Posts
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".
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Passing the last winter days
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...
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...
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Upcoming classes at Summit Soapworks
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.
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.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Story of Summit Soapworks
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!
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!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Ludlow's Big Buddy Program and Summit Soapworks
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
My New Year's Resolutions
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!
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!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
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!
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!
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