The Fragrant Arts

I promised in my last post to introduce you to more of the talented artists and crafters who'll have their work at the ArtFirst! Holiday Show and Sale. 

One of our main goals was to include a wide variety of artisans in the show, so I was thrilled when popular Pinole soapmakers Jane and Nadine Robbins-Laurent, of sassafras,were able to participate. They have a faithful following of customers for their handmade soap and bath products, candles, and fused glass jewelry at the Pinole Art Center and the Pinole Farmers Market. I always crack up when I see their slogan: "Life's Too Short for Crappy Soap!"

Which leads me to a fabulous El Cerrito craftist - my husband George McRae. George is multi-talented. His main vocation is acting, but on the side he produces handmade soap and beeswax candles for our company, Garden Delights Arts & Crafts, under the name "Bubble Queen Soaps & Scents".

George uses only natural ingredients in his soap, and he doesn't add color or extra scent, using only the ingredients (lavender is my favorite) for fragrance. By far the most popular Bubble Queen soaps are these cats. And for the first time at this show George will offer beeswax candles, handmade from wax produced by his bees (the hive is at a friend's house in Richmond).

After you've cleaned up good with either sassafras' or Bubble Queen's soaps, you'll want to dab on some artisanal botanical perfumes made by Laurie Stern. Laurie, also from El Cerrito, is an award-winning natural perfumer. In her own words: "Velvet & Sweet Pea's Purrfumery revives the romance of the golden era of perfume through a blending of perfume’s legacy of romantic scent and gorgeous packaging with a modern sensitivity to organics, health, and ethics."

If you want to meet Laurie in person and see her line of perfumes, she will be at the show the second weekend, December 1st and 2nd. Before then she'll have luscious bath salts and other goodies available.

I hope you enjoyed this olfactory tour. Oh gee, did I mention when and where the show is? We'll be at the Village Shops and Galleries, 10330 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito (cross streets Eureka and Stockton) from November 24th through December 2nd, from noon to 6:00 pm, open every day except Monday and Tuesday. And the launch party is Saturday, November 24th, from 5 to 8 p.m. Hope to see you there!

This is my original post with all of the information about the Show.