Craft Show For February

Shea Cashmere with Silk cupcake soap will be available at the Henry Ford Craft Show 

Pink Sugar with Silk cupcake soap will be there too!

Peach & Oatmeal and Sea Spray cupcake soaps will be there too!

I'll be bringing my new soaps to the Henry Ford II High School craft show in Sterling Hts. tomorrow from 10am-4pm. You'll also be able to purchase at a deep discount my holiday soaps and others that I need to clear out to make room for the new. So if you like sales, you don't want to miss it. See you tomorrow!!!
Bernadette

Playing around with my handmade lightbox

My husband built me a light box out of a cardboard box and tissue paper.
So, I have been playing around with the best way to take pictures in it.

At first, I took pictures with just the soaps and a plain white background.
I didn't like that. It was bland and boring. So now, I am trying out different
props to compliment my picture and the soap.

This one is OK but it could be better. So I'll re- take these with a different look or prop

He got caught in the net!!!

I like this picture.

I could do more with this one.

My favorite, so far.
It's not easy trying to take pictures of a product and to make it look as good as you know it is! You want the person that is viewing the picture to feel, smell and touch your product through  their eyes when they look at it. That is very hard to do. I'll keep working at it. Let me know if  you can smell these ok? lol

The Fragrance Monster is attacking my Soaps!!!

I piped these in alternating colors of pink and white. The next day they were mustard color.

These are the same cupcakes turned a dark brown. I  scented these in Pink Sugar and didn't  check to see if it had  vanilla that might darken them. I added titanium dioxide (to whiten the soap) but as you can see, didn't make a difference.

Except for the melt and pour cherry, these turned a dark brown. Scented in Rich Dark Chocolate. It just irritates me when I take the time to use different colors and they all disappear into dark brown. My fault though!

I was so happy with the way these came out. They had a buttery yellow color with light green. I scented these in Shea Cashmere.

Except for the pink roses that I piped unscented, the rest is turning dark!

If someone can give me some advice on how to use these fragrances without them changing colors, please contact me. Am I not using enough titanium dioxide? What do you do to keep your true colors? I absolutely love the scent of Pink Sugar. I hate to think that everytime I use it the soap will have to be dark brown. I look forward to your advice. Have a great day everyone!!!

Website under Construction

Hi everyone! The new year brings new changes and Hedgeway Cottage  is going through some good changes too. It's time to grow up and clean up. A better website, more professional looking pictures, a new logo, and of course more beautiful soaps made with new and revised recipes that will be so nice to use for your skin. My new recipes include using Silk tussah which will give your soap a silky luxurious feel.I'm rethinking my packaging too. I'm not sure what I'm doing yet for that. Also, with the upcoming changes, come an increase in pricing. Just starting out, I knew that my prices were lower.Now, in order for my company to thrive, I must increase my prices (not much though) to keep up with the increased prices of supplies, etc. Lavender essential oil is getting quite pricey for example.
We will also be looking to doing more craft shows this Spring and Summer. We are confirmed for the Henry Ford II High School Clearance Craft Show on Feb. 11-12th. So, please come and check us out because we will have quite a bit of soap on sale. We will also have some new soaps. I have some new fragrances that I just love. You'll have to smell them for yourself.
I have some shower orders that I'm working on that is keeping me busy right now. I am always very honored to be able to make shower favors for your special day. I always put my best effort into doing soap favors.
While we are under construction on the website, please contact me by email which is: hedgewaycottagesoaps@yahoo.com or by phone: 248-525-4863.
Have a great week! Talk with you soon!

There are about 56 of these mini cupcakes which include the cream colored ones in the next picture. They are scented with cedarwood amber. If any one is looking for some shower favors, I will sell these for $70.00 for all of them. They are topped with a tiny butterfly bead in multiple colors. Just email me if you are interested.

My all natural moisturizing shampoo and vinegar & water  hair rinse. I'll be trying these today. The shampoo is not thick enough so next time I wont dilute the soap paste as much. I'm working on it so I can offer you a better alternative and a healthier one for your hair. I'll also be working on some laundry soap for you too.

Bernadette

SPECIALS

SAVEONCRAFTS is an awesome site for your shower, wedding or party. They have everything! SPECIALS:

'via Blog this'

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Duane & Bernadette at Hedgeway Cottage.

One more craft show

Thinking of Spring, this soap cake smells so beautiful-too bad I can't remember  how I created the scent.

I don't usually make melt and pour soaps but these were fun to make. 

More melt and pour, scented with Monkey Farts fragrance. These are for a little girls birthday party

We were done with craft shows for the year and I started cleaning my house and started to organize all the things that found a home on my counters, on top of dressers, any flat surface that you can lay something on. I got about  2 days into it and my Mom called to say some relatives were interested in buying soaps for holiday gifts. So I decided to have a soap sale in my living room for my family and friends. I really don't have that much room and pushed all the furniture over to set up the tables. Today I spent all day making cookies, brownies, dips, etc. for my guests who will be coming tomorrow. For me it's not about selling the soaps, it's about sitting with that cup of coffee or tea, eating a cookie and enjoying my Mom, sisters, and friends.Hopefully they wont notice that I'm not finished cleaning.
While I was cleaning the other day, a lady called and asked us if we would be interested in their craft show next Friday, the 16th. So of course we said yes and are looking forward to another last show of the year which will be at the Williamslake Church of the Nazarene in Waterford on Airport Rd. (you'll have to google it- I don't have the info in front of me). It will be from 6pm-9pm so if you're looking for that  unique gift to give that co-worker or teacher, come and get it at the last show of the year( for us).
Talk with you soon. Hopefully I can start my Christmas shopping before it's Christmas eve!
I need to hire some elves!lol

Not Your Mommas' Gingerbread

This soap cake is called "Not your Mommas' Gingerbread" soap. It smells of gingerbread with a little added spice.

You can't tell how pretty Santa Cake soap really is in this picture. Smells so  good!

I love the look of this soap. I haven't named it yet.

Christmas Tree soaps ready for their bows.

Relax me Lavender cupcake soaps-just what the stressed- out holiday shopper needs!

LOVE these little favor boxes (I got them on clearance) and am using them for my lotion bars.

Pure Luxury Solid Lotion Bar-so moisturizing on dry skin!

Small sized solid lotion bar.

Well, finally I have all my soaps wrapped and we're winding down for the last 2 shows! This first year of doing craft shows and selling has been both stressful and wonderful. Stressful in a good way (not knowing how much product to have ready so you don't run out). I always over make. I do it with food when I have family over and I am doing it with soaps. I'd rather have too much than too little.And it is so wonderful to make something that people love and appreciate.
I hope tomorrows' weather that is calling for snow will not keep the shoppers away for the Grosse Pointe Holiday Tree lighting and market. I hope you can make it tomorrow or for our last show on December 3rd at Parcells middle school in Grosse Pointe. If not, drop me an email, say HI- keep in touch. If there is something you'd like to order from us, please email me and we will deliver it to you by mail or in person.Thank you for being such great customers!!! Bernadette

Great Holiday craft shows

My husband, Duane. This man puts up with a lot from me. When I get worried, mad, sad , anxious- I take it out on him ( I don't mean to). I could not do any of these shows or farmers markets without him. He has always been supportive and loving  in whatever I wanted to do. I used to drag him to craft shows all the time when I was the buyer (before soap making) and he would follow me and carry the bags for me. I miss those days. Now he lugs in our tables and the soaps, etc. and sets everything up. And instead of talking football and hanging with the guys, he's talking soap and how moisturizing it is to women. Isn't life funny?! I just want him to know that I love and appreciate everything he does even when my horns start to show.

This is a picture of our set up at Eisenhower High school. We really liked working the show and everyone was wonderful and the students were great with helping us unload and load our things for the show. We hope to work it next year. Thank you to all of our customers who followed us to this show.We appreciate your business and loyalty. We met a lot of great people and new customers that I hope will become part of our Hedgeway Cottage family. I am still waiting for confirmation for the Troy High school show we were invited to. I will post on hedgewaycottagesoaps on facebook as soon as I know for sure.
 I hope everyone controls themselves on  Black Friday!You couldn't pay me to go shopping that day. I think it has gotten ridiculous- my husband works for Target and has to go to work on Thanksgiving at 11pm because they have decided to open their doors at midnight.It's getting out of hand and they just keep getting more greedy. Let's remember the" reason" for the season. I think a lot of people have forgotten like the decision makers who don't care if people make plans with their families.Have a great Thanksgiving and a safe holiday!

Upcoming craft shows this week

   This soap cake is the result of too much left over soap and I had to use it up in a hurry. I was messing around with different decorator tips because there are quite a few of them that I don't know what they do. I was also practicing with making soap roses. Those are irritating to do when you have gloves on and it takes a lot of patience and re-doing, re-doing! I still don't have them  perfect yet. But I will. Couldn't you see this soap cake at a bridal shower or a tea party? Give a slice to each guest to take home and wrap it up in pretty paper. This size cake will  yield eight good sized slices.

We will be at Beacon Tree Elementary school this Friday. It is on Schoenherr rd. between 25 and 26 mile rds.  starting at 5:30 to 9:30pm. Then on Saturday, we have Eisenhower High school which is a big one. It is located on 25 mile rd. I hope to see you there. I have been getting all my holiday soaps ready for it! I'm also kind of nervous about the Eisenhower one because I know how busy it gets. I hope I get a good spot.  Have a great day!

A special soap cake for a 4 year old that loves Lush

She's only 4 years old but when you talk to her, you feel like she is older in years and she  has a wisdom and intelligence that shows through her personality. Her name is Bella and she is so beautiful and sweet. She is my nephews' daughter. She loves the finer things in life. She loves nice restaurants, she has a certain ice cream place she goes to that knows her by name. She likes going to Sommerset Mall and going to her favorite store LUSH to smell all the soaps and such. She invited me to her birthday party on Sunday and I made her a special soap cake and mini cupcake soaps for her special day. I mixed up a special fragrance just for her ( it smells like a mixture of fruity scents). I am also making her a lotion, etc. and naming it Dolce Bella which means Sweet Bella in Italian. I hope she likes it. I hope the fragrance is sophisticated enough for her! I'll let you know what she thinks. Have a great weekend. And say a special prayer for all our veterans who risk their lives to protect us. Bernadette

Hedgeway Cottage Soaps

Hedgeway Cottage Soaps

Christmas soaps

I love the scent of Bayberry spice. It catures the smells of the Holidays

Christmas Splendor scent- I am so happy with the way these turned out.

Christmas soap cake

Beautiful Christmas spice scented cupcake soaps

Balsam Fir soap cake

Fireside soap cake smells like red hot cinnamon candies

Tropical Twilight smells fruity and is a nice small size for a stocking stuffer for your tween or teen

Large Christmas soap cake. Very big slices

Cedarwood & Amber soap slices

Beautiful swirled soap

Frosty red & green cupcake soaps

Bayberry spice cupcake soaps

I have been working on some Christmas soaps and here they are, or at least some of them. All of them are made from scratch with the cold process method which is with a variety of oils mixed with lye. The xmas tree soaps are made with a new recipe I made  which turned out wonderful. It allowed me a lot of time to pipe these without it hardening up on me. It was a two day process. I bought the Wilton silicone christmas tree molds and made up a batch of soap. Poured the soap in the molds, unmolded them the next day. Made a new batch of soap, dipped the trees in the soap then let it thicken to be able to pipe the "branches" on them. The white ones were made the same way with a different look. Packaging is the most time consuming. I have a lot to do.

Check out our schedule of craft shows on the contact me page on our website:hedgewaycottagesoaps.net and come see these beautiful soaps in person. Well, it's raining pretty hard so it's a great time to get a lot of things done around here. Have a great day!