Cameo - My Brain Is Just Playing Games With Me!

Do you remember that awful song in the 80's (if you weren't BORN in the 80's), called "Word Up" sung by Cameo (fun fact: originally the New York City Players)? Oh, yeah, that song has been stuck in my head for some weird reason. I never ever liked that song AND I don't think I've even heard it in the supermarket or from a passing car, or anything. So where did it come from? My big, old, bad brain. Yeah, the MRI is scheduled for Thursday, so we'll see if Cameo shows up in the imaging.

So naturally cameo soaps came to mind (aren't I so smart?), and I found some really pretty ones. I never think of cameo soaps, but I'm glad that song brought me to them.

Sunny Day Creations made this cute dolphin reef scene



Skinsations makes a number of cameo style soaps

These three soaps (above) are intricately designed and made by Soapy Chica in the UK


I like Daisy Cake Soap's interpretation of a cameo soap. Definitely. :)



These gorgeous cameo soaps are made by Debbie, of Soapy Love, but aren't actually on sale in her Etsy shop. This photo is representing a tutorial she is offering for sale on how to make these. These are stunning and needed to be included in this listing of cameos.


Dug Shop
Dugshop is a collective of artists. Love their stuff.

Fun Soap
Let's just say Barbie made a cameo appearance.

I'm curious, what song has been stuck in your head and what decade is it from?

It's Not Campbell's

I don't know why I had Andy Warhol on the brain or why the Campbell soup painting came to mind, but I thought it would be the perfect time to feature tomato SOAP today because of the weather. Last night Brad and I went driving out where there is nothing but orange groves. We were listening to music and the cicadas were singing SO LOUDLY, they almost drowned out the blasting music. More descriptions of the drive: large bugs slapped the windshield, the smell of moist dirt was in the air, the cool air was thick with humidity, and the sky seems larger than usual.....so it was the smell of the night air got me thinking of Warhol. Connection? Your guess is as good as mine.

So it's Summer and tomatoes are red and juicy and are perfect with a touch of salt. Always have loved big fat, red tomatoes. I can eat them like an apple if I wear a bib or sit in a chair hunched over on a lawn. I am a Brooklyn girl but I visited my grandparents in the North Carolina mountains for the month of August every year. My grandmother had a tomato garden. :O) I digress. Here -

Tomato Soap made with real tomato

creamy tomato basil soap by Southern VT Soap

what I love about this one is that the soap has organic tomato puree from their garden

tomato garden made by Amber's Ambry

lycopene complexion bar made by Wenbee

(ok, it doesn't have actual tomatoes in it, but it does have the natural phytochemical + antioxidant, lycopene which tomatoes have an abundance of)

salty tomato soap made by SubEarthan Cottage (etsy)



confetti soap made with real tomato juice by SubEarthan Cottage (artfire)

I think they are all beautiful!

Mar Bar

I present a new recipe. I liiikey, folks. I may have to work with it time after time, but I jammed a whole lot of yummies in there and I feel darn good about that. No filler oils. Goodens. Sadly, I spaced and left out the scent. Not such a bad thing. It looks virgin like anyway in the natural light of my shop window.

I introduce the Mar Bar, except I haven't cut them into bars yet. Still, I am coining it. My Mar. See the chair they rest on while I photograph it? You could be sitting there and chatting with me in my shop. It can be THAT peaceful in here when I am not running around formulating.

Your Opinion, Business and Tact...

As most of you know, I own a bath and body company, Product Body. I feel that The Soap Bar is a place for people to come for tutorials, soap photos, innovative soap happenings, information and just soap stuff that must get. Soooo, it's hard to bring this up because I am not one to push myself on others. However, this is an offering more than a pushing.

I ask you: Would you want me to pass along a sale here on this blog that we put out in the Product Body newsletter? It occurred to us that we have a double sale going on for our customers and others aren't getting those benefits.

You can see that online version of the newsletter sale here.

The problem is that I don't want to "plug" my stuff and turn people off. I thought maybe I could do a monthly mention of a big sale. The economy sucks and we could use the business and if you like our products, you could use the discount. I see it as a win win situation, unless it would just piss you off and make you go away forever.

So I ask. Please leave a comment in the comment section about your feelings about this. Or email me at jo(at)productbody.com. I can take what you dish out.... Just don't be horribly mean to me. Thanks. :)

Fruit For The Summer.... Ahhhhhh

I am a citrus girl, but all fruit makes me happy, and so does the Summer. I thought I'd take a moment to find some fruity finds made by some fabulous artisans so we can all get into the mood (except for those of you saying good-bye to the Summer, in which case....um... dare to dream!).


I found these on Etsy:

soaps by funktional - (I love the packaging on these soaps!)

Porn Star In Pink Panties. Best name ever... by Grumpy Girl

Tropical Papaya Mango soap by Spa Therapy



Loofah Soap - Pineapple Coconut (yummmmmmm) by Soap Scentsations

My mouth is actually watering. Time for breakfast.

Sadly, It Looks Like Cheese

Ah, yes, my Peach Apricot soap sort came out looking like a loaf of American cheese. In fact this young, completely tattooed from head to toe teenager came in to check out the shop the other day and took one look at the soap in the case and said, "Hey, looks like cheese! I'm from Wisconsin, and I know cheese!" Big cute smile with a cute Wisconsin twang. She really was cute as a button.

Sharing a building with a fish and tackle shop and a tattoo shop has its ups and downs. The tattoo folks that come in here are definitely some of the sweetest people who walk in here. Especially that cheese girl.

Here's the peachy cheese.:)

Soap Rocks

I found a company online called t.s. pink and they are the manufacturer of GORGEOUS soap rocks. These are all molded soaps that all look like polished gems you'd find in a gift shop or fancy coffee table book of Gems Of The World. No kidding....see for yourself. They are all quite beautiful. Todd Pink created the soap rock concept in his shower after glancing down at his soap and having an epiphany about its form.

Here is a direct quote from their site about what they are made of and how they will effect you: "They are a hybrid dense glycerine soap that lifts very little oil off of the skin as they gently cleanse. Discover the ever-changing contours of SoapRocks® bath soaps and let their beauty become you." Wow. I think I'm speechless on that one.

I'd love to share some of my favorite rocks.

soapal, Fragrance: Geranium Moss

fire geode (no scent listed)




amethyst, Fragrance: Cucumber Ylang Garden

The rocks, soap it baby!

I like that...

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Mint Chocolate by Lavande

Susanne Schlador of Lavande de bois in Boise Idaho

I've had a few of Susanne Schlador's soaps in my bathroom for a few months, and it wasn't until Monday that I whipped out the Mint Chocolate Chip soap bar when my husband was in the shower hollering, "Jo, for someone who makes soap and reviews soap, why isn't there any soap in the shower!? I am soapless over here!" I grabbed a bar I knew he wouldn't complain about and I instantly heard, "oooooooh....did you make this?" Nope, not me. "OOoooooh. Jo, you know when you get a soap and you rub it on your skin at first at there's an intitial drag? Well, this one doesn't have any! It's like slippery, right off the bat! Look!" And he opens the curtain and shows me how slippery it is on his hairy chest. Funny how men are like boys sometimes.

Later that morning, I take a shower and I am looking forward to experiencing the lack of drag and super slippy action. First, though, I am taken by the beauty of the bar. Sadly, I didn't photograph this one beforehand. What a supermodel! Sadly the photo on their website just doesn't express it's handsomeness. I may have to come back to you with the sliver just so you can get a close up.

The scent is mint chocolate, but not an ordinary peppermint like you'd expect. It's a soft and unassuming spearmint. The chocolate is mellow, too. It almost like I expected overkill with the name because I've tried overpowering mint chocolates before, but this one was mild and whispering in scent.

Its performance was excellent. Slippery, full of lather, moisturizing and it maintained its hardness. A real joy to use. Susanne, thank you for sending me your soap. It was definitely worth the wait.

;)

mint chocolate chip soap

The Seize Soap Photo

Remember the seized Honey soap? I certainly shoved that hot waxy mess in the mold, but this is how it turned out... not perfect, but it came out soap and I am truly happy with the outcome. It looks almost like crumb cake. I'm kind of digging it, and the smell is just HEAVENLY. These two loaves are off to a client today!!

BATHHOUSE SOAP

Today I am featuring Bathhouse Soap, a soap company and shop located in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Char, owner of Bathhouse, recently opened her retail shop and it is beautiful. My pictures are not on this computer, sadly, but she did a slamin' job with the place. Char makes handcrafted soap, scrubs and cream. Her soaps are lovely and her website shows them off wonderfully. Please go visit her website and take a look, because she deserves it and it is so nice to look at... It's clean, simple and elegantly set up.

3 Layer Exfoliate


Fig + Milk (mmm)

Buckstaff

3 Layer Detox

I met Char when her company was named White Lye Soap Co. I haven't tried her soap in over a year(?), but they all look dynamite and all seem to have specific purposes. She is a darling person, she has moxie, and I urge you to visit her at her shop if you live near Hot Springs, Arkansas or if you are online, go browse her shop.

120 Central Avenue
Hot Springs, AR

Char, I wish you the very best luck with your shop!!

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