It all started when BreAnne Hansen from the Herald Extra bumped into us at the Pleasant Grove Promenade a couple of months ago.  “Are you interesting?” is how the unconventional conversation started, and now we’ve two write-ups in local papers.  Thanks, BreAnne!

• The original article, Pleasant Grove family soap business celebrates its fourth year, in the Herald Extra
• Mormon family cleans up with pioneer soap in the Daily Herald
• Teaser article for the main article in the Daily Herald
• Mormon family keeps it clean with pioneer soap on MormonTimes.com (virtually identical to main article at DH)

Be sure and check out all the photos on all the links.  My favorite is the one I like to call “Concentration” as our son is stamping the soap.

Hibiscus Passion– What a fabulous new fragrance! Top notes of green pear, crisp apple, a fresh pineapple are intertwined with cress, hibiscus, muguet, and violet blossoms while sheer musk adds character and sophistication.

Bitter Orange Orchid–Don’t let the name scare you off this scent.  It is my new favorite scent!  And I have had wonderful response to it when people give it a whiff.  The orange scent isn’t like a sweet orange but more tart and spicy.

Elements of Bamboo–Discover the ancient art of Feng Shui with this harmonious blend of bamboo and cedar entwined with lemon, tangerine and ginger.  Exotic, cooling, and refreshing.

China Flower–This scent was a request for a scent that was smelled in China, a very lovely floral scent.

Berries & Twigs–Berries and Twigs is a twist of favorite scents. Raspberries and grapefruit play into a warm mixture of earthy oak and moss.

Bergamot & Chamomile *goat milk*–A smooth bergamot scent with hints of tangerine, neroli, green moss, pear in a light chamomile tea. A perky fragrance

Florida Orange *goat milk*–(just made this last night so it needs to cure for 3 weeks, but it smells wonderful) **This is a straight up orange essential oil fragrance.  Very refreshing and mouth watering.

Apricot Oatmeal–I love the smell of this fruity fragrance.  Very fresh and delightful with a wonderful texture of ground oatmeal.  Your sure to love this one!

Bay Rum–Watch out ladies this is a very sexy man scent!

Rosemary Mint **Finally a Rosemary Mint that I love.  I tried this with a fragrance oil and was very disappointed.  I have now blended my own with the wonderful scents of essential oils for a fantastic refreshing blend.

Huckleberry –A powerful berry blend.  This one will always be reminiscent of Grandma’s home made preserves.

Pina Smoothie–Tropical pineapple with coconut and creamy vanilla notes carry this heavenly scent all the way to the beach!  Mouthwatering fruit and luscious greens complete this fragrance.

Honey Almond–Now with goat milk!

Oatmeal, Milk & Honey–Now with goat milk!

The Acorn and Ivy booth for the Fall 2008

If you couldn’t make it out, we’re sorry we missed you. Since you weren’t there you couldn’t see the “new product line” we tried out this time:

New test-product: tie-dye shirts and onesies!

We learned how to make tie-dye shirts from some good friends a couple of years ago. We wear bright tie-dye shirts when we go out as a family to places like the zoo; it make it much easier to keep track of everyone. Anyway, this summer everyone in the neighborhood has been wanting tie-dye shirts for their group. The young men/scouts had a big activity at the neighbor’s and they wanted to have shirts as part of the team-building; one of our teenage neighbors wanted to have tie-dye shirts for her soccer team in their team colors; various family members have come over to make shirts for their families, etc.

The upshot of all that is that we’ve pumped out nearly two hundred shirts since Spring.

So that was our “Secret Ingredient” for the Boutique this time around. Tie-dye shirts and onesies (those one-piece under-thingys for babies).

And now our house is slowly starting to revert to pre-Boutique state. The kitchen is starting to look more like somewhere folks eat, rather than where Science is done. (Points if you can name the reference there.)

Remember, the Holidays are just around the corner; if you want something specific, please get with us soon so we can have your gifts ready in time!

{subliminal message: handmade soap is a more personal holiday gift than the ubiquitous 2-liter bottle of pop and bag of microwave popcorn}

Oh yeah, I promised pictures, didn’t I?

Prepping bars of soap (including the new mini, trial-size).

Putting prepped soap into flats for transport.

{subliminal message: tie-dye shirts make great (and easy) gifts — both for your family and for your relatives that you drew in the family-name draw}

Pleasant Grove Rec. Center
65 E. 200 South, Pleasant Grove
(and a Google Maps link)

I will see if I can get her to update the list of scents she’s planning on taking. She’s usually about half-way down the west aisle.

If you have any special requests for liquid soap or lotion, get ‘em in quick. It’s too late for bar soap for the Boutique, but she can certainly get you something by mid-October.

(There might even be something new and non-soapy, so be sure and drop by!)

Hopefully we’ll have some fun content for you soon!