05.12.08
Lime, Mint and Spring!
Wildflowers make every Kentucky spring a wonder, even in my little woodsy garden.
I apologize for not getting this blog better fed last month. All I can say is if you want to be a soapmaker, don’t go breaking any limbs. It’s pretty near impossible to make soap on crutches. The crutches are gone now, for about two weeks, and I’m trying to convince my right leg that it might try to remember the proper way for a leg to function … with limited success. For the time being it is achy, cracky, stiff and slow. Sounds a little like the rest of me some days, but I try not to think of that too much.
Anyway, spring has come to Kentucky and the foothills of the Appalachians. It’s such a beautiful time. The redbuds and dogwoods were gorgeous this year. Daffodils have come and gone, and all the spring flowers and irises are blooming right now. My eyes feast on the delicate colors like a visual banquet fit for a queen.
I have managed to make soap enough for spring festivals, and last week I began with two farmers markets. This year there are two new soaps … well, three counting the new “Ultimate” series. But the ones I have not talked about yet in this journal are a new Lime and Mint and Lavender Vanilla Lace. It’s always nice to go to markets with something new to talk about each spring. Occasionally I’ll make a soap just for that, with the idea that it is a one-time thing … buy it now if you want it.
I’m pretty sure the Lavender Vanilla Lace will be a favorite and will be around for a while. It is such a nice, warm combination of fragrances. The vanilla is a great scent, known to be especially exciting to our male friends. The problem with it is that it darkens any white soap. But if you can find a way to make that work for you, it’s well worth the tradeoff I think. There are vanilla fragrance oils that do not discolor the soap, and another option is to combine the essential oil and fragrance oil, if that’s an option. I used shea butter in this soap as well.
Here you see the new Lime and Mint soap along with its sister, Cinnamon Orange. They’re unique and nice for spring.
The Lime and Mint soap is one I’ve been wanting to do for a while. I think lime is a great, full, fruity essential oil. I’ve added it as a supplement to other combinations, but this time it gets star billing. I added a lime slice to the top of each bar and lime bits in the soap. It’s pretty and fun. The problem is all the hand work. There’s no way you can charge for all the special care that goes into this soap. But it sure is pretty!
Happy spring, everyone!
Sharon