I’m talking out there with Pluto.

But, she said that she had new paper patterns coming in from the same place that I may like. She promised to call me once they arrived.

And she likes my soap.:-)

I’m taking these bars to the papeterie tomorrow. Hopefully seeing the goods in action will convince the owner to restock my beautiful handmadehandcut Italian paper.

The market for high quality essential oils, absolutes, resins and delicate synthetics is being grazed these days. The best quality goes to China. Yep. Because they buy a lot, and more and even more. Thus, buyers who used to be served with priority in the past because they were good buyers, find themselves second tier or third tier, fighting for high quality oils with companies such as Givaudan or IFF or others.

I’ve been lucky, I guess merely because I’m using small quantitites. But seeing what major perfumers have to go through in terms of sourcing is interesting, but a tad bit frightening, to say the least.

I was so happy today when I left work. I’d set out to continue on my artisan path.

To buy more of my paper. My handcut, Italian paper.

It’s what I package my soap bars in.

I walked down the stairs from my office, down to Seilergraben, then across the street to Chorgasse, then to Predigergasse.

To buy more of my paper. My handcut, Italian paper.

When I made it to the paperterei I was on a cloud. Walking through the Niederdorf does that to me. All of the little shops. The hatmakers. The woodworkers. The jewelrymakers.

I want to be one of them.

Walking through the Niederdorf does that to me.

So I walked to the paperterei.

To buy more of my paper. My handcut, Italian paper.

I turned the doorknob and opened the door. The tinkle of the bell on the door welcomed me.

I said “Gruezi” and made my way to the shelf that held my paper.

My handcut, Italian paper.

That I package my soap bars in.

The soap bars I make for you.

The shelf was empty. For all intents and purposes.

My paper was gone. Probably sold in the Christmas rush.

My heart dropped. Dropped.

But I saw what could be a reasonable alternative. The paper maps pictured above. The woman who sold them to me wasn’t the owner. I’ve chatted with the owner, but I haven’t seen her in a while.

The maps will do. But I want my paper. My handcut, Italian paper.

The supply chain in Switzerland, or maybe just Zurich, is interesting. When something is gone, it’s gone. Until the owner decides to order it again.

I have a few bars of soap left. Wrapped in my handcut, Italian paper.

I will take them to the paperterei tomorrow.

And I will ask the woman there, in the best German an Ausländerin can pull from her soul: “Können Sie mir helfen? Ich liebe Ihre italianisch Papier. Können Sie für mir bestellen…bitte?

“Ich mache Seifen. Ich bin eine Handwerkerin.”

Handwerkerin. I don’t think ‘artisan’ translates.

Because I’m a perfectionist/procrastinator, I have a tendency to hem and haw and sit on something until I think it’s perfect. Hence, the ridiculously long time it’s taking me to get the main soap site up.

I’ve got to get some energy moving.

So, I’m selling bars of peppermint.

Now.

Note: Because I’m still figuring out the PayPal credit card fees, I’m only selling within Switzerland at this point (I’ll send y’all an invoice).

The soap

I make my peppermint soap using olive, palm, coconut, sunflower, castor and sweet almond oils along with peppermint essential oil and peppermint leaves. Each bar weighs approximately 100g, is around 7.5×7.5 cm, and is lovingly wrapped with Italian paper and sealed with a wax stamp.

All of the above courtesy of my two little hands.

CHF 15.00 per bar

What to do

Send your name, address (remember, I’m selling only to Switzerland right now) and how many bars you want to info (at) sapuna (dot) ch. I’ll send your order along with an invoice.

Thanks to everyone for the support!

I’ve set a deadline for myself to have the soap site up and running by next weekend. I worked on it today.

The Panaroma sales gave me the kick I needed. Now on to take soap photos and get labels printed.

It should be an interesting week.

The bottle is from a collection of old ‘apothekerflaschen’ I bought.

Update: LOL! I had no idea what Bismuth subgallate was.

I promised to post my notes from the paper below this weekend (History of Cleanliness). Instead, I went to Einsiedeln.

I needed it.

Needed to sit.

To be quiet.

To listen.

Then I came home and wrapped bars.

I highly recommend it (the visit to Einsiedeln, not wrapping bars. Although the latter is fun also).

As many of you know, a massive, 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12th.

Unfortunately, the country is not equipped to deal with an emergency of this proportion.

With so many individuals in need, Saponifier Magazine has been in contact with Missionary Flights International (http://www.missionaryflights.org), an organization based out of Fort Pierce, Florida. This group is currently flying relief missions to Haiti.

They are asking for donations of:
Hygiene products: Soap, Toothpaste, Shampoo, Deodorant, etc. Handmade items are accepted.
Snack-type food – Granola bars, etc.
Cereal
Peanut butter
Blankets
Towels and washcloths
First Aid kits
Antibiotics
Flashlights & Batteries
Generators

Soaps and other products donated should be individually packaged before packing. Donations should be clearly marked with contents and
sent to:

MISSIONARY FLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL
3170 Airmans Drive
Fort Pierce, FL 34946

In addition to Missionary Flights International, Clean The World (http://www.cleantheworld.org) is accepting donations of handmade bar soaps. These soaps will be run through a re-batching and sterilization process, so they do not need to be full bars- hospitality size and larger are acceptable. Clean The World has asked that you send your soap in bulk with as little packaging material as possible.

Bar soaps should be mailed to:

Clean the World
4625 Old Winter Garden Road, #B 7,
Orlando, FL 32811

For more information on shipping your soap to Clean The World, please visit their Volunteer page at:

http://www.cleantheworld.org/volunteer.asp

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims of this tragedy.

Here’s more info from Clean the World and Missionary Flights.

Plain, peppermint and cinnamon