Soapmaking 101 Workshop

The first Soapmaking 101 Workshop was a huge success so I am repeating it on Saturday, February 16, 2013.  If interested, please let me know as the session is limited to 6 participants.  Contact me privately and I'll send you the flyer.

Soapmaking 101 Workshop

Everything is now ready for my first workshop and I'm really excited.  Six participants have signed up for Saturday's workshop at my home.  We'll be learning all about equipment and ingredients and much more!  We will make a batch of soap together and everyone will get to take home some bars from that batch along with their choice of my own soaps.  The workshop will run from 9 AM until 2 PM and lunch is included.  These women are all friends so I hope they will be honest in their evaluations as I prepare to take a series of soap workshops to the public.  What fun!

Where Can You Find Willow Creek Soaps?

Willow Creek Soaps (PA) is proud to work with these six distributors of my handmade soap.

Tröegs Brewery:
     DreamWeaver Soap (year-round)
     JavaHead Soap (year-round)
     Troegenator Soap (year-round)
     Perpetual IPA Soap (year-round)
     Mad Elf Soap (winter)
     Nugget Nectar Soap (spring)
     Sunshine Pils Soap (summer)
     Flying Mouflan Shaving Soap (Father's Day)
     Mad Elf Shaving Soap (Christmas)
http://www.troegs.com/

Al's of Hampden & Pizza Boy Brewing:
     Citra Soap
     Bock Soap
http://www.alsofhampden.com/

The Arts Barn:
     Animal Shapes (horses, bunnies, goats, dogs, hummingbirds, roosters)
     Beer Soap
http://theartsbarn.com/

Cassel Vineyards of Hershey:
     Concord Soap
     Niagara Soap
http://casselvineyards.com/

St. Thomas Roasters:
     Coffee Kitchen Soap
     Chai Tea Soap
     Green Tea Soap
     Mint Tea Soap
http://saintthomasroasters.keshikusa.com/

Mid-Atlantic Rabbit and Cavy Shows:
     Rabbit Shapes (various scents)
     Cavy Shapes (various scents)
http://www.marcshows.com/

Sacred Heart Christmas Bazaar, Hanover, PA

Willow Creek Soaps (PA) will again have a booth at the Sacred Heart Church Christmas Craft Show &  Bazaar in Hanover, PA.  All of my regular soap products and lotion bars will be available.  In addition, I have  88 "guest size" or "travel size" mini bars available.  These are terrific stocking stuffers.  They are only $2 and I expect them to be a popular option for shoppers at this event.  Come visit!

2012 CHRISTMAS

CRAFT SHOW & BAZAAR

Sacred Heart's Home & School Association will be hosting their annual Christmas Craft Show & Bazaar on Saturday, November 17, in the Parish Hall located at 55 Basilica Drive, Hanover, PA. 

Make plans now to attend!

Lotion Bar

A new product!  I found a great recipe for lotion bars and decided to add this new product to my line.  I now have bar soaps, shampoo bars, shaving soap, soap in loofahs, laundry soap, stain sticks, dog shampoo and lotion bars.

A lotion bar is hand lotion in a solid form.  One small bar will last as long as a bottle of liquid lotion.  The ingredients are as follows:

shea butter, beeswax, avocado oil, almond oil, vanilla fragrance

Some of these bars are traditional 2 oz. bars but I also poured 2 oz. sticks in twist-up tubes.

Testimony

My friend, Marg, sent me this email about her experience with my Nana's Stain Stick.  Looks like I will need to make more of these!

I just finished taking out the last load of wash from the dryer and everything that I used your stain stick on CAME OUT PERFECTLY!  I told you my mom used to call be "slopkessel", a German work meaning sloppy and she was right.  I hardly ever ate anything that I did drop on my clothing.  Anyway, I had the WORST stain on my tops this time.  I fried bacon and was too lazy to put on my apron and therefore my top had all kind of bacon grease splashed all over it - the STAIN STICK to the rescue!

 

I also had eaten Double Dutch Chocolate that night before going to bed and as careful as I thought I was, I dropped a big blob on my top as I missed my mouth although I still can't understand how that could happen as my mouth surely is plenty big enough. Well, anyway I did....STAIN STICK to the rescue again.  I applied this excellent new product, soon to be on the market, to all the stains and mist my tops had a stain or two.  They ALL came out.  You don't know how many stain lifters I have tried in my lifetime and this is absolutely the BEST I have ever used.

So, could you please let me know how many sticks come in a box?  Is it 12, 24 or 36?  I'm seriously thinking of purchasing a box as every time I find something that I like and that REALLY works, they seem to stop making it.  I don't want that to happen to this Stain Stick from Willow Creek.  I will be your best advertiser so if anyone is doubtful - just send them to me by phone, e-mail or letter and I will most certainly "put them straight".  So, tell your mom and Tom "This is a GOOD thing!  I LOVE it - keep 'em coming.

 

Thanks again for allowing me to test these sticks.  Ya know, I kind of even liked the soap and as you say, if it wasn't that you have to shake the life out of it - I would also buy this.  I prefer the liquid over the powder.

 

See 'ya Monday I hope.

 

I am so proud to say I know whose idea this was and who actually makes it herself!

 

Marg

 

Wine Soap

Yesterday I made a batch of white wine soap and today I made a batch of red wine soap.  I was having difficulty staying on task today and missed adding the essential oils that give it a fragrance.  So, my red wine soap is unscented.  Sigh.

Meanwhile, I opened a new bottle of Cassel's Concord Wine and used a new method for taking out the alcohol.  I've been letting the beer and wine just sit in the fridge for about 2 weeks to go "flat".  Today, I simmered the wine at 140 degrees for 45 minutes to take out the alcohol.  I'll make it into wine in the morning.  We'll see how it goes.  This time, I'll be sure to add the fragrance!