I took the one less travelled by... and that has made all the difference.

Photo Taken of Ayla in November 2008 Giant City State Park, IL

This week something has changed.

Without going into too much detail, I received an order for a few things to be shipped to a recipient who lost a pregnancy- a baby. Heavy, for a simple soap blog- I know. But something changed. I have done orders like this before- sympathy gifts aren't fun to package, laden with this emotional charge... things must be perfect because, none of it matters now- at least to the recipient.

What was different about that order was I had woken that morning with an intention for Lote Tree. A new direction was decided upon, regardless of the financial impact it may have, because it's right and truthful. That's all I want, really when everything is taken away and Lote Tree is gone and I have the privilege of being old, I want to just be real and to know myself. Does anything else matter? Can anything else matter? I'm genuinely curious.

So, I'm excited, grateful, empowered, compelled, relieved, and joyful about the changes I have in store for 2009- a year surely to be a bright beacon in this otherwise dark decade.

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One of a Kind Gift Sets are Up!

We had a great time over the weekend at SIU- it was so lovely to see all of our local customers come out and support the wonderful artists who participate in this particular show.

We have some leftover gift sets and I've been putting them up on our Etsy shop- They really are lovely and would make great gifts- already wrapped!

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SIU Holiday Craft Show

I hope to see all of you at the SIU holiday craft show this coming weekend! We'll be there Thursday, Friday and Saturday- with new products! My mother, a former florist, clocked in and created some absolutely gorgeous gift baskets for us! If there are any left over, I'll be putting them online- so come and get yours!

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Announcing our Soap of the Month Club!

Lote Tree Love Club is now available!

Get 3 months worth of Lote Tree goodies delivered to your door!

This would make a great gift for the hard to please bath and body enthusisast ;)

Check out the shop for more details: www.lotetree.etsy.com

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Giving up Thanks

Remember to turn your thanks above this week.

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Lotion Nugget goodness

Yay! I finally got around to loading my little lotion nuggets in the shop!

These little butter cakes are scented with essential oils and are all natural. 7 flavors to choose from with more on the way, I'm sure *wink* These make great little gifts for people who work with their hands or handle a lot of paper.

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World Kindness day and new product

Today is world Kindness day!

I've listed my "Kindness" perfume oil in my Etsy shop.

Here is a list of ideas you can use to practice kindness day:

http://www.pbs.org/parents/supersisters/archives/2008/11/10-ways-to-celebrate-world-kin.html

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Studio Update

Thank goodness we are finally getting our studio re-roofed this coming week! I was afraid it wouldn't happen until spring! This is incredibly good news because after the roof is finished, the interior will be able to go from bare studs to a nice new space for us!! I'll be able to get production up to full swing again soon after the remodle is completed. Ah, I see the light at the end of the tunnel!

photo taken outside the studio last week!

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Vulturefest fun

Here are some shots I took over the weekend at vulturefest. There was a smaller crowd this year I think. Still a fun show, and I enjoyed the weather tremedously!

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See you at Vulturefest!

We will be at Vulturefest this weekend!
Here is a tidbit taken from the Vulture Society website:
"The Artist's community in the small village of Makanda is blessed every fall with hundreds of black and turkey vultures. Home to Giant City State Park, Makanda has an abundance of large trees and cliffs, appealing to the vulture families. The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is extremely beneficial to our ecosystem. Being scavengers, who don't kill their prey, vultures play a vital roll in the food web. Vultures eat carrion (dead flesh), like road kill and dead animals. Because they have such a unique digestive system, they can eat diseased and infected carcasses and there is no trace of bacteria in their droppings. Up close the turkey vulture is certainly one of the most unattractive creatures, but in flight they have the grace and beauty of eagles. Turkey Vultures have lived in the trees and cliffs of Makanda since the last ice age. They rear their young in the cliffs during Summer and return to the trees in the fall. The artists of Makanda in the Valley of the Arts wanted to have a fall festival much like the one they have in the Spring and with the number of vultures flocking to the valley, the theme for Vulture Fest was hatched. What better reason to have a FREE fest."

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Coming very soon....

A sneak peak at some things I'm super excited about presenting to you very soon!

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mmmm Tea!

While at the previously mentioned Indieana Handicraft Exchange, I met the lovely owners of Herb and Ginger Tea compay They are also a husband and wife team from Indianapolis and I must tell you, their tea ROCKS! I got the "orangeology" and "bollywood star" and I honestly can't tell you which one I like better. Herbal tea just got way more cool to drink- thanks Herb and Ginger! Tell me if you mouth doesn't water with ingredients like this in "Orangeology": Apple Pieces, Carrot flakes, blackberry and eucalyptus leaves, beetroot pieces, hibiscus, lemongrass, tangerine pieces and orange slices- this made an awesome iced tea!

I took a pic of steeping "bollywood star"- I love to drink this one in the evening- the cardamom is soooo good.

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Aren't we cute

Okay, I know you don't see me in person that much, but give me some feedback on these photos. We needed to change our pamphlet photo and set up our camera and tripod in our living room one night (literally at midnight) and snapped some photos of us. Two of them are the same photo just faded out around the edges more and one of them I literally look like death (dark circles come with not believing in sleep). Ha! Bet you didn't know the guy behind all the pretty graphics is a big lumberjack looking guy who knits and writes music!

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Jerry Lee's Western Wear

We were happy to be set up next to Jerry of Jerry Lee's western wear. He hand embroiders and sews each of his designs and they are amazing to see in person. He told us he loves the tactile 3 dimension aspects of embroidery. Marcus and I want to get matching "Lote Tree" shirts made!

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Schleping Soap

Tis the season for schleping our soap to art fairs around our part of the world. We just came back from Indianapolis where, although the economy is tanking people took time out to stop by and learn about our little company. I met some other fabulous artisans while there and wanted to share some of their work here. Look for that in the next few posts, until then some random pictures of our set up.

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Indieana Handicraft Exchange

Looking forward to seeing you there!

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Little Park of Horrors (nothing to do with soap)

rusty razorblade with park in background

noxious weed growth

decaying equipment

limbs next to playground equipment

rotting stump near swings

probable drug deal being witnessed by my daughter

more limbs

grafitti on slide

uneven footing

where I found the blade

*The following post has nothing to do with soap or Lote Tree business.*

It is a rant so if you don't care... don't read. If you a first time reader, know, I normally don't post things like this at all.

You all know I am a mother of 2 ages 1yr and 3yrs. Part of being a Mother is taking your children out to play at parks and doing fun outdoor activities. Apparently some people in the world don't realize this.

Today the kids, the puppy and I walked to Oakdale Park (Carbondale, IL) to play for a bit. Now, I don't neccesarily love this little park, but the kids do and so I comply and tote them down there about once a week or so.

Nevermind that the playground equipment always has grafitti scrawled over it, or the little bouncy animals are in desperate need of pain jobs or replacement. I even ignore the whispers from other Moms about it being a place where drug deals are done.

As we approached the park, I noticed that there were downed limbs everywhere. We did just have hurricane IKE remnants last week so, I can sort of understand... sort of (my 80yr old neighbor found time/energy to clean up their limbs for the city to pick up).

I knew to keep an extra close eye on Ayla because the ground is so uneven at the park she can't walk very well there. As it happens, after "riding" the paint chipped froggy, Ayla did a face plant and as I was picking her up, a glinting something caught my eye. Yes, INCHES away from where my precious baby's face landed was a RUSTED RAZORBLADE.

Can you imagine my horror?!

I grabbed my camera and took some nervous shots, trying to reference the blade with the park as proof. I tucked the blade away in my camera case and grabbed the children and did what I thought would be the RESPONSIBLE thing to do and call the City of Carbondale.

Yeah, there is a "pitbull and lipstick" phrase that is currently very popular right now. When it comes to my kids... I am more like a rabid, frothing, hyena in Birkenstocks.

"May I speak to whomever deals with irate mothers about finding rusted razorblades on the playground?"

Well after being given 3 different phone numbers I was able to contact a certain individual who we will call "Bob". This man, who by his own saying, is responsible for all of the parks matenience would not apologize nor admit any wrongdoing. Instead he blamed the city for the limbs scattered about the playground area and claimed that that particular park is cleaned every day.

"Every day Bob?"

"Yes, everyday"

"I highly doubt that Bob."

"Bob" Went on to say that we just had a storm and he can't be responsible for every cigarette butt on every park. He then told me I needed to calm down.

There is where "Bob" made his real mistake.

You don't tell frothing hyenas to calm down. Would he have told a man asking the same questions to calm down?? I highly doubt it.

This story is sadly, far from over but I won't confuse or bore you with all the details. I am expecting a phonecall from the Mayor over this issue... and if not, well, I guess I'll be calling more media. Here are some photos of the park, you judge for yourself if you think the park is 'cleaned' even on a regular basis.

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On important things...

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Vacation

Hello All!

The shop is on vacation and all orders placed between now and Oct 5th will be processed starting Oct 6th. Thanks for looking!

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hints of what's to come

I have been training my husband to make soap. I think the best compliment to a teacher is a student who does well. A few shots of what's on the curing rack and hubby's latest creations.

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Blood Orange and Chocolate Cake

Now available in the Etsy Shop! It looks good enough to eat, but please don't. You won't like it. I promise.

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The spotted box

Lote Tree will be contributing samples to the spotted box in Sept. TSB is geared towards families with small children who enjoy living a more natural life. We're very excited to be a part!

Sneek peek at our sample!

www.thespottedbox.com

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Newsletter!

Sign up for our newsletter, quickly! Why? Because we are going to close our main website down for about a month. When we go back online with it, our registered customers will be getting cupon codes and be entered in giveaways!!!

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Going Greener

Our main website will be closing down for a bit this summer. The Etsy shop will remain open http://www.lotetree.etsy.com/ and products will be put on discount. We're going greener! No more synthetic scents! Only pure essential oils and extracts from now on :) We're so happy about this change and we know our customers will be too! Drop us a line and let us know what you think, and/or with product requests.

Peace!

Jessie

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Earth Hour Tonight

Tonight is the first international Earth Hour. It was held last year in Sydney AU and gained a lot of press from it. I hope everyone can do their part and turn their lights out from 8-9pm local time. For more info go to http://www4.earthhourus.org/

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Weddings

One of the cool things about my job is the really neat people I get to meet over the years. We live near an artistic community ( Makanda ) that holds festivals a few times a year. We love going down there and setting up and hanging out with friends. We met an awesome couple a few years ago from Detroit who make a pilgrimage to Makanda once a year. They always stock up on soap and this year they are getting married! So, they called and had us do their favors. We already had a weddings/special events page planned for the website so it was really great to work with them on this. Kristy requested a special scent of Lavender, Rosemary and Bergamot- which smells very fresh and clean and herby. We wish them all the luck!

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The Last Snow

I think finally it will be spring around here! Thought I would share some pictures taken outside the studio last week.

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