Autumn On The Way

Summer is almost over even though the temperature outside has been staying above the 80 degrees mark, even at night. It has been hot and humid but I'm thankful for the rain, or rather thunderstorms, that have come through cooling the air (and watering my beloved tuberoses). In less than a month (September 22) the autumn equinox will arrive and I'm so excited.  Autumn is my favorite season, but also coming up is the 10th anniversary of Blossoming Tree Bodycare. BTB became an official business in October of 2006.  This October I am planning a big celebration. Details will be posted here a little later. I may not have posted here regularly like I had planned but I have been working hard at getting products developed to add to my Etsy shop and also working on finally getting my website up and running. All in all everything is falling into place. And it feels good to be back doing what I love. 

In The Thick Of It

I enrolled back in school in the fall of 2014. I have a plan that I'll bore you with at a later time. Going back to school has been tough. Exciting, interesting, motivating, enlightening, but tough. I had to step out of my comfort zone to do what I wanted to do. This semester has been a good one though. But I've also found myself missing crafting. Working my way through my March Product-A-Day challenge has really opened my eyes to just how much I miss it. How much I miss being in the thick of things. Planning, mixing, trying new materials, blending fragrant material for use in soaps, perfumes & lotions, chatting with fellow crafters, participating in perfume projects. I miss it all. And I've also become aware of how much time I waste doing other things (cough Facebook cough) when I could be better utilizing that time making soap or perfume.  I can find time to schedule almost anything or anyone else in my day but I seem to neglect scheduling "me" time. That has to change. Because with all that I do I have the time to fit in what I need. I just have to better organize my time. 

I still haven't uploaded the pictures of my products that are completed. I'll probably end up posting an album at the end of the month. I happened to hop over to a soaping forum that I'm a member of and came across an old post about an apple cider vinegar hair/scalp rinse that I made. I haven't made this rinse in a long time so my project for today was to get a new batch going. Plus I made a few non-bath & body items that I love. You'll see them soon. I promise! Now, let me hop back over to Facebook, then Twitter before going on LinkdIn. Just kidding! I'm going to study for my physiology exam that I have to take tomorrow. Wish me luck!

I'm Back...after a long break

Good morning all! It has been a couple years since I last posted here. I took a little break that turned into a much longer one. But I'm back and ready to update this blog regularly. There will be some changes made over time but nothing too complicated. If you've been following my blog for awhile you know how often I changed the template. I can't promise it won't happen again but that's not part of my immediate plans. Anyway, I'm ready to get back in the groove and I hope to be able to interact with you. Coming in March I plan to do a Craft-A-Day challenge and you're welcome to join me. It doesn't matter what type of craft just as long as it is done daily and helps to inspire you to be more creative. While I'm working on getting my website up and running be on the look out for items to be listed in my Etsy shop.  Also you can keep up to date here, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Classic Perfume Interpretation

Narcisse Noir on the right

Back in December of last year I joined a few other indie perfumers in a perfume project where we were to build a natural interpretation of a classic perfume. But as time passed the project fizzled.  My choice was Caron's Narcisse Noir.  Now I've never smelled this perfume so to build my interpretation I only had a handful of reviews to go by. A challenge yes, but I preferred it this way. Narcisse Noir was created in 1911 for the House of Caron by Ernest Daltroff. It has been described as fruity floral or floral oriental. The floral oriental description is why I chose it (and because it was also described as one of those dirty little perfumes that a lady wouldn't be caught dead wearing). I am pleased with how my perfume has come together, though it needs one more tweak. Although this project started out going in one direction my perfume has moved in another. I think I abandoned the idea sometime ago when things started to really slow down within the group.  With that said, look for this to be available in the fall (on or around the Autumnal Equinox). In the meantime I think I'll try to track down a sample of vintage Narcisse Noir. More updates later.

Tuberose

It's no secret that I love tuberose. I fell head over heels the first time I smelled this bundle of loveliness. The sweet intoxicating fragrance always puts me in a good mood. This year was my third attempt at growing tuberoses. I purchased heirloom bulbs this time from a micro garden in nearby Ann Arbor. Watching the leaves emerge and grow was exciting but the anticipation of smelling the flowers was driving me crazy! I could hardly wait for the flowers to pop open. This morning, however, I got a real treat. Taking a peek out back I saw this beauty and I immediately strolled over to take a whiff. Natural perfume! The weather early this year just didn't seem to want to cooperate.  While we had little snow the temperature stayed below what is ideal  for planting.  Instead of waiting I decided to use plastic sandwich bags as a "greenhouse".  It worked but a waste of bags really so I'll have to come up with another option for the next season.  

Mexican Single bulb

Leaves emerging

Mexican Single buds

Along with the singles I purchased the double Pearl Tuberose but those are moving a little slower.  A lot of greenery but no flowers yet. Fingers crossed!

Double "Pearl" bulb

Double Pearl buds

     

Also from the micro garden I bought Abyssinian Gladiolas. I hadn't heard of these before but they were described as being the only gladiolus that had a fragrance. The scent is  lightly sweet with a mildly powdery note. It's a beautiful flower that took about three months to get to it's 2 foot tall state.