Full spring ahead! We're digging our new spring style at the shop. So many new and exciting things are happening all around us! Some of which I can share and others not quite yet. Book number two is done! I sent the finished manuscript to the editor and publisher. It is a unique feeling to finish a book that you've written. I would say that these feelings stand on their own. To best describe it would be that it feels like the prelude before giving birth. You know that each time you write you're one step closer to holding your book in your hand. It is definitely a process, but one that I'm fond of, and will continue to write books. It makes me happy.
Meanwhile back at the apothecary shop. I'm knee-deep into a re-style. It's coming along and exceeding my expectations. It always starts with one little idea, and the next thing you know you're vamping up the entire shop. I felt like it was a good time to organize our facial and skincare displays. I'm retiring a few pieces or at least switching them out with pieces that we already have but updating them and re-purposing them. I love to re-purpose pieces. Sometimes I'm surprised to find out that a far-out idea actually turns into a great one!
I mentioned earlier how as a soap maker I'm constantly changing things. The rugged and herb-dipped soaps are kind of cool. One of the main reasons that we wrap our soap is so that the scent holds. When you wrap a bar it secures the scent nicely.
I made a new citrus sugar scrub that is absolutely lovely! It's scented with sweet orange and litsea cubeba. Are you familiar with this essential oil?
It's a nice scent! It kind of reminds me of lemongrass but in a more mellow way. I'm highly allergic to lemongrass, and it's not unusual to have allergies to this grass. In fact, it's in the citronella family and contains the same culprit oil that can easily produce an allergic reaction. I use the oil in soap, but I'm very cautious and always warn customers that of all the essential oils lemongrass can be an irritant. It's not common to have a reaction when it's in the soap.
We're always at least one season ahead at our shop so our spring take is being designed to transform into summer easily and smoothly.
I received a shipment of super cute tops over the weekend. Hello Bittersweet girl!
Sweet Grass, Sweet Grass, Sweet Grass! I absolutely love this scent! It's popular with the American Indians along with white sage. Both offer medicinal properties.
It was snowing a while ago. I had to shut the door and pretend that I didn't see it!
A stack of flower seeds sits on my dining room table, and I'm digging out my peat moss and black dirt to start some seeds indoors.
Since it's winter outside I'm making a big slow-cooker pot of navy beans tomorrow and some homemade cornbread. I love homemade cornbread. The effort it takes to make it is minimal. Flour, honey or sugar, flour, cornmeal, and an egg are poured into a cast iron pan. My aunt makes her cornbread without any sweetener. Some prefer hearty cornbread over sweet. The mixes usually contain a lot of sugar., and that's why I like making my own.
Elle is due for a haircut, but I keep waiting until it warms up. Her beautician gives her a good trim and I feel like her extra hair is keeping her little body warm.
Did I tell you how much I love the muslin facecloths? I know that I did. Worth repeating.
I've been thinking about the word perseverance.
