Soapsmith's Blog

Great Gift Ideas for Father's Day

Published: 05-31-2012 02:01pm
Posted In: Soapsmith's Product Information

Hello friends,Father's Day is just around the corner. I have some wonderful unique gifts to pamper your Papa.My Microwaveable Cherry Pit Heat Wraps are always appreciated. I offer them in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, fabrics and all natural or fragranced with aromatherapy herbs.Here are a few masculine fabric choices:Classic fishing lures, perfect after a day on the river.Lots of warm cozy plaids, always in fashion for Grandpa. For fun, how about some sock monkeys!Gearhead Dads would get a kick out of my custom made gear soap created in my soap studio with molds that I cast from automotive gears - Chevy small block timing gear,... » Read More

Generations of Moms - Happy Mother's Day

Published: 05-12-2012 04:09pm
Posted In: Family

Hello Friends, Happy Mother's Day to the generations of Moms in our family. First, my beautiful Mom, Catherine Bem (Kate) Klisiewicz circa 1940's and present day with her children Bonnie, John, Jeanne & Bob at her 85th Birthday Party: My Mother-in-law Anna Wimmer Bartley. She is a marvelous Mom and Grandmother and has been a great support and friend through the years, thanks Gram! My Maternal Grandmother, Carolina Zagata Bem, circa 1910-20. I never met her as she died when my Mom was a teenager, but she shaped my Mom through her formative years, for that I am eternally grateful, she did a fantastic job. He... » Read More

Magazine Feature Article

Published: 05-06-2012 02:19pm
Posted In: About Allegheny Hearth Soaps

Hello friends, I want to share my latest magazine feature with you. This is a small national publication for members of wholesale buyer group. It covers cottage industry arts and crafts of the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains. The articles are presented as a profile portfolio for each artisan. I am truly honored to be included. The woman that spearheads this venture visited me last summer before we lost our beloved Cocoa so it was nice to see him included in the article. True to form, everyone who ever met Cocoa was enamored with his gentle, loving demeanor. Meghan Carroll spends her summer traveling the mountains ... » Read More

Spring Garden Lilacs in Bloom

Published: 05-03-2012 06:24pm
Posted In: Soapsmith's Garden Journal

Hello friends, Primavera, the promise of May flowers after a dry month of April have resulted in blooms that are not as spectacular as usual but still a welcome sight. I want to share my garden with you! Traditional Pennsylvania heirloom lilacs permeate the air with their enticing bouquet. When I open the bay windows to the great room, their fragrance fills the house with spring. The spring flowering bulbs and perennials are always a welcome harbinger of the coming season. Daffodils, my grandmother's favorite pansies, bleeding heart and naturalized violets take turns to delight the senses. ... » Read More

Fresh Fruity Summer Soap

Published: 04-17-2012 02:32pm
Posted In: Soapsmith's Product Information

Hello friends,Summer is almost here. The mountains surrounding my home are slowly coming to life with fresh spring growth and the warm sun is most welcome. I have been spending time tending the gardens in anticipation of planting time.Summer fruits are the highlight of the season, fresh, sweet, tangy and juicy. My line of glycerin soap calls to mind these seasonal delights.Mango madness soap will transport you to a tropical island. Imagine relaxing in a comfortable hammock while the breezes filled with the scents of the tropical rain forest fruits of mangoes, papayas, bananas abound. My mango soap is so pretty in bright hues of pinks, or... » Read More

Luxurious Powder Puffs

Published: 03-04-2012 04:16pm
Posted In: Soapsmith's Product Information

Hello friends,The pinnacle of femininity, a classic opulent powder puff is a wonderful amenity for your vanity table. My handmade dusting powder puffs are inspired by the glory days of Hollywood when glamorous starlets reveled in a beauty routine that pampered the soul as well as the body.Soapsmith's Powder PuffsI offer luxury dusting powder puffs in a variety of styles and materials. These exquisite puffs are constructed from pure natural Merino wool. The applicators are heirloom quality and will last for years. When needed, these puffs can be gently hand laundered in cold water with a product like Woolite, allowed to air dry and combed ... » Read More

White Bridge Farm & Barn

Published: 03-01-2012 09:56pm

Hello friends,The old barns and out buildings at my son's farm abound in rustic charm. Their years of service are reflected in the weathered condition. These large hooks along the roofline have a beautiful oxidization.The spring light creates an interesting pattern of light and shadow.Bleached by the sun, the siding sets the backdrop for the remnants of last years vines. Soon they will green up with fresh spring growth.Vintage chicken coops, close up and full shot, raised to avoid any rising of the Juniata River which borders this section of the farm.The white washed fencing encircles the front pasture filled with buttercups. Barn red wa... » Read More

September Garden Surpises

Published: 02-06-2012 07:54am
Posted In: Soapsmith's Garden Journal

Hello Friends, I love garden surprises. Look at the beauties I discovered this week. When I left for the office in the morning I was greeted with the bright lemon yellow blooms on one of my cactus. What a lovely, sunny treat. Earlier this month I noticed tomato leaves peeking around the back deck behind the grill. When I looked over the banister, lo and behold there is a huge Roma Tomato volunteer loaded with 67 tomatoes. It managed to thrive in the 6 inch gap between the deck railing and the garden fencing spilling out between the links. It is one healthy, vigorous plant. Here is the gap betwee... » Read More

Silver Platter Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Published: 01-28-2012 01:11pm
Posted In: Recipes

Hello friends,Oh my, warm, spicy, gooey fresh homemade caramel pecan cinnamon rolls so perfect they deserve your best silver platter! I have been making these for my family since the 1970's, we love them. It takes a little effort but it is so worth it.Here's how:Ingredients:1 package of dry yeast dissolvedin 1 cup warm water (Be sure the temp is between 120 and 135 degrees,the yeast will be inactive at 140 and if it is too cool the yeast will not dissolve and rise)3 1/4 cups of flour (I use Robin Hood brand or best for bread)1/4 cup sugar1 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons of melted butter 1 eggCombine all the ingredients and mix, turn onto a flou... » Read More

Poor Cammie

Published: 01-17-2012 05:39pm
Posted In: The dogs

Hello friends,Cammie, short for Camaro, is my son's beautiful yellow lab. He also has Dale, a black lab. Here they are in a photo with my beloved Cocoa, we lost Cocoa last month.Our dogs are so loved and spoiled. Cammie, the only female, tends to carry a soft plush toy in her mouth as much as possible. She sleeps with her head resting on her stuffed companions. Every time they visit, Cammie manages to take one of Cocoa's stuffed toys home with her. If we are missing a soft toy, we know the next time Tom send photos, that toy will be right along side Cammie as she lugged it home from Pennsylvania to Alabama.Tom treats his dogs like roy... » Read More

A Traditional Polish Christmas

Published: 12-18-2011 01:20pm
Posted In: Holidays

Soapsmith's Christmas Traditions Wesolych Swiat! Bozego Narodzenia! is the Polish Merry Christmas greeting. Among Polish people, one of the most beloved and beautiful of all traditional Christmas gatherings is Christmas Eve. The Feast of the Evening Star, the Wigilia, is the time honored Christmas Eve Dinner. This solemnly celebrated occasion arouses deep feelings of kinship among friends and family gathered to honor the birth of our Lord. Christmas Eve is my birthday. My family gathers at my home for the festivities. We spend a lot of time preparin... » Read More

Gift Wrapping Ideas

Published: 12-14-2011 06:10pm
Posted In: Holidays

Hello friends,Festively wrapped and ready for the celebration with family and friends. Even the smallest token gift deserves a jubilant decoration.Flocked and foils, sterling spiral adornments, sparkling snowflakes...Velvet and Lamme florals to coordinate with elegantly printed papers, opulent cascading curls... Multiple layers of natural burlap, glitter netting, cellophane, tied with hemp cording, wood burned acorn and coordinating gift tags,bundled into a hobo pack enhances my eco friendly gifts...This is a versatile idea for odd shaped gifts. Just cut a bunch of squares of fabric, tissue, cello, bridal netting etc. plop down the g... » Read More

Advent Watch and Wait

Published: 12-08-2011 08:59pm
Posted In: Holidays

Hello friends,In this hectic time of holiday preparation, we are called to pause, take in the purple of the Advent season and savor the quiet serenity of this sacred time. We wait, we watch, we are still in this holy season of prayer. A quote from Edward Hays:"Advent, like its cousin Lent, is a season for prayer and reformation of our hearts. Since it comes at winter time, fire is a fitting sign to help us celebrate Advent.If Christ is to come more fully into our lives this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer.Our worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of fire in our so... » Read More

Sunrise at the Lake, Spectacular

Published: 11-26-2011 08:58pm

Hello friends,I want to share this morning's sunrise on the lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park, Glendale, Pennsylvania. Another beautiful day in the Allegheny Mountains, no wonder I love it here!This is the actual photo taken with a cell phone so the quality of pic is not great but there is no color enhancement. Mother Nature's color palette is magnificent. Enjoy!Bonnie... » Read More

Happy Thanksgiving!

Published: 11-23-2011 06:27am

Hello friends, As we gather at the richly laden table with cherished family and friends to celebrate the marvelous feast of Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the abundant harvest. The earth has yielded its fruit. God, our God, has blessed us. Ps 67 I wish you and yours a glorious holiday filled with the wondrous joys of spending time with with loved ones, the breaking of bread, the sharing of traditions and a knowing, sincere, prayful gratitude for our bounteous blessings. May we always be open to the needs of the less fortunate. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest app... » Read More

Soap Rock Tutorial

Published: 11-18-2011 05:34pm
Posted In: Handmade Soap Information and Tutorials

Hello friends, I often do demonstrations at soap making conferences. One of the most popular classes is for making my gemstone soap rocks. Today's blog post is drawn from the handout notes that I offer to soap makers who attend my presentations. Through the years, I have emailed these notes over 700 times to soapers who have requested them. Today I share them with you. How to make gemstone soap rocks Yes, these are truly easy to make. Even my very first attempts came out great, yours will, too. Here's how! ... » Read More

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Soapsmith

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