Cat-approved!

One of my customers was nice enough to send me this pic! Looks like I have a fan! :D

Thanks Dawn for sharing this wonderful picture of Paws!

Taking the plunge..

It's official! Havana Soap, LLC is now on Etsy and Facebook! This year's theme is "Go big or go home", inspired me to put my energy and efforts into my new soap business.
Feel free to take a gander, like my page and check back periodically on Soapkitten for soapy updates!

Violet Soap available here

Havana Gold available here

Guava Soap available here

After the cut...

Very psyched that I'm getting back into cold process soaps! I forgot how lovely it was to make it from scratch.  Here's my latest-- name to be determined. Originally it had lavender buds on top, but aesthetically wasn't my thing, so I cut the tops off.  Warning to soap makers: Using lavender buds is very much a "go big, or go home" kind-of-thing. I found that as I trimmed my bars they scattered everywhere, even clinged on my untouched areas of my soap. Not fun picking tiny buds off. Make sure it's what you want before decorating your tops with it. 

This soap is made with olive, coconut, (sustainable) palm and castor oils.  The scent is an intoxicating bold mix of lavender, cedar wood and pine. Definitely a great, unisex scent.

Testing, testing...

That's right. Testing is the theme of today. I'm so PSYCHED. Besides making test batches of cold process soap to refine my reciepe, I'm also testing out high quality, natural bases to be the face of my MP soaps!  It's gonna be a good day! 

Pictured from left to right. Row 1: glycerine clear, glycerin white. Row 2: goat milk, Shea. Row 3: hemp, honey (not pictured: aloe). 

Unveiling!

Today was the great unveiling of the two soaps I made yesterday.  This fun soap has peek-a-boo hearts embedded so that they reveal themselves as you use it. It's sweet sugar cane scent has hints of vanilla, shortbread and lemon rind.

On to our "mystery soap".  At first glance it looks like watermelon-- but nope, it's guava and a homage to my Caribbean roots!  This delightful soap is a yummy blend of blend of guava, orange, papaya , peach and strawberry.   

                 

Both are available in my etsy shop here.

xo
-SK

My Kitchen Smells Like Love.

Soapy love, that is! Back in the saddle for some soap crafting! I've been slowly coming back to it and bought some new soapy supplies recently. 

Can you guess what I'm making here? Hint: it's not what you think. 

 Speaking of love, the month of LUV is coming up. In celebration I'm making these candy-scented exfoliating soaps made with real sugar. It's sweet upon sweet. Here's before the pour. After pics to come. 

And if that weren't enough, I played around and make a rice flower scented soap. Since I couldn't decide what to make it look like, I opted for simple and clean, just like the fragrance.

 

:)

-SK

New Soap: Summer Honey and Calendula

This is probably my favorite soap to-date! Made with a lovely, organic honey base, REAL honey for moisture and soothing calendula petals.  We are all aware of the wonderful properties of honey, but what is calendula exactly??

Calendula or Calendula officinalis, is also known as pot marigold. The petals range from yellow to bright orange and have been used for centuries to heal skin irritations and help heal wounds. Like honey, it is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial and can be used to disinfect wounds, heal skin irritations and even added to make a soothing eye wash.  

In soap, it makes a wonderfully soothing bar. I've also added an all-natural light honey scent to boost its overall pleasantness.

You can find it at my etsy store here.

Ocean Bloom is Here!

My last soapy post and a nice run to the Jersey Shore inspired inspired me to create something that was pretty, but also capture the essence of my favorite place-- the beach when no one's around.  I'm especially proud of this one, as I mixed up the fragrances to come up with a lovely blend of salty ocean with a hint of clean florals.  The experience? Sea-spray and the ocean breeze caressing your face, with a pleasant hint of summer flowers.

Ocean Bloom, currently for sale at my Etsy Shop!

Sea-Inspired Soaps!

My good friend pointed out that I tend to get re-inspired by soap-making around this time of the year.  Not sure if it's the warm weather, or the idea of going to the beach, but I've always been drawn to the beach/ocean. That's my haven, where I go to recharge from the city-grind.  So it makes sense that this time of the year is  where I find my creative energies rising. Time to break out the soap again!!!!

Below are a few soap designs that inspire me to get on the soapy saddle again!

This one is wildly amazing and the creativity is just AMAZING!
Get it here at Tammy Lane Soaps.

How about soap with a bit of sea kelp? Yes, please!
Image from TheYellowFinchCalif's Etsy Store.

This one is simple, but yet refreshing to look at-- like the calm of a tropical ocean.
Image from ASliceofDelight's Etsy store.

And for your sea-side apothecary? Ocean-scented foaming salt scrub!
Image from ThreeChangosSoap's Etsy Store.

Spring is Here (and yet not quite...)

Technically it's Spring, and for the last few days, we've been experiencing temperatures close to 70 and today--- BAM, frost!

No, literally-- it snowed overnight:

See the snow on the ground??

Still... the weather smells fresh enough to not deter me from my high hopes of having a lovely spring (and a fantastic Summer) that I'm going to kick-off with a flurry feature of Spring-y soaps!

SunBasil Garden's Easter Soap (Love how the polka-dots have soft lines)

Delicious-looking Carrot Soap from Daily Repose's Etsy Store

CountryLineSuds Easter egg soap --- the colors are just fantastic on this one!!! 

Cutesy Pastel Easter Egg Soaps from SeasideSoapKitchen's Etsy Store

This felted soap reminds me of little petit fours. By NutmegNaturals. 

And to close this happy little post and romantic Easter picture of bunny and baby chick-- Awwww! 

From KM Elegant Creation's Etsy Shop

Have a fantastic Easter everyone! :)

Hot Cocoa Anyone?

It’s been a long time since the East Coast has been pummeled with snow. The last time I can remember is 1996. This year, so far, we’ve accumulated at least 16” of snow, which for an 18 year stretch, is quite a bit!  This Winter may be harsh, but I eagerly commute back home waiting to snuggle up to a good book, my pashmina throw, Ugg boots and a nice cup of hot chocolate (squeeeee)!

I’m a SERIOUS hot chocolate lover. From spicy Mexican hot chocolate, to Italian (made with heavy cream) to the now popular salted hot chocolate, I really can’t get enough. My obsession has taken a new level, scoping out soapers on Etsy’s with their interpretation of hot chocolate soap. We have some serious soapers doing their awesome spin on on the topic from traditional, to seriously creative. Here are a few of my favorites:

Hot Chocolate- New Yorker Style:
Coffee Cart Hot Chocolate from
AJ Sweet Soap’s Etsy store

For those who crave a more traditional cup:

Hot Chocolate Soap from Garden Tale Gift’s Etsy store

A cute, abstract twist from Sun Basil Garden’s Etsy store

Another abstract view (I can’t get over how realistic and YUMMY the marshmallows look)
Hot Chocolate Soap from The Lather Co’s Etsy Store

Intentional Living (and soaps, of course)!

I have a deep fascination with anything sea-related. Maybe it's because I'm a Water sign? Or maybe it's because I've always lived near a body of water (Hello Hudson River!)?

I really can't pin point it to one, but there is something wonderful and inspiring about it. Being near the sea often recharges me.

One of my favorite trips, was this one:

Spain, 2011

During my trip, I wasn't very far from the ocean. I got to dip in it, hike along rocks and watched it crash, roll and strain itself on the rocks and admire it up close and from afar. I saw it in various stages, at night, during the day, at sunrise.  I also got to see it surrounded my rocky cliffs, near Celtic ruins, and by the beaches. It was quite an experience, but most of all, it reminded me to take delight in the simple pleasures.

One thing that we Americans "forget" is to go with the flow and live and act with intentions. Buddha calls it "mindful living".  I like to think of as enjoying things as if you are seeing them for the first time, acting purposefully and allowing ourselves to become inspired by the seemingly mundane. Whether it's savoring that first cup of coffee in the morning, or handling a fresh bar of soap and carefully and thoughtfully working it into a fluffy lather, or watching waves crash into the Earth and being taken away by it's magnificent and mighty splendor.

Life just seems more fun that way.



Speaking of fun-- here are inspiring soaps that look like they were created with intention and care:

Mermaid Rose Soap by Shesthatgirl's Esty Store

Mermaid Kiss by SaponeSoap's Etsy Store

Mermaid Glycerine by NeonBathBody's Etsy Store

Mermaid Kisses by IvyCoreen Etsy Store

Holidays n' Packin'

Naughty Coal Soap by GardenTaleGifts

Okay, so I've been a little naughty, I haven't been updating my site as much as I like, but I have a good reason (I swear!).  I'm officially MOVING. This time, further south within NJ.  :) :) :)

Moving during the holidays is not only a real pain, but I find that, since I'm packing instead of decorating, that I'm missin' some good ol' holiday cheer!

To remedy that, I decided to find the best-looking, Christmas soaps:

Check out these fun Polar Bears! From Pigandthepeacock's Etsy Store

Spiced Cranberry Salt Bar (YUM) from asliceofdelight's Etsy store

Check out the layered swirl on this Christmas Soap! From Soap Rhapsody's Etsy store

Check out these cute peppermint twist soaps from Daisy Kays Etsy Store

Merry Christmas Ornament soap from Kokolele's Etsy Store

Pumpkin Pie Soap

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! After a brief holiday and a loosened waistband, I'm back on the soapy saddle with new soaps.  Hope you all left room for dessert! :)

Pumpkin Pie Soap from my shop, HavanaSoapCompany

Fall Foods - Fall Soaps

For me, today marks the FIRST official day of Fall, since it hit about 30 degrees here in NJ/NYC.  Waking up to that crisp cool-blast of chill, reminds me of everything to look forward to: Turkey, eggnog, pumpkin pies (or any pie, really), cookies and finishing off the year with copious amounts of champagne.

 

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. I'll just leave you with a set of delicious-looking Fall soaps. Warning: these soaps look good enough to eat.




Eggnog Soap from SweetbathConfections Etsy Store



Pumpkin Soap from SunbasilgardenSoap's etsy store



LOVE the gradient!!! - Turkey Soap from thecharmingfrog's Etsy Store



SO CUTE---- Ginger Snap Soap from DailyRepose's Etsy store

 

 

Vanilla Champagne Soap from HookedSoap's Etsy Store

Soap Experiment: Part Two

I present to you, my soapy experiment from yesterday!

!!!

These came out FANTASTIC. I love how the design has depth to it, and the gold shimmers throughout. They smell like a gentle lavender breeze and you'll be able to find them in my etsy shop: www.havanasoapcompany.etsy.com.

Soap Experiment: Part One

I woke up this morning feeling like an "artiste", and very much inspired to try something new with my soaps. 

Of course, I started out nicely, skillfully flinging soap as if I were conducting a soapy symphony (that bottom layer looks nice, right?).

Unfortunately, I became overwhelmed with emotion and finished with an impatient soapy crescendo.

This may turn out to be amazing or a HUGE disaster.


Stay tuned...