Wild rose herbal soap

Where has this summer disappeared to? Could it be working full time? Caring for sick dh? Or doin' three farmers market a week? I don't know about you guys, but I need to get off this crazy schedule! LOL But I have to say -- it's been a great summer, weatherwise -- unlike last summers endless weeks of rains. Dry & hot hot hot this year it was. Great for veggie gardening ( I don't know what I'm going to do with all these artichokes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants piled up on my counter) and just awesome for the beach roses that are so prolific along our coastline during good summer weather. In July, the display was just spectaculiar here and I pounced on the opportunity to gather as many as I could lay these hands on to dry. It's an annual event for me each summer and one that I thoroughly enjoy. Who can really resist that marvelous essence? Not me! Now, I am just waiting for our first frost to gather my rosehips for winter syrups, jams and brandy :)



I do like the addition of dried beach rose petals in my bars.. and infuse some that will go into my creams--though it's a shame that they start out such a gorgeous color and fragrance to die for--that they still turn a tannish pink when fully dried ( unless you buy them, and those have been spritzed chemically to hold the colorfastness) But then, I'm sure once they hit the lye pot those expensive dried roses must do the same darn thing?

This is my wild rose bar, that's a really good seller for me -- scented with rose geranium, palamarosa and rosewood blend and a titch of lavender

Summer Soaps

These are a few of my best selling summer soaps. We live in a tourist community. Beachcombers and just ocean lovers alike swarm to our neck of the woods during the summer months. Along with our signature bar-- Gift of the Sea, these three are always a hit at my markets.

For the lavender lovers

Myself included.. Lavender oatmeal soap getting packaged for farmers market this week.

Kennebunk Farmers Market

We're ready! Are you ready? Celebrate May Day and stop by the Kennebunk Farmers market's opening day and townwide celebration! You'll find us again this year at our three market places, weekly. Stop on by and say hello!



Our schedule of markets for this summer and opening dates.





Kennebunk Farmers Market -- May 1st 8am-1pm - Saturday

Wells Farmers Market -- May 19th 1pm-5pm - Wednesday

North Berwick Farmers Market -- May 28th 3pm-6pm - Friday

Fish of the day

We're gearing up for the opening day of farmers markets here and I'm really glad. The local fishermen are hounding me for this bar of soap.

Vanilla experiment

This was a new soap for me. I don't typically do, sweet, or fruity & on a whim I gave this a try.. mostly to get rid of a bottle of vanilla I had floating around here. LOL These were just unmolded.. so I'd expect at least I'm hoping so,they will get darker? I was shooting for a lot darker than this.



I added powdered chamomile & calendula petals sprinkled as my dividing line & no fragrance to the top lighter portion.



Update** this shot was taken on day five.. I'm really pleased with the difference and how much darker the vanilla portion has become!

I posted this soap on a private soapmaking forum I am a member on, and another member suggested this site to see more vanilla comparisons. A very interesting study and pictoral.

Italiano Soapworks

While traveling in Italy, at one of the Tuscan hilltown markets, this soapmaker's display caught my eye. Isn't it great!

Individual molds

I hear many soapmakers complain about the release using individual molds..so here's my soap formula I use in most of my individual molds. I should add that I primarily use Milkyway molds, but have used just about any shaped object with this same formula. It's a really nice bar with creamy, oppulent lathering abilities.



Olive oil 44%
Palm oil 20%
PK oil 16%
Coconut oil 10%
Cocoa butter 10%

After the soap is poured and insulated well, just leave them in the molds 24 hours and the soap will just drop out. If you can't wait the 24 hrs,and pop them into the freezer for 15 minutes. Happy soaping and Happy New Year!

Seasons Greetings

With the last of the years shows behind us now we can finally begin to enjoy this holiday season.
We want to wish everyone a joyous and Merry Christmas & a very healthy New Year.

We will be closed December 14 through January 6th to celebrate the season and complete our year end inventory.

Happy holidays,

Cricket Corner Soapworks

New England Christmas

This bar smells just like the forest did when you were a kid (chopping down that Christmas tree with your folks)- piney, brisk and fresh. It's a fantastic "woodsy" scent; the pine notes really come out in the soap. With oodles shea butter, natural clay and ground nettles.

Readying for Holiday season

We're gearing up for our upcoming holiday shows.

November 21, 2009 Bow HS Holiday Fair - Bow, NH
A really nice holiday fair, with 100+ vendors. Stop by & say hello!

December 4, 2009 Women's Holiday Art Sale, South Berwick Town Hall Auditorium- South, Berwick Friday evening from 5-8 PM



December 5, 2009 Christmas Prelude, Atlantic Hall- Cape Porpoise- Kennebunkport
Kicking off the famous Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude. Tree lighting ceremony.. Santa's arrival. Be sure not to miss this one!



December 5, 2009 The Women's Holiday Art Sale continues, South Berwick Town Hall Auditorium- South, Berwick Saturday from 10 AM - 3PM

and our last & final show of the season will be in Ogunquit, Maine

Christmas by the Sea Celebration
Annual Ogunquit Christmas Celebration



Celebrate Christmas this year near the sea in beautiful Ogunquit, Maine. Sponsored by the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce. An entire weekend event, but our show will be:

December 12, 2009 - Dunaway Center - off Shore Road - right next door to the Fire Station. Hope to see you there!

Soap Samplers

With one of my three farmer's markets closing this week for the season, I'll start preparing for all the holiday shows coming up soon. We introduced these samplers this summer and they were a smashing success!



Soap Sampler Stacks - Another great gift giving idea! FIVE one ounce gift bars in one great gift! A really nice way to try many of our lovely soaps. Filled with our choice of five bars of soaps. We seldom assemble two alike. Wrapped in assorted handmade poapers & tagged and ready to give to a special person or heck, keep it for yourself!

Herbal endings

All of the herb gardens are being put to bed.. the potting shed is full of drying basils, comfrey, lavender, calendula, burdock root, horsetail, sweet annie, rosemary, mints & thymes. Jars and jars of herbal infusions lined up and readied to be formulated. We'll be working on the winter balms & healing salves this week.. readying for the last of the years 7 holiday shows.

In spite of all the rain we've had this season.. the comfrey beds abound.

Old Goat's Facelift

Old Goat Muscle Rub, one of the first products I formulated fifteen years ago has a new packaging facelift! No more tins for this little wonder. I've switched over to 3 oz glass jars and my customers are really happy with the new size. Our old family recipe from down on the farm, helps to relieve muscle aches and joint stiffness and we're very pleased to say in addition to our U.S. customers, our little healing balm has traveled as far East to China.

Herbal Fusion

This is another of our new soaps for the Autumn line we tried out this summer. It's been a great seller for me and clearly has a following. A gorgeous layered herbal infused bar with oodles of creamy oppulent lather and lemongrass/mint fragrance blend to die for!

Gift of the Sea

Boo Boo Balm

One of my best sellers, especially this time of year is my Boo-Boo Balm. Moms, Dads, Grandma's always pick up a tin for those cuts and scrapes youngsters inevitably come home with.

Don't Get Caught--Dirty Handed

Don’t Get Caught Dirty Handed





When it comes to washing their hands, Americans say they are getting the message, but their actions speak otherwise. While nine out of ten (92%) Americans, in a recent telephone survey, said they always washed their hands after using a public restroom, an observational survey in 5 cities found the actual number to be more like 3 out of 4 (77%). That’s down nearly 10% from a similar study done in 2005, and it’s all the men’s fault. The percentage of males observed washing their hands fell from 75% in 2005 to 66% in 2007. Overall, percentage of females observed washing their hands is only down slightly from 90% in 2005 to 88% in 2007.

May Day May Day

It's official! In addition to being my birthday, next Saturday is May Day! We'll be kicking off the season celebrating along with thousands who will be attending Kennebunk's May Day Celebration so mark your calenders.



Events for the entire family, a grand parade with President George and Barbara Bush marching along and our Kennebunk Farmers Market will celebrate its OPENING day.

The booths have always overflowed with spring's first harvest, and May Day is no exception. Fresh veggies, bedding plants and hanging baskets are displayed side-by-side with local meats, eggs and live chickens. Delicious baked goods and our herbal soaps and remedies will round out the market that will continue each weekend through the summer. Stop by and say hello and take home some of the best organic produce in Maine!

Lemongrass Mint

This was an experiment, that I am pleased with the results. A layered log of herbal infused olive on the bottom divided by a fine layer of powdered spearmint and topped with nettle infused soap.