Mother's Day Challenge and Giveaway!!!!

This challenge is *all about the Moms*.

Mothers Day is May 9th and Anhoki challenged the SAFEteam to come up with the wackiest, sweetest, most heartwarming, full of life, love and laughter item(s) you can think of. She said "I want you to stop at nothing when you show the moms of the world just how special they are to you. And there's a trick. The colors you use *MUST* be *red* and *purple*. HUH!?!?!?! We are paying tribute to Mom by using the colors of The *Red Hat Society*"

The following is what we came up with!!

Vote for your favorite by leaving your pick in the comments below to be entered into a contest to win one of the winning product! What could be easier!?
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All You Need Is Love By Anhoki

The SAFETeam's current Mothers Day challenge was to design an item using the colors of the Red Hat Society. Purple and red... EASY!

The Red Hat Society.....
"began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan. We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next."

The soap I created is called
All You Need Is Love.
"There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It's easy.There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you
in time - It's easy."

Written by Paul McCartney in 1967 the song, in my opinion, describes The Red Hat Society to a T.. Our soap is an oil blend of olive, coconut, palm and canola. It offers the colors red and purple and a beautiful scent blend. Think Philosophy's Amazing Grace and Victoria Secret's Love Spell.....AWESOME together. Paul McCartney's song and the Red Hat Society seem to go hand in hand. Love, friendship and good times. What could be better? Happy Mothers Day.

Mother's Day Polka Dot Soap by Amelia's Soap Co

Moms love something feminine for their special day … and the fragrance of this soap is just that! It’s warm and sweet and comforting …. just like a mom!!

Made in bright colors and iridescent swirls to get an extra pop, she will think of you every time she uses it. It’s a BIG bar at almost 6 ounces too.

And I thought you might want to read the poem that goes with it (written by Helen Steiner Rice)

No other love
Than mother love
Could do the things
Required of
The one to whom
God gives the keeping
Of His wee lambs,
Awake or sleeping.

Sugared Plums By Gourmet Soaps

Whenever I think of Mom and comfort, I think of baked goods. My Mother is an awesome cook, and loves to try new things. For her, family is everything, and there isn't anything she wouldn't do for family. So here's the next best thing to a cake with a sugar plum glaze....it's a soap cake that smells of yummy sugared plums with bright yellow calendula flowers to grace it's red hat. This soap is lightly scented, because my mom has unbelievably bad allergies, and I want her to enjoy this soap as well. I love you Mommy!

Patchouli Rose by KB Shimmer


WARNING: Enjoying life over 50, picking flowers from other's gardens, maybe sipping some brandy, and wearing red hats and purple clothes, The Red Hat Society loves life! The society born from a poem and a gift of a red hat is strong with chapters all over the world. This Mother's Day, the SAFE TEAM thought to honor a group of women that we have grown to love with a challenge to create a product inspired by the Red Hat Society.

The fresh scent of roses, the sweet scent of lavender essential oil accent the deep purple and red swirls of the soap. Accented by Dark Patchouli essential oil, and loaded with olive oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter, this bar will be loved by women of all ages! My ode to the society, I hope soap does the group proud!

The Ultimate Pamper Package by Pacific Paradise

This Mother's Day Gift Set is bursting with the Ultimate Pamper Package. The red crate was handmade by my Dad. It is full of wonderfully luxurious bath & body treats. Three bars of soap start the box off, with my most popular Lavender Purple Swirl with Shea butter and Cocoa butter, Island Kiss with Shea butter, and Fresh Mango enriched with Mango butter & Kukui Nut Oil. The Fresh Mango Soap is stamped with a cellini blue mica dolphin and comes in a light blue organza bag embossed with Sparkle Green Palm Trees. The bag is great for jewelry after you pull out the soap. The box includes a Clay Mask Set with Aloe Vera, 3 Lavender Rose Potpourri, Mineral Bath Salts scented with Ocean Fragrance in a printed bag with a handcrafted (again, my Dad) redwood scoop & organza bow.

Now this would be the perfect gift if only it came with a redeemable coupon for someone to vacuum the house, clean the toilets & do laundry while Mom is in the tub!!!

Lavender-Filled Sleep Mask By Urban Eden

Dear Mom,

I know there were a few times I caused you to lose sleep. Okay, there were lots of times. You nursed me through colic and scarlet fever, you bore the brunt of my adolescence, you empathized when I cried over inappropriate men, and you came to my rescue when I ran flat out of money.

And those are only the things I can say over the internet. :)

Maybe for once I can help you sleep better?

This hand-embroidered, hand-painted and hand-appliqued cotton sleep mask is lightly filled with a mixture of flax seed and lavender. The back is the softest purple silk imaginable.
One size fits just about every mom.

Mother's Baby by The Skin You're In

Motherhood begins with babies, babies of any kind from the human kind to fur babies. Motherhood isn't just an event in a woman's life, it's also a state of mind. Motherhood is nurturing, caring, loving, honoring, cuddling, embarrassing displays of affection and sometimes even tough love to teach a lesson

Here is a special poem for the "mother" in all of us.

Before I was myself you made me, me
With love and patience, discipline and tears,
Then bit by bit stepped back to set me free,

Allowing me to sail upon my sea,
Though well within the headlands of your fears.
Before I was myself you made me, me

With dreams enough of what I was to be
And hopes that would be sculpted by the years,
Then bit by bit stepped back to set me free,

Relinquishing your powers gradually
To let me shape myself among my peers.
Before I was myself you made me, me,

And being good and wise, you gracefully
As dancers when the last sweet cadence nears
Bit by bit stepped back to set me free.

For love inspires learning naturally:

The mind assents to what the heart reveres.
And so it was through love you made me, me
By slowly stepping back to set me free.

(copyright by Nicolas Gordon)

Flower Garden Cold Process Soap by Posh Wash Soap

Mother's Day is a very special time of the year, when we get to honor the wonderful woman who gave us life, and guided us through our childhood, and on into adulthood. My soap was made to honor Mothers, and was inspired by the Red Hat Society, which is a wonderful organization of women. Below is an explanation of how the society originated.

While visiting a friend in Tucson several years ago, Sue Ellen Cooper, founder of the Red Hat Society, impulsively bought a bright red fedora at a thrift shop, for no other reason than that it was cheap and, she thought, quite dashing. A year or two later she read the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, which depicts an older woman in purple clothing with a red hat. Sue Ellen felt an immediate kinship with Ms. Joseph. She decided that her birthday gift to her dear friend, Linda Murphy, would be a vintage red hat and a copy of the poem. She has always enjoyed whimsical decorating ideas, so she thought the hat would look nice hanging on a hook next to the framed poem. Linda got so much enjoyment out of the hat and the poem that Sue Ellen gave the same gift to another friend, then another, then another. The Red Hat Society was born.

Reign of Violets Soap by SwanMountainSoaps


We at Swan Mountain Soaps ascribe to the viewpoint that nothing is more completely awesome than motherhood. With 5 swanlets in our own brood, we anticipate Mothers' Day with joy and exhaustion, knowing full well that there will be chocolate, sweet gifts made from scratch by little hands, and yet still more messes to clean up.

At the end of the day, however, at least on this day, there will be an hour of blissful solitude, preferably in the bathtub with a glass of wine, a good Jane Austen and the door locked.

Such a momentus occasion requires a very special bar of soap. And so, we set out to create a Very Special Soap just for Mothers' Day. We found inspiration in the Red Hat Society.

If you're not familiar with the group, it is simply "a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and elan." Now that's just cool. You can check out the group here: www.redhatsociety.com.

Our Reign of Violets soap was created in the trademark Red Hat colors of Purple and Red. We added a swirl of white in honor of the white hairs that can be found on the finest of mothers, and rose petals on top honoring the love that only a Mother can show. Its fragrance is that of a field of sweet violets, because nothing is sweeter than a mother's kiss.

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Don't forget...we also have a scavenger hunt going on! Stop by and play http://etsysafeteam.blogspot.com/2010/04/hunt-is-on.html

Good Luck to everyone!

Happy Mother's Day

The hunt is on!

Moms work hard.

And they deserve a little pampering - especially on Mother's Day!

Wouldn't it be nice to give your Mom a huge basket of goodies on her day? Soaps, lotions, perfumes, sugar scrubs, jewelry, potpourri, lip balm, room spray, a hand-crocheted flower puff and soap sleeve, scented sachet and more .... but who can afford all that?

YOU can, if you're willing to play along. The winner of our scavenger hunt will receive a huge gift box filled with over 2 dozen wonderful gifts for Mom, valued at over $125.

To play, visit our list of participating shops. Somewhere in each shop you will find a listing where a wee yellow ducky is hiding. When you've found all 15 of them (and note that they are NOT the same items in the basket), send us an email at team.safeblog@gmail.com with all of those listings. Once we've verified that all of your listings are correct, we'll enter your name in a drawing to win the basket. You have until Friday, April 30 to enter, and the drawing will be done on Sunday, May 2. The basket will go in the mail to the lucky winner (or their mother) on May 3rd.

Also included:

The gift basket includes:

Heather Potpourri & Oil by Amelia's; 4-pack of Photo Greeting cards by Zozca Soap/WishNik; Fifth Avenue All Natural Whipped Body Butter by Oil and Spice; Goats Milk Massage Soap Scented With Blueberry Festival by AngelScents; Hibiscus and Rosehips Facial Serum by theskinyourein; Pink Ginger Milk Soap and Aloe & Cucumber
Soap by CC Crafters; Chocolate Covered Strawberries & Champagne
Soap by Sunset Soap; Blue Soap Petals by Concord Soap; Yellow cotton puff, Honey Almond Oatmeal Soap, and earrings by Lily Ponds/AJ Jewelry; Cocoa Butter Lip Balm, Asian Lily Musk Melon Soap, Summer Peppermint Soap, and earrings by Aunt Nancy's Soap; Messenger Bag by Anhoki; Chrysanthemum Glycerin Soap - Cantaloupe Lily, Cucumber Mint soap, Soap-Surround, lavender sachet pillow, and hat box by SoapScentsations; Grass Handmade Soap - Gardener's Soap with Cornmeal Scrubbies by Blissology; Luscious Whipped Sugar Scrub in Pink Grapefruit by Thistledelight; and "Emma" Perfume Oil by Swan Mountain Soaps.


Please note, shipping is free inthe US only. International winners will receive $20 off the cost of shipping.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

Participating shops are:
Anhoki
Sunset Soaps
Soap Scentsations
Oil and Spice
Zozca
Lily Pond Soaps
Amelias
Angel Scents
CC Crafters
Concord Soap
The Skin You're In
Blissology
Aunt Nancy's Soap
Thistledelight
Swan Mountain Soaps

EVERY DAY IS EARTH DAY

Here is a little bit about Urban Eden's contributions to the environment!!

It's hard to run an environmentally sound business, even when you're making something as seemingly innocent as soap. I thought I was doing pretty well because I was using natural fragrances and colorants, my soaps were almost all vegan (one variety contains local honey), and I was using minimal packaging. So I was horrified when I learned that rain forests are being decimated to make way for palm plantations. Palm oil is one of the key ingredients for most soapmakers, myself included. It makes a bar hard and long-lasting with a stable lather--and there's no perfect, vegan, environmentally benign substitute.

I still haven't developed a palm-free recipe, but I've switched to an organic, sustainably-grown palm oil. It comes from South America and is grown on land that was cleared over thirty years ago. More recently I've switched to organic shea butter as well. But I think it's the palm oil that's most important.

I try to be environmentally responsible in other ways as well. My local customers get a discount when they bring back their containers for refilling. My deodorants are aluminum-free (mining bauxite for aluminum causes environmental damage). And my fragrances are still natural. Of course, the plants from which essential oils are derived are resources to be used wisely. Everything we consume has a price. But the majority of synthetic fragrances are petroleum-based. Some are neurotoxins. And waste water treatment methods can't filter synthetic fragrances out, so they end up in our rivers and oceans. Synthetic musks, which are used to anchor or extend scents, have been found accumulating in mussels and fish.

Although these are the choices I've made, I want to emphasize that other soapmakers--and customers--may weigh the environmental factors differently. You could easily argue that an animal-fat based soap is the most environmentally sound choice, or that it's better to use a chemically-derived fragrance than an essential oil derived from a precious botanical. Or maybe your wallet is in conflict with your ideals. (I know I wish I could afford to print my labels with soy inks.) But one thing's for sure: any handmade soap is a better choice than a mass-produced, petrochemical-based "cleansing bar" or "beauty bar."

Happy Earth Day from Bambu Earth

In celebration of Earth Day we will showcase a few of our earth concious team mates over the next couple days! Enjoy!!

Bambu Earth is an Earth Conscious company that leads by example and promotes the use of natural, organic, handmade and energy efficient materials. The company name "Bambu Earth" was inspired by the bamboo plant, which is a wonderfully sustainable resource. It grows without the need for petroleum-fueled tractors and poisonous pesticides and fertilizers, thereby being incredibly "earth friendly"!

::About Bambu Earth::
My soaps are made from scratch using the cold-process method, and everything in my shop is handmade by me. My products exclusively contain natural, nourishing ingredients without synthetic fragrances or harmful dyes and colorants. I use only pure essential oils, herbs, botanicals, clays and other natural ingredients to formulate the unique scents and color combinations of each soap. All of my soap recipes palm oil free and eco-conscious!

::About Packaging::
Each bar comes beautifully packaged and ready for gift giving in handmade (by me) plantable paper labels that grow basil! Each bar comes with planting instructions. Outer label is made from recycled cereal boxes and contains the product information and ingredient listing. Each product that comes in a plastic container will be accompanied by a few ideas on how to recycle and reuse the packaging. (More ideas, photos and tutorials coming soon on http://www.bambuearth.com/.Some items (such as my seasonal Irish Locks O' Luxe Hair Rinse) come packaged in recycled glass containers.

::Promotional Materials::
All Bambu Earth business cards are printed on recycled cereal boxes with an energy efficient laser printer. All invoices are printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper.All thank-you notes are printed on 100% post consumer recycled paper handmade by a fellow artisan.

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

you can read the winning poem in this blog post!

Here is a little more about Urban Eden and her winning soap:

Now you know a little about my neighborhood! I really do have two beds in a community garden, and I really do love gardening. I made this hand soap for gardeners like me, with cornmeal to help scrub dirt from under fingernails and shea, mango and cocoa butters for extra emolliency.

This soap is naturally scented with spearmint, grapefruit, lavender and basil essential oils, with spearmint predominant.

Do you want to know how she got that leaf in there?!?

I made this soap using the cold process method over the course of several days. First I made a small batch of soap colored with green clay. After I unmolded it, I let it harden overnight, then cut it into leaf shapes. I then made a larger batch of soap, colored half of it green, poured it, let it harden a few minutes, poured the other half, then pressed the leaf cut-outs into the top of the soap. The next day I unmolded the soap and enscribed the leaf veins.

And the winner of the free bar of soap.....

You can click on the banner above to visit her wonderful blog!
And here are a couple of goodies from her shop!

The SAFE team's Spring Challenge and GIVEAWAY!!!

Spring is here! The sun is shining! The birds have returned! And the SAFEteam has been inspired by all of the rebirth! Anhoki, our challenge leader, challenged the SAFEteam to not only create a spring inspired product, but also to write a poem about why we love spring!

So take a break, read some poetry and vote for your favorite!! Leave your pick in the comments below to be entered into a contest to win one of the winning product! What could be easier!?

Here are this month's entries!


The Hunt by Soap Scent-sations
Daffodils, crocus, and tulips,
New beauty all around.
Easter bonnets, cotton dresses,
Lace and ribbons do abound
Chocolate bunnies and colored eggs
Cast upon the moist Spring ground.

The hunt is on, but wait!
What’s this they've found?
A lamb so pure and white,
Never the likes seen on mortal ground.
Lived as man, once slain, now risen,
With promises of grace profound.

The yearly hunt is over now.
Baskets full and round,
Yet still within their hearts
Praises and hallelujahs resound.
Full of life and light and love,
Proclaiming blessings all around.


Green Spring Cleaning By Green Springs Body Works
Luscious Lavender-Lemon Complexion Bar
Spring is the time when we want to start anew.
What better way than a full body shampoo!

Luscious Lavender Lemon Complexion Bar is just the trick.
I hope it's your number one pick.


Gardener's Poem: The Week Before Easter by Urban Eden
Walking up Mountain Avenue
With my green plastic watering can,
I head towards the FRESH community garden,
Passing the abandoned pickle factory
And the stoop of a white, wind-chimed two-decker
Where two girls on cell phones
Unfurl their bare arms.

Salsa from the Super Fiesta Market
Mingles with sparrow song

And I think of the squirrel who, earlier this morning,
Raided my compost pile, burying her face
In an avocado with such bliss

That, reading the sign in front of the Madry Temple Church,
I can almost believe
No bunny loves you like Jesus.

Maybe today the pac choi will have sprouted?

Dandelions muscle their way through cracked sidewalks.
Forsythia swells yellow

And when, in my raised bed I find
Not pac choi, but pea seeds
Wrinkling their noses in the unexpectedly dry air,
I tuck them back under their blanket of soil,
Telling them, "Hush. Be patient. Wait
'Til you see what's coming."



Passion Flower Beauty by Starlet Glam
Pink, green and blue Pastel
A sign that Spring is here
Beauty is all around
And the birds happily sing

Flowers are in Bloom
And a Spring Soap has sprung
A burst of light and energy
And a passion flower fragrance
Will awaken your skin gently

So kiss the winter blues goodbye
Relax and revive the soul
As you nourish the body with silky lather
And a spring breeze melts away the stress
A spring blossom soap not to be forgotten


Spring Fling By Thistle Delight

A spring fling
is a funny wee thing
It's fun and exciting
And fresh and inviting

Like a beautiful spring time day
when everything is new and gay
spring fling is fun and flirty
a prefect bar for those that are dirty

Green, lemon, lilac, and pink
a fun bar to grace any sink
its fun and its vibrant
and oh is it fragrant
just like a nod is as good as a wink ;oD

Spring Fling is both Fruity and Floral
This combo should be so immoral
You will love it I know
and leave you all of aglow
This I promise to be factual


Spring Sensations by Lily Pond Soaps

Soft sensations,
whispering through the winds
of summer expectations
Hints of color to come,
lingering scents.....
blossoms they are from

Spring Sensations is a refreshing scent of citrus, floral with a touch of mint. Reminds me of spring air.....Hints of what is to come.


A Buzzing Bouquet by Yummy Suds

Why we love spring...
buds are bursting,
Hummingbirds are thirsting,
color is showing,
the garden is growing.
Bees are buzzing,
dandelions fuzzing,
butterflies floating,
fishermen boating.
An occasional sneeze--
some Allergra please!
Time to wear shorts,
watch kids build forts.
Hear a familiar sound,
as the ice cream truck rounds--
the corner of our block
to the truck they flock.
We sip lemonade,
watch the sun fade,
from the porch swing,
we hear them sing--
A cricket quartet,
the sun has set,
side by side we swing,
This is why we love spring.


Flower Song Soap by the Skin You're In

This glycerin soap is made with thoughts of beautiful spring colors of yellow, blue and green in a creamy background of white. The scent is Water Lilly & Jasmine and knew that I had to call this soap Flower Song.

Winter is at rest for now,
that Spring is next in line is true.
New blossoms, buds and Holy Cow,
what love awaits for me and you!

Lavender stalks are standing tall,
Forget-Me-Nots are strong and bold.
Life is awakening before our eyes,
the days are warm and nights are cold.

Enjoy the Spring with all that's new,
plant life and love where every you may.
All is new and fresh and clean,
the sky above is no longer gray!


The Pastels of Spring by Amelia’s Soap Co.

As winter recedes,
And warmth draws near,
The pastels of spring
Will quickly appear.
Pleasure in this rebirth
That will soon arrive,
As the garden’s flowers
Pop up and come alive.
The season’s happy feelings
Through these blossoms flow,
To spread the joy of Spring
To everyone we know!


Thank You, Mother Nature by Anhoki

The daffodils slowly peaking out
The bunnies all hopping about
Chirping and singing all around
Pollen quickly covering the ground

The days are getting longer
The nights are getting shorter
Kids are slowly getting happier
And Mom's quickly getting crazier

The grass is greener
The skies are bluer
Dandelions covering the ground
Happiness all around

The rains are here
We have our yard gear
The shrubs need pruning
The beds need weeding

This year the kids will see
Just how happy we will be
Handing over the duties with glee
In our hammock laughing hysterically.

Thank You, Mother Nature.


Secret Garden soap by Swan Mountain Soaps

My poem: Springtime in Alaska
(with apologies to Will Shakespeare)

When daisies peek, and violets sprout,
And tulips bloom with all their might,
And little birds do hop about
through grass-green meadows, sweet and bright,
It’s not Alaska that you’re at,
We’re all still locked in winterdom,
As people say, “What’s up with that?”
Is Springtime ever going to come?

Where is the green upon the tree?
Where is the warm upon my back?
When are we ever going to see
A parking lot, in snowless black?
For March is gone, and April’s here,
‘Tis time to wear the shirts of tee
And yet, it’s cold, and yes I fear
My coat will long remain on me.

Come hither, Spring! Come melt the ice!
And chase the hoar and frost away!
We’ll even say hay fever’s nice
If we can wear our clogs today.
Embrace the evil mosquito
If with him comes the barbecue!
Bring on the mud, we’ll love it so
If, Spring, it is a gift from you.

Spring doesn’t really hit Alaska until well into May. So while everyone else is joyfully planting seeds and mowing lawns, we are longingly sighing for the day when it hits 50 degrees so we can wear t-shirts and clogs and pull out the barbecues – even though we know that with Spring come the hoards of mosquitoes and enough mud to supply several monster truck rallies.

Thank goodness we have our springtime soaps!

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Voting will close on Thursday April 8th, so get your votes in!
Thanks for playing and good luck!!