Jojoba-Shea Lotions will be back in stock on March 23rd as well! The labels are printing one at a time, as long as I wait several hours to let the printer cool down in between. It’s been a lesson in patience, for sure!

Have a wonderful weekend – I’ll see you on the 23rd!

I have made more lotion today which I plan to scent with Black Raspberry Creme and Pink Grapefruit & Sugar Cane tomorrow. At this point, I am just hoping and praying that my lovely printer will behave itself – SOON. Without labels, I can’t sell this lotion, or take photos for the website. I feel like I need that photo of the lady pulling her hair out. (By the way, I still have no idea what the shipping calculator problem is/was. No one else had any problems with it!)

Signed,

Frustrated in Kansas

Red Rock Canyon Soap by Great Cakes Soapworks

Red Rock Canyon will be available on April 1st – no foolin’!

Winner Announced

And now, the results you’ve all been waiting for. There were two ways I could interpret the data I received. I can tell you which fragrances received the most 1st place votes, and I can tell you which fragrances received the most overall votes. So I will do both. And then tell you which fragrances I plan to make into lotion.

Here they are in the order of the MOST 1ST PLACE VOTES:
Almond Milk – 12
Lavender Meadows – 10
Pink Grapefruit & Sugar Cane – 8
Caribbean Diva, Patchouli, Stress Relief – 6
Black Raspberry Creme, Sweet & Sassy – 5
Lavender Lemon, Sandalwood – 4
Antique Lilac, Fragrance Free, Lily of the Valley – 2
Cucumber Mint, Strawberry Lemonade – 1
Green Apple – 0

And this is the order of the most OVERALL VOTES:
Almond Milk – 39
Caribbean Diva – 30
Stress Relief – 29
Black Raspberry Creme, Pink Grapefruit & Sugar Cane – 25
Lavender Meadows – 24
Lavender Lemon – 23
Sweet & Sassy – 21
Cucumber Mint, Patchouli – 17
Sandalwood – 16
Strawberry Lemonade – 15
Green Apple, Fragrance Free, Lily of the Valley – 12
Antique Lilac – 11

Clearly, Almond Milk came out the overall winner in both categories. It has been a well received scent in the past. In fact, I received a peppy cheer in the comment section from one of the Almond Milk fans: “Almond Milk, that’s the way. It’s my favorite any day!”

Based on the overall totals, I will be stocking the following scents in both the larger 8 oz. pumps and the smaller 2.5 oz. purse sized tubes in the next few days:
Almond Milk
Caribbean Diva
Stress Relief
Lavender Meadows
Black Raspberry Creme
Pink Grapefruit & Sugar Cane

It’s very difficult for me NOT to offer all the scents that have been requested. However, I’ve learned that unfortunately you can’t please everyone all the time. I received some really great ideas for other scents to consider for the future in the comments section. Thanks again for all your feedback – it is very much appreciated!

Click Here to Take the Survey

Grapefruit & Peppermint Foot Scrub by Great Cakes Soapworks

I was inspired to make these Foot Scrubs today when one of my customers (who also happens to be a room mom at my kids’ school) contacted me about making a gift basket for her sons’ kindergarten teacher. They were celebrating her birthday today and she had already purchased a gift certificate for a pedicure. She told me that I didn’t need to make up the foot scrubs just for the gift basket, but it seemed like the perfect fit for a foot care themed gift and I knew it was time to make more anyway!

Gift basket with Foot Scrub, Whipped Shea Butter, Stress Relief soap, and a Limeade Lip Butter

You can get these new Grapefruit & Peppermint Foot Scrubs here, and pair it up with some Whipped Shea Butter for an extra special treat for your feet!

1. YES, it works fine for me, or NO, it wouldn’t open

AND

2. Which browser (usually either Internet Explorer or Firefox) and version you are using (you can find out the version by opening up the browser, go to the menus across the top, click on Help, and then “About Internet Explorer/Firefox”. The window that opens should say which version you have.)

I appreciate your help in tracking down this issue!!

Amber Fig Soap by Great Cakes Soapworks

Here it is! The Amber Fig soap has been stamped and cured and is now ready for your bathing pleasure. Surprisingly, the darker layers didn’t turn as dark as I thought they might, but still make a great contrast. In case you’ve forgotten what this one smells like, the darker layers are scented with a romantic, yet daring blend of intriguing notes including pineapple, berries, honey, patchouli, and jasmine. Bottom notes of musk sweetened by precious amber and hints of soft vanilla. Lighter layers have a subtle brown sugar and fig scent with poppy seeds for light exfoliation.

You can buy individual Amber Fig soaps here, or you can take advantage of the Handmade Soap Combo Deal (any four soaps for $20) here. That handy dandy wooden soap dish is also available here.

Jojoba-Shea Lotion by Great Cakes Soapworks

It’s time to start thinking about which lotion fragrances you would like to see offered at Great Cakes Soapworks! I have been making Jojoba-Shea Lotions for three years now, but my inventory was completely depleted over the holidays, and it’s time to re-stock for this year.

You won’t find many lotions that don’t contain some form of petrolatum on the ingredient label at most retail stores. The Jojoba-Shea Lotion has natural ingredients you can pronounce (if you know that “jojoba” is pronounced “ho-ho-bah”), and a made fresh date on the back of each bottle. It’s a highly moisturizing lotion without feeling greasy, and works well in the winter, or even as a soothing after-sun lotion in the summer because of the high aloe content.

This year I have decided to switch back to the 8 ounce pumps instead of the 6 ounce malibu tubes that you see in the photo, and make the 2.5 oz. malibus that were available at Christmastime available all year.

However, I need your help to decide which fragrances to offer! Therefore, I am opening up a survey for you to choose your top five lotion fragrances. There is also space for you to write in a favorite if you don’t see it on the list. Your completed survey will be your entry in a drawing for one FREE 8 ounce Jojoba-Shea Lotion of your choice from Great Cakes Soapworks. Winner will be announced Monday, March 8th. It’s a pretty simple survey, and it will probably take you longer to read this blog post than to fill out the survey, so without further ado:

(If you are using a Reader, you will need to click over to the post to get to the live link. I don’t know why this is.)

White wastebasket from Goodwill

My husband suggested gently warming it in a pan of water on the stove. I tried that – then discovered how the decorations had actually been installed. Once the jug got warm enough, it magically separated at the bottom and whatever the nasty bonding material was came right out. The final photo shows the branches displayed in the jug, but I haven’t figured out how to glue it back together yet:

1. Glass jug, as purchased. 2. Warming it up in a pan on the stove. 3. All the parts separated. 4. Final display.

Dark brown basket from Hobby Lobby, Seashell from the Bahamas, Orange Citrus Coconut candle on clearance from Walmart, Natural wire wrap (around the candle) from Michael's

New light fixture from Lowe's

Glass jug from the Goodwill, decorative branches from Hobby Lobby, and some previously purchased river rock in the bottom of the jug

View from the toilet - Fresh paint on the cabinet with new brushed nickel cabinet handles from Lowe's, and hinges from a local ebay seller

Cabinet over the toilet - Top: Hollowed out piece of wood on clearance from Pier One, Seashell from the Bahamas, Blue and brown vase from Marshalls; Inside shelf: Blue beachside candle and washclothes from Target, Washcloth holder from the Goodwill, Orange candle and seashell holder both on clearance from Pier One

And because I know you are dying to see my work of art that got nixed:

My reasons why this doesn't work: 1. Colors are too bright 2. Too many different colors 3. The wall is too crowded 4. The fabric would be difficult to keep clean

I’m so relieved to be done! Now I can get back to soap – Amber Fig will be ready next week. I’m getting ready to stamp that one and the Pineapple Blossom. I promise to let you know when the Pineapple Blossom is fully cured. Have a great weekend!