Wednesday, October 7, 2009

October Special - Free Gift/Tote Bag With Purchase!





Fall has come! Even here in Arizona we are feeling a chill in the air, which is more than welcome! In my shops, I have some new items ready to post. For a special treat this month, I am offering a free "green" type tote bag  or cosmetic bag with any purchase of two or more items from either of my stores! Here is a photo of my first sale of the month in my Etsy store, and her free tote. Sadly, that was the only one I had of that particular style.
The rest of the styles shown above are still available at this time, but I only have a limited supply, so hurry while they last! I will post new photos as some will no doubt become unavailable quickly.  On Etsy, enter code GIFTY in the Notes to Seller at checkout. On ArtFire, enter GIFTY as a coupon code. Then, just let me know the number of the bag you want!
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=573167 Here is my latest item on ArtFire, a lovely Autumn Harvest Apple Gift Set! This set includes a 4 x 6 inch bag of "Harvest Apple Spice" potpourri, a 6 ounce package of Apple Cider scented Fizzing Mineral bath salts with a wooden scoop, and two small flower shaped lotion bars in your choice of Pumpkin Spice or Apples N' Spice! All of this is included in a gorgeous hand painted clay pot, featuring a colorful fall scene painted by my good friend Megan Tredway. I have several more of her hand painted pots to make gift sets with, so if you have a favorite scent you'd like to have made up with one, just let me know! Of course, keep an eye on my ArtFire studio for more of these also!

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Natural Ingredients: Part I ~ Sweet Almond Oil

A Few Words about...Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet Almond Oil is an ingredient you will find in many handmade bath and beauty products today. I have really grown to love using it in my products because is light and penetrates the skin easily. It is just about a perfect base for lotions, scrubs, balms, hair products, and even massage oils. Sweet almond oil is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and E. Soap makers find that it saponifies easily and yields a mild soap with good lather.
With all of these benefits, it is no wonder that sweet almond oil is said to ease symptoms of eczema, psoriasis and help in combating itching and inflammation. It makes a great lubricant and helps to restore skin's natural moisture. Also, it is suitable for all skin types.
You will find sweet almond oil in many of my scrubs and all of my lotion bars. I recently created a massage oil for my husband when he had a cold. I filled a 1 ounce bottle with sweet almond oil, and added eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils. I rubbed it on his chest instead of using the petroleum based vapor rub we grew up with, and he loved it! You can do the same with any combination of essential oils you prefer for a wonderful and soothing aromatherapy experience!