Deer Lady October 06 2022, 1 Comment
Watching Reservation Dogs on FX ~ I was reminded of the Native American legend of Deer Lady. She is a Woman who has hooves and she's beautiful and blesses good men with fertility and love. The bad men she seduces and dishes their justice...sometimes they never come back from the forest. My Son was telling me that these guys were talking about they were at a Powwow and someone said Deer Woman had showed up, and he had scratches on his face. The Men folk got scared and started making posse's looking for her, the medicine men were burning sage and praying, the posse's could not find her, they told everyone to go to their tents and hide. He said, You know who Deer Lady is, don't you? She stays in her own lane unless you are a bad man... and then you are in trouble! and laughed. They all looked uncomfortable and said they didn't know that. lol (or did they?)
A Deer Lady who is a Native American WOMAN Super Hero who saves and protects Women?!? I LOVE HER ~ I know a few Aunties who are probably more dangerous than her if one of their own were harmed. I became obsessed. What if Deer Lady were to be watching and caring over the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Children? MMIWC What if she was at the US Indian Schools protecting the children and scaring the church connected to the torture of children in Indian Schools? What if she still walks the earth ridding the earth of bad men? or at the very least, scaring them straight. What if there is a little Deer Lady in each of us Women, who walks alert and aware and protects our sisters from predators? I LIKE HER!
So, I made a label ~ I matched it with Bourbon and Butterscotch and this is our MMIW and Indian School awareness bar.
We are honoring the missing and murdered ~ from present day and all who went before them.
To Read more: The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman movement of the US
https://mmiwusa.org/
The BIA Information lead by Deb Haaland, Secretary of Interior on US Indian Schools
https://www.bia.gov/service/federal-indian-boarding-school-initiative#:~:text=In%20June%202021%2C%20Secretary%20of,the%20traumas%20of%20the%20past.
I was told in January, actually the Summer of 2020 that I needed extensive dental work. The wreck in 2019 put tiny hair line cracks in my teeth under my crowns. I was pretty much in constant infection state, gross I know. lol I started going to a dentist to get some things repaired in 2020 and then I reopened the business and all of my efforts went into an insane year of trying to start over, what teeth? ha ha In January, they told me it was urgent and my dental bill would be $22,000 and the bone grafts would be done elsewhere, implants, etc, closing in on $30,000. False teeth will never be an option because of the shape of my mouth. That's another story. lol My friend in Puerto Penasco, Mexico kept insisting I could get it all done there for at least half the price. I applied for a credit card and with a $7000 balance, I decided to take her up on her offer and drive to Mexico and get the work done. Everything I read, it seemed to be true. 3 or 4 days and back home, no problem!
I had these fantasies lol On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair..... um no. Scared to death, Joshua and I headed over the border. I think I drove 40 mph the whole way from Gila Bend to a little town called Ajo. With only our birth certificates and ID's lol We stop to fill up the tank in Ajo and I said, what do I need to know? He said, You are about to drive through Senoyta, if you make it through there, you are good. Wear your masks through town, do not go one mile over 40 Kilometers or you will get stopped and extorted lol Donate to the people holding the red cross boxes and the police should leave you alone. Fully stop at stop signs, don't breathe lol My friend sent me an fb pin to where she lives. We drive 20 mph to the border trying to breathe. ha ha We got to the border, they made us get out and checked the car, Our dog Jasmin made them not waste a lot of time, We get over the border, into Senoyta and Josh said, oh man, we ARE in another country. There's not one word we recognize. I knew ALTO meant STOP lol K2 loaded my phone with an app 30 minutes before we left and said, Mom learn Spanish quick. There were people trying to wash our windows, selling things, at our windows, only tourists were driving a snails pace while locals zoomed by us going the wrong way 50 miles an hour. We finally got through Senoyta and YEAH! So we drove 80 miles into Mexico, can't read the road signs, nothing. lol We get there, it's called the Arizona Ocean so it's got to be more progressive right? Nope? The second we hit Puerto Penasco our phones quit working. Josh had pinned Donia's business, Supping The Sea before we crossed the border. He got us to her street. We sit there with no addresses wondering which one was hers, for probably an hour. ha. No phones. Beautiful houses with dirt streets and 10 foot gates around every house. lol and there we are. I finally saw Paddle boards in a garage, and Donia walked out the front door. SO GLAD TO SEE HER!!
We unpacked the car, my dental appointment was the next day. I nervously, have a map and drive to the dentist the next morning....aaahhhhh....in Puerto Pensaco there are no driving laws I could see, no speed signs, multipole ALTO signs that were in weird places lol The train just flies through town with no warning but the ALTO sign and the tracks. No ding ding ding...lol Big eyes. I get there and it's closed.I go next door to a market, no one speaks English. I go back to Donia's and look at their website. Closed for Bonito Juarez's birthday. I snap. lol That night the dentist calls and says to come in the next morning. The next morning he does the exam, tells me $8800, I'm going to make 2 trips, because the implants need 3 months to heal. I go to the front desk and she says the entire procedure will be $13,000 in the end. I said, I have $7000 on a Discover card will you take that? She said, Of Course! You can pay the rest when you come back. lol Well, I'm there, the credit card was a miracle, I'll figure it out.
I go back to Donia's amazing house and we go to eat on the beach at a bar and watch the ocean and well, I'm pretty much having a nervouse break down, but Donia is the most supportive person in the world, she said, it will be alright, I believed her. I go in the next day, they tore apart my crowns on the bottom, whittled all of my existing teeth down, do an implant, I think I was in there 4 hours, I walk out with a temporary on the bottom and pain beyond all pain. I give her my discover card and it won't work. lol 2 days later, they do more. It's all a blur, I was supposed to be back by the time they were only through one day of surgery. 12 hours and 2 weeks later, I walked out with full crowns, upper and lower, and two implants that need three months to heal and ow. and a root canal. and gum work and OY! It also took that long to figure out how to get that damn Discover card to work in Mexico. I woke up every morning and sit on her beautiful patio and smelled the sea air. Donia is an Alpha, I'm an Alpha, but not under immense pain, I'm not. So, I just did what Donia told me to do. The day are the 5 hour surgery, she sit my on the end of a paddle board and took me to the middle of the ocean to heal me, she stood up and paddled, I just sit there watching very large creatures swimming below us and trusting her. She was a Taos River guide and I knew her skills, but in the middle of an ocean? She's amazing! Her husband cooked for us every night and I drank yogurt most days. lol Did I mention I was on Mexican antibiotics for 2 weeks?? lol Couldn't read that box either. lol
I go back in July. I apologize for being mysterious, my phone flipped to all spanish, I could barely get it to work on her wifi, so I wasn't able to communicate. Other than email and fb instant messenger. lol I couldn't even check my finances, so Thank you for ordering, you were my miracle! When I finish this, I will get to work on the orders.
If you ever decide to go to Mexico for dental work. Call your cell company, buy the international plan, be fluid, take coffee, buy pesos at your bank before you go, KNOW that whatever you think is going to happen down there is not even going to be something that you can wrap your mind around. ha ha I had a fabulous 2 weeks in paradise, that made up for the pain and confusion. If there is ANYTHING you are attached to in America, bring it with you. lol Trust the dentist, while the way they did things were confusing, I have never had such a wonderful experience as I did at Estrada Family Denistry. Wonderful people, gentle as it gets, nothing like the cold atmosphere in the US. I have a big white smile now...lol He considers himself a cosmetic specialist also, so he picked the color A1 Natural, and widened my smile a bit. I have not one single bad tooth in my head, they are all healthy, this is the first time in my life, I have had perfect teeth. I can think, the headaches are gone, I haven't even worn my glasses since they did the work. I feel so much better, the healing continues and pain, but I know I am bruised and that takes time.
I gotta get to work.
I don't know if some of you remember, but for 20 years of business, I had more integrity to my clients than I had to myself. I couldn't take a day off, demand called for me to do nothing but work. I stopped doing that. I have more integrity to myself, I am taking care of myself and I have learned to embrace the moments when a friend stops by, or a Son needs a day of mental health or fun or to talk, embrace those moments of LIFE! Work is not life.... Live, we all should have learned to at least live in the past few years. I am the only person who makes everything and sells it and does the janitor work, the marketing, the bookkeeping and the communication. I can't stop making soap to respond to instant messenger. lol I think people forget it's just one lady doing all of this. They would talk to me nicer if they remembered that. If I hadn't gotten a couple of crappy emails I wouldn't be writing all of this. We owe you our WHOLE life, us business owners? hrmmm...
Big Love ~ I wish you blessings, thank you for being my blessing.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to those who support with sweetness and encourage me.
Thank you so much for loving our product enough to keep us going! One year ago, I was privileged to be living behind the Georgia O'Keefe museum in Santa Fe and oops! The house we were renting was in foreclosure so we had to find a space QUICK! A friend called and said she had an idea to get us going again and come up with money for a place to live. We had sold it ALL in 2020. Everything we owned fit in a Uhaul. lol So, my friend suggested subscriptions! I was so excited, I knew it was the right idea, and in 4 hours I was back in business... well. We found a warehouse space that is zoned work live and we decided to make it my studio. We had to buy new cookers, tables, spatulas, oils, fix up the warehouse and figure it out all over again. It was pretty exciting really! I appreciate you all so much for giving me hope. You all know the history of the past year, pandemic, supplies, panic, to vax or not to vax, (K2 and Josh are essential workers and I'm old, we wanted to enjoy life a little and quit being so paranoid, so yes, we vaxxed happily) Them damn guys and their pickups lol Every time I saw them I thought the civil war was gonna break out. Rising prices with less to buy. Those of us who have made it this far? We are survivors, and they will talk about our hardships and strength in history books. Real history books.
I stirred and stirred and I'm starting to get in the groove again. My Sons were raised in the soap world. K2 has been working in Santa Fe for the past 8 years, Josh got a job too. They have more money than I do... but I have an addiction to making soap. ha. I get emails that are written like we are this big corporation asking if I could have someone in marketing update their address... IT'S ME! I DO EVERYTHING! ha... I am authentic about who we are and what we do. Somehow people think it's a company with 20 employees. Nope, just one Woman. One grouchy old Woman lol. Thank God for good soap, collagen, anti wrinkle cream and hair colorant...and the occasional younger man. ha ha I watch tik tok. sorry.
Our subscriptions had a lot of bumps and platforms were restructuring and erasing everything I did almost monthly ~ so this month, the new subscription will launch, with a new platform and it's supposed to be amazing.... by Nov 1st, it should be ready. I'm so excited. I was so surprised at how many people purchased the subscription last year. I know half of you personally, so it was stressful trying to remember what soaps make you happy. lol. I only had 2 people who didn't think I was good at picking soaps for them, so I feel like that's a positive. lol (I try) That's why the NEW subscription will have choices like Vanilla types, Citrus, Floral, Woods, Patchouli blends, Let Michelle Pick, Manly, Seasonal, etc lol !!
All this news about the supply chain makes me nervous. There may be months that all I can do is fill subscriptions. Last week I couldn't find coconut oil, this week, olive oil was a challenge, ALL Summer I was buying candle wicks 20 at a time whenever I could find them. I remember the small tins for candles were unavailable so I had to use big ones. I even had a dear friend from Florida buy me a ton of parchment paper which lines our soap molds, because there was not a roll in New Mexico! So, I'm flexible... however, tested to the nth degree. So let's all try to remember soap is made with food products and that seems to be what's missing from a lot of grocery and suppliers. AND the prices keep going up up up.... well, you all know. I paid $8.99 for a pound of bacon and I can't stop talking about it! ha ha I always figure it out, but like you, I feel like a contortionist! When I go quiet, well, I'm tired of explaining. lol I'll TRY to be more positive!
We haven't opened a retail space yet. I live here lol I may pick one day a month to be open and that's about it. I mean, K2 built me a fabulous shower right in the middle of the shop. You can imagine what excitement it would be if a customer walked in while I was trying to take a shower.... I could yell, "YEAH HELP YOURSELF LEAVE THE CASH ON THE COUNTER!!" no. I'm thinking about it. If someone calls and says they need soap now, I tell them to come on over if I have time to spend on that.
I took my first vacation in 10 years, I was in New Orleans twice, I have just my favorite people in the world running a great organic farm inner city. Speak Easy Farms. I almost moved there, and then Ida. Now we are thinking New Mexico might be a good space to be! Follow those Cajun Navy Ground Force. They are still helping people hit from that hurricane. That was such a blessing to be in New Orleans!
I'm extremely ADHD, I prefer to call it Neuro Divergent. Thank you very much. People read my writings and think I'm somebody else, then they walk in and realize I really am the one who runs around like a chicken with their head cut off. lol
I call this the ramblings of a soapmaker for a reason, ya know.
I am an activist for Native American rights. I really should post more about this, because I am passionate about the subject. I think I will make a point to do that this year. I'll try not to cuss. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.... do you know 45 went missing on one fb page in 2 weeks? They are stolen for sex trafficking, a lot of them are for the Man camps in the oil pipelines. I'm passionate about water and women. For without both, there is no life. I am passionate about the truth and reconciliation for US Indian schools. My Dad was an Indian school survivor. Look up the truth about US Indian schools. Kill the Indian, Save the man. spit. 7100 children have been found in unmarked graves beside churches in the US and Canada in the past year, we still have a lot of schools to investigate, like 350 (The Churches ran the schools) While I'm talking, LaDonna Bravebull Allard who started Standing Rock Water Protection asked me for one thing on her last birthday. She asked that the Doctrine of Discovery be reversed. Look that up. I read about it and responded, You want it all back?! She laughed and said, They can stay as long as they are good to the Earth. I love that Woman. She inspired 100,000 people to stand by her and fight the DAPL pipeline from digging through their ancestors graves and destroying their water. That's a Queen, a beautiful Queen. Also, an Indian school survivor. She passed away with a brain tumor, I think she knew what she was talking about. The water... May I suggest you also support Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland and write her about your concerns for Native America. I'm honored to be Cherokee, I'm honored that my Grandma was Marie Cloud and I am a Cloud. and her Great Great Grandmother was a Sixkiller. I am so honored to be their descendant. I am obligated to continue their fight for justice for all Native Americans.
(Steps down from soap box) eh hem
Well, here we go, the second year of the new Nature's Emporium Cherokee Soap Co. I'm going to change the name one more time though. The Cherokee Soap Emporium. Ya like that? I'm going to keep using my creativity as therapy as we walk through these days of what the hell is going on. I sure do appreciate everyone that likes what I create.
All I've been able to say lately, after I complain is, I am blessed. How I have survived the wreck, my dog dieing, the pandemic, forced removal and supply shortages, I will never know. The only answer is, I am truly blessed. Thank you for blessing me!
So, Let's do this!
Take a bath and Change the world.
Have fun and help people.
When you have the choice between adventure and work, take the adventure.
Honor the ancestors.
Continue to inspire.
Laugh.
Love.
Blessings to you ~ Michelle Lewis,
CEO, CFO, WEBSITE DESIGN, SHIPPING, MARKETING, PRODUCT MANUFACTURER, LABELING, GRAPHIC DESIGNER, PRINT SHOP, CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUYER, JANITOR,
JOSH CUTS THE SOAP lol, K2 BUILDS WHAT I NEED lol
THEY BOTH DO THE HEAVY LIFTING, See? I'm blessed!
Happy 2021 January 02 2021, 80 Comments
We made it to 2021~ Happy New Year!
2020 was a rough ride but we made it, thanks to my very patient customers who bought subscription soaps and gave me hope again! Thank you! Subscriptions will be available throughout the year for gifts to loved ones, it has been so popular, I decided to keep it going. For now. I've learned to not make plans anymore. ha ha The price is incredible... free shipping every month.
I am going to make soaps with supplies that are available and also put them on the website. Believe it or not, soap is a food product, if you have noticed the rising cost of food, you understand, I'm in the same bath tub... many items are not available, some our 3 times the price. Did you buy a bottle of Vanilla extract over the holidays? I gasped! Our price has been adjusted only to reflect our costs of supplies. With great sadness, we are no longer able to do wholesale. Our bars have been re designed so Mom can make all the soap, cut all of the soap and ship all of the soap. So much has changed, I never thought after 20 years I would be redesigning the entire company from the ground up, but I am very excited about the high quality product, rich in butters and the packaging is even better with muslin bags and full colored labels.
I realize lotion is a love of many, I have developed a new salve butter that is made with olive, coconut, shea, beeswax and essential oils. It is absolutely the moisture we need, goes on smooth, soaks in and leaves the skin glowing and beautiful, I will add those to the website as I make them.
With great joy, we found an old brewery in Santa Fe that was divided up into 3 live work units. We have done our best to make it liveable and loveable ha ha! We are very happy here, it's kinda like a covid bunker, no one can come in and we have everything we need, so I don't have to leave. Josh does, he goes to work full time, and is enjoying new adventures. K2 is turning plumbing into art and is in great demand to design more showers and bathtubs around Santa Fe. We are all very happy to be together in the same town again!
It has been my decision to make the best products ever, brimming with fantastic quality ingredients and plenty to give you the best bath experience ever. Our journey may have been rocky, but the soap just keeps getting better!
Blessings to you in 2021 ~ Stay safe ~
We are getting closer to a better tomorrow.
Much Love, Michelle
I need help! September 27 2020, 34 Comments
2019 ~ 2020 brought me to my knees. I had a roll over accident in 2019 that has resulted in me still trying to heal. I had used all of my money to buy my dream car and got hit from behind 3 weeks later by a an under insured driver who hit me going 45 mph and flipped my car. I was broke, had to buy whatever over priced pickup truck I could find and finance it. My insurance paid my other car off. lol yeah! But my bills were through the roof, I had no choice but to try to make more money to survive. Josh was in his last year of college. We decided to open a 2nd location in downtown Taos with credit cards to try to make the extra money we needed. November and December 2019, Taos was devastated economically. No snow. The week we finally got snow for skiers was Thanksgiving weekend and it was a blizzard so we were pretty much shut down with a town packed full of people. Needless to say, I put more money into my downtown shop than I made. and then 2020... lightening strikes. I closed the downtown shop, got sick in February with some strange respiratory flu, my best friend dog died, Gracie was my best friend for 13 years and I was defeated. and then Covid 19 hit. Josh and I geared up with our hand sanitizer and masks and continued to try to continue business. If you remember, it was terrifying then. We would go to the post office, the grocery and walmart daily to ship orders or buy supplies. Thank you so much for all who ordered and got us through that time. We were living on frozen pizza and coffee. With most stores on lock down and wholesale being 90% of our business, we quickly started sliding down the ladder while trying to continue to keep what credit we had. We worked through the entire lock down. Shaking. I was now not only recovering from a wreck, I am pretty sure I had a nervous breakdown a month through the first half of the year. But was too numb and grouchy to know it..and then the supplies started to not be available. I still have not gotten all those bottles and pumps I ordered in February. Lotion is just not a possibility, not in 2020. In June, I was just starting to make money again... and my landlord evicted me from my house because I could not magically come up with 3 months rent in 10 days. Just a bad year. My Sons showed up with a UHaul and got me out of Taos into the safety of Santa Fe, where I could rest and they could let me. I have walked my beautiful 2 dogs 3 miles a day and slept 12 hours a day through most of the Summer. The mention of soap made me sick to my stomach and the shakes would begin. I am finally getting stronger and only sleeping at night. I believe I can do this again! But I need help. We sold everything so that I could rest. and I mean everything lol. We kept some molds, pots, stir sticks, fragrances and essential oils. but the rest is gone. Thankfully, selling everything gave me enough to pay bills and rest. No, I have not paid that landlord yet, he sold my house and is taking me to court for evicting me while in the moratorium.I asked the town what my legal rights were and it took them 2 days to respond and they said they didn't know. See why my Sons wanted me out of Taos?
I am fine with getting a real job. But I can't do that and make soap. So I am at a crossroads. Making soap in the house is just not working AT ALL. I need a makers space, I need supplies, I need to be able to work at my own pace until I am fully restored. A friend came up with a great idea this morning. She suggested I sell a subscription package for one bar of soap to be delivered to your door monthly for $120. That is including shipping. At this time that is all I can offer, and hopefully it will give me the funds to get a maker space and place to live all in one. My youngest son, Josh and I are prepared to live in the loft, and live like industrial artists long enough to get on our feet. We have GOT to figure out how to put a shower in that space. ha ha. After we get set up and rolling, I will add more soaps, candles and salves to the website. We shall see what happens with the lotion.... The wreck cracked half of my teeth at the root, so I have 6 weeks more of dental visits, so I have to take it slow and can't roll like I used to.
So, I am asking, please help us get rolling. For $120 ~ I promise to send you the soap of the month for a year. I am excited to try some new fragrances and make some old favorites. I am excited to use this time for creativity and also I am trying to write a book about our company and the INSANE journey of this soap maker. I have people encouraging me to do a tell all. lol I prefer to write a fiction, that no one knows if it's true or not, but a really good read.
I love you all, I appreciate you getting us this far ~ I got my boys raised, and that is the biggest blessing of all. They are both flourishing and K2 and Josh couldn't make me prouder or feel more loved. Wonderful humans!
Blessings to you ~ I am hoping to see you again, real soon!
Love, Michelle
Big Love and Thanks to everyone who has supported us for more than 20 years!
I'm going to write a book and tell the whole damn story.
For now, I am being creative, I am having to redesign the whole company and product line. I have to do it based on what supplies are available.
I will be back ~ I have no doubt... I just am trying to figure a path to the future like you are.
Blessings to you ~ Stay Safe
If you are losing skin and have to have a bar of soap. email me at Michelle@CherokeeSoap.com
Sign up for the newsletter on the website ~ that will be your best way to know when product is available. I do not see how wholesale is a possibility unless I find a factory to make it in.
If you are rich and want to invest in getting me rolling again ~ By all means, contact me lol
BIg Love,
Michelle I Will Survive Lewis
Artwork by Taos Artist Frederick Aragon ~ Follow him on Facebook. He's just a wonderful artist to follow!
The way a soap comes into being... I blended these oils and made some sample lotions out to see how people responding to the warming spice. I got lots of good reactions... I didn't know what to call it other than Ginger, Saffron and Cedar. Then one night I couldn't sleep, and I have this great book of Cherokee stories from the 18th century. I just open it wherever and see what I might open to as the story I imagine my ancestors want me to read. The story was a bout a mysterious Red Man healer in the forest who saved two young hunters and helped them always have a good hunt. A couple of days later, I was looking at one of my favorite artists page on fb. Frederick Aragon. Check him out. He plays flute, he does art, he has fabulous honey... and such a nice man! and I see this print. I also noticed the black mask, that I am researching because I saw one on a Woman in a post about the Cherokee. I asked Rick if I could use it... I wasn't sure how people would respond to such a beautiful but strong painting...and then I asked what the name of the painting was. He said, "Red Man" ~ Well, I knew he was the one... for we all could use a mysterious healer who shows up just at the right time while we are on our path. Ginger oil is known for it's empowerment qualities... awakening, transformation. Saffron oil helps those in developing their 3rd eye (Intuition) I wonder if a mask helps one delvelop that? and Cedar is the sacred wood of the Cherokee. Never to be burned it is so sacred, only the flat green twigs should be used for medicine. Cedar oil is for longevity. Cedar is always green, it's hair never falls off in the Winter... ever greens are sacred to the Cherokee <3 so this is how a soap gets made.
May your Winter be full of warmth, nourishment and many happy showers and baths!
WINTER is your discount code for 10% OFF your entire order with a free travel lotion and a duck for the tub!
A beautiful customer reminded me I have forgotten to blog!
I have so much to say! How could I forget that?
I think I scared people with my Season Of The Witch campaign. lol but my intention was to remind Women to VOTE! Many of us were struck deeply by the Kavanaugh hearings and I am quite frankly fed up in having to work so hard to be recognized as a strong warrior Mama out here to make the world a better place. Discounted, as if I am just a hobby, not a force in business to be reckoned with!
I have many Sisters who were feeling the same.
I was so pleased we all voted and brought Women to the biggest topic of election day! Women! I saw a friend who is 70 and has been a Native activist her entire life. She marched around the Bureau of Indian Affairs in DC in the 70s and was there drumming and singing and was one of those who helped overtake it in protest of Leonard Peltier and the Wounded Knee take over. She yelled across the entire Women's clothing section! "MICHELLE!! DID YOU SEE HOW US WOMEN DID! AND SISTERS! NATIVE AMERICAN SISTERS ARE IN CONGRESS!!!!" She was grinning ear to ear as we talked about the election and what hope it gave us. Other Women started smiling and joining in the conversation! The entire Women's section had a dozen Women discussing their joy... from every color & culture! Some were so happy to discuss as they hoped their husband didn't hear them lol
Congratulations to Debra Haaland and Sharice Davids!
I try not to get political. But my cause is Women and Water. Most importantly of all...Children. If we walked in a manner that this entire country put the well being of CHILDREN first, the balance and peace and righteousness would be beautiful.
So, since we are the Fry Bread makers of the world, I do believe we have power to spread the love. As I see it, the one who cooks is the one who owns complete power in the house. ha ha
The ducks are in! and have been going out with every order! Please take photos and tag us on Instagram and Facebook! My friends have been doing it, and it spreads such joy! I love the Christmas Ducks and the happiness they give!
Free Duck, 10% Off and a free travel lotion by using discount codes
Gratitude or Snowball
By the way, it's going to snow here again tomorrow! Josh and I bought a kiln today so that he can pursue is business endeavors when he gets out of school. I am going to make... what else? SOAP DISHES! ha!
We are also going to go to Tres Peidras in the morning. They are opening a giant Earth kiln with 200 pieces that have been in the earth with a wood fire cooking for several weeks. Life is Taos may be bizarre, but it's never boring!
Wishing you a beautiful Holiday season, because it's here. I am planning Thanksgiving dinner already. (To love K2 and Josh is to get excited about feeding them) K2 lives in Santa Fe but he always finds his way home when the turkey goes in the oven. I am planning on many evenings of reading by the fire, while I watch it snow. My dream life!
Blessings to you and yours, I will try to blog more about soap next time. lol
Michelle
Many people ask me.. WHERE DO YOU GET ALL OF THESE IDEAS FOR SOAP? Outside of being extremely blessed with Attention Deficit ~ I follow a magic little journey of senses. I have a story for every soap created. Today, I am going to share my story about how George Jennings and I made a couple of bars of soap together! It's always accidental. One day, I walked into Taos Diner 2 to have breakfast with my Sons and this fabulous original art is on the wall. I asked my friend Samm who made them. She said, "Oh! George! Our dishwasher! Aren't they FABULOUS!?!" So.. I meet George, took photos and the journey begins...this is only a story that could happen in Taos, New Mexico.
The Raven Medicine Soap:
On that Super Blood Red Blue Moon in January ~ I was making Lemongrass Patchouli Soap and somehow put Vanilla Bean instead of Patchouli. It was a Full Moon of transformation, so Face Book said.. I thought is was a full moon of devastation. lol So, I had this incredible soap, and had to share it. I sold it locally as .. you guessed it. Super Full Blood Blue Moon Soap 1.31.2018 ~ I sold all but 6 bars that day. People came in wanting more. They said it worked in easing them through the transformation of that moon. That was about the same time I met George at The Diner 2. I was reading last week about the magic and medicine of Ravens. We have Raven medicine everywhere here. They laugh and chuckle at the silly things us humans do ~ they enjoy our transformation. I see them as a beautiful medicine as do many tribes in the Southwest. When I combined the dark black soap with George's art and the research, I fell in love ~ and whipped up another batch under the March Full Moon. and so you have the rest of that story. Transformation soap!
The Bear Medicine Soap:
January is the season that I create new soaps. I was sad, I needed strength, I needed direction. I so relate with being a Mama Bear. Even kids I didn't give birth to call me Mama Bear. lol I wanted to make myself some Bear Medicine. Osha is only found above 9000 ft in the Rocky Mountains. It is an antiseptic. It also brings Good Luck and Protection. I have had a few Spanish local men show me that they carry their protection in their pockets (a piece of Osha Bear Root) wherever they go. It is a local tradition. Osha is used in every Native American tribe for medicine one way or another. For me, The Osha Root is also a saponification root. Soap! Wanting to keep it pure, I added no scent. This is designed to be antiseptic, spiritual and medicinal soap. It's medicine in every way. Everyone has loved the label by GEORGE JENNINGS so much, they begged me to make a lotion and candle to go with it. Who wants an unscented lotion and candle? not many. So, I scented the lotion and candle with a subtle sugared mint. with a smidgen of Osha root.
This is the tale of 2 soaps, one AMAZING artist ~ George Jennings and the journey through the apothecary of my soul.
I truly hope you enjoy them!
Much Love ~ Mama Bear ~ Michelle Lewis
