Ramblings Of A Soap Maker

Campers Soap, Lotion and Candles June 05 2017, 5 Comments

Hi, It's me again...

Our Camper Soap products.... 

It's not cintronella, it's a blend of essential oils, eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender, basil and cedar. The bugs absolutely hate it. 

So, our special of the week, is make a purchase on our website and I'll send you a travel lotion to try. It's been tested all over the world and I've always been met with kind words. It's your go to product of the season.

Go camping, sing ranchera.... Use the Camper soap and be free

Use FREELOTION as your discount code and get a free travel size and 10% off everything you buy! 

Here's The Link


The Holidaze is here! November 14 2016, 3 Comments

HOLIDAZE is your discount code through December
BLACKFRIDAY2016 in your discount code the day after Thanksgiving through Monday
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM NATURE'S EMPORIUM CHEROKEE SOAP CO!!

I have had a hard time blogging through these elections! A wise one explained I should never discuss politics as it would hurt my business. lol  I'm not wise. I'm a Woman, a Mother, I am Native American, I have best of friends and family from every race there is. My boys are half Black... and I love the gays! I love love love and I have a dream of a President who loves the world as much as I do. Some of my friends call me a flaming Liberal. ha! and most of the friends who call me that are the most conservative Republicans I know, and they giggle while they say that and hug me... I have a really good life! and boy do I love to vote but this year was the wildest ride I've ever seen.

I just keep praying and supporting Standing Rock. Please call Barrack Obama and ask him to stop the pipeline from going through sacred land to the Standing Rock Sioux. Also tell him you would appreciate clean water going through your land as it is sacred too! We are donating weekly to Standing Rock ~ Thank you for supporting our cause!

Our Feliz Navidad is flying off the shelf, we have made over 200 products in the past 2 weeks. It is a rich Vanilla Bean with a twist of Navidad. The scent makes me feel good, and it must be the feel good scent for many.  

I'm not gonna lie, I get excited to take a shower this time of year just because of Cookies For Santa... that stuff turns me into a big ol happy kid again!

 

Our Iced Pine candles are so delicious! I am burning one now, I don't think I'm going to need a Christmas Tree... it smells so real, we may just put our gifts around a candle! lol No but really, it's good!

I have great hope for all people ~ I pray for a holiday season that inspires us to love and forgive one another and to have the realization that it's not anything that makes this world go round but living a life of integrity, love, prayer and supporting one another. and WATER IS LIFE! It is the season for miracles ~ I believe we can still get them ~ So, make bridges and extend your hand to all people. Let's make America great for the first time, it's up to us, the majority. and please, if you see a bully, speak up, find your voice, stop them in their tracks, let's PROTECT and SUPPORT one another. Surely, we have evolved enough to at the very least do that. Right? 

Our slogan is TAKE A BATH ~ we believe that is the most healing ceremony one can do for themselves and the world. The Cherokee go to water to cleanse their body & souls. To wash away the day and negativity to go about the day in a new body and mind. Take a shower, dance in the rain, wash all those horrible feelings down the drain... and LIVE!

We truly appreciate you ~ I feel so connected to so many of you and think of you as good friends. I am so thrilled with the exchanges we get to have between one another and yes, many of you have become my very good friend whom I have the privilege of knowing and being your personal soap maker. 

One more thing! K2 and Josh took this year to work on their creativity. So, in exchange, K2 has to make a whole lot of soap and Josh has to cut a whole lot of soap, but we are all very happy. You are noticing our old style soap that takes a football player to make is popping up more and more! That's because stirring a 5 gallon bucket full of soap is like making cake for K2... lol. We love his soap and are thrilled to have him dancing around the soap pot again a few days a week. (So is my arthritis.. lol) Maya and Kalia stroll through the shop to help daily, still. and our very good friend/intern Maddy is hands on deck also. We all rejoice when you help us pay our rent! lol and THANK YOU FOR THAT! SO MUCH LOVE!

May your Holidays be full of appreciation for that which is important, may you have the blessings of family, friends and love... and don't forget to set your scales back 10 lbs!

With sincerity and love,

Your Cherokee soap makers


I am fascinated by Cuba... August 08 2016, 14 Comments

I'm 52, either I am too young to know I should fear Cuba or wasn't paying attention, but ever since Miami Vice came on TV, I became fascinated with Cuban culture. The fact that they got stuck in America's fun 50's with their cars, clothes, colors, design.... and well, I just kind of became in a romantic space with Joan Wilder the writer on Romancing The Stone. I could write a whole romance novel on what I think Cuba is like, it's probably wrong, because I'm just a Cherokee Woman living on a remote mountain in the middle of no where. lol Do you see how old I am? That just threw some people into a whole huge smile of 90s pop culture in America, while the hipsters are sitting there wondering what the HECK I"m talking about now. lol

 I was sent a fabulous fragrance, and it's unisex and strong. Sweet and sassy. It is called Carmel Tobacco.  I was sniffing it one day and it was around the time where we were now able to travel to Cuba and enjoy it's colorful culture, Havanna was all over the news and magazines.  I said, "Oooooooh, this must be what Cuba smells like. Sweet Carmel & Cigars...."  Of course everyone laughed at me, you know, because everybody who works at Nature's Emporium is 20 years younger than I am. lol  I have thought about it and thought about it, and finally made it. OH MY... My inner Joan Wilder wanted to jump on speed boat in Key West and fly with the sea mist hitting my face and making me glow like a tan thin model wearing a red ruffly dress with danger on my lipstick...  oh. see there I go again. 

So, Here it is! La Aroma De Cuba!! The Women like it but yes, the men like it too..

.

and also, I speak the worst spanish with my Kansas accent you will ever hear, but La Aroma De Cuba rolls off my tongue and I snap my casinettes in between my thumbs and fingers like I can actually speak a little spanish and I might be a size 10 who could pull off a pencil skirt cut up to my thigh! and stilettos. and red lip stick.... WHAT!? I have a RICH imagination! 

So Viva Las Vegas, Let's all go to Cuba ~ If only when we close our eyes in the shower!

Every order shipped this week got a free sample and it is the fragrance of the month for all of the Cherokee Alchemist Subscription Gift Boxes

Thank you for loving our soaps and putting up with my silly imagination as we continue down this road of apothecary lead by the Cherokee Princess, I mean Queen... okay, Woman. lol

Your coupon code for August. CUBA

Love you guys!


The Change of Life June 15 2016, 1 Comment

Did I make you read the blog? ha!

We have had a wild last month. Joshua graduated and is studying pottery ~ K2 is spreading his entrepreneurial wings and Mama got a brand new store!

Can ya believe we got em raised? After all it takes a village...

Here are some new soap shop photos ~ 36 State Hwy 522 North of Taos

We think it's going to add to anyone's Taos, New Mexico vacation... the locals love it, we have been christening it nightly! 5 o Clock seems to have locals coming in just to talk about their day...  Ah... Taos!

Anyway ~ I thought I'd share. We have 3 times the space and here we are up and ready to roll. I better get to making soaps, lotions and candles ~ oh my 

Thank you & Gratitude Always,

Michelle Mama Bear Lewis 


April Showers April 13 2016, 3 Comments

April showers bring May flowers in Taos, NM!

My Mom always had these great sayings along the way... and April showers bring May flowers is one that rings through my head this time of year. She was right, after all.

Spring in Taos means dirt, blowing dirt, shooting pollen up your nose at 60 mph...lol. We get 40 drops of rain and we still manage to get flowers! 

I think of my Grandmas' Kansas flower garden ~ she never did a thing to it and it was like a big secret garden amidst lilacs and honeysuckle. One of my favorite places to hide and read.

Indiana Spring was always confusing ~ it would rain, hail, snow and show sun all in a few hours. It never seemed to get warm in the Spring. but along came June and it was a humid heat box guaranteed to make your skin glisten and be plump and beautiful! 

Most of my floral soaps were thought of in Spring...yearning for the lilacs, honeysuckle, roses, and geraniums. Excited for the euphoric feeling one gets when it appears everything is just a whole lot brighter and better. Sowing the seeds for the new cycle... working towards harvest.  The cycle of the day, the month, the season, the year, the life... so precious. I have harvest this year as Josh graduates from High School. My boys are all grown up. Josh plans to stay in Taos, study at UNM and throw pots next door ~ during his first year... I was thinking about them both being MEN and what will I do with my life. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR LIFE WHEN YOUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN YOUR WHOLE LIFE!?! Trust me I'll figure this out. Like everything else... lol

May your garden be full of bounty, your hands be rich with soil and may you have a good bar of soap near by after you are done!

Take A Bath ~ Plant something ~ Love one another ~ Do what makes you HAPPY

Love,

Michelle


Happy Labor Day! Discount Code: 3 Day Weekend September 03 2015, 1 Comment

Labor Day: What it Means. Labor Day, the the first Monday of every September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country ...

(That's what Wikipedia says)

What a pleasure it is to work, to be part of the force behind social and economic achievements in American history.

Dedicated to our Working Hands soaps...

Kitchen Hands ~ Cleans onion and other kitchen smells right off your hands, with all that ground espresso! Great for cellulite too!

Mechanics Bar ~ Blue Corn Meal and Tea Tree (for cuts) and Orange oil to break up grease. Designed by a mechanic for the mechanics! and they love it!

Gardener's Bar ~ The last days of Summer to toil in the earth and smell dirt! Corn meal, Tea Tree, Basil & Spearmint make this a bar that gets you clean but leaves ya smelling like the garden without the dirt

Your discount code gets you $5 off all orders on our website. CherokeeSoap.com

Discount Code: 3 Day Weekend

I'm not even going to lie...the boys are going to sit on the porch, watch the grass grow and the bbq smoke...and that's about all we plan!

Much appreciation!

Michelle, K2 and Josh


PUMPKINS, APPLES AND WITCHES ~ OH MY! August 21 2015, 3 Comments

Nature's Emporium Soap Co. LOVES Autumn. It is our favorite season of the entire year! Make sure and keep an eye on our The Seasons page on our website. If anything new gets cooked up ~ that's where we put it! Yesterday, it was 85 degrees in Taos, New Mexico. Now that may seem cool to a lot of you, but we are 6700 feet closer to the Sun on this big mountain and 85 is HOT! I made my first round of Autumn soaps.  I turned on the fan and the entire north side of Taos smelled like Autumn! Lemon & Green Chile ~ Harvest Moon (Sweet Pumpkin Spice), Hocus Pocus (Vanilla, Patchouli,Pumpkin), Apple Jack Pie (Apple, Spice & Zip) and Taos Autumn Soap (Cinnamon, Vanilla & Honey) The Sugar Bar (Pure Sugar! Mm.)! What fun we had ~ it seemed cooler...we started to dream of roasted green chiles and pumpkin pie....oh and Apple Cider!

If you have not tried our products ~ please do. All natural, made with Soy, Coconut, Olive, Shea, Cocoa & Castor oils. You will be glad you did!

We are very much looking forward to the cool weather, the chance to wear fun clothes, hay rides and harvest...and the change of the leaves ~ if you are too, just check out our website 

There is a sale going on ~ the best of the year ~ 15% off everything as long as you put the discount code "Thank You" in the discount code box on the last page of check out. This sale ends August 31st. 

Now, where can I get a Pumpkin Chai Latte around here??

TAKE A BATH!

Michelle Lewis

Nature's Emporium Soap Co. ~ Taos, New Mexico

www.CherokeeSoap.com


Natural Soap in Taos, New Mexico ~ Summer Savings until August 31st 2015 August 11 2015, 3 Comments

Nature's Emporium Soap Company
Taos, New Mexico
www.CherokeeSoap.com


WHAT A SUMMER!

YOU TOOK A LOT OF BATHS!!



We had the biggest Summer since moving to Taos! We just want to thank you for spreading the word and making this the best Summer ever! Your discount code is THANK YOU! In celebration of such a great Summer we are offering 15% off every purchase. For Wholesalers we will automatically throw in 4 extra bars of soap into each order ~ BECAUSE WE APPRECIATE YOU!! We are excited to start heading into the Autumn scents and enjoying the bounty of the season ~ but for now your discount code is THANK YOU. Wholesale account discount code is WHOLESALE. THIS OFFER ENDS AUGUST 31st. http://www.facebook.com/NaturesEmporiumSoapCompany Please Follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NaturesEmporiumSoapCompany) https://www.twitter.com/TaosSoap/ Follow us onTwitter (https://www.twitter.com/TaosSoap/) http://www.CherokeeSoap.com CherokeeSoap.com (http://www.CherokeeSoap.com) mailto:SoapQueen@CherokeeSoap.com Contact us by Email (mailto:SoapQueen@CherokeeSoap.com)

Summer August 01 2015, 4 Comments

 Nature's Emporium Soap Co.www.CherokeeSoap.com 

Taos, New Mexico

What a Summer, huh!?
Civil unrest, a lot of people were tested, Taos was blessed with more rain than ever. Joshua rose to the top at the soap company and has just been my amazing right side, K2 started mixing adobe for a company in Santa Fe, he loves his job because it is just like making soap! We have discussed, wouldn't it be cool if he could scent adobe?? Our sales have been through the roof ~ I thank you for loving our soaps!
My good Sister friend, Kaiiba Mountain came in today. She had the longest Summer with a back injury. She is walking tall and smiling again...we look forward to new labels by this beautiful artist. She is the one who designed the Margarita cover for Margarita Soap
 
The best seller for the Summer was One Sweet Hippy Soap! All natural with Patchouli, Orange & Spearmint oils this colorful soap is juat a good mood in a shower!
!
The big rains brought big mosquitos. Camper Soap has always been popular with the outdoors people, but the Taoseno's discovered Camper Lotion. I have made gallons..gratefully. Doing our part to keep Taos bug free ha. This soap has also been tested in the UP. It works there too! Slather up and enjoy fishing!
I hope you had a chance to go camping, or go to a powwow, or a road trip of some kind this Summer. I wish you blessings and a good time this last few weeks!  We appreciate everyone who came to see us and came to Taos to buy Nature's Emporium Soap! I know I talk too much but I sure do get happy when people fly all the way across country just to buy our soaps!
Make sure and check out our website for any last minute needs for school. 
Use our discount code: SUMMER on the last page of check out

Dia De Los Muertos and Dan Enger Soaps June 17 2015, 6 Comments

When I first moved back to New Mexico ~ I kept seeing all these little skeletons dressed in funny clothes and some of the art and I'll be honest, I thought it was dark and kinda creepy.  A friend visited and she said, "I love all the Los Muertos art!", she went on to explain in old Mexican culture that the skeletons were Ancestors. It was celebrating the Ancestors (ears perked) and that the families would dress them up for special occasions and birthdays and seat them at the table with them.  I began to see the appeal. I started to go to locals houses and there were the ancestors sitting by the front door or in a chair in the living room, dressed and beautiful. Then came the 1st of November and I went to a Dia De Los Muertos gathering and there was an alter,  with prayer candles, marigolds, pictures of ancestors, and jewelry and trinkets all over the alter. It was the most beautiful alter ~ with 250 people honoring their ancestors! I looked around the room and almost everyone in the room were painted with white faces and black stitches and red hearts, etc all over ~ I fell in love with the tradition. Later, I walked into a gallery, Dan Enger Studio and it was bright and the most beautiful colors I had ever seen! I told him I make soap and would love to feature his art on a label...he smiled politely...lol.  Here we are 7 years later ~ and I made this fabulous soap with Strawberries, Sugar & Roses, I wanted the label to be fantastic. I flipped on Facebook and there was "Blue Frida" ~ I commented that I bet she smells like Strawberries, Sugar, & Roses ~ he agreed! So this week, spontaneously, as always ~ We created the soap and a beautiful tribute to Frida Kahlo. Frida is an iconic artist from the early 20th century. Her life was a struggle, she had nearly every bone in her body broken and survived. Married to the famous Diego Rivera ~ she was progressive and way ahead of her time. She is a feminist icon, because of her strength ~ she wandered through Taos once, so the legend goes ~ and I imagine she smelled like heaven, much like our soap.  I made lotion to test the public, ran into one of my favorite characters in town and told him I am testing a new fragrance and asked if he could tell what it smelled like. He smiled big, through the gap in his gorgeous smile and said, "HEAVEN" ~ ha! I knew I had a new big hit! Matched with Dan's incredible art ~ WOO HOO!!! There are more to come!

   Dan's Truck can be seen driving him around Taos

These were the "Blue Fridas" that captured my attention of Facebook

Please check out Dan Enger on Facebook and google his images ~ embrace Los Muertos and see it as love and honoring the ancestors ~ Dan has a wonderful sense of humor and is a wonderful human being! Enjoy his work, purchase it, do all you can to support this colorful fun famous artist.  He can be contacted via email at DanEngerStudio@yahoo.com

  The Legend

We hope you are having a fabulous Summer ~ we are doing our best! If you read all of this Newsletter ~ you get the discount code. Apply the word JUNE to the discount code box on check out and save significantly! 

As always, with Love, Hope & Gratitude,

Michelle Lewis ~ Nature's Emporium Soap Co.