If You Came To Market...

If you came to my market, you would find a feast.  A feast for your belly and a feast for your eyes.  The most beautiful produce is in season at the Farmers Markets.  Stop by a market near you!

Lisa Marie's Made In Maine

Fresh soaps delivered to Lisa Marie's Made In Maine! 

She has locations in Bath on Front St. and in Portland on Exchange St. 

http://www.lisamariesmadeinmaine.com/

Soaps Available At A New Location...

I have secured a new retail location for Casco Bay Soap Co. soaps.  Yippee!  My soaps will now be available in Apple Acres Farm in South Hiram, Maine.  What a lovely farm. 

South Hiram is located over in the Western part of Maine and I am very happy to be expanding my soap availability to that part of the state. 

http://www.appleacresfarm.com/

Coming Very Soon...

I am very excited to announce that I will be part of a fantastic new school fundraising catalog!  The idea behind the catalog is to have local items made by super talents local folks.  No more wrapping paper made in China or gigantic tubs of popcorn.  3 local schools ( I believe the catalog is going out to be handed out 1700 children) will start their fundraising efforts this October selling wonderful local Maine products such as Angela Adams, Coffee By Design, Dean's Sweets, Little Lad's Popcorn and yours truly, Casco Bay Soap Co.!

Catalogs to be printed soon, but in the mean time, you can sneak peak the web site:

http://www.closebuycatalog.com/

Planning Ahead

Due to the simple fact that my old fashion soaps needs time to cure, I am already planning and working on your Fall fragrances.  Pumpkin Spice, Apple Cider will be stirred up soon.  Gingersnap and Cranberry Fig won't be far behind as I plan for the Holiday craft season. 

Holiday ribbons are on order and some special gift packaging ideas are being tossed around.

Plenty of summer left here in the Northeast as we generally find that September is a bonus month full of warmth and sunshine.   But when the apples appear at the Farmers Market and the Candy Corn appears in the store, we all start craving those comforting fragrances of Fall.  I will be ready for you!

Be Back Soon...

I'm on vacation this week...be back soon! 

Scottish Soap...

My soaps will be for sale at our local Scottish Highland Games in a couple of weekends.  I have altered them a bit to fit in more with the crowd (think kilts, bagpipes, thistle, oatmeal and you'll get the idea).  Adding these adorable plaid ribbons to my Heather &  Hyacinth, Highland Lavender and my Oatmeal & Cinnamon soaps as well as highlighting my name ,"Shannon" and a little Thistle graphic I think did the trick.   I actually have Scottish blood running through my veins.  My maiden name was McGee.  Growing up with a name like Shannon McGee attracted quite a bit of attention.   I just love the Highland Games.  The drums drumming and the bag pipes piping...the men walking around in kilts...Scottish foods and games.  If you are able to attend a Highland Games in your area, I highly recommend it. 

http://www.mainehighlandgames.org/

Safe Cosmetic Act Petition ~ Opposing

Please read and consider signing (to oppose)  this Safe Cosmetics Act petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/oppose-hr-5786-safe-cosmetics-act-of-2010/

A quick summery:

The bill was written with robust consultation with a private coalition of people claiming to represent the interests of consumers.

The sponsors of this petition are the men and women who manufacture cosmetics on a small scale in the country, and their customers and other people who support America's small business owners.

While we are unquestionably in favor of safe cosmetics, this bill contains a number of unnecessary provisions that would decimate our nation's small scale cosmetics manufacturers without any benefit at all to consumers. This bill treats a company making 100 bottles of lotion each year the same way it treats a multi-billion dollar, multi-national company making 100 bottles of lotion each second. It is grossly unfair, unduly burdensome, intrusive and unnecessary in a number of ways.

 

In short, I would go out of business.  I simply can not comply with all that this Safe Cosmetic Act is asking us to do.  I can not pay for all that they are asking as well as many of my fellow soap makers that are creating everything from lotion, creams, bath bombs, soaking salts, muscle rubs etc. etc. etc.  

 

Please consider taking the time to read the bill and sign the petition to oppose it.

 

Thank you! 

Your Soap Maker

   

Single Serve Pie

You are not even going to believe what I made. Singe serve pies in a little mason jar! The cutest things you will ever eat! I made them for my family as we were headed out for a picnic on the waters edge and I eagerly volunteered to bring desert. I have been just waiting for the perfect time to make these little pies, and my mom and sister would be just the right people to admire these. Next up, I will be baking these on board for a few of our boating friends. I'm also thinking little chicken or lobster pot pies.

( Just dough, top left.  Filled with berries, top right. A lattic topper, bottom left.  Cut out heart, bottom right)!

Ahhhh! Can you stand the cuteness!??

Easy as...well, pie! I used store bought pie dough and made a quick pie filling out of some Maine blueberries that I purchased earlier at the Farmers Market. You even bake these pies right in their glass jar!

Single Serving Pies

Recipe makes 8 little pies
2 rolls of refrigerator pie dough
2 C. of pie filling, your choice (you can even use canned fillings)


My Blueberry Filling Recipe:


3 cups of fresh (or frozen) blueberries, rinsed and stems removed (if using frozen, defrost and drain first)
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/8 cup all-purpose flour (for thickening)
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Gently mix the blueberries, sugar, flour, cinnamon, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, stir often.

To make a "perfect" lid for your pie, simply use the ring from the mason jar as a template. Gently press the ring into the pie dough and wa-la! Perfect lid for the pie. Be sure to cut out a little vent for the pie. Use a mini cookie cutter to cut cute shapes, free-style and cut with a knife, or if you are in the mood, lattice! Set lids aside.

Take one little mason jar and press pieces of dough into the bottom and up the sides of the jar. Continue with remaining jars.

Fill each little jar with approximately 1/4 C. of filling. Top with a lid and press to join sides with the tops crimping with your fingers or a fork.

Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar if you want it extra special.

Bake for 30 minutes or so (until tops are brown) in a 375 degree oven.

When I took these little pies out of the oven, some of the lids had pushed up over the top of the jar. I simply waited for them to cool and the steam to escape and the lid went right back down. So don't worry if this happens to you.

Cool and put on the lid. They are ready to travel! Heat up before eating if you would like. But we enjoyed ours at room temperature and they were delicious! Enjoy!

NEW Coconut Lemongrass Soap

I recently made up a batch of delicious, out of this world, smells-so-good, Coconut Lemongrass soap for you!   Still heavy on the Lemongrass, this soap has wonderful simple sweet undertones of vanilla-coconut.  Yum!

Wedding Soaps

I had a special request and was happy to work with a wonderful bride to create these little soaps she will gift her guest with.   A variety of soaps in miniature!  Well over 100 of these little darlings, each tucked inside a beautiful organza bag.  They're on their way to Connecticut for an end of the summer wedding! 

Happy Birthday To Me...

Yesterday was my birthday.   I have one year before a big one is to be celebrated.  Gulp.  I am happy to report that I spent some time with family, friends and enjoyed the day.  Full of fun, good food and a cake made by my husband in the wee hours of the morning, I am truly a lucky girl.

Casco Bay Soap Co. Featured...

Great post and write up about Casco Bay Soap Co. over on Money Saving Maineac today!  There is also a giveaway!

http://www.moneysavingmaineac.com/2010/08/laundry-day-soap-dryer-sachet-giveaway.html

More and more soap going out...

The last couple of weeks have been very busy.  Soap, soap and more soap going out the door.  From small, personal orders (where I meet a customer at a local grocery store parking lot with a soap delivery) to medium orders for consignment shops to large wholesale orders.  2 farmers markets per week and I have had a few wedding deliveries too.  Whew! Lots of soap going out and I am happy to say that this little soap business is becoming a full time job.

Thanks to:

Lisa Marie's Made In Maine ~ Portland & Bath locations  http://www.lisamariesmadeinmaine.com/

Farmers Fare ~ Rockport  http://www.farmersfare.com/

Sea Side Creations ~ Bailey Island  http://www.harpswellmaine.org/shops.html

Jacqueline's Tea Room ~ Freeport http://www.jacquelinestearoom.com/

VSA Arts of Brunswick ~ Brunswick http://www.vsartsmaine.org/

The Farm Stand ~ No. Yarmouth

And to all my loyal customers!  Thank you!!