Friday, September 23, 2011

A New Product: Lotion Bars

On Sunday we will be introducing a new product to our Artfire Studio Page.

Product of the Week: 
Sunday, September 25-Saturday, October 1, 2011
Sale Price: 15% off 

Lotion Bars
Available in Lavender, Vanilla or Unscented

Ingredients: Beeswax, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, 
Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil,
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil
 Fragrance Oils: Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Natural Vanilla Oil



I have been making soap, lotion bars and lip balm for many years and for several reasons.  I don't like the feel of paraffin on my lips.  It's too heavy and the taste is awful! And as far as lotion goes, almost all commercial lotions have scents that are very distasteful to me, as well as way too many chemical names I can't pronounce.  If it isn't a natural oil or wax, I don't like to put it on my skin.  When I lived in WI I found a lady who made and sold natural lotion bars and lip balms made with beeswax and other oils.  After moving hundreds of miles away from there, that source wasn't available to me anymore, so I developed my own formulas.


I have given these as gifts to several people who really like them and have suggested I sell them.  I have sold the soap in the past, but am only beginning to market the lotion bars and lip balm.  Since the lotion bars are a new item, they will also be our featured product next week, and will have an introductory price of 15% off the regular price.  The sale amount will show on Artfire, no coupon is necessary when checking out.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Our New Look and Product of the Week

After many hours of computer work, (we won't talk about how much frustration went with that!), I have all our sales moved to the Artfire Store, and the new informational website up and running.

We'd love for you to take a moment and check them out!

I still have some details to add to the web site, and of course more product information.  But that is an ongoing process anyway.  At least most of that kind of work is done and I can go back to spending time with soft, luscious fiber, and have more new items for sale in the studio.




Our featurd Product of the Week beginning Sunday will be a 1.9oz braid of hand painted Navajo-Churro roving.  This braid will be on sale for 10% off the regular price from Sunday, September 18 through Saturday, September 24.  The price will be reflected in the studio.  No coupon is necessary.

The wool came from a local breeder who had it commercially processed.  I have dyed this using drink mixes as the dye stuff.  And how did I come up with the name 'AfterBurner' for the colorway?  All of our children have nicknames and this is one of them.  Yes, this child did help choose the colors and they very aptly reflect his personality, as does his nickname.  He's 7! =)
It is the first colorway I developed in 'The Tribe' color series.  And where does 'The Tribe' come from?  That is the name by which our children are collectively known on the fiber social media where I am a member.  It seemed like a great name for a color series since I'm using nicknames for the colorways.

Navajo-Churro wool has traditionally been used for rugs, blankets, and saddle blankets.  It is also a great wool for tough wearing boot socks, and gloves and mittens.  This wool is not superwash, so it must be hand washed and dried.

Hope you have a great week!

Friday, September 9, 2011

Product of the Week: Pink and Blue Rag Rug

Things are moving along nicely with the changes being made at SSC.   My first newsletter being published through MailChimp will go out next week.  If you are not already on the email list to receive these, there is now a link in the left side bar to sign up.  The newletters will go out twice a month and will include the latest happenings, as well as information about items that will be 'Product of the Week', and what sales will be coming up.



This week, our featured product, which will also be on sale for 10% off the regular price Sunday, September 11 through Saturday, September 17, is a handwoven rag rug.  The yarn used for the warp is 100% cotton carpet warp.  The filler is a combination of rags from old clothes and bedding.  These have been cleaned and then cut into strips.  The strips are sewn together and then woven into the rug.  This rug is 24" wide by 37" long and has 3" fringe on each end (making the total length 43").  It is machine washable and dryable.

Friday, September 2, 2011

A New Look...a New Store Site...and Product of the Week!

I had to make some major business decisions lately.

Due to an inability to contact my web host, for 5 months (!), I've decided to make some changes to the presence of Shepherd's Song Creations on the web.

As you can see, this blog is still here!!  Do you like the new look?  I decided to make it 'cleaner', and have the graphics for all my web pages/sites match.

There will still be a ShepherdsSongCreations.com.  I'm in the process of changing hosts for that site, making it an information site only, at this point.  All product sales have been moved to an Artfire Studio.  You can find that at http://ShepherdsSongCreations.artfire.com.

And now.....for a Product of the Week!

For the week of September 4 I am highlighting one of the fiber blends I had a lot of fun making.



Whipped Cream Blended Roving (app 2oz), is a hand pulled roving of lovely wool, alpaca and mohair.  The wool is a mystery breed, my source didn't know what it was, but I'm sure if it's not Merino, it's a Merino Type.  That basically means it is such a soft wool that it could be 'mistaken' for Merino, and is just as luscious!

I aquired each of these fibers as raw fleece, cleaning and processing them myself.  They were washed with Kookaburra Wool Scour,  (Only a little drop was used for the delicate alpaca and mohair!), then rinsed and dried.  I hand combed each fiber individually, then I layered each of the fibers on the hackle, starting with the wool, then the alpaca, then the mohair.  I pulled this through the diz, then wound it up into balls!  So far I've managed to resist spinning this one up myself! =)

For the week of September 4-10, 2011, this product will be on sale for 10% off the regular price.  No coupon necessary!  The sale price will show on Artfire.

Thanks for stopping in.  Hope you have a great day!!