Today I have the pleasure to introduce you to Lisa Jack, a wonderful woman that my husband works with. She recently sent him home with a bag of soaps that she made for us to try out...they are fabulous! I wish her the best in her latest endeavor and I hope you enjoy learning more about Lisa, her inspirations, and 'Jack's Soaporium!'


Tell me a little about your background in soap. When did you first start and what inspired you to take this project on?

I first started making soap when I was 7 years old in the bathroom sink I would mix up flower petals, water, toothpaste just about anything I could get my hands on. After mixing it all up I would put it in little bottles...it was a mess. I must say a lot has improved since then. I was inspired about 1 year ago, while in my garden...nine bees that were hiding in a ground nest stung me. I grabbed a hand full of Calendula flowers and took off for the house while rubbing calendula all over the bites. Within about 10 min the hives and stinging was gone...That was the moment I started researched the medicinal values and history of the flower my findings were truly serendipitous. After many-failed attempt to find calendula soap, I decided I needed to make calendula soap. A all Natural, unrefined, pure soap using calendula as my primary element I build the soap around the flower. I wanted to create a truly natural soap that was going to be the challenge, a soap with all organic unrefined pure elements provided by nature that would far surpass any store bought refined, bleached, artificially enhanced, packed with preservitives, over priced, mass produced grocery store soaps.

What were the first things you created and how did you expand from there?
The first thing I made was a pure unrefined all natural golden batch of calendula soap, I added more flavors to my collection of soaps, I gave the soaps to my friends and family to sample...and it has grown from giving the soaps away....To creating soap snobs (people who now will only use all natural Shea Butter Based Jack's soaporium soaps).

How do you plan on expanding your product line?
I have expanded my product line to 3 other flavors of Golden Shea butter based soaps, which include Calendula Golden Shea, Lavender Golden Shea and Honey Oat Golden Shea. I am currently working on two new flavors.

What does it take to make an all natural soap?
A lot of research, studying saponification values, understanding essential elements such as herbs, spices, oils, tallow’s, natural oils and the procedures that are necessary to make a good solid ALL NATURAL soap.

Understanding organic chemistry sure did not hurt, calculating values, research & choosing the best oils...oils that complement each other, and will enhance skin health and healing. Testing the formula, understanding fat discounting in saponification values all this is essential to making a better quality, all natural, safe, skin healthy soap.

My process included all of these aspects. I researched herbology, I chose to grow my own herbs to protect the natural elements; I do not use pesticide, or fertilizers, I chose to steam distill my own herbs and spices with pure artesian water as I do not want essential oils that have been suspended in alcohol or preservatives. I import all of my unrefined, unbleached, all natural oils from trusted vendors through fair trade.

What are your other interests besides soap making?
Graphic arts, Reading, Martial arts, Biking, Researching organic elements, growing my own herbs, distilling my own essential oils for my soaps, studying saponification values of different oils.

What is the customer 'favorite' as far as scents go? So far my customers like the Calendula the best as it has a very earthy scent. I don't think it is the smell of the Calendula that attracts people, but instead the color, the healing properties and the results it has on one's skin.

What is your personal 'favorite'?
My favorite for my skin is the Calendula Golden Shea, My favorite for the smell is the Honey, Oat & Golden Shea.

Any words of advice for others planning on starting their own business?
Your product should be something you yourself are interested in there must be a necessity for what you have to offer. Have a good business plan, work the plan, and practice good book keeping skills.



Here are a few comments left on Lisa's website:


I have been using the Calendula Soap and shea butter cream for about 6 weeks now. My hands cracking and bleeding in winter due to washing between patients is now a thing of the past! These products are the absolute highest quality that I have seen! Bravo ~Dr. Michelle Jermier


This soap feels great -- it rinses well and leaves my skin feeling soft, not taut and dry. I highly recommend it!! Jacks Soaporium has taken green to a whole new level. This soap lasts forever, in fact I was anxious to try the other flavors long before the bar was gone. ~Nichie


Your soap rocks! The scent isn't real strong and it smells so natural. The bar last forever and it is well worth the money. ~Zeke


Don't forget to go to http://www.jacksoaporium.com/ to read even more about Lisa's wonderful soap and see more comments others left! Enjoy!

I don't know what's gotten into me lately but I've been really into doing 'series' of things. I fall in love with the first one I make and want to do more...maybe a little differently but another one. You've maybe noticed this with my 'Spring Flowers' Quilt Series - so far I have three...the original, pastel, and retro. I'm really excited to start my next in that series!


I fell in love IMMEDIATELY with 'Hoops and Loops' after I made my first pair...Hint of Teal. I just think they are fabulous. They are elegant and eye catching. I knew that it would not be my only pair.

Instead of making earrings with all the same colors I decided to play around with different color combinations. I did 'Purple Passion' to appeal to the purple lover (I know...a bit obvious).

I think 'Sunset' is gorgeous but will take a person that looks good wearing reds and oranges to pull it off - I know you're out there!

'Walk in the Forest' (upper left picture) is just an unlikely combination of colors that looks fabulous...Kelly Green, pink and Sienna Brown.


I made 'Burgundy Neutrals' to appeal to people like my cousin Amie...one's who like color but not too much of it!


'Spring Rain's' combination of blues and teals will look great on pretty much anybody! Also, it's perfect for this season....almost like raindrops falling from your earlobes (except they are ovular!).

Happy Saturday everyone! My cold is still here but I am much better than last week!

I wanted to share with you, once again, some treasuries I made and some I have been featured in. Unfortunately, one of my treasuries expired before I 'print screened' it and I won't be able to share it with you :( Oh well, I learned a lesson. Now as soon as I make a treasury or find one I'm in I save it! Oh, and there is a new wonderful website where etsians (or others) can go to easily find if they are in a treasury or not: http://www.craftopolis.com/!


Alright, let's get started. The first treasury I'm going to show you this morning is "Under the Sea" put together by OriginalsbyLauren. She chose to feature my one-of-a-kind 'Seaweed Fish ACEO'. This has been the most popular of my ACEO's by far...I may have to make a series...seems like I've been into series lately...








DowntheStreet created this gorgeous treasury 'Spring Break Bound' and featured my 'Spring Flowers - Pastels, Quilt'.











I woke up this morning to a message from kazzalblue that my Green Apple Onesie had been included in this etsyBABY treasury: Special Delivery.









I put this treasury together! I called it from 'Plums to Tangerines'. I featured some random artists I found, some from my team Wist and my quiltsy team. It was fun looking for these gorgeous purple and orange colors!









I called this treasury, "Not just Crafts...this is ART." I found most of these by going through my favorites...just beautiful!










'Classic Red' was put together by my aunt, Barb from quiltsbybarb.
She chose to feature Sunset from my Hoops and Loops earring series.











'A Warming Trend' was put together by a fabulous fellow quilter, UniquelyNancy. She chose to feature one of my newest creations, "Quilted Swirly Circle Clutch."









And this includes the latest addition of Treasury Saturday! I hope you'll check back next week and see how many treasuries I snag...if any!

Tell me a little bit about your background in arts and crafts.


I have a long history in hand crafted items as small businesses. I originally started by designing and hand crafting unique hats for babies and children (Ratty's Hats). Sadly, 10 years ago people were still afraid to 'go out of the box' with their kids and my creations often went unappreciated!In university, I created a very successful pet treat and accessory business called "Treats for Furry Feets". I spent months creating, from scratch, gourmet pet treats from all natural (and when possible organic) ingredients. My fur kids were thrilled to be my taste testers! When I started my honours placement I had to let the business go, there just wasn't enough time in the day for both.



When did you first start creating things?

I was always described as a 'creative child" - I think that was people's polite way of saying I was weird! I learned how to sew when I was 10 on my great grandmothers original sewing machine. It was the first Singer electric model and had one stitch - but that baby could sew through anything! When I was 14 my mom bought me a brand spanking new machine that seemed so luxurious with it's 12 stitches. I used that machine until its sad end this past fall (over 17 years). I love to sew and make 99.9% of my items without a pattern - shirts and a diaper stacker are pretty much the only time I felt I needed one (I got that 'knack' from my great grandma).



What were the first things you created? and how did your creativity progress from there?
It's be a long journey through the creative land. But Mommy's Lil Monkey started when I went on maternity leave last January. I was hugely pregnant, stuck at home, and BORED - I started sewing blankets, diapers and other items for my pending monkey. When Jacob arrived and we were out and about I got so many compliments on the blankets and questions of where I got them - I figured it was worth trying to sell them! I loved being able to sew while Jacob napped, and creating Mommy's Lil Monkey gave me the much needed brain work out a new mommy needs! Since then my best friend joined me with LilyBugz and we have been expanding our line as our little ones have grown. We create out of the needs we fill for our own monkeys - and hope that it fills the needs of other mommies too!



Is this your only business or do you do other things as well?

I start back to work in (ACK!) twenty days. I am a retail manager for a large Canadian communications and entertainment company. However my background is in social work and film studies - go figure! I do also dabble in collecting and selling vintage pieces - and LOVE a good church rummage sale!



Do you still dream about making other things? If so, what?

I would love to be able to knit or crochet. My grandmother is the most amazing knitter I have ever seen - she is 87 and can knit a sweater in a day. Her work is unbelievable and unlike anything you would find in even the finest boutiques. I tried learning how to knit when I was a teen but succeeded in trying it into knots and bending the needles!


How did you hear about Etsy?

An old friend of mine suggested I take a look when I was searching for sock monkey items for the nursery. I was amazed when I saw the site and couldn't believe I had never heard or seen of it before. I didn't start to sell on Etsy until July of 2008 - I just didn't feel my items were ready for such a high calibre community.




Any words of advice to others?
Do what you love, don't under value your product, and never deny yourself the need to stockpile fabric!!! You never know when you might need that beautiful floral print that's on sale :-)



How will the new law by CPSIA affect you and your shop?
Being Canadian I will still be able to sell within Canada and all other countries but the USA. However 75% of my customer base is in the USA so my store sales would be affected. I don't rely on Etsy as a source of income (unlike so many affected) -- but rather a reinvestment into more materials every time I make a sale. My shop will probably carry less stock and I will cut back on how much I produce and post for Etsy. I worry that many of the suppliers I purchase from through Etsy may no longer be able to sell their supplies. That means I will no longer be able to create - and I need to let my creative energies flow!

What would affect me more is that the many friends that I have made through team Etsybaby would be losing their livelihood and be unable to create and sell the things they love. I worry about the families who rely on their arts and crafts, the public libraries, the second hand stores, the increases on prices in general - especially in these increasingly hard financial times. I wish as a Canadian I could lobby my members of parliament to get involved - but we have such little say in what happens to our neighbours even though it affects us too! I have been spreading the word to my fellow Canadian crafters and buyers to let them know what is happening and most are in disbelief. The CPSIA laws have not received the global coverage they should - which means most outside the US are completely in the dark!


I hope you enjoyed learning more about MommysMonkey! I know I did. Take a few minutes to browse through her shop...she has some adorable things!

by Guest Blogger, Amie Bressers


I’m not really much of one for color. Well, that’s not entirely true. I have two red chairs, and instead of a black car I went with blue. Admittedly, the red is dark and tempered with black, and the blue is prefaced with “graphite,” as in grey, but that’s gotta count for something, right? Maybe not, but I’m perfectly content with my neutral ways. I prefer to add splashes of color via accents, like the vibrant painting that stole my heart at a Berlin art show and the little green plastic alien that resides in the cup holder of my car. (Yes, the alien’s a stretch, but stick with me here. I have a point.)

This void of color has made its way into, or perhaps planted its roots in my wardrobe. In fact, as I type this I’m wearing my unofficial uniform: black turtleneck (substitute tee during the warmer months) and jeans. Boring? Maybe. But one thing my black canvas offers is a clean backdrop for intriguing accents. That’s where the color comes in. (Do you see how I did that, tied my decorating habits to my dress code? In know, terribly transparent.)



Lucky for me, I have Kim as a member of my family. She convinces me to go for the multicolored mittens rather than the shades of black and grey, and just last Saturday she gifted me with a pair of her Hoops and Loops Earrings as well as another pair designed just for me. I confess, Kim let me pick my colors for the Hoops and Loops, and I reverted to my neutral ways with black, white, and burgundy, but the silhouette of these earrings makes up for my lack of color innovation. I wore them today with the aforementioned black turtleneck and a ponytail, and they were the highlight of my whole look.


The other pair (ask Kim to make some for you, they’re adorable) offers an ocean blue ring with a tiny accent of yellow because I told Kim I’ve been trying to figure out how to wear the sunny shade. They’ll be the pair I wear with all of my black, white, grey, [insert any neutral hue here] summer dresses.


So will I be donning neon from head to toe anytime soon? Not a chance. No one should do that. Ever. Not even in the ’80s. But my life will never be completely devoid of Roy G. Biv.