Shea Butter

I've decided to start a new series of blog posts that give a bit more information and background on many of the ingredients that I use regularly when making my soaps and personal care products.  I'm going to start the whole thing off by taking a look at shea butter.

Shea butter is an ivory colored natural fat that comes from the nut of the African Shea or Karite Tree (butyrospermum parkii). It’s high in un-saponifiables and is richly moisturizing. It’s also believed to have anti-inflammatory, humectant and emollient properties. The shea butter that I use comes from western Africa and is extracted by cold-pressing.

In Africa, shea butter is used for everything from hair care to cooking. Outside of Africa it is used primarily for skincare products and, occasionally, in chocolates as a replacement for cocoa butter, since it’s entirely edible. Shea butter will start to melt on contact with warm skin, making it a great ingredient for lotion bars, lip balms  and soaps.  I use shea butter in several of my products.   A little goes a long way, and it 's a wonderful addition that nourishes and moisturizes the skin.

Spring Wedding Show

I'm excited to be participating in a new wedding show this year.  It's called  The One Wedding and Events Showcase, and it will take place in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle on the evening of Thursday, March 31st.  It's at a really cool venue called Urban Light Studios, which has great indoor and outdoor space with an artsy, eclectic feel.  There will be over 30 wedding and events related vendors there to show folks what they have to offer.  I'll be displaying some of my custom work, handing out out samples and chatting with people all evening.  I hope you can stop by!

Happy Valentine's Day

One of my new favorite bands: Ivan and Alyosha.  They have a new album that was just released called Fathers Be Kind.  Isn't this a beautiful song?

Give-away Winner!

And the winner of the three Valentine's Day soaps is:

#1  Jen Mueller who said..."My "fluffy tiger". It was a blanket that my Nana bought for me!"

Jen, send your mailing address to me at info@seattlesundries.com and I'll get those out in the mail to you tomorrow.  Happy Valentine's Day!!

Feelin' the Love

Valentine's Day is next Monday.  I am not yet totally prepared.  Actually, I'm not even remotely prepared. I have some good ideas, though.  I'm thinking about picking up some cards from Driscoll Design, a wonderful local paper art and stationary company.  I had the pleasure of meeting owner/designer Angela earlier this winter.  You can find her greeting cards and paper creations at retail locations all over the US.  Clearly I need her to give me some lessons in successful wholesaling.  Angela makes truly beautiful items that are whimsical, retro and totally happy.  Many of the cards even have glitter.  I love glitter done tastefully.

Isn't this owl valentine great!*

I'm also thinking about making these root beer float cupcakes to eat after we make my kids' favorite meal: fondue.  We use hot peanut oil to cook skewers of beef, shrimp and vegetables before dipping them in a variety of yummy sauces.  My dad and step mom taught us another great trick few years ago.  They put out a bowl with raw, beaten egg (for adhesion) and a bowl of instant potato flakes to roll the meat or veggies in.  It makes a crunchy, surprisingly light layer.  It's really good.

Have you made plans for your Valentine's Day yet?  Have you picked up or made any goodies for the loved ones in your life?  Would you like to win some free ones?  Let me spread the love.  

In honor of Valentine's Day, I will be giving away (to one lucky person) THREE bars of my special lavender and vanilla Lotta Love Soap: one bar for your Love, one for your Mom (because moms should always get valentines) and one for You.  That's a lotta love.  

I made only one batch, and it'll soon be gone.  If you'd like a chance to win, just answer the following question in the comment box:  

What childhood possession (toy, book, blanket, etc.) do you remember loving the most?

For me it was my stuffed bear Growler who got his name because he didn't actually have a mouth, just stitching, so he could only growl...I theorized as a child.

A winner will be chosen on Wednesday so that the bars can be shipped out and be received by the holiday.

*Image courtesy of Driscoll Design Blog

Weddings in Woodinville 2011

I spent a lovely day in Woodinville yesterday at the 2011 Weddings in Woodinville event.  This year I was at the Novelty Hill | Januik Winery, which I'd not visited before.  It was beautiful: very modern and tasteful and a great backdrop for just about any decorating theme.  In my opinion, that's one of the nicest things about a modern aesthetic...it makes a great foil for contrasting styles.  Yesterday's event was a shining example of that.

The building and location of  Novelty Hill | Januik is smooth and striking, with clean lines and neutral colors.  I'm sorry that I didn't get any great photos of the exterior.  You should visit their website to see what an artful and architecturally beautiful place it is.  It's also very nicely laid out, both visually and functionally.

All of the decorative elements at the event were coordinated by the very talented Kirstie Warren of Simply Wed.  Her theme was "Whimsy & Wit" and she did a fantastic job of using vibrant, cheery colors and playful fabrics and patterns to brighten the space at the winery.  You could see the delighted faces of each attendee (mostly prospective brides and their entourages) as they entered and took it all in.  It looked like spring and sorbet.  Here are some photos:

The main room was set as though a wedding would soon be starting...all the way down to the individual place cards at each table setting.

The flowers were all done by Stacie of Blush Custom Floral.  They were lovely, and she was too.  

The cake from J.W. Desserts...incredible.  And the creator, John, works from Whidbey Island.  Awesome.

 

 

 

This (above) was the Simply Wed table display, which included the small guest soaps that I made for the event.  They seemed to be a hit. Whew!

This seating area was at one corner of the main wine making room.  The white couches (from Pedersen's Rentals), strings of lights, and "candy bar" popped in the open airy space next to the huge industrial looking stainless steel vats.  Cool. 

And here was my little display.  I had fun coordinating the packaging for my custom soaps  with the whole "Whimsy and Wit" idea and the fun colors for the event.  I hope to be invited back again next year!!

 

Seattle Sundries Custom Wedding Favors

Holiday Rumination

I dare you to try and fit the word rumination into conversation tomorrow.

I have a favorite holiday.  That spot used to be occupied by Christmas, until the commitments and complications of adult life knocked it off it's pedestal.  I still love Christmas for its message and meaning, but boy,  what a lot of work!  

I've never been a big fan of Halloween.  There's too much emphasis on candy and too many scary masks for my taste.  We do have a great neighborhood trick-or-treating tradition that I thoroughly enjoy, though. And there was that one year that my 4 year old daughter dressed up as Princess Leia (with a home-made costume) and my 1st grade son as Darth Vader.  You should have seen me trying to get the hair right.  That was a high point.  

The 4th of July is always associated with beer and boating and sunburns for me, and New Year's is just too late at night for me to get into very easily...I'm getting old, I guess. 

So that leaves my favorite:  Valentine's Day.  For me, it's less commercial and cluttered, and focuses on flowers.  I like flowers, especially in February.  We celebrate it as a family holiday, not so much a romantic one.  The kids get small gifts and we have a nice dinner together.  There's no expectation about some large family gathering with extended relatives or some massive and complicated meal to prepare.  It's just our little family enjoying some good food and each others' company.  We like to make valentines for classmates and for the grandparents and uncles.  We put up a few Valentine's Day ornaments and frills around the house as soon as we take down the winter holiday decorations.  It's nice to have something bright and festive to fill that void after the tree and the menorah come down.  Mostly I like the holiday because it's all about remembering to tell others that you love and appreciate them.  Who wouldn't like that...maybe even the best? 

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?