Congratulations...

Bunny B

You were selected winner of the Winter Solstice giveaway!

Thank you to all participants!

Winter Solstice Contest

This giveaway is now closed

This is a quick giveaway.  I planned on making it bigger but you know this time of year is very busy for indie artists and crafters.  And I didn't plan far enough ahead, so...  I have two top notch items to give to one lucky winner.  Continue reading for all the details!

The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the observer. Depending on the shift of the calendar, the event of the winter solstice occurs some time between December 20 and December 23 each year in the northern hemisphere, and between June 20 and June 23 in the southern hemisphere, during either the shortest day or the longest night of the year (answers.com)

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21, 2008 at 7:04 AM EST.

The winner of this contest will receive Winter Solstice Perfume Spray by Faerie Made (faeriemadesoaps.etsy.com) and Winter Nights Fine Handcrafted Soap by Arcadia Aromatics (SoapStore.etsy.com).  

Now, for the rules.  

How do you enter?

You can enter up to three times.  One comment about a Faerie Made product, one comment about an Arcadia Aromatics product and one random comment, because those are always fun to read lol. That's it!  This contest is open to everyone!

On December 21, 2008 at 7:04 AM EST I will close this contest and randomly select a winner for this awesome set.

Both crafters are members of Etsy's Soaper Stars street team (as am I).  And I just want to take a moment and brag on my team members. They are the most awesome women and men I've had the pleasure of interacting with. I've used products from each contributor and there is no doubt I'd used their products again. 

{whispering} Now, just between you and me, there are several members of this team who are responsible for me picking up a stick blender to soap with instead of using it for cooking. They are the reason I look in my cabinets and wonder, not what I'm going to cook for dinner but rather what would go well in soap. They are the reason NO ONE is allowed to touch my bottles of olive oil. But they don't know that so don't tell them I told you. ;-).

Unscented Oatmeal Soap

I made this 2 days ago and cut yesterday. It is unscented soap made with ground oatmeal. Sometimes you just want a scent free soap with a little additive to help soothe the skin. It turned out well and is on the curing rack. It contains oils of coconut, olive, castor & wheat germ, along with cocoa butter. Aside from the oatmeal there are no other additives.

If Shakespeare Took A Bath

If you're a reader of Shakespeare you have no doubt come across some of the many herbs and botanicals mentioned in his plays. Many of these herbs and botanicals are used not only for their culinary value, but also for their value in bath and body products. The members of Etsy's Soaper Stars street team make use of these plants in their beautiful artisan soaps. Here are just a few of my favorites.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Rose Handmade Soap

"Lay her i' th' earth, and from her fair and unpolluted flesh may violets spring!"
Sweet Violet and Sassafras Handmade Soap

"The armipotent Mars, of lances the almighty, Gave Hector a gift,--
A gilt nutmeg. A lemon. Stuck with cloves. No, cloven."
Lemon Zen Layered Soap

"The count is neither sad, nor sick, nor merry, nor well; but civil count, civil as an orange, and something of that jealous complexion."
Satsuma Luxury Cold-Processed Soap with Shea and Cocoa Butters

"Here's flowers for you; hot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram; the marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun and with him rises weeping: these are flowers of middle summer, and I think they are given to men of middle age."
True Lavender Goat's Milk Soap

"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember"
Rosemary, Mint and Lavender Limited Edition Soap with Shea


For more in soaping artistry search Etsy tag soaper star team

Greetings...pattiflynn

Tell us a little about yourself
i am a professional soapmaker who has settled in the beautiful, pristine wet tropics of australia.i have a wonderful husband who works with me, and four demanding cats who do not work with anyone.soapmaking is our life and we share a passion for travel and motorcycles and good food and good books.

How long have you been crafting and what made you decide to sell?
i started making soap in january 01, out of a life-long love affair with essential oils.in december of that year, i unexpectedly became unemployed and was prodded into taking my soap to the market (by my husband and old friend).after two weeks, i gave in to the pressure and went along to our local farmer's market.and that was that!

What inspires you to create?
quite simply: everything.i might see a painting. or a landscape. hear a piece of music. hear a word in another language. eat something new. smell a plant. see a cloud. it all inspires me.

How do you organize your time?
i am sorry, i don't understand the question exactly? hehehe.i live my business. this IS my hobby, my relaxation and my way of earning a living. it's all very integrated and it's a lifestyle thing. of course, if we decide to take a month off, which we do each year, we have to be quite serious about making an enormous amount of soap to cover our absence.

How do you promote your work and where can we find it?
i have an etsy shop: http://www.pattiflynn.etsy.com and i sell via http://pattiflynn.blogspot.com/ you can find me at the main market in cairns every friday!and the yungaburra market, once a month.plus we wholesale to many wonderful spas/resorts/boutiques throughout australia.

What are your business plans for the remainder of 2008?
to keep on keeping on!

Keep up with Patti and other Soaper Stars at:
http://www.soaperstars.blogspot.com

Say Hello To...Anhoki

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am Anhoki, a creative soul. Mom to Camryn and Katie. Wife to John. Daughter, "councelor to many" but friend to so many more. When "real" life is a little much I escape and create. Be it soaps, jewelry, stuffed animals, clothes, handbags...whatever. I love to create. I also love to cook. A military brat through and through. I'd love to get back into traveling the world.

How long have you been crafting and what made you decide to sell?
I have been "crafting" all of my life. I made my first jewelry at age 8. I used to make my own clothes and even for a few friends. Stuffed animals for the kids and extended family, handbags.. quilts..you name it. Candles were the "real" beginning for me. Longing to be back in California I set out to make the perfect candle to reflect our life there. I began making soap as a necessity in summer of '03. I decided to sell when I realized I did have a good product. When folks would email or call with orders because they would not buy from anyone else. And I did have help and inpsiration from my two little cheerleaders too. 8o)

What inspires you to create?
Life inspires me. different seasons bring different inspirations. Moods. My children, my husband. An afternoon of feeding the ducks with my girls. Coffee with my mom on a Spring day. Dinner with my husband.

How do you organize your time?
I don't. My time organizes me. When you live, eat, drink, and dream what you love IT organizes you. My family and my craft are pretty compatible so it works very well. I have a lot of input from everyone in my life and that helps immensely.

How do you promote your work and where can we find it?http://www.bunniesworkshop.com/ is my domain.
I currently have two Etsy shops. One for the b&b http://www.anhoki.etsy.com/ and the other is for jewelry and the like. http://www.anhoki1.etsy.com/ You can find me just about anywhere.

What are your business plans for the remainder of 2008?
My business plans for 2008 are to continue doing what I love and hold on to the passion of what makes me...me.

Stay in touch with Anhoki by visiting:
http://anhoki.blogspot.com/