Bead on a Wire Blog

I have bought a lot of soap on Etsy over the past couple of years. The one word that continually comes to mind as I lather up in the shower every time is delicious. I love, love, love handmade soap and I will never go back to buying soap from large commercial companies again.

My most recent soap purchase was for this Pumpkin Marshmallow bar from Swan Mountain Soaps. The bar is huge and smelled heavenly when I took it out the paper wrap. But then it got even better, because it lathers up so well and feels soft on my skin. I have another bar waiting for use under my bathroom sink, Bourbon de Vanille, that I’m looking forward to using next.

Other soaps I have enjoyed include the Peach Magnolia from Kreated by Karina. This one smelled warm and soothing.

Cherry Blossom by Mountain Mama Chic. Smelled lovely and of spring.

Blackberry Sage by Shine Your Hiney Soap Co. I love the shop name - so clever. I liked the crispness of the sage with the berry aroma.

No words can describe the pleasure of Chocolate Cardamom from Savor. The name says it all, right? This one didn’t last long enough to suit me. (But that’s not to say it wasn’t long lasting - I just wanted more!)

I should also mention the non-soap items that I have bought, used, and loved…

The Milk and Honey Lotion Bar from 4th Avenue Soap Co. I have had this for a couple of years and I keep it in my purse. The tops of my hands get super dry in winter - this bar is perfect for applying lotion only to the dry areas and it feels soft and non-greasy. I plan to buy another one, if she still carries them, when she reopens her shop.

Bathing in Luxury’s OCV Whipt Pudding is my all-time winter favorite. OCV stands for orange, clove, vanilla - these three scents smell divine, like Grandma’s kitchen at Christmas. And the silkly soft warmth of the cream as it gets smoothed into my skin is wonderful. I use this on my dry legs in the winter - it’s my bedtime and post-shaving treat.

There are plenty of other wonderful soap-makers on Etsy, too. I plan to buy from more sellers, but I’ll go back for more of these favorites, too.

It seems appropriate to start my Etsy features with my family members who have shops on Etsy. I have talked about my Mom’s shop a ton, but I haven’t mentioned my sister’s shop much. So this week’s Feature is Jaynee of Something Simple.

Jaynee started out doing art - something simple - for kids. I bought one of her paintings for my son’s room, which I love! She then got into doing ACEOs and hand-tied fleece blankets. After realizing that she really is not an artist, she focused exclusively on the blanket-making and is doing well with custom orders in addition what she carries in her Etsy shop. With the addition of a new sewing machine (it used to be our grandmother’s), she has added sewn loveys to her repertoire and they are adorable.

1. What is the first thing you remember making with your own hands?

Actually, I was just thinking of this this morning!! The earliest craft thing I remember making is a macrame flower pot holder - in the fifth grade.

2. What inspired you to start your art?

I wanted to start a fun hobby that would maybe inspire my kids to become crafty themselves.

3. How did you graduate from art to making blankets?

My husband and I had been given some wonderful handtied blankets by some friends of ours, At some point I thought, “You know, I’d enjoy making these!” I emailed my friend to ask him some details, and voila - I became a blanketmaker. I ended up enjoying that so much that I stopped doing art entirely and donated all of my art supplies to a children’s home in my area.

4. What’s the best things about the fabrics you buy - the texture or the patterns?

I am drawn to the patterns. Most of my blankets are fleece, so the texture largely remains the same. But I love finding new and fun patterns to use for the blankets.

5. What’s a new skill you think you’d like to learn? Is there a new craft that would put you into?

I love some of the felters on Etsy. They featured one felter who did the most amazing little animals - I was thoroughly impressed and would love to learn how to do that. I’d also love to start making soap - I think my daughter would enjoy helping me with that.

My son has this baby blanket and loves it in the winter - he plays with the fringe and it’s toasty warm. If you’re in need of a baby shower gift then Jaynee’s baby blanket and loveys are the thing to get - handmade with love in gorgeous and luxurious fleeces - any new mom will love them for her wee one.