The Redhead's Green Thumb

Echoes of a Dream: Natural dyeing. A beginners guide..............

Just marking this here for now; I'll talk more about it in a bit. :)

vinegar infusion
Originally uploaded by xiane threeravens.

Here's a look at what the Apple and Herb Vinegar looks like when it is steeping - posted just for Karen Beth!

... not quite as vibrant as the Beauty Way oil, but still good stuff. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm a vinegar addict!

A food crime in progress: the FDA is quietly preparing to let manufacturers adulterate chocolate by replacing cocoa butter with cheap vegetable oil.

I missed posting ON Earth Day. I'd say that's a bit lame of me, considering my treehugger stance on pretty much everything - but I was instead actually enjoying the day instead of sitting on my wide butt blogging about it, so I feel okay. *grin*
What did I *do* for Earth Day?
Well, mostly I prepared for the Beltane Brouhaha, an event that I'm vending at this weekend.
I decanted vinegar and infused oils. I did inventory. [boooooring] I made a necklace. [photo forthcoming, hopefully] I added labels to packages. Oh! I also packed up a lot of orders to mail out. Thank you, lovely Etsy buyers, for making this weekend delightfully busy!

For those of you who are new to my blog and life, Etsy is how I do a majority of my business. And that's important, because this is my only job! To bring it back around, this is part of my commitment to the Earth - working a job doing something that helps to educate and support people in learning how to use natural products, things that don't pump chemicals and plastics back into the precious environment. Not to say that this industry is perfect - ask me about overharvesting, or how difficult it is to find pump bottles in glass or recycled plastics - but at least removing the often petroleum-based chemical crud from one's life is making a start. It's better for your skin and body, too!
One of the best things that anyone's ever said to me was something that my pal Melissa recently told me: you opened my eyes to the world of natural products. She changed her shopping to reject chemical cleaners, soaps, and cosmetics, especially ones tested on animals. I'm SO proud, and I'm really touched that I brought this awareness, just by what I do. Sometimes things like that really bring home the idea that you don't have to preach - just put your money where your mouth is. ;)

So that's my Earth Day piece, uncharacteristically late. I've got some more things to write about, but I'll save that for another entry. That's how I keep you coming back, you know!

Labels: brouhaha, change your life, earth day

Timeline: The Frightening Future of Earth - Yahoo! News: "Our planet's prospects for environmental stability are bleaker than ever with the approach of this year’s Earth Day, April 22. Global warming is widely accepted as a reality by scientists and even by previously doubtful government and industrial leaders. And according to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a 90 percent likelihood that humans are contributing to the change."

xiane and rosemary
Originally uploaded by xiane threeravens.

Here I am, sniffing one of my favourite herbs. So wonderful!

This plant is a holdover from last season, still going strong, although a little scraggly.

Alchemille's Secret Garden

Lovely Alchemille kindly wrote a nice article about some of the Earth Day themed items being listed on Etsy by the street team she organizes, The Wild and Wise Collective. I'm lucky enough to be a member, and she gave my Love Your Mother ritual kit a very nice mention. Thank you, Alchemille!
Please do read her article and check out the items that everyone contributed to the Earth Day cause!
You can use this link to see them all:
http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_query=twwc%20earth%20day&search_type=tag_title&order=&page=1

Canadian north offers 'ground zero' view of global warming - USATODAY.com

:/

Indulge In Vintage Body Spa

- To be added to links later, but check out this blog! Lots of great reviews of indie craftspeople, artisans, and business owners! [plus she makes wonderful bath and body items, as well!]

Health freedom action alert: FDA attempting to regulate supplements, herbs and juices as "drugs"

I'll write more aboutthis later; for now, I just want to make sure I don't lose this link.

Anya's Garden of Natural Perfumery

Lots of great info about what's going on in the natural perfumery world from one who knows. Very informative posts!

I always do this. I forget how amazing honey - that simple wonder food given to us by the recently endangered honeybee - is for my skin.

Seriously. This is one of the simplest things you can do for your skin to nourish it:
1. wash face
2. keep face damp
3. coat skin with honey
4. dampen fingers
5. pat skin with damp fingers lightly, all over
6. rinse thoroughly with warm water
7. luxuriate in your fresh and clean skin

The honey I've been using lately is even better than usual, because it has started to crystallize - so I can not only use it as a masque, but also as a gentle scrub!

Honey is a mild anti-bacterial and antimicrobial agent, a humectant, and an anti-irritant. It really is the wonder masque.

[You can use it in your hair, too. Just rinse thoroughly!]

Labels: facials, honey, recipes

Some Etsians cut to the chase, in regard to the ongoing issue with Etsy Admins seemingly refusing to even talk about making an admin-only announcement section in the forums, or a sticky, or really ANYTHING that makes it easier to find The Official Word on Etsy policy. [if they have a plan, please please let us in on it?] :)
They made their own "Unofficial Etsy News" blog. THEY are taking the time to compile the things that Admins say in regards to questions, worries, and clarifications. THANK YOU to:
emckinstry
gemmafactrix*
serena
soap

*edited to add new editor Brooke/Gemma :D

Labels: admins, etsy news, issues

I've got products in not one but two treasuries at Etsy. For those who don't Etsy [whaaaaaat?!], treasuries are user-curated lists of items for sale on Etsy. They're often picked to represent a concept, or an artistic vision of colour or form... sometimes just because the user likes the items in question. I often make them about band lyrics or herbal things - surprise. ;)

It's really pleasing for me to find myself represented there twice, especially as sales have been a little slow for me. That's my fault, really. I haven't been promoting as much as I should, nor have I been listing new items as frequently as is needed to stay in the publics' eye. That's an Etsy trick - list early, list often. I've been sitting on that while I wait for some supplies to come in. One of the things I'm excited to get made and listed soon - COFFEE flavoured lip bliss! mmmmmmmmmm. I went out of my way to get coffee extract for that very reason.

My only question - what colour should I make it? :D

Labels: coffee, lip bliss, treasury

Etsians Say The Darnest Things

I can see this being my newest blog obsession!

Can you tell that there's a lot to cover in this post? Ha.

Looks like I've picked up another vending event, this time a fun three-day thinger: Beltane Brouhaha, held at King's Mountain State Park in SC. It happens on the weekend of April 27th - 29th, though I'll probably only be vending on that Friday and Saturday. Hopefully I'll see some of you there?

With that thought in mind, and knowing that the Rockabilly BBQ is also approaching, Miss SnitchesGetStitches and I went to good ol' Dick's [snigger, yes I'm five] to get an EZ-up canopy to vend under. Lo and behold, they had them ON SALE - cue heavenly chorus - and we got that AND a wind shield for it for just a touch over $100. Yes, we did the dance of joy... well, I thought about it, anyway. Needless to say, we were pleased. We get to try out setting it up in her back yard next week when we work on more Coffin Colors!
I forgot to put that in my title for this post, but oooooh how excited I am about the new mineral pigments we have waiting for us to work with. We plan on some new eyeshadow colours such as Red Ass Red™ and Girl Pants™ and of course many others. You just wait!

And speaking of handmade stuff, I *finally* got my organic shower gels listed, and it took less than a day for BOTH of my listings for the Limited Edition scent Spellbound to sell out. Awesome! Now I'm hoping that Beyond The Pale starts to take off. They smell SO good, and I really like the way they came out, overall. I have been working hard to expand my line, and I'm hoping to have more shower gel scents listed within a week or two.
And while mentioning new items, I should mention that I've got one very special new item listed, and I'd really like it if you took a look.

From my listing for the Zen Body/Massage Oil:
Zen is a doggie with cancer. He owns the wonderful Angi of Etsy shop luna2005, who has been working hard to pay for his vet bills. His cancer has spread to his lungs, but he is strong and he loves his Mom, and this is my way of both paying tribute to that and helping Angi out a little. 100% of the sale for this will go to her!

I created this massage and body oil from the highest quality organic ingredients - a gentle, soothing, yet incredibly moisturizing blend of sweet almond oil, vitamin e, and safflower oils that have been infused with organic rose petals and jasmine flowers [cultivated without chemicals]. I then swirl organic lavender oil throughout, to seal the message of peace within.


Please consider taking a look at this, and if you can, purchasing it to help with Zen's medical bills. Thank you.