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Wow, I turned around yesterday and realized that summer is over. Fall is my favorite season of the year, I love the clear days, cool nights, apple picking and changing colors but it is bittersweet for me since summer here is so short. In our higher elevation leaves are starting to turn and fall.
Our garden proved a little less successful than we hoped for but we're newbies and learned much to implement next year. But we did have some HUGE zucchini, my husband made this amazing stuffed zucchini last night for dinner. I learned that you have to thin out your carrots.....LOL! Last weekend we hiked out in the woods and gathered blackberries with the girls, hard picking but made a great pie!
The Vermont Garlic Festival on Labor Day weekend was great! And yes, I tried the garlic ice cream and it was, in my opinion, awful! Yuck!
The girls & I are off to work at the store today. Things are starting to shape up and come together!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Summer Vacation & the Shop's Progress
We've just returned from our abbreviated summer vacation on Peddock's Island in Massachusetts. My in-laws have a cottage there and it's a 10 minute boat ride from where we met them in Quincy. The high mosquito count confined us indoors quite a bit but since our children are still small they are easily occupied and "mosquito hunter" was a popular game. Lucy was cutting yet another two teeth so was quite grumpy and Claire and I both had a 24 hour virus but overall we had fun. Our hosts put up with all of our chaos and fed us great meals to boot! Claire got to, I guess the right word is "pilot" the boat and so has been dubbed "Captain Claire". The island faces Boston which is of course very different from our view of the woods so looking at the city horizon and watching the planes in and out of Logan Airport was also a great and new experience for us. Admittedly, while I love to travel and see new places I am always eager to get home.
The store is progressing fantastically and quickly. I've finished painting (I would never hire myself to do that job!) and all soapmaking equipment has been moved down, hooked up and installed. I'll make soap for the first time there this Wednesday. I was open this weekend for Ludlow's Zucchini Festival and although everything is still quite bare bones many new faces stopped by to welcome and encourage me. I'm located next door to my best friends' pizza shop and so, while not good for the waistline, is great for my spirit as the Goodman clan are some of the most generous, helpful and positive people that walk the earth.
I'll be preparing for Vermont's Garlic Festival in Bennington on Labor Day weekend this week so will be busy brewing up lotions and potions!
The store is progressing fantastically and quickly. I've finished painting (I would never hire myself to do that job!) and all soapmaking equipment has been moved down, hooked up and installed. I'll make soap for the first time there this Wednesday. I was open this weekend for Ludlow's Zucchini Festival and although everything is still quite bare bones many new faces stopped by to welcome and encourage me. I'm located next door to my best friends' pizza shop and so, while not good for the waistline, is great for my spirit as the Goodman clan are some of the most generous, helpful and positive people that walk the earth.
I'll be preparing for Vermont's Garlic Festival in Bennington on Labor Day weekend this week so will be busy brewing up lotions and potions!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Soapmobile
After listening to the news there are alot of days when I'm not sure that the world has any good, selfless, giving people left. I think sometimes we all wonder that. Then I have a day like I had last Sunday and know that they are still out there all around us.
On my way home from the Shaker Village Craft Show in Albany my soapmobile (our 1999 Chevy Suburban) lost power in Hoosick Falls, NY. I limped it along into the Stewart's store and gas station, my regular half-way-to-Albany-refill-my-coffee stop, and then couldn't get it to start again. This had happened about a month ago in Ludlow and since it started up after sitting for about a 1/2 hour and giving it some dry gas, we weren't sure of the problem, except my husband guessed it might be that the gas gauge was broken so we've been watching it closely. I had plenty of gas this time so after a full day of battling rain and lots, and lots of gusty wind at Shaker Village, I was broken down an hour from home. Now, everyone who knows me knows that I am usually pretty upbeat but this was quite a blow, compounded by the fact that since cell phone service where we live in the sticks is non-existent and I ended our cell phone service 2 years ago, I didn't have a cell phone. Well, actually, that was a mutual agreement between myself and US Cellular after I got mad at them and ran my phone over with the soapmobile but that's another story for another day.
Anyway, so I called my husband from the pay phone (can you believe there was one?) and he packed up the girls and got on the road to retrieve me. When he got there with my two girls, we've been watching alot of "Rescue Heroes" lately so they proclaimed themselves to be my "Rescue Heroes", we still didn't have any luck getting it started. We were all tired, exhausted and frustrated and not knowing of any local towing companies or garages (this was 9pm by then with two very tired little rescue heroes). A very nice local man overheard us discussing what to do and stepped in, gave us the use of his cell phone and helped us to arrange for a tow on the following day. Thank you to him, I feel awful that in all of the chaos I never got your name and maybe by some remote chance you'll read this and know how appreciative we were for your help. And thanks to the folks at Stewarts, Clint, Jeff and Gordy, who were very patient with my questions and generously let us leave the soapmobile overnight until we could come back the next morning and deal with it, especially since they don't like to do that since so many people have left vehicles there, said they would be back and never showed again.
So my husband and I went back down to Hoosick Falls on Monday morning and of course the soapmobile started right back up, so crazy. Jaycob replaced the whole fuel pump system and hopefully the soapmobile is back in business. So thank you to my husband also, the most patient, wonderful man that I've ever encountered.
Thank you to everyone that stopped by to say hello at the Shaker Village Show and offered their well wishes for the new store. I always enjoy seeing everyone from year to year and that show is a great little show.
Plans are proceeding to move into the store on Main Street in the next two weeks. I'm painting display racks and gathering odds and ends for other display pieces. I'm also preparing for the next craft show, Art in Park, in Rutland Vermont in August, and oh yeah, getting a cell phone, LOL! My how summer flies by!
On my way home from the Shaker Village Craft Show in Albany my soapmobile (our 1999 Chevy Suburban) lost power in Hoosick Falls, NY. I limped it along into the Stewart's store and gas station, my regular half-way-to-Albany-refill-my-coffee stop, and then couldn't get it to start again. This had happened about a month ago in Ludlow and since it started up after sitting for about a 1/2 hour and giving it some dry gas, we weren't sure of the problem, except my husband guessed it might be that the gas gauge was broken so we've been watching it closely. I had plenty of gas this time so after a full day of battling rain and lots, and lots of gusty wind at Shaker Village, I was broken down an hour from home. Now, everyone who knows me knows that I am usually pretty upbeat but this was quite a blow, compounded by the fact that since cell phone service where we live in the sticks is non-existent and I ended our cell phone service 2 years ago, I didn't have a cell phone. Well, actually, that was a mutual agreement between myself and US Cellular after I got mad at them and ran my phone over with the soapmobile but that's another story for another day.
Anyway, so I called my husband from the pay phone (can you believe there was one?) and he packed up the girls and got on the road to retrieve me. When he got there with my two girls, we've been watching alot of "Rescue Heroes" lately so they proclaimed themselves to be my "Rescue Heroes", we still didn't have any luck getting it started. We were all tired, exhausted and frustrated and not knowing of any local towing companies or garages (this was 9pm by then with two very tired little rescue heroes). A very nice local man overheard us discussing what to do and stepped in, gave us the use of his cell phone and helped us to arrange for a tow on the following day. Thank you to him, I feel awful that in all of the chaos I never got your name and maybe by some remote chance you'll read this and know how appreciative we were for your help. And thanks to the folks at Stewarts, Clint, Jeff and Gordy, who were very patient with my questions and generously let us leave the soapmobile overnight until we could come back the next morning and deal with it, especially since they don't like to do that since so many people have left vehicles there, said they would be back and never showed again.
So my husband and I went back down to Hoosick Falls on Monday morning and of course the soapmobile started right back up, so crazy. Jaycob replaced the whole fuel pump system and hopefully the soapmobile is back in business. So thank you to my husband also, the most patient, wonderful man that I've ever encountered.
Thank you to everyone that stopped by to say hello at the Shaker Village Show and offered their well wishes for the new store. I always enjoy seeing everyone from year to year and that show is a great little show.
Plans are proceeding to move into the store on Main Street in the next two weeks. I'm painting display racks and gathering odds and ends for other display pieces. I'm also preparing for the next craft show, Art in Park, in Rutland Vermont in August, and oh yeah, getting a cell phone, LOL! My how summer flies by!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
We're moving!
I have moved both myself and my business so many times that when we bought our home 4 years ago I said "That's it, never again!" Well, like so many things, I was wrong. Summit Soapworks is about to move to downtown Ludlow, next to Goodman's American Pie, on Main Street.
The move is going to happen in early August and offers so many pros & cons. I'm excited to have a real workshop but somewhat nervous. I'm planning on being open while I'm there, mostly Friday afternoon/evening and all day Saturday when I'm not at a show and Sundays during the winter. Ludlow is home to Okemo Mountain resort, home of great skiing, and so the winter months bring alot of weekend traffic. This space is in a building that was once both a church and then a movie theater so it's an interesting building with hardwood floors and high ceilings. I plan to put production in the back and sales in the front, hopefully with a wall and picture window between both areas so folks can see soapmaking in progress. I'd like to teach some classes and have some friends, herbalists and other crafters, teach some classes/workshops as well.
I'm excited to move out of my basement workshop or my "cave" as I call it. It seems that the days I have to be down there are the days that it is the nicest weather outside.....And our family is growing, (man these kids accumulate alot of stuff!), and the rest of our house is shrinking so it's time to move out.
Lots of changes and lots of work but in the end I hope it will give me more space to be creative or at least more organized!
The move is going to happen in early August and offers so many pros & cons. I'm excited to have a real workshop but somewhat nervous. I'm planning on being open while I'm there, mostly Friday afternoon/evening and all day Saturday when I'm not at a show and Sundays during the winter. Ludlow is home to Okemo Mountain resort, home of great skiing, and so the winter months bring alot of weekend traffic. This space is in a building that was once both a church and then a movie theater so it's an interesting building with hardwood floors and high ceilings. I plan to put production in the back and sales in the front, hopefully with a wall and picture window between both areas so folks can see soapmaking in progress. I'd like to teach some classes and have some friends, herbalists and other crafters, teach some classes/workshops as well.
I'm excited to move out of my basement workshop or my "cave" as I call it. It seems that the days I have to be down there are the days that it is the nicest weather outside.....And our family is growing, (man these kids accumulate alot of stuff!), and the rest of our house is shrinking so it's time to move out.
Lots of changes and lots of work but in the end I hope it will give me more space to be creative or at least more organized!
Monday, June 23, 2008
My latest thoughts on parenting...
The other day when my 1 year old, Lucy, also known at times (within the comfort of our own home of course) as "Lucifer" or the "Screamin' Demon", was again screaming loudly about something, my 3 year old, Claire, turned to me and said "Mom, can't we just get a new baby that's not so loud". Claire seems to have an innate sense timing and turned a quite frustrating situation into a humorous one.
There are many times that I look to them both and hope that they learn as much from me as I'm learning from them. They see the world so simply and everything boils down to a few simple concepts like playing, eating, sleeping and on most occasions sharing and being nice to others. And they have inspired me to strive to be a better, more polite, less "bossy" person as I do realize that they will do as I do, not as I say.
Their books also simplify life into very basic concepts. One that we've recently read, The Three Questions by Jon Muth, sums up at the end with "Remember then that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one that you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world."
There are many times that I look to them both and hope that they learn as much from me as I'm learning from them. They see the world so simply and everything boils down to a few simple concepts like playing, eating, sleeping and on most occasions sharing and being nice to others. And they have inspired me to strive to be a better, more polite, less "bossy" person as I do realize that they will do as I do, not as I say.
Their books also simplify life into very basic concepts. One that we've recently read, The Three Questions by Jon Muth, sums up at the end with "Remember then that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one that you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world."
Monday, June 16, 2008
To Color or not to Color?
No, I'm not talking about my coloring my hair, although I probably should be....I always thought I would never color my hair and be proud to be gray or white but that must have been back in the day when I thought 30 was old.
I've been weighing the idea of coloring my soaps. I never have, I would want to stick with natural colors and those options are somewhat limited. It's also an extra material/ingredient that would cost money and would require me to raise my prices a little. But, I have seen some beautiful, colored soaps, so beautiful that they are artistic. They inspire me to want to color and swirl and learn a new process. In the end, I realized that what's been lacking for me lately while working in my basement workshop that I fondly refer to as the "gopher hole", is fun and creativeness in my work.
So, I've come to a compromise with myself - not so hard to do when it's with just yourself I guess - and will work on a separate artistic line that will incorporate some coloring and swirling, maybe some different shaping or layers. I've decided if they're not big sellers then that's ok, sometimes you just have to have play in your work. In all of my free time of course, LOL!
On a different note, the LARAC show in Glens Falls, NY was this past weekend and I want to thank everyone that came out to visit and shop. It was quite hot and humid (as LARAC always seems to be) and it was nice to see everyone.
I've been weighing the idea of coloring my soaps. I never have, I would want to stick with natural colors and those options are somewhat limited. It's also an extra material/ingredient that would cost money and would require me to raise my prices a little. But, I have seen some beautiful, colored soaps, so beautiful that they are artistic. They inspire me to want to color and swirl and learn a new process. In the end, I realized that what's been lacking for me lately while working in my basement workshop that I fondly refer to as the "gopher hole", is fun and creativeness in my work.
So, I've come to a compromise with myself - not so hard to do when it's with just yourself I guess - and will work on a separate artistic line that will incorporate some coloring and swirling, maybe some different shaping or layers. I've decided if they're not big sellers then that's ok, sometimes you just have to have play in your work. In all of my free time of course, LOL!
On a different note, the LARAC show in Glens Falls, NY was this past weekend and I want to thank everyone that came out to visit and shop. It was quite hot and humid (as LARAC always seems to be) and it was nice to see everyone.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Burn outs
Well, the day finally arrived that I knew someday would, I blew up my trusty old cooktop that I make soap on. It didn't really blow up, there was more like a large spark, thick clouds of dark smoke and me sprinting faster than I ever knew I could to unplug it from the wall outlet. That was followed by my husband calling downstairs "what's burning down there?"
This incident was proceeded by my burning out my stick blender while trying to bring a stubborn batch of liquid soap to trace. That ironically happened while I was thinking that I should probably have a backup stick blender as stirring a batch of liquid soap by hand can be an all day venture and leave one with Popeye level biceps. It seems that I was just having a bad day.
So I packed my three year old and one year old off to shop for new appliances. Any of you that have or have had small children know that shopping with two impatient children does not usually make for a fun day. But we made it fun by stopping at Joann's Fabrics and shopping for some fun supplies to create for our big "Fancy Nancy" party next week at the local library. My three year old has talked about nothing else for the last two weeks and she and I will be decked out in all of our pink frilliness, tiaras, wands and tutus for this fancy tea party sponsored by the Fletcher Memorial Children's Library. Of course, we'll be bringing Summit Soapworks' party favors, our new "Strawberry Smoothie" lip balm. Should be a great time and I'm looking forward to sharing the day with my oldest daughter even though the frilliness part is a huge stretch for me who is certainly not a girlie-girl.
In the end, I have a temporary burner until I can shop without my girls for an electric cooktop and am back to making soap!
This incident was proceeded by my burning out my stick blender while trying to bring a stubborn batch of liquid soap to trace. That ironically happened while I was thinking that I should probably have a backup stick blender as stirring a batch of liquid soap by hand can be an all day venture and leave one with Popeye level biceps. It seems that I was just having a bad day.
So I packed my three year old and one year old off to shop for new appliances. Any of you that have or have had small children know that shopping with two impatient children does not usually make for a fun day. But we made it fun by stopping at Joann's Fabrics and shopping for some fun supplies to create for our big "Fancy Nancy" party next week at the local library. My three year old has talked about nothing else for the last two weeks and she and I will be decked out in all of our pink frilliness, tiaras, wands and tutus for this fancy tea party sponsored by the Fletcher Memorial Children's Library. Of course, we'll be bringing Summit Soapworks' party favors, our new "Strawberry Smoothie" lip balm. Should be a great time and I'm looking forward to sharing the day with my oldest daughter even though the frilliness part is a huge stretch for me who is certainly not a girlie-girl.
In the end, I have a temporary burner until I can shop without my girls for an electric cooktop and am back to making soap!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Summit Soapworks - My very first blog post
Woweee, my very first blog post! It took me three days to figure this whole thing out - I was on the verge of putting a teenager on the payroll!
I've recently returned from the Handcrafted Soapmaker Guild's annual conference held at the Inn at Essex, Essex, VT (the NE Culinary Institute - most excellent food). So I'm all fired up with lots of new ideas and hopefully new products to come. We had over 225 soapmakers present from 6 different countries and some fabulous speakers.
I've finally finished, after much promising and lots, and lots of excuses, liquid soap! I did the "happy dance" when I finished it - it's a beautiful, ok so I'm a little partial, golden color with a great smell. And, I can't just settle there - soon to come will be shampoos and of course a pet shampoo! I'm thinking about what scents to do the liquid soaps in so I'm reaching out to get feedback about everyone's favorite scents - please feel free to contact me.
I'm also cranking out products for the LARAC show in Glenns Falls, NY on June 14th & 15th. This is a great and huge craft show with many talented vendors so please stop by if you're in the area. I'll have with me the new liquid soaps, shea butter lotions, kids soaps and all the usual, regular products. I'll also be bringing body sprays, I had discontinued them for awhile but will be bringing them to shows. Lemongrass Body Spray is great for the summer as Lemongrass is a natural insect repellant.
I've recently returned from the Handcrafted Soapmaker Guild's annual conference held at the Inn at Essex, Essex, VT (the NE Culinary Institute - most excellent food). So I'm all fired up with lots of new ideas and hopefully new products to come. We had over 225 soapmakers present from 6 different countries and some fabulous speakers.
I've finally finished, after much promising and lots, and lots of excuses, liquid soap! I did the "happy dance" when I finished it - it's a beautiful, ok so I'm a little partial, golden color with a great smell. And, I can't just settle there - soon to come will be shampoos and of course a pet shampoo! I'm thinking about what scents to do the liquid soaps in so I'm reaching out to get feedback about everyone's favorite scents - please feel free to contact me.
I'm also cranking out products for the LARAC show in Glenns Falls, NY on June 14th & 15th. This is a great and huge craft show with many talented vendors so please stop by if you're in the area. I'll have with me the new liquid soaps, shea butter lotions, kids soaps and all the usual, regular products. I'll also be bringing body sprays, I had discontinued them for awhile but will be bringing them to shows. Lemongrass Body Spray is great for the summer as Lemongrass is a natural insect repellant.
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