Mother’s Day Sale, new gift sets!

Grace Soap, Mother's Day 2009

I’m back from a fun, successful day at the Orange Art Fair.  Thanks to all of you who came out and visited… the show was a great success, and it was great to see you!

Mother’s Day is this Sunday (yes, already!).   So I want to offer you a special discount while you shop for Mom (read on for the discount code, at the bottom of the post) and show you some brand new gift sets that were very well received at their debut today!

There is also a brand new soap just in time for Mother’s Day!  In the frenzy of preparing for this weekend, I never had a chance to get it photographed… but it will be on the site by early Monday afternoon, and it’s beautiful!

“Grace“, $6.95,  is made from the same base formulation as popular Purity, which is 95% grade A olive oil.  Grace has an exquisitely divine heady rose/geranium/rosewood scent, formulated to showcase the sustainably harvested rosewood essential oil I recently obtained.  It’s a creamy white soap topped with organic rosebuds.  Simply stunning.  Grace will, of course, be included in the sale, so if you’d like to purchase that soap, be sure to stop by the Sarva web site, in the Spa Series section, on Monday afternoon.   EDIT:  It’s now on the site, found here.

And now, the four new gift sets!  I’m so excited about these, and they ARE already on the Sarva web site in the Gifts and Sets section.  The Artisanal Soap Trios are eco-friendly luxury at its finest… a set of three soaps (you get to choose the soaps!) from either the Cottage, Gallery, or Spa Series (or a set of one soap from each Series), packaged in a gorgeous 100% postconsumer recycled box.  The finishing touch is the vegetable-dyed, biodegradable paper ribbon that is hand-tied onto the slide-open box.  Each soap is individually labeled with a beautiful, ornate paper label, which is also 100% postconsumer recycled paper!

I’ve worked so hard to bring you these gift sets in some special earth-friendly packaging (please recycle on your end!), and I finally sourced out everything I wanted!  I hope you, and your recipients, enjoy them!  Pricing ranges from $15.50 to $20.50.    Here’s a photo of the “Mixed Series” gift box:

Artisanal Soap Trio - Mixed Series

Of course, the other lovely gift sets are still available… check them all out here!

So, I’ve saved the best part for last!  When you shop today through midnight Wednesday, May 6, please enter MOMLOVE in the “discount coupon code” section at checkout to enjoy a 15% discount.    I’ll need to receive your order by Tuesday night at the absolute latest to “guaranteed” get it to Mom… I ship USPS Priority Mail… but I’m extending the sale for an extra day in case you’d like to still see if we can get your gift to her, or you, in time!

Happy shopping!

Things to come…

Many new soaps coming, and some great new changes/additions to the site!  I think you’ll all be so surprised and pleased.  I don’t want to say too much yet… but in the meantime, here are some sneak peeks of a few things presently on the curing rack.   

 

 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day

 
The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.

J. Krishnamurti

For Valentine’s weekend, dear Soap Leaves readers, please enjoy 20% off your purchase at Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps.   Enter Discount Coupon code SOAPYLOVE at checkout.  One per customer.  Offer expires at midnight Eastern time on Sunday, February 15.   

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Last-minute holiday gifts!

Just a few days left, folks!  (are we having fun yet?)

Place your online order at Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps by Wednesday, December 17 and arrival in time for Christmas is guaranteed.

All orders ship Priority Mail, and orders of $50 or more get free shipping!

Sarva’s gorgeous holiday-themed soaps make fabulous last-minute gifts, stocking stuffers, gifts for teachers… you name it!  Relatives visiting?  Holiday soaps also are a great way to spruce up your guest bath!

So, without further ado and for your shopping pleasure, following is  Sarva’s Holiday 2008 product line!

Holiday (6.75, 4.5 ounces):  I personally think Holiday represents everything that’s good and right and true about this time of year.  All of your fondest memories wrapped up in a bar of soap… a melange of traditional holiday spice, berry, the faintest hint of pine and peppermint, and an undeniable sweetness, perhaps special treats fresh from the oven.

Orange Spice ($6.75, 4.5 ounces) is going fast, so hurry! Orange predominates in this soap; the cinnamon and clove blend harmoniously with the uplifting scent of fresh oranges. And, yes, you can smell the real cocoa powder that gives the top of this soap its color!

Pumpkin Pie ($7.95, 5 ounces) has been a runaway best seller.  There’s real pumpkin in this soap, which gives it such a lovely color. Scented with an all-natural essential oil blend that mimics your favorite autumn dessert, but without being cloying or synthetic. Just a touch of honey in the soap’s “crust” provides the right amount of sweetness, and, of course, it’s topped with soapy whipped cream… calorie free… the best kind!

Candy Cane ($5.75, 4 ounces) is just what you’d expect… Red, white, and pink peppermint stripes… just like the real thing! Scented with refreshing peppermint essential oil. I’ve colored this, using a special (and really complex!) 12-layer process, with red and pink clays. Do use caution with cotton washcloths to prevent transfer of pigment.

Forest Path ($5.75, 4 ounces):   What was originally a holiday soap became so popular that it’s now available year round! Breathe in and experience the fragrant, woodsy, balsamic crispness of a tall, thick forest. Notes of cedar, pine, and juniper connect you to nature.

There are also several adorable and fully customizable gift sets available.   Each gift set contains either three or eight half-sized bars of Sarva soap, and YOU get to choose exactly which soaps are in each set!  Just make your selections with drop-down menus on each product page – it couldn’t be simpler!    Pictured above is the Soap Sampler Trio ($11.00, 6-7 ounces), a premium selection of 3 adorable half-sized bars of Sarva soap… 1 from the Cottage Series, 1 from the Gallery Series, and 1 from the Spa Series or Limited Editions… ready for gift-giving in 100% postconsumer recycled and recyclable tissue and gift box.  There’s also an eight-bar Soap Sampler for $29.50.

Lastly, check out these absolutely adorable Soap Truffles ($7.75, 3.6 ounces). Soap Truffles are perfect when you just want to offer someone special a little something. Contains 6 hand-rolled soap balls, approximately 1″ diameter, in different scents and colors… ready for gift-giving in 100% postconsumer recycled and recyclable tissue and gift box.

So many choices!!! Can’t decide?  No worries, we’ve got you covered!  Sarva Gift Certificates to the rescue! Choose the amount of your gift certificate, and Sarva will send an e-mail directly to your intended recipient, including your name, your personal message, and instructions for redeeming the gift certificate.

And, of course, I’m here if you have questions.  Happy shopping, and have a wonderful holiday!

It’s pumpkin pie season!

Pumpkin Pie soap, a Holiday 2008 Sarva Limited Edition.

It’s coming up on that time of year! Family, great food, gift giving, special memories…

Up and coming are some Sarva holiday goodies to help you celebrate, and Pumpkin Pie soap is one of them!   It’s available NOW and in limited quantity, so hurry!

The locals who have seen this soap are snapping it right up.  It’s even cuter in person than in the photo – yes, it really does have a fluted pie crust!  And yes, this is real cold-processed soap, not melt and pour!

Soaps such as this are true works of art.  The crust was painstakingly hand-pieced into the mold, as was the “whipped cream” topping.

There’s real pumpkin in this soap, which gives it such a lovely color. It’s scented with an all-natural essential oil blend that mimics your favorite autumn dessert, but without being cloying or synthetic. Just a touch of honey in the soap’s “crust” provides the right amount of sweetness, and, of course, it’s topped with soapy whipped cream… calorie free… the best kind!

It’s also a pleasure to use with a great lather, and pumpkin is rich in antioxidants and exfoliating enzymes.   Speaking strictly personally, my skin always seems much less moody/breakout prone when I use pumpkin products.

Finally, a holiday treat that won’t augment the waistline!  Go ahead and indulge!

Get it now! Pumpkin Pie soap, a Sarva 2008 Limited Edition.
A generous 5+ ounces at $7.95.
Limited quantity available!

All Hallows soap SOLD OUT!

All Hallows soap, Holiday Edition 2008. Click image for enlarged view.

Thanks to all my great customers!  All gone!  A sellout!

The above photo shows you how incredibly, irresistibly fabulous this soap is in its Black Veil of Fear.   (ok, I’ve gotten lame with the Halloween puns…)

This is all-natural, handcrafted, luxury soap… a work of art.  Read more about it in this blog post.

All Hallows Soap, 5+ ounces, $6.95

A slice of Pumpkin Pie (soap)…

Sarva Pumpkin Pie soap, a 2008 Holiday Limited Edition. Click photo for enlarged view.

Sarva’s new Pumpkin Pie soap turned out great, don’t you think?

I want to allow the essential oil blend a little time to see how it matures, but it seems great so far!  So let’s give it about six weeks to cure, and this newest arrival will be ready to sell in October for $6.95 per 5-ounce bar as a Limited Edition at Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps.  I’ll probably package them in a special gift box to protect the delicate detailing.

EDIT:  Pumpkin Pie is now available for you to enjoy!  Click here to buy (page will pop up in new window).

Remember:  This will not smell exactly like pumpkin pie.  I feel it’s important to clarify for those who might be searching for an exact copy, which is typically achieved through a synthetic fragrance.  I use essential oils instead of fragrance oils, so my creations are often “interpretations” rather than duplicates of the real thing.  I take great pleasure in using the materials Mother Earth gives to us, and my hope is that what I do stands on its own as a lovely little impermanent work of art!

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New Sarva site debuts Sunday!

Screen grab of Sarva Soaps, new web site. Click image for enlarged view.

EDIT:  It’s Saturday.  I couldn’t wait!  (I’m terrible that way.)   Mind you, there are a few bugs.  I’m working on them.

Finally!

All you eager shoppers, tune in to www.sarvasoap.com on Sunday night (sorry, I don’t have a firm time) for a brand new, improved Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps!

Many new features! Among them…

• Product search – I’ve created customized search terms for every bar of soap I make and sell.  You can search by ingredient, scent, mood, whatever!
• Better checkout experience – an improved shopping cart system provides a simpler, cleaner shopping experience for you.
• Better photos – bright, large photos of every soap.
• More detailed product descriptions – a more personal feel to the site, conveying the honesty and meaning of what I put into each and every soap I make.

I will still have a few things to do on the site… the gift section is under development… but I want to offer you the new site as soon as I can because it’s simply so much better than the present site.

Sarva remains a one-woman business, and that goes for the web site too.  I did it all myself (which explains the blatant lack of posting here on the blog lately!)… and it will always be a work in progress.  I do things a little differently.  I don’t have a marketing department, a web design department, a shipping department, and so on.  I am not a bath and body company… I’m an artist, and my medium is soap.  I strive to make the best soaps I can, and I aim to give you a personal, comfortable, uplifting shopping experience online!

Oh, and for any geeks out there… yes, I hand coded the site. 

Hope you all enjoy it!  Can’t wait to share it with you.

Sarva Soaps in Martha Stewart’s “Body + Soul” magazine!

Sarva Soaps appearing in HSMG ad, Body + Soul magazine.

My sincere, shocked, and very excited thanks to the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild (HSMG)!

The HSMG held a member-wide call for photos, with plans to use the winning member’s photo to represent the Guild in their advertisement, appearing in the December (holiday) issue of Body + Soul Magazine, available on 11/24.

Well, folks, guess what?  I won! My photo was chosen, which is truly a great, great honor.

I am proud to represent a Guild of so many talented soapmakers.  I’ve been inspired by some really amazing and creative people, and to think that I could be a source of inspiration too is pretty profound.  I don’t take this lightly, and you can rest assured I’ll continue to give my all, offering you the best soaps I can!

Check out the “official” news here at the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild blog.