The Copper Cauldron Soaps

Down With the Sickness

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

'Tis the season for much merriment and of course... nasty viruses. The latter of which has been rocking my world in some very unpleasant ways. I'm behind on so many things, trying to play catch up, and in between the various bugs that my immune system succumbed to, I went out and procurred a part time job.

Soap supplies and molds have been left untouched for well over a month now. I am going through a bit of withdrawal but other aspects of my life require a bit more of my attention (like the mountain of laundry and seemingly dauntless task of preparing for the holidays). Yes, I'm foregoing feeding my soaping addiction while I put the household back in order. McGeeky and Captain Oblivious gave it the ol' college try but unfortunately the result is what appears to be... well, a guys' college dorm.

So no, I haven't been abducted nor have I been ushered into the witness protection program. I'm here spending some quality time with the washing machine, vacuum, and cleaning rags; catching up on mailing out some soaps; and trying to find my groove while returning to the work world.

I'm a Fan of: Just Be Happy

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:03:00 +0000

Another Friday (woohoo) and it's time for me to share

another shop I'm a fan of on Facebook: Just Be Happy.

Beautiful crocheted creations can be found in this awesome shop!

Pop on over to her Etsy Shop or her blog and see all loveliness for yourself!

For Cooper

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:57:00 +0000

It has been a little over six months since my beloved Cooper went missing.

He and our other dog, Roo the Spastic, went for a romp when a faulty back door blew open from a gust of wind on a miserably cold April night. I spent the majority of the night walking the neighborhood in my pajamas and a coat while a fine sleet came down. The new tags with our updated address were laying on the table awaiting to be hung on both their collars (we had moved from Virginia in March).

On one of my stops back at the house to warm up and put on shoes more suitable for the weather, Roo came loping back in around 1am. Without Ol' Coop. I was relieved that Roo made it home but devastated that he was without his faithful sidekick. These two dogs had been inseperable.

I spent days printing flyers and hanging them up. I called the local shelters, animal control, and even called vets offices to see if someone had brought Cooper in. For months I kept up the routine. Then it became too painful to keep looking and turning up nothing.

I continue to miss Ol' Coop and on many levels I feel like I've let him down. Why didn't I put the tags on? What didn't I do that I could have done? Where didn't I look? He chose me to give him a forever home and yet...

Yes, Ol' Coop chose me. From the moment he saw me, walked casually to my feet and sat looking up at me. When I picked that fluff of a pup up he curled up in my arms and fell easily asleep like he was home. It was heart breaking-ly cute. He went home with me that day.

He was my constant companion... unequivocably my soulmate in canine form. It was a natural fit.

Six months later I continue to look whenever we ride somewhere; I find myself peering into back yards and hoping beyond all hopes that what seems impossible will finally happen: I will find Cooper.

I can't bring myself to collapse his crate even though it breaks my heart to walk by it every day. His lead still hangs next to Roo's and I continue to keep his favorite treats on hand.

Why did I feel compelled to write this blog? Because I can't let go of the hope. I hope that he's out there... healthy and loved. That he isn't just chained to a doghouse outside and forgotten. He isn't a purebred but he's a mutt I adore.

But I guess more than that I hope someone may see this post and recognize Ol' Coop. My hope would be that he finds his way home. That whomever has my dog would see fit to make sure he comes back to me. I still have hope.

My name is Casandra. You can contact me by emailing thecoppercauldron@gmail.com

*If you feel compelled to pass this a long... feel free to copy and paste.*

Have a Handmade Holiday

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:43:00 +0000

While compiling my shopping list for the holidays, I've run across some pretty remarkable shops. If you remember this post from the past, then it may become obvious that I have a soft spot for felt food treats. So of course on my clicking adventures, I stumbled across this fun shop:

Little Crickets Felt Fun

This awesome shop contains all kinds of patterns to create your own felt food! What a wonderful activity to get children involved in. Not only do they get a fun little set to play with after wards, but they also can have the joy of knowing that they helped create it too!

Each pattern had detailed step by step instructions with photos, printable templates to make cutting out the pieces a breeze, and each set can be hand or machine sewn.

I'm picturing it in my mind's eye now... McGeeky comes home to find me sewing up some inedible but cute creations... How am I gonna explain that one? Oh yeah! The holidays are coming and these would make wonderful gifts for the little ones on your list! Best part is you can say you made it yourself!

Visit Little Crickets Felt Fun to see even more playful patterns that will pump up the imaginative play! Cruise by her blog while you're out and about too.

I'm a Fan of: The Soap Seduction

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Brace yourselves. Because this may be a bit of a shocker. Okay, so not really.

But it really isn't too much of a stretch for you to imagine that I'm a fan on Facebook of this shop:

The Soap Seduction

I'm not only a fan on Facebook however. I also love to read Patrice's blog.

I get to look at her beautiful soaps and she makes me laugh... a lot

(so much so that sometimes I find myself cleaning coffee off my screen).

A glimpse at any one of her soaps and I usually also find myself foraging

through the cupboards in search of some decadent treats...

Caramel Apple

Chocolatacoconuta

Autumn Sunrise

*Swoon and drool*

Of course soaps are not the only smell goods to be found at

The Soap Seduction.

She also creates body butter, sugar bubbles, lip lush and sooooo much more!

Now this talented gal is also making candles!

Show her some love! Fan her on Facebook, check out her blog, and

find her on Etsy, Artfire and/or 1000 Markets!

Favor-able Mention

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

You know how you have one of those moments of sheer brilliance? Then you start playing around with bringing that brilliant idea to the brink of existence? Well, I've been struck by one of those moments and right now I'm in the stage of contemplating and planning.

I even went so far as to delve into playing around with my Paint Shop Pro to see if this idea could be manageable. One idea and here is the result of one entire day of experimenting:

Wedding favors! Made especially for the special day. Of course the scent and color selections are totally up to the bride and her groom. I make the soaps (full sized 4 ounce bars) and design the labels to match your chosen colors. For the DIY type of bride, I can design the labels so that she can print them herself. For those that would prefer the soaps arrive ready to go, I can complete the entire process.

Of course I'm still finalizing some of the details but I'm so excited about the prospect of making this option available that I had to share! I realize that this isn't a new idea but it is one that will allow me even more opportunity to be creative as well as reach out to an entirely new clientele.

Of course the thought of wedding favors has me thinking about bridal shower and baby shower favors as well. So much fun! But now I must return to the boring business side of executing this idea... I'd rather be making soap :)

A Hoot and a Holla!

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Meet "Spots"... my new owl pal! Isn't he fabulous? I'm calling him a "he" though I'm not quite sure what possessed me to decide he is male. It occurs to me as I write this that "Spots" could very well be a girl... hmmm. Either way, "Spots" is an adorable hoot that I'm more than just a bit smitten with.

This awesome little bundle of handmade goodness is courtesy of
Monkey Tree Creations!
Thanks so much, Abi!

No worries... there are more cute owls to be had in her shop! They come in a variety of fun fabrics. But there is a whole lot more in this shop that may tickle your fancy. Sweet Whimsical Butterflies and little Sleepy Bumble Bee dolls that just might appeal to someone on your shopping list...

Reusable Fabric Snack Bags

"Trees" The Stuffed Bird

Of course you could always stop by her blog and show her some love too!

I'm a Fan of: FishStikks

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

No... not the edible variety (although I do enjoy those on occasion with a bit of honey mustard). I'm talking about a simply fabulous shop that I'm a fan of on Facebook called FishStikks.

From the series of Chubby Little houses to the Big Eyed Birds... all the artwork is original and created by the artisan of this shop. Don't let the Grumpy Gnomes scare you off either. It is well worth ignoring their mean little glares to meander amongst these fabulous pieces of handmade art.

Chubby Little House Number 465

Art Sculpture - Clyde - A Big Eyed Bird

Funky Flowers Mixed Media

If you enjoyed your trip through this delightful shop, imagine how much you would enjoy a visit to the FishStikk's blog where you can see some of the latest creations and catch a glimpse of the world that inspires this artist. Oh, I also have to mention that this artist has a second shop!

It is a de-stash that contains all kinds of lovely silk sample pieces. I must say that I love the name. What else would it be called but... Leftover FishStikks!

Featured EtsyBlogger: Made by Melissa

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Congratulations goes out to Made by Melissa...

the Featured Etsy Blogger for the month of October!

With a wide variety of one of a kind handmade creations youare bound to find something that appeals to your senses!

Pink and Yellow Flower Ribbon Necklace

Gray and Green T-shirt Bowl

Pink and White Fuzzy Scarf

Discover more about this shop, the artisan and what's happening by
visiting her blog.

Cuteness in My Mailbox

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Remember the post I did about a Whimsical Giveaway? I won! The adorable plaque arrived in the mail on Friday along with the cutest miniature pumpkin! Right now both are perfectly placed on my desk so I can take delight every time they catch my eye. Every glimpse of them brings a smile to my face.

I thought I'd say thank you to Melanie by displaying a gallery of some of her creations. Enjoy and be sure to check out her shop and her blog (you could be a winner of a future giveaway!).

It's a Beautiful Beast of a Thing

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The season at my local Farmer's Market is winding to a close and the weather is turning chilly. Which means I've been spending more time inside looking for things to occupy my time while I wait for some supplies to arrive. The first "must do" on my list was to do something about my light box. It was looking a tad bit worse for the wear, and while it functioned well, I wanted something more...

Something bigger that would allow me to showcase the soaps, afford a bit more room to take pics of the entire loaf and allow room for some decorative props, as well as minimize the time I spend editing the pictures. I definitely achieved BIGGER:

Meet "The Beast"

This behomoth of a box is a little over 2 feet in every direction. Yeah, you could say I went a tad bit overboard on the BIG factor. Which poses two problems. One: I'm going to need more light sources replete with better bulbs. Two: just where is the beastly box going to live? I think it is only appropriate that it reside in the soap lab. Here's hoping that the table I would like to set this on will actually accommodate this monstrosity.

On the upside, it affords more than enough room and it was easy to construct. You can check out the tutorial I used here. (The poster of the tutorial goes by the moniker crazed-fangirl on deviantART and you're going to want to slide by there to check out the fabulous chainmaile she creates!)

I went to my local home improvement store with my list in hand, had the PVC pipe cut to length right there, and the department pro was more than helpful in helping me figure out the corners. Do you know how many kinds of L's and T's there actually are? Eesh. My mind almost imploded. Thank goodness for knowledgable sales associates. From there it was a hop, skip, and a jump to acquire a white shower curtain liner. (I ended up having to get a second one because my box is so big.)

Fitting the pipes together was a throw back to my childhood... kind of like playing with tinker toys. You can decide whether or not to glue the pipes together (I opted not to simply because at some point I may have to deconstruct the beast). All the pipes fit together rather snugly anyway. I did pretty much the same thing that the tutorial writer did when it came to fitting the curtain to the frame.

Tools I required? Scissors and duct tape. It doesn't get much more simple than that. It's a beautiful and beast of a thing!

I'm a Fan of: Simple Joys Paperie

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

TGIF! Which means it is time for me to share another shop I'm a fan of on Facebook. This week I thought I would regal you with some of the pretties from Simple Joys Paperie.

The unique paper wreaths are created from an assortment of vintage and antique books and would make a lovely addition to your home. This shop also contains other charming handmade items that would make the perfect gift for any occasion:

If this shop didn't contain enough eye candy for you, be sure and check out her blog as well as her other shop that is brimming with even more tempting treats for the eyes: Honeysuckle Lane.

Visit next Friday when I share another one of the pages I've fanned on Facebook and highlight some more handmade goodness!

A Halloween Wishlist... Part Two

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

A big thanks to A Keeper's Jackpot for this edition of the Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival. The topic I chose was: Halloween - What are you doing to celebrate this year? (Either in your Etsy Shop,with your family and friends, or even home decor).

All of our holidays this year and usual plans seem to be drastically affected by our move to West Virginia. In past years we usually headed over to the home of one of my best friends (and the gal behind Baileys Basics). She would make up a big batch of delicious chili, we'd hang out, and Captain Oblivious would hand out the candy in lieu of going door to door. Smart kid: his pick of the candy, a full belly and a warm house.

Costume shmostume. I cannot even begin to count the number of years he simply chose to dress up as an "army man" with subtle variations. One year it was "zombie army man" and another it was "bleeding army man". For him it was all about the means to getting the candy and not the fun of dressing up.

Who knows what this year will bring. There are approximately eight houses on our road so I don't imagine we will be getting an abundance of knocks at our door. So if Captain wants candy it is quite possible that he's gonna actually have to work for it this year...

If you remember this post then you may remember the fact that my Halloween decorations are still adrift amidst the boxes somewhere in the garage. At least I think that box is in the garage. So our house will remain undecorated and bare for the season.

However, I thought I'd work up a wish list highlighting some items that appeal to my dark side:

A Before and After

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Remember the pic from a couple posts back showing several loaves of soaps setting atop the curing rack waiting to be cut? Several of you inquired about this soap in particular:

And here it is again! Behold... "Pepperberry" after the final cut:

This is a scent I've made before but this time it received quite a make over from the first batch I made. In fact, I'm a bit remiss in showing you the previous look. Let's just agree that this one is much prettier and not revisit the pre-makeover look, shall we?

I simply adore the way this turned out! Even if the pink soap curls didn't line up perfectly with the cuts. It made for an interesting textural and visual effect. Those soap curls were actually repurposed, in a sense, from another batch of soap that was just waiting for a purpose.

What does Pepperberry smell like? Black Orchid with black pepper notes combined with an alluring mixture of all spice, wild berries, bulgarian rose, pine, oak, and a hint of vanilla. It's a complex fragrance that is warm and sensual.

I'm a Fan of: British Cream Tea

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Delicious treats that make your mouth water and have zero guilt? Oh yeah. How could I not be a fan of British Cream Tea? Every time one of her tasty creations graces my Facebook page I'm wholly tempted to lick the screen.

These handmade goodies are made from 100% recycled felt and are "perfect for everlasting adult tea parties". What exactly do you do with felt food treats? Give them as party favors or perhaps make a charming tablescape!

For more about the talented creator of these tasty treats you can also visit her beautiful blog (where you can drool over some of the real food she makes too!).

A BeWitching Find: Emily Claire Creations

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

A few of my favorites from a shop full of fabulous eye candy!

We've Got the Funk

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Just not in that get your groove on kind of way. It seems weather that flips from warm to cold at whim has laid the foundation for a round of sickness that has left us all feeling blah.

This household is in dire need of some pampering to alleviate our sniffling, sneezing, coughing and aching. I promise myself every year that before this kind of seasonal sickness sets in I will be prepared. Instead I find my snuffling and achy self mixing up soothing remedies when I really just want to crawl back into bed with a hot water bottle and some tissues.

Luckily for those who haven't experienced this onset of yuckiness... there are feel goods right at your fingertips that you can stock up on. One such shop that offers up items to help alleviate and pamper is Unique Garden.

Cold and Flu Fragrance Oil
A little of this in my fragrance burner and I'll be breathing easier...

Raphael's Healing Garden Bath Soak
A rejuvenating hot bath with the addition of this...

Ache No More Back Rub
Apply a bit of this to help alleviate those aches...

Be sure to check out Unique Garden and discover all the lovely handmade creations she offers.

A Halloween Wishlist... Part One

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

A big shout out to the very talented Athena for this edition of the Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival. The two topics to choose from are:
1) Halloween is approaching! Do you do any kind of decorating for this spooky, fun holiday? If so, show us pictures!
2) Share your favorite Halloween memory from your childhood (it could be a costume, party, etc.).

During this spooky holiday, my house generally goes eerily naked from all manner of decorations. Over the years my spooky decorations have waned from several boxes chock full of macabre goodies down to one lone box that is adrift amongst a sea of boxes that were never unpacked from our move. It seems the thrill I once possessed for decorating has come to a dead halt this year. The mere thought of rummaging through all those boxes leaves me with a sense of horror that I just can't seem to shake.

Instead, I did a bit of window shopping and worked up several collections of handmade items that given proper funding and adequate motivation would adorn my home for the spooky season. First up is the "Sweet & Spooky" list:

Next go 'round on my Halloween Wishlist will be the things that appeal more to my macabre side so stay tuned!

We Interupt This Program...

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

As the Guild Master of the Stalkers Guild on Artfire... it is my privilege to pass on the opportunity for all of you to gear up for a Treasure Hunt! Best part is you get to win stuff. And seriously... who doesn't like to win stuff?

If you click the graphic below you can take a glimpse at some of the goodies that are going to be up for grabs!

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Stalkers Guild don't worry... We employ our stalking prowess for the greater good: to promote Artfire artisans! In fact, anyone can now submit an Artfire studio for us to stealthily promote for an entire week. Just head on over to the Guild blog and suggest a victim. (Please note that no studios are harmed during the course of the stalking period.)

Curses! Foiled Again!

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

One day, in the not so distant future,

I will leave the soap making supplies alone long enough
to be able to take delicious looking hand dyed yarn
like these from Sand and Silk Designs...

And perhaps knit up something warm and functional like this:

Prairie Spring Hand-Knitted Socks by The Calico Cat

Unfortunately, that distant future is not today and my feet are really cold.
Curses upon my soap making addiction!
(At least my freezing tootsies smell good.)

I'm a Fan of: The Blue Daisy

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Another Friday and it is time for me to share another fabulous shop that I'm a fan of on Facebook! If you like what you see and are already on Facebook, I encourage you to become a fan as well so that you can stay up to date with the artisans and their handmade wares!

My eyes are always drawn to the gorgeous creations from The Blue Daisy. Here is just a sample of some of beautiful and functional products she makes:

Red, White and Blue Daisy Pincushion

Asian Inspired Pincushion and Scissor Fob Set

Ruby Flower Cosmetic or Gadget Case

The loveliness contained in this shop is enough to make this soaper wish she had a sewing room to call her own so I could fill it with such functional cuteness! You can find links to both her shops on her Facebook Fan Page. It is also totally worth the click to go find out what she is up to over at her blog as well!

Well, Hello Thursday!

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:40:00 +0000

Time seems to have slipped away from me somehow. Not quite sure how that happened but today I'm determined to sneak in a blog post, print some labels, package some soaps, get a wholesale order ready to ship, and do some laundry.

It dawned on me that today is Thursday... which makes tomorrow Friday. That means tomorrow is a special day at the Parkersburg Farmer's Market! Extended hours from 10am until 6pm. Which reminded me of the fact that I have several scents in the Curing Closet that just might be ready to make their debut!Here is a glimpse of the pre-cut soapy goodness on the curing rack! All of these have been cut into bars and I hope to get pictures of the cut bars today as well.

Which just added one more thing to my already long to do list! I better get crackalackin'!

I'm a Fan of: Kylie Parry

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Here of late I've been spending quite a bit of my spare time on Facebook. I waste just a bit of that time playing games (mmm hmmm... just a bit). But mostly I find myself getting lost amongst all the fabulous handmade creations from the plethora of pages I've become a fan of.

Kylie Parry is just one of the many, but each time she posts one of her new lovely pottery or ceramic pieces I feel inclined to take a closer look. Here are some beautiful pieces that can be found in her shop:

Eco Stars Ceramic Ornaments

Teal Tree Necklace

Sage Stoneware Soapdish

I was doing a bit of browsing around on her blog as well and discovered that this talented artist actually has a second shop: Redbootstudio. Here is a tiny glimpse of what can be found there:

The First Day of Fall

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The first day of fall has come and went. But it seems some of the leaves started donning their colors in an effort to reveal the glorious fall foliage to come. Those small glimpses have reminded me of some of my favorite autumn delights:

Sea Pinks of Etsy

Blue Rock Gourds of Artfire

TwoInspireYou of Etsy

Fairyfolk of Etsy

A Whimsical Giveaway

thecoppercauldron@gmail.com (The Copper Cauldron Soaps) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Ho hum... it's Monday again. But today, I can pass on a little knowledge that just may make your Monday a little bit brighter and perhaps a bit sweeter! How about wonderful giveaway from Whimsical Creations?
Numerous ways to get entries mean you have a greater chance to win this cute little Halloween plaque! Her giveaway ends on October second so head over and enter for a chance to wi n. You may want to cruise on by her shop and take a look at all the adorable creations as well!