Pearls

I did a little bit of jewelry making. A 3 strand pearl necklace.

I love making these simple multi strand pearl necklaces. They always come out so nice, looking so classic. The pearls are all 7mm, a nice creamy white.

The clasp is all sterling silver, a good sturdy J hook. I keep thinking how pretty this would look on a bride with her hair up to show off the sterling silver.

Lately on my necklaces I have been using sterling silver wire guards when I add the wire to the clasp, which help protect the beading wire and, I think, add a nice finished look. They are a little fussy to work with, but well worth it.

I spaced the strands 2 inches apart. Makes a very nice drape. The smallest strand is 17 inches including the clasp. The longest strand is 21 inches.

This necklace is listed in my Etsy jewelry shop.

3 Strand Pearl Necklace

Soaps and Stuff

From Start to Finish 

Two soaps right after they were poured into the molds. Spiced Cinnamon Sandalwood, and Palmarosa Lavender.

 The Spiced Cinnamon Sandalwood is the one with the gold swirl. This is scented with a blend of three different fragrance oils (White Spice, Cinnamon Sticks, and Sahara Sandalwood). I love this blend! I keep a small piece in the soap room just for me to sniff every time I go in there! The Palmarosa Lavender is a layered soap (as you will see in following pics), and is scented with a blend of essential oils (Palmarosa, Lavender, Patchouli, and Geranium). A very popular blend! Lavender by itself is good, but blended with Palmarosa is better. The little bit of added Patchouli and Geranium give a really nice depth to the scent!

Going for the cut ... the Spiced Cinnamon Sandalwood ...

And the Palmarosa Lavender

And the finish, done with the cure and ready for the shops!

On The Curing Rack

This next one was fun to make! Think beach! Sandy beach, bluish green ocean to blue sky! Scented with Sahara Sandalwood. This will actually be ready for the shops very soon.

Sandalwood and Roses, a blend of 2 fragrance oils - Sandalwood Vanilla and Fresh Cut Roses. And a restock, Salty Citrus Spa.

The Salty Citrus Spa I have to cut within 6 hours, while it is still hot from gelling. Otherwise, the salt in it makes it too hard to cut after that.

The Sandalwood and Roses I cut the next day.

Next, Creamy Honey Almond made with goat milk, desert honey, and Honey Almond fragrance oil. And a restock of my most popular soap, Creamy Peppermint with Chocolate Swirl scented with peppermint essential oil and swirled with cocoa powder.

 

And two more on the curing rack, Green Cactus, a layered soap scented with Green Cactus fragrance oil.  Lemon Peppermint scented with (yes, you guessed it!) lemon and peppermint essential oils and swirled with a light minty green.

 

Cured, and in the shops

Here's a great beer soap! Made with Young's Double Chocolate Stout, and scented with Chocolate Serendipity fragrance oil. Wow!!

Jewelry

This is a special request for a customer. A 22 inch turquoise heishi necklace with matching earrings.

Spring
Here in Tucson, spring means blossoming Palo Verde trees. The city and the desert are ablaze with these lovely yellow blossoms! This little Palo Verde tree started growing from a seed planted with no help from us a few years ago. It was in the perfect spot so we let it grow.  Pretty!!

Happy spring, everybody! :)

Honey Granola Recipe

Honey is not just for soaps! :)

Here is my Honey Granola recipe. No sugar.

In a large bowl mix the following:

4 cups rolled oatmeal
2 cups puffed brown rice
1/4 cup golden flax seed
1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seed kernel
1/4 cup unsalted pumpkin seed kernel
1 tsp cinnamon

In microwave safe bowl or measuring cup:

1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup olive oil (or your favorite veggie oil)
1/3 cup Polaner All Fruit Spread

Warm the honey mix in the microwave enough to mix together.

Pour honey mix over oatmeal mix. Mix together until oatmeal mix is well coated.

Place in baking pan ... I use my 14" x 9" Pyrex baking pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Take out of oven, and stir. Put back in oven, bake for another 15 minutes. Take out of oven and stir. Let set until cool, stirring every now and then. Store in an air tight container.

It's really good while it's still hot. Great with ice cream (although that defeats the purpose of no sugar!!!).

Add nuts, berries, fruit when serving.