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Donna Maria's Handmade Beauty Connection
August 12, 2002

A Publication of The Handmade Toiletries Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Vol. 3, Issue 31
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---> This Week's Sponsor: The Handmade Beauty Connection

Greetings! We're our own sponsor this week because we recently changed the format of the newsletter and are hoping that this new format is suitable ... I'm also hoping it works! So please let me know how you like our new format. HBN's fabulous Web site designer, Kim Baron of Fallen Muse WebWorks, helped me format the newsletter in HTML so that it comes to you in email form as it appears in our archives. If you like to move back and forth among links, you'll want to enjoy the newsletter at our Web site since you can use your BACK button freely their. Otherwise, you can enjoy the newsletter here in your email box.

Let me know how you like this new format by emailing me at donnamaria@handmadebeauty.com. Enjoy!!

1. HBN Update: Welcome New & Renewing HBN Members & HBN Member News!
2. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: win 16 ounces of rose hydrosol!!
3. Create The Life You Love™: The French "Aroma" Connection, Part I, by Polly Fletcher
4. New At MakeYourCosmetics.com: Summer Facial Mask

~ Welcome New & Renewing HBN Members!

The Scent Shack | John Vaughn & Lori Kimble | Illinois
* renewing member; fabulous soap tested fragrance oils and other toiletries making materials

African Shea Butter Company | Tammie Umbel | Virginia
* renewing member, supplying naturally exotic goods like shea butter, blackseed oil, red clay and bottleware

Common Scents Co. | Janice Peyton  | Texas
* handmade soaps and bath salts

Earth's Beauty | Marj Melchiors| Arizona
* Earth's Beauty brand of skincare and makeup products made with essential oils and other natural ingredients

Precious Keepsakes | La Shonda Tyree  | New Jersey
* handmade soaps, bath salts, body butter and more

Enchanted Mood Creations | Joe Aggen & Liana Weed  | Texas
* handmade skincare with no dyes, preservatives or artificial ingredients; special orders welcome

Assured Organics | Ken Lightburn  | Massachusetts
* supplier of organic evening primrose oil and organic virgin coconut oil and organic palm oil

The Aspen Leaf | Linda & Megan Alexander  | California
* handmade soaps sold at local farmer's markets

Sungate Elementals, LLC | Christopher Frazer  | New Jersey
* handmade soaps and their own Tecalava Berry Salve made with shea butter, olive oil and herbs

HBN Members On The Move!

** 5th Annual "Keep The Arts Alive" Jazz Music Festival!

HBN member Sydney Vallentyne of St. John's Botanicals is pleased to announce that their 5th Annual "Keep The Arts Alive" Jazz Music Festival will be held on August 18 at the St. John's Music Pavilion In The Woods located on their 8 acre grounds in Bowie, Maryland, from noon until 8:00pm. Several talented musicians will be featured. Admission is $15 and advance reservations by credit card will be accepted by calling (703) 684-3986 or (301) 027-4819, or by emailing esrecords@msn.com. No Children under 18 will be admitted. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs.

** Two HBN Members Join Forces To Open The Natural Body Store!

For nearly 3 years now, HBN has prided itself on providing a virtual networking forum where handmade toiletries businesses can come together to learn, network, grow and enjoy a sense of community that is unparalleled in the beauty industry. After meeting through HBN, two Maryland members have joined forces to do just that. Just days ago, Sharon Kinnier of Baltimore's Best Bath & Body and Debbie Medina of Monave (Web site under construction) teamed up to open The Natural Body Store in historic Fell's Point in Baltimore. They have also joined forces to share warehouse and manufacturing space. Now all of their costs are half what they were last month, allowing these two enterprising HBN members to enjoy even more of the fruits of their labors. The two are perfectly matched to complement each other since Sharon specializes in skincare and Debbie specializes in color make-up. Their plans include adding a "scent it yourself" section where customers can scent their own handmade beauty products and learn more about what goes into making quality skincare and make-up products. So if you're in Baltimore anytime in the future, be sure to contact Sharon or Debbie and stop by to see them in their new digs. Congratulations ladies!!

** HBN Member To Speak At NAHA Conference, World of Aromatherapy

HBN member Suzanne Catty of Acqua-Vita (also the vice president of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy) invites you to Explore the World of Aromatherapy and support the aromatherapy industry at this year's conference. The World of Aromatherapy IV International Conference and Trade Show will provide the industry of aromatherapy with a forum to learn, discuss, and network on the various aspects of the aromatherapy industry, both nationally and internationally. The conference will be held September 5-9 in Seattle, Washington. With 12 main speakers (including our own Suzanne!), over 16 workshops and an aromatic trade show, the conference plans something for everyone! For further details log onto NAHA's Web site or call (206) 547-2164. 

Learn more about our members and their exciting activities by visiting their Web sites through HBN's Online Member Directory!!

Last Week's Question: I am a very famous spa in the southeastern United States. I was established in 1945 and I have a staff of 130. Among my signature treatments are Fango Body Mask, Hydropitmale Facial and Sea Salt Glow. I have 193 guest rooms and a 50,000 square foot sap and fitness center. In 1964, I was recognized by the US Department of Interior as an historical landmark. What am I?

Last Week's Answer: Safety Harbor Resort and Spa on Tampa, Bay, Florida

This Week's Question: I am the subject of a current and hilarious commercial airing on network television. In the commercial, a woman is enjoying a fabulous spa treatment. Her hair is safely tucked away in a turban, she is covered is green mud, wrapped in a warm cocoon-like towel, and cucumber slices are placed over her eyes. As the soothing music plays in the background, she opens her eyes and the cukes fly off because she has suddenly remembered that she should have taken a dose of me before she got all wrapped up and comfy. What am I?

The first person to respond with the correct answer this week will win 16 ounces of rose hydrosol courtesy of HBN member Essential Wholesale!

Please read the contest rules here before submitting your entry.

While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner will be notified by email and their name posted at HBN's home page.

As a cosmetic formulator with a passion for plant derived products, it has always been a desire to make the aroma connection in a place where "aromatherapy" became recognized. Making a journey to Southern France to explore aromatic gardens, botanical farms, and perfumeries was certainly a dream come true.

With our homework completed, a distiller was selected that appeared to meet the criteria. An initial, small order was made to try out the botanical matter. When the order arrived, I was so impressed by the quality of the exterior packaging and protection of the materials. The outer box was in perfect shape, not leaking or soaked through, the bottles were professionally wrapped. The essential oils were contained in a special dark green glass made of a composite allowing 90%UV protection. The hydrolats, in the liter size, packaged in a special brown, plastic, light sensitive, bottles. This professional job was done by someone who is proud of their product and knows how to care for it.

Alexandra, our soap maker, and I opened each bottle, we could feel a certain vitality and energy with each product. The peppermint hydrolat was so inviting the first thing we did was to add a squirt of peppermint to a tall, cool, glass of water. Wow! The sensation was exquisite. We could tell there was a certain energy and vitality that was different from some of the other hydrolats we had in stock. The essential oils and hydrolats seemed consistent with the high quality we wanted to obtain. The most important thing to remember is that even though we had some excellent distributors, we were seeking a direct source. So these products had to be comparable to the high standards we currently purchase. They passed the initial test.

With flight arrangements made, bags packed, the trip to the south of France became a reality. As it turned out the distiller was offering a Medical Aromatherapy Course in mid-May. I felt this would give me a great opportunity to become familiar with the distillery's business practice, ethics, and philosophy.

About The Writer: Polly Fletcher is the founder of Life Balance Hand Made Formulations. A member of HBN since 2000, Life Balance is based in Boston, MA and is committed to formulating skin care products that nourish the skin & inspire the senses. She can be contacted at polylogx@aol.com.

Next Week: Grasse: The Perfume Capital Of The World

Summer Facial Mask is a wonderful recipe for these dog days of summer, especially for oily skin. The strawberry and egg white will act as astringents while the honey and rose hydrosol will smooth and soothe. Try it and enjoy!!

The Scent Shack: fragrance oils and soap supplies. Fragrance oils are pre-tested in cold process, melt & pour soap, and candles, and test results are listed at the Web site. Scents tested by soapers for soapers!

Lynden House International , Canadian supplier of soap and candlemaking supplies such as fixed oils, perfumes, essential oils, molds, powdered milks, colors, pre-made bases, candle wax, wicks, embeds and more!