Mythology Local Eco Boutique - San Diego

I have been touring the local shops that sell my products and a few weeks ago I had a chance to visit Mythology in the South Park Area of San Digeo, home to an eclectic mix of shops, galleries and eateries. Mythology is owned by artist and designer Rickard Frederick who is known for his designer VEGAN belts, organic clothing and T-shirt designs.

 "All of our clothing is made of only organic and/or recycled materials like organic cotton, bamboo, soy composite or hemp.  You’re guaranteed to find these fabrics super soft, yet extremely durable.  We also try to buy from local artists and designers as much as possible.  This not only cuts down on the amount of gasoline spent shipping merchandise around the world, but keeps our selection of merchandise extremely unique."

 Richard's Vegan Cuffs

Mythology carries Naiad Soap Arts Natural Lip Balms, Soaps and Liquid Soaps as well as eco-friendly clothing for children and adults, jewelry, accessories, graphic tees, candles and Richard's signature Vegan belts and cuffs. The store has a friendly vibe and unique selections!

 

Eco friendly clothing for men and women

While I was taking pictures one of Richard's T-shirts stood out for me and he told me the story behind the design (below). A regular customer of his came into the store while looking through the tees and mentioned that one one of the images reminded him of images on the walls of Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia. The customer told Richard that he had rare rubbings from the site that his Grandmother took in the 70's before the temple was closed to the public and offered to give Richard the images. The T-Shirt below is one of those images! A truly unique tee that you won't find any where else.

Angkor Wat Temple Rubbing

After talking more with the customer Richard found out that their family contributes to a college fund so that the next generation has money to go to school assuring that the new generation has a chance to reach their goals and dreams! As part of his thanks for the Angkor Wat images, Richard now contributes $1.00 to the family's college fund for every T-shirt he sells. How cool is that!

You can Find Mythology at 2365 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104 

 Stunning and Studded Vegan Belts

 Naiad Soap Arts Lip Balms

 Kids clothing and accessories

 Ocean Minded Sandals

Print out this promotion and bring it to Mythology for 25% off your purchase!

English Apothecary™ giveaway

The English Apothecary™ line was conceived in January of 2010 during a rainy morning walk, where here in Southern California we are in the middle of rainy season and all of the flowers are in full bloom. I caught the scent of something sweet, floral and citrus and had to run home to try and recreate it. I wanted English Apothecary™ to be an all natural line but strayed on my initial products, which were very popular but did not adhere to the 100% natural criterion I had drawn for the brand so I wanted to start over. I got stuck, then I got busy, then I got married, and so the line has been dormant for over a whole year!

I really wanted to do English Apothecary™ right with the product line clear and packaging all in order. It has been slow going, as it sometimes is when you are the R&D, Production, and Packaging departments but I am finally ready to launch the first products!

I would love to hear what YOU think about the new scents! I am giving away sample packs of 1 oz. bar soaps, full 5.25 oz bar soaps, full 14 oz. jars of sugar scrub and full 8 oz. size liquid soaps! There will be 12 prizes in all with two lucky recipients getting bar soap, scrub and liquid soap!

There is a catch - I want your feedback! Let me know what you think about the products and be honest! I will try to post a survey once everyone gets their samples and has a chance to try them, but feel free to leave a comment in this post.
Note - some of the packaging is not finalized in case your label falls off (wink).

To enter just leave a comment below. I will announce the lucky 12 this Saturday August 6th at 5 pm PST. Shipping to the USA is free but if you are outside of the country I will ask that you cover 50% of the shipping so please note this when entering.

The bar soaps will be available in
Lavender Chamomile
Lemon Honey
Orange & Blossoms
Peppermint Tea Tree
Bergamot, Lime & Basil

Scrubs in:
Lavender Chamomile
Lemon Honey
Orange & Blossoms

Liquid Soap in:
Lemon Honey
Orange & Blossoms

Column Swirl

So, this video of a painting by Holton Rower has been going around and made it into the soap community via Soapylove's Facebook page where Debbie noted it might be inspiring for Cold Process soap makers. Boy was she right! Amanda Griffin of Lovin' Soap posted pictures of her attempt to do this with soap - as far as I know the first person to try it out with soap as the medium. Since then I have done it as well as Holly Port from Lotion Bar Café!

Click here to see the original video reposted by Non ci posso credere. The video is beautifully done! 

Here are my results:

 just poured soap. The colors are made using natural cosmetic clays. I used an essential oil blend for the scent so this one is all natural!

 Gelled Soap 18 hours later

Clay colors

Column cross sections. These are really cool - I think they look like sediment lines.

Cut Bars. There is a lot of variety and the bars from the edges of the mold didn't get much color. These are mostly from the middle of the mold.

 

 

New soap available and on sale!

Just a quick note - the new Bathtub Brew and lavender Lime Soda are now available and on sale until July 10th for $5.50 per bar! Click here to buy!

I also sent out a newsletter with an exclusive sale for subscribers - be sure to sign up by July 10th to catch the sale!
( see sign up form on the right side bar)

The Art of Soap - a book by Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove

I am constantly amazed by how much people love soap! I get emails, chats and posts on my Facebook fan page from lovers of soap, users with new appreciation and budding soapmakers looking for advice, all praising the idea of soap and the process of making it. Since its invention soap has been here to stay. Soap, that utilitarian staple of human cleanliness (modern usage also for cats and dogs), that modest brick in standard scents like “Dove” and “Irish Spring”. After entering the world of soap making almost four years ago, I felt like I was stepping into the beginning of a soap revolution. I have watched soap making evolve into an exploration of custom fragrances, exotic and ancient ingredients, and wild to mild colors, with soap makers pushing the boundaries of artistic soap design, each with a unique visual perspective – an intimate expression of themselves. After all, as soap makers don’t we all dream of making what we ultimately would like to bathe with?

Soap is no longer modest but is screaming to be front and center.

A woman at the forefront of this soap revolution is Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove, a good friend and a master artisan of glycerin soap. She has conceived an idea in the process of fruition. A book dedicated to the varying aesthetics in soap and the stories behind the bars. Simply: The Art of Soap. When she asked me to photograph the book I didn’t hesitate.

Follow the progress of the book here: http://theartofsoapbook.blogspot.com/

You can see Debbie's amazing soaps here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soapylove/

Debbie's blog: http://soapylove.blogspot.com/

Natural Selections

I have been brewing up essential oils combos like crazy for the past few weeks! I was inspired by a lecture I saw at the HSMG Conference by Robert Tisserand, an expert in aromatherapy, and got to work revisiting my essential oil books and formulating up a storm! My goal is to expand my all natural line of soaps to give customers additional all natural options while still striving for a unique look! Soaps made with essential oils hit your body differently than soaps made with fragrance oils. They have the power to soothe, relax, calm, get you energized, - the benefits are physiological and psychological! Now, I am not dogging fragrance oils. Sometimes I want to wake up to the smell of fresh baked blueberry muffins or strawberry cheesecake, or a soap that smells like a far off place from my childhood that a particular fragrance oils has perfectly captured. Everything has a place. Right now I am mesmerized by essential oils and I hope you enjoy what I have come up with! FYI - I am showing some love to the gentlemen with a new beer soap with orange and spices that the ladies will love too,  and a woodsy spruce combo with a touch of citrus! The beer soap is made and pictured below and the Spruce is in production next week as soon as my larger sizes of the oils arrive!

I hope you enjoy the pics and welcome any suggestions you might have for future all natural soaps!

Natural collection from front to back: Lavender Lime Italian Soda, French Lavender, Lemongrass, Rosemary Mint, Bath Tub Brew

Castile soaps made with 100% olive oil, essential oils, botanicals and clay. I sell these as facial soaps but they are lovely for the whole body! from front to back: Unscented Castile, Tea Tree, Lemon Geranium

New Lavender Lime Italian Soda available at the end of June:

New Bath Tub Brew available at the end of June, made with organic fair trade red palm oil, Stone IPA, and a warm spicy blend of essential oils - ok, it smells like a pumpkin pie!

The newly redesigned Rosemary Mint!

Pure, Fantastic Pepo Park

At last year's HSMG Conference I had the privilege of hanging out with Kim Wilton, the little lady behind Pepo Park . Not only is she super cool but she is a super talented soap maker as well! Her products are all natural, simple but elegant, in fresh scents like Ylang Delight, Ginger Spice and Lavender, Lime + Grapefruit. I am using the Ginger Spice now and it makes taking a shower in the morning pure bliss with a heavenly scent and bubbly moisturizing lather!

Oh, and she makes a must have salve for dry weathered skin with Tea Tree and lavender essential oils called No More Rough Patches, as well as bath salts, lip balms and room sprays!

When she isn't making soap or donating soap to Clean the World and other charities you can find her on facebook, Etsy, and her website!