etsy friday: handmade soap

I don't buy commercial soap anymore. After I joined etsy two years ago I have switched to handmade soap, at first because they smell and look delicious, but as time passed I found that my skin doesn't get dry and chapped anymore, and I have gotten completely rid of the rash on my hands that bothered me for years. I think handmade soap is better for me because it hasn't had the glycerine removed, and is made with pure, natural ingredients.

From what I understand there are two kinds of handmade soap, Melt&Pour and Hot or Cold Process soap. Hot Process and Cold Process soap is soap made from scratch. Soap making is a process where lye reacts with fat. Glycerine, which is moisturising for the skin, occurs during the process, but is often removed from commercial soap. Very often commercial soap bars are not actually soap, but detergents. You can read more about handmade soap in this article where etsy soap makers are interviewed.

The pretty soaps in the photo are from Frost Fish Cove Soaps, and the one on top is  from South Pacific Body. It's called Man Soap because of its scent, and it's particularly good for cleaning really greasy or dirty gardening hands. These are both great sellers that I plan to shop with again. One soap seller I keep returning to is Anderson Soap Company, especially for their delicious rosebud soap. Others I have tried and loved and am happy to recommend are Southern Vermont Soaps, Sudstress and for bath salts and oil Stephanie K Naturals. I have a preference for cold process soaps with floral scents like lavender or rose, or lemon, or soft scents like almond, honey or oatmeal, that don't trigger migraines, which is obviously reflected in my recommendations. Your tastes may be different, but whatever they are I'm sure you'll be able to find a soap that is perfect for you on etsy.

My last order, which I haven't received yet, is pure castile soap from CampoDiFiore.  I'm really excited about that order because I've been wanting to try castile soap, besides I was really happy to find a European seller, because soap is heavy and the shipping costs from the US can be painful at times. Most etsy sellers are in the US, and if you're not, the shipping costs might be a deciding factor when you're looking for a good shop. Some US sellers offer 6-8 bars in a flat envelope for a flat rate of around 12-13 dollars for shipping to Europe - I think it has something to do with the size of the envelope. I think that's reasonable, and knowing it's possible I don't like to go much higher.

sunday best

I'm so pleased with Nene's new party dress. Etsy of course! 

The new dress is from Hana & Violet, and the seller, Hiroko, is adorable Hana and Violet's grandmother.  Hiroko offers colorful dresses, outstanding workmanship and great customer service. For a small extra fee I got a custom fit, and yet it shipped in no time at all. 

Nene's last fabulously gorgeous party dress was from Bellasofia on etsy, and although it's getting very small for her, Nene loves it so much that she got really upset with me when I told her I had bought her a new dress. 

Until it arrived in it's full-skirted, lace-trimmed, red-rosed, machine-washable glory - now she won't take it off!

We're sad to see the bellasofia dress become too small, but loving the new dress, and I really want share both these sellers with you, because they're GREAT. 

Nene loves the full skirt:

- mommy, look! The dress is making waves!

- mommy, I'm really dizzy now

old thing

BF dug this out from a closet today. I had completely forgotten about it, and wouldn't have imagined that she could still wear something I knit for her when she was two. The sleeves are actually a bit long for her today!, yet I could have sworn it fit when she was two! I knit this coat with a thread of baby alpaca/silk held together wih a thread of cotton/silk, and thought I was really clever, but it made a very heavy fabric that keeps sagging and stretching. If it keeps stretching like this, she'll be able to wear it to her wedding...

paper doll

We visited the Childrens Museum a while ago, and I was delighted to find they were selling new prints of vintage paper dolls. this is kjersti - isn't she adorable?  she even has a bunad. 

I had to fight off a gang of little girls to be able to take these pictures before they put their scissors to work. 

eye candy friday: her own personal apple

Nene has an apple tree that is hers alone. She's had it for three years, and it's bearing a lot of fruit this year. She's been asking for apples since the first blooms in the Spring, so she was really excited to pick the first apple the other day. She wouldn't dream of actually eating it, or (God forbid) sacrifice it  for an apple crumble (my stupid suggestion, duh), so it was carefully placed in a fruit bowl with a laborously crafted note attached to it that says: BAREHELENESITTEPLE, which translates to THISAPPLEBELONGSTOHELENE. I predict we will see that apple rot in that bowl eventually.

first day of school

goodbye sweet freedom or welcome new era? a little bit of both I guess...

eye candy friday:peacock