Realms over the holidays

If you’re in town and want to see what Realms is up to, here’s where we’ll be.

The Festival of Lights is a really special event; it’s a show put on each year by Amy Gould in her stunningly decorated Victorian home across from the Armory (510 North State Street). Some of my favorite artists will be there selling their work. I will be bringing lotions, gift baskets, barrettes made from repurposed vintage jewelry and glass assemblages. The dates are Friday evening, December 5 from 5-9 PM and Saturday, December 6th from 11 AM-5 PM. This is by invitation only, so this invite is your entry in.

11th Annual Festival of Lights

Going on right now is the Allied Arts Festival. This year it’s in a great location — across from the entrance to the mall on Bakerview, in the shopping center with the new Burlington outlet (4145 Meridian). It’s a nice building with lots of windows and natural light. There are several wings with small groupings of artists that make the whole experience more intimate.

presented by Allied Arts of Whatcom County

Around the Realm

Realms at the Ferndale Public Market

Here’s where we’re at the rest of the summer. Please stop by and say hi!

Ferndale Public Market
Saturdays 10a-3p
Main Street on the Riverwalk

We’ll be there most Saturdays throughout the summer

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Port Townsend Uptown Crafts Fair
Saturday, August 17, 10a-5p
Tyler Street, uptown Port Townsend

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Ferndale Street Festival
Saturday, August 24, starts at 10a
Main Street

Realms Debuts at Artisans Northwest Gallery

I’m delighted to announce Realms Bath & Body products are now available at Artisans Northwest Gallery in Bellingham. The gallery is located at 1215 Cornwall, across from The Leopold. The space is very cool and is filled with more than 70 local artists’ work.

Artisans Northwest Gallery, Bellingham, WA

My shea butter soaps and mini lotions are right on the counter.

Realms’ soaps and lotions at Artisans Northwest

And in the case are some of my half doll assemblages, as well as shadow boxes on the wall.

My half doll assemblages in the case

Gallery owner, Marti Crisp has achieved filling the space with a variety of mediums, some very special pieces,  as well as places to lounge and enjoy.

Artisans Northwest Gallery owner, Marti Crisp

The Gallery is going to be part of this Friday’s Art Walk in downtown Bellingham. Check out http://www.downtownbellingham.com/artwalk/ to see the participating venues.

Newest Lotion Scent: Cocomosa

Made from champagne, blood orange, chocolate and strawberry, my newest scent: Cocomosa

I’m delighted to announce my newest scent: Cocomosa. Think Mimosas and add chocolate. It’s perfect for those cold days; warms you from your inner scent glands, out. I find myself reaching for it everyday after my shower. It’s the 18th scent in the Realms Bath & Body Line. Please don’t tell me to stop!

Delighted to Announce My New Shaving Mug for Women

New Women's Shaving Mug & Boar Bristle Brush

When I was a little girl, I remember sitting on the bathroom counter, watching my Dad shave. He had a substantial ceramic shaving mug. He would get the water steaming hot before he soaked his brush and then work the soap into a thick lather.

It made an impression on me. A few years back, I began making men’s shaving soap in my Jaffna scent (a great sandalwood). My husband Kev, who has a heavy beard, was my tester.  I finally came up with a winning recipe where I add Bentonite clay, which allows the razor to glide easier. He swears by it, saying it gives him the smoothest shave he’s ever had. Even around his Adam’s Apple, the razor never gets hung up. One day, I tried it  and was so pleased, that I ended up putting a mug in the shower permanently.

It got me wondering if other women might like it.

So, I am pleased to announce the debut of my new rose colored shaving mug for women. The set includes a thick boar bristle brush and my own shaving soap in a brand new scent: Vinaerys, a delicate sweet pea. The set is now part of my Realms family.

Realms family: (front, left to right) men's shaving mug, mini-lotion, Jojoba oil roll-on perfume & shea butter soaps, (back row left to right) foaming hand soap, women's shaving mug, 8 oz. lotion, 8 oz. shower gel & non-aerosol room spray.

 

Allied Arts Holiday Festival Opens

Here’s how the table looks this year. There was room to add a tall, skinny shelf to the right — perfect for some of my assemblages.

Here’s to buying handmade and local. Cheers!

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Realms in La Connor

While at the Skagit Valley Saturday Market earlier this summer, Sharon Scott, the owner of The Scott Collection in La Connor, came upon the Realms booth and fell in love with the products. She asked if I’d ever done wholesale.

The Scott Collection in La Connor

We forged an agreement and I’m delighted to say the store is now carrying Realms lotions in eight different scents. Yay.

New spring scent: Dianamour

pink carnation

In honor of moms everywhere, I bring you Dianamour, my newest scent. It is a very realistic carnation, that brings me back to when I was a little girl walking to school and passed by my neighbor’s carnation bush. I would walk slower, drinking in its intoxicating scent.

From the scientific name Dianthus, it roughly translates to flower of love or flower of the gods, depending on the source.  The carnation’s history dates back to ancient Greek and Roman times. The pink carnation in particular symbolizes a mother’s undying love.

So… new?

In my family, noone ever said, “So, what’s new?” It was always abbreviated to “so… new?” which made it sound even more Yiddish. ‘Course, it was usually uttered by one of my family members from my Dad’s side, who grew up in Brooklyn. And even though they all moved to California, they never could quite shake the accent.

So… here’s new: I’m slowly making all new Realms stock for the summer season. I found out I just got accepted to the Coupeville Arts & Crafts Festival again this year (yessss). Once I get all the products made in all scents, I’m going to build a light box and shoot all the products (lock-down shot) in anticipation of building a very small e-commerce website. This is slow going so it may be awhile.

I also have a new scent: Wai’oli — lime and verbena with a hint of coconut. It’s light and energizing. I find I’m reaching for it whenever I get into the shower lately (a big cue to me it’s a keeper). And I’m so trying to get that lime in the coconut song out of my head.

Lime and verbena with a hint of coconut

Recovering from the holidays

feeling a little ridiculous

The holiday crafts fair season went way beyond my expectations. Not having a clue how Allied Arts was going to go, I also booked myself into three additional crafts fairs. It was a little crazy, with my other job, and holiday festivities at our house. Needless to say, I won’t be doing that next year, although I love Amy’s Festival of Lights fair. It wasn’t real busy, but swapping gems with the other artists and crafters is a total gas.

Allied Arts turned out to be an incredible venue for me. Realms sold really well; it blew me away.

A couple things I learned: 1) people like to try on their scents in private, and 2) I need to clone myself.