Blue Jewel Handcrafted - Botanical Soap and Skincare

Ever wonder what goes into creating a bar of handmade soap? At Blue Jewel Handcrafted, every bar is made with intention, care, and skin-loving ingredients.  Unlike mass-produced soap, my small-batch process ensures quality, creativity, and a touch of artistry in each bar.  Let's take a look behind the scenes so you can see exactly how my soaps come to life. Finished Chamomile Soap with an infusion of chamomile tea   1. Choosing the Ingredients It all starts with high quality, natural ingredients.  I carefully select plant-based oils like olive oil, coconut oil, and mango butter - each chosen for their unique benefits to the skin and for how they perform in the final product.  I also include avocado oil, castor oil, and a touch of sunflower oil to each batch, ensuring a long-lasting, hard bar of soap.  These oils form the base of my soaps (the majority of my batches start with this base) to make them moisturizing, creamy, and gentle.   How do I kno...

Herbs have been a part of my life since I was an infant in my mother's arms. As an adult, I have never been without an herb garden, carrying uprooted herbs to new homes to re-establish them in my new yard. Herbs carry with them the wisdom of the earth, quietly offering remedies, flavor and insight drawn from the deep intelligence of our planet. Growing your own herbs is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to start gardening. Whether you have a backyard plot, a sunny balcony, or just a windowsill, fresh herbs are low-maintenance, space-saving, and full of flavor. Plus, nothing beats the taste and aroma of freshly snipped herbs in your cooking, and they can be used beyond the kitchen, as time honored remedies for an upset stomach or even to calm your nerves. Keep reading to find out about my favorite herbs to grow, and I'll give you a bonus natural cough remedy that beats the nasty red stuff in the cold and flu aisle.      I grow most of my herbs in the ground and...