Soaps and Potions

What a treat!

I went to a class with some girlfriends last night 

on making soaps and lotions and scrubs 

at an enchanting shop in Chicago 

called Abbey Brown Soap Artisans.

My sweet friend Jeanne organized the outing for us

to celebrate my birthday

and because we always have fun getting together.

We learned about making soaps and lotions and body oils and salt scrubs

from the shop Proprietor, Deb Kraemer, 

a Registered Aromatherapist 

and all around lotion/potion magician.

The shop is full of delightful sights and colors and most of all, fragrances,

all smelling fresh and natural and wonderful.

It's like a beautiful laboratory

with colorful bottles and artful displays everywhere.

The soap artisans here make all of their products in house,

using olive oil, homegrown herbs and botanicals and pure essential oils. 

Deb is very conscious of only using healthy, positive ingredients

in her products and for your skin.

She's a fountain of interesting information about all of the ingredients 

and their purposes and delights.

They offer classes on making soaps, lotions, body oils, balms, salt scrubs and more.

They also do custom orders with private labeling for gifts and promotions.

Their labels and wraps and ribbons and trims are very festive and fun,

making the products irresistable.

Think company gifts and Christmas presents....

I know I am.

Here are some of their wonderful soaps-

Like these citrus blends

 And the Earth Series

The Collection:

Beautifully presented gift boxes

Vintage looking labels on Rinses and Salves

And vibrant labels on "Juiced"- Jeanne's favorite.

Deb travels to local lavender farms for the fresh lavender for this collection:

Morning blend, a coffee scented soap.  

Wake up!

Soft and pretty Rose Buds

Shea Butter options for the lips

And Chicago soap with custom labels

I bought this for our guest bath.

So whimsical and fun!

We melted down shea butter and beeswax and added our own choices of essential oils for fragrance

and made a luscious balm for our chapped hands

and other winter weary body parts.

I chose Sweet Orange and it's wonderful!

Then we mixed our own bath salts

choosing from exotic salts from all over the world.

We added our own choices of fragrance and some flower petals and essential oils

and mixed them up by hand

and put them in wonderful containers to take home.

Again, Sweet Orange for me.  

MMMMMMM.

The other fragrance options were many, including Pine and Ocean Breeze 

and Peppermint and Lavender and Bergamot and on and on and on.

Choosing our scents was the hardest part,

probably because Deb had everything else very organized and ready to go.

But the ingredients are luscious, simple and pure 

and anyone can do it.

Gorgeous!

Thanks, Jeanne!