Patti's Potions Travels

While I couldn't be there my Patti's Potions hat was. My sister Brigid & my nephew Chris went to Belize late this spring. The did a week of sailing and fishing on a catamaran.

I was there in spirit I assure you.






Recently these two along with another sister Angel climbed a 14'er in Colorado. This is Mount Quandary. What is this you might ask? It is a mountain that is over 14,000 feet high. I believe Angel has summit-ted seven and Brig six of these high points in the Rockies. This was Chris's first attempt. I'm thrilled that my hat made it too. More adventures to come.

Peru Medical Mission Feb. 2010

I'm back from Peru and hope to get some good pix up soon of this great adventure.

This journey started on Feb. 6, 2010. It was one of those cold, gray, and damp February days that just set your teeth to rattle. My roomie Rachel and I boarded the bus at the Brat Stop in Kenosha and made our way to O'Hare International
where we would meet up with the rest of the gang. From Chicago, we flew to Miami, then on to Lima.

The top picture is Lima center in the evening obviously. It was interesting that we were told by others not to bother with the town as there is nothing there. That wasn't our experience at all. Our docs hired a private tour for us and we found it to be quite beautiful. We believe that the poor information was about 10 years out of date when Lima was experiencing difficult times in it's history.

There were nine of us that flew first to Lima and then to Pucallpa. Lima is a lovely sea coast town with moderate weather. Ah, such a joy after the cold Wisconsin winter.

It was late when we arrived at our hotel and believe me, a drink was on the agenda after the long flights. Many of us worked together during the day and because of this, we had a nodding knowledge of each other. We were firmly cemented in this great adventure during that cocktail hour the first night.

Pictured here from left to right: me, Rachel, and Dr. Markian.

Sexy Soap

The latest addition to my soap line is "SEXY".

I have to tell you what a sleeper this fragrance was in the bottle. I took a whiff and thought, "Oh that's nice." I wasn't rocked by it though.

This is a fragrance from my favorite supplier, Lezlee Williams at Simple Soothings. She consistently has the best fragrances and this one was always highly praised so figured it was time to give it a try.

I make the soap, cut it the next day and put it on the drying rack to cure. I pretty much forget about it for a couple of weeks then revisit it to see and smell the progress. In cold process soaps, fragrances do change. Early conclusions can be invalid.

After four weeks it is time to test and trim and do the final prep for sale. What a huge surprise this soap turned out to be. First, it changed color to this lovely rich tan. Then the aroma hit me and I was amazed. What was wimpy in the bottle developed into this rich, deep, haunting, and very sexy fragrance.

Love my morning shower!!

Discover Wisconsin

The Kenosha Harbor Marketplace was filmed for the Discover Wisconsin TV show last Saturday. Maybe our market managers knew about this in advance, but I was taken by surprise.

Stephanie Klett is a regular contributor to the show. I was thrilled when she came by my booth and had her team do extensive photo shoots of my product.

Why? It turns out that Capitol Brewery is a sponsor of the show. And of course I use their beer in my two beer soaps. Why choose this beer you may ask? I love it and I'm a stock holder in the company.

The wheat is grown on Washington Island Door County, WI for this beer. That makes this soap truly a home grown Wisconsin product.

Beer Soap

Patti's Potions Island Wheat and Wisconsin Amber beer soaps have been selling like crazy at the Kenosha Harbor Marketplace this summer.

Beer is not just for breakfast anymore. You can bathe with it.

new items

We have some fun, new, handcrafted, soap decks at Patti's Potions.

As you can see, they range from very light to quite dark to compliment any bathroom decor.
All are made of oak for long lasting quality. Each soap deck features grooves so that your handmade soap dries rapidly.

Why a soap deck? A wet soap bar or soap ball has more surface tension than a dry one. The desire is to create less surface tension with your soap container. Wet soap will melt away much sooner than one that is allowed to dry out between uses. This saves money in your wallet and means that less product is wasted.

Clematis

Clematis from a rainy day.

Pansy

I recently purchased a new camera and have been having a blast getting to know it.

This is my first trip into the SLR photography.

Recently we had a baby shower and these pretty girls were given as gifts to the guests. I kept the ones from the flat that looked sad and plunked them in an available pot. They seem pretty happy now.

That lone fella is one that managed to reseed himself from last year. He's living in a crack in the pavement.

Newest Soap

This is one of the newest soap to arrive at Patti's Potions. We call it Lavender Love.

This is one of our most complex soaps. It contains our best blend of natural oils, topped with Goat Milk. We've used a blend of Essential Oils to create this lovely fragrance that is very unisex. It includes Lavender 40/42, patchouli, tea tree, & some rose geranium to smooth it all out.

This is one that I would recommend for frequent hand washing, which is especially important today with the reports of swine flu.

How to do this? While lathering up, simply hum or sing a small little song such as Happy Birthday. If you have children, teach them a simple nursery rhyme song like Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Make hand washing fun and wash frequently, especially before eating and after using the rest room. Using handmade soaps insure that your skin won't dry out.

Week 10 of the Herb Blog Contest

Torchsong Studio will be hosting the 10th and final week of our blog contest.

Maryanne is offering something a little different to close out the contest.

A lead free pewter garden pin with a little glass ladybug charm in the middle and garden tools on either side.

Just comment on this, or any of the other blogs participating for a chance to win one of ten pins to be given away. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE A CONTACT email.

Remember all of the blogs below are participating, so visit all of them and post to increase your chances of winning.

The Essential Herbal magazine subscription
Garden Chick - fairy cookie kit
SunRose Aromatics - facial exfoliant and liquid soap
Herbs from the Labyrinth - tea sampler
Patti's Potions - lip balms
PrairieLand Herbs - healing wand
Aquarian Bath - lip balm and soap
The Rosemary House - Bertha Reppert's "Twelve Month Herbal"
Nature's Gift - purse-sized inhalers & inhalation blend
Torchsong Studio Our final contest - check back on May 8 for the list of winners!

Thanks everyone for participating and for playing!

Week NINE blog contest

At Nature's Gift we have been pleased and excited about hosting this week's contest. The hard part has been trying to decide what to offer as the prize!

We chose Deluxe Personal Inhalers from our new shipment, filled with the winner's choice of several healing synergies.

We'll ship one of these pretty purse-sized inhalers filled with your choice of our SineEase Synergy, for easing sinus pain and congestion, Happy Morning Synergy, recommended for easing the nausea of morning sickness, but also helpful for motion sickness, etc., or our research based depression fighter "Citrus Smile."

To be entered in the contest, respond to this post, here, and at all the blogs listed below.

To make the contest even more exciting, ONE lucky entrant, drawn from one of the listed blogs, will receive a signed copy of Marge's Book "Essential Oils and Aromatics".

You may check these links for some of the reviews, from the Journal of the Northeast Herbal Association, or from The Massage Therapy Journal.

Remember all of the blogs below are participating, so visit all of them and post to increase your chances of winning.
Aquarian Bath
The Essential Herbal
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti's Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
SunRose Aromatics
Garden Chick

Good luck, and thank you!

It's contest Time -- Week 8

Bertha Reppert (1919-1999) was the founder of The Rosemary House and our mum. She was a Renaissance woman ahead of her time when she opened a herb and spice shop in a conservative East coast town in 1968. Convinced that once everyone learned about herbs they would love these plants as much as she did, she became an avid educator about the secrets of herbs. Lecturing, writing and always promoting herbs, Bertha Reppert became a mentor to many. This weeks prize is a copy of her last herbal and one of our very favorites. 

Bertha Reppert's TwelveMonth Herbal features 365 herbal essays one for each day of the year. Written like she is speaking to a friend this book is fun, informative and easy to read. Many folks have told us they reread the book every year and make their own daily notes in the margins. Be sure to leave a comment to this post and at the other participating herbal blogs (see the links below) for your chance to win this clever book (an $18.00 value) filled with herbal lore, recipes and crafts (priceless). 

Sisters Susanna, the herbalist, and Nancy, the culinary artist, continue to share their Mother's love of all things herbal at The Rosemary House, the herb and spice gift shop, and at Sweet Remembrances tea room.

The following blogs are also participating, so stop over, post a comment on these blogs for additional chances to win this weeks giveaway AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

Nature's Gift 
Torchsong Studio 
The Essential Herbal 
Garden Chick 
SunRose Aromatics 
Herbs from the Labyrinth 
Patti’s Potions

PrairieLand Herbs

Aquarian Bath

The Rosemary House (where a list of winners will be posted on the 24th)

Check back we have a couple more weeks of give-aways!

Strawberry WontonTarts

I just have to share this recipe with you.
I made it for Easter & it received rave reviews.

24 won ton wrappers \
6 Tbs. melted butter / spread butter on wrappers & place in mini muffin tin

2/3 c brown sugar\
4 tsp. cinnamon / Mix together & place in bottom of wrappers & bake @ 350 degrees 8 minutes.
Allow to cool completely

8 oz. cream cheese \
4 tsp. orange juice or Triple Sec /beat until fluffy & light
4 Tbs. honey /

Place 1 T. of cream cheese mixture in each won ton wrapper top with a fresh strawberry. You may slice the berry in quarters & fan out to make it more elegant. Or you may choose to top these individual tarts with some cherry or blueberry pie filling.

Week 7 of the Herb Blog Contest Featuring Aquarian Bath

Welcome to week 7 of the herbal blog contest! This week we are featuring Aquarian Bath your source for all natural gentle soaps, herbal balms, salves, deodorants, and spa pillows. Aquarian Bath's soaps, balms and salves are either unscented or lightly scented with only pure essential oils. This week, enter to win you choice of a Lavender Spearmint Lip balm in a 0.15 oz tube OR a Lemon Lime Lip Balm in a 0.25 oz slide tin, and 20% off on your next order with Aquarian Bath.

The Lavender Spearmint Balm is made with Extra virgin olive oil, Shea butter, Beeswax, Castor oil, Spearmint and Lavender essential oil.



The Lemon Lime lip balm is made with Coconut oil, Shea Butter, Castor oil, Beeswax, Jojoba, Lime and Lemon Essential oils, and Zinc Oxide, a mineral used in sunscreens.



To win one of these lovely balms, enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning! Entrants must include their email address to be eligible to win. US and Canadian residents are eligible. You can receive additional chances to win in the following ways:

* Tweet about this blog contest on twitter.com including @aquarianbath in the tweet. Come back and log your tweet with a comment to receive 1 additional entry.
* Visit and join Aquarian Bath's fan page on Facebook. Leave a comment so we know you joined to receive 1 additional entry.
* Make a comment about your favorite item from Aquarian Bath's etsy or 1000markets stores to receive 1 additional entry.
* Make a purchase with Aquarian bath to on etsy or 1000markets to receive 3 additional entries.

*The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.
Aquarian Bath
Make a purchase from one of these 9 host blog's online stores to receive 2 additional entries and leave a comment at the host's blog's contest:
The Essential Herbal
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti's Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
SunRose Aromatics
Garden Chick

One lucky winner from one of the 10 host blogs will be contacted to receive 2 free soaps of their choice along with their lip balm and 20% off coupon, so be sure to visit and enter at all 10 blogs.



The winners will be announced at the Aquarian Bath blog when the results are in from all participating blogs. Enjoy.

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May!

New Store

We have added a new bricks & mortar location for purchasing Patti's Potions Soaps. They will now be available in the Wisconsin Dells area at:

The Treasure Mill
211 W. Main
La Valle, WI 53941
(608) 985-7300

If you are in the area, stop in and say hello.

Wisconsin Trails magazine had this to say about The Treasure Mill:

Looming over a bend in the river in a former gristmill, The Treasure Mill is now a sprawling antiques shop that also offers a rare glimpse of local history. Free tours of the 1903 water turbine are available upon request. Open year-round. 211 W. Main St., La Valle; (608) 985-7300.

Sound like great fun when you are in this fabulous part of Wisconsin.

Winners Week 5

All the winners from the Week 5 contest have been notified. Not all of you have sent me your information for shipping, so please check your spam box and make sure that the notification is not lost there. I don't want any of you to miss out.
Fragrantly Yours,
Patti

Week 6 Herbal Blog Contest

Welcome to week 6 of the herbal blog contest! This week, enter to win a .15 oz. Healing Wand from Prairieland Herbs! These healing wands contain herbally infused certified organic olive oil, locally produced beeswax, vitamin E, essential oils of tea tree and lavender, and are the perfect size for your pocket, purse, or diaper bag. They work wonders on cuts, scrapes, rashes, burns, dry skin, hangnails, etc.

To win one of these useful and natural healing balms, simply enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning!!! Don’t forget to include your email addy so we can contact the winner! The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

Aquarian Bath
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
The Essential Herbal
Garden Chick -
SunRose Aromatics
Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti’s Potions
PrairieLand Herbs

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May!

Week 5 of the Herbal Blog

This is Week 5 of the Herbal Blog Contest. Friday March 27th to Thursday April 2nd.

Featured this week are moisturizing Lip Balms from Patti’s Potions Natural Soaps, Ltd.

Did you know that most lip balms contain petroleum products that are NOT eco-friendly? This is your opportunity to experience fine natural oils in your lip care experience. Food-grade lip-safe flavorings and essential oils may be used to add flavor to the lip balms. No sweetener is added.

Ingredients: calendula infused olive oil, shea butter, natural beeswax, jojoba, castor, & vitamin E

To win TWO of these luscious lip balms, simply enter by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning!!! Don’t forget to include your email addy so we can contact the winner! The contest is open to US residents only.

The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

PrairieLand Herbs
Aquarian Bath
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
The Essential Herbal
Garden Chick -
SunRose Aromatics

Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti’s Potions

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests until the middle of May!

Herbal Blog Contest Week 4

Welcome to week 4 of our Herb Blog Group Contest!
For the week between Friday, March 20 and Thursday, March 26, you can enter simply by entering a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning a sampler of hand-blended herbal teas from HerbsfromtheLabyrinth.com, including one each of the following: Moontime Tea, Lover's Tea, Spring in My Step, FemininiTea, Dandy Lion Tea, Hush-A-Bye, Strong As Nails, SereniTea, SmarTea, DigestiviTea, Nursing Mother Tea, Endo-Liver Tea, Love Your Liver Tea, and Mid-Summer Tea

(PICTURE)
HerbsfromtheLabyrinth.com has a wide range of herbal products to choose from.

The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

Patti’s Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
Aquarian Bath
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
The Essential Herbal
Garden Chick - Where the winners from week #2 will be listed :-)
SunRose Aromatics

Herbs from the Labyrinth

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests til the middle of May!

Week 3 Herbal Blog Contest

This week (#3) our herbal blog contest swings over to SunRose Aromatics, where Roe whips up the most delightful of aromatherapy and pampering products. For the week between Friday, March 13 and Thursday, March 19, you can enter simply by posting a comment in response to this blog entry and take a chance at winning!!!
Here's the prize:

Facial Scrub w/ Organic Liquid Soap Set::
Pamper your face with all natural ~
* apricot kernel meal
* organic liquid castile soap
Mix in the palm of your hand & then apply to your face.
A wonderful exfoliate!

The following blogs are also participating, so stop over to enter with them for additional chances to win AND the chance to explore some cool blogs.

Herbs from the Labyrinth
Patti’s Potions
PrairieLand Herbs
Aquarian Bath
The Rosemary House
Nature's Gift
Torchsong Studio
The Essential Herbal
Garden Chick - Where the winners from week #2 will be listed :-)
SunRose Aromatics

Keep coming back and keep entering. We have some great prizes coming up, and we'll be having the contests til the middle of May!