Soapy Stories II - Rain Rain Go Away!

Soap and water are only a good combination in the bath or shower... read on for more about this past weekend's soapy adventure! 

This past weekend, I participated in a 3 day event, Christmas in July, at the Helen Arts and Heritage Center in Helen, Georgia. If you've never stopped in the center, you should! They have an awesome display about the history of Helen and how the town was designed to look like an alpine village. They also feature works from local artists and offer art lessons from painting to jewelry making to pottery.

The weekend started out like any other weekend in the middle of July in Georgia... H.O.T!!! I would say it was horrible... but I might be exaggerating just a little. But it was hot!

The crowds were great all weekend. People from all over were in Helen, enjoying summer. I really do like doing events because I get to meet people and introduce them to Crescent Mountain Soap.

Each night it rained, but my products were safe and dry because I put them inside the Center for safe keeping. There was a threat of rain each day, but it was just hot and cloudy. That is until Sunday... the clouds threatened in the afternoon. But my weather app said that it would not rain and the satellite map even showed all the rain going around us.

The event organizers decided to end the show an hour early at 4 pm, because of the threat of rain. However, around 3 pm, suddenly the bottom fell out of the sky! I had removed the front of my tent earlier in the day because it wasn't supposed to rain, people can see in the tent better when I don't have all the sides up and it's much cooler without all the sides! Well... let me tell you! That was the fastest rain I have ever experienced during a show. I couldn't even throw the side wall over my soaps fast enough! 

Once the rain slowed down a little, I pulled up my big girl panties and I packed up my tent and went home... a little sad. It had been a great weekend... until the rain.

Once I got home I unpacked my truck and partially set up the soaking wet tent in my garage because rain was threatening at my house too! I then had to unwrap all the wet soap and set out products with wet labels to dry. I also had to set out all my crochet items because they felt damp too. 

Well... I guess that's the chance you take doing outdoor events. In the 4 years that I've done events, this is only the 2nd rain that has really been bad. I am thankful for the great weekend and for the friends who stopped by to say hello! I'm even thankful for the rain... we really needed it in our area.

Soapy Stories I

While setting up and selling at craft shows and events throughout northeast Georgia, I often have things happen that make me chuckle or I get to appreciate the beauty of our area. I've decided to devote a part of my blog to Soapy Stories. Stay tuned for more adventures of Crescent Mountain Soap! Here's the first Soapy Story...

This past Saturday started like any other Saturday... I woke up with the roosters and groaned a little as I got out of bed. It was a Saturday after all! I got ready, finished loading the truck, and I was off to Dahlonega, GA. Did you know that gold was discovered in Dahlonega in 1828. Some say that it is the site of the the first gold rush in the United States but others say it was in North Carolina... but back to my story. It's a nice drive to Dahlonega with curvy roads and hills and I love to sight see along the way. As I am unloading my truck and setting up my tent and display, I can feel the sweat starting to drip... no let me change that to run... run down my back and off my forehead. As I'm thinking about how hot and muggy it's going to be under the July, Georgia sun, I start to hear a noise. At first I ignore it, thinking it's an ambulance or some other kind of emergency vehicle. But the sound doesn't quickly go away, it just keeps going on and on. I then realize that it's a tornado siren. Now let me back up here. I grew up where there were no tornado sirens. This is a new thing for me. So I'm not real sure about the procedures when a siren goes off. I know that I'm supposed to go seek shelter, but where at this craft show do I go? I quickly grab my cell phone and go to my weather app. Dahlonega comes up and there is not a tornado warning flashing on the app. Now I'm really confused. Then I hear someone a few tents away saying that it's the monthly test of the tornado alert siren. OH MY! My heart started beating again. All I could see was my tent and soaps flying through the air in a tornado and there would be nothing I could do about it! I was so relieved that this was only a test... 

Stay tuned for more adventures and Soapy Stories from Crescent Mountain Soap!

What's in a Name?

Often when I am set up at events in northeast Georgia selling my Crescent Mountain Soap, I am asked by a customer, “So, where is Crescent Mountain?” I have to chuckle to myself before I can answer….

My family has always called me a tree hugger... I've always cared about animals and the environment. When I first learned to make soap, the recipe that was used contained palm oil. I started making and selling soap using this recipe. Everyone loved how it lathered. So you're wondering how this conflicts with being concerned for the environment. Well... read on to find out!

Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil?

When I first started making soaps I thought that I would only use essential oils. However, I realized that there are some scents that are not available as an essential oil. So what's the difference between the two?

Oakmoss Sandalwood... New Soap Scent!!

Oakmoss Sandalwood... what do those words bring to your mind? Earthy? Masculine? Musky? Woodsy? If you thought any of these, then you'll LOVE this new scent at Crescent Mountain Soap!

Oakmoss Sandalwood Soap
by Crescent Mountain Soaps

All Things Currahee

Did you know that you can purchase Crescent Mountain Soaps in downtown Toccoa? That's right, you don't have to catch me on Satudays! Crescent Mountain Soaps are available at All Things Currahee which is located at 46 Doyle Street, Toccoa, GA.

What is MY Favorite Crescent Mountain Soap Product?

Glad you asked! I was asked what is my favorite Crescent Mountain Soap product. Well, I should say "ALL of them!" LOL! But to be honest, I do have a favorite. I first learned to make soap because I wanted to control what was in my soap. The next step was to make a shampoo that would be chemical free. I had tried several brands of dandruff shampoos and all they did was dry my head out even more! So I searched for a recipe for shampoo and came across a shampoo bar. I followed the directions and made the shampoo bar, adding lemongrass and tea tree essential oils. My hair is longer than my shoulders so I needed a conditioner and found that I could use apple cider vinegar. I have to admit that it took me a few washes to get used to the different texture of my hair but I love the way my hair feels clean. I have been using Crescent Mountain Soap shampoo bars for over 2 years now and have several customers who also use it. I also make the shampoo bar with peppermint and tea tree essential oils.


So, now you know... my favorite Crescent Mountain Soap product is a shampoo bar!

Folk School at Camp Mikell

Have you ever agreed to do something and then think… Why? Why did I say I would do that?!? Well that’s exactly how I felt when I agreed to teach a soapmaking class at Camp Mikell’s Folk School! I have been making hot processed soap for about 3 years, but I’ve been making basically the same recipe. I decided that I should study up on a few things before I taught the class. The more I studied, a little panic set in! I realized that there is so much I need and want to learn! But I pressed on!

Colored using activated charcoal, indigo, and iron oxide powders.

I took the plunge and I made a "pretty" bar of soap! My goal with Crescent Mountain Soaps is to have handcrafted soap with natural ingredients. I do not use hardeners or preservatives in my soaps. So adding colors was not something that I started out doing and so I made natural looking soaps! Well, after watching some of my fellow soaping friends produce really pretty soaps, I decided that I wanted to try!

It's been a while! Soapmaking Tip!

Well... it has been a while since I last wrote a blog post. I guess life got in the way! Things have been crazy busy at Crescent Mountain Soaps!! I have a tip to share with you today.


I needed a spray bottle with alcohol. Several times I have filled the spray bottle with the alcohol and have tried really hard to not spill the alcohol as I fill the bottle. Well, I don't know if it is me or the alcohol, but I ALWAYS end up spilling and wasting alcohol every time I try!

Christmas in July Vendor Fair ~ Followup Post

We did it! We had a GREAT night at our Christmas in July Vendor Fair! Eighteen vendors participated and it was a well attended event.

Let me tell you how the night happened.

Christmas in July Craft and Vendor Fair

I've decided that I can't just wait around for things to happen,

I've gotta make things happen!

If I want more sales, I need to step out and try other areas to show my Crescent Mountain Soaps to a wider audience.

"The Silver Cord"

Sometimes things happen and you just have to shake your head at how blessed you are and how things just come together. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason.

Decisions... Decisions

I'm trying to figure out a scent for a new soap. I asked a friend, TA of CoffeeHouse Suds, what scent she would suggest. She gave me a couple suggestions, one of which was lemongrass. I love lemongrass, but I already have a lemongrass soap. Then I had a brainstorm... Let me ask my Facebook friends!!

 

So I posted this message:

"If you were to SMELL an alien.... what would it smell like?

I need ideas for a soap scent!"

How many suggestions do you think I got? 

38!

 

Replies came from all over the United States including Georgia, Florida, New York, Texas, California and several states in between!! My friends gave suggestions and some even asked their children. My friends could not agree on what an alien smells like! They suggested scents like dirt, something clean smelling, swamp and tree bark, citrus, minty, rotten apples, skunk spray, marshmallows, sulfur, Reese's Pieces because ET liked them, and many more scents!

Want to know what I picked? Stay tuned!

A new soap is in the making!

Currahee Club's 3rd Annual Artisan and Farmers Market

This past weekend I participated in the Curahee Club's 3rd Annual Artisan and Farmers Market! That's my tent in the middle of the picture - the blue one with the high, pointy top!

Welcome to Crescent Mountain Soaps!

I began making soaps about 2 1/2 years ago because I wanted soaps for myself that were free of chemicals and preservatives. I took a class to learn how to make soap and I was hooked! My first batch of soap was a lemongrass and tea tree soap. It wasn't very pretty!

I cannot even count the number of batches of soap that I've made since then! I sell my soaps at the Stephens County Farmers Market, Downtown Flowers, and All Things Currahee. 

I just attended the Alabama Soap and Candle Association's annual soap meeting! I had the BEST time! There were several presentations and I learned a LOT! We received goody bags that were loaded with soaping goodies! We even got to watch the Soap Queen - Anne-Marie Faiola from Bramble Berry Soap Making Supplies make a batch of soap! I even got to take a picture with her! When I was first making soap, I watched a LOT of her videos on Soap Queen TV on YouTube. I still watch her videos to learn new techniques. They are a great resource to learn about making soap!

 It was a great 2 days at the Alabama Soap and Candle Meeting! I met other soapers and was able to learn from them. I even participated in a swap! That was a great way to see how others package items and different items to make. I can't wait to attend next year's meeting!