Marmalade

After almost a weeks vacation in Florida I am back to the cold weather of Chicago. Not that I really mind, although I had a wonderful trip visiting my Dad, Pam and My grandparents it is always nice to be home. It was a very relaxing week minis my son crying every time i left his sight. I came back with a slight tan and a backpack filled with grapefruit. After examining my frig I discovered I had all the ingredient to make a Citrus Marmalade. It was a little more work to make than I thought but boy is it good and it also made about 14 8oz jars. They are so pretty but i will never eat that much Marmalade in my life time. So if you are in the mood for Homemade Marmalade send $3.50 via pay pal (cost to ship) to my account shannaukarch@yahoo.com and I will mail you out some! It's good stuff I'm telling you! :)

Now I am gearing up for February's Handmade Market should be a great show! If you are in Chicago come and see me! February 13th from noon - 4pm @ The Empty Bottle

Lip Balm -

Lip Balm is the word for the week!

This week I made two different lip balms, labeled, photographed, listed and sold them! Okay so I only sold them for 2 dollars a piece and sold only about 10 so I can't say it is making me rich but over all I will say it was a good week...

I had a craft show this afternoon and I can say that my Lip Balm was a hit!

Thank you Chocolate Orange and Coconut Vacation lip balm, with out you my show would have been a failure.

Now if I can just get a few sells on my etsy shop. I am not sure how you hit it big on etsy with soap... for now I will just take a few sales. I have to come to the conclusion that It's hard to buy soap or lip balm on line when you can't smell it before you buy it... but don't worry I am still going to try

If only you could smell a picture....I can only hope that some day u can.

BigCity products in a shop near you!

I am so excited to announce that I got my first whole sale order! You can now find my lovely made felted goods, along with my all natural hand crafted soaps @ Lemon Sky Unlimited. This shop is located at 6130 Northwest Hwy, Chicago IL. The shop owner, Jane, is such a joy to work with. She is full of energy and has a great eye for beautiful products. Her shop is full of vibrant colors and is quite stunning! Just check out the store front, bright yellow lemons on a aqua background! U Can't miss it!
You will be able to find a new product I have been working on, fleece lined mittens made from recycled sweaters. They are unbelievably warm and each one is unique.


My fingerless-mitts are also available, each one is 100% wool and great for the spring, fall or that cold indoor work space!

Last but not least you will be able to pick up my wonderfully smelling, full of lather, hand crafted soap. Each bar is 5oz and smells so good you could eat it. Showering will never be the same with out it! I am so excited about them!

So visit Lemon Sky Unlimited this Holiday season and get your self some great handmade gifts the store is full of them! Your friends and family will not be disappointed!

Fall has arrived

The Crisp air of Autumn has Arrived! (lets not talk about winter)

I have the smell of apples flowing through my home. I have been making apple butter and canning it this week. It tastes so great and makes the house smell wonderful! My Great Grandparents always held a fall festival every autumn at there home, when i was a child. They made apple butter in a big iron kettle over a wood fire. I always loved those days running around with my cousins and eating apples that had dropped from the trees, not a care in the world. My apple butter is made in the crock pot, but no matter how its made it is a delightful addition to my toast each morning.

Craft Show Applications Due

So applications are due soon for Renegade craft fair Chicago and DYI Trunk show 2009

I put together these two images for submition.. I hope I get in to one of them!! Now.. got to run little Winston is asleep and Its time to make soap!

First Farmers Market

Here are the dates for 2009

Jun 14, 2009 : Jun 28, 2009 : Jul 12, 2009 : Jul 26, 2009 : Aug 9, 2009Aug 23, 2009 : Sep 13, 2009 : Sep 27, 2009 : Oct 11, 2009

Hours:9 am - 1


Below is my set up ... needs some work but not bad for my 1st all SOAP set up!

Summers Soaps at Chicago Farmers Market

I have been ask to sell Soap at the Independence Park Farmers Market here in Chicago. I am so excited... but now I have been making soap like it is my job... hey wait it is! Which is exciting. I making soap and love using hand made soap even more. I can tell a huge diffrence in my skin which is normally very dry. The image below is a Coconut Milk soap that i made last week. It turned out beautifully!

You will be able to find me @ Independence Park: 3945 N. Springfield Ave, chicago
starting Sunday, June 14. from 9 am to 1 pm

The other dates are June 28, July 12 & 26, Aug. 9 & 23, Sept. 13 & 27, Oct. 11.

Another thing that I got done was putting out a small garden below my patio. I put out two tomato plants, 8 peppers and one eggplant. I am pumped to see how everything grows! Hopefully by summers end I will be making home made salsa! Wahoo!