BrooklynBath and I (Rose) would like to wish you many great endeavors for 2012.
We are so thankful to you our readers, customers, friends and family who have helped us prosper greatly this year. Because of you we have been able to make incredible bath and body care products that you have all come to love!
Ring in the New Year and make 2012 the year to make things happen!
Saludos! (Cheers)
Brooklyn Bath will be making its first public appearance at the Natick Farmer’s Market in Natick, Massachusetts on Saturday, November 19th 2001. Market hours are from 9am to 1pm.
Here’s a snapshot of what bath and body care goodies you can find at the Market.
Swing by, meet me (Rose) owner and soap crafter and see what Brooklyn Bath is all about!
On Saturday, July 30th 2011, 30 bath and body company owners from all parts of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts got together in near the Binghamton area for the annual Central New York (CNY) Bubbles and Blazes Gathering. This all-day gathering held every year at a chosen destination gives owners like me a chance to meet and discuss shop, network and make new friends in the bath and body industry. For me, it was my first time and I was excited months before the date.
We were met by our gracious hostess Maria Gelnett of Soap Studio Brookside and were treated to vendor bags full of great samples from various bath and body suppliers.
We were able to participate in a product swap – which was fabulous! I participated and went home with 17 different bath and body goodies! There was a mixture of different types of soaps, creams, hair products, dream pillows and scrubs just to name a few.
CNY Product Swap
In addition, some of us participated in a Yankee swap also. It was actually my first time and it was so much fun. I went home with a brand new crockpot
– perfect for making larger batches of hot process soap! Some of the goodies scored included: mud bath kit, gourmet oils, and gift cards to fine restaurants.
Demos shown were: how to make felted soap, the latest craze – column swirling, and making whipped cold process soap.
Everyone participated in a potluck and so we were treated to some amazing cuisine from our colleagues including lavender water which I absolute fell in love with.
Door prizes were awarded to every single attendee. I received a jug of grapeseed oil! I love using that oil in toiletries. And also, raffle for great prizes were awarded to 4 very lucky people. I wasn’t one of them – but next year!
If all that wasn’t heavenly enough all attendees were encouraged to bring soapmaking tools for the garage sale. I scored a few things as I couldn’t pass up the deeply discounted wares.
I made some amazing new friends, reunited with colleagues including my first soapmaking instructor The Handmade Soap Coach who did the demo on whipped cold process soap. Of which I must try of course! and learned a great deal more about the art of making bath and body products.
CNY 2011 Gathering
Needless to say I am clearing my calendar already for next year. If you are interested in learning more about the gathering or the group please visit their site Central New York Soapmakers.
Become a member, participate in the discussions, make new friends and learn so much from them.
Want to experience the luxurious handmade soaps created only by BrooklynBath?
Visit our shop at BrooklynBath Online Shop
Subscribe to be part of the exclusive list. Learn first of new products and listings and receive discounts through out the year.
What do Soapmakers do when they’re not making soap? They meet other Soapmakers of course! Back in March of this year (yes, I know this post is a tad bit late) 12 soapers got together in Queens, NY for a fun-filled day.
The organizer, Melissa Rivera – owner of Naturally Good Soaps, (that’s her on the far right of the picture) arranged a private luncheon for the 12 bath and body company owners at Alba’s Pizza & Restaurant in Queens, NY. Our very large dining room table (laden with food) was flanked by a groaning table of promotional and sample items from vendors: Motivators Promotional Products, Peterbrook Herb Farm, Citrus Allied & Science and Garden State Naturals.
Goodie Bags
Accompanied by the natural goodies were handcrafted artesanal soaps that each of the soapmakers made for a soap swap. Each soapmaker supplied 12 soaps (1 soap for each participant).
NYC Soap Swap
The point of the soap swap is to appreciate what other artisans of handcrafted soap creates. Everyone specializes in one or other type of soaps and it’s a great way to enjoy a variety.
We spent a wonderful two hours eating, laughing, swapping tales and talking shop. Afterwards, we walked over to Vivian Dritsas, owner of’ “The Little Soap Shop“. Here Vivian gave us a tour of her bath and body retail shop and answered questions relating to the retail industry. For many of us that don’t sell at a retail location it gave us a real feel for what it would be like to be a retail owner.
Afterwards, we each said our goodbyes and made a plan to get together at a future and do it all over again.
Oh yes, that will be at the end of July – stay tuned!
As BrooklynBath is growing with its product line I figured I should take some time to explain what are some of the ingredients that I like to use and why.
Through the course of learning and product development I have learned about different vegetable and fruit oils, their properties and how they can contribute to beautiful skin! One of the natural by-products of handcrafted soap is that glycerin is retained in the soap. Glycerin is a humectant that helps attract moisture to the skin. In commercial soaps glycerin is a commodity. It is extracted from the soap manufacturing process and used in other body products such as lotions.
Here are my base oils that I use for making soap:
1. Coconut Oil – provides a fluffy lather to soap. It’s high in lauric acid which is also found in human milk (breast). It is highly praised as a “natural skin conditioner” as it easily penetrates skin and hair follicles.
2. Palm Oil – I like using palm oil because it provides the “hardness” that I need in a bar of soap. We use sustainable palm oil.
3. Olive Oil – not just for cooking! Olive oil has been known to have moisturizing properties. It is widely used in skin and hair products.
4. Castor Oil – a multi-purpose oil that is used in such a variety of different things. I like using castor oil because it gives my soap “extra” bubbles.
These oils alone make a great bar of soap. Personally, I barely use lotion after my shower now that I use handmade soap with the oils listed above. My skin feels less dry and much smoother.
From time to time I do add an extra oil such as sweet almond oil, mango butter, avocado oil, etc. for a super luxurious bar. Keep tuned! I will come out with some of these luxurious bars of soap soon enough.
Cabbie
Courtesy of William Ruderman
I came across this article from RealSimple about quirky facts about shoes, bras, earrings – basically the everyday items women use and how really they were introduced to our world of style.
*****Here’s a snippet.
So, how did the trend for pointed-toe shoes start?
Manolo who? Long before they ever made an appearance on the TV show “Sex and the City,” pointed shoes were favored by Polish nobles, who introduced the fashion to England on a diplomatic visit in the 1300s.
The shoes, dubbed “crackowes” or “poulaines” — after Kraków, Poland — were so long that a chain running from the toe to the knee was often required to keep them from dragging.
Read more…http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/homestyle/10/12/rs.fashion.truths/index.html
If there are ever 5 things I can never leave home without it would be the following. Because you don’t know who you may bump into – you always have to look your best!
And I carry all of these very necessary items in a smart, black little purse inside my big purse!
