Contest: Name my New Scent

For all my creative friends and supporters, something fun… Come up with a name for my newest Realms scent and win a gift basket. The scent is a subtle white musk that reminds me of winter, ice crystals and making snow angels in piles of powder. If you have ever visited a magical winter place…or imagined such a place…please post a comment with your best one-word name. Please have your entries in by September 28th. Don’t forget to post a way for me to get in touch with you in case your entry wins!

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.

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 upcoming 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!

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

Realm-eth by mail

I’ve been asked how you can buy my Realms products. You can email me at terrykaye(at)fastmail.fm and if you’d like to preview any of the scents beforehand, just send me your mailing address and I’ll pop a swatch in the mail.

* All 8oz. lotions, shower gels and foaming hand soaps are $10 each.

* The 4oz. room sprays are also $10 each, but are probably the best buy in the line. You only need one spritz and it lasts for hours.

* All the mini shower gels and lotions are $3.50 each.

If you order 4 items to make up a gift basket, I’ll give you the organza covered basket free of charge. And of course, all shipping is extra.

Please place Christmas orders by December 1st.

Realms Gift Baskets -- smaller square baskets in foreground

Gift baskets for the Holidays

I’m putting together gift baskets for the upcoming crafts fair season. There are two sizes. The smaller square basket holds 4 lotions or shower gels in the mini-size only. The larger oval basket can be filled with all of the Realms products, including foaming hand soap and room spray. At least two of the items need to be the large 8 oz. size in order to hold the basket’s shape. I’m really pleased at how well the translucent organza wrap works.

Realms Bath & Body Line Gift Baskets

Good lotions come in small packages

The last time I flew down to see my family, I packed my bag full of Realms gifties for my mom and sister. Even though everything was wrapped in wrapping paper and ribbon, security made me check my bag ’cause everything was the full 8 oz. size. So when I got home, I was compelled to create travel size lotions and shower gels. Hence, the birth of the mini. They have since been tested through airport security and passed with flying colors, plus the lotions don’t take up much room in a purse and have with a sturdy, leak-proof top.

Realms mini lotions and shower gels