How long have you been creating art?

I have been creating all my life.

What do you make?

I create various styles and types of wearable art. I create necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pendants and rings.

What got you started making jewelry professionally?

The birth of my second child got me started with my new business. I knew I could not return to my previous profession (demands of time and energy really took a toll on my family), yet I had to do something. My husband encouraged me to place my first bead order and I made a simple of goal of creating just two pieces a day. I now strive to create $1,500 - $2,000 worth of inventory each week.

What was one of the first pieces you made as an adult?

One of the first pieces of jewelry I can remember making as an adult was a funky herringbone weave bracelet using faceted quartz and sterling silver as my medium. This bracelet is far from perfect but one of my most favorite pieces because it symbolizes a new beginning for me.

What inspires the work you create?

I find the beauty of the natural stones to be an inspiration as well as landscapes, textiles and other color combinations I see throughout the day.

At what venues other than the Roanoke City Market have you sold through?

I sell at various venues and I am not quite sure that I have a favorite. I do trunk shows at people homes which are tons of fun. I also do wine festivals, art shows and festivals, the Roanoke Market and wholesale my work in five different locations (Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke Valley Print Works, Over the Moon Gallery, Wildfire Pots and Willow Grove.

What tips do you have for someone doing their first art or craft show?

If I had the opportunity to provide some advice to someone starting their own business, I would suggest doing the research. Find any forum possible relating to the art and read all that you can about other artist experiences creating the product, selling, buying raw materials, success stories and common areas of concern. I would then develop a simple business plan with goals you refer back to monthly, perhaps even weekly. Take the time to reflect on what is working and what is not. Most importantly, treat your customers like GOLD. They are gold and they are what make you successful and allow for you to do what you love doing. Dress for success. First impressions go a long way.

What mistakes have you made along the way that you wish you’d had advice on before you started selling?

I am sure I have made tons of mistakes along the way. I am still trying to figure out how to solve display issues I have with strong wind gusts. I also need to learn when to say no to too many events.

What do you love most about your art?

What I love most about my art is having a customer connect with a piece of jewelry. I often have a customer take the jewelry and put it on and wow, it was like it was made just for them. That is awesome!

You can view a gallery of Anne’s work on her website at Annevaughandesigns.com as well as find out where she’ll be selling next.

Lovely lemon.

Rebecca — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:20:27 GMT

Introducing my new Lemon & Lavender Soap! This soap is scented with lemon and just a touch of lavender. Delicious even for those who don't like lavender, this bar is fresh, clean, and uplifting. Additionally this bar contains actual lemongrass for exfoliation. Great for those who like a little scrub in the tub! Each bar weighs 4oz. - 4.5oz. All natural except for fragrance and color. Vegan. Strongly scented so your left with a light fragrance on your skin afterward. Rinses clean. You can purchase it online now at Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen.

Bug Away Soap Recipe

Rebecca — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:15:37 GMT

Try this easy hand milled soap recipe and wash your way to superhero bug repelling power!

Citronella Soap

Ingredients:
1 cup grated Castile soap
1/2 cup water
10 drops citronella essential oil
5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
1 T. dried, crushed penny royal leaves

Instructions:
Mix the ingredients into the melted soap/water mixture. With an electric mixer, whip the soap until it has doubled in volume. Spoon the soap into the prepared molds, pushing it into the molds as best you can (the beating action cools the mix, so work quickly). If the mixture has cooled off and thickened so much you can’t put it into the molds, hand mold the soap into large balls.

You can purchase organic essential oils and herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.

No time to make your own? Rebecca’s Soap Delicatessen sells a Lemon & Poppyseed Soap made with lemongrass essential oil - another natural alternative for keeping biting insects away.

There’s nothing like the inviting and uplifting aroma of Lemon & Poppyseed Muffins baking in the oven! These deliciously scented soaps are sure to give you your fill! The poppyseeds exfoliate your skin, while the lemongrass helps to keep biting insects at bay. You can’t go wrong with this one. Bar weighs at least 4 oz. 100% natural with no color added. Naturally scented only with pure essential oils. Vegan. $5

You can purchase this soap online or on the Roanoke City Market.

Spicy Carnation Hot Process Soap

Rebecca — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:19:18 GMT

Author unknown.

Ingredients:
11 ounces olive oil
11 ounces sunflower oil

8 ounces coconut oil
4 ounces mango butter
4 ounces palm kernel oil
10 ounces Crisco or soybean oil
1 ounces stearic acid

6.6 ounces sodium hydroxide
14.5 ounces distilled water

1.7 ounces Spicy Carnation fragrance oil or scent of your choice
1 teaspoon pink mica

1 gallon white vinegar (for clean up)

Instructions:
1. This hot process recipe calls for using a crockpot with a removable ceramic insert and a lid. Clean the kitchen countertops and bring out your materials. Turn the crockpot on "high" and measure the olive oil and 10 ounces of sunflower oil into a large Pyrex glass container. (Set the other ounce of sunflower oil aside for step 4.) A digital scale comes in handy here. Add the measured oils to the crockpot. Measure all of your solid oils (coconut oil, mango butter, palm kernel oil, soybean oil, & palm stearic acid) into a second large Pyrex glass bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave for about 3 minutes on "high" to melt the solid oils. Add these melted oils to the crockpot.

2. Prepare your lye-water mixture in the sink with the crockpot close by on the counter. After donning goggles and appropriate gloves, measure your cold water. Slowly add the lye to the water while stirring with a long-handled spoon. You want to stir well but not to the point where the mixture splashes about in the bowl. Once the water starts looking clear and the lye is fully dissolved, carefully pour the lye water mixture into the crockpot with the oils. Take care not to splash. Once that is done, put the spoon you stirred the mixture with and the bowl you used into the sink and immediately douse with white vinegar - this will deactivate any remaining lye. If you think you've splashed the mixture anywhere on yourself, your gloves, or your goggles, douse with vinegar.

3. Leaving your gloves on, plug in a stick blender and place it directly into the mixture all the way to the bottom - make sure the bottom of the stick blender is directly on the bottom of the crockpot. (NEVER pull the stick blender out while your finger is still on the "on" switch. Instead, to prevent splashes, turn the blender off let it stop spinning before removing it from the mixture!) Turn on and with fluid motions, stir slowly moving in clockwise and counter-clockwise movements. After about 3 to 5 minutes, your mixture should start thickening up. This is called "trace." This means all the lye is mixing with all of the oil to begin the saponification (soap making) process. A trace is reached when you take the stick blender out and touch it to the top of the mixture and it leaves a very good indentation. Unplug your stick blender and place it directly into the lye-water bowl (which should be full of vinegar).

4. Now it's time to cover and cook the soap. Cooking time differs from batch to batch - 30-50 minutes is a usual time, but I've seen it take longer than that. The soap will often rise up and start looking like ocean waves from the edge of the crockpot inward. It can sometimes rise high enough to hit the top of the lid - I usually grab a thick plastic spoon when this happens, take the lid off, and stir the soap around to pull it back down.

5. While your soap is cooking, wash everything used earlier and prepare the molds. You can use 4-pound wooden molds with lids on top to help "squish" down the hot-processed soap when it has been poured into the molds. Line the molds with freezer paper, shiny side up. Also use this time to combine the remaining ounce of sunflower oil in a zip lock bag with the mica. Place both in the zip lock bag and mix them together using your fingers on the outside of the bag. When that is finished, measure your fragrance oil or essential oil if you are using them.

6. By now, the mixture will start looking almost see-through and yellowish, like a big pot of petroleum jelly. This gives you an indicator that it is pretty close to being done. To test this, perform what is known as the "tongue test." Grab a spoon and pick up a bit of the soap mixture, blowing on it several times to cool it down. Gently rub the tip of your tongue back and forth on the soap and wait to see if it tingles. You are not eating the mixture, and expect to feel some heat because the soap is hot! If there is no tingly feeling, the soap is done. If you feel a tingle against your tongue, replace the lid, cook for another 10 minutes, and try again. The tingle means that there is still some active lye in the soap, and you want to wait until you feel absolutely no tingle before moving on to the next step. When there is no tingle, the soap is done. There is no real substitute for this tongue test, so if you feel uncomfortable doing it, DO NOT DO IT. If you do it, you do it at your own risk.

7. When your soap is done, turn off and unplug the crockpot and remove the lid. Stir the soap around a bit and then add the mixture of mica and sunflower oil, stirring well. If you don't stir until it is completely blended, you will get very neat marblized swirls in your soap. Once the color has been added, wait about 5 minutes or so before adding the fragrance or essential oil. If the scent has a low flash-point (point of evaporation), if you add it while the soap is too hot, you will not be able to smell the scent in the finished soap because the high heat evaporates some scents. After adding the scent, stir the mixture to incorporate it. Using the spoon, spoon the soap into the mold. You can use a long piece of Saran wrap and place on the top of the soap, evening it out a bit with your hand, before putting the lid on and squishing the soap down with the lid. Using potholders, pick up the ceramic insert from the crock pot and place into the sink, filling it full of hot water. You don't need to add detergent - it's just soap in there! Allow to soak before rinsing. Wait approximately 5-7 hours before removing your soap from the mold. Cut into bars. This is a hot-processed soap, making use of heat to accelerate saponification, so the soap is ready to use immediately after it cools. If you'd like, you can leave it out on wire racks for a week or so to harden. You can use Spicy Carnation fragrance oil for this recipe, You could also use whatever fragrance oil or essential oil you'd like.

For more on making hot process soap refer to this pictorial. Check out Camden-Grey for great prices on soapmaking supplies. You may also want to swing by Tennesse Candle Supply for a wide variety of skin safe fragrance oils.