A charm-ing addition

Castle charm

This sweet little pewter castle charm is going to be a new addition to Realms packaging — around the necks of full size lotions, shower gels, room sprays.

Ski to Sea post mortem

Ski to Sea Festival

It was a gloriously sunny day. In fact, it was the first Memorial Day weekend since 1966 that had three consecutive sunny days. I had high hopes, but learned that age old valuable lesson about retail: location, location, location. My booth was down on 10th Street instead of up on the main drag. It was also sandwiched in by pony rides on one end and a jumping cage on the other end. No one knew there were booths inbetween. So, as my fellow 10th St. merchants and I wistfully watched the  the wall-to-wall foot traffic on the street above, the day passed quietly for us. My friends who knew I was going to be there came up to me the next week and said, “Where were you? We looked all over!”

Putting the booth together for the festival

So, needless to say, next year, I hope to be up on 11th Street.

Not all is lost for the summer though, I still have one festival coming up: the Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival on August 1st and 2nd. Fingers crossed the location is going to be much better.

First Time Vendor at Upcoming Ski to Sea Festival

2009 Ski to Sea Festival

Please do a sun dance for me for the upcoming crafts fair at the end of the Ski to Sea Race in Fairhaven on Sunday, May 24th. I’m going to be one of the vendors at the street fair. I’m just hoping it won’t be a rain out. You never can tell this time of year. Please stop by and see me. There are going to be some special sale items

Introducing two new scents

Pomegranate unleashed

Now out of beta and officially a part of  the Realms Bath and Body Line, are two new scents: Persephone and Fragaria.

Persephone is a wonderful pomegranate — earthy with just a touch of  tartness.

From Greek mythology, Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. Hades fell in love with Persephone and abducted her to his underworld kingdom to become his wife. Her mother, Demeter, the Goddess of the Harvest, went into mourning for her lost daughter and in despair, caused all green things to stop growing. Zeus commanded Hades to return Persephone. It was the rule that anyone who consumed food or drink in the Underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Persephone had no food, but Hades tricked her into eating a few pomegranate seeds while she was still his prisoner and so, because of this, she was condemned to spend four months in the Underworld every year.  This was how seasons came into being.

the lone strawberry

Oregon Strawberry logo

Fragaria is the genus  for strawberries and I thought it would be a perfect name for the scent.  I have added a touch of musk to this scent to mute the sweetness just a little bit. Two nearly teenage young ladies inspired me to make this scent: Leah, my precocious, smart a whip niece, and Chloe, Poem’s darling daughter, who, one day, I know will emerge out of her cocoon.

Loco-Lotion — Dreaming up a new spring scent

Spring bulbs

I’ve been hitting the kitchen lately, working on a new spring scent. You caught me singing the Little Eva song Locomotion , substituting the word “lotion for “motion”: “Everybody’s doing a brand new dance, now. Come on baby, do the loco-lotion” Good thing, you can’t see me dance

mixing madness

I’ve been playing with a Peach/Angel’s Trumpet combination which is yummy…also Pomegranate…and Pear for the summer. Then for the fall, Sandalwood/China Rain (very nicey, oh so spicey).

Also, I’m playing with hard soap. Still in beta, but I’m hoping to add a bar soap as well as shaving soap in a mug for the shaving purists.

People often ask me why my lotion is so silky. Without giving away the special sauce, all my lotions are handmade with Shea Butter, Aloe, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil & the secret ingredient: Silk Amino Acids.

Stay tuned, but I have sent off an entry fee into the upcomingg Ski to Sea Festival, for the final day, race day Sunday at the street fair in Fairhaven.  I’ve never done anything this big before, so I’m a little nervous. I have one of those vendor tents on order and have been re-stocking.

Also, I’ve put in a jury application for the Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival, a 2-day affair at the beginning of August. I’ll keep you posted.

Ginger FAIL — Confessions from a lotion maker that just can’t get this scent right

Experiencing Ginger FAIL

I love the spicy aroma of Ginger and have been experimenting since last fall to find just the perfect combination. I have tried 3 different Ginger oils, but whenever I mix them into my lotion base little crystals form. If anyone has any advice, I sure could use the help. Help!

PRWeb Crafts Fair

Some of the white stuff

Amid a snowstorm the likes of which Whatcom County has not seen since 1996, PRWeb crafters displayed their wares — some bright gems in a blizzard of white.

Lauren's images

This black and white of Lauren’s struck me as really brilliant. In the wake of Prop 8, a young woman walks home from a march in Bellingham. The tail room, defying the rules that encourage space in front of the subject, made me love this photograph even more. I now have it framed.

Jed's saturated colors

Jed’s color work was also stunning. The aqua image from Pt. Lobos also found a home in our home.

Spit Rags and Diaper Bags

Sue’s daughter,  Stephanie is a crafter of many talents, particularly on the sewing machine. My grandson-to-be received some of her sweet flannel burping cloths. I also bought some of her adorable button note cards and Sue’s beaded bookmarks for stocking stuffers.

Art work by Trent Thomas

Aaron’s sweetie creates mixed media pieces, infused with social and political symbolism. I bought this piece, created on the inside of a book cover.

my space

My table had a few extra goodies dotted in with my Realms products: earrings, ornaments and decoupaged jars.

Whirligig (soon to be above my grandbaby's crib)

And this awesome spinner found a temporary home in our hot house window before getting wrapped up for Mindy, Ian and baby-to-be Emmett’s baby shower.

I want to thank all my co-workers for buying my Realms products. I made a commitment to donate 25% from my table to the Bellingham Assistance League.

Festival of Lights

Linda's Sue's felt ornaments

The snow fairies held off long enough to have a very successful Festival of Lights. The art was amazing. And the artists were warm, welcoming and wonderful. We had a great time trading and buying — my house is full of new objects, all lovingly made by hand — including a sweet felt Santa made by Linda Sue.

the sweetest bunny on the planet

I fell in love with this bunny.

Linda Sue's elves and imps and beautiful waifs

Luscious flowers (my camera doesn't do the red justice)

Elaine makes these delicate decorated bottles and boxes. Her husband has drilled holes in the backs of some of the bottles , which she has turned into nightlights.

the most beautiful, feminine boxes, nightlights and decorated bottles

Karin puts together these wonderful collages — part funk, part industrial, and part just plain wonder.

Collage pins and magnets -- fantastic

And Ed, holy moly, well the glass screams for itself.

Ed's glass lawn art

And I forgot to mention, the whole atmosphere at Amy and David’s house is wonderful, with the girls and Atlas (one amazing dog) running around. And besides being a good sport, David makes a mean white bean chili.

The girls got Daddy to play dress-ups

Festival of Lights Arts & Crafts Show

One of my favorite crafts fairs of the season is coming up December 12th & 13th. The Sixth Annual Festival of Lights is happening at Amy Gould’s home, in the W.W.U. neighborhood, 510 North State Street, across from the Armory.

Festival of Lights invitation

This is a special show, with unique items you won’t see anywhere else. One of my dear friends and true artist, Linda Hoofnagle will be there. She works primarily in felt. For a sneak preview of some of the pieces she’s been working on, check out her blog, All I Ever Wanted, at http://ifeltit-poppiespoppy.blogspot.com/.

Amy's house

Friday’s hours are 5-9 PM and Saturday 11AM – 5 PM. I’m making a passel of mini-lotions for stocking stuffers. Sure hope to see you there.

Lotion making madness

Been busy in the kitchen making lotion, replenishing supplies. Got one last show coming up December 12th and 13th at Amy Gould’s home — followed by an employees-only show at PRWeb on December 15th.

I’m also testing two different ginger scents. Mmm.

Making lotion -- a little kitchen chemistry