Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
Happy Labor Day weekend! Yesterday, I hiked Oyster Dome with friends. It's an amazing 5-mile hike that overlooks Samish Bay, the Olympic Mountains and several islands. It's a rather steep trek, but so worth it once you get to the top. If you'd like to be inspired to eat healthier and move more, I'm … Continue Reading
Olive oil was the main focus on the blog this week. It's a classic soapmaking oil that can be used up to 100% in your cold process recipes. This is referred to as Castile soap. The Simple Castile Cold Process Soap Tutorial is gentle and moisturizing on the skin. For a fresh and herby scent, Tomato … Continue Reading
Labor Day weekend is right around the corner, and once it's over...fall is here! Okay, the official first day of fall is actually September 22nd, but Labor Day weekend feels like the last "hurrah" of summer, don't you think? While summer still has a few weeks left, now is the time to create cold … Continue Reading
Olive oil is one of the most popular soaping ingredients. It gives cold process soap a gentle, mild lather and can be used up to 100% of your recipe! Soap made with only olive oil is known as Castile soap. The term "Castile" comes from the Castile region of Spain, where the soap is thought to have … Continue Reading
Cold process soap made with 100% olive oil is known as "Castile" soap. It is thought to originate in the Castile region of Spain - thus the name, Castile soap! Olive oil is a staple soaping oil that can be found in many cold process recipes. Olive oil contributes moisturizing properties to soap. It … Continue Reading
On Friday, The Today Show shared the amazing story of 16-year-old Zandra, who started her own skincare line when she was 9 years old. Like many young girls, Zandra loved lip balm. After her dad refused to buy her more, she started researching how to make her own. Once her mom saw her passion for lip … Continue Reading
Earlier this week, I attended the NY NOW Gift and Housewares Show in New York. The show is huge - as in, miles and miles of vendors. I walked over 4 miles just inside the showroom floor area. Because of its size, it's held at the Jacob Javits Center. It's a massive building in Manhattan that … Continue Reading
It was a tasty week here on the blog with recipes like the Berry Rhubarb Crumble Soap. It's scented with the new Red Berry Rhubarb Fragrance Oil, which is a perfect blend of sweet and tart. It complements the base, which is colored with Magenta Mica and Brick Red Oxide Pigment. Walnut shells and … Continue Reading
In this Soap Queen TV episode, I'm demonstrating one of my favorite techniques...the Hanger Swirl! The Hanger Swirl refers to a technique that involves inserting a Hanger Swirl Tool into the soap and moving it in various directions. A "classic" Hanger Swirl design involves layering various colors … Continue Reading
Did you know that with each Bramble Berry order, you receive a free .5 ounce sample of fragrance oil? The sample changes each month, and there is no minimum order required. With each Sample of the Month, we create fragrance oil blends and vote on our favorites. The key to a good blend is being able … Continue Reading
It's hard to believe that fall will be here in less than a month (September 22nd to be exact). If you're still holding onto summer, now is the time to squeeze in last minute summer projects. This Berry & Rhubarb Crumble Soap was inspired by the delicious summer dessert. A mixture of Magenta … Continue Reading
We have been busy updating the Bramble Berry app to make it the very best it can be. If you're unfamiliar with the app, it allows you easily keep up with Bramble Berry and Soap Queen on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter and Tumblr. You can also shop Bramble Berry and access the Lye … Continue Reading
Happy weekend! Yesterday, I flew to New York for the NY NOW Wholesale Products & Innovative Designs Tradeshow. I will be here until Tuesday. Follow "bramble-berry" on Snapchat to see peeks into my trip, and to see what the Bramble Berry team is making back at the office. I can't wait to see all … Continue Reading
The honey projects ended this week with recipes that exfoliate and soften the skin. The Wildflower Honey Sugar Scrub has strawberry seeds for extra exfoliation. To ensure the skin feels clean without being too dry, the recipe includes skin-loving jojoba oil. Wildflower Honey Fragrance Oil adds … Continue Reading