Summit Soapworks - Christine Balch

Zucchini Chip Recipe

2010-08-12T04:18:00.000-04:00

Coming up on Ludlow's famous Zucchini Festival this Saturday I see zucchinis everywhere around me but mostly spilling out of our garden! It seems that every night Jaycob & I are out picking more zucchinis & summer squash so I've gone in search of zucchini and summer squash recipes. I found this one this morning on http://www.allrecipes.com/ for zucchini chips:

Ingredients
2 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 egg whites

Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).

2.In one small bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, pepper and Parmesan cheese. Place the egg whites in a separate bowl. Dip zucchini slices into the egg whites, then coat the breadcrumb mixture. Place on a greased baking sheet.

3.Bake for 5 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn over and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until browned and crispy.

Looking forward to trying it out!

The ladies of leisure

2010-07-21T07:34:00.000-04:00

The ladies of leisure at our house. Thirteen chickens altogether, 4 roosters and 9 hens. Soon to be laying eggs (we hope) and running free range around our yard (we have very patient neighbors). Lots of great entertainment!

Confessions of a bad blogger......

2010-07-21T07:01:00.005-04:00

Ok, sigh, I admit it, I'm a terrible blogger. We get so caught up in our daily activities that when I sit down to blog and share what's been happening my husband finds me slumped over my keyboard fast asleep.

So what do we do daily that poops me out so you might ask? We've been busy adding a flock of chickens to our yard, a 45 x 20 foot veggie garden and a starting (40+ plants) strawberry patch. That would be after chasing down 2 kids, Jaycob's weekly softball schedule and oh, well, work and working to expand our business.

Long Trail Ale Soap

2010-03-15T11:50:00.002-04:00

Stop by and check out our newest soap made with LONG TRAIL ALE! Using ale from one of Vermont's favorite breweries, this soap is a toast to a dear old friend and Summit Soapworks' neighbor, Craig Goodman, in honor of his 40th birthday! We've been friends a long time and it's been a long, fun trail! Cheers to those friends that turn into family!

Ale lends a super creamy lather. Scented with sandalwood and musk.

2010-03-02T09:30:00.001-05:00

February Monthly Special

2010-02-02T06:47:00.002-05:00

Happy Ground Hog day!!! It's said that Punxsutawney Phil will determine how much is left of winter today......those of us who live in the Northeast know that winter will continue on for what seems like forever, at least another 2 months.

Our February monthly special offers a bath treat to yourself in these cold winter months. We've changed the recipe of our Fizzy Bath Bombs to even better soothe dry, itchy skin with baking soda, epsom salts, shea butter and sweet almond oil. 50% off - $1.75 each.

Playin' in the Snow & February's Monthly Special

2010-02-02T06:40:00.002-05:00

January brought us a general slow down of life after the busy months of October through December, foliage and then the holiday season at Summit Soapworks. We close the store on Tuesdays & Wednesdays and head out for "family day", like snowshoeing, bowling, and soon maybe some skiing and skating.

January also brought a time of revamping and updating. We've worked hard on our website to update it and add lots of new pictures and extra items that I've sold at the store but hadn't posted yet to the website. A huge "THANK YOU" and shout out to my husband, Jaycob Palmer, for all of the product shots he took.

Summit Soapworks January Monthly Special

2010-01-03T12:27:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! January has blown in a snowy and cold first few days of 2010 to Vermont! Warm up with this month's special - our new bath salts and fizzy foot soaks! Made with sea & epsom salts and kaolin clay, your skin will thank you!

http://www.summitsoapworks.com/monthly.html

50% off - Reg price $2.50 - Sale price $1.25
5 oz bag - yields approx 2 baths or 3 foot baths

Bath salts are available in the following scents:

Comfort (Lavender & Vanilla)
Lavender
Sleep Easy (Lavender & Ylang, Ylang)
Muscle Treat (Lavender, Eucalyptus & Rosemary)

Fizzy Foot soaks are available in the following scents:

Tired Tootsies (Lavender, Rosemary & Lemon)
Oh, My Aching Feet (Lavender, Rosemary & Eucalyptus)

Sign up to be a fan on Facebook and learn about our weekly "Thrifty Thursday" specials!!

Best wishes for a healthy & happy New Year!

Winter Snow Pattern by Dellamano Glassware

2009-12-03T14:03:00.000-05:00

New Winter Patterns from Dellamano Glassware at our shop

2009-12-03T14:01:00.000-05:00

New glassware at Summit Soapworks by Dellamano Glassware, handpainted in Bellows Falls, TV

Make it yourself Birthday Parties at Summit Soapworks

2009-10-31T08:05:00.003-04:00

NEW!! Make it yourself Birthday Parties at Summit Soapworks!

Your choice to make Glycerin Soaps, Fizzy Bath Bombs or colored bath salts!

Great for girls & boys!!

Min. number of party goer's - 4

Max number of party goer's - 12

Minimum age 5 please
Cost $12.00 each or $15.00 each for party with goody bags provided by Summit Soapworks

Older age groups may have more options for products to make, ie lip balms, solid perfumes, etc. - please contact Christine for specifics

You're welcome to bring cake/treats, balloons. We'll provide colored tableclothes.

Call Summit Soapworks to reserve your party or inquire about more details!! 802.228.4900

New Reed Diffusers

2009-10-19T18:06:00.002-04:00

New Reed Diffusers by Sense of Home available at Summit Soapworks.

Calming Lavender, Jazzy Jasmine, Sandalwood, Lilac, Vermont Woods, Cinnamon Stick, and more.

2009-09-27T07:28:00.002-04:00

Just finished a successful and fun day at the Peru Fair. Ate delicious quail kabobs from the Cavendish Gamebird crew, pumpkin ice cream and apple pie ice cream (I had to try both, what's a girl to do)! The parade was super with a great fiddler and the Peru Fair pig being royally pulled down the road in his own cart. The new Black Raspberry Vanilla scent was a huge hit in its first test market so it's here to stay!

Peru Fair

2009-09-25T06:15:00.002-04:00

Come chow down at the pig roast at the Peru Fair with us this Saturday in lil' ol' Peru VT. Great food, music, super craftspeople, a real little Vermont Fair! 9/26 9am-4pm. Parking at Bromley Mtn and shuttle bus over.

September Monthly Special

2009-09-02T21:10:00.003-04:00

September Monthly Special at Summit Soapworks

10% off Olive Oil Soap Slabs

We're busy prepping for the big Vermont Garlic Festival this weekend in Bennington, Vermont. A great time, fab food, awesome music and of course, well, us. Come out and enjoy all the Garlic Festival has to offer! Camelot Village, Route 9, Bennington, VT

My new tilt kettle!!!

2009-08-13T11:18:00.003-04:00

YEAH!!!! We are so excited about our newest baby step at Summit Soapworks - a stainless steel tilt kettle to make larger batches of, well everything, and speed up/increase efficiency. This pic's a bit blurry (most of my pics usually are....). Hoping to hook it up this weekend and start soapin' with it!

NEW - Nightlights by Kimberly Woods

2009-08-02T13:45:00.003-04:00

NEW - Beautiful, handpainted nightlights by Kimberly Woods, Putney, VT.

2009-08-01T13:34:00.000-04:00

August Monthly Special

NEW - Walk in the Garden Bar Soap
Blend of Lemongrass, sage and cedarwood.
Special price - $2.00 per bar. Reg price $3.50

The Deadliest Crafter

2009-07-14T22:21:00.002-04:00

Fletcher Farm fields. Shaker Village Site, Albany, NY. Home to many talented artisans and the deadliest crafter. Gusting winds, pouring rains, crashing glass & displays, broken pottery, upside down and torn tents, artists chasing their wind blown work (& tents) across fields, many shaken nerves, nothing that Mother Nature delivered could keep down these crafters and artisans from the selling of their wares. And all of that after staying up all night before a show to produce just a little more product......

Ok, so maybe I'm taking my obsession with the "Deadliest Catch" TV show a bit far but after the last two Saturday shows, where I saw some of the worst winds I've seen in 8 years of peddling soap, some of my fellow craftspeople & myself contemplated calling the Discovery Channel and pitching our own reality TV show to be entitled "The Deadliest Crafter". Maybe it would pay better than slinging soap.......hmmmm.....

The Brass Butterfly

2009-07-01T13:38:00.002-04:00

New into the store - Brass Butterfly products. These beautiful plant rooters, handmade in Poultney, VT, are glass rooters with style!

Vermont 2nd Homes

2009-06-30T12:03:00.003-04:00

We're so fortunate at the shop to have a new craftsperson display his work. Bob Tofferi, a local Ludlowlite, has brought in some of his amazing Vermont 2nd Homes, beautiful birdhouse style lights and music boxes.

Restrooms & small children

2009-06-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

My mother-in-law just forwarded this story to me in an email and I was roaring and crying with laughter, esp since this just happened to me with Lucy!!!
It was written by Shannon Popkin, a freelance writer and mother of three. She lives with her family in Grand Rapids , Michigan , where she no longer uses public restrooms. (I hope that I'm not breaking any copyright rules or whatever by reprinting it but it was so damn funny I'll take the penalty!), I had to share the story:

My little guy, Cade, is quite a talker. He loves to communicate and does it quite well. He talks to people constantly, whether we are in the library, the grocery store or at a drive-thru window. People often comment on how clearly he speaks for a just-turned-3-year-old. And you never have to ask him to turn up the volume. It's always fully cranked. There have been several embarrassing times that I've wished the meaning of his words would have been masked by a not-so-audible voice, but never have I wished this more than last week at Costco.

Halfway, through our shopping trip, nature called, so I took Cade with me into the restroom. If you'd been one of the ladies in the restroom that evening, this is what you would have heard coming from the second to the last stall: ''Mommy, are you gonna go potty? Oh! Why are you putting toiwet paper on the potty, Mommy? Oh! You gonna sit down on da toiwet paper now? Mommy, what
are you doing? Mommy, are you gonna go stinkies on the potty?''

At this point I started mentally counting how many women had been in the bathroom when I walked in. Several stalls were full ... 4? 5? Maybe we could wait
until they all left before I had to make my debut out of this stall and reveal my identity. Cade continued: ''Mommy, you ARE going stinkies aren't you?
Oh, dats a good girl, Mommy! Are you gonna get some candy for going stinkies on the potty? Let me see doze stinkies, Mommy! Oh .... Mommy! I'm trying to see In dere. Oh! I see dem. Dat is a very good girl, Mommy. You are gonna get some candy!''

I heard a few faint chuckles coming from the stalls on either side of me. Where is a screaming new born when you need her? Good grief. This was really getting embarrassing. I was definitely waiting a long time before exiting. Trying to divert him, I said, ''Why don't you look in Mommy's purse and see if you can find some candy. We'll both have some!'' ''No, I'm trying to see doze more stinkies....Oh! Mommy!''

He started to gag at this point. ''Uh - oh, Mommy. I fink I'm gonna frow up.
Mommy, doze stinkies are making me frow up!! Dat is so gross!!''

As the gags became louder, so did the chuckles outside my stall.. I quickly flushed the toilet in hopes of changing the subject. I began to reason with myself: OK. There are four other toilets. If I count four flushes, I can be
reasonably assured that those who overheard this embarrassing monologue will be long gone.

''Mommy! Would you get off the potty, now? I want you to be done going stinkies! Get up! Get up!'' He grunted as he tried to pu ll me off Now I could
hear full-blown laughter. I bent down to count the feet outside my door.
''Oh, are you wooking under dere, Mommy? You wooking under da door? What were you wooking at? Mommy? You wooking at the wady's feet?'' More laughter. I stood inside the locked door and tried to
assess the situation.

''Mommy, it's time to wash our hands, now. We have to go out now, Mommy.'' He started pounding on the door. ''Mommy, don't you want to wash your hands? I want to go out!!''

I saw that my wait 'em out' plan was unraveling. I sheepishly opened the door, and found standing outside my stall, twenty to thirty ladies crowded around the stall, all smiling and starting to applaud.

My first thought was complete embarrassment, then I thought, where's the fine print on the 'motherhood contract' where I signed away every bit of my dignity and privacy? But as my little boy gave me a big, cheeky grin while he rubbed bubbly soap between his chubby little hands, I thought, I'd sign it all away again, just to be known as Mommy to this little fellow.

Ballerinas & New Artwork at Summit Soapworks!

2009-06-02T12:07:00.003-04:00

Inspired by my little ballerina, Claire, I've created these pretty little soaps with a ballerina toy embedded inside. Just wash, wash, wash to get to the bendable toy inside! Sprinkled with a little glitter, these are a perfect treat for your little ballerina!

New artwork at Summit Soapworks - but not for sale! This is the "thank you" note that Claire's very creative preschool made for me after visiting our store while they were learning about retail stores. Each bubble has a quote about what each student's favorite thing was at the shop! This entirely made my day!

New Fairy Wand Soap!

2009-05-30T12:19:00.002-04:00

I am so excited about our new fairy wand soaps! Star shaped soaps, lightly scented with a touch of summer scent, and a sprinkle of glitter make these soaps magical. Wrapped with a pretty little tag and a pink curly ribbon, great for little fairies and secret inner little fairies!

These will be available on our website in a day or two!

New Artist at Summit Soapworks!

2009-05-25T10:58:00.008-04:00

Happy Memorial Day!

We're enjoying this beautiful day and welcoming

new artist Robin LaHue from Northfield Falls, VT to our shop!

Robin is a fantastic oil painting artist - check out her etsy shop at

www.cloudymoonkite.etsy.com

Time zone, climate shock & me

2009-05-18T22:35:00.003-04:00

Well, I wouldn't think that a 3 hour time zone change & temps that were at least 50 degrees more everyday would kick my butt but it sure did! I'm still recovering from my trip, I hope to be back on EST tomorrow and I've been a little chilly with the temps in the 60's. In Vermont those temps usually call for shorts and sandals, I once tubed down our local river in a bathing suit before Memorial Day weekend (not one of my brighter days but since it involved one of my best friends, Megan, then it surely involved alcohol!). But after spending 10 days in Palm Springs, CA where it was over 100 degrees (YACK!) everyday, I found it necessary to bundle up all day at home in Vermont. Oh, and I now know that palm trees don't grow coconuts, all of my new west coast friends are still laughing about that one!

Here in Sunny CA!

2009-05-14T09:36:00.000-04:00

I've been spending the week in sunny Palm Springs, CA at the annual Handcrafted Soapmaker's Guild with over 200 other soap junkies! I'll post pics when I return. It's been a fantastic conference, talking soap from dawn to dusk and Erin Brokovich was our keynote speaker providing a great message about "stick-to-it" which was appropriate in these economic times.

My first day I listened to Erin Brokovich (and by the way, ONLY Julia Roberts could have played her), Donna Maria who of course was just awesome in "The Media and You", a melt -n- pour class about delicious desserts which was inspirational and lotionmaking with Annemarie from Brambleberry who is just awesome!

My latest readings

2009-05-06T06:47:00.000-04:00

I've just finished up the first book in the "Twilight" series, a series of young adult books that involves a family of vampires. I wouldn't normally have chosen this book, I don't keep up with pop culture very well, we don't have cable TV, I've never watched American Idol or Dancing with the Stars and had to quiz our neighbor's daughter about who the heck Hannah Montana was when Claire came home from school singing about her. But a dear friend of mine, an avid reader and movie watcher, recommended it and knowing that someday my daughters would probably read it I sat down with it. Plus, I thought I might watch the movie and thought I'd rather read the book first.

The first part of the book I was honestly thinking "what's the big deal?", but as the story unfolded I did find that I enjoyed it. If I was a teenage girl I would have entirely fallen in love with Edward and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I also just finished Janet Evanovich's latest Stephanie Plum novel, "Fearless Fourteen". I've absolutely loved these books, I think the characters, especially Grandma and Lula are laugh out loud hysterical and this book brought in some extra characters that just added to the craziness. This series is light hearted and just plain old entertaining.

Sunny California, here I come!

2009-05-02T13:39:00.001-04:00

Next week I'm leaving for the annual Handcrafted Soapmaker's Guild conference in Palm Springs, CA. This is three days packed full of eating, sleeping and talking about soap with almost 300 other soapmakers from around the US and Canada. I'll be gone for 10 days, travel time and arriving a few days before the conference as I'm an assistant to the coordinator and will be working at the conference.

If you're a soaper and would love to join us it's not too late! This year's keynote speaker is Erin Brokovich and the conference will be jammed pack with speakers covering topics from soapmaking to small business management. We'll be staying at the Miramonte Spa and Resort, very fancy, with "chilled" pools.

Our store will be closed on Monday, May 11th, Tuesday May 12th and Wednesday May 13th but open the other days in my absence. Internet and mail orders will be accepted while I'm away but will not ship until my return.

My bravest little girl

2009-05-02T13:34:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who sent their prayers and well wishes for Lucy this week. Last weekend Lucy suffered her first blown asthma attack and was taken to the ER not once, but twice, and then admitted to the ICU. The doctor told me that she was admitted to the ICU because of her age rather than her situation, however, I think he only told me that to help me keep a grip on my sanity. She did fabulous and was very brave and only really cried when the IV was put in her arm (who wouldn't). After a two night stay we returned home and she is back to terrorizing her sister so I know that she is feeling better. Again, thank you to everyone.

Goin' Nuts at Summit Soapworks!

2009-04-21T06:14:00.001-04:00

People have said that I was nuts for years and so now I've gone really nuts! Maple nuts have arrived at Summit Soapworks Gift Shop. Almond, walnuts, cashews all covered in yummy Vermont Maple Sugar! Soon they'll be available online at my webstore - not a soap but what better treat to enjoy in the tub with your favorite Summit Soapworks fizzy bath bomb!

Mother's Day Giveaway!

2009-04-20T06:37:00.000-04:00

Stop by our gift shop at 106 Main St., Ludlow and enter your mother to win a Melt -n- Pour Soapmaking party.

Mom and three of her closests girls (daughters, friends, etc.) will be treated to a special evening of making their own soaps. This can get a little messy but is a lot of fun and everyone takes home two soaps and a little treat from Summit Soapworks.

We also have lots of great gifts for mom, soaps, jewelry, painted glassware, quilted aprons, artwork and my dream is to someday offer pottery, I seem to struggle with finding the elusive potter for my shop.

Entries must be submitted in person at our gift shop and by 3pm Mother's Day.

My first ever class

2009-04-16T22:06:00.000-04:00

I have had the most fabulous day! Today was the day that I finally taught my first class to folks I didn't know. I was visited by 10 gracious ladies staying at the Green Mountain at Fox Run www.fitwoman.com and 3 staff members. We made bath bombs, salt scrubs and body sprays for them to take home as souvenirs from their trip to Vermont. They handled my "organized clutter" (that's what us slobs call our mess to make ourselves feel better, LOL!) of a workshop and tight quarters wonderfully and I think that a fun time was had by all. It just reinforced my idea to talk to my landlord about expanding the back work area so that I can offer spa parties/classes. My poor landlord runs now whenever he sees me coming because he knows that I'm going to spring some new, wild idea on him. Oh, and my new penny candy is arriving tomorrow for the shop, well, it's not a penny anymore but many kinds from when we all were kids, Hot Balls, Jawbreakers, candy necklaces, Big League Chewing Gum, Fun Dips (remember those, dipping the candy stick in the powdered sugar) and the list goes on. Very fun!

Women Business Owners & Girl Power Soaps

2009-04-15T15:58:00.000-04:00

I was just interviewed this morning by the largest newspaper in Vermont, the Rutland Herald, who are (is? - good thing I'm not writing the article) writing an article about Women Business Owners in our Okemo Valley. They were talking to over 40 women today and when I first heard that number I went "Wow", we have come a long way baby! Yah, Girl Power!

This started my brain rolling, and thinking about how much I love having my girls at the shop with me (well most of the time) and how fortunate I am that they can come to work with me. And this led to my latest brainstorm about bath & body products for little girls and at first I thought "Little Diva's" and then went, wait, no, it needs to be something with more kick so it'll be "Girl Power" soaps! So I'll be rolling out a line of fun girlie soaps this summer.

2009-04-11T13:57:00.000-04:00

HAPPY KEESTER! My favorite photo of the week, emailed to me by one of my best friends, Gretchen Tucker.

Happy Birthday to Me (and a big sale at Summit Soapworks!)

2009-04-03T09:58:00.001-04:00

Today I woke up, turning 37 and went "Wow, how'd I get here?" That was of course after both of knees creaked getting out of bed while I stumbled bleary-eyed to the coffee pot silently praying to my higher power that my husband had already made coffee for me (which he did because he's seen me without coffee, not pretty!) I remember the days when I thought 37 was an age nearly elderliness......now I think 70 is young.....

Anyway, so I said "Hey, let's have a sale to celebrate my birthday!" and so there's big savings at Summit Soapworks today and tomorrow in celebration of my big day! 37% off liquid soap, shea butter lotions, body sprays and salt scrubs! Enjoy and have a great day!

Upcoming Earth Week Celebrations in Cavendish

2009-04-02T17:09:00.000-04:00

I had the good fortune to meet up with an acquaintance of mine today, Dallas, who owns the Solar Store located in Cavendish, VT on Route 131. Dallas is heading up/working on many of the upcoming Earth Week celebrations in Cavendish listed below.

Cavendish Earth Week-April 20 (Monday): Depression Era sustainable housekeeping tips (clean green for cheap) Sponsor Cavendish Historical Society 6:30-8 PM at the Cavendish Elementary School. FMI: 802-226-7807

Cavendish Earth Week-April 21 (Tuesday): Patrick Parenteau, Professor of Law and Senior Counsel in the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic of the Vermont Law School, will speak on the impact of climate change in Vermont. Sponsor Cavendish Community & Conservation Association (CCCA) 6:30-8 PM at the Cavendish Elementary School. FMI: 802-226-7093

Cavendish Earth Week- April 22 (Wednesday): Earth Day -Windy Wednesday Celebrate all things related to wind power. Kite flying and demonstration of various wind devices, including a Skystream. 1-3 pm at Fletcher Field off of Route 103 in Proctorsville/Ludlow.
• Sustainable Energy Panel Sponsor Cavendish Solar Store. 6:30-8 PM at the Cavendish Elementary School. FMI: 802-226-7093

Cavendish Earth Week -April 23 (Thursday): Gardening, composting, recycling and local foods. Sponsor Cavendish Community & Conservation Association (CCCA) 6:30-8 PM at the Cavendish Elementary School. FMI: 802-226-7093

Cavendish Earth Week-April 24 (Friday): Movie Night-The 11th Hour Sponsor Cavendish Fletcher Community Library 6:30-8 PM at the Cavendish Elementary School. FMI: 802-226-7093

Cavendish Earth Week-April 25 (Saturday): Sustainable living in Cavendish Workshops on sustainable building, landscaping and energy. There will also be presentations on Tax Incentives and Group Net Metering. Vendors will be on site. Sponsored by Cavendish Solar Store, USA Solar Store, Cavendish Community & Conservation Association, Cavendish Historical Society, Calabrese Architects 10-2 pm at the Cavendish Elementary School. Food by WAWWE. FMI: 802-226-7093

Cavendish Earth Week-April 26 (Sunday): Sustainable Living House Tour. Meet at the Cavendish Solar Store in Cavendish. At 1 pm. Please carpool where possible. 802-226-7093

For more information information about solar products please visit their website at www.usasolarstore.com

My Calm Moment Today

2009-03-25T20:51:00.000-04:00

I took a calm moment today. Those of you who know me are laughing because you think that I drink too much coffee to ever be calm. In fact, I have a friend who is by trade an herbalist and special educator who describes me to her friends and colleagues as "random access". I'm pretty sure that was her way of nicely telling me that she would say that I was ADHD or ADD....see, I already went off on my first tangent.

Anyway, I was treated by my new friend Laura Tuttle, moved here recently from Maine, to a wonderful facial and eyelash tinting at her newly opened day spa called Calm Moments. Now, the eyelash tinting fascinated me from the minute that she mentioned it because mascara is the only makeup that I wear and I liked the idea of replacing it so that I didn't have to deal with clumps and not blinking my eyes to let my mascara dry (which never works for me because it always seems to be my time to sneeze!)

The eyelash tinting is a vegetable dye that is applied directly to the eyelashes and looks great! And my facial was wonderful and it included a foot massage while my facial mask was drying. I was completely relaxed and calm, I almost fell asleep right on the table. She said "don't worry, it happens all the time". My face is completely hydrated and smooth as little Lucy's bottom.

Laura also offers several different types of massages, facials, tinting, waxing peels and wraps in her day spa located in downtown Ludlow right behind DJ's Restaurant at 144-1/2 Main Street. Check out her website at www.calmmoments.vpweb.com or give her a call at 802-738-5556 to treat yourself to a calm moment.

New artists at Summit Soapworks Gift Shop

2009-03-24T14:09:00.001-04:00

I've been busy cranking out soap, making bath bombs and playing around with some new scents for the spring. Today, two new Vermont craftspeople joined the store, Vermont Balsam (vtbalsam.com) with their oh so wonderful smelling balsam products and Mountaine Meadows Pottery (mountainemeadows.com) with their many funny sayings.

Vermont Balsam sent incredible smelling sachets, "mug rugs", hot mats, computer wrist rests, all smelling like balsam as well as afghans, pillows and cat mats made from recycled sweaters. At first I was a little unsure about the recycled sweater line but when they arrived I was like "wow". And my kitty is getting a new cat mat for her special place by the fire.

Mountain Meadows has many plaques with different sayings, some inspirational, some folksy and many that are hysterical. I of course ordered the hysterical/humorous ones for the shop like "Put on your Big Girl panties and get over it" and "We don't skinny dip we chunky dunk". My favorite is "Everyone brings joy to this office (or in my case the shop), some when they enter and some when they leave".

Passing the last winter days

2009-03-22T21:09:00.001-04:00

The ski season is winding down, so the shop is a little slower pace and we've had more time to pass the last of the winter days. One of our favorite activities is shoveling some of the larger snow banks and "spreading the snow" around our paved driveway and doing the snow melt dance, don't laugh, many Vermonters do this, well, not the snow melt dance part but definitely the spreading of the snow around. I know that it's working because I have to reach higher and higher lately to put food in the bird feeders. The other day Jaycob heard geese and while everyone says that robins are the first sign of spring, I'm a firm believer that it's really the geese that know what they're doing.

We don't have cable or a satellite dish, a personal decision to be unplugged for our kids sake, but we do belong to Netflix and recently finished the first season of "Everest Beyond the Limit" from the Discovery Channel. I'm not a fan of most reality tv shows, although "The Deadliest Catch" is one of my absolute favorite shows but I think it has more to do with my love affair with Alaska than anything else. So when I ordered this show for Jaycob I expected it to be dry and boring, like how interesting could watching some men climb a large snow covered mountain be right? I was completely fascinated and stuck to the TV, in fact, I've suffered two nights of shortened sleep because of this show. It was fascinating to watch men with their dream of summitting go to the extreme point, dancing with death, to reach the highest point of the world. I don't at all understand it, see, I get the risky behavior on the "Deadliest Catch" because it's a means to the end of a large pot of cash and being someone who always worked too much, I get that. I don't get paying $40,000+ to risk a life and if one happens to survive they might not still have all of their digits and or in one man's case both of his feet. But I suppose it's as they say "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and so I rooted them all on and won't sleep again later this week when the second season comes in the mail...

Upcoming classes at Summit Soapworks

2009-02-07T06:25:00.000-05:00

Saturday Feb 14th - 1-3pm - Art of Fragrance Class at Summit Soapworks, 106 Main Street, Ludlow, VT 05149 - 228-4900 - In this class we'll cover the basics of aromatherapy and the use of essential oils. We'll discuss what essential oils are, and why and how they are used. We'll make a massage or air spray for you to take home. $12.00. Class size limit 10. Taught by Julie Manchester, Woodsong Herbals

Wednesday Feb 18, 2-4 pm.

Parents and children, come explore the art of felt making! This 2 hour workshop will teach you how to transforming loose wool into strong handmade felt. Choose several simple projects, which would make lovely handmade gifts – bookmarks, coasters, beads, balls, flowers, magnets – the possibilities for creativity are endless! Feltmaking is fun, fast and easy – no sewing or knitting involved, no experience required! Geared toward children 5-10 years old, with an adult. Costs: $12 per child. All materials included

Saturday, February 21st - 1-3pm - Herbs for Winter Health Class - Summit Soapworks, 106 Main Street, Ludlow - 228-4900. In this class, we'll discuss herbs to use to maintain winter health, incl when & when not to use echinacea. We'll learn to make winter teas for sore throats & colds. Cost: $12.00. Class size limited to 10.

The Story of Summit Soapworks

2009-01-29T06:39:00.000-05:00

I had an opportunity this week to participate in a marketing event at the Vermont Welcome Center in Fair Haven. It was asked that I send some background about me and my "story" and in writing it up I realized that many of my regular customers, those I've known for years, probably aren't aware of my story either so I thought I'd share it here:

The Story of Summit Soapworks

My search for simple, natural products led to the creation of Summit Soapworks Herbal Soaps in my Mt. Holly, Vermont kitchen, in the spring of 2000. Finding myself allergic to commercial soap products that caused me to break out I began making soap. Armed with an old soapmaking book, pot, wooden spoon and my very first soap mold - a recycled milk carton, I was on my way to making the first of thousands of beautiful, creamy, moisturizing soaps! Thank goodness that my father took pity on me and built some real wooden molds, which are still used today. I then traveled around to craft shows in the Northeast, peddling soaps and very often sleeping in the back of my pickup truck, cooking over fires, at many different campgrounds.

In the summer of 2001 Summit Soapworks moved to Ludlow, in a trailer I rented on Pond Street, divided between the soap business and my living quarters. A little cramped and you can guess that I sat in the living room surrounded by bars of drying soap. In the fall of 2002, running out of room again, I moved the soap business into my friend’s basement (the Goodman family of Goodman’s American Pie - next door) and existed there until my husband and I purchased our home in Cavendish, off of 20 mile stream Road. Again I moved into a basement and again ran out of space so Summit Soapworks has come back to Ludlow on Main Street.

Thousands and thousands of Summit Soapworks soaps and other bath products have been made by hand. And hundreds of craft shows in the Northeast have been participated in, with two new members of our family added along the way. And still, today and everyday, I am honored and thrilled that other folks have enjoyed my soaps and found relief for their own sensitive skin. I always welcome suggestions for new scents - some of my favorites were suggestions from clients and friends. And, if you ask my husband he'll tell you, I love to visit with folks so please feel free to stop by at the shop or craft shows and say “hey“. Our soaps are very special to us because they connect and bridge us to nature and a more simple lifestyle, before chemicals and preservatives were used to alter products and shelf-life. I hope that you feel this same connection and enjoy our soaps!

Thanks for visiting!

Ludlow's Big Buddy Program and Summit Soapworks

2009-01-24T06:10:00.000-05:00

My store shares a building with Ludlow's Big Buddy Program, a local program similar to the Big Brother, Big Sister program. Before the holidays about 12 teenager came by the shop & we did a class on salt scrubs so that they could make presents for the holidays.

Admittedly, I was scared to death of these children before they came to the shop. I am usually a relatively calm, confident woman, I have spoken publicly many times (even in front of angry taxpayers) but suddenly was transformed into this person who was thinking "well what if they don't want to do this", "what if they don't think this is fun or cool", yikes!

I was pleasantly surprised by this great group of kids. We had a fun (and messy) class and I think in the end they thought I was "cool" and they each went home with their own unique salt scrub. The following will be posted in our local paper this week:

The Ludlow Teen Center would like to thank Christine Balch at Summit Soapworks for her generosity and welcoming our Big Buddy group into her store. Christine took the time to show us some hands-on activities, making salt scrubs, that the group took home and gave to their families over the holiday's. Christine supplied materials, advisement, creativity, and her expertise inside the store located on 106 main st in Ludlow. The Big Buddy Program is through the Ludlow Teen Center, and organized by Gretchen and Jerry Tucker. The program matches elementary age youth with teenage mentors. The group actively engages in fund-raising to help support the adventures and activities in which the Big Buddy program participates with. Such activities have included:collecting and donating goods to the Springfield Humane Society- and a tour and visiting time with the animals. As well as a visit to the Eastwood animal Vet clinic in Rutland, Outdoor activities all season long (including, but not limited to,: hikes, sledding, snowboarding, swimming), visit to VINS, and local animal farms, baking for our future bake sale. At the end of our day we always retire with pizza from an area pizza shop, our Big Buddy tradition. The weekly outings keep everyone busy and engaged, and allows the big buddy group to participate in healthy activities. We are continuing to fund-raise to keep theprogram running, and we are always interested in volunteers to host an activities, as well as donations, made to the non-profit organization.

Next weekend, during Ludlow's Winter Carnival, Summit Soapworks will be hosting a fundraiser for the Big Buddy Program. 10% of store sales on January 30, 31st and Feb. 1st will be donated to the program. There will be Winter Carnival specials. Please stop by and support this great program.

My New Year's Resolutions

2009-01-07T07:04:00.000-05:00

So in thinking about my New Year's resolution I've decided that I should keep my blog more up to date. Actually, I had narrowed my resolutions list down to lose 70 lbs, keep my checkbook up to date or write in my blog regularly and decided that the blog was by far the easiest and the one I might actually stick to, LOL! Seriously though in the craziness of the holiday season and with the new store and the maintaining of my part-time job and caring for my family my blog most definitely fell by the wayside.

I'll be finishing out my part-time accouting job in the next month or so and will be able to focus solely on my family and soap business. This was a very bittersweet decision for me as the folks that I have worked for are lovely and amazingly kind and generous people and have taught me a great deal about charity and giving. I went to work for them for one summer, when Claire was very little, and have stayed for three years.

The store has grown from my working studio with a few other friends selling their wares to a full blown crafts shop currently representing over 25 crafters/artisans and with more coming in the next few weeks. Here's one picture of the store, there are a few more on my website, www.summitsoapworks.com. We now have so many beautiful things including handpainted glassware, soy candles, jewelry, knitted items, handpainted wooden ornaments, children & baby gifts, photographs, needlefelted sculptures and wall hangings, quilted houseware items & wall hangings, quilted aprons & pot holders, floral watercolors by a very talented & lovely local woman and of course my best friend's fancy girl's tutus, they make me want to wear one! Over the February vacation I'm thinking of hosting a Fancy Nancy tea party so I may be found in one of those tutus!

Happy New Year to everyone and best wishes for a healthy & prosperous New Year!

2008-09-03T07:03:00.000-04:00

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!

Summer Vacation & the Shop's Progress

2008-08-17T23:25:00.000-04:00

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 Soapmobile

2008-07-17T21:51:00.000-04:00

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!

We're moving!

2008-07-02T05:58:00.000-04:00

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!

My latest thoughts on parenting...

2008-06-23T06:09:00.000-04:00

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."

To Color or not to Color?

2008-06-16T06:18:00.000-04:00

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.

Burn outs

2008-06-06T07:30:00.000-04:00

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!

Summit Soapworks - My very first blog post

2008-05-31T22:21:00.000-04:00

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.