Tea Tree

I've one more Castile-style soap on the curing rack right now, and while the fragrance isn't exactly the kind you'd wear for perfume, I'm finding myself inhaling deeply when I walk by it. Tea tree is an essential oil with antiseptic and antifungal properties, with an herbal, medicinal smell, and it makes me feel squeaky clean just thinking about it. This bar would be appropriate for skin that isn't perfect, like most of us have. Studies have shown that a preparation of Tea Tree Oil can be as effective for acne as bezoyl peroxide. I've added French Green Clay as it is traditionally used for acne-prone or oily skin. These bars will be available for purchase at my Etsy shop the end of April.

Featured At...

It's always fun when other artisans take note of your work, and this week a fellow Etsian has featured my Soapstone Hand Soap at her blog. You can see the entry at Lucky Duck Designs. She's created a perfect gift pairing of the Soapstone with one of her cards, a clever duo to give to someone who could use a little appreciation.

Shea Butter musings

I have been enjoying my shea butter Body Scrub Bars so much, I got to thinking about why for the past three years I have kept some unrefined shea butter on hand at all times.

I started out with shea by purchasing some refined shea butter to soap with. It was pure white, smooth, odorless and, well, an awful lot like shortening. I couldn't see what the fuss was all about. So for my next purchase, I chose the unrefined version. Then the light bulb came on - this was totally different.

The unrefined shea tells you that it is a product derived from nature. Pale greenish tan in appearance, it has an earthy look in contrast to the factory-uniform refined shea. The nutty, almost smoky scent gives you a hint of the manufacturing being close to the land.

Using the unrefined shea was a different experience as well. When applied to a rashy area, the redness and itchiness diminishes significantly within a few minutes. The creamy butter softens any scaliness and helps stop peeling. It is so soothing, there are clearly active constituents within the butter of which I know little - what I do know is that they work!

I normally like to use shea straight as a balm because I feel that it is most effective when it is not diluted with other ingredients, but I'm glad I decided to use it in my Body Scrub Bars. Besides being just plain fun and decadent to use, it's an easy way to moisturize with Shea Butter. I like not having to get my hands all lotioned up after I step out of the shower. I think a few tweaks of the recipe to help increase the longevity of the bars, and these might make it into the permanent recipe file.

Hint of Spring

Here in California, the narcissus has bloomed, and plum blossoms are beginning to give the plum trees a pink misty look as they begin to unfurl. We always say that when the plum blossoms are in full swing, then it snows! In spite of the balmy days we are enjoying now, there will be a few more weeks of blustery coldness coming up in March. So in anticipation of spring, and to encourage us through the last of the gloomy winter days, here is the latest listing at my Etsy shop - Fresh Mint, a leafy green bar with spring written all over it. Not a pure mint scent but a blend of a sporty juniper fragrance with a touch of brisk mint, this bar cheerfully reminds us that winter always, well, leaves!

Rebatch Tutorial

Sometimes the "soap fairies" show up and get their sticky little fingers into the process of creating your latest masterpiece, and the result is, well, entertaining (as in the case of my famous ham colored soap, lol) or just plain disappointing. Or, maybe your flurry of soaping activity has resulted in a bin full of trimmings, scraps and end pieces. Whatever the reason, every soapmaker finds themself facing a rebatch now and then. I happen to enjoy the opportunity that a rebatch presents, so I thought I'd share my method of reclaiming those bits and nibs of soap and turning them into something entirely fabulous and interesting.

1. Choose your scraps - select compatible colors and shades.



2. Weigh it all out so that you will be overfilling your mold by about a quarter inch.
   
3. Have your mold lined and ready.
   
   
4. If your scraps are not all mixed, you have the choice of selecting which will become part of the background blend, and which will be more prominent. Separate the color/s you want to be more distinct, and save them to add at a later step. If the soap scraps are older or very dry, you may want to mist them with water til they are just damp. Newer, softer soap doesn't normally need any water to start.





5. Begin melting the soap. Some use a double boiler, but I prefer to microwave the soap. Keep a spray bottle of water at hand and mist the soap after stirring every few minutes.



6. Continue melting and misting and stirring til the soap slumps off your spatula like thick oatmeal.





7. Now you are ready to add any colored shreds that you left out earlier. This is also the time to add fragrance oil if you need to. When you mix in your shreds, they will cool and thicken the soap so it will need to be heated and stirred again.
   
8. As soon as the last shreds are well mixed and any fragrance oil is fully blended, drop by spoonfuls into the lined mold. Push it into the corners with your gloved hands. If the soap seems dry when you glop it into the mold, you can mist it a little with water before the next scoop and that will help prevent the individual scoops from creating a seam that separates later. It may help to bump the entire mold on the counter a few times to get the soap settled. Smooth the top as best you can with your hands. It will look very rough.





9. Allow the soap to cool overnight.
10. Unmold and cut the rough top off the loaf, then cut into bars.

Here are a few different rebatch soaps I've done:

Please enjoy this gallery of previous batches. Find my current offerings at http://savonara.etsy.com

Come on over...

To our new Etsy shop, where you can see what is currently in stock and purchase your choice of items.

Savonara's Etsy Shop

Spring is sprung

A spring update for everyone: Big news in the Savonara family, we are blessed to be awaiting the summer arrival of a new baby!

We will likely either cut back or cut out the farmer's market this summer due to the new arrival, but not to worry, we will keep soap in stock that you may order directly from us. As always we are flexible in arranging delivery when possible or mail order if needed. Give us a call!

MidWinter Update

Soon it will be time to get back in the soap kitchen and make up wonderful fragrant batches of creamy bars in my new oversized molds! The new molds will enable me to make more soap in fewer batches.

I would love to hear from you about what your favorite scents are - this year I will be keeping about six basic scents in each of my two soap recipes. You can have a say in which scents get to stay and which will be dropped for this year. Just leave a comment here telling me what fragrances you and your family enjoy the most, or if you are calling to place an order, you can let me know then.

Enjoy this winter sunshine while it lasts & we will see you when the People's Mountain Market opens in June!

Upcoming for the holidays...

lots of new soaps on the curing rack, will be ready for November's holiday sale at the ALT Gallery.




Red Clover Tea - a sweet pea fragrance ***Sold Out***


Apple Jack - spicy fruity scent Sold Out


Oatmeal Milk and Honey - warm and sweet, a favorite all year round ***Sold Out***


Rose Mint - sold


Dead Sea Mud - for the new Olive oil soap line, a bar that will pamper you silly with Dead Sea Mud and a soothing blend of essential oils including rosewood.


Lavender Tea Tree - classic combination of skin-friendly essential oils in a creamy Olive oil soap, with a touch of geranium oil to brighten the fragrance. ***Sold Out***


Orange Clove - this Olive oil soap shines in a citrus fragrance delicately touched by clove.


Lemongrass Mint - another addition to the Olive oil soap line, a popular and refreshing blend of essential oils. ***Sold Out***

Take a look...

A pair of colorful soaps just for fun.

Island Splash, a brightly colored layered soap that smells fruity and tropical. Sold Out





Next, a soap that is truly one of a kind - yep, there's just one bar. Like mosaic tiles, each piece in the design is placed by hand to create a unique pattern. This is just one of eight different Mosaic Soaps you will see at our booth in the next few weeks. Sold Out

New from Savonara: Olive Oil Soaps!!

In response to customer interest in natural olive oil soaps, we are introducing a new line. These Castile-style soaps are made with a blend of olive and rice bran oils and will also incorporate herbs, essential oils, clays and botanicals. We have been enjoying this unique recipe for over a year but recently decided to share it with our market customers due to the demand for a naturally colored & scented soap that fits the vegetarian lifestyle. But you don't have to be vegetarian to enjoy the natural aromas and dense foamy lather of this rich, creamy soap!

Here are the first three offerings in our new Olive Oil Soap line:




From front to back: Lemongrass Mint, Lavender Tea Tree and Orange Clove.



*Update*
Wow, response to the new line is great, and at the moment Lavender Tea Tree is sold out, with Orange Clove going fast... don't worry, we are making more! New scent blends are in the works as well, so check back now & then to see what new Olive Oil soaps are curing!

Announcing...

Savonara handmade soaps are now available at the Lotus Art Studio in Lotus, Ca. If you can't make it to the farmer's market in Garden Valley for our soap, please stop in and choose from the variety of bars that the Studio carries. At the moment you will find my regular line of soaps there, but in the near future you will be treated to an exclusive line of bars made only for the Studio with design & scent combinations you will not find anywhere else.

While you are there, check out what new owner Betty Norvell has done with the place - amazing! and well worth the stop. The Studio is becoming a valuable resource in our community, offering not only art and beautiful things to enhance your well-being, now there are yoga, bellydancing and drama classes going on!! The Lotus Art Studio is located on Highway 49 in Lotus, pull in at the pizza place and stay left down to the two story green building on your right.

Farmer's Market Schedule

Hey everyone,
it was so nice to get back out to the market and see all the familiar faces! We'll be attending the market twice a month whenever possible this summer. Once we come back from vacation at the end of the month, we'll be back on track. We will post any changes to the schedule if needed.
See you July 1st!!

August will see us at the market on the 5th and the 19th of the month. Hope you can make it!

September schedule as follows:

Sept. 02
Sept. 30
Oct. 7 not definite yet

Summertime Soaps (sorry these soaps are all sold out!)

Lemongrass Mint, a castile bar with the fresh uplifting fragrance of mint brightened with a touch of lemongrass.






Blackberry Sage, a popular fruity scent with a brisk hint of sage – an irresistible combination! ***sold out***






Herbal Garden – a fresh, herbal scent a lot like the old style herbal shampoo, very unisex & soapy clean.






Pink Grapefruit, a castile bar with energizing grapefruit citrus in a three-color pink swirl. ***sold out***






Lavender, the pure classic scent in a modern color combination that incorporates a chocolate brown sphere against cream and lavender layers. ***sold out***





Just One – a very accurate dupe of a certain cologne by Calvin Klein, unisex, fresh, with a wisp of citrus. ***sold out***






Cucumber - a crisp, sweet refreshing fragrance - surprisingly enticing.

More soaps *update* sorry these are all sold out!

Tannenbaum - perfect Christmas tree scent; sweet, crisp and strong.
***sorry, sold out***


Lavender Chamomile, a soft relaxing blend in an elegant white-on-cream swirl. * Sorry, sold out!*



Pepperberry, a fruity berry fragrance ***sorry, sold out***





Plum Spice, a lightly spiced fruity scent in pale purple with a creamy white swirl ***sorry, sold out***



Clean - a fresh linen scent with a lemony hint.


Oatmeal, Milk and Honey fragrance - a soft sweet scent similar to baby oil, rich and creamy. *Sorry, Sold out!*



Chrysanthemum - an autumn fragrance reminiscent of fallen leaves and crisp November air. ***sorry, sold out***



Patchouli, the classic earthy fragrance. ***sorry, sold out***



Apple Jack & Peel type, the ultimate winter fragrance of apples, cinnamon, clove and a hint of citrus.
Only a few remaining, will be gone soon!


Bayberry, an old-fashioned holiday fragrace - deep, warm and comforting.




Lavender - just the pure scent of lavender, simply perfect. *Sorry, Sold Out!*



Amber - a feminine powdery fragrance, warm and rich *Sorry, Sold Out!*



Blue Moon, a berry blend with a smooth note of patchouli. ***sorry, sold out***


Bouquet - a soft floral blend that combines green herbal notes with a hint of lavender




Sierra Gold - an incense-like fragrance *Sorry, Sold Out!*



Sandalwood, earthy woodsy scent popular with men and women alike ***sorry, sold out***




Other soaps available but not pictured are:



Oat n Honey ( an unscented castile style bar, has a light sweet carmel-like fragrance from the honey, tan with oats sprinkled on top)






Check this out - if you haven't tried the improved version of my Glow Bars yet, you are in for a treat!!

Get Your Glow On! Exfoliating skin conditioner bars, a solid scrub with a cocoa butter base to leave your skin smooth and softly fragranced. A unique and convenient product that combines two steps in one. Priced at $3.75 each or three for $10.20

Below is an example of the appearance of my Glow bars, in stock bars vary. Currently in stock:

Lavender - classic scent, pink swirl on white bar
Cucumber - fresh strong and sweet fragrance, pale green bar



Lotion Bars

Convenient moisturizing for dry fingertips, elbows, heels and anywhere else that needs the touch of nourishing cocoa and shea butters, these lotion bars deliver soothing relief for dry areas, in a clear pushup tube. $3.75 ea.
Scents currently in stock:

*Sorry, sold out for now - new batches in the works so check in & see what pops up!

Update on Holiday Sales Events

Thanks to all who stopped by and made the ALT Christmas Craft Faire so much fun... it was a great day.

The next sale on the calender will take place the weekend following Thanksgiving. The Annual Christmas Crafts Fair is located at the Auburn fairgrounds and will be open 10 - 5 on Saturday the 26th, and 10 - 4 on Sunday the 27th.

The last sale of the season will be the Georgetown Health Care Auxiliary Christmas Bazaar on Saturday Dec. 3 at the Georgetown I.O.O.F. Hall. The bazaar opens its doors at 10am and closes at 4pm.

The soap shelves are full here and I am happy to take phone orders if there is something you need before or in between the sales. Happy holidays to everyone!

Holiday Sales!

We will be attending two holiday sales so far, come on out and stop by our booth to see what's new - there are a lot of new soap styles and fragrances for the holiday season. Put together a trio of soap, Glow bar and lotion bar, to create a gift that's perfect for nearly anyone on your list.

Our "Get Your Glow On" solid skin conditioning bars are now even better, with smoother application and longer lasting moisturizing!!

On November 5, we will be in the Galleria building at the Auburn Lake Trails Christmas Craft Faire.

On December 3, we will be at the Georgetown Health Care Auxiliary Christmas Bazaar.

Hope to see you there!

Farmer's Market

We will be attending the Garden Valley People's Mountain Market twice more before it closes for the season - Saturday Sept. 17 and Saturday Sept. 24. The 24th will not only offer the market as usual but also a harvest festival complete with pumpkin carving and pie contests!

We are in the process of scheduling a few holiday sales, so far we have confirmed our attendance at the ALT Craft Faire on Saturday Nov. 5 - hope to see you there!

Urban Forest

A bar in the fragrance of sweet spruce, favored by men and women alike. A strong scent.

**** Sold Out****