Ramblings & Blossom

This is Blossom right after she throw up on my Mom's expensive sofa, see the SMUG look on her face!

After a hellish week at my mom's caretaking her post surgery I cam home and have the most miserable Xmas I ahv ever ahd, me and a can of Dinty Moore beef stew, yuck, I have never spent this favorite holiday home alone with no feast, glad it is over. I came home to check my stores and email and mom doesn't like blossom since she is not perfectly housetrained (she's a puppymill dog, of course she is not) and boy, was I glad to be home even if I didn't have any food. Blossom has plenty of good food, usual for me, my pets are always eating good. Wait till I start coking for her, she will probably stop eating dog food.

Blossom after 2 weeks with me: she no longer quakes when I pet her, she comes to me almsot evey time and lets me pet her, hates and loves having her neck scratched, I am sure she has been violently grabbed there in ther past eyars the puppymill, she jumps but oh loves it so much. I am seducing her with kindess. I see lapdog in the making!

late intro/my HCV

I was dx'd in '98, 1A biopsy in 2005 Stage 3, Level 3, failed 48 week tx ifn/combo in 2005 at week 10, it almost killed me but put my blood cancer in remission for a year, which was wonderful! My symptoms are pretty severe, extreme pruitis, even my eyeballs itch maddeningly, scarred everywhere form scratching, drugs help very little and make my liver hurt more, bad liver pain much of the time, severe chronic joint, bone, and muscle pain, long migraines, high blood pressure, sugar problems, kidney stones, lost gallbladder last year, nauseau all the time, more and more meds I cannot take, no NSAIDS except tylenol products and even they are bothering me. I stay busy and try to keep a positive mind set by soaping, visiting my disabled friends and online friends and playing with my rescue dog, blossom. I got my HCV the usual way, either drugs or sex. also got hep b but my body fought it off naturally, hep c got me though.

Blossom Week One

Blossom is a 6 year old purebred Maltese, who has just come from living 8 months at a blessed rescuers home with 13 other dogs. Deborah entrusted me with Blossom (thank you Deborah!) and I am honored. After one week of bouncing back and forth between my home and my mother's Blossom is doing as well as she could be expected. She misses the wee wee pads most of the time, ate her feces or tried to once, sleeps like an angel on my bed with me never making a mess, raced throughout the house nonstop for 3days then she toned it down to a trot and walk and now relaxes in the living room with me watching tv when we are not on my bed. she does not know what treats are. She does not know what going outside means. she is a lovely dog and deserves the chance at living a happy bonded life (hopefully) with a kind human (me). Her only purpose in life for 5 years was living in a tiny cage 24/7 and having puppies. Human touch hurt. she was not fed enough. I figure she made her captors at least $6000 in puppies. Then was discarded when she got an anal sac infection or got too old to breed (puppymillers do not spend money on their dogs). PLEASE buy your puppies ONLY from reputable breeders check them out! Don't buy from Petland! Are their puppies raised in a loving home environment with good health care and kind treatment? If you have TONS of patience, are kind, and have TIME consider adopting a puppymill dog from a reputable rescuer. Undo the harm that has been done in humanity's name. give a good dog a loving safe home but realize this dog may never be a huggable lap dog, they have issues, you would too if you were kept in a tiny cage for years. I love Blossom and I know in time, she will love me back the best way she can.

My Yule Present to share with you

For the holidays I received 2 of the most wonderful gifts ever: my mom's tumor is benign, yippee, and I received my puppymill resue Maltese, Blossom last Thursday. I will be posting weekly about Blossom. I encourage those who have the TIME and Patience to adopt a puppymill rescue, they have received only the worst treatment humans can offer, give them the chance to be all they can be and to see that not all humans are horrible. It is our sacred duty to caretake our animal companions (and indeed all animals). Blessed Yuletide Season to everyone!

Paws of Wood

I found a delightful little crafting site called Paws of Wood, they handcraft wooden signage and wreathes, and brooms and other woody things with silhouettes of your favorite breed of cat, horse, or dog. What a lovely idea! I want one! Good work, great craftmanship and originality Pat!

Midwest Crafts & Recipes soap Review

Shannon at Midwest Crafts and Recipes kindly sent me an absolutely delightful bar of cold process Angels in the Garden Soap she handcrafted. It is the bar in the middle in the above photo. This is a wonderfully creamy bar of soap scented with a fruity floral combination consisting of magnolia blossoms, apple, peach, strawberry, jasmine, rose, raspberry and lavender. Simply divine with a wonderful scent "throw." The bar is silky smooth with a nice slip with the addition of jojoba and is nicely hard, creamy white with sweeping amber swirls. A pretty bar of soap crack that left my skin soft and smooth. Thank you Shannon so much, let's swap again sometime! You can find her blog here:

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Palm, Castor, Canola, Olive Oil and jojoba...a touch of beeswax to keep that white ash from forming, Fragrance.

I received a wonderful bar of cold process soap from Kelly Bloom at Bloomworks Natural Soap Company a few weeks ago and have tested it out. I tried Moon Lake Musk, one of her Elemental Soaps, and it is a delight, with good scent throw, a pretty dusky blue color, great suds, and is a nice hard smooth bar of soap. I loved using this moisturizing soap, it left my skin so soft!

Moon Lake Musk Soap: Golden Olive, Coconut, Palm Kernel, Palm, Sunflower, Soy, Babassu, Grapeseed, Rice Bran, & Castor oils; Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, & Mango Butters. Natural Herbs, Fragrance, & natural clays, oxides, ultramarines, or FD&C's for color. Net Weight: 4.5 - 5 oz

Moon Lake Musk is a moody Musk Unisex fragrance with notes of fern, lily, hyacinth, jasmine and a hint of orris and a powdery and sweet amber note. I love it! And so will you! Thank you Kelly!

MaMere's Punkin' Pie Soap with Emu Oil and Shea

Granny's wonderful all natural vegetable soap with shea butter, coco butter, real pumpkin with its skin nurturing caroten, vitamins A & C, and fantastic healing emu oil. Gentle 4 - 4.5 ounce bar with good suds. Great for your skin, contains NO artificial colors or chemicals except for a bit of skin safe pthalate-free Pumpkin Brulee fragrance oil. Delectable and in time for the holidays!

Ingredients: Water, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin), Fragance, Turmeric Powder

SPECIAL! With your purchase get a FREE 2 D Maltese dog soap!

Buy Here: http://2virgosdesigns.ecrater.com/

Introducing our 3D Maltese Dog Vanity soap

Divine shea butter glycerin soap 3.5 ounce 3 D Maltese dog. The details are awesome, delicately handpainted with skin safe soap paints. This soap is unvarnished in case you do want to use it, if you want you can spray it with shellac or varnish to preserve it longer if you want to use it for just display. girl dog with pink bows and boy dog with blue bows. $6.50 each and shipping of only $3.99. Order here.

Invited to Join Bargain Belles Retail Shop on eCrater!

I am delighted to report I have been invited to join the Bargain Belles retail family on eCrater
They feature the highest quality handcrafted goods and I am honored to be part of the family! My products will be added this evening, please come check us out!

2nd attempt at swirling/Marbled Soap with Emu Oil

well this one did not come out very well at all as a swirl, but is marbled actually, but here it is, it smells delightful, Moon Lake Musk. It is curing now to be ready for my October 24-25 Shop Till You Drop Arts, Crafts & Gifts Show in Bossier City.

Handmilled Peppermint Cream Soap with Emu Oil

This is my first attempt at swirling rebatch, as you can see, I was not real successful, more marbled and layered but still very pretty. These are 1" bars weighing 4.5 ounces and they sell for $5.50 each. find them in 2 weeks after they have cured some at my Etsy Shop I had a lot of fun making them!

Premiering Handmilled Emu Soaps

I am switching to handmilled (rebatched) cold process goatmilk and all vegetable oil soaps with added emu oil to further enrich the soap and add emu oil's famous healing powers to this luxurious and affordable soap with excellent lathering and moisturizing qualities. Right now I have 3.5 oz bars of Aussie Vanilla Dreams Goatmilk Emu soap and Aussie Pumpkin Patch Goatmilk Emu soap 4 oz bars all made in my soap goddess mold. Each of these bars are $1 an ounce plus $1 each to cover the extra labor involved in the handmilling process and the cost of the emu oil. Send inquiries or ask about custom scents at 2 Virgos Designs Etsy Shop.

Federal Globalization Act

Add your 2 cents to the Federal Globaliztion Act

It is vital that we all speak up and be heard, if this act is put into effect it will drive many small soap and cosmetic busineses and hobbyists out of business!

2nd Miracle from Modest Needs!

This is so absolutely unblievable but it has happened! Modest Needs, and their wonderful donors, have paid my furbaby Primo's end care vet bill! I almost didn't dare to hope this would happen and it did! I encourage anyone who is needy and in a jam to try to get help from Modest Needs and anyone wanting to find a worthy cause that actually works to donate to Modest Needs! I have never had anything like this happen before and it is proof that here are miracles in life...even for old "dogs" like me. While it cannot ease the grief I feel for my loss of my baby Primo, it has made a tough situation better and rewarded the vet who so kindly and valiantly tried to save Primo's life with little money up front from me.

2 Virgos Designs Etsy Shop

2nd Application to Modest Needs Approved

My 2nd (and final) application to Modest Needs was approved to get help in paying my end care vet bill for Primo. Now I have to wait and see if enough donors will contribute to my cause. I haave one third the donations necessary to pay the bill. Getting this help will take a huge burden off my back and repaying the vet will help to ensure that when another needy person requires emergency care for their beloved pet the vet will be inspired to ehlp them.

This is not only a worthy charity it actually helps. I encourage you to donate to this valuable cause.

The problem with Palm Oil

Little did I know there was a problem with palm oil, for more info click here and learn. It does well to do extensive research into the sustainability of the ingredeints we use in our products. Because of this info I will try to avoid the use of palm oil.

Essential Oils for Arthritis

Right now I am doing extensive research into essential and carrier oils and botanicals useful in easing pain from arthritis. Here's what I've found: tamanu oil, helichrysum essential oil, eucalyptus, peppermint, cedarwood, lavender, benzoin, nutmeg, yarrow, clove bud, sage dalmatian, juniper, cypress, rosemary, emu oil, black pepper, German & Roman chamomile, ginger and marjoram. All of these oils and botanicals need careful research into their safety, for instance tamanu oil is a nut oil and must be avoided by those with nut allergies, quite a few people. Emu oil is an animal byproduct and Vegans won't like it. I am NOT a Vegan, follow my Native American traditions in that I believe the whole animal/plant is to be used wisely. I will be testing and developing both a Vegan product and a non-Vegan natural prodct that can be used by those who suffer so from arthritis.I will be investing in a small portion of emu and tamanu oils, they are costly but a little goes a long way, and adding one or two of the other essential oils, helichrysum and maybe lavender and benzoin or chamomile. I use cedarwood a lot and i have noticed it helps my pruitis (extreme itchies) and my joint, bone and skin pain seems less and lasts for quite a while after I take my hot bath when I use it in combination with either lavender or patchouli. I will make a milk bath using them so it will only be a total of about 8 drops of the blend being used in the bath at a time for safety. I will also make a dilute ointment usng grapeseed oil as the carrier base. I will report on my success or not after I test these mixtures. It's going to take me a while. I have my eye on adding it to soap and making milk baths for resale.

Modest Needs foundation

On July 22 my beloved Maltese rescue, Primo, passed away from liver failure due to heartworms. although he tested negative last year for them he certainly was infected with them and we Had no warning that anything was wrong with him until 3 days before he died. I have been decimated with grief and guilt. I already had one huge vet bill from last year when Primo fell ill and we discovered pus coming from every one of his teeth. His previous owners had never even brushed his teeth.

I applied for a grant from Modest Needs, a charity organization for emergency bills for those who are needy. I was granted this donation today and I am so grateful! Please check out Modest Needs and give your support, even $10 will go along way to help those in great need. If you know somweone who ahs an emergency bill and needs help have them check out Modest Needs, they may be able to help.

I have never used heartworm preventative but you can be sure I will faithfully in the future. I miss Primo terribly.

Pagan Pride Show Report August 2008

I did great at this show making 4 times my booth rental ($35). Told to expect 500 people or so this is what came, and they came with discerning eyes, open pocketbooks, and knowledge about what they appreciated. A totally pleasant experience. Blows everyone's theory that the reason the July Shop Till You Drop did so badly was because of the economy, NOT! The only things I did not sell were my lotions and shower gels, will not invest any more money in developing them until I get requests for them. My soaps, sachets, dream pillows, milk baths, and even gift baskets did well.

My First Show Report: shop till you drop July 2008!

This show was a complete flop. I didn't even make half my booth rental back which was $125. Instead of of the 2000 visitors told to expect, only about 500 came through in the 2 days of the show. Instead of being an Arts & Crafts show, there was a majority of junk and commercial interests there, including but not limited to Tupperware and Avon! This makes it a flea market not an arts & crafts show and draws a completely different crowd, one looking for bargains and junk, not discerning people looking for quality, handmade arts & crafts. I've been to this particular show before and the crowd has almost disappeared. I thin k another reason it did so bad is that July is the month before school starts and right after vacations and this year due to gas prices people did not have the money to spend on arts & crafts (what little there was at my show). I did twice as good as the other handcrafted soap lady, but her soaps were the highly decorative layered and embeds, my soaps are functional concentrating on aromatherapy. I have hopes of going to the September show, gods, I hope it is better, and definitely will be attending the Mistletoe November blow out. surely I will do well at this show. If I Had a dollar for everyone who raved about my soaps and the beauty of my displays I would have made $500!

Any small personal and bath business and hobbyist should make sure to sign this petition to stop the Globilization Bill from being signed which would effectively shut down most of us. here's the link to read more and sign the petition: http://www.indiebusinessblog.com/indie_business/2008/06/stop-the-fda-gl.html?cid=122807576#comment-122807576

What a moneygrubbing outrage!

My First Show!

I'm in full swing getting ready for my first ever arts & craft show, the Shop Til You Drop Arts & Craft Show being held July 19 - 20 at the Bossier Civic Center here in Bossier City, LA. I am offering 3 lines of handcrafted soap, Lavender Dreams Goatmilk soap, Black Knight and Witches Brew glycerin soap, with matching handcrafted lotions, milk baths, shower gel, dry colognes, and handdipped incense. I'm also offering gift baskets and dream pillows with a lavender chamomile rosemary flowers blend in them. The booths are real expensive at the Shop Til You Drop show, but Volunteers of America and Shreveport Mental Health helped me pay for it. Isn't that real nice of them? I live in a HUD/Disabled community ran by Volunteers of America and in conjunction with my mental health counselor was able to offer me financial aid for my project as part of my mental health treatment. I have Major Depressive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder so I have a tendency to remain home isolated all the time and that's not healthy for me. This show is a BIG thing for me. I avoid new places especially big places full of strangers, so this will stretch my limitations in many ways. I have a good friend who is going with me so I will have support. This is a very good healthy thing for me. And I get to be creative! Love it!

Witches Brew/Catalyst

I've changed the name of Catalyst back to Witches Brew (YC) type. Some people thought Witches Brew might put some buyers off but to remain true to the Yankee Candle type scent I'm custom blending here I feel Witches Brew as a name is right on. Witches Brew is offered as handcrafted by me glycerin soap, mik bath, and lotion. I also offer incense custom made for me handdipped by an outside source from essential oils. This incense not only smells good it lifts your mood and can even put you in the mood, if you know what I mean. (Patchouli is known as an aphrodesiac.) My Witches Brew is a blend of fragrance oil and real essential oils to gain the therapeutic value essential oils offer. Since it has a small amount of cinnamon in it it carries a possible skin irritant for sensitive skin warning on the label. I myself have somewhat sensitive skin with many small tears (my skin is like tissue paper) but this soap and the other products do not irritate my skin at all. As with all products, if in doubt, do a small skin test with the product in question on the inner elbow and wait 24 hours. If itching or rash develops, do not use the product. One customer who is new to aromatherapy just raves about my Witches Brew glycerin soap, claiming he never knew a mere soap could actually make him feel great after bathing! Witches Brew is a Unisex scent, men and women love it and wear it. It is my signature scent.

Witches brew is a haunting and mysterious woodsy earthy spicey scent, not neutral at all and not a floral. You'll not find this on the shelves! Interested in buying it? Try here: http://2virgosdesigns.ecrater.com/

Black Knight Signature Dry Cologne

I've added Black Knight dry cologne spray to my line and I am having trouble keeping it stocked! It is SERIOUSLY SEXY, men and women love it! It's alcohol free with sandalwood base notes. This cologne is made from fragrance oils and is very unique. Find it here: http://2virgosdesigns.ecrater.com/

I have coordinating milk baths, moisturizing body lotion with evenng primrose, and matching handdipped incense made by Lil Ol Fragrance Factory. The incense is the only thing I do not make myself.

Cinnamon Cardamom Soap Test Results

This soap is luxurious and made my skin very soft and smelling subtly of cardamom and cinnamon. I used goatsmilk soap base for the extra moisturizing it provides. There was an mild exfoliation from the cinnamon powder suspended in the soap. I did learn I am the worst person to use this soap recipe, cardamom must be avoided by those with high blood pressure. Apparently it can raise blood pressure. I'm happy to report it did not do this to me but if I bathed in it every day it might, so I won't. The cinnamon didn't bother me either, and I have fairly sensitive skin with skin breaks. Cinnamon can irritate sensitive skin and cannot be used by pregnant women. There was a lot of cinnamon in my test bar and it did not burn or scratch me. Others may be more sensitive than I. If you know you have high blood pressure, are pregnant, or have sensitive skin, avoid using Cinnamon Cardamom soap.

Cinnamon Cardamom Goatsmilk soap

Today I made new Cinnamon Cardamom Scented Goatsmilk Glycerin Soap. I adapted this recipe and changed it a little. Here it is:
Cinnamon Cardamom Soap
1 pound (16 oz) opaque or goatsmik M & P glycerin soap
1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
40 drops cardamom essential oil

Melt chopped up glycerin soap base in microwave for one minute, checking there after every 30 seconds until soap is melted and runny, just barely steaming. Take out, let cool with at least 2 skins forming, stir these back in or filter out with spoon or fork, add cinnamon, then stir gently until suspended well, then add cardamom EO. I will use one teapoon next time, I felt this was not scented enough. Pour into molds and spritz lightly with rubbing alcohol to pop tiny bubbles that may have formed when you stirred the soap. Let set for 2 hours and pop out of your mold. Let cure for 2 days before shrinkwrapping or packaging.

I really like this, it's a homey warm subtle scent and will test tomorrows for irritation factor since cinnamon can irritate skin. I have fairly sensitive skin so if it doesn't bother me I will add this to my product line with appropriate caution.

2 Virgos Designs has grown out my love for beautiful scents, especially essential oils and their aromatherapy benefits, and the desire to produce high quality soaps and body products that are gentler and safer to use than what is sold in the stores. Handcrafting soap and such provides me with a creative outlet and helps me focus on the positive life has to offer. Being severely disabled, I can certainly use some positive inflow!

I handcraft glycerin and goatsmilk soaps, along with coordinating bath products, such as milk baths, body lotion, and signature dry cologne sprays which contain no drying alcohol, all with a medieval/fantasy flair. My cologne sprays feaure the debuts of Black Knight men's cologne and Catalyst women's cologne sprays. Black Knight is a hard-to-find fragrance oil with a sandalwood base and Catalyst is a custom blend of my own using fragrance oils and real essential oils with a patchouli base. Both are unique and designed to tittilate the senses!

Stay tuned for in the future I will be adding more custom scents such as Guinevere and White Knight.

Welcome to 2 Virgos Designs

Hi! This is my first attempt at blogging and a work in progress! More later.