Bellaboogie Studio

LEAP DAY FLASH SALE!!!

2012-02-29T11:42:00.001-08:00

HI Friends!

Happy Leap day! To celebrate this calendar oddity, I'm having a flash sale in my shop. Enter coupon code LEAP15 at checkout and get 15% off your entire order (not including shipping). Happy Leap Day!!!!

Share the Love

2012-02-23T13:20:00.007-08:00

Hey Bellaboogie friends!!

I've made it a personal goal this month to clear out a good amount of clutter from my house. Hubs and I are moderate packrats, and while we'll never make it onto an episode of Hoarders, we've got WAY too much stuff. I'm taking a bag or box of things we don't use or need to the local thrift store every day (or trying to). It feels good to get rid of our excess baggage, and I'm extending this good feeling into my studio.

Here's why you should care: I'm giving my all natural, all goodness products to you, my friends. I made up a fresh batch of products in anticipation of spring craft shows, and I've just got too much goodness in my studio now. Seriously. Its kind of overwhelming.

On my store's facebook page, I've got a contest going to win a Lavender Gift Pack. It contains:

An 8 ounce bottle of Lavender Body Lotion, a rich and creamy body lotion with Shea Butter, Aloe, Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E,

An 8 ounce jar of Lavender Soothing Bath Salts, with Dead Sea Salts and Almond Oil, perfect for soaking tired feet or a stressed body,

A 2 ounce bottle of my Lavender Garden Refreshing Hair and Body Spray, a wonderful little relaxing scent that won't overpower the whole room. It can also be used as a linen spray and room freshener;

A tin of Lavender Solid Lotion Bar, rich with Cocoa Butter, Beeswax, Shea Butter, and Sweet Almond Oil,

And to top it all off, an Organic Lavendar Eye Pilllow, a great way to naturally bust a tension headache.

If this set were for sale, it would cost well over $35, but I'm giving them away for FREE. All you have to do is share Bellaboogie with your friends!

How To Enter:
1. Become a facebook fan of Bellaboogie Bath and Beauty.
2. Share a post about the giveaway with your friends. You can do this every day, since I will post once a day about the drawing. Each share is another entry
3. Get your friends to post on the Bellaboogie Wall about who sent them over!! Each friend who posts is an entry for you!!

Each step is worth an entry, and a winner will be drawn randomly on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. International Entries are welcome, however, I will have to ask you to pay shipping...sorry.

If you LOVE lavender, AWESOME SAUCE. If not, share with someone who does! Everyone has too much stress in their lives, everyone can use a few minutes of natural pampering. If you win, keep the set for yourself, or share with the friends that helped you win!

Share the Bellaboogie Love!!

New Year, sort of

2012-02-13T13:38:00.000-08:00

Hey folks! After a baby, leaving my day job and LOTS of travel, I'm FINALLY ready to get back into the studio and make stuff!! Check out the facebook page for sale updates (www.facebook.com/bellaboogie) as I clear out the studio to make room for new ideas!!

Holy sales batman!

2010-07-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

First things first: Happy fourth!! I know I'm a day late, but I was at a family reunion this weekend and was on the road for most of the 4th. Yay fireworks!!!

Second: did you see it?? I was in the Etsy finds this Saturday!! Look here. I'm in the fragrance section! I checked my email this morning thinking "surely no one bought anything this weekend" and I had 6 freakin sales!! Most of them bought more one item so Yay!! Thanks to Jane of Glorious Hats for the heads-up! BTW, if you're reading this because you found me from that Etsy finds blog listing THANKS!! Stick around!

And because I know you're dying to know what's going on in my "real" world, I'm getting ready to open High School Musical - first dress rehearsal is tonight and I'm actually kinda excited. It should be miles better than the movie - our people can actually sing, and we've got an awesome cast. But thats enough bragging.

In non-work life, I'm getting ready for Woodbury Lakes Festival and Red Hot Arts Festival. New soaps, more scrubs, powders, all sorts of fun bath-y things to getcha clean and smelling like a rose!

And now, my dears, I must go. I have a brief dinner window before my actors arrive. Happy 4th, happy Monday, happy summer! See you later!

Lake City recap

2010-06-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

So...Lake City...chalk this one up to a learning experience. I met alot of really nice people who gave me some great advice, got to get out of Mankato for the weekend, and spent two days in a lovely park in a lovely little lake town. We got rained on as the parade started, but got to see 7 or 8 marching bands from across the state. Andy and I both got to reminisce about our own band experiences as we watched those poor kids march in wool uniforms in the rain and heat.

I think the biggest things I walked away from Lake City with were: 1. art shows and handmade shows are probably more my niche market. When the vendor down the sidewalk is selling cheap chinese imports for a dollar, there's not much incentive for a buyer to value my handmade, natural, good for the environment and your body products. And 2. I need to help educate my consumers as to why THEY should value a product that is made by hand, in the USA, from natural ingredients, that isn't made from petroleum products. So expect to see more of that kind of info here. Fair warning. :)

I'm still excited about Woodbury Lakes Art Festival, and Red Hot Arts later this month. But it will be nice to have some down time too.

Here we go!

2010-06-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from slaving in the kitchen getting ready for the Lake City Water Ski Days Festival this weekend! Come out and see me!! I've got the hotel booked, the soap is out of the mold, the boxes are almost packed, I just need to print labels and we'll be all set!! I'm really excited for this weekend - it should be a huge show. Just pray it doesn't rain us out!

In July I'll be spending a bit of time in the cities - at the Woodbury Lakes Art Faire, July 17 (10a-6p) & 18 (11a-5p), and then again at the Red Hot Arts Festival at Stephen's Square Park July 31 & August 1. See you there!!

Busy June!!

2010-05-31T08:43:00.001-07:00

After 6 long months of hibernation, I'm finally getting my shop in gear again. Those of you who know me know that I don't do things in half measures...which is one reason why its so hard to get me to do something in the first place!

I've been busy these last few weeks doing inventory, making new stock, perfecting recipes and registering for craft shows around Minnesota!! I'm really excited to get going!! Holy exclamation point, Batman!!

So, pending application approval, here's where I plan to be in June:

Sunday, June 13 : Buffalo Jacyee's 12th Annual Craft and Home Show (during the Buffalo City Celebration)
Saturday, June 19 : Avon Spunktacular Days, Avon MN
Saturday and Sunday, June 26 & 27 : Lake City Water Ski Days Festival

I'm still looking for bookings for July...if June doesn't kill me I'll be out and about in July, too! Come see me!!

Shaggy Baggy Holiday Open House!!!

2009-12-02T07:24:00.001-08:00

HandmadeMN Giveaway - Bellaboogie

2009-11-29T10:48:00.001-08:00

Hey Folks!

Today is the start of my giveaway on the HandmadeMN blog! Head on over and register to win a Spa Basket!! You'll get a selection of 5 of my most popular products to pamper you or someone you know! As a blog follower you've already got an entry, just leave a comment with your blog name (be sure to read all the directions to make sure you're fully entered).

So Go already!!

Shaggy Baggy's Holiday Open House!!

2009-11-28T09:34:00.000-08:00

Bellaboogie is awesomely excited to be a part of Shaggy Baggy's Holiday Open House, on December 5! If you're in the MN area, stop by 7135 47^th Court North, Oakdale, MN 55128. There are a number of artists that will be there, with a wide variety of handmade gifts perfect for the special people on your holiday list! Credit Cards gladly accepted!

Many thanks to Sharon for opening her home!

New items!

2009-10-18T16:50:00.001-07:00

Two new items in the shop tonight...more might be forthcoming after dinner is done. Bellaboogie Room and Fabric Refreshing sprays, and Peppermint Candy Lip Treats. More info on both soon, just wanted to update!

3 pieces of news!

2009-10-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

1. I'm in a treasury! Yay! Check it out!

2. The latest HandmadeMN giveaway is almost over (this weekend). Win yourself some fabulous monkey hair snaps!

3. Bellaboogie will be at the Nokomis Urban Craft Fair at the Lake Nokomis Community Center on November 14. Yay! Come see me in person!

And 4. (not really news, but here you go) Register for my giveaway in the posting below! Its free, its easy and odds are pretty good in your favor!

October Giveaway - Your Choice of Scent Hair and Body Spray

2009-10-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to EmmyBoosandRawrs, September's giveaway winner! Thanks to all who entered!

And now, drumroll please....I present for your giveaway enjoyment: My Refreshing Hair and Body Mist in your choice of yummy scent!

My Hair and Body Mists are made from hand blended essential oils, combined with the skin superstar aloe vera juice. Hair and Body mists are perfect for layering over my sugar scrubs and dusting powders. They're also fabulous for people who like fragrance, but don't like to suffocate their friends with it! My mists are nourishing to your hair and skin, and leave a gentle scent on your skin (but the more you spritz the stronger the scent). Spray your pulse points before you leave the house in the morning...spray your hair before your date tonight! The 2 ounce bottle is perfect for travel, or just riding along in your purse or car.

All of my products are preservative free, PABA and Paraben free, SLS free and cruelty free. I test all of my products on myself (and willing friends who volunteer). I use only the finest essential oils and organic oils in my products. If I can't pronounce it, it doesn't go in. Period.

Available in any of the scents, or blends thereof, listed on my shop main page.

To Enter:
Visit my shop on Etsy, pick your favorite item and leave a comment on this post about it. (Scroll to bottom of post and click on Comments)

Both US and International residents are eligible!

Please make sure I have a way to contact you!

For Bonus Entries:
Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry (To qualify for extra entries you must do step one above).

1. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

2. Heart my shop AND any item and leave a comment with your Etsy name and what item you "hearted"

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow my blog (you want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways!). Leave a comment here letting me know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

5. Follow Bellaboogie on Twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

6. Become a Facebook fan. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Contest will end at 5 PM CST on Saturday, October 31, 2009. Winner will be chosen via Random.org.

Good Luck!

September Giveaway - Bon Bon Bath Melts - Your choice of scent!

2009-09-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! I've decided to try something new...for a few months at least. Here goes:

Win yourself some bon bon bath melts! Let one of these little babies melt in a warm tub or foot soak and your dry skin will be a thing of the past! One melt per bath if you've got a spa tub, otherwise half a bon bon (just a bon) should be more than enough moisturizing magic! One package should last for at least 8 baths in a standard tub. They also make excellent foot soaks for cracked, dry feet!

Bon Bon Bath Melts are made with cocoa butter, grapeseed oil, coconut oil and your choice of essential oil blends listed in my shop. Perfect for a gift or yourself, you NEED to try these. And its SUPER easy to win...here's how (rules BLATANTLY stolen from HandmadeMN:

Visit my shop on Etsy, pick your favorite item and leave a comment on this post about it. (Scroll to bottom of post and click on Comments)

Both US and International residents are eligible!

Please make sure I have a way to contact you!

For Bonus Entries:
Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry (To qualify for extra entries you must do step one above).

1. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

2. Heart my shop AND any item and leave a comment with your Etsy name and what item you "hearted"

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow my blog (you want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways!). Leave a comment here letting me know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

5. Follow Bellaboogie on Twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

6. Become a Facebook fan. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Contest will end at 5 PM CST on Wednesday, September 30, 2009. Winner will be chosen via Random.org.

Good luck!

BOGO SALE

2009-08-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

All day Friday, Saturday and Sunday (8/28-8/30) I'm having a BOGO sale on all items in my shop! Buy one item get the second for half price...just enter WEEKEND DEALS in the notes to seller and I'll refund the appropriate amount (if you pay before I send an invoice).

Have a happy and relaxing weekend!!

WOOT! I'm in a Treasury!!!!

2009-08-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

See it here!

Many thanks to GloriousHats for including me!

Blog Shoutout!

2009-08-22T13:10:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a big THANKS to Jessica of RagamuffinDesign for featuring my Summer Night Bath Bombs on her blog. Always nice to know someone is looking besides my friends and family (who I am always grateful for, of course!)

BOGO SALE

2009-08-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

All day Friday, Saturday and Sunday (8/21-8/23) I'm having a BOGO sale on all items in my shop! Buy one item get the second for half price...just enter WEEKEND DEALS in the notes to seller and I'll refund the appropriate amount (if you pay before I send an invoice).

Have a happy and relaxing weekend!!

What's the diff?

2009-08-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

If you've stopped by the shop lately, you might have noticed (if you looked VERY carefully) that I now have 2 different kinds of sugar scrubs for sale. One is listed as a Whipped Sugar Scrub, the other is listed as a Whipped Sugar Body Polish. Now, as a rational person, you might be asking yourself "Huh? What's the difference?"

Well, dear reader, its all in the sugar. If you look at the ingredients, the oils are the same, but the sugar is different. The Scrub line uses brown sugar, which melts in the water of the shower, as provides a less vigorous exfoliation experience.

The Body Polish line uses Turbinado, or raw, sugar, which has larger crystals that don't melt as quickly in the shower, and provides a deeper, more intense exfoliation. The blend of oils is also slightly different between the two items.

Why exfoliate? No matter what your skin type, your epidermis can sometimes use a bit of help in sloughing off dead skin cells, excess oil, and environmental ick that makes your skin look tired and dull. Exfoliation helps to make your skin look brighter, helps your skin absorb the benefits of natural oils in skin care products, and, if you have oily skin, helps to reduce excess sebum.

How often should you exfoliate? With my scrubs and polishes, I use the scrub once or twice a week, and the polish once a week. I have dry skin, and the oils in both make my skin feel so smooth. Try one out in your favorite essential oil blend: Lavender Vanilla, Lavender Jasmine, Sweet Dreams, Sweet Summer, Summer Night, Midnight Garden, Rose Bud, Cocoa Nut, Goddess and Mojito. Or make your own blend from the oils listed here.

Think you might want to try one or two? This weekend I'm having a BOGO sale: buy one item and get the 2nd half price. Just enter WEEKEND DEALS in the notes to seller.

Why I don't use Palm Oil

2009-08-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, I've been making soaps for a few months now. I haven't sold any yet because I'm still perfecting my recipe and waiting for new batches to cure. But, rest assured, they will come shortly. I've got a wonderful Cinnamon Spice batch curing as we speak, and will be ready before the leaves begin to turn.

And now for the point of the post...many of the recipes I've seen online and in respected books call for the addition of Palm Oil or Palm Kernel Oil to help harden the bar and produce a nice, bubbly lather. In my humble opinion, I find coconut oil to do the same thing, and its alot easier to find. I produces a nice, fluffy lather and it is easy to find a cheap, organic source of oil.

But just for grins, I was doing some sourcing research to see if I could find a good source of Palm Oil, and I kept running into the same headlines on Google. Apparently, with the rise of trans-fat free foods, demand for Palm Oil has increased dramatically as well. Palm Oil is the product of crushing the fruit and seeds of the Oil Palm, and is in many of the processed foods and skin care products commercially available. Large plantations of Oil Palm can be found primarily in Malaysia and Indonesia, with smaller crops being grown in Western African countries. This increased demand for the oil has been responsible for major deforestations and loss of habitats in Malaysia and Indonesia, resulting in endangering or even extinction of wildlife, degradation of resources, and acceleration of global warming.

There ARE sources of Palm Oil that are sustainable, mainly those grown in African nations, since those are usually grown by small farmers, rather than clearcutting corpo-farms. However, I've still decided that I'm not comfortable with using Palm Oil in my products. If I find a source that I trust and is cheap enough to compete with my coconut oil source, I might reconsider, but until then, no palm oil here.

Showcase Showcase Showcase SALE!!!!!

2009-08-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

I REALLY want to get rid of the yarns in my store...they need a new home, a life, someone to love them for the wonderful fibers that they are.

Tomorrow, Monday, August 17, I'm in the knitting showcase on Etsy. Any yarn purchased tomorrow will receive a 20% discount and free shipping. Stock up and clear out my spinning basket!!!

Tuesday Clearance

2009-08-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

I started my shop with yarn....and now I'm ready to move on. My poor yarn is yearning for a new home, for a life, to be useful in something loved. Its really not kind to let my poor sweet yarns languish in my spinning basket like this.

So, dear reader, a clearance. Tuesday, August 11, get any yarn in my shop for 25% off (before shipping). Look Here.

If you purchase something on sale, wait to pay and I'll send an updated invoice. If you go ahead and pay I'll refund the proper amount.

Joys of Monday

2009-08-10T08:41:00.001-07:00

I'm technically still on vacation this week, so I get to pretend I'm a domestic Diva....for a while. Before I get started shampooing the carpet (doesn't everyone dream of a carpet shampooer in shining armor?), I just wanted to share my little bit of Monday Joy.

I just mixed up a batch of Citrus Silk Bon Bon Bath Melts for my friend Laura...and thirty minutes after they went in the fridge to set my kitchen STILL smells so fabulous and delicious! Thanks Laura!

Showcase Saturday

2009-08-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hi All, its that time again! Bellaboogie has a spot in Saturday's Etsy Bath & Beauty Showcase! I know you're just so excited...and, dear blog reader, you should be. Because as a blog fan, you get 15% off any item featured in the showcase, as well as free shipping (hey,thats at least a $3 savings right there)!
Just mention the code SATBLOG in the notes to seller and I'll refund your sale amount. Have a wonderful weekend!

Milk Baths and bouncing babies!

2009-08-06T20:48:00.000-07:00

First and foremost: Welcome Garrett Keith Owens, son of Jamie and Brandt Owens! Congrats Momma!!

Now then: I'm in the process of hunting down and procuring some new essential oils to make good on the Pride and Prejudice inspired items...still looking for the right combos! To tide you over until then, dear reader, I've listed some new milk baths and a bath tea on the site.

A bit about the milk baths: Cleopatra was famously known for bathing in milk scented with honey, lavender and rose petals. It was reputed to be one of the sources of her legendary beauty. It was said that Marc Antony could smell the enchanting perfume from her bath before he ever laid eyes on her. Beautiful women throughout the ages have been relying on the skin softening ingredients in the milk to keep their skin hydrated and glowing.

I have three milk baths in stock right now: Lavender Oatmeal, Rose Oatmeal, and Chamomile Oatmeal. Notice a trend? They all have oatmeal in them, as well as organic herbs and powdered milk. Why? Because colloidal oatmeal is a traditional skin soother, known to relieve itching, dryness, redness and any general skin discomfort. Because it makes your skin feel like silk satin. Because if Cleopatra had thought of it she'd have done it, too! Each of them is blended into a fine powder, so you can enjoy their luxurious properties without having to hire a maid to clean the tub!

And, in honor of my formerly pregnant friend, Jamie, who told me the only way she could get to sleep was after a bath, I mixed up a batch of Sweet Dreams Bath Tea. Perfect after a long day at work, at home, or for any time you can't get motivated to go to bed, this tub tea will hurry you along to Winkin, Blinkin and Nod (which were street names in my hometown). What's that you say? Never heard of a bath tea? Well my friend, it works just like a cup of herbal tea, except you take a bath in it, instead of drinking it. Each jar is enough for at least nine baths (regular sized tub), and comes with a muslin teabag so you don't get floral bits all over the tub or in the drain. Throw the bag in the hot running water, let it soak for a while, and you can use the bag as a scrubbie while you bathe.

Lazy Sunday

2009-08-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'm having a lazy sort of day...the weather here is FABULOUS and all I want to do is sit in my chair and read my new library book. But, in the back of my mind I'm thinking up a new listing for some gift baskets and customizable products.

Speaking of the library, they have the A&E/BBC version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice available on VHS (yes, I still have a VCR). I've been pondering some new scent pairings inspired by the characters.

Hmm...just what DOES Mr. Darcy smell like? I imagine a bit of sandalwood, bay and cypress. Remember, I only do essential oils, not fragrance oils, so while I truly think of leather here, I'm not grinding up an old belt!

More to come later!

Dusting Powders!!

2009-07-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

so, instead of bath salts I've added some new dusting powders. I now have Lavender Vanilla, Citrus Silk, and Sweet Summer dusting powders available in four ounce shaker tubes. Each powder is carefully crafted from natural ingredients like cornstarch, arrowroot starch, essential oils and a hint of mica for a subtle shimmer.

They're great alone or layered over sugar scrubs or bath bombs. Buy a spa basket and get a 6 ounce sugar scrub, 4 ounce dusting powder and 4.5 ounce bath bomb (mix and match scents if you like) for only $15 plus shipping! Packaged for giving (or just enjoying) each basket comes with your choice of washcloth color. Interested? Convo me with your choices of scent and colors and I'll make you a reserved listing.

In the works...

2009-07-12T16:52:00.001-07:00

I am researching at plotting new soap recipes. I'm currently in love with coconut oil and all of its super beneficial properties, so watch for that to show up within the next 6 weeks.

Also, I've got lots of salt soaks ready to go, so those should show up soon!

Mmmm...nice peppermint bath salts on a hot day! Yay!

Scrubs, Powders, Bombs and Melts (oh my)

2009-07-11T21:02:00.001-07:00

I've been crafting in the kitchen, cooking up all sorts of yummy bath goodies. Kind of had the yarn on hold for a while (since no one is buying, as yet). Most of my images feature a teapot lately, so get 20% off your total order when you convo me with the word TEAPOT.

Sale Time - Green glass alpaca hand dyed hand spun yarn

2008-12-03T16:40:00.001-08:00

I'm tired of having this wonderful yarn in my shop. Its so wonderfully soft, but if it sticks around much longer I'm going to have to make something out of it.

I'm offering this yarn on sale to my blog watchers. Mention my blog when in the notes to seller block and you'll get a 20% discount.

New Blog! New Year!

2008-12-03T10:51:00.001-08:00

Just in time for the holiday season...a new blog, featuring my Etsy store Bellaboogie and thoughts of such. Yay!