Anne-Marie Faiola, Author at Soap Queen

Epic Epicurean Eats

August 11, 2010 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

“They were interesting.” -Amber, BB Marketing

It’s another Bramble’versary. Amber, our resident marketing genius, designs our rotating home page photos, our newsletter, lays out our e-books and takes the best photographs of anyone on the team. She started out as my part time assistant five years ago but didn’t stay there long; it was apparent she had skills that exceeded what I needed in an assistant. I’ve never replaced that assistant position and Amber’s never looked back. We’re lucky to have her. And, for her five year Bramble’versary, I wanted to make something that was befitting of how complicated and multi-faceted her job is. Behold, the Salted Caramel Bacon Brownie.

Step One: Bacon Salted Caramel

3 pieces bacon

1 Tablespoon Corn Syrup

1 cup Heavy Cream

6 Tablespoons Butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 Tablespoons Sour Cream

1 cup Sugar

In a non-stick pan, fry up the bacon until it’s super duper crispy, turning it frequently. I’ve never fried bacon before in my entire life but it was pretty easy. Also, it’s stunning how much fat comes out of a few slices of bacon (ewww!). Take the fried bacon out and let it set on paper towels. Leave the bacon fat in the pan and add the heavy cream to the fat.

In a separate, larger pan, add the corn syrup, salt and sugar. Heat on low until the sugar starts to melt and turn a light honey brown. Be careful here; you don’t want it to scorch and go a dark, stinky brown. Add the butter, sour cream and the bacon fat/cream mixture. Stir well. Whisk in the sour cream if necessary. Crumble in the crispy bacon. Set aside.

Step Two: Brownie Mix

8 Tablespoons Salted Butter

3 Eggs

1 cup Sugar

1 cup Flour

6 ounces semi-sweet Chocolate

1/4 cup Dutch Baking Chocolate Powder

1 tsp Vanilla

3 Eggs

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the salted butter and chocolate together in a bowl. Microwave on short 30 second bursts (don’t let the butter splatter in the microwave; it’s no fun to clean up). Add the three eggs, chocolate powder and vanilla. Mix in with a beater. Fold in the sugar and flour and beat on medium until fully incorporated.

Step Three: The Mixing

Spray your baking pans with a non-stick spray or wipe down with butter. Pour in 3/4 of your chocolate batter. Pour the caramel over the batter. It should fully cover the batter, like its own little layer. Drop and drizzle the rest of the brownie batter over the caramel. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Take it out 5 minutes before you think it should come out (I burned one of the batches and it’s really not all that delicious burnt).

Recipes adapted, changed and added to from Doughmestic and Savour Fare

Did You Already Eat That? (Guest Post)

August 10, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

A big thank you to Emily Caswell for letting me share her post on the Safe Cosmetic Act of 2010! The blog is, of course, written with tongue firmly in cheek but for a serious reason. It is written in response to the broad, overreaching tenants of the proposed HR 5786 which would ‘ban’ ingredients that were proven to be ‘carcinogenic when ingested’ for use in skin care. Most everything is carcinogenic in some way, shape or form when ingested and Emily has a droll interesting way of explaining commonly demonized trace elements that may be lurking in your own fridge. Check out her blog GCDSpa Stuff and website GCDSpa.

The Precautionary Principle: A Cautionary Tale

I’ve been inspired by the actions of WATCH (Women Against Toxic Cosmetics Harm) and the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine, who (with the assistance of the Environmental Working Group and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics) sent away 12 common cosmetics products last spring to be tested for chemicals. Since they’ve already found the hidden toxins in my medicine cabinet, I figured maybe I’d take a look at what was going on in my fridge. I’ve been a vegetarian for more than 25 years and eat a diet based largely on whole, organic foods, so I was sure my food “tests” would come out clean. I was appalled by the results.

Carcinogens

• Formaldehyde

As it turns out, the apples, bananas, beets, broccoli, onions, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, grapes, green onions, kohlrabi, pears, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, radishes, and watermelon I have been feeding my family naturally contain 2 to 60 mg per kg of formaldehyde. The dried shiitake mushrooms my husband likes contain a whopping 400 mg/kg! As you may know, formaldehyde is classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen, and is known to cause cancer in rats.

• N-nitrosopiperadine

Before I learned of its formaldehyde content, I enjoyed my baked potato, and added a generous dash of black pepper. Now I’ve learned that black pepper, too, causes cancer in mice. It contains substances that break down into N-nitrosopiperadine, which is carcinogenic.

• Safrole

With pepper out of the picture, I figured I’d turn to other herbs and spices to make my poison-laced meals more appetizing. But cinnamon and nutmeg are among many that contain safrole, which causes liver cancer in rats. Rats.

• Tannins

Who knew that my morning beverage was killing me from the inside out? Guess it doesn’t matter whether I choose coffee or tea, or head straight for the cocoa, because with all three I’ll be getting tannins, substances which cause tumors in experimental animals. (What a relief that people don’t consume coffee, tea, or cocoa in large quantities!)

Endocrine disruptors

I thought that by eliminating the parabens from my beauty products I’d be “safe” from endocrine disruption, but I was so misled. Lots of plants apparently have naturally-occurring hormone-like activity, in the form of phytoestrogens. There are high levels of these phytoestrogens in my carrots, legumes, broccoli, potatoes, cauliflower, soybeans, oats, rice, onions, apples, and coffee. Thank goodness I don’t drink beer, because they’re in that, too. Sure, these phytoestrogens are considered beneficial by some, but I also read that when sheep consume these natural hormones it can lead to decreased fertility. Their consumption also disrupts the normal cycles of female rats. And if things are bad for rats (particularly when consumed in grotesque amounts), they must be bad for us (even if eaten in moderation). Right?

Goitrogens, enzyme inhibitors, mutagens, antivitamins

The list goes on and on. It’s a horror show. All of my favorite foods have ingredients that, if not downright toxic, are capable of inhibiting enzyme action, vitamin absorption, and thyroid function as well as causing cellular mutations. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, mung beans, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, parsnips, celery, and wheat are only a few. I’m a walking time bomb, eating my way to the next organ failure.

Now that I understand the dangers, I can’t believe that the government has been advising us to eat fresh fruits and vegetables every single day! Even The Harvard School of Public Health says, “Most people should aim for at least nine servings (at least 4½ cups) of vegetables and fruits a day.” They recommend, “Go for a variety of kinds and colors of produce, to give your body the mix of nutrients it needs.” What are they trying to do, KILL us??

I, for one, will not be brainwashed. You can tell me that these foods are “safe” and even “beneficial,” but I’ve done my research. I know the truth. I’m taking my cue from the Environmental Working Group and their Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and adopting the precautionary principle with regard to my fridge. Anything that’s been linked to cancer in animals, or has estrogenic or toxic effects, will be banned from my diet. Until further notice, then, I won’t be eating apples. Or bananas, beets, onions, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, grapes, green onions, kohlrabi, pears, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, radishes, or watermelon.

Oh, and coffee, tea, cocoa, eggplant, mung beans, brussels sprouts, parsnips, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, lentils, peas, peanuts, soybeans, oats, rice, onions, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper. Did I forget anything?

But I’m not going to stop there. These foods are in every supermarket, and as The Story of Cosmetics suggests, we need to make sure that for items in our stores, the “choice to be safe and healthy has already been made.” Surely this must apply to our food, too? Take a look at your broccoli label. Where is formaldehyde listed on that package? Where are the goitrogens? The laws governing these labels are a travesty! I will not rest until my Evian label includes not just “water,” but also arsenic, fluoride, chlorine, barium, mercury, atrazine, copper, chromium, and any other measurable contaminants.

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 is nice and all, but The Safe Foods Act of 2010 is a piece of legislation I could really sink my teeth into. Who’s with me?

Did You Win? Contest for a Cause Winner

August 9, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Thanks to everyone who entered the Contest for a Cause. I’m so proud of our tight-knit soapmaking community for actively taking a stand to oppose the Safe Cosmetic Act. All of your tweets, posts and letters to your Representatives do make a difference! So thank you, thank you and THANK YOU!

Now what you’ve all been waiting for…it’s time to announce the winner. All of the entries were printed, cut and put into a pot…

Congratulations Cindy Jones from Sagescript Institute!

You’ve won a whole mess of goodies: $75 worth of molds and colorants! Please email me at info(at)brambleberry(dot)com with your shipping address and I’ll get your prize out the door.

Thanks again for everyone’s participation! And if you haven’t already signed the petition to oppose the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, sign it HERE!

Pasta with Fresh Fava Bean Sauce

August 7, 2010 Filed Under: Soap Queen Cuisine

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen my photo of my CSA share haul. But if you don’t, you can see it here. In Washington state (and other states around the nation), small organic farms group together and offer ‘fresh from the farm’ produce groupings as a subscription program. We pick up a full box of veggies every week and have more vegetables than we can eat weekly.

Since eating fruits and vegetables is a proven anti-cancer strategy AND (darn), vegetables have less calories than cheese (double darn), while there are fresh veggies, I am taking advantage of them.

I have never eaten a Fava Bean before. I’ve seen them (in that movie ‘Silence of the Lambs’ but that counts, right?). And, you’ll have to forgive me, I started taking photos with my iPhone after I tasted how delicious the dish was (whoops).

So Fava Beans – they’re these large large large bean-like things. You have to get the beans peeled before you make this. I found the easiest way to do this was to slice the tip off the beans (horizontally) and then peel the beans out.

Recipe:

2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 – 2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
1 1/2 cups chicken stock (canned is fine)
salt & pepper
2 cups peeled fava beans
3/4 pound dried fettuccine
2 oz. piece of pecorino cheese or Parmesan cheese

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan until hot. Add the garlic and saute briefly until just before the garlic turns brown. Stir in oregano and then add 1 cup of stock. Bring to boil, season with salt and pepper and add 1 1/2 cup of fava beans. Simmer to blend the flavors for 5 minutes.

2. Dump this into a heat safe blender container and puree with an additional (remaining) 1/2 cup chicken stock until smooth. Return to the sauce pan and add the remaining 1/2 cup favas. Simmer gently and add salt and pepper to taste.

3. At some point in this process, bring another pot of water to boil and add salt and a teaspoon of olive oil to the water. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and mix with the sauce. Toss well. Serve immediately and grate cheese over the top.

Quick! It’s Fava Beans are in season now. Get thee to your Farmer’s Market and find some fresh Fava Beans.

Write. Tweet. Post.

August 6, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Good Afternoon Soap Queen Readers. I just wanted to remind you that today is the last day to enter the Contest for a Cause! I’ll be picking the winners tonight so hop to it. Send me your letters, post to your Facebook and tweet like you’ve never tweeted before. Am I getting carried away? Perhaps, but it’s for a good cause. Oppose the Safe Cosmetic Act! Read the Contest Rules HERE for a chance to win the prize below.

I was in Washington DC earlier this week opposing the act with with Donna Maria (Indie Beauty Network), Lela Barker (Bella Lucce), Leigh O’Donnell (The Handcrafted Soap Guild) and Kayla Fioravanti (Essential Wholesale). See some of the blog posts here, here, and here.

Dying Wool is a Sheep Thrill

August 5, 2010 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

It seems that detailed and adorable felted soap is all over the place these days so I’ve been inspired to give it a try. While I have felted and dyed wool before and felted soap a lot (I used to teach the every-week-lunchtime-class series at Otion on felting soap back in the day), I can’t promise that it will look anything like Persnickety Pelican (check out the blog post HERE) but I’m excited nonetheless.This week’s Soap Queen Tutorial is how to use Bramble Berry LabColors to dye your wool any shade under the sun. After your wool is dyed and dried (ha- I’m a poet and didn’t know it), I’ll show you how to felt the soap (but you’ll have to wait until next Thursday).

When I’ve dyed wool in the past, I’ve always used a crock pot. If you don’t have a crock pot, not a problem, here’s a new technique using the microwave. You should be able to find wool roving at your local yarn store. I was able to get 4 ounces (which looks like a massive bundle – definitely enough for 20+ soaps) for just $2.00 per ounce (pretty standard pricing).

Ingredients

Large Ball of Wool Roving

Brilliant Blue LabColor (Any undiluted Labcolor will work)

Glossy Silicone Tray mold

Vinegar

Water

ONE: Tear off enough wool to fit into your silicone tray mold (or microwave safe pan). Mix 1 cup of water with ½ cup of vinegar and pour the mixture over the wool. Use a spatula to press the wool down into the vinegar mixture to make sure all the wool is saturated. Let soak for 30 minutes.

TWO: Then add one more cup of room temperature water to the wool and add 30 drops of undiluted Brilliant Blue LabColor, evenly dispersed. Then use your spatula or your hands (with gloves) to poke the wool, spreading the dye around. TIP: Try to handle the wool as little as possible, we don’t want it to start the felting process just yet.

Variation: Use less dye for a lighter blue and more dye for a super dark blue. Or check out the LabColor selection for a different color entirely.

THREE: After the dye is dispersed and the wool seems to be evenly colored, cover the wool with plastic wrap and put it in the microwave for 5 minutes. WARNING: The water will almost be boiling when the 5 minutes is up. DO NOT TOUCH. Just let the wool cool until it hits room temperature. Then remove the plastic wrap.

FOUR: Lift the wool out of the tray mold and into a large mixing bowl. Rinse the wool several times with room temperature water until you can lift the wool out of the water and the water dripping from the wool is clear. This means that the wool has taken in all of the color and is ready to dry. TIP: Room temperature water is really important. Hot or cold water will shock the wool and start the felting process.

FIVE: Layer up several paper towels and spread out the wool and let dry. I let my dry overnight. TIP: Rinse the wool the best that you can but if there are a couple blue spots left on the paper towels after drying, don’t worry about it too much. The wool will be rinsed again when we actually felt the soap.

I’m going to dye one more color for my felted soap.

What LabColor do you think I should use to go with my Brilliant Blue?

Mojito Melt and Pour Soap Tutorial

August 4, 2010 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

I love reading each and every blog comment posted by Soap Queen Readers. Thank you for all of your input and inspiration- It really makes it fun for me! Mid July, I posted a tutorial on Watermelon Soaps and received a comment from SweetMadeSoap that she had made a delicious Mojito Soap with shades of green and white scented with Lime and Peppermint Essential oils. I just had to give the Mojito soap a try (as my mouth started watering just reading the comment). And the results are in…

Ingredients

Clear Melt and Pour

White Melt and Pour (optional)

Liquid Green Colorant

Yellow Mica

Brilliant Blue LabColor

Aqua Pearl Mica

Peppermint Essential Oil (2nd distillation)

Lime Essential Oil

Scalloped Round Mold (discontinued)
NOTE: The Scalloped Round Mold shown in this tutorial has been discontinued. This kit now contains the Round Mold.
Glossy Silicone Tray Mold

Get everything you need for this project by clicking the ‘Buy It Now’ icon below.

You’ll also need cookie cutters and a sharp knife to cut out ice cubes and mint leaves.

Mint Leaves: For my dark colored mint leaves, I used clear melt and pour mixed with Liquid Green Colorant and a sprinkle of Yellow Mica. Then I poured a thin layer into a brownie pan tray mold. Once it cooled, I used my mini leaf cookie cutter to cut out the leaves. Try adding a little bit of white soap base to the mix if you want a lighter mint color. As you can see, I did both!

Ice Cubes: For my ice cube color, I used clear melt and pour soap base with 1/2 drop of Brilliant Blue Labcolor, and a sprinkle of Aqua Pearl Mica. You can either pour a layer (1/2 inch thick) into a tray mold and cut your cubes by hand our use a flexible ice cube mold. Either way will work.

Essential Oils: Since Peppermint Essential Oil is pretty strong, I used 1 part Peppermint Essential Oil to 3 parts Lime Essential Oil. It really does smell delicious and refreshing. Trust me, you’re going to love this blend!

Assembly: Pour a thin layer of clear melt and pour (that has cooled to 130 degrees) into your scalloped round soap mold. Spritz four mint leaves and add them to the soap base. Then add another thin layer of clear melt and pour. Spritz three or four ice cubes with rubbing alcohol and add them to the soap, on top of the mint leaves. Then start the random assembly. Add more mint leaves and ice cubes until the mold is full and you have mint and ice sticking out everywhere. Repeat with the other cavities and remember that they’re not all going to be the same. There are no two Mojito Soaps alike (in my experience).

Has anyone else made Mojito Soap? I would love to hear about them!

Summer’s Not Over Yet!

August 3, 2010 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

I just got back from Washington DC and after a full 8 hours of traveling already, my brain is ready to zone out with some beautiful soapy inspiration. I’m also wishing for a vacation so perhaps that’s why I gravitated towards these inspired soapy beach finds on Etsy.

Row one

Beach Bum Soap from Bean Street Market,

Soap Sea Shells from Satin&Birch

Green Sand Beach from Beacon Creations

Row two

Life Is Beachy from Anhoki

Crusty The Crab Soap from The Soap Seduction

Beach Soap with Shell from Joan’s Gardens

Row three

Seahorse Felted Soap from SoFino

Sea Glass Soap from Enchanted Path

Sailor Soap from Soapopotamus

Report from DC – Education Matters

August 2, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Hi from DC! It’s been a jam packed day. I can’t even convey how much work, how much energy and how much commitment everyone that is here with me has to this issue of ‘Safe Cosmetics.’ If you are unfamilar with bill H.R. 5786, the ‘Safe Cosmetics Act’, you can familiarize yourself with it here (Soap Guild Site). Here’s what we told the offices we met with:

1. Small Business will be negatively impacted – Regulatory issues around cosmetics cannot be more stringent than than are with food (as they will be with this bill). Small business especially will bear the brunt of this regulatory climate.

2. Trace elements are not feasible to include on labels – This is what a label will look like for a lotion bar with Cocoa Butter, Olive Oil and Lavender Oil

Ingredients: Olive Oil (Tri-Glycerides of Palmitic, Di-Glycerides of Palmitic, Palmitoleic, Stearic, Oleic, Linoleic, Arachidic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Squalene, Beta Carotene, Campesterol, Methylenecholesterol, Stigmasterol, Sitosterol, Fucosterol, 28-Isofucosterol, Stigmadienol, Brassicasterol, 7-Cholestenol,Ergostadienol, Avenasterol, Triterpene Alcohols, Tirucallol, Taraxerol, Dammaradienol Beta-Amyrin Germanicol, Butyrospermol, Parkeol, Cycloartenol, Tirucalladienol, 24-Methlene 24-Dihydroparkeol, 24-Methlenecycloartanol, Cyclobranol, 4-Methyl Sterols, Esters of Tyrosol, Esters of Hydroxytyrosol, Vitamin E (Tocopherols), Carotenoids, Oleuropein) Cocoa Butter (Tri and Diglycerides of Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Lead, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Isoleic Acid, Beta Carotene, p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid, Vanillic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Syringic Acid, Phenylehtylamine, Theophylline, Aliphatic Esters, Aromatic Carbonyls, Caffeine, Theobromine, Diketopiperazines and Alkylpryazines), Lavender Essential Oil ( Cineole Octanol, Octanone, Alpha Bisabolol, Alpha Cadinol, Alpha Humelene, Alpha Phellandrene, Apha Pinene, Alpha Terpinene, Alpha Terpineol, Alpha Terpinyl Acetate, Alpha Thujene, Alpha Thujone, Beta Bisabolol, Beta Pinene, Beta Thujone, Borneol, Bornyl Acetate, Camphene Camphor, Cineolealpha Terpineol, Carvone, Caryophyllene, Carophyllene Oxide, CIS Alpha Terpineol, CIS Alpha Bisabolene, CIS Carveol, CIA Linalol Epoxide, CIS Ocimene, Citronellal, Citronellol, Coumarine, Cuminaldehyde, Eugenol, Furfural, Geraniol, Geranyl Acetate, Geranyl Butyrate, Hexanol, Hexyl Tiglate, Isoborneol, Lavandulol, Lavandulyl Acetate, Limonene, Linanlol, Linalyl Acetate, Methyl Heptenone, Myrcene, Nerol, Neryl Acetate, Oleanolic Acid, P Cymene, Rosemarinic Acid, Sabinen, Terpinenol, Terpinolene, Trans Carveol, Trans Epoxy Linalyl Acetate, Trans Linanol Epoxide, Trans Ocimene, Ursolic Acid)

3. Reporting requirements are draconian. This bill requires you report when you hire someone (to the FDA), when you change suppliers (like when you switch to Bramble Berry from another vendor), who your distributors are (hello? competitive advantage out the window) and all of your ingredient formulations (without guaranteeing your confidentiality).

4. This bill is based on bad science – Cosmetics are not killing you. Diet, lack of exercise, obesity, smoking, and excessive drinking are positively linked to cancer. Cosmetics have no conclusive link. Yes, 1,4 Dioxin is terrible (in high doses, ingested by rats). Yes, Formaldehyde is bad if you are massively exposed to it (in 100% concentration high doses, bathing in it) but small businesses are trying to formulate with natural ingredients and yet they are the ones that will be most affected by this.

The meetings were our opportunity to express how small business would be affected. We were thankful to have the time and understand that there is more time for us to comment, educate and share how small business will be affected before a bill is passed.

There is still time, Soap Queen Readers and Bramble Berry Customers – keep up on OpposeSCA.com, write your Representatives, sign the petition and vote your opposition to the bill here.

The most important thing? Your Representatives are on BREAK right now. They are likely visiting/staying in your district (where they live). CALL THEM! Visit them while they are home. You have thirty days starting now. You can do it! Call me if you want talking points – 360-734-8278 or email me. I will help you talk to your Representatives and tell your story in a way that makes an impact. We can do it – we can educate and inform lawmakers on how this bill (as currently written) affects us.

Greetings from DC – Oppose SCA

August 1, 2010 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Hi Happy Soapers, I’m in Washington DC (after two long flights) with Donna Maria (Indie Beauty Network), Lela Barker (Bella Lucce), Leigh O’Donnell (The Handcrafted Soap Guild) and Kayla Fioravanti (Essential Wholesale). We’re here to advocate on behalf of indies everywhere. Our goal is to educate the staffers and representatives behind HR 5786 (The full version of the draft bill for you to read is here.) Our meetings start tomorrow and we’re hopeful, positive and forward moving.

When I got off the plane, I was so happy to have a quick ride to the hotel because it meant that I had time to do a run around the monuments. There’s something surreal about jogging around so much history. Also, muggy. Surreal and muggy. Needless to say, I was thankful to get back to air conditioning in my room.

Tonight, we all met to discuss strategy. And who did we come across? Comedian Tom Green. It was surreal. I hadn’t seen his online show before but he did quite a funny stand up act for us in the bar (just our coalition and him) on the link between cancer and drinking/smoking. I can see why he’s selling out shows all over America. He was quite charismatic.

We’re putting the final touches on our informational packets tonight to leave with staffers and congresspeople tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted on how the day goes – you can follow me on Twitter for more up-to-the-minute updates. Wondering how you can help? Keep informed at OpposeSCA.com, sign the petition here, write your rep urging them NOT to co-sponsor the bill, or vote your oppose the bill here. And, most importantly, don’t give up hope. There is a lot of mileage to cover before this even gets close to being a bill. I am hopeful that with education we can make a difference.

Headed to DC – Meet me Tomorrow!

August 1, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

I’m headed to Washington DC today. The first of my flights is over (yay!) and I’m getting ready to board the second one (with my sweet pink new carry on!). Thanks to Kathy Casey’s Dish D’lish at the Seattle Airport, I have a healthy meal in my belly already.

If you’re around the DC area, come meet me, Donna Maria (Indie Beauty Network), Lela Barker (Bella Lucce), Leigh O’Donnell (The Handcrafted Soap Guild) and Kayla Fioravanti (Essential Wholesale) tomorrow (Monday) at 6 p.m., Monday, the 2nd. We’re meeting at The Famous Luigisin DC. I hope to see you there!

Contest for a Cause!

July 31, 2010 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Prize: One ounce of the following liquid colors; Violet, Brown, Toxic Waste, Pink, White, Blue, Non-Bleeding Red, Yellow Jelly, Black, Green, Orange, Red Oxide, Red Jelly and Liquid Yellow. PLUS two plastic (slightly less than perfect) loaf molds and three surprise (also slightly less than perfect) ELF molds!

$75 value prize!

Cause: Oppose the “Safe Cosmetics Act”

Contest: There are three ways you can enter the contest. Do all three and get three entries into the drawing!

ONE: Tweet a link to my blog post on the Safe Cosmetics Act: “Safe Cosmetic Act” Not So Safe For Small Biz.Make sure to @brambleberry me at the end of the tweet so I see it. =)

TWO: Post a lnk to the Safe Cosmetic Act blog post on your Facebook page. Be sure to tag the post with @brambleberry so we can count your entry.

THREE: CC or send me a copy of the letter you write (or have already written) to your representative stating your opposition to the act. Email letters to info(at)brambleberry(dot)com. Or just post the letter to your blog like Marmalade Hills did and comment to let me know the link.

Deadline: You have until Friday, August 6th to spread the word and write your representative. I’ll draw a name out of the proverbial hat Friday morning. Good luck!

PS – If you’ve been following Elin Criswell’s Kickstarter project – Soapmaking and Beyond – she has 6 hours left to raise $335 and meet her goal to publish a soapmaking book. You can click here to learn more.

Bronze Takes First Place

July 29, 2010 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Want that sun soaked radiance – without the dangerous effects of UV? Make your own mineral makeup powder bronzer with this easy recipe. You’ll have that sun-tanned, lustrous look in no time!

Ingredients

6 tsp. Sericite

2 tsp. Titanium Dioxide

1 tsp. Tapioca Starch Powder

2 tsp. Honeyed Beige Mica

¾ tsp. Soft Beige Mica

1 ½ tsp. Cappuccino Mica

½ tsp. Brown Oxide

Tools and Packaging

4 oz Jar

Foundation Brush

Mini Whisk

Small Mixing Bowl

Blend: Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl and blend well. Once the ingredients are fully mixed (no clumps), scoop the bronzer into a 4 oz jar. Tip: Mix in a spice grinder or clean coffee grinder for an ultra fine blend.

Apply: Dip the brush into the powder and tap off any loose powder. Then lightly and evenly, brush the foundation on your face in a circular motion. Make sure you get all areas; forehead, cheeks, under eyes, and jaw bone.