The Art of Eating Locally

Yesterday I went to a trunk show at Capers and met a couple of lovely people there. Chef Ivy Manning and her husband/photographer Gregor Torrence were there promoting their new cookbook "The Farm to Table Cookbook".

Of course after sampling some of the recipes from the cookbook that Capers whipped up....I had to buy the book. I'm really excited to try out a bunch of recipes, especially the Strawberry Shortcakes with Lemon Curd Cream and Ivy's Heirloom Tomato Panzanella Salad.

Ivy writes a lot of freelance food articles and really focuses on shopping and cooking from local farmer's markets. The cookbook is organized by seasons, which makes it easy to plan a great seasonal menu. I plan on having trying a few of her ideas on friends at impromptu dinner parties. Of course, when they mention how wonderful the food is I will say, "Oh this is just something that I threw together after shopping the Farmer's Market today".

Chef Ivy has also has some great recipes on her site (fancy pants herb crackers!), along with a great newsletter you can sign up for.

Inspiration

Portland artist, Cori Kindred. We share the same name...and the love of open toed shoes. Check our more of her work here.

Searching for the perfect panty?

Just in today, Lucy B. Lace Scandal Thongs. This panty is very similiar to the Hanky Panky thong but is nicer for a few different reasons.

*Lucy B. lace is much softer which makes for a more comfortable fit

* Just a smidge wider so thong doesn't ride up

*Great Price $14.00 each

*Matching Cami

*Made in America

thong panty is on clothing line. Model, Bernie Dexter, is wearing the boy cut thong.

Genius!

Handbags made out of vintage leather jackets! Takes recycling to the next level. Now if I had only saved my leather bomber I got at Retro Viva in the 80's...drat!! These super neat bags can be purchased here.

More Good Clean Dogs

The competition is heating up people. Check out Lucca. He is a rescued little puppy that came to his owners in need of heart surgery. His heart is all fixed up now and he's fit as a fiddle.

p.s. this dog is so stinkin cute. I think i love him. his little lips are so fuzzy.

Lucca prefers 100% organic cotton as it is better for the environment.

Rocko is a handsome black and white Boston Terrier that was adopted last August and he lives for chasing bouncy things. About Rocko, his owner, Cameron says, "he is definitely a spokes dog for being Good and Clean now because he had previously been tied up and left out to suffer from flea and worm infestations that were so bad he lost all of his fur. He's now sporting the most handsome coat and he's full of personality".

Miles is a very handsome fella. He is always thinking about food and LOVES water of all sorts... baths, swimming, especially HOSES.

Today's Good Clean Dog Contest Entries

Rosie (100% smoochable)

Gracie (has a good sense of humor, can't you tell?)

Biscuit (aka Captain Bun Bun)

Send in your entries everyone! customerservice@sweetpetula.com Don't have a dog? Just wait...new giveaway is coming soon.

Sweet Petula Salts Featured in Treasury ON ETSY FRONT PAGE!

Imagine my surprise tonight when I sit down with my laptop, go to Etsy and see Sweet Petula Salts not only in a Treasury...but on the FRONT PAGE treasury. I'm just so darn excited....I can hardly stand it. For those of you who don't know what Etsy is (for shame), it is my newest addiction (thanks Jessica, I blame you) and like the best on-line shopping ever. totally. and for sure. Members get to pick out different items that they like and make these really pretty treasuries that are nifty photo collage thing-a-ma-jigs. Anywho.....the admin at Etsy often choose super awesome collections to feature on the front page. And Sweet Petula Salts were there. The most amazing thing about Etsy is how popular it is. I sat for a few minutes refreshing my views page and it was amazing the number of hits. Of course by "a few minutes" I mean 1 hour.

We were featured in NW Source this weekend for our Good Clean Dog products!

Check out the article here.

In other news, our first Studio Sale is officially over. It was so busy. After the first day I needed cookies. Tonight it is going to have to be something more substantial. Like gin. Hopefully you all stocked up sufficiently.

Thanks to everyone who came out and made the sale so successful. All you Burien-ites made me feel loved and genuinely missed. Thank you all so much. You made me feel fantastic. It was great seeing everyone and catching up. Don't forget to enter your dog in our "Good Clean Dog" photo contest. So far NO ONE has submitted a photo....so get on it. Your chances of winning at this point are looking really good. Send your photos to us at customerservice@sweetpetula.com

Sale Day #1

We sold out of a few items early this morning....but there are still many many many bars of soap left. As well as a good selection of other products. I'm exhausted! And need cookies.

Stop by Friday 11-5 or Saturday 11-5

p.s. it is supossed to snow on Saturday. If it does...all remaining items are half off...but only if it snows!

Studio Sale Inventory

Here is a list of what is available at amazing prices. There is over $7,000.00 worth of inventory, so by no means is this a complete list. If you are unable to attend and need us to put together an order for you, please check out my previous posting, "Tied Up"

~over 100 $1.00 sample items
~58 rolled soap balls mixed scent $1.00 each
~150 slightly damaged soap bars/various scents $2.00 each.
~50 scratch and dent full sized products $2.50 each
~93 bars Bulk Soap (unwrapped) Balsam Corriander $4.50 each
~90 bars Bulk Soap Bergamot Chamomile $4.50 each
~88 bars Bulk Soap Spicy Citrus (marbled...really pretty) $4.50 each
~81 bars Bulk Soap Basil, Bergamot & Citrus $4.50 each
~90 bars Bulk Soap Oatmeal, Lavender & Shea Butter $4.50 each
~90 bars Bulk Soap Lily Grapefruit & Shea Butter $4.50 each
~12 Ginger Blossom Shea Cream $10.00 each
~10 Large Glass Provence Salts $12.00 each
~8 Large Glass Fleur de Lis Salts $12.00 each
~100 Aromatherapy Bath Fizzies (mostly Provence) $2.00 each
~10 Ground Walnut Exfoliating Body Wash Lavender & Bergamot $8.00 each
~10 Ground Walnut Exfoliating Body Wash Bay Rum & Lime $8.00 each
~28 Wrapped Bay Rum & Lime Shea Butter Soaps $5.00 each
~48 Wrapped Lavender Soaps $5.00 each
~49 Shea Hand & Body Balm (mostly Sweet P. & Ginger Blossom) $4.80 each
~12 Bulk Effervescent Bath Soaks Mixed Scents $12.00 each
~84 Lavender Gardeners Shea Butter Salve $5.00 each
~20 Good Clean Dog Spritzers $4.50 each
~45 Good Clean Dog Salve $3.00 each
~30 Rosewater Facial Spritzers $3.50 each
~100+ bars of French Pre de Provence Soaps (various scents) $4.16 each
~24 French Pre de Provence Verbena Products

in addition, we have some bath & body packaging items at rock bottom prices & quite a few display pieces for sale.

Good Clean Dog Photo Contest

Got a Good Clean Dog?

Send us a photo of your sweetest pooch by May 15th and a random winner will win a Good Clean Dog "Every Dog Has It's Day" Spa Pack.

Remember to include your email address so that we may contact you. Good Luck..and check out our full line of natural pet care on our Etsy store here.

Submit your photos at customerservice@sweetpetula.com

Tied Up Next Week?

We have gotten a few requests to mail-order our sale items next week. If you are unable to make it to the sale, but still would like to shop, we would love to help you out!

#1 Wait for us to post what is available (Tuesday 8th)

#2 Make your list

#3 Call us during the sale at our studio 206.246.3488 and we can help you over the phone.

#4 Or, send us your order via Fax: 206.431.3266 or Email: customerservice@sweetpetula.com
If you chose to send us your order, please include the following;

Name:
Shipping Address:
Billing Address & Zip:
Telephone:
Credit Card #:
Expiration:
3 Digit Code:

#5 Please keep in mind that we will sell out of some things very quickly and the sale is on a first come first served basis.

#6 We can ship your order to you or you may pick it up at our Madison store next week.

Thanks so much!

Second Location Coming July 2008

Happy Thursday All,

Hopefully you all got your postcard today reminding you about our Studio Sale.

Why are we having this super fantastic Studio Sale? ....I'm glad you asked!

We are moving our manufacturing (or as I like to call it SweetPetula H.Q), from Burien to Pioneer Square in Seattle. This time we are doing something a bit different and will have a small storefront with all of our products, as well as our manufacturing facility in the same spot. We will be moving May 1st and (fingers crossed) be open for business in July. I'll post all the details as they are available.

Hope to see you all next week!

I love making soap

Lately I've been thinking about how lucky I am to work for myself and how much I still love doing what I do. Sometimes it gets a bit stressful balancing everything...but at the end of the day, I still really enjoy the process. Some of you may not know that I still make all of the soap myself. There was a brief period during a growth spurt (The Oprah Magazine thing), where I did hire a soapmaker, but after a year or so, I went back to being the solo Sweet Petula soapmaker. I really love making soap. It is this methodical process that is about 80% preparation and the rest is just stirring and waiting. Each batch is always different. Even when I follow the exact same steps, measures, and temperatures, there is always variables that make each batch unique. The Olive oil always comes from different trees, the ground Lavender is fresher or greener, etc, etc. The best part of the whole process is stirring and waiting for the soap to "trace". This is when you know your soap is ready to pour into the molds and has begun turning into soap. It gets very heavy and thick and slightly grainy. One of the differences in Sweet Petula soap is the amount of essential oils we add to our bars. We push the limits of adding as much as possible without overdoing it, in order to make super fragrant soap. Sometimes people are surprised that I still make as much soap as I do, and without assistance. It isn't the best way to make lots and lots of money, but it is the best part of my job. The benefits of working for myself. I get to do exactly what makes me happy...be a soapmaker.

Nice Hooters

More new earrings from MyLittle Sunshine are on their way in. The first shipment sold very quickly...so stop in soon!

Check out Rachel's (the designer) blog here for up to date info on her new products.

The Perfect Sunday

Sleeping In.

Walking Around Seattle with Tom B.

Late Breakfast At Cafe Campagne.

http://campagnerestaurant.com/

New from Sidney Ann House of Design

Just in today from local designer, Sidney Ann....lovely vintage-inspired coaster sets.

These are very durable and beautifully made with soldered aluminum edges and backed with protective rubber bumpers. Sidney also makes great cosemetic bags as well as clutches and handbags. We have some of her pretty cosmetic bags in that will coordinate with Sweet Petula products for a great Mother's Day gift.

Sidney is a local artisian and sells her work around Seattle. From her website..."My name is Sidney Ann. I live in Seattle right next to the Space Needle where it is often raining and always beautiful. I have about five jobs, but this is my favorite. I'll do just about anything to avoid working in an office. I have a million ideas and never enough time. I am inspired by city life; architecture; all things old and vintage; athleticism; fashion; prints; and little kids with messy hair.Deep deep down I aspire to be a clothing designer and/or a painter. "

Come in and see these beauties!

Studio Sale

Hello all! I've been making lots of product for our upcoming STUDIO SALE. If you haven't marked you calendar yet, it is April 17th, 18th & 19th at our manufacturing facility in Burien...did you mark your calender.....I'll wait while you go do that. This is not one to be missed. We will be taking deep (at least 50%) discounts on our overstocked and slightly damaged items. Like soap bars that aren't so pretty (pictured here)...but still do the job just smashingly! I have also been experimenting with different scent blends and we will have about 400 bars of these "test" soaps. Keep checking back for a complete inventory and quantity of what we will have.