Handmade Soap and Winter Outings

Henry and I work so well as a team. We’ve always enjoyed crafting together. Lately, we have been busy making handmade soaps. Hemp soaps, shaving soaps, Lanolin soaps, soaps for babies, etc… The house smells amazing. I can’t wait to package them all. Ordering supplies and dreaming up the perfect packaging is so much fun. We might sell these and many other natural home products at the local Farmer’s Market this summer in Baddeck.  A great way to get us off the Mountain and meet the locals.

Here’s Silas and Henry out for some fresh air and vitamin D.

Sweet boys.

Mommy Moments

Yep, having a newborn means lots of moments. Or minutes….

I have a minute here to do this and a minute there to do that.

The past few days have been crazy. Silas will not sleep throughout the day. 10 minute cat naps. So in those 10 minutes, I get something or half of something done.

Some of the diapers are put away… some still hang here.

A small batch of raspberry muffins made. “Eat them out of the pan, I’ll wash it MUCH later”.

Some fabric cut and partly sewn.

He’s wide awake. I’m half asleep…. But loving every moment.

Wish List for 2012

It’s been a wonderful start to 2012.

We are slowly getting back into the groove of things here. I have a NEW banner for my shop and antsy to start on the many new products I’ve been dreaming up for so long.

What’s on my wish list for 2012?

* Introducing our cold press organic soaps for the whole family.
* Lanolin Wool care products.
* Introducing a line of Natural Laundry detergents.
* Recycled and pure Wool drier balls.
*New and improved Hemp fitted diapers.
*Update our website (FINALLY)….
*Improve on my photos that show case our products.
* A larger studio.
* HIRE SOMEONE…..

My list seems to be a bit crazy but these are products that we’ve been working on for a very long time. We have tried and changed all of them to come up with products that we both love and use everyday. These things will not happen overnight but some of the products are soon ready for sale.

Henry has been working on his own projects that will soon be in production. Lots of changes in the works with Turn A New Leaf. Growth is good.

Sugar Plums dancing in my head…..

Have a very Merry Christmas

It’s fun being an Elf….

The past few days have been full for us around here. We are busy being Elves.

We make most of the Christmas gifts each year, and this Christmas is no different. Creativity adds joy and fun to the day. I just hope everyone enjoys the gifts we’ve made.

 I created an Apron using some left over pieces of fabrics I had sitting around. Organic Hemp/cotton and Printed linen. At one time I had a pattern for making aprons but this time I just “winged it” and it seemed to turn out OK. It was fun putting this patchwork together.

We had friends over a few weeks ago to make soap and some ingredients were left behind. Henry and I used these to make another batch of soap which we will divide among them. We mixed in some natural clay and herbs to part of the batch and created a funky layered soap.

The kids are also finding crafty ways to make some gifts. They are busy using beads, felting and other materials to create sweet gifts and ornaments.

Organic Hemp Towels and washcloths

We have some colored Hemp fleece hooded bath towels and washcloths now in the shop for a limited time.

Turn A New Leaf Designs

Our new colors are black, plum and burgundy.

Certified Organic Hemp/cotton fleece

This is a hooded bath towel size 29″ by 30″ 

6 washcloths made with 2 layers. One side hemp fleece, one side hemp terry.

This Hooded towel set would make a great baby shower gift.

Also new in our shop is this washcloth set.

This is a set of 6 Washcloths.
Made with 55% Hemp/45% Cotton. Each washcloth is 7.5″ by 7.5″( 2 ply)
One side is our soft hemp fleece and the other side is our looped hemp terry.

You also get an organic Hemp wash-mitt.
One side is a soft hemp fleece. The other side is our looped hemp terry.
This wash-mitt is 5.5″ by 8.5″

Soap is not included.

This set of washcloths is great for the whole family.

100% Natural/Compostable Diapers

Look at what I found…. and it was at a thrift store.

I picked up 2 FULL boxes of compostable diapers. Who would throw these away????

Lucky me, as these will come in handy when we take our long drives from Baddeck to Sydney to do all our shopping.

This drive takes over an hour and we do this trip about twice a month. We have been taking our cloth diapers but disposables are much easier. Thank goodness I found these. I was so excited, I just had to tell you about this company.

These diapers are:

• Chlorine Free
• Breathable
• Hypo-allergenic
• Fragrance free
• Ultra thin construction
• Natural super absorbers
• G.E. Free
• Exceptional comfort and fit

A Canadian Company based in Sidney B.C. They make these compostable diapers, creams, soaps and much more. They source the best basic ingredients from local suppliers without harsh chemicals or preservatives and unnecessary colorants.  These diapers are soft and fit very nicely. I love the sweet look of their web site and I’m itching to try out more of their products.

Paper Snowflakes

Only 9 days till Christmas and we have no snow on the ground. Green grass still with lots of rainy days.

The kids made paper snowflakes to add to our windows. They look even better than the real thing.

Each snowflake is one of a kind…

Hemp Fleece Playground pants

I had made a pair of playground pants with some organic hemp fleece before Silas was born. He’s a bit small still for them but I could not resist putting them on him.

This pattern is perfect for cloth diapered babies.

And so cute with the round bum… I make many wool longies with this same pattern, but wanted to try it out with fleece.

Tiny feet…I love them.

Zweite Advent

Zweite Advent means the second Sunday in Advent.

Only 2 advents to go before Christmas.

Advent is a German creation made around the turn of the 20th century. A tool used to help children count the days before Christmas. Traditional Advent calendars contained pictures beneath each day (window). The kid’s Tante Margarete sent them these Advent calendars that are very much like those traditional ones. Still made in Germany.

No gifts, No chocolate.

Just the way we like them…..

As they open each window, light beams through to unveil the picture.

We also add the Advent wreath to our table. It looks a bit different each year.

The advent wreath is one of the most widespread Christmas customs in the German background. It is the four week period leading up to Christmas. Each four Sundays after Nov.26th. A new candle is lit around the wreath. Ours has 4 red candles placed around a  hand carved pyramid. When the candles are lit, the mobile comes to life and rotates.

Once we light a candle, a Christmas story is told from one of our Christmas books.

The wreath symbolizes the approach of Christmas.