New Item: Glass Tile Pendant Made From Recycled Gift Card

I've been messing around with recycled gift cards, trying to use them as a component in jewelry. Here's my latest creation--fun to make and wear! It's made of a glass tile and recycled gift card. I'm selling them through my Etsy shop: http://twisteds.etsy.com/

No two are exactly alike!

Get Rid of Poison Ivy--Naturally!

Poison ivy is a real problem at my farm--and it seems to be popping up everywhere--even my driveway this year. In the past, I've sprayed chemicals on it, although I didn't feel comfortable doing that at all!

In searching for recipes for my new natural home cleaning kit, I ran across a natural poison ivy killer--white vinegar!

So, I conducted an experiment and sprayed white vinegar on the leaves of the plant. It worked!

Just wanted to spread the word!

Essential Home Natural Home Cleaning Kit

I'm excited about our newest product--
Because--

You don't have to use chemicals to create a clean home environment! Instead, you can use simple ingredients and essential oils. And these natural cleaners don't cost much to make. Our kit gives you the information you need--and the essential oil blend that will leave your home clean and great smelling too!


The kit includes:


Equipment ListSupplies List (most can be purchased at the grocery store)


2 oz. bottle of Essential Home Oil Blend (lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, and sweet orange)Recipes for:


General Purpose Cleaner


Drain & Garbage Disposal Cleaner


Mold & Mildew Eliminator


Garbage Pail Deodorizer


Smells-Good Kitchen Rinse


Toilet Bowl Cleaner


Creamy Soft Scrub


Bathroom Deodorizer


No-Wax Floor Cleaner


Carpet Deodorizer


10-Product Labels





Everything is packaged in a natural, reusable 7" x 10" jute bag. Order the kit through http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com for $17.95 plus shipping. Refills of Essential Home Blend available separately.

Weekly Giveaway--Win a Bar of Lavender Soap!--Sept. 15-21, 2008

Enter to win a bar of our natural Lavender Soap! Each week, we will be offering a Soapwerks' product as a give-away--it is our way of thanking you for your support of our blog and our store.Contest Rules:

1. Visit our Etsy shop by clicking here: http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com/

2. Pick out your favorite item from the store.

3. Come back here and post a message in the comments section, stating what you like and why.

4. PLEASE leave your e-mail so we can contact you if you win.

5. The contest closes at midnight on August 17th. The winner will be contacted and will be given 5 days to claim the prize. If we do not hear from him/her, another winner will be chosen.

6. Our give-away is open to anyone anywhere!

Essential Oil of the Month--Rosemary

Rosemary is one of my favorite plants to grow. It is associated with remembrance and was traditionally used at weddings and funerals. It is also believed to chase away nightmares.

Rosemary is antiseptic, antispasmodic, and improves circulation. Thus, is is effective in cases of headache, mental fatigue, dandruff, and poor memory. Rosemary also eases stiff, aching, or overworked muscles.

Rosemary blends well with peppermint, lemon, and lavender essential oils.

When you purchase an essential oil, make sure it is 100% pure. It is best to store essential oils in amber bottles, away from sunlight and high temperature. The shelf life of an essential oil is 1 year if stored under the correct conditions.

This recipe uses rosemary sprigs to give you the softest hair ever!

Hair Softening Rinse

½ cup rosemary sprigs
1 teas. borax
4 cups distilled water

Bring water to a boil and remove from heat. Add herbs and borax, stir, cover, and steep for approx. 2 hours. Strain, bottle, and use within 10 days or discard. Use as the final rinse after shampooing and conditioning. Do not rinse out. May stain light-colored towels.

Excellent End of Summer Reading!

I just finished reading a wonderful book by Tama J. Kieves, a creative career coach, entitled "This Time I Dance!: Creating the Work You Love. " Ms. Kieves left a lucrative law practice to found Awakening Artistry, a foundation dedicated to linking a global family of visionary, creative, and empowered leaders.

Engaging in work that you love is fundamental to leading a creative, happy life. I took the leap 10 years ago to leave the safety of the academy and become an entrepreneur. Over time, I've fashioned a fulfilling life in which I look forward to going to work rather than dreading Monday mornings. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I earn money by being creative each day. What a gift! It's not a perfect life--who has that?--but on most days it feels nearly perfect.

I wish that for you too.

Featured Artisan--Furniture Rescue League

Ron and Kris Moore love junking! They find treasures at flea markets and auctions, along the road, and in barns. Once found, these castaways are transformed (re-purposed) into fun and beautiful home accessories. Currently, SoapWerks is selling their coat hangers made from antique door panels and door knobs. Another style features antique forks as the hooks.

Ron's newest creations are salt and pepper shakers made from chair and table legs. And Kris makes unique and beautiful pillows from antique linens. Stop by the studio to see their work or order their work through the SoapWerks'website: http://www.soapwerksinmidway.com/.

Their work is definitely one of a kind!

Get Your Daily Ration of Milk (Bath, That Is!)

Milk is a time-honored ingredient of bath soaks that is noted for its soothing qualities. Cleopatra knew what she was doing--a milk bath smoothes your skin and, with the right combination of essential oils, will soothe rattled nerves.

SoapWerks has a new milk bath. We've combined powdered milk, cornstarch and the essential oils of lavender and lemongrass (divine smell). As you can see, it is gift-giving ready as we put TLC in our packaging. Purchase on-line at: http://soapwerks.etsy.com/

Natural Help for Wasp Stings

My youngest daughter, Leah, was stung by a wasp last week. It was pretty painful and swollen for a couple of days. I made the following concoction that seemed to bring down the swelling and lessen her pain:

1/4 cup baking soda and then stir in
apple cider vinegar--enough to make a thick paste

Sit on a towel because it can be a bit messy and generously put the soda paste on the sting. Leave on for at least 30 minutes. Wash off and reapply daily.

She's doing much better now!

Giveaway Winner for August11-17th

The winner this week is CharlieGurl! Contact us within 5 days to claim your prize. Thanks everyone for entering this week!

Natural Laundry Detergent

We are so excited about our newest product! We start by grating SoapWerks cold-process vegetable-based soap and mixing in borax, washing soda, and baking soda. My friends and I have been testing out the recipe and we are amazed at how clean it gets our clothes! No more bad-for-you-and-the-environment store-bought laundry detergents. No more itchiness for those of you who have sensitive skin. (just read the ingredient label on your current laundry detergent and you will see what I mean)

The detergent is available in several scents (we use only essential oils): lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, lemongrass, sweet orange, and peppermint.

It takes only 1 tablespoon of detergent to launder a large size load of clothes. If you are using a HE/front loading washer, it takes only 1/2 tablespoon. The sample size launders 16-32 loads of laundry; the large size 48-84 loads.

Purchase it at: http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com/

BathTime Fun for Kids!

Make it easier to get your children clean--naturally! SoapWerks introduces our Fishy Soap--not only is it fun to use, but it's also good for kids' skin. Lightly scented with peppermint essential oil for a nice, fresh scent. (Check out the bubbles coming out of her mouth!)

Buy it on-line at www.soapwerks.etsy.com

Weekly Giveaway for August 11-17--Win a Bar of Natural Lavender Soap!

Enter to win a bar of our natural Lavender Soap! Each week, we will be offering a Soapwerks' product as a give-away--it is our way of thanking you for your support of our blog and our store.
Contest Rules:
1. Visit our Etsy shop by clicking here: http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com/
2. Pick out your favorite item from the store.
3. Come back here and post a message in the comments section, stating what you like and why.
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail so we can contact you if you win.
5. The contest closes at midnight on August 17th. The winner will be contacted and will be given 5 days to claim the prize. If we do not hear from him/her, another winner will be chosen.
6. Our give-away is open to anyone anywhere!

This Week's Winner of the Mint Julep Soap!

Jkrisken is the winner this week--thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

Essential Oil of the Month--Tea Tree

Tea tree oil is distilled from a tree in Australia. Its name comes from tea drunk by aboriginal people. Its healing effects include: anti-fungal, antiseptic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. It can be used to treat everything from athlete's feet to dandruff.

Unlike most essential oils, tea tree can be used "neat" on your body. This means it does not need to be diluted with a carrier oil, lotion, or shampoo.

Tea tree's smell is medicinal, but clean. Inhaling relieves congestion, and tea tree is terrific for cleaning your home when someone is ill.

We use Tea Tree Oil in our Healing Salve. The salve is wonderful for treating poison ivy, burns, insect bites, shingles, and cuts. SoapWerks' Sore No More contains tea tree, lavender, eucalpytus, and sage. Sore No More brings relief to your "achy parts".

We sell 2 oz. bottles of Tea Tree Oil through our Etsy shop.

Essential Oil Recipe of the Month

Eucalyptus, Lavender, and Tea Tree Spray Cleaner

2 teaspoons borax
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 cups hot water
1/4 teaspoon eucalpytus essential oil
1/4 teaspoon lavender essential oil
5 drops tea tree essential oil

Mix all ingredients and stir until dry ingredients dissolve. Pour into a spray bottle for use and long-term storage. To use, spray as needed on any surface except glass. Scrub and rinse with a clean, damp cloth.

(adapted from Herbal Homekeeping by Sandy Maines)

Weekly Giveaway, July 28-Aug.3rd--Win a Bar of Mint Julep Soap!

Enter to win a bar of our natural Mint Julep Soap! It is scented with peppermint essential oil--perfect for cooling your skin during the hot and humids!

Each week, we will be offering a Soapwerks' product as a give-away--it is our way of thanking you for your support of our blog and our store.
Contest Rules:
1. Visit our Etsy shop by clicking here: http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com/
2. Pick out your favorite item from the store.
3. Come back here and post a message in the comments section, stating what you like and why.
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail so we can contact you if you win.
5. The contest closes at midnight on August 3rd. The winner will be contacted and will be given 5 days to claim the prize. If we do not hear from him/her, another winner will be chosen.
6. Our give-away is open to anyone anywhere!

Winner of Our Weekly Giveaway!

Greenly won the bar of Phenomenal Woman soap! She has 5 days to contact us; if we don't hear from her during that time, we will draw another name.

Congratulations Greenly!

Hair Rinse for Oily Hair

My oldest daughter, YuLan, has really thick, beautiful hair. It's also pretty oily-so oily that by the end of the day, she looks like she hasn't washed her hair in awhile. My sister and I concocted a simple hair rinse that seems to be really helping. Here's the recipe:

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops rosemary essential oil

Put ingredients in a plastic bottle. Shake well. Use after shampooing. Rinse out.

Get Creative!

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the obligations of your life--family, work, and community? Are you forgetting to tap into your wellspring of creativity because you don't think you have the time to do so? Many of us rush from one activity/responsibility to another, forgetting that taking the time to engage in creative thinking/doing will help you achieve a greater level of energy. Being creative puts you in touch with your Higher Self and thus unleashes hidden energies/meaning into your life.

Creativity Activity: Julia Cameron wrote the book, The Artist Way, several years ago. It continues to be a very popular read because it helps "blocked creatives" (that is most of us) to incorporate creative living into our daily lives. She debunks many of the myths surrounding being a creative person and provides tools for unleashing your own creativity. Check out her official website at www.theartistsway.com. I've taken the 12 week course described in her book--and I'm very glad I did!

Win a Bar of Phenomenal Woman Soap!

Enter to win a bar of our natural Phenomenal Woman Soap! The soap is scented with lavender, rosemary, and citrus essential oils--and is designed to boost your self confidence!

Each week, we will be offering a Soapwerks' product as a give-away--it is our way of thanking you for your support of our blog and our store.
Contest Rules:
1. Visit our Etsy shop by clicking here: http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com/
2. Pick out your favorite item from the store.
3. Come back here and post a message in the comments section, stating what you like and why.
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail so we can contact you if you win.
5. The contest closes at midnight on July 27th. The winner will be contacted and will be given 5 days to claim the prize. If we do not hear from him/her, another winner will be chosen.
6. Our give-away is open to anyone anywhere!

Winner of Soon To Be Famous Healing Salve!

This week's winner is blueviolet! Congratulations!

How To Create Recycled Gift Card Jewelry

Do you have a few spent gift cards lying around? Here's an easy way to keep them out of the landfill and get a cute new piece of jewelry! It's easy to do and doesn't take much time--I completed this piece yesterday in around 30 minutes.

Here's how to do it:

1. Cut your gift card into the desired shape using scissors (mine was a Foot Locker card with a referee on it--I turned it on its side and cut off his head (sorry)). Then, sand the edges and corners with an emery board.

2. Make holes in the card with a hole punch. If you want smaller holes, use a small nail and a hammer.

3. Wrap 24 gauge wire through the holes and thread beads onto the wire. I put a dab of glue on the back to hold ends of wire down.

4. Put a jump ring through the top hole and then attach a bale to that.

5. Thread a length of leather cording through the bale. You can simply tie the ends together or attach crimps and a clasp.

That's it! I've made earrings and a bracelet using the same basic techniques. People can't believe they are made from gift cards and they will think you are a creative genius!

Healthy Living Doesn't Have To Be Challenging!

Darlene Martin, creator of BijouxBead, contributed this post--and I am grateful she did! Her advice is motivating me today--off to exercise and eat well!


We all know the benefits of leading a healthy, natural lifestyle. But in our fast paced world doing what is right for our bodies and minds can sometimes be daunting. Working harder than ever, who has the time or the energy to make balanced, healthy meals from scratch and head to the gym? By the end of a busy, stressful day it is so tempting to seek out prepared food and be sedentary for the rest of the day. Why? Because we are tired. But we are tired largely because of these two choices we make at the end of the day!

Healthy food preparation and exercise in the early evening need not be daunting. You don’t have to have fancy ingredients on hand and complicated recipes, nor do you need to don special high tech clothing and invest big dollars in equipment or memberships to get your workout. A healthy meal at the end of the day can be as simple as broiled fish, brown rice and salad with a glass of milk. And for exercise, a walk with your dog, a tickle fight with your child, or even some early evening gardening all count –your efforts will help you feel better, sleep better, and think more clearly.

Darlene Martin is a former professional athlete from Canada who now owns bijouxbead, a wearable art jewellery company. Her work has garnered much attention and press, and select pieces from the bijouxbead necklace collection are now available for purchase online at http://www.bijouxbead.etsy.com/

Win A 2 oz Jar of Soon To Be Famous Healing Salve

This week's giveaway is our Soon To Be Famous Healing Salve. It is a timely prize since the salve is good for treating: poison ivy, insect bites, sunburns, and "mystery rashes"! Please follow the contest rules:
Contest Rules:
1. Visit our Etsy shop by clicking here: http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com/
2. Pick out your favorite item from the store.
3. Come back here and post a message in the comments section, stating what you like and why.
4. PLEASE leave your e-mail so we can contact you if you win.
5. The contest closes at midnight on July 13th. The winner will be contacted and will be given 5 days to claim the prize. If we do not hear from him/her, another winner will be chosen.
6. Our give-away is open to anyone anywhere!

Winner--Week of July 7th!

This week's winner of our bar of natural Lavender Soap was SoulDolphinDream! She has 1 week to contact us--hoping to hear from you soon. To everyone else, we will continue our giveaways on a weekly basis, so bookmark this blog!

Soy Wax Candles--A Healthy Way to Add Fragrance to Your Home

Candles add beauty and wonderful fragrance to your home. However, candles made from paraffin wax produce carcinogens that can pollute your indoor environment. If you burn candles frequently, this pollution can equal the effects of second-hand smoke!

Luckily, there are a number of "natural" candles waxes on the market. SoapWerks' uses soy-based wax because it is long-burning and easy to work with. Soy-wax dissolves in water, so you don't have to worry about spills. Simply soak the wax in warm water and wipe away!

When purchasing candles, it is important to check out the wicking. Avoid wicks with a metal core, particularly those with lead. We use an all-cotton woven wicking in SoapWerks' candles.

We offer container candles in a variety of shapes and sizes. Our best seller is a 6 oz. tin ($7.95)--it is great for traveling.

A new product for us is a soy-wax votive. It burns for 15 hours and is available in six great scents: mint, lavender & lemongrass, bourbon bread pudding, pomegranate, green tea, cinnamon/clove, and vanilla & sweet orange. They are $1.75 each or 3 for $4.75.

Order our candles through our website.

Wednesday's Quote

One of my favorite quotes is from Lincoln. It is simple, to the point, and inspiring:

Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln

Kentucky is preparing to celebrate the Bicentennial of Lincoln's birthday (for more information, see http://www.kylincoln.org/trail.htm)

Getting Creative With What's On Hand

We have an apple tree in our backyard. The number of apples this year is amazing! But, they are the tartest apples I have ever tasted. My girls, ages 8 and 9, have been picking them up off the ground by the buckets-full and feeding them to our goats (a few at least). It seemed like a shame to let them go to waste. So, we decided to make some applesauce tonight.

Part of being creative is letting go of the outcome. It wasn't important to us (though it would be nice) if our applesauce was delicious. What was important is that we spent time together in the kitchen, thinking up a recipe using ingredients we had in our refrigerator and cupboard.

Here's what we came up with:

Spiced Tart Applesauce

3 pounds tart apples, stemmed, cored, and sliced

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

2 cups strawberry/mango fruit juice

4 drops cinnamon essential oil

2 drops clove essential oil

Stir everything together in a pot and cook on low for 1 hour, stirring frequently. Start mashing the apples up with a spoon as they cook.

I had to add 1/2 cup sugar to this because those apples were the tartest ever! With less tart apples, I think you could skip the sugar.

Let cool and serve.

The girls gave this a thumbs up.

Weekly Give-Away for July 7-14 2008

Enter to win a bar of our natural Lavender Soap! Each week, we will be offering a Soapwerks' product as a give-away--it is our way of thanking you for your support of our blog and our store.

Contest Rules:

1. Visit our Etsy shop by clicking here: http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com/

2. Pick out your favorite item from the store.

3. Come back here and post a message in the comments section, stating what you like and why.

4. PLEASE leave your e-mail so we can contact you if you win.

5. The contest closes at midnight on July 13th. The winner will be contacted and will be given 5 days to claim the prize. If we do not hear from him/her, another winner will be chosen.

6. Our give-away is open to anyone anywhere!

Cooking With Lavender--Lavender & Orange Scones

Did you know you can cook with essential oils?
Oils add wonderful flavor to foods when used
sparingly. Make sure you use only pure essential oils in your recipes. I've created a fragrant and delicious scone recipe using lavender and sweet orange essential oils, perfect for summer weekends when guests are in the house.

Lavender & Orange Scones
2 Cups cake flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/4 Cup sugar
1 Drop lavender essential oil
4 Drops sweet orange essential oil
1 1/4 cups heavy cream

In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and 1/4 cup sugar, stirring with a fork to mix well. Stir in the oils and cream and mix lightly until the dough holds together. Dough will be sticky. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured board and knead 8 or 9 times. Pat the dough into a 10-inch circle.

Melt 3 Tablespoons butter and spread over dough. Combine 2 Tablespoons sugar, 1/2 Teaspoon dried orange peel, and 1 Teaspoon dried lavender buds. Sprinkle over dough. Cut the circle into 12 wedges and place each piece on a baking sheet, allowing 1 inch between pieces. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Makes pure enjoyment for 12 people (or 4 greedy folks!)

Essential Oil Of The Month--Lavender

Lavender's name evolved from the Latin lavare, which means "to wash". Lavender is antifungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. So, it is wonderful to clean your body and your home.

Lavender is an antidepressant and calms you. It enhances sleep, so keep it near your bed.

Lavender blends well with citrus oils, lemongrass, and chamomile.

Put a few drops in unscented liquid soap, bath gel, shampoo, or lotion. You will feel clean and tranquil!

When you purchase an essential oil, make sure it is 100% pure. It is best to store essential oils in amber bottles, away from sunlight and high temperature. The shelf life of an essential oil is 1 year if stored under the correct conditions.

This recipe will keep you feeling fresh in warm weather:

Natural Body Powder

½ cup rice flour
¼ cup cornstarch
Few drops essential oil (lavender works well)

1. Sift dry ingredients together.
2. Add essential oil and blend well.
3. Keep in a plastic bag for two days.
4. Put in powder dispenser and enjoy!

If you would like to incorporate lavender into your life, SoapWerks sells lavender essential oil through our on-line shop: http://www.soapwerks.etsy.com/

Get Creative!

I think I was smartest when I was 8 years old! At that age, I knew what I liked to do--and I did it. I spent many happy hours in my home's basement, painting and sewing. I spent as many hours outside with my horse, playing in the woods, and swimming.

As we grow older, we tend to "forget" where our true passions lie. And we believe that we don't have the time/money/energy to follow our passions. The following activity is designed to get you thinking about what you truly love to do.

Creativity Activity:
Grab a notebook and pen. Take yourself to a quiet spot and answer the following questions. For each question, list as many activities that come to mind. No judging, just writing:

1. When I was a child I always enjoyed...
2. My soul lights up when I...

Now look at your list--are you engaging in any of the listed activities currently? If not, why not? How can you take small steps to integrate your passions into your everyday life? Try it--it's not as hard as you might think. And the results are truly amazing.

Keeping the Bugs at Bay---Naturally!

It is the time of year when insects become pesty and can prevent you from truly enjoying the outdoors. Before reaching for the DEET, you should know that the FDA acknowledges that pure essential oil of lemon eucalyptus is as effective at DEET--and it is not a chemical!

There are several pure essential oils that are effective bug repellents:

Citronella, Peppermint, Lavender, Sweet Orange, Lemongrass, and Pennyroyal. Note: pennyroyal is good for fleas, but should NOT be used by pregnant women or children!

Soapwerks' Buzz-zoff lotion, soap, and soy-wax candle are natural insect repellents. Our Healing Salve is wonderful for treating bug bites--and is a great treatment for poison ivy as it reduces itching and dries it up quickly. These products are available through our on-line store or call us with your order.


If you decide to not use our Buzz-zoff products, here's a natural way to deal with painful and itchy bug bites (grin):

Natural Bug Bite Cure
Put one drop of lavender essential oil directly on the bite.
or
For multiple bites, use this recipe:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
Or juice of 2 lemons
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops thyme essential oil
Add mixture to a tub of water and swish. Soak a washcloth and liberally wipe bites. Keep water away from eyes!