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Calendula Soap

November 10, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

The calendula (Calendula officinalis) flowers are drying nicely.

At this point I can make an olive oil infusion with the flowers, or I can grind the flowers to make a powder.

I am going to make a powder.  I doubt that I get much powder from this batch of flowers.  I believe it would take many, many more flowers to produce even a cup of calendula powder.

The calendula powder, or flowers infused in oil, will be an ingredient in goat milk soap.

A few tidbits about calendula:

  • considered a herb
  • flowers are used in teas, tinctures, infusions
  • used in cooking – cakes, frostings, bakery items
  • can help soothe irritated skin – aids in digestion
  • used in salves for minor cuts, abrasions, and chapped lips
  • not to be confused with the common marigold (Tagetes species)

A few years ago I used the calendula in a recipe for cleanser (here and here), and ended up using it all winter as a salve.  Working on a farm with water buckets, birthing kids, cold weather, occasionally causes small cracks in the skin of my fingers.  The salve worked great for the skin problem, and then I discovered how wonderful it was for lips as well.  And it smelled wonderful!

I will post photos of the calendula goat milk soap here.  It will likely be a small batch, definitely a limited edition!

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feel the Goodness!

Posted in In The Soap Shop, Skin and Hair Care | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments »

In The Soap Studio – Testing Lotion Pumps

November 9, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

Another winter (and summer) product that Annie and our customers love is goat milk lotion.  To keep the costs down (for us – therefore you), the pumps we currently have in stock have nearly doubled in price this year, we are testing items from new suppliers.

So far, the pump on the right is the winner.  The one on the left tends to stick.  Could be our lotion is too thick.  We like it not so runny!

I love being the lucky goat milk lotion tester, my skin loves it too.

By the way, I introduced our County Apple goat milk soap here, then decided to add the Country Apple scent to our lotion line for the holiday season.

Enjoy!

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feed the Goodness!

Posted in In The Soap Shop, Products, Skin and Hair Care | Tagged , , | 7 Comments »

Product Monday – Country Apple Goat Milk Soap

November 7, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

No elves in this shop.  Annie has been busy making goat milk soap for the holidays.  She named the last soap that left the curing rack Country Apple.

Country Apple – not too sweet, not too apple-y (Annie’s word, not mine), not spicy.  Reminds us at the Goat Hill of a bough of apple, balsam, with a touch of pine.

We love the colors too, holiday swirls of light red and green.

Available for a limited time only.

Happy November!!!

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feed the Goodness!

Posted in Products | Tagged , , | 4 Comments »

The Gem Of Goat Milk Soap

November 4, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

This week, as I thought of the change in water hardness at our new farm (from well to county water), I realized how much I personally treasure Annie’s Goat Hill goat milk soap and lotion.

The soap simply does not dry out the skin like a “cleanser bar” (the bars that are not labeled as soap in the grocery store, because they are not bars of soap).

A simple definition of soap:  Fats are combined with an alkali (sodium hydroxide=lye), which causes a reaction (saponification).  The saponification process results in soap (fats and salts).  Soap, when added to water, lathers and aids in releasing dirt and oils from the surface of the skin.

The gem of it, it being going milk soap, is that the liquid added to the lye is straight goat milk, resulting in a bar of soap that contains caprylic acids, vitamins and minerals from the milk itself.

As many of our customers have said, and I do the same, bathe with our goat milk soap,  apply our goat milk lotion (or not).  That is all that it takes to feel more comfortable (with less dry skin) throughout the day.

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feel the Goodness 

Posted in Products | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Shampoo Bars – Hard Water Update

November 3, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

We recently moved to a new farm that has chisel on a rock hard water!

For the past year I have been using one of Annie’s hemp seed oil based shampoo bars, containing tea tree.  I was getting such wonderful luscious lather, and baby soft hair that was manageable altogether.  For my fine hair, it was nearly miraculous!

So, what happened after the move? The shampoo bar does not lather as well as it did when I had soft water.   I do still have body in my hair, more so than ever.  The feel that I get while my hair is wet tells me that it is adjusting once again, as it did when I first started using a natural shampoo bar.

As a service to my customers, I am here to pass along the word (as I did here) regarding how to use natural shampoo bars in an area with hard water.

More results to follow, right here, from the main tester!

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feel the Goodness!

Posted in Products, Skin and Hair Care | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments »

Made From Scratch?

October 31, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

I recently was asked, and often am, “Is your lotion really made from scratch?” The brain cells began turning like tiny gears.  Oh, how I love questions!

So, what really is the meaning of made from scratch (in relation to a soap or cosmetic business)? I feel it is the act of taking base ingredients (single oils, butters, fragrances, sodium hydroxide, milk etc…), combining them in a fashion that formulates a finished product, such as soap or lotion.

At one time, I got squeamish at the term made from scratch.  For some reason it seemed a bit crafty, leaning towards the hobby side, however, we know the gold of it is when “made from scratch” equates to a product that emerges from the handcrafted mixing of single-base ingredients, resulting in products chock full of  those skin-loving ingredients.

Handcrafted and made from scratch.  Basic in the sense that it is wholesome, from the beginning.  Complicated in the fact that it takes work and effort to turn out a really good product from a combination of single ingredients that we all appreciate using.

When someone asks, “Are your products really made from scratch?” Stand tall to the value!  I definitely know our products are made from scratch.  Definitely produced in our own studio, from base oils that are carefully hand-chosen, and from milk that I produce on the farm myself (with the help of my lovely goats).

With that being said, let’s give a huge thumb’s up to MADE FROM SCRATCH!

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Feel and Smell the Goodness!

Posted in Products | Tagged , , | 11 Comments »

Our Website Is Temporarily Offline

October 26, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

Our website is offline today and may be unavailable for an additional 24-48 hours (at the longest).  We are hoping for much less down-time!

If you do need anything during the duration, or at any time, you may post a comment here, or email me at anniesgoathill@gmail.com.

We apologize for any inconvenience.  And especially want to say thank you to our customers that contacted us right away to report the problem!

 

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feel the Goodness

Posted in AGH Business News | Tagged , | 3 Comments »

Sunrise Inspirations

October 23, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

I see visions of a Sunrise soap, to match this beautiful morning.

What better time of day is there to think, meditate, enjoy the peace? Even while standing outside in the crisp air, taking a photo, listing to nothing but the birds waking up, it was beautiful.

Sunrise soap – something citrusy, clean, fresh, and filled with hope for a new day!

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feel the Goodness

Posted in All In A Day's Time | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments »

Frosty Morning In The Flower Garden

October 22, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

We had a very frosty morning. I had better pull the calendula before it does a complete disappearance this season.

I am thinking dried (powdered) calendula for soap, or petals in soap, or perhaps an infusion in olive oil (leading later to an infused salve). The possiblities of color and usefulness are numerous!

Enjoy your weekend. Hope you see some gorgeous sunshine like we are!

P.S. Ignore the weeds in the photo. Weeding is the last thing I have time for lately!

 

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps…Smell and Feel the Goodness

Posted in All In A Day's Time | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments »

Patience

October 21, 2011 by Mary Humphrey

Now that the monsoons we experienced this week have ended, I feel like I am stepping out of a dark cavern.  Did I lose site of where I wanted to be? I wanted to.  I had to have a few talks with myself  to keep my positive energy flowing, and to not reflect what I was feeling (much) onto anyone else.

Now that the rain has ended, we hope to continue moving into the new soap studio.  Soap production has been on hold, so have large orders of lotion.  With part of our supplies and equipment at one studio, and some at the other, it simply has not been produceable.  In itself, no production during the business of the season, can be alarming.  When we say, this January, that our store shelves are now nearly empty…we’ll mean it at the utmost!

I stumbled across a great quote to remember, for now, and for the future –

The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit. – Moliere

How true is that? There really is no hurry.  We do what we can do, we do it well (to the best of our ability), and we enjoy what we can (and cannot do) as much as possible during the journey.

Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feel the Goodness

Posted in In The Soap Shop | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

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