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Forbes magazine recently had a post with 7 reasons to shop local. These really resonated with me as a shopper and small business owner. So I put together a list of some of my favorite small businesses for you to shop with this holiday season (in addition to Sweet Sprig of course ;) 7 Reasons to Shop Local 1. Stimulate local economy 2. Reduce the carbon footprint 3. Create more jobs 4. Give back to the local community 5. Better customer service 6. Nurture innovation and growth 7. Support someone's dream Eraeon Upcycled and original clothing design    Marysa Sacerdote Jewelry Bold statement pieces inspired by nature.   Grenadier Pottery Beautiful stoneware with real botanical leaf imprints.   Saratoga Spicery Signature blends, fresh herbs and spice. Their cinnamon is out of this world delish. 
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 All of our products are made in our Schenectady studio fresh. We have one to two days per week dedicated to just producing our amazing soaps, candles and skincare. Small, fresh batches means you are getting the full effects of plant-powered beauty. We use natural botanical ingredients whose benefits fade with time. This is why we suggest using our products fresh.
As a society we are used to commercial beauty products that are pumped with toxic ingredients in order for them to be shelf stable for years. Our products contain natural ingredients and safe synthetics and are best enjoyed within the first 6 month-1 year of purchasing them. I know it is a bit of a transition to think of your skincare as something you shop for on a monthly basis. I like to build it as a routine. Shop for your body products fresh on a regular basis the same way you do for fruits and veggies. Your body, skin, and soul will thank you! Our enchanting gift boxes are a unique and special holiday gift for anyone on your list. Receiving a Sweet Sprig gift box is an immersive and intimate experience. Each recyclable paper box contains carefully curated Sweet Sprig products. From there your gift box is filled with real dried botanicals like pinecones, strawflowers, roses, eucalyptus and moss. Your gift box is elegantly tied up with raffia string and is finished with a mini dried flower bouquet. The final step is to seal your holiday gift box with a wax stamp.
On our website choose from five different custom holiday gift boxes. We can mail directly to the recipient with an inscribed card. Save yourself from the long lines at the post office this year! We also offer build-your-own boxes in our retail shop at 14 N Church St, Schenectady. You select the items and we will create something gorgeous and custom for you. Gift the joy of handmade this holiday season.  Thinking about the best way to care for my skin isn't something I took seriously most of my life. Using all natural soap nearly my entire life and good genetics has blessed me in the skincare department. In recent years as I have delved into skincare development I've learned more about how to create the best skincare regimen for how my body is right now. In another five years my body might need more from me but for now I have found a simple, safe morning skincare routine that works for me. I am a keep-it-simple kinda gal when it comes to skincare rituals. Less is more for my skin. I'm looking to the power of plants to hydrate, balance and heal my skin. The only make-up I wear is occasional mascara, brow pencil, eyeliner and highlighter. My favorite brand for make-up currently is the Honest Company. I am very sensitive to eye make-up and most other natural brands irritate my eyes. My Morning Skin Care Routine: ❤ Wash my face with Sweet Sprig Carrot Basil Soap or Sweet Sprig Tea Tree + Calendula ( I alternate every couple of days.) In the summertime I swap out the Tea Tree Soap for Sweet Sprig Activated Charcoal soap to clean out bug spray, suntan lotion, sweat and environmental toxins. ❤ Once my skin has dried I apply Sweet Sprig Wild Carrot Replenishing Face Cream. My cream contains Carrot Seed Essential Oil, which enhances skin health and repairs damage on skin that has been exposed to pollution and environmental stress which leads to signs of aging. ❤ At least once per week (sometimes twice) I use a Sweet Sprig Botanical Facial Steam to deep clean my pores and give my skin a soft glow. My Evening Skincare Routine ❤ Rinse face with warm water, pat dry with towel ❤ Remove eye makeup with Qet Botanicals brand Eye Makeup Remover ❤ Apply straight unrefined coconut oil in small gentle circles as needed SWEET SPRIG PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS POST You spent a lot of time and money making sure the flowers on your big day were just perfect. Why not preserve some of those blooms to create lasting memories for both the couple and guests.
Here is a great method for preserving some of the gorgeous flowers from your reception and bouquets along with a creative project that adds a personalized touch to your thank you cards. The first project we are going to do is press some of the flowers from your reception, centerpieces or bridal bouquet. PRESSING YOUR BLOOMS 1. Inspect flowers and leaves and remove damaged or brown parts. Cut or pinch off flower heads that you want to press. You can also choose to include part of the stem and leaves in which case cut the stem to the desired length. Many flowers can be pressed successfully but some are not as well suited. 2. Place double sheets of blotting paper between two pages of a thick book (or use a flower press if you have one.) Position flowers face down. Place blooms with similar thicknesses on the same page. 3. Close the book, securing it with two wide rubber bands. Leave for four weeks unopened. After such time you can open the book and remove your pressed flowers. Certain flowers such as: calla lilies, dahlias, roses, lilies, white lisianthus, mums, chrysanthemums, anthurium, tulips, white orchids, tropical varieties, will not press well. Essentially the more “juicy” the flower, the harder it is to press. THE PROJECT: Using the flowers from your recent pressing adventures create one-of-a-kind thank you cards to send to your guests! Supplies: Pressed flowers Tweezers Blank greeting cards and envelopes (you can find packs at Michaels Craft Stores or online. Choose white, cream or a fun color) Spray adhesive ( I prefer Krylon Clear Acid-Free Spray Adhesive) Vinyl or latex gloves Newspaper Clean, ventilated work surface 1. In a well ventilated space lay down newspaper or other disposable table covering (spray adhesive is sticky!) 2. Put on protective gloves (for the same reason listed above.) 3. Lay out your pressed flowers and cards to the side. 4. Take blank card and lay flat on table. You will be sticking the flower to the right panel of the card so that when you close the card it opens properly. 5. Using tweezers, hold flower over newspaper and away from blank card. Lightly spray with adhesive. Then quickly press the flower sticky side down onto your card. Press flower down lightly with the palm of your hand. You can have a single bloom on each card or get creative using multiple flowers. 6. Allow cards to dry 24 hours 7. Hand write your thank you notes with a little piece of wedding history. Be sure to inscribe on the back of the card that these flowers are from the wedding (maybe even name the flower variety if your are feeling a little extra. )Your guests will appreciate the time and effort you took to thank them for attending your special day. Plus they have a gorgeous piece of art that they can frame. 8. To get even fancier consider layering handmade paper, rice paper or textured paper onto the greeting card and spraying down with adhesive before adding blooms. . Happy Crafting!  Leah recently had an interview with Subkit.com. Read the entire text of the article here
 What a Year!
I just completed my January ritual of recording all my professional accomplishments over the past year in my business bullet journal. I love this process because as a busy artist and entrepreneur it is easy to forget just how much you have achieved. Making this list gives me a chance to step back, take a breath and stand in all the wonderful things that i've experienced, big and small. Because I am a list lover here are some of the very neat things Sweet Sprig has accomplished this past year. I want to share them with you because you made them possible. My most kind and generous Soapsters, I appreciated every sale, compliment, conversation and sweet word. You are truly patrons of my art and for that I am grateful. Well, back to that list I promised you :)
This year I worked with two of my Downtown Schenectady friends and neighbors to create some delightful limited edition Sweet Sprig products. Working with David at True Juice cafe to design his Sweet Snap candle was so much fun. Sweet Snap, a blend of fresh pineapple and real lemon essential oil is inspired by the cafe's popular cold-press juice by the same name. This candle was formulated to create a cheerful, fresh scent that will brighten up any space. I have personally been loving burning it in my home. Only available at True Juice Cafe,www.truejuicecafe.com 251 State St, Schenectady NY (free parking lot in the rear off of Liberty St.) Be sure to stop-in to get yours soon. The second collab I worked on this year was on a limited line of soaps with Haley for Arthur's Market. When we first started working together on designing a line of soaps inspired by Arthur's menu it was evident our two businesses were a perfect fit for one another. Rosemary Lemon is an elegant blend of savory and sweet with a delicate sprig adorning the center of each bar. Mocha Latte, infused with No. Six Depot Coffee Roasters ground coffee smells like a strong cup of coffee with a hint of hazelnut, cream, and vanilla. Both limited edition soaps are only available at Arthur's Market, 35 North Ferry St, Schenectady NY.  2021 Shipping Deadlines
First-Class Mail (packages less than 1 pound)-December 17 Priority Mail-December 18 To get your package in the mail on-time holiday orders need to be placed no later than Dec 16 in order for packages to arrive on time. While we pack and ship orders quickly due to postal service delays we cannot guarantee that packages will arrive on time. |
leahSoapsmith, artist, cat mom, music lover, environmentalist, all around sweet gal! Archives
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