Starting Again!

After taking a few months off from this blog, it is resurrected! I am starting several new projects around my farm and with my business, so I decided to journal my progress along the way. Perhaps a few readers will learn from my experience as well.



One project is a vegetable garden. I began yesterday--yes it's odd to be starting a garden in November, but I don't want to have to till the ground in the spring, so I am putting stuff on top of the grass and, voila, by spring, I will have a wonderful place to plant those veggies. Here's the formula:



6-8 sheets of newspapers then 2-3 inches of straw and manure, then 7-8" of fallen leaves, topped off with 2-3 inches of manure.



Good thing I have manure-producers right here on the farm!



I've completed a 4 foot x 12 foot plot so far--I want to triple that space in the next week or so. Hope the weather holds!

We Are Moving!

SoapWerks closed its doors at our current location on March 20th. We have joined with May & Co., just across the street from our old location.

May & Co. has a beautiful shop and I am happy to be there!

So, stop in to visit us at 107 Main Street in Midway. Our hours are Tues-Sat., 11-5. Or you can find our products on the web at: http://soapwerks.etsy.com

Happy Spring!

Essential Oil of the Month--Cinnamon

Cinnamon essential oil smells so good! It is a wonderful fragrance for the winter months. From an aromatherapy perspective, cinnamon helps introspection and reflection.

I recommend using cinnamon to scent the home environment rather than on your skin. It is a powerful oil and many people have reactions to it on their skin. It can be used in a highly diluted form, if desired, but keep away from mucous membranes and eyes.

I used cinnamon oil in SoapWerks' soy wax candles and potpourri. Visitors to your home will think you've been baking! Cinnamon blends well with clove, pine, lavender, and patchouli essential oils.

Here's a recipe for a simmering potpourri. This is excellent to simmer on top of a wood stove:

1/4 cup whole cloves
1/4 cup whole allspice
1/4 cup broken cinnamon pieces
1/4 cup dried orange peel
1/4 dried peppermint leaves
10 drops cinnamon essential oil

Mix all ingredients together in a simmering pot, fill with water, and simmer. This may be used several times and freshened with more cinnamon oil.

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!