Winter Solstice Soap

In all the mad hurrying and scurrying to get ready for the holiday sales season, I made a blunder on one batch of soap.  I accidentally added the essential oils from two different varieties to the same batch.  Happily, it turned out to be a lovely mistake.  It's a little like those old Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercials from the 1980s where two people run into each other on the sidewalk and chocolate and peanut butter collide...a wonderful accident.

Winter Solstice Soap is made with honey, beeswax and the oils of frankincense, myrrh, clove and orange.  It's warm and spicy and sweet, all at the same time.  It's a perfect winter scent.

I wanted to choose label art for it that made folks think of the cozy glow of candles in the long, dark winter.  I chose today (Daylight Savings Day) to make it available because I think there's lots to love in this stretch of time until the Winter Solstice on December 21st.  The darkness of the longest night is always lifted by candlelight.  

Thanks to the Graphics Fairy for this great image.

Each bar is individually wrapped and labeled for gift-giving.  There is only one batch, so don't miss out!

Hockey Soap

Probably because of the northern latitudes where I’ve lived, I’ve always preferred the cold-climate sports like skiing and ice skating.  It’s a bit surprising that I never had much of a connection with hockey growing up.  There weren’t any rinks or teams near us in North Idaho, so the sum total of my hockey exposure involved playing pick-up games on a frozen Coeur d’Alene or Fernan lake in the wintertime, using a Stick Up air freshener as a puck.  I always loved it though.  I think if I’d been able to play hockey on a real team, I would have gotten sucked in easily.

A few years ago my son was introduced to hockey through a friend whose parents are expat Canadians.  He was hooked, fast.  It’s been so fun for me to watch him over the past six years as his skating skills and strategy have improved exponentially.  I truly enjoy watching the games.  The sport of hockey takes multitasking to a totally new level.  It’s awesome. 

Hockey does have a downside though.  It stinks.  Literally.   I’m sure that other sweaty sports are the same, but I’m astounded every time I walk near a locker room (or my son’s hockey gear drying out) at just how fragrant it is.  They work hard on the ice, and they produce the sweat to prove it.  I've been thinking for a while that a hockey soap would be a great idea.  Plus, the round shape of my soaps have often been compared to hockey pucks…so the union was clear.   All I needed was a great, beneficial ingredient that turns the soap a deep hockey-puck shade of black.  Activated charcoal was just the thing.  Add to it the refreshing scent of peppermint and tea tree essential oils and you have a winner!   

Slap Shot Soap

Body & Soul

Music is very important in my life.  I have always been surrounded by it, played it, belonged to bands that performed it, and basically let it soak in and wash over me on a regular basis.  My life is better because of music.  I was fortunate to begin my musical life when I was young, as I wish all people could.  

This is me, singing "Don't Fence Me In" at the school talent show when I was in kindergarten.

My children love it too and are now lucky to be able to make music every day. The Seattle Public Schools  try to provide music opportunities for kids and have a number of great ensembles.  But like most other arts programs in schools across the nation, the music programs are in need of financial support to purchase essential supplies like instruments and sheet music, and to allow students an opportunity to refine and showcase their talents through performance and competition.

For this reason, 30% of all profits from the website sales of my new Body & Soul Soap will go directly to support our neighborhood school's blossoming music program.  

The theme (and name) for this soap was inspired by the Jazz standard that's been performed by so many great musicians over the years.  Billie Holiday's version is the one that I've listened to the most, though there are many other beautiful renditions like the one done by Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennet. It's an elegant and smooth piece of music that I hanker for, especially this time of year, when  the air is crisp and I just want to slip into the sound like a warm bubble bath.

The scent of Body & Soul Soap comes from a complex mixture of essential oils that include the more masculine bay rum oil, as well as the very feminine ylang ylang.  The subtle green color comes from French green clay and the rich lather is complimented by moisturizing shea butter.  It's a really nice soap.  I had fun writing the text for the insert card too.  It reads: This smooth, groovin’ soap was inspired by the soulful sounds of jazz greats like Billie, Louis, Ella & Chet. It’s a fusion of natural ingredients, with a subtle, layered scent. Let it wash over you, because soap cleanses the body like music cleanses the soul. 

When you buy it, you not only get some great soap, but you help spread music to a whole new generation. 

Labor Day Soap Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone for participating and writing some great comments.  I loved reading about the diversity of jobs that people have held. Unfortunately, there can be only one winner (chosen by RNG), and that is...

Joel Seymour!  He said:

" The hardest job I had was working on a loading soda trucks. I was in high school, carried a full course load, including some college level courses, and worked 40+ hours a week. The dock was cold in the winter and hot in the summer, and always reeked of diesel fumes. It was a local soda company (in NY), and they still used the glass, one quart bottles. It was grueling work, but it definitely forged character."

That sounds like hard work that is very worthy of some nice soap.  Joel, you can email me at asbloom [at] seattlesundries.com with your choice of soaps and your mailing address and I'll get those sent out to you right away.

Labor Day Soap Giveaway!

It's Labor Day weekend and I have been laboring a lot this week.  You probably have too.  At the very least, you might have been out shopping for back to school items with your children.  That's a total labor of love, in my opinion.  

Because we all work so hard, I've decided to do a little soap giveaway in honor of the Labor Day holiday (thank you Unions!!).  The winner will receive three tins of Seattle Sundries Soap, of his/her choosing.  A winner will be chosen at the end of the day on Labor Day (Monday 9/3).  Spread the word! 

To enter, leave a comment which describes the hardest job you've ever had to do in your life, so far.  

Mine would be the summer job I had where I drove a forklift at Jacklin Seed Co. during the busy grass seed harvest.  My shift was from 3am to 3pm, five days a week.  It was a real character builder.

Also, if you haven't already "liked" our Facebook page...could you, please? That would be awesome.  ;-)

New Soap Label Art

Introducing the new packaging for Fish Tale Soap, Sasquatch Soap and Lavender Lover Soap!

I think these new labels are a just great, don't you?  They're much more eye-popping than the old ones.  I'm so pleased...

Tough Chick Soap

I have a new One Batch bare bar soap available on the website today.  It's called Tough Chick Soap because it's a mixture of floral, feminine sweetness and rough and tough ground organic oats.  It's scented with fine French lavender essential oil and is made with honey from the Ballard Bee Company.  The smell is a complex, sweet floral.  It's lovely.  You should try some!

Seattle Bride's Best of 2012

We had a wonderful time last night at Seattle Bride Magazine's annual "Best Of" event.  It was held at the the waterfront at the Seattle Aquarium.  We were thrilled to be nominated, for the third year in a row, in the category Most Creative Favors.  Thanks to Seattle Bride Magazine for their ongoing support of the Seattle wedding and events industry!

Calendula

One of the many enjoyable aspects of soapmaking is formulating new recipes.  I try to choose ingredients that are beneficial to the skin or performance of the soap, while being beautiful at the same time.  My favorite botanical ingredient that does all of these things is Calendula officinalis.

This flowering plant is also commonly called pot marigold (though it has no relation to the ornamental marigolds you buy at the garden store).  The plant contains a wide variety of natural compounds such as carotenoids, flavonoids, mucilage, polysachharides, saponins, glycosides and sterols. Many people make teas or poultices out of calendula to treat skin problems and promote healing.

In cold process soap, calendula petals are unique among flowers because their beautiful color holds strong against the intense chemical reaction that brings most flowers to their knees.  Most flower petals turn brown or black when exposed to the heat and alkalinity of saponification.  Many customers ask me to use lavender buds in soap, but I have to give them the disappointing news that their soap will look like it has dead flies in it, if I do. Calendula petals don't do that.

We grow our own calendula in the back yard and harvest and air dry the petals.  I like the richer orange variety for use in our soaps and my daughter LOVES to help me pick all of the petals off of the freshly cut flowers.  It's like a kid's dream come true..."yes honey, please DO chop the heads off and tear off all the pretty colors!"  Bliss.

You Dirty Dog!

After many months of planning and recipe tweaking, I'm finally ready to introduce our newest creation:  Dirty Dog Soap!

We've been using it on our own dirty dog, Murdoch.

He LOVES it...see? 

OK...so maybe love isn't exactly the best word, but it makes him smell quite fresh and clean and leaves his coat incredibly soft and fluffy.  He seems to like it a lot once he's out of the bath.

I think there's a trace of a proud smile here.  Perhaps.

Dirty Dog Soap could actually be categorized as a shampoo bar, since it contains natural ingredients like jojoba, coconut and castor oils, which make a wonderfully rich lather and moisturize the hair and skin.  The bar is scented with a pure essential oil blend of peppermint, lemongrass & lavender.  This mixture is fresh and invigorating as well as being severely disliked by bugs and little beasties.  The yellow flecks of color in the bar come from the calendula flower which is often used to heal, soften and sooth dry skin.

I should mention too, that there's absolutely nothing that makes this soap unsuitable for humans.  The ingredients are identical to those found in human shampoo and bath  bars.  The smell is wonderful and the lather sensational.  This is a soap the entire family will love...including the furriest members. 

New Retro Suitcase Gift Sets

I love suitcases.  It's probably because I love to travel and they always make me think of great trips I've taken, or enticing places I have yet to visit.  I don't get to travel as much as I'd like, so you might say I'm a bit preoccupied with images and symbols of travel and far away destinations.  

Although modern rolling suitcases are more sturdy and practical, I still really like the old style cases that I've acquired over the years.  I have one wood framed case that I bought at a flea market in Glasgow, Scotland and hauled all the way back to the states with me because I loved it so much.  I have other cases that are precious to me because they belonged to family members who have been gone for many years and saw many great adventures of their own.

So, I was thrilled to find boxes in the shape of suitcases to introduce my new gift sets in time for the holiday season.  They'll also be great for wedding party gifts at any time of year. One set would be perfect for groomsmen gifts, with its collection of shaving items. Others would be perfect for bridesmaids or mothers, or even the bride and groom themselves.  Everybody loves nice soap and who can resist a cute suitcase?

Definitely NOT me!

 .

Urban Unveiled at Benaroya Hall

We had a lovely time at Urban Unveiled this week.  I was very impressed and inspired by so many of the vendor displays that were there.  Here are a few highlights from the Founders Room, where we were located...

There were beautiful sweet things from The People's Cake

And gorgeous creations from Fena Flowers.  The theme for the show was "Diamond" and they did a really nice job incorporating it in to their display.

Look at the creative idea that City Catering came up with.  They were sticking with the Diamond theme as well and  made thousands of little drill holes in the back-lit serving stands, which were each filled with pegs to make the beautiful glowing effect you see here.  And their food was fantastic!

Here was our area.  I'm very happy with how it came together.  I had fun coming up with some new packaging designs for the event and was able to incorporate some glittery, diamond accents in to tie it all together.  We were very pleased with the great response we got from the many attendees on this memorable evening.

Thanks for a great event!

Urban Unveiled

I am so excited to be participating this year in the Urban Unveiled wedding show!  It's taking place the evening of Wednesday, October 12^th at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle.  That's the week after next, in case you haven't looked at a calendar lately.

The show will include lots of incredible wedding vendors, a Luly Yang bridal fashion show, live music, and an astounding raffle.  A raffle ticket is included with the price of admission, and guests will receive a second free raffle ticket when they visit the Founders Room. So all guests receive two free raffle tickets. It's called “The Art of Giving”  and includes some really great stuff.  Pssst...be sure to notice the Seattle Sundries contribution near the end of the list.  Purchase tickets to Urban Unveiled, and maybe you will be the recipient of one of the following items:

• T. Anthony Jewelers: Custom designed chandelier earrings. (Value: tbd)
• True Colors Events: 10 hours of consultation services. (Value: $1,250)
• Luly Yang Couture: $1,200 towards the purchase of a gown. (Value: $1,200)
• John & Joseph Photography:   Engagement Session.  1-hr Session in Greater Seattle or Los Angeles Area.  Includes High Resolution Disc with 75 edited photographs. (Value: $1,150)
• Roche Harbor Resort: Two nights in a luxury suite, Dinner for two in our fine-dining restaurant, Couple's retreat at our Afterglow Spa. (Value $1,000)
• Belathee Photography: Either and Engagement session, bridal shower coverage or any other type of portrait shoot. (Value $550)
• Willows Lodge: Do Not Disturb Package. One night’s accommodations for 2 people in a luxurious NW style room; Dinner for Two at Barking frog followed by exclusive “In-Tub” dining experience for a relaxing soak in your room. (Value: $520)
• The Woodmark: Gift certificate for an overnight stay in a lakefront guest room, includes dinner for two at bin on the lake.  (Value $500)
• W Seattle: 1 complimentary weekend night stay in a wonderful room. (Value: $400)
• Seven Salon: Gift Certificate (Value: tbd)
• Seattle Sundries: Two gift sets, one for a bride and one for a groom.  (Value: $100 each)
• Rented Elegance & Design: Gift Certificate for Prop Rentals (Value: $200)
• Michael Bride: two hour makeup lesson (Value: tbd) 

Pretty nice, huh?!

Fabulous Photos

Recently I had the pleasure of working with a young photographer here in Seattle who does great portrait and event photography.  I've known Kristin Boyett since she was a little kid, and I'm so pleased and impressed with the talent she displays in her work.  She has a great eye and artistic sense, along with being very friendly and fun to work with.  She also has awesome red hair.

These are some of the images she captured for me...

Kristin Boyett Photography

Kristin Boyett Photography

Kristin Boyett Photography

Kristin Boyett Photography

Kristin Boyett Photography

Thanks Kristin!

Feelin' the Love

I have to brag a little about some positive press I've received recently.  Two great interviews have been done of me in the past month, and I'm very excited about it.  The Soap Queen Blog, courtesy of Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry did a fun post about me and my company a few weeks ago. And then today, a great feature on the Seattle Met Magazine blog.  Thanks so much for all the attention!  It makes me feel like I'm doing something right.  

Kristin Boyett Photography

Dancing Bears Soap

I have a new small batch soap to introduce.  It's called Dancing Bears Soap because it's sweet and brown colored...awwwww.  It's made with fresh goat's milk, which is where much of the sweetness comes from.  It lathers wonderfully, also thanks to the goat's milk.  I added just a touch of vanilla oil to further sweeten it, though it's definitely not an over-the-top vanilla smell.  I only made one batch.  Let's see what people think!!