Handmade Soaps, lotions and more...

All Natural, for Your Body

I have a good friend from New Jersey that started making soaps and lotions in her house ten years ago.  Being the perfectionist that she is, she worked hard over the years to perfect all her

 recipes.  As the story goes, the more people that used her products the more orders she got.  After placing products in local stores, doing some craft shows and taking orders from repeat customers, my friend Antoinette, is finally selling on the Internet. 

I am a big believer in homemade items and start up businesses, so I decided to place an order and find out for myself why she has so many repeat customers.  

The name of the company is Buena Vista Soapery and all items can be found on ArtFire.com

If you are not familiar with ArtFire, it's an online marketplace for handmade items.  It's a great site to research the talents of various artists, not to mention buying some great things.

Antoinette's products can be found at www.artfire.com/users/BuenaVistaSoapery

All products that are listed have complete descriptions and ingredients.  All ingredients are completely natural.

Pictured above are some great products that I ordered.  Mango Face Cream, Skin Therapy Lotion and Fluffy Sugar Scrub.  

Mango Face Cream

mango butter

kokum butter

rosehip seed oil

wheat protein

I love this face cream.  I need the moisture (ugh.....old age) but hate the grease.  This cream went on smoothly and stayed on all day.  I wore it under my makeup and never had that greasy feeling.

Skin Therapy Lotion

First I noticed the smell.  It's just so nice.  I think a guy could use this as well. It doesn't clash with other colognes either.  It's light and weirdly refreshing. I say weirdly because you don't expect that in a lotion.  It actually cooled me down after putting it on........never felt that before.  I like this stuff!  I can only imagine using this lotion after a cool shower in the summer. 

Fluffy Sugar Scrub-I haven't used this one yet, but check out the ingredients.  Sugar, Olive Oil, hempseed oil, Soybean Oil and Soy Extract.  These are not ingredients I have seen in the scrubs I've bought in Walmart.  Ok, well I can't even pronounce most of those ingredients.

Above are the soaps...OMG.  I won't be able to buy Dial or Irish Spring any more.  These are delicious, all natural soaps that lather up a soothing blend of botanicals.

I especially love the Cucumber Aloe Sea Salt.

Ingredients:

Pure Sea Salt

Organic Yogurt (yum!)

Pureed cucumbers

Aloe Vera (oh, she grows this in her backyard, so yes, it's all natural)

Olive Oil

Shea Butter

So, the economy stinks.  I get that.  I clip coupons, shop at the Goodwill and same my pennies too but I do feel I can spend some money on myself sometimes.

Buena Vista Soapery is having a sale this month giving everyone 15% off all these great products.  Take a look.....

Buena Vista Soapery

Happy Shopping

Christy

01 02 12

Wrought Iron Everywhere

Wrought Iron In The Home

The beauty of wrought iron is its great when it's new, old and also used.  There is so much you can do with it.  More and more I've been seeing it in the retail home stores, garage sales, thrift stores and salvage yards.  You can change the color of it or leave it just like it is with the rust on it.  Along with prints, paintings and other wall art, wrought iron can blend in and add details to any room.

If you get a piece that is rusty just

 scrape it down with a wire brush, prime and paint using Rustoleum.  You can even clear coat it for extra protection.

One of my favorite products to embellish wrought iron is Rub-n-Buff, which comes in several colors.  You can find it in craft stores like Michael's or Joanne's Fabric Store.

Below is a wrought iron piece that I purchased at Kirkland's for under $25.00.  Originally it was red but changes were made in the den recently so I decided to spray it green.  I'll be adding some gold Rub-and-Buff to the edges.

The photo below shows door frame corners.  Frames out the door and adds some detail.

Below is another piece purchased for under $15.00 at Kirkland's. It sits between two windows. 

Below a wrought iron medallion hanging in a bathroom.

Oh yes.....wrought iron furniture.

Sconces

Here is something a little different.  Wrought iron under glass and framed. 

So if you are getting sick of prints, paintings, plates and photographs, look in the direction of wrought iron.

Christy

01 02 12

Building a Library around a Window Box

I recently showed you the window box that I created in the perfect space.  A cove in one of the bedrooms that was too small for furniture but big enough to create the perfect window box with surrounding shelves.  Don't you hate areas that are useless? Now that it's all finished I'll show you how this useless area became very functional.

Above is the window box.  There is plenty of space around the window and above the box to build a small library where there is plenty of room for books, photos and other little items.

The front of the box has bead board on it.  This I glued on and then reinforced with small nails and trimmed out.

Below is a photo of the area that is available on either side of the window for the shelves.

The area that I have decided to build this library is painted a different color than the rest of the room.

I used all MDF wood for this project.  I love this stuff.  It's sanded for you, easy to cut and is never warped.  I planned out what I thought it should look like on paper first and then took some measurements.  I measured at least three times so I get it right before making my cuts.  I cut all the wood with a miter saw, used power screws to anchor and pre-drilled all screws.  I made all the holes that a screw would fit in, bigger.  All those holes were plugged with wood buttons.  This hides the screw and gives a finished look. 

Here you see the finished look.

The shelves and trim are painted with high gloss white.  

Photos of work in progress.

Notice the right side is yellow?  I decided to switch the background to high gloss white.  I was thinking this would make it look more "built in".  It's all coming together now.

This is what the top looks like.

 Three long shelves.

Above you'll see a hinged box that I added to both sides of the shelves on the very bottom.  I used a scroll saw to create the curve, added little brass hinges so it opens and closes.  The wood piece on the top was purchased at the craft store.  This box serves as a little hiding place for special items.

Some suggestions:

This entire unit was caulked with white caulk before it was painted.  This gives a finished look.  All screws were hidden.

Always measure three times and use a level.  There's nothing worse than crooked shelves.

Use all your space.  The shelves went to the very top of the ceiling.

Be creative and add some fun stuff.

In my case the shelves are fairly narrow.  Paperback books will fit fine on here.

I bought a piece of foam and covered it for the seat.  I matched up some fabric and sewed up some curtains.  Not all of the books and things are up yet, but it will happen.  You'll notice at the very top of the unit I added some wood scroll work.

I still haven't had an opportunity to add things to the top shelf.

The cat loves it!

Here is a closer look at the box and below you can see the hinges that allows it open and close.

They come in handy and add some interest to the shelves.

The comforter above is what I used to inspire all the colors in the room.  I got this on Overstock.com for a very good price.  I took one of the shams to the fabric store and matched it up for the curtains and pillow cover.

The entire shelf unit cost under $150.00.

Happy Building!

Christy

01 02 12