Monday, September 26, 2011

Hurray! Crocheters love Lotion Bars!





We've made our debut in Crochet Today! magazine! Not only that, but our Honeybee Lotion Bars and Nanny Goat Milk soaps are charmingly included under the title, "We Love It!"--picks for gifts for the holiday season. We are so happy to be entering the fiber/knitter/crocheter market! Thank you Fiesta Yarns for taking us to market with you.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Organic Calendula Harvest Glows



The Organic extra virgin olive oil in my Nanny Goat Milk Soaps, and the almond oil in my Honeybee Lotion Bars are infused with local, now Certified Organic calendula, grown by Heather Harrell and Kristin Davenport.

I wish I was a better photographer; it is so hard to do justice to this stunning fresh-dried calendula that seems to glow with its own inner light. It is shockingly beautiful, and when it is infused into oil, it will impart its healing resin as well as some of its color, leaving the oil a darker orange color. This is one of the "secrets" of my products. This little herb adds no scent (it smells like alfalfa when dried), but has powerful benefits:

"Calendula is a plant extract that has been used throughout history in skin preparations. Calendula is beneficial for dry or damaged skin and also promotes the fast healing and regeneration of the skin because of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. According to YourHealth.com, applying calendula topically is effective for decreasing inflammation and promoting the healing of wounds, burns, eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions." (source)

I'm in the process of ordering large quantities of oils; the fresh-dried flowers will go right into the oil, which will preserve its properties (leaving them in the air will slowly render them less potent). Then I'll pour off this rich infused concentration to blend with the pure oils, and that oil will go right into my products, and out to you.

By the way, my business is growing, and this is enabling me to support more local farmers. Heather Harrell, once my sole source of calendula, will now be joined by Kristin Davenport and Becky of SunStar Herbs.