Month: February 2025

BRRRR! Baby the  soaps cold in here

BRRRR! Baby the soaps cold in here

Living in Ohio in February is guaranteed to have everyone bundling up, and trying to find ways to stay warm.  But I bet you never thought about the impact temperature has on the soapmaking process!   Well, more technically, it is the soap curing process that 

Focus on essential oils – Litsea Cubeba

Focus on essential oils – Litsea Cubeba

Recently we discovered a new essential oil, Litsea Cubeba.  Its a mysterious name, with almost as mysterious a fragrance.  The common name for the plant is May Change, an evergreen tree that is in the Lauracea family (Mountain laurels).  May Change is native to China 

Focus on ingredients: Dragons Blood

Focus on ingredients: Dragons Blood

Dragons Blood is an unusual ingredient we use in soap making, but what are the origins of it and what is it? This blog explores information about Dragons Blood.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Today is Steve’s birthday and I am so thankful for my husband, his loving, giving and kind heart, and his passion for people. Happy birthday Steve!!! Steve is enjoying retirement from the corporate world, and full time working at our studio business. Soap making is 

Lots of learning opportunities

Lots of learning opportunities

Winter is a great time to take a workshop, or participate in a play day, or learn something new. We love to keep on experimenting, growing and increasing our knowledge, and we think you might like that too. Here are the fun things planned in 

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day

Ah the day of love… the time to remember your sweetheart with chocolate, flowers, and perhaps a lovely dinner. This year marks the 47th year that Steve and I call each other Valentine. It seems surprising that time has gone so fast. I am blessed 

I lost a friend

I lost a friend

I lost a friends Sunday. No, she didn’t die, but she cancelled me from her life. We have been friends for a number of years, with a shared passion for gardening and art. In fact I always said when I grow up I want to be like her. We have always known that we have differing views on politics, faith and life, but I can say I valued the person more than some of their thoughts. That “agree to disagree agreeably” philosophy has echoed through my soul since childhood. But maybe that is the issue. In this age of hiding behind social media it is often easier to make snap judgement of not wanting to deal with disagreement no matter where it is coming from. Its not like a time when you talked things out or tried to understand their perspective. We don’t do that often any more, and it is a shame.