Custom Favors

I'm often asked if I do custom favors for this and that, and my answer is always "Of Course!"

I love being able to be part of someones big day whether it be a wedding, Birthdays party, or bachelor/bachelorette party.

I've been working with a lovely couple on these wedding favors

If you're looking for something different for your next gathers, shoot me an email at:

gassner@gassnercustomsoaps.com

New Soaps Available!

All of the soaps on the curing rack are cured!

Now it's time to weigh, label, and photograph.

A few are already in my Etsy Shop and the rest will follow soon!

Flowering Herb

Pearberry

Lavender & Chamomile

w/Calendula & Comfrey infused Oil

Island Orchard

Bombs and a Bag **EDITED**

I've been keeping myself busy doing absolutely nothing of necessity.

First I made up some bath bombs. I really want to introduce them into my line, but haven't been able to perfect a recipe that gives me nice bombs...

But I think I'm finally there.

These are yesterdays:

Lavender

Sweet Orange

The lavender batch wasn't moist enough, so I ended up with lots of 'Half' bombs, which is fine...they still sell too.

The Sweet Orange were a little too moist, so they're warty and cracked.

They're still perfectly good bombs, but will be sold at a discounted price as 'Ugly Bombs'.

There are Half Bombs available in the orange too

Today I'm working on some more, and so far no half bombs (that's a good sign!) And only time will tell if they wart or crack. I know you feel the same suspense and I do!

I'm hoping to get these puppies up on Etsy tonight, so watch for them soon!

**THEY'RE UP, THEY'RE UP**

Also on the list of 'un-necessaries' was a new purse!

I'm VERY hard on my bags so they don't last much longer than a year before I need a new one.

It also doesn't help that I'm really picky. Hehe

So this is what I whipped up the other day.

I've been so intimated by making a purse and have been putting it off for a few months, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Last Week for the CHALLENGE!

That's right! This is the finally week to get your soap made up for the SPRING CHALLENGE.

So get in that kitchen and make some soap!

To enter, you only have to leave me a comment with a link to your entry photos. No sending any soap in the mail, this is all though the web!

Good Weather = Garden!

This weekend was the MOST beautiful Memorial Day weekend, EVER! In Oregon, you can never count on the weather being nice for a 3-day weekend, NEVER!

But, none the less, we (and I do mean I) got the garden in! Yay!

Our space is much larger than last year, almost 3x as big, so there was lots more room for lots more plants.

First two rows are tomatoes (11 total!)

The next two rows consist of peppers, 2 tomatillo plants and an eggplant.

Then a row of cucumbers, Walla Walla onions, 4 summer squash plants and a few artichokes

And at the far end are the spreading plants...melons and pumpkins. Yum!

We'll see how the melons do...they typically don't like it here since they like long, hot growing seasons. We don't get those... the opposite actually.

I can't wait until everything starts filling in! It's such an accomplishing feeling

Some of my tomatoes were pretty weeny looking, so I put some Wall-O-Waters on them. In High School we did a research study for the company that makes them and they plants with them did awesome compared to the control group with nothing.

Tomatillo blooming

And in only a way Ali can...a whole new spin on the 'bucket hat'

Just Keep Sewing, Just Keep Sewing....

...Sorry, too many kids movies lately.


I've been sewing more than soaping again, bad me.


I started a skirt for Ali, but decided to make it into a dress for Ari.




It turned out pretty darn cute if I don't say so myself!


I Shirred the top, which I'd never done before since it looked oh, so difficult, but it wasn't, it was SOOO easy! I will be doing more of it for sure.


And then did a 'not-quite' criss-cross back. I can never get her wriggly arms into the ones that do, so this was my compromise. Lol

Don't worry, Ali will be getting one too

Sock Monkey Love

Remember wayyy back when I bought a TON of Sock Monkey fabric? Well, I finally put it to good use!

A cute rag quilt for the baby!

The picture is horrid, but you still get the idea

Worldwide Heart to Heart Ministries

Last year my Step-Mom, Brother, and Sister traveled to Honduras and visited the a village with the Worldwide Heart to Heart Ministries (WWH2H).

While there, they worked at the Children's Village and bonded with lots of the kids there. They also visited the Government Orphanage on their trip and the stories she came back with made me cry.

Basically the children are ignored, babies LIVE in their cribs, rarely get their diapers changed let alone get held or loved on. The WWH2H wants to bring more kids from the orphanage to the village, but before they can, they have to have the means to take care of them...

So to help, my mom is putting on a Baby Shower (held on May30th, but most items will not be sent until the end of June). She put together a registry (here) just for an idea of what they're looking for. Most is gear, but all the basics are still much appreciated (washcloths, burp cloths, light weight blankets, clothing 3m on up, boppy type pillows and covers, booties).

If you can sew or have some gently used items and clothing you'd like to send their way, send me an email at gassner@gassnercustomsoaps.com

If you are a sewer, I have lots of fabrics I can send your way so your time and thread would be much appreciated!

Here is the email she sent when they returned last fall, along with a photo of 'her' baby:

The "orphanage" that we worked at is called World Wide Heart to Heart, "A Children's Village". Mary Frenter (from Carson, Washington) is the president of the board and two missionaries, Oscar and Amy, operate it. Currently there are 73 children and plans to expand for more. The children there are LOVED, educated, fed, cared for ... it is a wonderful place for the children to live and grow. The children have come from the dumps ... ditches ... and the State's orphanage. I've learned to realize these children were once "throw away" kids ... and Oscar and Amy have rescued them.

On Friday, our last day, we went to visit the State orphanage. This place was a cross between a warehouse and a prison. It was cold, hard, smelly and kids are numbers. IT WAS HARD to see. I went to the "Baby House". There are two babies (if not three) to a crib. The cribs are wet, dirty. The children are wet ... there were about 30 babies and two ladies to care for them. This is NOT a place acceptable for kids -- they need to get to Oscar and Amy's village.

I made a BIG, HUGE mistake. I picked a tiny baby up. Her name, best I could understand the Espanola (LOL) is AnnaTheresa and she is three months old. She smiled when I said, "Hello baby". She continued to smile as I held her. When I turned her over to rest on my shoulder ... she just snuggled right in. I put her down ... then picked her back up. Cuddled, sang ... held back the tears. Put her down .... then picked her back up. 45-minutes later, Oscar said, "Karen, we must go." I've shed MANY TEARS for that little girl.

Oscar, with some prompting and begging from me, is going to attempt to "rescue" my little girl. I promised him I would find monthly sponsors for her. I usually have a HUGE problem with asking others for money... but not after seeing this STATE orphanage. It is horrific. When I find enough sponsorship for AnnaTheresa, I'll continue to look for more people to sponsor other babies... so we can get them out of that wretched place. I think most people could sponsors $25 or $50 a month ... and I know others could easily open their hand and release $100 or more. The good Oscar does at his village is AMAZING. The "older boys" that are now of age to move out ... productive and wonderful men. One is already married and holding a job to provide for a family. Another one, Marvin, is going to MEDICAL SCHOOL ... imagine ... from the streets as a youth (looking for you dinner in the city dump!) TO medical school.

Since we've returned from Honduras in November, 19 more children have been moved from the gov't orphanage to the Children's Village. In November, Jessica and I will be going back again.

29 Weeks

Please Note. This photo was taken Pre-Cake

*smile*

CAKE!

On the rare occasion that I get to READ the paper, I usually toss out the Parade, US Weekend, Relish, and similar little magazines without a glance, but for some reason the cake on the front page of Relish Magazine caught my eye.

Mmm...Carrot Cake?

So the girls and I decided to try it out. Ari and I finished up the mixing part this morning before Ali even crawled out of bed. She caught the end when we were pouring into the pans. And being such a sweet girl that she is, she pointed out that the batter "looks like my throw-up".

Her exact words. Gotta love that girl.

After baking and chilling the cakes, Ali and I worked on the frosting while Ari napped. It wasn't like any other frosting I've made...it consisted of cream cheese, butter, white chocolate, and lemon zest. Can you say heart attack?!

It was quite tasty and you can find the recipe here.

I Was Featured!

Thanks to Google Analytics, I figured where all the hits on my Tub Time Paint came from!

OhhDeeDoh (much like CraftGossip) posted last week on my soaps...which landed 535 hits on my Etsy listing for the tub paints!