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!

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!