A Breath Of French Air

Making Spring Soap

2012-01-25T15:55:00.004-06:00

I made some soap for the Spring a few days ago and thought I would share how I did it!

The first video is where I mix my oils, lye, essential oils, and color.

I made the embed duck soaps, and balls, about a month ago. I think they look really cute!
Now you know how messy soap making is!
I'll post the cut soap and remolded duck soaps next.

Sharing Work Spaces

2012-01-19T17:15:00.001-06:00

Our basement is divided into two spaces. The other side is the finished space with carpet, furniture, shelving, and a tv. My work space is in the unfinished part. I have been working on my soap kitchen for the past few days and I thought I would share my progress. Above it is what you see when you walk into this part of the basement. To the left is a long table which holds my hot plates, wax, and all the things I need to make candles.

Here is the "room" to the right. The counter top and sink were donated. We paid for the lumber and the labor to install them. We also had to purchase the faucet, which reaches all 3 bins! I had shelves installed above the counter just to hold my fragrances and essential oils. I wanted it only "one bottle" deep so I could easily find the oil I wanted. My soft oils and other ingredients are on the shelves. Under the sink are my 50 pound tubs of coconut and palm oil.

I wanted a dishwasher so we install the least expensive one made....lol! It turns on, you can control the on/off heat and light/regular load. That's it, and that's all I needed. Our handyman made a box for the dishwasher and some shelves for "stuff". It's bare plywood which I would like to paint this spring/summer. The brown box in the corner is our furnace. As I said, this is a very rustic kitchen, but when you are slapping soap around and tossing candle wax, rustic is the best!

At the end of the counter is a microwave which I use to melt butters, and oils. I also have my ipad stereo on top of the microwave. I have to blast music when I soap! My husband surprised me with some rubber mats last night. They are much more comfy to stand on than the thin rug I had down before!

I just love my sink! It was filthy when I got it and had paint splattered on parts. It has lots of love dents all over it, but it works perfect! I use the left side to wash my pots and pans in, and the middle is where I cool my lye. The right side is for draining items that don't go in the dishwasher.

Thanks for reading! I would love for you to share your workspace too! Leave a comment, and a link, so we can all share.
Elizabeth

Christmas Rush

2011-11-19T14:23:00.002-06:00

My blog has been lonely for the past month! Getting ready for the holiday rush and doing a show has put me behind on posting!

Here are a few items I brought to the show. I didn't sell any of the cupcakes, but I received lots of compliments. The box is 4x4 and I think it makes a great presentation. I have the boxes listed as gift wrap in my Etsy shop. Be sure to check out my cupcake soaps. I have many different ones to choose from!

I sold a few lip balms, and Fig was the favorite among many.

I did sell many of my lotion bars. I had a few out for demo's and I think that helped a lot.

Stay tuned! I will be having a special on Black Friday! I will post the special ONLY on this blog, so stay tuned!

Why Are Lip Balms So Hard To Wrap?

2011-10-15T14:39:00.000-05:00

I love making lip balms, but I absolutely detest wrapping them! It's not actually the wrapping that is difficult, but having the label STAY ON!

I use labels from Onlinelabels.com. They have a great selection, and my lip balm labels are cut so they fit perfectly. No cutting!
I chose the plain labels to wrap the lip balms with.

I like the plain labels, but they start coming off after a few days. I usually use shrink wrap to keep the labels on, but I don't have the correct ones for the oval tubes. The labels I have are perforated on the side, which makes the entire shrink wrap come off, which leaves the label "bare" again.
My round tubes have shrink wrap that is perforated right under the cap, so the customer twists it off and the shrink wrap stays on the tube.

Today I spent about an hour cutting and wrapping my labels with packing tape! The pictures here were taken without the tape since they are hard to take pictures of with it on. The tape is working, but what a pain!!

Does anyone have a solution? I think this is a question all bath and body people would love an answer to!
BTW, do you like my new label design? My old labels had a toile design, but I think they were too busy and too plain looking at the same time.

Too Early For Halloween?

2011-09-14T19:16:00.000-05:00

I know it is early for Halloween, but when you make soap, you have to plan WELL in advance!

Soap needs several weeks to cure, if not longer, so planning ahead is needed to keep up with the demands and to be ready for a holiday. Above, and below, is a picture of my Boo Berry soap. It is scented with Blackberry Fizz, which is a very nice deep berry scent.

I wanted this soap to be for Halloween, but I wanted it to be more versatile. I added purple paper and a black spider to the package. After Halloween I can simply replace the wrapper not associated with Halloween.
I think they turned out cute! I will bring a few into the shop and the rest will be sold on Etsy and other outside shops I sell at.

Candle sales are starting to pick up. The top one is scented with pumpkin spice and the bottom is carrot cake. I wanted the topping to look like cake, but I'm afraid it might look like puke! What do you think? It smells awesome!

Is is a Cucumber or Cantaloupe?

2011-08-31T17:44:00.000-05:00

Is it a cucumber or a cantaloupe? I planted several cucumber plants this summer and they have produced quite a few cucumbers, even though we have suffered through extreme temperatures for most of the season. We had long skinny cucumbers and some fat cucumbers. Was I surprised when I opened this cucumber up! The inside smelled just like a cantaloupe, seeds and all!
This cucumber/cantaloupe was quite small, and there wasn't enough fruit to really eat, but I did scrape some off to taste. Yep, it tasted just like a cantaloupe!
A few days later I found another cucumber and sliced it open thinking that this one would be orange too....no.....just a fat cucumber!
Now I am looking for a recipe for cucumber soap!

The Weird Popcorn

2011-08-27T14:25:00.001-05:00

Popcorn Soap

Have you ever heard of popcorn soap? I have been making this soap for several years now. It seems to come and go in popularity, but it is always popular around this time of the year.
I love making this soap, although I bought a small mold and I can only make 9 kernels at a time, so time wise, it's not a soap I make often. I will usually make a small container of soap and pour into the soap mold when I happen to be in the kitchen, collecting the kernels in a small baggie. This saves time in actually making the soap, but my kitchen is filled with the scent of popcorn for longer than I wish.

Popcorn Soap

Popcorn soap is interesting to everyone because it looks just like a kernel of popcorn, and it smells just like popcorn!

Missing in Action!

2011-08-25T15:01:00.001-05:00

Sorry I have not been around! My birthday was on the 18th of July, and I received a Ipad2 for my birthday! My husband was so thoughtful and he knew how cumbersome it was to carry around my heavy laptop.
I don't have a connector for my camera, so I haven't been able to download any pictures from my ipad. Hopefully this will change soon!

I thought I would show you a few things I have been working on. Above is my body wash. I have tweaked my recipe, so now I can scent a bottle as I go, which means I have a larger variety of body washes to offer! Yea!

This is my coconut lime verbena soap. I have added a new recipe to my line and now I have soap made with lard. Now, before you say "yuck", the lard doesn't add any scent to the soap, but produces a very creamy, full of bubbles soap....they really are beautiful soaps to shower/bathe with!

I am getting ready for Halloween....I know it's early....but not for lots of people! I made a Dragon's Blood soap that I named Vampire's Kiss. It is a heavy, spicy scent that guys just love! The second picture is another cupcake soap I made using the cold process method. The top is piped cold process whipped soap that I used a pastry bag to pipe on the "frosting". The bottom is regular cold process soap.

I have delved into the art of whipped soap! This is whipped soap made from scratch, so it doesn't have any harsh chemicals in it. This is my first batch above and I added in french green clay so I could use it as a shaving soap. Whipped soap if fun to make, but it takes a long time and then you have to wait weeks for it to cure before you can use it! Ugh....I am not a patient person! I put the whipped soap in tubs and they are stacked on a shelf...out of sight...out of mind!

Last, but not least is my new mold for my solid lotion line. They fit perfectly inside this 2 ounce tin, which is what I have been looking for!
Solid lotions are used by placing the bar in your hands and gently rubbing the bar. The heat from your hands slowly melts the oils which you then rub into your skin. I love to use them on my feet and elbows. During the winter, I use them all over!

Thanks for your patience during posts. I promise to not wait so long between posting!

St. Louis produce from our wee garden

2011-07-07T19:31:00.000-05:00

My veggies are coming in fast and furious! I'm not sure what I am going to do with all this bounty, but I know that my friends and neighbors will reap the benefits!

I love cherry tomatoes and my husband loves big fat tomatoes. Well, I let him pick out his own tomato plants this year (we have his and her gardens) and he didn't realize until they started growing, that he bought cherry tomato plants! Yea for me! I actually picked one yesterday that had turn red. I'm in tomato heaven!

We both love green beans and really missed growing them last year. I have three plants and they started producing bean before the plants were a foot tall. I have never seen green bean plants this short. They are now almost 2 feet tall and have tons of beans. The first beans made the plants lean over with the weight!

Last, but not least, are my cucumbers. Look how huge they are! My friend Pat shared a recipe with me and I'm going to try to pickle them.
I know that we are happy with the garden this year, and I know all my neighbors, friends, and family will be too!
What are you growing this year?

Cut and Curing

2011-07-02T16:39:00.000-05:00

My apple pie soap loaf is cut and on the curing rack. They should be ready in about 3 weeks. This mold makes taller soap, so the slices are a little thinner than my other loaf.

I was just using up the extra icing, but I do like how they turned out.

The cupcakes turned out great! These will be ready in about 4 weeks.

Cupcake Cold Process Soap

2011-06-29T18:37:00.000-05:00

More Etsy Tips

2011-06-19T16:52:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone had a great weekend! My son came in town, so I had a wonderful time. :)
More tips to share!
1. List new items and list often. I try to list a new item at least twice a day. I have found, using google, and most of my visits come around noon and again between 8 and 10pm. I try to list new items, but if I don't have anything to list, I will renew an item.
Renewing will bring your shop up to the "front of the lists". It doesn't always brings tons of views, but I do think it keeps your shop "fresh".

2. Visit the Etsy forums. I can't tell you how much I have learned from the forums. Granted, you must take advice with a "grain of salt", but there is a lot of good info in the forums. Ask lots of questions and most of the time you will receive good advice. The forums have changed in the past few months and sometimes you have to wait longer for answers to your questions.
3. Visit the Etsy blogs. No, I don't read each and every one, but I do try to each week. Be sure to comment on the blog. Why? Because every time you comment on Etsy you are leaving a link to your shop! I have noticed an increase of views each time I comment on the blogs. Google also picks up your comments!

I hope these tips have helped you. Please feel free to post any questions you may have and I will be happy to help you.

Tips For Etsy Sellers

2011-06-17T16:05:00.000-05:00

I just realized that my anniversary on Etsy has passed and I have been selling for 4 years now!
I thought I would share some selling tips for those that are just starting out.
1. Pictures, pictures, pictures! I can't stress to you how important this is. Your customers can't "see" or touch your prduct, so it's your job to make your product stand out. I cringe when I see my first pictures, as I think most seller do. While I don't like my first pictures, I am amazed at how I have improved at capturing what I want my buyer to see.

This is my Dragon's Blood soap. While I love this scent, and this soap was amazing, the picture just doesn't do it any justice.

This soap, as a buyer, appeals to me more than the first one. It's not perfect, but I am getting better.

2. Titles. I know that "Cruising through the Summer" is more appealing to a buyer than "Lemon Lime Soap", but a customer is not going to browse for "Cruising through the Summer", so you will want to make your titles direct and to the point.

3. Descriptions. Google picks up the first few sentences of your description, so this is the time to use your main key words. You will want to use key words that google picks up. For soap, I have found that the word "natural" is far more searched than the word "handmade".

After the main description, you may want to add:

* size and shape of product

* color - will the colors vary?

* how many will the buyer receive? I always include "this listing is for ________ so that the buyer is aware of how many they will receive. I like to take pictures of several soaps together, although the listing is for just one bar.

* how will it be shipped? will it come in a box? envelope?

* include a link to your shops main page. sometimes buyers will land on your page and not know how to get back to the your shop.

I hope these tips help! I dislike long posts, so I will cut this short and return later with some more tips.

Have a great weekend!

2011-06-01T20:39:00.000-05:00

It's Summer in St. Louis already...where does the time go? I thought I would pop in to let you know what I have been up to.
These are stain sticks! They are made out of pure coconut oil and all you have to do it wet one end and rub into the stain...easy peasy!

Here is my Green Apple Candy soap. It's ready to list, but I just can't get a good picture of it. Maybe I should just list it and see what happens?

I've had a lot of fun making solid lotions. They smell heavenly and, OMG, they feel so good! I call them "lip balm for your body".

Shopping for a shaving mug on Etsy

2011-05-14T10:48:00.003-05:00

I'm shopping for shaving mugs on Etsy today and I thought I would share my finds with you.

virginiawyoming made this mug. I love the soft yellow color. The cost is $26.50

sheilasthings makes this mug and it is $19.50 and comes with a starter mug and shaving soap, although I won't need the soap as I will be filling the mug with my own soap!

brookhousepottery made this sweet shaving mug. I like the creamy white color and it's simple design.

It's going to be a hard decision to make! I need to pick out a shaving mug and next will be a shaving brush. Any ideas?

New soaps for my Etsy shop, ABreathOfFrenchAir

2011-05-07T19:01:00.000-05:00

I have been busy in the soap kitchen lately and thought I would share with you.
Gentleman's Club is a wonderful blend of Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Amber, and a touch of Cinnamon. It really smells like heaven! I think it's a great unisex scent, so don't let the antique ties fool ya!

This soap is made with Indian Sandalwood fragrance. It's a nice spicy scent. I'm still working on a new name. Any ideas?

Ah, another beer soap! This one is scented with Cedarwood and Ylang Ylang. I love this soap and it's in my shower right now.

The Life of a Cairn Terrier

2011-04-29T20:01:00.002-05:00

It's been raining cats and dogs here in St. Louis. We took a break from being cooped up inside to enjoy throwing the frisbee and looking at the flowers.

As you can see, Finch loves her frisbee! She loves to bite the middle and then shake her whole head. Because of this, we have gone through many frisbees! Usually they develop a hole in the middle...imagine that!

I bought this heavy rubber frisbee hoping to solve the problem, but as you can see, she has figured out how to fold it in half, bite the middle and shake her little heart out!

Gardening Soap for my Garden Club

2011-04-25T20:20:00.000-05:00

May 7th is our local garden club plant sale. The money collected from the sale is given to local schools to promote gardening skills through hands on gardening. If you are in the Webster Groves area, stop by! Every 1/2 a bar of soap will be given out to everyone shopping. I am donating 10 bars and the rest will be in my Etsy shop soon.

I think the packaging came out really cute, don't you?

Plant Sale

Happy Easter!

2011-04-23T20:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter!
It will be a quiet Easter for me. My hubby is out of town and won't be back until Monday. Both kids live out of town, but my son came home with a few friends this weekend to see the St. Louis Cardinal's play.
I have orders to fill and new products to make that are going to be featured in a new shop next month, so tomorrow will be another busy day.

Treasury on the front page of Etsy!

2011-04-22T10:38:00.001-05:00

I made a treasury, on Etsy, yesterday and it made the front page that evening! I think this is the third time my treasury has hit the FP. I've been working on this happening more often, so check back to see if it happens again!http://www.etsy.com/shop/aBreathofFrenchair?ref=si_shop

It's Spring time in St. Louis

2011-04-20T21:05:00.000-05:00

My Zinnia's have come up and they look strong and sturdy...whew! I planted mostly red one, which I am going to use for cutting flowers. These were Winter Sowed, of course! They were the first to sprout out of all my seeds.
Last year I planted lots of Zinnia seeds in my veggie bed. They turned out to be dwarf Zinnia's so I had a very pretty veggie garden, but no cutting flowers (the stems were too short).

Here are my gardening buddies. Scout and Finch were next to the house. I think they were tired of planting. They like to eat my veggies, but are not too interested in the planting process.

One of my favorite plants, Forget Me Nots. They have the prettiest blue which I can't seem to capture in my camera.

Cairn Terrier in the Snow

2011-01-13T22:34:00.000-06:00

We've had a lot of snow lately. We usually have one or two snowfalls, but it seems like we've had more than usual this year.
This video is Finch in the snow. Finch is a Cairn Terrier (Toto on the Wizard of Oz) and she is obsessed with any toy that she can carry around in her mouth...lol!
I couldn't get her to go outside to "potty", so I grabbed the frisbee and threw it into the yard.....and then I couldn't get her to come back in! If you look closely, you can see how ratty the frisbee is. For some reason she has to grab the inside of the frisbee and shake it to death. She does this with all frisbees and you can imagine my shock when I bought Finch a rubber frisbee and she managed to fold it in half! That's for a later video. :)

Etsy's New Coupon Code!

2010-11-20T19:46:00.001-06:00

I decided to try Etsy's new coupon code tonight. I've been waiting for a few days for this to become active in my shop. I'm just having a sale tonight to check it out and see how everything runs. So far so good and I've made a few sales!

Sale ends tonight (11/20) at 10PM (CT).
This is just a test to see how the coupon works, so I'll have another very soon.

Coupon code: 112010

I've been a busy bee for the past few months. I have so much to share with all of you, but I won't bombard you with too much.

2010-11-19T19:56:00.008-06:00

New foam hand soap

This is my favorite scent....well....one of my favorite scents...there are too many that I love! Margarita Lime foam soap is the first of a series of foam soap. This soap was made by scratch, so it's filled with skin loving oils and not the nasty additives you get in store bought soap. I only bought 12 bottles to see how well they sell before I purchase a large wholesale order. I filled 3 with the Margarita Lime soap.
Brown Sugar Fig handmade soap....gosh...this is another of my favorite scents! Sweet, and sugary cold process soap. I used cocoa powder for the thin line between the layers.
My new lotion sticks are cute as a button! They are about an inch tall, so they are perfect for your pocket or purse.
What are lotion sticks? Well, I like to tell people that they are lip balms for your body! Thick and extremely moisturizing, you rub the bar on very dry skin or nails. I like to use them on my cuticles and my heels.
Right now I have Candy Cane and Eucalyptus, but I will be adding more soon.
Stay in touch.....much more coming soon!

Body Wash From Scratch!

2010-07-12T15:29:00.007-05:00

I have 4 batches of soap under my belt! It's quite a challenge and takes a long time, but I enjoy making it! So far I have made Lavender, White Citrus, Raspberry Vanilla, and Orange Clove. If you click on the pic above, you can view how it's made. I tried posting video's here, but I can't get them to work.
There are 8 short video's, which I took with my digital camera. Maybe Santa will bring me an actual video camera this year!

I decided to go back to my old labels and my yellow and blue colors. I think it helps brand my products and are easily noticeable.

Fresh Blackberry Pie

2010-07-07T16:50:00.006-05:00

Our Blackberry bushes went crazy this year and produced lots and lots of berries! We have had blackberries before, but just enough to pick and snack on. I measured the berries I picked yesterday and today, and I had just enough to make a pie. Hubby is home with a shattered toe, so I thought a homemade pie would cheer him up. The above picture was taken before the berries ripened. They are now black and some were dripping juice!
I can't even remember the last time I made a pie, so I used a deep pie dish, although I didn't need one. Doesn't it look yummy??

It's Summer in St. Louis - HOT!

2010-06-21T16:47:00.006-05:00

I took a stroll through the yard the other day. Every day I take my two puppies, Scout and Finch, for a walk around the yard. They are only interested in finding worms to eat and catching squirrels, but I don't mind as long as they stroll with me.
I didn't winter sow as many plants this year, but I had plenty. One of my favorites are the Sunflowers! These were planted along side the house and I had to crop the picture in order to screen out the garden hose and the meter reader....lol!
I start most of my plants by seed. These were planted a few years ago and I divided the plant and transplanted them into some beds we started in our front yard.
This beautiful flower is called a Brown Nose Rudebekia (I'm pretty sure..). They reseed everywhere, but I planted this bunch under our Black Oak tree. They hide the Iris that have already bloomed.
Last, but not least, is my Blanket Flower. I started this flower about 5 years ago and it has happily reseeded all over the yard. They bloom all summer!

Needle Felting Soap Bars

2010-04-19T19:02:00.007-05:00

Felting handmade soap is fun, but needle felting handmade soap is even more fun! The wool used is very soft merino wool. I like the softness of the wool, but it's difficult to work with. You have to work carefully so the wool does not bunch up and create "folds". Each soap takes about 20 min to felt just the background.

I wrapped the stem of the flower around the back of the handmade soap bar to hide some folds I had. I think they turned out well! I have a few more bars finished and now I just need to decide what design to use.
Square soap is harder to felt, due to the corners, but you just have to be extra careful to wrap the corners and wait until the sides are firm before working on the corners.
I'm looking forward to creating needle felting soap for the holidays. I know, it's too early to think about Halloween and Christmas, but it's not too early in the handmade world.

Late Spring in St. Louis!

2010-04-16T12:03:00.008-05:00

Warm weather is already here, so I thought I would show you some pics from around my house. Above is my Cairn Terrier, Finch. Notice the ball in the bowl? When she needs a drink, she drops her ball in the water and then drinks around it! Finch always has a ball either in her mouth, or next to her.
I didn't have a choice the other day. I HAD to plant these Sunflowers! I had to cut them out of the milk jug. LOL! These were winter sowed, so they are all ready to go!
I planted lots of Tulips when we moved into our house 9 years ago. They bloomed for about 2 years and from then on the only thing that came up were the leaves...until this year. This beauty decided to adorn our front yard. Tulips are my favorite flower.
And this is my favorite tree: Weeping Cherry Tree. The blooms only last a few days, but when it's blooming, it gorgeous!

Winter Sowing Seeds Are Up!

2010-03-24T17:47:00.004-05:00

Spring has sprung and I'm getting all kinds of sprouts! This pictures is of my Bachelor Buttons. I planted:
Tomatoes (2 kinds)
Green Beans
Cucumbers
Zinnia's
Poppies
Blue Flax
Bachelor Buttons
Sunflowers
Alyssum

My sunflowers are about 3 inches tall already! I worked in the garden today trying to get the beds ready for the new plants. My veggie garden is all ready, but the older beds need lots of weed pulling.
Today I worked on digging a small trench to line my beds with. It's not the perfect solution, but it does help keep the grass out of the beds.

Felting Soap Class

2010-02-10T10:23:00.006-06:00

I will be teaching a class on Felting Soap at our new shop, Fusion. I made a few soaps so I could take some pictures for our class section. Most of the partners will be teaching classes such as dying silk, wire wrapping jewelry and a beginner class for quilting.

For my class students will have a choice of soaps to felt and all the wool will be provided.
I purchased my woving wool at SmokeyMountainFibers.
Felting soap is not hard to do and once you try it, you will be able to take your skill and make your own for future gifts.

Check out our website for classes that will be offered at Fusion. My class should be listed soon.

We are located at Chesterfield Mall, second floor, right outside Sears.

Spring Forward!

2010-02-07T19:59:00.007-06:00

I don't know if it's because of all the dreary days St. Louis has had, or because of the upcoming snow storm forecast for tomorrow, but I am itching for Spring. I worked on my Spring line today and decided to play with some soap base. This soap was made with Tulip fragrance oil, but it smells more "green" to me, so I'm going to market it as a unisex (hate this term!) scent.

I colored the bars with teal mica and used clear soap for the middle. I love the contrast with the clear soap! I named the soap Spring Forward.My lip balm inventory is very low, so today I made several batches. Cola is a new scent and it smells just like Coke! I also made Cucumber Slices, Birthday Cake, Snickerdoodle, and Dark Chocolate.

I found these mugs at a local store, and immediately thought CANDLES! I made two of each: Blue = Clean Cotton, Yellow = Lemon Poppy Seed, and Pink = Peppermint Bark
All of these will be added to our new shop at Fusion, which is located in Chesterfield Mall (second floor, next to Sears), and to my Etsy shop.

Felted soaps!

2010-01-25T21:13:00.007-06:00

I have always wanted to try felting soap, so awhile ago I took a stab at it. The process is not hard, but takes a bit of time. The soap looks HUGE before felting!
Here is the soap after a few minutes.
I love how the colors pop! I used some hot processed soap that I shaped into an egg shape. The surface of the soaps were too rough, so I felted them. I think they turned out beautifully!

Fusion by Show Me Handmade's Opening Feb 2rd!

2010-01-21T11:37:00.011-06:00

With less than two weeks before our soft opening, we have been busy getting Fusion by Show Me Handmade ready. After many late, late, nights, it's all coming together! Above is a picture taken late Friday night. We are filling in the colors for the leaves, which is our logo.
The same logo, although smaller, is behind the cash wrap. The cash wrap, along with most of our displays came from another shop in the mall that had closed. We "obtained" all the displays, slat walls, and anything and everything else nailed down. I love the cash wrap and especially the stainless steel top!
Here we are using an overhead projector to line up the logo over the cash wrap. In the background, you can see the slat wall progression.
Not a great picture because of all the displays pushed together, but you can see the new wall colors.
Another view of the cash wrap and the slat walls to the right.
Finished logo....almost finished...!

We are still looking for partners for Fusion by Show Me Handmade! If interested, click Fusion By SMH.

Fusion by Show Me Handmade - Opening Soon in Chesterfield Mall

2010-01-10T18:14:00.007-06:00

Just a sneak peek into our new shop! We are opening up a shop in Chesterfield Mall, located in St. Louis, MO. We just received our keys and will be very busy painting, painting, painting!
It's a huge shop! The above picture shows one of our partners, Becky, standing by some of our displays. The space is 3700 sq feet.
Here's a picture showing what the shop looks like standing at the front door. We will be hanging wood slat walls on the walls.
Here you can see the front door. The display window is behind the red curtain.
Many changes are coming and I will update pictures of our progress.
Grand opening is Feb 13/14!

Sugar Scrub Cubes! Have You Tried These?

2010-01-07T16:23:00.007-06:00

Have you heard of sugar scrub cubes? They are single use sugar scrub! Just take one, to two, cubes into the shower. Gently rub the cube on your skin. The cube will break up and you will have a handful of wonderfully scented sugar scrub! Rinse and you are finished.
Sugar cubes are fun to make and I had a lot of fun at Christmas time make my Candy Cane cubes.

I'm back!

2010-01-06T15:50:00.008-06:00

I'm so sorry I've been missing in action! Life became very busy around the holiday's and I'm just coming up to the surface and taking a much needed breath.
There is so much to talk about! First, I want to share my new SOAP KITCHEN! Dh's friend put this awesome kitchen in for us. He built the wall you can see on the right, added 3 outlets, added lighting, counter, shelves, and the awesome sink! The shelves in the background were added when we built our house 8 years ago. Brad gave us the sink (3 sinks!), the counter top, and the wood to make the shelves under the counter.
Since taking these pictures, I have added a microwave, which is tucked into the back corner of the counter. I still need to add more shelves above the sink and add more shelves to the back shelves. It feels great to have everything I need in one space!

2009-10-20T20:14:00.003-05:00

I wanted to show off the finished soap. I covered the bar with a brown paper bag and a cute red checked ribbon. Didn't they turn out well?

Hot Process Handmade Gingerbread Soap From Scratch

2009-10-19T19:02:00.018-05:00

It was a cold and damp day, so I thought it would be a great day to make more soap. I'm running low on basic soap, but I also need some holiday soap....so I'm made Gingerbread Soap!
In the above picture you can see the hard oils melting. I have coconut, palm kernel, shea butter, and palm oil. Off to the side (which you can't see), I have my carefully measured lye/water solution and my soft oils. My soft oils are olive, rice bran, and castor.
While the oils are melting, I got my mold ready to go. I put oats on the bottom of the mold. This will actually be the top of the soap.
I also added ground oats and cocoa powder. The oats are great for your skin and the cocoa is for coloring the soap.
This is my favorite part...right after I poured the lye/water mix into the melted oils. In the above picture I just turned on the stick blender.
This is what it looks like one second after blending.
Here you can see a light trace. If I were making cold process soap, I would stop at this point, separate the mixture and add coloring. Since I'm hot processing, and I'm using cocoa for color, I'm skipping this step.
This is what it looked like after it came to a medium trace and I added the oats and cocoa.
Now the soap is "cooking". You can see the outside of the pot starting to gel.
About 20 min. later. It cooks from the outside in, and when the white spot in the middle is tiny, or disappears, it's finished!
This is a crummy picture, but this picture was taken after the soap had cooled to 170 degrees and I added the Gingerbread oils to the soap.
I added oats to the top (bottom of soap), but most of it fell off after taking it out of the mold. Hot process soap is ready to use as soon as it's finished with the "cook". It takes several hours for the soap to cool.
All set to go! See the oats? This was the bottom of the mold.
All cut and ready to go! I like to let my soap sit for a week or so before using. You don't have to, but the soap will last a lot longer if you do.

Now you know what it takes to makes soap!

Is it Karma, or Carma?

2009-09-15T09:43:00.005-05:00

I think it's Carma! Similar to Lush's Karma. If you love warm, earthy scents, you are going to LOVE Carma! This perfume is an arousing blend of Patchouli, Orange, Lavender, Pine, and Lemongrass Essential Oils.A little goes a long way, so you will enjoy this scent for a long time! Just rub a little on your pulse point and you are set to go!

I am launching a new line of perfumes, so come back often to see what's new!

Fall is almost here, and I can't wait!

2009-09-01T16:19:00.006-05:00

Fall is my favorite time of the year! I love the colors, the smells, and the sounds of Fall. One of my favorite places to be (other than on my back deck) is is front of our fireplace. Our fireplace is in our family room, and we don't use this room very often. Why not? Well, it's sad to say, but we don't have a TV in this room, so we spend time in our finished basement, where our big screen TV is.
BUT....this Fall we are getting a flat screen TV! I can't wait....I have wanted one for almost 5 years now. I can't wait to cozy up on the couch, put my feet up on the coffee table, and watch my favorite show while a fire is crackling in the fireplace. Heaven! I might even have to keep these candles for myself!

2009-08-13T14:03:00.005-05:00

I am always looking for creative ways to wrap my soap. I find it difficult to come up with wrapping that is attractive, but is also inexpensive and not time consuming. It's fun to get creative with a few soaps, but when you have to wrap lots of them, the creative part is finding a fast and cheap way to do it.
The soaps above are mine. These are round soaps that I made in a PVC pipe. They are made with beer and are geared more towards men. I wrapped the soaps with coffee filters and used a round sticker to cover where the filter gathered together.
I went browsing on Flickr and came up with some cute wrappings. Look how cute this is (above). Little bandanna's wrapped around block soap...adorable!
I love the way these soaps are wrapped. Each one comes inside a fabric bag. I like the wrapping around the bag too. I only wish I knew how to sew!
I have used these boxes, but have not wrapped my soaps. I like how each soap is wrapped in different wrapping paper. Clever!
This soap reminds me of my beer soaps. I love the color of the label and the wrapping texture!

**To find out more about these products, click on the picture.

Fall Forward! It's Time To Think About The Fall Season

2009-08-11T09:12:00.010-05:00

Pumpkin Lavender soap! It sounds like a strange combination, but the outcome is amazing! I made one batch of soap and ended up making several more due to the demand!
Autumn Apple Soy Candle - A sweet, fruity scent with a touch of cinnamon....mmmmmmmmm! I made these in two sizes - 2 ounces and 4 ounce tin jars.
Pumpkin Spice whipped soap! I love this product! It's soft and creamy, and the best part is that you can use it as both a body soap and a shampoo! Just scoop up a handful and scrub away!
Pumpkin Spice handmade soap. This is soap is made with real pureed pumpkin, which contains rich vitamins which are great for your skin.
Last, but not least, are my new candles: Cranberry Vanilla, Iced Pumpkin, and Autumn Apple.

Celebrate the Fall Season!

Gosh, It's Been Awhile!

2009-07-31T16:29:00.006-05:00

We had our first Happy Hour Craft Night at Show Me Handmade! We served cookies, Missouri wine, cheese, crackers, and fruit.
We had several groups of friends that came together and took their classes together. Haley taught Calligraphy (book marks) and Winnie taught how to wire wrap earrings, using real stones and sterling silver wire.
MJ, and her daughter, took the wire wrapping class together. I just love this picture!
Lots of chatting, eating, and drinking went on.
I can't wait for next month! We will be announcing our next Happy Hour Soon.

Thunderstorms in St. Louis!

2009-07-12T13:58:00.001-05:00

I so wanted to take new pictures today, but I don't think I can with this storm!
Want to know what's going on in St. Louis right now??

click here!
Storm

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-02T20:19:00.003-05:00

Happy 4th of July! I don't usually do anything special for the 4th, especially now that the kids are out of the house. I just got a call from my daughter, who lives in Chicago, and she is coming home for the weekend! I can't wait, as it's been a long time since she has been home.
Sarah doesn't know what her plans are going to be, but rest assured...she's going to get some mommy time!
Within walking distance is a wonderful home town celebration. There's a parade on the 4th, a pet contest, lots of BBQ, many rides, and three nights of fireworks. I'm sure we will be hitting some of the "celebration"!
Happy 4th!

New Lip Balm Flavors and Labels

2009-06-28T11:06:00.008-05:00

I thought I would share some of my new lip balms with all of you. Above is a group picture of Orange Sorbet, Lavender Mint, Vanilla Bean, Banana Coconut, and Marshmallow Fluff.
Banana Coconut
Vanilla Bean
Marshmallow Fluff....my favorite!

I'm working on lip balms for the Fall. I will have Pumpkin, Candy Cane and a few I will disclose soon...so stay tuned!

Lip Balm Flavors - What's YOUR Favorite??

2009-06-26T16:12:00.007-05:00

Lip Balms are one of my favorite things to use and my most hated thing to make. I love, love, lip balm, but making them is such a pain in the arse...lol!
Being a "mom and pop" shop....or should I say just a "mom" shop, I have to make, label and wrap each and every lip balm. I usually make them in large batches so wrapping them is quicker....but I still hate doing them.
I just made:
Lavender Mint
Vanilla Bean
Orange Sorbet
Banana Coconut
Pink Lemonade
Marshmallow Fluff

What do YOU love to use, but hate to make??

Etsy Weekend Deals!

2009-06-19T13:10:00.006-05:00

Etsy featured my SAFE Team in their Etsy Weekend Deals! They featured my Intoxicating Beer Soap that's made out of real beer!
It's time to relax this weekend! Come see all the wonderful bath and body products featured! Weekend Deal

**What does Beer soap smell like? Well, soap made with beer does not have a scent! The beer I have here is scented with Sea Moss, which is a fresh clean scent...perfect for guys and gals!

Can You Picture The Scent?

2009-06-18T20:51:00.008-05:00

I added candles to my Etsy shop awhile back. I have always wanted to make candles and after lots of testing (which was fun!) I listed my candles. I think bath products go well with candles and what better way to pamper yourself!

The problem I have this that I love so many scents, so I get carried away when ordering my oils! I also have a hard time narrowing down the size of candle. I decided to offer tea candles, round tin candles, and glass candles. Tea candles are nice to have around and are pretty inexpensive to ship. I am offering glass candles because they look really nice I am selling them in my shop...so no shipping costs!
One of my favorite scents is Tomato Leaf. It sounds like a strange scent, but it's really a nice FRESH scent! My son was home last weekend and after smelling this candle, he said, "wow, that really smells like a tomato vine". This coming from a young man that won't even walk into a bath and body shop! He even took one home with him. Now that's an endorsement!

How much do you love bath and body? Now you can buy at 50% off!

2009-05-27T18:49:00.005-05:00

Coming June 1st - A MONTH long hunting game! Every day I will "hide" a word, number, or symbol somewhere in one of my Etsy listings. I will post the "search" every day and the first person to find it in my shop will receive that item for 50% OFF! I will post the "search" during various times each day so everyone had a chance to find it. Check back every day for the new hint!
So, be sure to check out my shop at ABreathOfFrenchAir every day for fun discounts!

Fun With Flowers In St. Louis

2009-05-21T09:35:00.006-05:00

One of my favorite things to do is walk around my garden and capture the beauty of my flowers! The above picture is one of my dwarf Iris's. I planted the bulbs 2 years ago and this is their first time blooming. I'm in love with blue flowers these have become my all time favorite!
I tucked this Hosta in my back bed 2 years ago. I had no idea is was going to get this big! I take pictures of my clogs next to the plant for comparison. It will be split this fall!
I plant most of my plants by seed and this Columbine too 3 years to bloom, but it was so worth the wait! The details are just amazing. I planted these as "extra's" since I had so many plants come up, and these are planted under my window boxes in the front of the house.
Another true blue Clematis! This one trails on our white banister in the back yard and blooms for a very long time!

I'm in a contest! I would love your Etsy Vote!

2009-05-14T09:33:00.004-05:00

Time to Vote!

I've been entered into Etsy's contest!! Come see all the wonderful items for Teachers!
My Lemongrass Basil Soap Set is in the contest and I would love your vote!
*the soap has sold, but there is another one in my shop*

VOTE

Monday Finds With All Kinds Of Yummy Things To Eat!

2009-05-11T09:34:00.006-05:00

HowlingWolfSauces's.Etsy.Com
I gave these to my husband and son for Christmas last year. I can honestly tell you that these are the BEST sauces in the world! We used them on chicken, port, and as a dipping sauce. Yum!!
DoubleDippedSweets's
Having tasted Double Dipped's dipped apples, I can'n tell you enough how GOOD these are! They are also HUGE, so be sure you have someone to share it with you!

frankiesfoods.Etsy.Com
This looks like I could just pop it into my mouth! Not only does this look delicious, but the photography is amazing! This shop is brand new, so make a new seller's day by purchasing from their new shop!

Now, I'm hungry!!

Monday Finds!

2009-05-04T09:44:00.006-05:00

Monday finds! Monday's are not the most favorite day of the week....at least not for me. I've decided to turn a dreaded day into a shopping day! Every Monday I will share some of my Virtual Shopping, which I'm going to call Monday Finds.
I love finding art in inconspicuous places. I have always admired vinyl art and these really caught my eye. To see where to purchase, just click on the picture.
This adorable art is from vinylwalldesign. I think these would look great in a kids bedroom, bathroom...or in the hallway.
I just love this! ChuckEBrydWallArt made this subtle artwork. This would look great in my half bath!
Elephannie made this little chickie. I think I would buy more than one!

Blogger Problems

2009-04-27T19:49:00.004-05:00

Sorry I haven't been posting lately. I can't stay logged into Blogger. Every time I leave a page, I have to log back in. Sigh....wish I knew how to navigate computers better!

Anywho....lot's of new stuff today! My Treasury was on the front page again! Although this is exciting, I was sad that they took a few of my Show Me Etsy Teams items out, especially the ShowMeEtsy Shop item!

Here's the treasury!
I have also added candles!! Come see my newest here!
Candles

My First Treasury!

2009-04-03T09:37:00.004-05:00

My first treasury to make the front page of Etsy! I have made lots of treasuries, have been featured in lots of treasuries, and even made it to the front page of treasuries....but this is the first treasury to make the front page!!!!

Spring Has Sprung!

2009-03-26T16:13:00.007-05:00

Spring has sprung! I've been working on the beds for the past few days. Most of them have been neglected due to my ankle surgery last Spring. My favorite flower , or at least the one I love looking at the most, are the Red Hot Pokers (pictured above). I cleaned out the dead leaves and I can see lots of new growth at the base. I started these by seed, and have divided the plants several time. The stems can be 3 to4 feet tall and the bloom is about 5 inches tall. A very stunning plant!
Peeking out are my Sweet William. Not many came back last year, so I will have to sow more for the upcoming year. They are in the very back of the yard, so I can't see them unless I am in the backyard with the dogs. I need to move them closer to the house.
Cleaning out all the grass, I noticed lots of baby Gallardia's. They bloom all summer long and will grow just about anywhere...we have a few growing in our grass last year!
It was fun getting my hands in the dirt. Nothing replenishes the soul as peering at a worm at eye level!

We Were On The News!

2009-03-18T17:55:00.004-05:00

Our local CBS station came to interview our shop the day before our Grand Opening. It was exciting, but very nerve racking! Of course, they picked the only time my voice cracked...oh well...it drew TONS of people into the shop!

CBS

Our Grand Opening At Crestwood Court Is This Weekend!!

2009-03-04T10:27:00.010-06:00

Come visit us at Crestwood Court! We are having our Grand Opening on Saturday and Sunday, March 7th and 8th. Ribbon cutting begins at noon on Saturday. We will have demo's throughout both days, so come and meet all the artists!
Here are a few pictures of my shelves. Above are my foam scrubs and matching soaps.
I arranged my products by scent.
Paul, from Wilson Graphics, made my banner. I love it!!

The Cook

2009-02-22T16:29:00.010-06:00

I decided to pull the crock pot out and make some soap today. I was pretty well stocked for several weeks, so I haven't made soap in what seemed like ages! Above is the "cook". The oils and lye/water are almost done cooking. I melted my oils on high and cooked on a low setting.
Here it is all ready to add the essential oils. This batch has Lemongrass and Basil oils. It smells divine! I waited a few minutes between turning off the crock pot and adding my essential oils.
One plus of soap making is that clean up is easy! I put the crock pot in my sink, add all my spoons, cups, and spatulas , add water and walk away!
Of course, I will have to come back and rinse everything off before I put them in the dishwasher. :)
A long shot of the finished soap. I sprinkled lemon peel on the top. It will be ready to cut in just a few hours. These will be in my shop, at Crestwood Court, in a few weeks.

We Are Open At Crestwood Court!!!

2009-02-07T08:16:00.008-06:00

New banner!! I had it custom made at Wilson Graphics. Paul did a wonderful job creating a banner just for me!
The banner matches my labels! I use a blue and yellow Toile on all my labels.
Next to me is Haleyshandmades. Haley sells Poodle cards, t-shirts, and artwork. Haley has an adorable dog, named Sunny, who comes to work with Haley!
The bottom shelf is hard to get at, so I decided to take some pictures of my soaps and place these on the shelf. My soap is wrapped in burlap bags (above the pics), so the colorful soaps are not visible.

Come visit us at Show Me Handmade!

Coming Soon To Crestwood Court, Showmehandmade, Etsy, and 1000 Market!

2009-01-26T05:53:00.012-06:00

Coming soon to my shop! A sneak peek at what's happening behind the scenes. Above, and below, are my Soap On The Go, soap sticks. This one is called Banana Split. It has layers of banana and chocolate, and topped with a dollop of Raspberry! Smells heavenly!
I think they are soooo cute!
I have a new product line! I'm introducing whipped soap! OMG, I am so in love with these!! They are so thick and creamy, and they make a great shaving soap and I've been using them as a shampoo! My whipped soap cleans so gently and leaves my skin moisturized and my hair very soft! The one pictured here is Blueberry Sage. I also have Sandalwood Vanilla, and Red Ripened Raspberry, and Cucumber Delight.

The bar soap above is brand new. It's my first unscented soap. I'm going to call it "Incognito".
Last, but not least, is my Dragon's Blood soap. I am in love with this scent!! I need to take a new picture because the soap has darkened up just a little. I think it turned out pretty cool!

Well, that's what's coming soon! Be sure to check out these products , coming soon, at:

1000 Market

ABreathOfFrenchAir.Etsy.Com

ShowMeHandmade.Com

We Are Almost There!

2009-01-15T16:59:00.006-06:00

Paperwork is getting done, and we are meeting again tonight..I'm so excited! Hopefully we can get in and start to measure our space and plan our displays. The lease will be signed soon and we plan on opening the beginning of Feb!
Stay tuned for our Grand Opening! Show Me Handmade

My Husband Is Goose Hunting And I'm Shopping!

2009-01-10T18:12:00.004-06:00

This sweet monkey is from TheWillowtree's shop. Click on the picture to visit this adorable monkey! I might have to get this for my daughter for Valentine's Day!
I just love this stamp from NoraJane! I'm going to ask her if she can make a custom one for me!
Last, but not least, is my most favorite item....I think these are so cute! I can see these placed at each place setting for a dinner party! You can find these at FayeHubele's shop!

Valentine's Day Will Be Here Before You Know It!

2009-01-06T17:42:00.009-06:00

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to pamper someone you love! Here are some gift sets I put together. The first set (Women's) is already in my shop, and the last (Men's) will be in the shop tonight or tomorrow.
Pick your own scent! Comes with handmade soap, body butter, and a soap deck.
This one comes with handmade soap, soap deck, body butter, and a body scrubby.

Sneak Peak Part Two

2008-12-28T17:15:00.005-06:00

Spring is an exciting time of the year. It's the start of a fresh new beginning for many things. Here is a sneak peek at another new soap coming soon! It's scented with Red Delicious Apple and topped with Fresh Grass soap shavings.
Please help me name this new soap! I would love to have you vote on a name -------->

A Sneak Peak At My Spring Collection!

2008-12-21T13:22:00.010-06:00

Although I have been pretty quiet on my blog, I have been super busy behind the scenes! I have many new exciting, and delicious soaps coming soon! Here is a sneak peek at some new soaps that are on their way.
If you would like to be contacted when these are in my shop, feel free to leave your email address and I'll send you a note when they are available.

Super Busy And Some New Things

2008-12-14T09:27:00.006-06:00

I added some new packaging to my shop this past week. Above is a picture of my new lotion bottles. I love the bright blue color! They are 4 ounce bottles, but hold almost 5 ounces of lotion.
I love the round look and how I was able to put the list of ingredients on the side of the bottle.
I also decided to add lip balm in tubes. I, personally love lip balm in tubs, but most people like the tubes....so here they are! Right now I have Coconut Lime, Cafe Latte, Sweet Raspberry, and Peppermint!
Stay tuned for more products to come in this week!

New Body Butters!

2008-12-03T18:04:00.004-06:00

I'm adding new body butters to my shop! The top on is Winter Grapefruit. It should be in my shop tomorrow. The one below is Pearberry....I love it! Fresh, fruity, and oh so soft!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T10:22:00.002-06:00

Black Friday!!

2008-11-26T15:32:00.007-06:00

Black Friday sale in my shop! My sale starts at 6am and ends at midnight (CT).
20% off EVERYTHING in my shop!!
*discount will be refunded through Paypal after payment is made.

Time to shop in your jammies! Don't brave the cold, get stuck in traffic, or carry those heavy bag all around a crowded mall!

A Breath Of French Air - Your Online Bath and Body Shop

Time To Show Off!

2008-11-23T16:34:00.005-06:00

A few new items in my shop! Above are my Soap Sticks..portable soap! Made out of Goat's Milk, my soap sticks are easy and fun to use. Just push up the soap, and rub on your skin. They are also great for kids to use!
Also new are some new lip balms. Above is my Kumquat lip balm. Kumquats are very similar to oranges in taste.
And last, but not least, my new solid lotion bars! Easy to use and great for "on the spot" moisturizing for your heels, elbows, or anywhere else that needs some extra care. I love to rub in on my legs after I shave!

Through The Eyes Of Dogs

2008-11-15T18:01:00.004-06:00

This is how my two Cairn Terriers spend their day. No Soap Opera's for my two!

A Rose As Rosey As A Rose!

2008-11-08T19:01:00.004-06:00

My sister wanted some English Rose Body Butter, so I ordered some fragrance oils from Bramble Berry. The scent was so heavenly that I decided to make some soap with it! I wish I did not have to wait 4 weeks before I use it. I'm pleased with how they all came out. I crushed Rose Petals all over the top. I know some people do not like dried flowers in their soap, and these will wash off after one or two uses.

Fall Colors In St. Louis

2008-11-03T12:31:00.009-06:00

Ah, Fall in St. Louis! It's a beautiful, warm day and the sun is out in full force. I snapped a few pictures around the yard. Above are my two sweeties, Scout and Finch.
A Burning Bush in the very back of the yard. I love how the sun has "touched" just one part of the bush.
This is a tree between my neighbors house. This is what I see when I look outside my back window.
Lastly, this is a Rose that has survived several frosts already! The Rose Bush is full of blooms!

1000 Markets!!

2008-11-02T18:00:00.005-06:00

I joined 1000 Markets a few days ago, and I'm really excited! I love their format and I'm looking forward to running my shop there.

It's free to list, and you only pay a percentage of what you sell.

Click on the picture to see what's new in my shop!

POLL: Name This Soap

2008-10-28T08:55:00.005-05:00

I'm having a hard time with the name of this soap. Will you please help me out? I have some choices above, but if you have another name in mind, post it here!

Here's the description I have for it:

Tomato Leaf Herbal Handmade Soap is a light, fresh, airy and herb-y scent. It is a blend of all kinds of melons and tomatoes with lemon-lime top notes, fresh leafy herbaceous middle notes and a wonderfully rich and earthy base. My Tomato Leaf Handmade Soap is made using the freshest ingredients, including Tomato Paste!

Tomatoes are a wonderful source of carotenoids like lycopene, beta-carotene, and vitamin E, which have been know to be effective antioxidants.

Browsing For Christmas!

2008-10-26T14:14:00.004-05:00

It's time to start thinking of Christmas. I like to take my time and really think over all my choices carefully. I think my DH would like these from mountainriverflies. My husband loves to fish and I think these would make a great stocking stuffer!

My son loves to BBQ and I bet he would really like some homemade BBQ sauce from

HowlingWolfSauces!

My DD might like this for her apartment. She really needs artwork for her walls! This is from

jermantowicz

For myself, I would love to have this. We have two little Cairn Terriers, and this would be perfect! dogartstudio painted this.

A Funny

2008-10-23T16:08:00.003-05:00

Another joke from my brother....lol! Guess who he's voting for!

I'm In The Storque!

2008-10-19T15:43:00.004-05:00

I was in the Storque this weekend! Check it out....I'm the first shop featured!

FREE Shipping This Weekend on Cold Process Soaps, Lip Balms, Solid Lotions, and Body Lotions!

2008-10-18T11:11:00.007-05:00

Buy six or more bars of soap and receive FREE shipping!
Buy six or more Lip Balms and receive FREE shipping!
Receive FREE shipping for orders of three or more body lotion!
And last, but not least, FREE shipping on 5 or more solid lotions!

Come stock up for the holidays!! ABreathOfFrenchAir.Etsy.Com
**mention "blog" in your notes to seller and receive a free gift!

The Fall Craft Show Was A Sucess!

2008-10-17T17:24:00.010-05:00

The show is over...whew! It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun! Above is my table. This was taken before the sun went down and right after the doors were first opened.
I was the first table by the front door! Lots of wonderful comments on all the wonderful scents everyone smelled when they walked up to the table.
The view from the side of my table. We had, I think, 23 booths! The bar was in the back. We served cheese and crackers and there was a cash bar.

I'm going to miss Summer!

2008-10-15T17:53:00.008-05:00

I love Fall. In fact, it's my favorite season....but I'm going to miss Summer!

I Am Featured In NeatoStuff!!

2008-10-14T10:40:00.004-05:00

I am featured on NeatoStuff!! They featured my beer soap! I love this site and am so honored to have them feature my Beer Soap!

Some Of My Favorite Things On Etsy!

2008-10-11T18:22:00.003-05:00

Some of my favorite finds on Etsy!
Knitting bookmark is from chatnoir77. My sister knits and I think she would really love this bookmark!

Cairn Terrier is from dogartstudio. I have two Cairn Terriers and I think this would look so cute propped up on a bookshelf!

Shoe stamp is from luvmypets. My DH is in the shoe business, and this would make a great stocking stuffer!

Sister Ester is from nunofakind. I just think this is so funny! I might buy this for myself!

Basket set is from sosorosey. I have one of rosey's bowls and they are sooooo sweet!

Wine charms (shoes) are from JenNixon. As stated above, my DH is in the shoe business. Now, he wouldn't love them, but I do!

I Had To Clean My Monitor Today!

2008-10-09T17:35:00.004-05:00

I had to clean my monitor today. How did I do? (click on the monitor)

Trunk Show Trial

2008-10-08T16:10:00.005-05:00

My first trunk show is less than two weeks away and I think I finally have the table the way I want it. Above is a close up picture of one section of my "soap box". On the left are Gingerbread Men Soaps, and the right are my Denture soaps. These were added for a little "fun".
I have two of these candles on my table. I bought them a few years ago and they are battery operated. I thought they would add a nice "spa" touch to the table. *reminder....buy extra batteries!
Here is the middle of the table...you can see the candle "lit". My soap box holds so much soap (about 4 to 5 bars deep) that I have lots of room for other products on the table.
This is the left side of the table. I've already moved a few things around since taking this. I guess the "tweaking" is never really finished!
Now I have to pack everything up, and iron the tablecloth...whew!

Trunk Show In Nine Days....Yikes!!!

2008-10-07T08:28:00.006-05:00

I've been wrapping, labeling, packing, and creating for weeks now for our upcoming Trunk Show.
I have no idea what to expect, especially since I'm the only bath and body booth (out of approx 23).

I put together these little gift sets to bundle up my soaps and to offer gift sets.
I'm hoping that customers are ready to shop for the holidays and will pick up plenty of gifts that are ready to give!

And The Winner Is.....................

2008-10-04T10:13:00.002-05:00

The winner of my Giveaway is.........Woolies!

Congrats on your win, and thanks to everyone that participated! I will be having another Giveaway soon, so check back often!

ShowMeEtsy Handmade Crazy Autumn Art and Craft Show

2008-10-01T09:52:00.005-05:00

Come join our ShowMeEtsy Street Team's, Crazy Autumn Art and Craft Show!! We will be at SqWire's Restaurant Oct. 16th from 5- 9 pm! Come and view our wonderful handmade items! We will have handmade soaps, gift cards, scarves, art, and jewelry. We are also serving wine and cheese, so come grab a glass of wine and shop for the upcoming holidays!

My Second Blog Giveaway!!

2008-09-26T17:06:00.007-05:00

Do YOU love handmade soap as much as me? Do YOU need more handmade soap? Have YOU never tried handmade soap?
Well, now is the time!!

I am having my second Giveaway!

All you have to do is go visit my shop!
Leave a comment about what you love about my shop.
That's it! Don't forget to leave
your Etsy shop name or e-mail so I know how
to get a hold of you! Good luck!!!

**Contest ends October 3rd and the winner will be announced October 4th!

I Can Smell Christmas!

2008-09-25T14:48:00.006-05:00

I'm getting ready for my street teams (ShowMeEtsy) trunk show, which is going to be October 16th. I think gift sets will do well during the show. Last night I wrapped up quite a few sets. This set is two bars of Pomegranate Cold Process Soaps, with a wooden soap dish.
I used regular typing paper for the wrapping. I used the second half of my Paypal shipping labels.

Why You Should Buy A Warranty On Your Computer

2008-09-24T10:33:00.005-05:00

I was logged onto my computer yesterday, and all of a sudden the screen became very dark...too dark to even read the large print. I contacted Dell, and I found out that my warranty, on my lap top, was to expire October 15th! I thought my computer was already 4 years old. What a nice surprise to a dismal morning.

So, I discovered how much I rely on the internet.....how did we ever manage without info (about anything) at the tip of our fingertips!!

Thankfully, I have friends and family that have offered their use of their computer until my monitor can be replaced.

Tonight: It's fixed! Dell came out this evening and replaced my LCD! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!

Honey, I Can't Find My Teeth!! Having Some Fun!!

2008-09-23T08:58:00.005-05:00

I found these great molds while I was in Seattle....I think they are a hoot!! Don't you?? I scented these with Grapefruit Essential Oils.

Have You Thought Of Christmas Yet?

2008-09-21T13:22:00.006-05:00

If not, you should! I usually start purchasing right after the 4th of July. I dislike crowds, and if I start early, I don't have to deal with grumpy crowds.
I put three of my favorite scents together, along with a soap dish....makes a wonderful gift!
Click on the soaps to purchase....easy peasy!

Vacation in Seattle

2008-09-20T10:58:00.007-05:00

I'm back, and the trip was wonderful! My sisters (from Boston and Kansas) came up too, and the 4 of us had a great time! My sister has a beautiful home and the above picture was taken right off of her deck. Her home is amazing and her garden is stunning! They have a stream running down the hill and the sound of the water is very soothing. At night, we sat outside and watched the ferries pass in front of us.
This picture was taken from the deck of her home on Lopez Island. We had a great time looking for sea glass and drinking lots of wine!

See You In A Week!!

2008-09-11T19:45:00.001-05:00

I'm off to the beautiful city of Seattle, WA! I will be back next Friday...toodles!

My Husband Just Doesn't Get It!

2008-09-09T09:53:00.005-05:00

I was having problems finding Lye a few months ago. It's not sold in many stores due to the Meth labs that keep popping up here in Missouri. My husband was out running errands and I asked him to stop at a hardware store that I had not checked out yet. I told him I needed lye to make my soap. Well, he tried and I'm now a proud owner of LYE SOAP! LOL! It's a large bar and already has DOS (dreaded orange spots)....yuck!
Next time I need lye, I'll pick it up myself!

Photography - Sometimes I Love It, Sometimes I Hate It!

2008-09-07T11:23:00.008-05:00

I tried for two days to take pictures of my solid lotion....ugh! Nothing I did worked and all the pictures were too bright and I couldn't figure out how to take the glare off of the container. They were already wrapped, and I was too stubborn to unwrap them for the pictures. Guess who won this battle??
This picture was taken after I took the covers off (I lost). The pictures turned out much better, but I still want to tweak them.
I need to lift the containers up a little so you can see the label. I usually love taking pictures, but these were a struggle.