Summer Porch & More

Hello Everyone,

It has been a while. Since my last post I went to Cape Cod to attend the Mini Retreat sponsored by Make Mine Pink . I'm glad I did. It was a very restful and informative week. When I returned, I was ready for lots of new orders. So I have been up to my neck in suds all month. It's good to finally catch up.


I am posting two items for Show and Tell, part of Make Mine Pink's way to help members promote new products, communicate with friends and customers, and to have a little blog fun.

The first, pictured above, is my floral soap for Pink Friday on July 1oth. The theme is Summer Porch & Garden. I am fortunate enough to live in a house with a porch and a garden, quite an accomplishment for someone living in an apartment in Bronx, NY. I thought this soap was perfect for the theme. It features blue forget-me-nots and pink roses. The fragrance is Fresh Cut Flowers. It's light and airy, just right for summer.


My next item is the result of a brainstorm I got while working on an order. I am also a member of Friday Flea Market, and they seemed just right for a flea market sale. I made soap with honey and goat milk in the shape of an egg. The soap "dish" is a charming egg cup. These sweet little soaps are on sale here.

Now I must tell you all that I am going away once again. This has been quite a year for me in terms of traveling. I guess I got carried away in my first year of retirement. Next week, my family and I are cruising to Canada for 5 glorious days. When I get back, I plan to settle down and start working on a few more new ideas. Keep your eyes open!

Honesty is the Best Policy

Hello Everybody,

I received this award from Debbie of Cozy Cottage. I feel honored. Thanks Debbie. In order to accept this award I must link to Debbie's blog. Just click on Cozy Cottage above. As you can see on the left, I must also display the Honest Scrap widget. Then I must tell 10 true things about myself and give the award to seven other lucky people.

Okay, in all honesty, I

1 have to say ice cream is my favorite thing to eat.

2 am absolutely thrilled to be retired.

3 enjoy true crime stories, reading them or seeing them on 48 Hours Investigates

4 wish I could live in Nice, France

5 would rather spend time with my grand daughter than with her parents. She IS more fun that they are. (Don't tell.)

6 got a personalized license plate to avoid a trip to DMV

7 love champagne

8 think Tracey Ulman is hilarious.

9 am fascinated by almost anything related to World War Two

10 have never had a new car and don't care if I never get one.

Now my turn to bestow the honors.

Melissa at The Casual Cameo

Marie Antionette at Creations by Marie Antionette

Pat of Patricia Rose

Helene at Sisters Gift Company

Lynn at Tres Belle Boutique

Lisa at Lisas Creative Gifts and Antiques

Lynn of The Vintage Nest

Sunflower Soaps

Hello Everyone,

Well I have been at it again. I decided to try to take some pictures of my Sunflowers Soap for the upcoming Pink Friday theme, The Secret Garden which features all things floral. I took so many pictures just to get one decent shot. This is the result; it will have to do. I've got to move on to Greta's Wild Orchids. That could be tough, since I have no orchids, but sometimes I do feel a little wild, like this morning when I had too much caffeine.

Actually, this floral theme will coincide with my Flowers & Showers Sale. For this event, anyone ordering a floral soap will also receive a 5 ounce bottle of our Aloe Body Wash in the same floral fragrance. The sale starts on Friday May 29th and lasts until June 11th. Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you at the Flowers & Showers Sale.

The Members of Make Mine Pink Step up and adopt a hope chest for Enchanted Makeovers 2009 vision project.
First let me introduce you to the non-profit organization that Make Mine Pink is joining hands with this year. I'm sure you've heard of Terry Grahl of Enchanted Makeovers? Well, for the past several years Terry has been donating her time and gathering resources to refurbish women and children's shelters. This year the 2009 Vision project is Terry's shelter makeover. We're proud to be able to help her with this worthy project.
Please visit the Enchanted Makeover site read more. http://www.enchantedmakeovers.org/
Part of Terry's plan is to have a hope chest for each girl in the shelter that would be filled with items that they will need when they move on from the shelter. We all had or knew someone that had a hope chest, and understand the significance of giving these girls something to look forward to..dream about.. hope for.
Terry had a company lined up that expressed interest in providing the hope chest for all 20 girls but unfortunately the company that was planning to donate the hope chests is no longer able to. Terry has asked MMP to help. Two hope chests have already been donated, leaving 18 for MMP to raise funds for. As I doodled 18 hope chest at 200.00 each = 3600.00 on a piece of paper, I started thinking. 18 people (only 18) could adopt/provide a hope chest for 200.00 contribution. Two Hundred dollars each didn't sound all that bad. I could do that for such a worthy cause. But I doodled some more and thought.. 36 people - 2 to a chest would be 100.00 each - that was even better! But what about teams of 3 people? That would be 67 dollars each? That would be so within many of our reach, making it easier for more to participate. I just knew we could do this if we formed teams to adopt a hope chest. Suddenly the plan for 18 hope chests and 3600.00 didn't seem out of reach at all. A plan was formed and the adopt a hope chest program began.
As of April 20, 2009 we have 11 Hope Chest Funded. We have 7 to go in the next month. If you'd like to join a team or adopt a hope chest, please email me at info@makeminepink.com. Please let us know if you will
Adopt a Hope Chest Myself: 200.00Adopt a Hope Chest with 1 other person 100.00Adopt a Hope Chest with 2 others 67.00
Some of you asked if the hope chest will go with each girl. No.. it will stay at the shelter offering hopes and dreams to every new resident. When one graduates, she'll take with her the contents (some of which we will contribute) and make room for a new resident to plan and dream of a time when she'll be ready to move on.
Terry has a gentleman that will be constructing each hope chest.. so time is not a luxury we have. The 2009 vision project is due to be completed by August, so we need to move fast! Monetary donations for the hope chests will be due by May 30th.
On behalf of Terry and the Enchanted Makeover Committee at Make Mine Pink..thank you for being a part of the 2009 Vision Project.
Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

A Treasure from Andie

Hi Everyone,

Well it looks like I am an addict, A Show and Tell Addict. This is the second week in a row that I have purchased something from one of my Make Mine Pink sisters as a result of visiting their blogs for a feature called Show and Tell.

Last week, my friend Andie of Brown Bee Studio shared a lovely pinkeep she made as a tribute to Marie Antoinette. Well, as soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted it. It did have MY name on it. Take a look at the packaging. It is so bright and cheery, just like Andie. I love the colors. her tag is qdorable, too. It has a touch of glitter and even a real button. Once I opened it, I was delighted to see that the beautiful pinkeep Andie featured on her Show and Tell is even prettier in person.

These pictures show the front and the back of the pinkeep. Andie created the design in cross stitch. A few pearls and blue stones grace some safety pins on the bottom left corner. Andie even added a few pins and a needle on the top right. The floral print on the back is a perfect choice.

Visit Andie at The Brown Bee Studio on Etsy or stop by her blog for the latest buzz at the Brown Bee Studio

Lavender and lace

Hello Everyone,

We are so excited about this week's Pink Friday theme at Make Mine Pink. It's a favorite of ours, Lavender and Lace. We even created a special soap box for the occasion. All of our soaps on sale this week will fit into the box. We are offering special prices on all of our lavender scented soaps, lotion, body mist and more. Be sure to visit Make Mine Pink and Savon Marie on Friday, April 24th. All participating boutiques have lovely items this week. One or more is just right for you.

Show and Tell Bonanza

Hello Everyone,

Happy Spring. I have lots to show today. I want to share with you some items I received from two friends at Make Mine Pink.


First up is Stephanie at Shabby in Pink Boutique Stephanie has a wonderful selection of items in her boutique. Just perfect for Easter or Spring is this rabbit doll all dressed up in a white spring dress embellished with applique and embroidery. I placed her next to a picture of my grand daughter, Lili, who is as cute as a bunny. Maybe even cuter.


I knew the minute I saw this Fleur de Lis that it was meant to be in my living room. I have loved the Fleur de Lis symbol ever since I can remember. It is on my logo and I even make soap in the shape of a Fleur de Lis. I have a few other Fleur de Lis pediments in my living room. I guess you could say I have a small collection.

Finally, here are some wonderful extras that Stephanie included. It was such a pleasure opening that package. She added a little wand with a lovely purple ribbon and picture of violets. You can see it in my planter. Just under the planter is a vintage French soap sign. Since I make soap, this struck me as an especially thoughtful gift. Thank you, Stephanie.

Stephanie's treasures really brightened up my room. Thanks to her, I am ready for Spring. Don't forget to click the link above to visit her site.

Warning! The next image has unladylike language. But it is my page, and I can say whatever I want.

I recently blogged about Tedi, who has a lovely online book shop called The Petite Bookstore. Tedi specializes in titles that appeal to women. What a great idea! It really saves time when I want to purchase a magazine or book. I don't have to sift through unrelated titles. The book I blogged about is The Creative Entrepreneur. As a gift with purchase, Tedi included a journal and matching bookmark. I am now using Tedi's journal to create my own visual journal.

One of the writing prompts is to make a list of things that I'd like to stop doing. I am not an artist, so I used scrapbooking software. On the facing page, I have a quotation that says, "The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you." When I open my book to that page I have a very focused vision for that day or as long as I want.

Thanks for stopping by.

Marie