We Are Still Here.

It has been a very long time since I have written anything down in this blog. Life sure does seem to get in the way of the "best laid plans of mice and men"(women). While I was gone, I completed two cold process soap recipes, one at 2# and one at 5#. One is a clay infused shaving soap with lanolin and the other uses mostly beef and deer tallow, with some castor and palm kernel oils. The shaving soap has an lake type fragrance and the other is scented with Patchouli EO and an apple/pear blend. They are drying and curing as I speak. Good smells.

We have been having a warmer winter this year. In the house, that is. Last year we used not quite dry enough walnut to heat with in our wood stove. Barely got above 60 all day. This year, we have cured oak, maple, and box elder. The temp inside runs at 69-70 degrees. Very nice. Especially, when the temp over night is expected to be zero and below. Brrrrr!

I am anticipating the spring craft show business. Probably, because I know the weather will be warm. Although, I go outside daily and walk at least 500 ft, to get the mail, it is just not quite the same as being in warmer weather, outside. Too much is covered with snow. Sometimes, I can't even find what I am looking for, because, I don't recognize the lump.

Ah, well. More, at a later time.

What's happening at the palace

 Two new cold process soaps are curing, several melt and pour glycerin soaps are made and labeled and I have been selling vintage drapery materials on Artfire, but, not soap recently.  What's up with that? Well, one thing is certain. The craft show schedule is heating up and I know that I sell soap there.

  

  One of the soaps that I made has Bentonite clay and lanolin in it.  Adding clay to soaps is necessary for a good shaving soap.  The clay allows the razor blade to glide over the skin, making the process so much nicer.  Having lanolin in the soap helps in the process, also.  This soap is one of my daughter's favorites. The oils used in this soap are all vegetable, but, the added lanolin prevents me from labelling it as vegan.

  The other CP soap is definitely not vegan, as it contains both beef and deer tallows.  These make a wonderfully hard bar of soap that will last a long time in your shower or at your sink.  The very first time that I made soap with deer tallow, I was so impressed that I wanted more.  It had scented that batch with Peppermint, Lavender and Sandalwood essential oils.  This time I used Patchouli EO and mixed it with Apple-Pear fragrance oil.  Very nice fragrance.

  Be sure to visit Artfire to see my collection.  These will show up in about a month. The shaving soap is a mustard yellow and the tallow soap is neon blue.

 

New Year Intentions

  I thought about calling the title of this post, New Year Plans, but, decided to call it New Year Intentions.  My plans seem to often go astray, no matter how hard I try to stay focused on them.  It possibly could be that I am slightly ADD, or, it could also be that I have many different tentacles of this octopus that I call my life pulling me away.  Be that as it may, I need to put the plans on paper, er on computer, er, ummmm.  Just what do we call this?  Put the plans on Blog?!  I guess that will work.

  My soap making business will be growing.

  My soap making business will be acquiring a new sense of determination.

  It will become more professional.

  It will make use of the 10 Core Business Principles.

  I will totally invest myself into it.

  I will post more updates on this blog, on my Artfire blog, on Facebook and on Twitter.

  I will be serving those customers who desire a Vegan product.

  I will, also, be serving those customers who are not bothered by animal oils, as these make great soap.

  I will endeavor to use more natural products.

  

  As you can see, these are my plans.  Or intentions.  But, just remember this: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." Anonymous.   Stay tuned and see.