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.