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Give Thanks

11/20/2014

12 Comments

 
PictureHandmade card by Luvncrafts
The month of November is set apart as a season of thankfulness, culminating on the fourth Thursday with a day of feasting and football, turkey and tackles, pumpkin pie and parades, family and friends. Our Thanksgiving tradition has deep roots. In 1789, George Washington, the first president of the new United States, declared November 26 "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God." (source)  









PictureThe First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Brownscombe
Over 100 years earlier, the Pilgrims who had fled religious persecution in England came to the New World and established Plymouth Colony. Despite harsh living conditions, sickness, and starvation, in 1621 there was an abundant harvest which the Pilgrims celebrated with many local Indians, giving thanks to God for His goodness to them. For three days they enjoyed a bountiful harvest feast, which included deer, water fowl, and wild turkeys.

This Thanksgiving Day many families will gather together to ask the Lord's blessing, to thank Him for His continued goodness and offer praise with thankful hearts to their Creator. I would invite my readers to cultivate an attitude of thankfulness every day of the year, to be mindful of the daily blessings that enrich our lives, and to recognize the true Giver of all good things.


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Metal sign by refinedinspirations
Here are several of my favorite handmade finds which reflect the spirit of Thanksgiving. 
Quotes were found here.

PictureCeramic pumpkin salt and pepper shakers
These adorable salt and pepper shakers would be a charming addition to your Thanksgiving dinner table decor. 
Pumpkin pie is a traditional Thanksgiving Day treat.

"Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest;
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored;
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before;
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye,
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?"

                                          "The Pumpkin" by John Greenleaf Whittier  


PictureHandmade place mats from PutmanLakeDesigns
Dress up your table with four quilted place mats depicting traditional Thanksgiving Day motifs of plump pumpkins, harvest fruits, and a tom turkey.

"May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!"
                                    ~Grandpa Jones

PictureThanksgiving Day recipe card binder from artbysunfire
Keep your favorite Thanksgiving Day recipes handy in this little binder.

"But see, in our open clearings, how golden the melons lie;
Enrich them with sweets and spices, and give us the pumpkin-pie!"                                
~Margaret Junkin Preston

PictureFelt turkey table topper from RobinsonsHandyCrafts
Another fun decoration, this felt turkey wears a Pilgrim's hat and reminds us to "Be Grateful."

"Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, — a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise."
                                                                           ~George Herbert

A handmade card with a hand written note is often a wonderful surprise and is always appreciated.
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Handmade card from ClaireMDesigns
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Handmade card from CardsbyLiBe
"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel."      ~Author Unknown
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Burlap wreath from CreationsbyCarrie
"Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life... a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year — and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God."
                                                                                                      ~Ray Stannard Baker (David Grayson)
This poem has been attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson and is a fitting close to this Thanksgiving Day tribute. May God give us all truly thankful hearts.  
Happy Thanksgiving!


We Thank Thee

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For tender grass so fresh, so sweet,
Father, we thank Thee.
For the song of bird and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For blue of stream and blue of sky,
Father, we thank Thee.
For pleasant shade of branches high,
Father, we thank Thee.
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.

For this new morning with its light,
Father, we thank Thee.
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank Thee
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season?


12 Comments

November 15th, 2014

11/15/2014

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Two New Soaps

11/6/2014

10 Comments

 
With the holiday season soon upon us, I've been adding to my soap inventory. Most of my soap sales come before Christmas, and I want to have lots of wonderful choices for folks who like to give Ewes Soap as gifts. I usually make two batches at a time since it saves on the cleanup and doesn't really take that much longer. It does require focus, though. I have to be careful not to mix things up as I go along, so I've learned to measure the ingredients for only one batch at a time. Otherwise, I might have to develop spontaneous problem solving skills, which isn't a bad thing, but it can mess up my original plans!

Both these batches went smoothly, and I am happy with the results. They will need to cure a full month before they are ready to use. During this time the bars harden up. Both will be available in my shop after December 3rd, just in time for the holidays.


PictureSpaberry
For this pretty soap I used one of my favorite recipes, which has a high percentage of olive oil. Olive oil is one of the top three vegetable oils used in soap making. It's readily available and produces a gentle, mild bar of soap with creamy lather. This bar also includes coconut oil, the second primary oil used in soap making, which adds more bubble power. I also add castor oil for its moisture drawing qualities, plus it contributes stability and creaminess to the lather. Natural cocoa butter is a luxury ingredient which has special conditioning properties and adds hardness to the bar. I added dried strawberry seeds for a gentle scrubby texture. Scented with a berry type fragrance and topped with a dollop of creamy white over a layer of pink, Spaberry Ewes Soap is a berry delicious delight!


PicturePineapple Cilantro
Although this soap includes the same oils and butter, the percentages are quite different. The olive oil is lower and the coconut, castor, and cocoa butter are higher. I added kaolin clay, too. Pineapple Cilantro Ewes Soap is formulated to be a great soap for shaving, with a dense creamy lather and a nice slip. I used the colors of a pineapple - green yellow, and brown - and attempted to imitate the characteristic texture of a pineapple. The yummy fragrance is sweet pineapple toned down with a hint of herbal cilantro. I made this soap in my slab mold which yields 12 - 4 oz bars.

After the soaps are unmolded and cut, I put them on racks on top of my refrigerator for a few days. Then I photograph them and transfer them to a large baking rack in the hallway outside my bedroom. I love catching a whiff of all the wonderful scents whenever I pass by. After the month's cure, I make labels, wrap the soap bars, take more photos, and list them in my shop. There the soaps wait until someone else takes them home. 

Folks often ask me which is my favorite Ewes Soap. I honestly like them all and look forward to trying new ones in the shower each month. After all, variety is the lather of life!

What is your favorite soap scent?
10 Comments

Welcome Fall

11/1/2014

17 Comments

 

Today is a windy, blustery day. The sky is blue and the sun is shining, but it is definitely chilly outside. Since today is also the first day of November, I wanted to share some wonderful handmade items from some of my favorite artisans that reflect the warmth and beauty of the season. 
(Click on the picture for more information about the product or visit the artisan's shop via the italized link.)


From MyMountainStudio, this lacy scarf is crocheted with a microfiber yarn which gives it a beautiful drape and an ombre effect.

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This focal bead set from PollyCeramica highlights the beauty of fall and can be used to create a custom necklace which could be worn every season.

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These stunning wire wrapped Sunstone earrings from BlackwoodArts capture the magical glow of autumn in shimmering orange.

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This stylish brown cotton hat from ModStitches features a pretty crochet flower accent. 

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Copper wire and Jasper beads combine elements of simple beauty and a neutral palette in this everyday necklace from Pebbles at my Feet.

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Bring the colors of fall into your kitchen with this dishcloth set from Luvncrafts.

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Colorful fall leaves adorn this quilted table runner from QuiltTops. 

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From BlueMorningExpressions, this heavily beaded necklace and earring set has dozens of beads which were individually made by hand from polymer clay and is accented with Swarovski crystals, Czech glass beads, gold seed beads and round red tiger eye beads.   

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Lastly I'll add my knitted fingerless gloves in an autumn color scheme. 

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As the month of November begins, I hope you enjoy the cooler days of fall and the beautiful colors of the season. Each day is a gift to be thankful for. So savor this time of preparation and thankfulness. Welcome Fall.
 


If you are so inclined, please visit the featured shops and browse their handmade items, share your favorites, and thank you for stopping by!


~Ewenique 
17 Comments
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    Handmade Soaps - Free Shipping - Courage

    Discover the benefits of using handmade soap - gentle cleansing, luxurious lather, soft skin. Handmade from start to finish, with beautiful color and wonderful fragrance, natural ingredients are combined to produce a simply unique bar of handcrafted soap.


    You are sure to be delighted with my handcrafted artisan soaps. Due to the handmade nature of these beautiful soaps, individual bars may vary from the photos shown. Each bar of handmade soap from The Lathered Lamb is truly one of a kind!


    My handcrafted artisan soaps are made using the cold process method of soap making from scratch. Vegetable oils and butters are mixed with sodium hydroxide, resulting in a chemical reaction which produces natural soap. Small batches are made in my kitchen with care and attention to detail. Some batches are limited edition, so snag a bar while they are available because once they're gone, they're gone!


    My original soap formulas produce luxury soaps with silky, bubbly lather that gently cleans the skin. These handmade soaps are scented with body safe fragrance or essential oils and are colored with natural pigments. Each bar of my handcrafted soap weighs over 4 ounces and comes wrapped in an attractive label with a complete ingredient list. Shrink wrap protects the soap while ensuring the fragrance can be smelled through an opening in the back.


    Did you know that body wash is made with detergents? Sodium lauryl sulfate and other sulfates strip the skin of beneficial body oils. Sure a body wash smells great and looks pretty. Plus the plastic container is convenient, even if it usually ends up in a landfill, but many folks don't realize that they could wash their dishes with that bubbly body wash!


    Handmade soap is a simple solution. Sometimes the old ways are better after all. Detergents have only been around for 100 years, after being developed in Germany during World War 1. Soap making, however, has been an ongoing craft for thousands of years. 


    Handmade soap is an affordable luxury. Pamper yourself or someone special today with a bar of soap from The Lathered Lamb. Live Simply. Use Soap.


    To order other fragrances, see individual product listings.



    Courage - 4 oz net wt

    6 available

    Price includes shipping


    Courage handmade soap is scented with masculine notes of black peppercorn and leather are carefully crafted with warm woods, patchouli, musk and citrus. The slate blue soap has a textured top.


    Ingredients - palm oil, coconut oi, olive oil, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, shea butter, fragrance, ultramarine blue, silk



    To order other fragrances, see individual product listings.





    Local customers, enjoy the reduced price of $7 a bar, 4 bars for $25, or 12 bars for $70. Please contact me for either pick up or meet up delivery, and I will refund the shipping.

    Up to 12 bars of soap from The Lathered Lamb will fit in a flat rate padded envelope.

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