Thank you!!

I am (almost) completely sold out of all of my inventory.  I know totally unbelievable!!!!  I've got only TWO bars of Kitchen Coffee Lemon Balm left.  After the 2012 holiday season, I'll be making more so stayed tuned!!!  Thank you everyone for such a wonderful and SOAPY 2012!!!

Indie Knit & Spin update

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out and supported indie busineses last weekend.  I had a great  time!  The weather was perfect, we had a great turn out, there were fabulous vendors and fabulous shoppers supporting us.  I sold out of many items and have only a small inventory remaining....that is a good thing...great thing really.  I cannot express it enough how much I thank all of you who came out to make this day so wonderful.  I've even had people follow up on my blog and send in re-orders.(there is a tab at the top of the page marked TO ORDER)  This is just amazing.  Thank you again!!  I've included here some photos of my booth.  I think it turned out fairly well for not ever doing this type of thing before and for not setting up a trial table at home.  I had an idea in my head and it worked out more or less. 

The booth

A close up

and the 'Rebecca' behind Dusty Tree Soap (actually next to...I was set up in the hallway so my table was pushed up against the wall.)

I've also become a member of the Home-Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc.  You can find me here.  I'm super excited about this and am waiting for a link from them to have my own Soap Guild Store.  Watch this space for updates and details.

A whole lot of finishing touches!!

Sorry I've neglected you blog, but I've been busy.....both kids had ear infections, submitted a knit sample to a yarn company, planned a four year old's birthday party, had a splinter in my finger surgically removed (huh, seriously!)  hosted my parents for a few day and turned 40 myself (blech!)  Oh...and as you can see from this picture heavy post put all of the finishing touches on my soap for the upcoming Indie Knit and Spin.  Please come out to visit me!!  I'll need someone to rescue me so I can have a bathroom break..hahaha!

It is Nov 17th 10am - 4pm Wilkins School Community Center, Regent Square, 7604 Charleston Ave.

 My Dad helped me cut the soap cigar type bands

 Wrapping the soap

 More wrapping the soap

 and a bunting banner I made for my table display 

(btw..that painting in the background is by Dusty Genard...The Dusty who our son is named after which is where I get the name of my soap company.....our two kids - Dustin & Dimitri.  And maybe if I try hard enough I can do the whole 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon thing, but I won't)

Soaping the Night Away....

Rose Clay & Bamboo Activated Charcoal Soap

Almond Milk and Oatmeal

Kitchen Coffee Lemon Balm Soap

Kelp Soap

Rhassoul Clay Soap

Double Mint Soap

A Busy buzzy BEE

I'm so excited!!  I'm going to be a vendor in the Indie Knit and Spin....November 17th 10-4pm in Regent Square...Wilkins Community Center....Charleston St.

This is my first show and I'm super busy making, cutting, labeling, etc and then my digital scale broke....just when I got my new soap molds too!  Things have been put on hold as I await a new one in the USPS.  At least it was under warranty so it will be replaced for free, but what a bummer.  I tried making a batch with my regular kitchen scale, but I don't like the old fashion display...I'm used to the super accuracy of the digital.


 I've been busy knitting (sort of) I usually am able to knock out a hat in like two days, but seriously two weeks later I finished one.  I think it was the pattern and yarn combo.  Excellent pattern, great results but poor yarn choice.  Don't get me wrong...it looks wonderful and is an amazing hat, but it was not fun to knit.  The yarn is awesome...super lofty and dreamy...love it!  It was from stash...left over from my days of living in LA...SUSS Yarn, Alpaca Tweed and the pattern is Spin Me Round...those decreases of K4tog...killed me!  Urgh, but like it said it is a great result.  Hopefully Maria will think so too since I'll be packing it up and shipping it across country to Portland.  She made my logo, the least I could do is knit her a hat....oh, and maybe some fingerless mitts too!  

Ok, off to check the status of that digital scale...I've got soap to make!!!  Before Oct 17th so it can cure!!!

I do other things beside soap

I'm working on a sewing project (or two or three...) these past few days.  It is surprisingly going really fast!  I'm amazed.  I got a new walking foot for my Kenmore machine and I'm in LOVE!  It makes everything just perfect...like butter.  My seams are perfectly aligned...I'm amazed.  Who know sewing could be so much fun, but I wonder why my machine needs to have the walking foot just to function properly.  Who cares, just as long as it works better now.  I used to get so frustrated and constantly thought what am I doing wrong...I'm just not a sewer, I'll stick to knitting.  But wow, I'm in love....here is a snippet of what I'm working on....ssshhhh!  It is a secret present for a friend.

LOGO!!!

 

Soap, SOap and more SOAp

Lemon Poppy Seed



Slippery Elm & Comfrey Root...this smells divine!!!

Beer Wheatgerm Soap!  Ha...had to try it and it smells awesome too! Used Duquesne Beer...brewed locally in Latrobe, PA 

Farmer's Market....made with carrot, banana and cucumber

 

just some pictures....

I'm in love with Orange Balls

Chocolate Mint

Just pictures......

Chocolate Mint in mold

 Soap un-cut

First Cut

Looks wonderful!!....available late October

Oh, snap!

yep, it has been a few days without me blogging....since I'm sans computer.  Our 1966 Frigidaire Custom Imperial fridge went ker-plunk and I'm not letting her throw in the towel.  I can't give her up she is too precious and beautiful...not to mention the fact that she is built into the kitchen space and it would entail ripping out cabinets and I'm not going there.  So, I was up close and personal with her the other day with my flashlight removing her parts.  I think I may have removed the proper one and after hours online searching for a vintage piece, I decided to pick up the phone and made a few calls.  I really thought I wasn't going to find anything  but someone recommended a guy who he referred to as 'the hoarder'.  He actually has the part!  Holy cow he has the part!!!  Yeah, I'm so excited!!  So anyway the long and short of it is this fridge is built into the kitchen space so there is no pulling her out and unplugging her so we had to kill the breaker in the breaker box so I could tinker with her guts.  My computer and some other random plug in the corner of the dining room (which I discovered didn't work when I plugged my sewing machine into it and nothing.....I thought ...not that too...then I realized oh, yeah breaker box) are currently not in working order.  I actually enjoy not having my computer for the time being....I've made lots of soap, have done lots of knitting, made a quilt top and have been fixing the fridge......time has been nice!  Computers suck our time away like it never existed...but they have their purpose too...blah, blah, blah......how about some pictures!!!

Calendula Soap.....dried calendula flowers from my garden

A horrible picture of a beautiful shawl (it is currently blocking).....Alpaca Sox Shawlette pattern on Ravelry......used Nora Cash Iroho, Nora Silk Garden and Suss Yarn Love...great pattern!

Viva ORANGUTANS!!

So, in making soap you see many people talk about or are concerned with batching palm free soap.  I thought about it, experimented with some recipes and have come to the conclusion that I am PALM FREE!!!  For two reasons....One..I want to be able to get in my car and drive to buy my soaping ingredients and not have to order online and Two...(well this is the biggest and should be #1) help save the orangutans!  I read these horrible stories about massive deforestation, indigenous peoples being displaced and animals being left without food and know I do not want to be part of that!!  How could I?  I also know that my tee-tiny little soaping business won't even put a dent in stopping this seriousness from happening, but I can try to do my part and be better.  

Palm Oil is used in soap making for a hard bar and for a great lather.  I've made a few batches palm free and really see no difference.  Mine are hard...really hard! and lather quiet nicely.  I think I've hit on a perfect combination and will most likely use it with a few tweaks in my bars.

Now there is the flip side to this story...sadly there always is....what about the people who have palm plantations and provide much needed jobs.  They have families and have a need too.  There is much to consider when making your decision.  I've decided that my (like I said before tee-tiny) business won't really make that much of a difference in the grand scheme of things and to do what is easiest for me.....Palm free....since I don't know of a local supplier to drive to get it.  Sound unreasonable?  I think not.


   

Iced Soy Latte

The inspiration photo.....

In the mold...made with Soy Milk (1/2 water, 1/2 soy milk pour method), Sunflower Oil with a blend of others, cocoa, cinnamon and COFFEE!

Uncut loaf

First cut

The stack...+ my messy work space in the background :(

Lesson learned...more 'ICE' embeds in the next batch

Lavender Chamomile

This came out exactly as I envisioned...simplest of simple but with a gentle flair.  Smells divine just a subtle sweet scent.

Fresh Lavender buds from my garden sprinkled throughout for a middle layer

Uncut block

First cut

Lavender Chamomile!  Ready October 11

Next up.....I've got some creative ideas for a Halloween Soap and an Iced Soy Latte....what this space!  (I'm sure you will all be on the edge of your seats...I wish there was a font for sarcasm!)