To the Spa We Go!

Twilight Soaps & Gifts has been a proud vendor at Ultima Bellezza Salon in Stillwater, MN for a few years now and  have enjoyed every minute of it!

Becky Johnson

I started collaborating with one of their new Stylists, Rebekah Johnson, to come up with some specialty Spa products and fragrances you can only get at the salon and with her fabulous pedicures and manicures! After figuring out  what products Becky needed to complete her pedicures, we decided that a Foot Soak, Salt Scrub, and Shea Butter lotion would be the fit for her! The custom scent for the Salon for the Summer is Limoncello! It was inspired by the Tuscan ambiance of the salon! For Fall and Winter, it will be something different, so make sure you book your appointments in advance! 

View of the other spa chair

I went in to test the products and see how Becky does her pedicures about a week ago. I know, it must be rough to have to try my products like that :) I can tell you, I waited too long to get one!  I decided to get the Spa Pedicure which includes soaking your feet in a custom made Foot Soak, Scrub, lotion, and a foot/leg massage!  It was the most relaxed I have been in a long time!

The Spa area is very soothing and the spa chairs massage you as you get your pedicure! It's a must try! I'm so excited that the all natural products provided will be available for people to try in a pedicure! Ultima Bellezza Salon is such a great place and I am loving the new opportunity to share my products!

Getting a fabulous Opi color

For more information or to book an appointment, please go to www.ultimabellezzasalon.com 

Introducing...

I have been making jewelry since I was child. I always enjoy doing something creative and incorporating new and unusual materials. Two years ago my father started making jewelry to give him something to do in his retirement. My line has always been part of Twilight Soaps & Gifts, but in the last year or so, it's really been coming into it's own. I started using unique materials like aircraft parts, safety wire, and other finding to create one of kind creations and it just didn't fit in with Twilight Soaps & Gifts anymore. My dad's line, Pacific Shores Stone Works was having trouble gaining visibility on its own and we got to the point were it seemed like a wonderful idea to merge forces and create one line! That's when we came up with raDesigns!

The name is simple, but we hope the line and each of our distinct collections will be memorable!

We started an etsy shop and have just a few things listed, but you can expect more to come from us very soon with a launch party, website, and more! I want to thank everyone for their support over the years for all of my ventures! I hope you will enjoy our new company as much as we enjoy creating the pieces for it!

http://www.etsy.com/people/raDsigns

hand crafted necklace pic by Heather Lea

hand woven hoops

Aurora25 Collection: Ready to Launch

View from the B-25 Cockpit

It's not always easy to keep on all of the latest trends out there. Sometimes I try to create my own and break away from the pack to create something new and fresh. Something that people haven't seen before.

Minnesota Wing logo

For anyone who knows me, I always have a lot going on, but there are two things in my life that I always have time for because they are important to me and have helped to shape who I am: the Minnesota Wing Commemorative Air Force which is a WWII Aircraft Museum. It's much more than just a museum, it represents family to me and a part of history that I feel is especially import to preserve. My grandfather was a member and so was my father so the family aspect is deeply ingrained in me. I also met my husband there and we both volunteer for the museum, which makes it extra special. The second thing is the fact that I grew up in Juneau, Alaska. Growing up in such a small town with such a wealth of nature and beauty surrounding me has given me an appreciation for the world around me and all the beauty it holds. It's also given me the chance to be creative and to use things I find around me. Nature doesn't care who you are or what you do, you are a part of it, no matter what!

One of my favorite beaches in Juneau

One of my more recent (by recent, I mean this year) endeavors has been to create a line of jewelry made from Aircraft and car parts, nuts, bolts, cotter pins, etc. Its been quite a unique experience to take something that can be very utilitarian and industrial and turn it into something beautiful and wearable.

I recently started selling my line which I have dubbed as the Aurora25 collection (which represents my love of natural beauty from growing up in Alaska and my love of WWII Aircraft and what they represent) at the Minnesota Wing Commemorative Air Force Gift Shop. 50% of all the sales go towards the Wing and projects they need to complete.

Clear Lucite w/ Washers

Trying to bring this collection to the masses, I brought a few of the piece to Parc Boutique in NE Minneapolis. The earrings to your right are available at Parc Boutique, but all styles are unique and will not be replicated! A portion of the sales at Parc Boutique, online, or anywhere they are sold will go towards the CAF Minnesota Wing.

In January of 2012, I will be partnering with Vault Denim on a Museum Trunk Show/Open house to show case some of the designs and their fabulous denim. A portion of all the sales will go towards the Minnesota Wing. 

I can't wait to bring this collection into full swing, as it's been almost a year in the making. From design to completion, I think you will all enjoy!

Another new venture..of Vintage Fashion

In my vast amount of extra time between running a non-profit organization, owning a Soap Business, Consulting, a day job, and teaching children's art classes (whew! I'm worn out just saying that)...I decided to start taking some of the wonderful vintage I have been collecting over the years and share them with the world.

photo courtesy of Matt Holland @ matthollandphotography.com

I have been collecting and storing vintage stuff since I was a kid. I remember going through my mom's clothes from the 60s and just thinking how cool it was that she still had some of the stuff. I would try on her green corduroy pants from the Gap (still in mint condition I might add) and an embroidered top and I knew I was set! Not sure how good the combinations actually were back then, but as I got older I learned what retro looks went together and what was worth saving. 

With hosting two WWII dances at the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing, my collections began to grow even more. In addition to Civilian clothing, I started collecting vintage Military items with my husband. I'm finding there are quite a lot of people interested in dressing up for the dances...so I decided to start my own Etsy site for vintage stuff. I only just began posting things...so you will find purses, jewelry, records and such. You can expect to find coats, dresses, and more very soon. Eventually, I will be creating a site for people to rent items specifically for dances and other functions. My thought is that while many people may attend these "Retro" bashes, they may not want to invest in the piece. So, why not rent it for the night just like you would a tux or dress for a formal engagement!

Stayed tuned for that...I'm thinking that is a great Winter project to get going. In the mean time, check out the Etsy site called Amelia's Vintage Closet. The site is named after our little kitten who is enamored with all of the sparkly things hanging in my closet!

www.ameliasvintagecloset.etsy.com

Fabulous lashes at an affordable price

When you think of Wet N Wild, I'm sure the first thing that comes to mind is cheap nailpolish you can pick up at the drug store, but they have evolved so much farther beyond that! I started playing around with a few of their inexpensive bronzers and eye shadows and I was pleasantly surprised. Wet n Wild holds up to the competition in many ways...but lets get to the point of this post- Eye Lashes! Most girls want fabulously long lashes and we have all tried countless brands that leave us feeling less then trilled. They clump, the flake, they burn our eyes...we don't need that kind of abuse! If your like me, you want something simple that is cost effective and works! Simple!
  

After doing a bit a research on some of the Wet N Wild products, I decided to try their Wink Mascara. It's about half the cost of the other name brands and makes my lashes look really long, plus no clumping, flaking, or irritating (yup, I think that just rhymed a bit). You can find the products at just about every drug store across America...so give it try, it wont break the bank at $2.99!

You might be asking why I am sharing this with when it's not related to my soaps or jewelry? It's simple really..you can get a great product without breaking the bank! Plus, Wet N Wild does not test on animals (unlike a lot of the other brands out there).

So here's the link...enjoy! http://wnwbeauty.com/Product.php?Pid=95 

How time flies

It's been longer then I had intended from my last blog post! Sometimes time just gets away from you!

Twilight Soaps & Gifts has been really busy this year so far....2011 has been full of new shops, trunk shows, and new products (coming soon- my fabulous soothing foot soak), and jewelry lines (Aurora25).

Most recently,  Twilight Soaps & Gifts was featured as one of the artists of the 2nd Annual Parc Boutique Designer Jewelry Trunk Show. It was a lot of fun to be had by all! You can check out a few of the pictures at http://www.kittycotten.com/2011/04/parc-boutique.html

Next month, May 28th to be exact, Twilight Soaps & Gifts will take part in Aviation Inspiration Day at Fleming Field in South St Paul- a day devoted to giving girls the opportunity to explore and create an interest in aviation! 
I will be primarily selling items from the new called Aurora25 which is a fusion of polished glass, aircraft parts, and other lovelies!


For more information go to http://www.girlswithwings.com/MNevent.html

Happy New Year

2010 was such a great year for Twilight Soaps & Gifts and me! I met  a ton of new people (business contacts and new friends), participated in Trunk/Fashion Shows, and am have began building a bigger base of stores that carry my soaps and gifts! I couldn't do it without all of the support from my customers, friends, and family!
I hope you all have a very wonderful New Year!

I also have a giveaway for you to help ring in 2011! Simply go to the link below for the Minnesota Etsy Street Team Blog's giveaway for a chance to win one of my sugar scrub and lotion gift sets! Just my way of saying "Thanks for all the support".

http://etsymn.blogspot.com/2010/12/handmademn-giveaway-twilight-soaps.html