Littleflowers

The Spice of Thyme

2010-01-22T13:21:00.002-05:00

"...All this bubbling of sap and slipping of sheaths and bursting of calyxes was carried to her on mingled currents of fragrance. Every leaf and bud and blade seemed to contribute its exhalation to the pervading sweetness in which the pungency of pine-sap prevailed over the spice of thyme and the subtle perfume of fern, and all were merged in a moist earth-smell that was like the breath of some huge sun-warmed animal."
-Edith Wharton, _Summer_

This will be typed in by my awesome helper Rebecca; I'm not well enough to use computers currently but you know that detail wouldn't stop me from popping in to say hey, I'm still here and I'm still with you! And, though it is the "dead of winter," a fallow time in the Northern Hemisphere, especially tucked into this rural pocket in Vermont blanketed with thick wooly snow, I hold strong visions of the Summer that will be here soon enough...

xox - Nicole / P.O. Box 1812 / Brattleboro, VT / 05302

Support for Nicole

2009-11-24T22:39:00.005-05:00

Dear Littleflowers supporters and friends,

We are in crisis and could really use your help.

After spending eight months bedridden and unable to function due to a massive relapse of her chronic illness, Nicole had to be hospitalized in June, for starvation--she had developed food sensitivities so severe that a bite of any food put her body into shock ...

To read the rest of the update on the immense struggle we are currently up against, please click here

We are reaching out for your support, and hold hope in our hearts that you'll join us. We have no time to waste. THANK YOU!

love,
N & J

12 Essence Natural Botanical Perfume Kit for Beginners

2009-05-21T14:52:00.016-04:00

Ok, what we have here is an opportunity - a reeeeeely nice natural perfumer's startup kit at a SUPER sweet price. If you missed the essence kit I posted in my shop a bit back, here is a killer second chance at one from The Scented Djinn, a supremely dedicated and talented perfumer who really knows her stuff and who is not afraid to share it with you! If you can't get to her in-person classes at Intermountain Nursery and aren't currently immersed in her online course, this is the next best thing. Instruction sheets are included, and if the essences are not superfine quality (there are a LOT of crappy essences being a-blended out there), well, then I will eat my shirt. One of the essences is even distilled by the perfumer herself. The kit can be found at the Djinn's satellite etsy atelier. If I were you I would jump on it.

The Listing:

"Curious about natural botanical perfumery but not quite sure where to begin? Looking for a little guidance? This kit includes 9 mls of each of 12 essences diluted in organic golden jojoba (no need for additional carrier oil), 25 scent strips, 3-2ml blending vials with corks, 1-1oz blending bottle with cork, 2-9ml perfume bottles, and full instructions and evaluation methods, eval sheets, etc. Nearly everything a beginner needs to start experimenting in natural botanical perfumery.
(pipettes not included in this kit)

Top Notes:
coriander leaf 10%
fresh lemon essence (home distillation by yours truly) 10%
bergamot bergaptene free 10%

Heart Notes:
jasmine grandiflorum 1%
cananga 10%
boronia absolute 2%

Accessory Notes:
fig (home extraction) 30%
cardamom CO2 10%

Base Notes:
Vanuatu sandalwood 10%
ambrette CO2 10%
vetyver 10%
patchouli 10%"

because it just makes me smile

2009-05-19T18:32:00.008-04:00

taken 9/8/07
We are doing this, baby. Have loved you to hell and back and will just keep on with the day-by-day - I can do it if you can.

So I petitioned some Appalachian witches

2009-05-13T19:21:00.008-04:00

to help us find our new home. They're two sweet guys who work together and run one of the few witchy web shops i've seen that didn't make me cringe when i read their fine print (Otherworldly Apothecary). Smart witches usually stay pretty quiet in the public sphere, haven't you found? So I was happy to bump into them and take advantage of their assistance, as well as their boundless energy, of which I'm currently in short supply!

A little sprig of white magic in one pocket, the simplest of prayers in the other. Energy gentle as it is fiercely potent. Now let's bring it.

You Might Not Want to Miss This

2009-05-11T19:02:00.002-04:00

Perfume Auction on Ebay! Full bottles and sample vials from my beloved private collection, most of them full or near full - give the bottles a quick dusting and please bestow upon them the love they deserve! Opening price (sans s+h) is $15. No reserve, yo. Sound like fun? You can't win if you don't play!

xoxox.nicole

Come to Mama

2009-05-05T17:28:00.006-04:00

Who knew it'd be a challenge to locate first-floor housing in south eastern Vermont (kind of near Brattleboro, hint to those who might have a lead!). Seriously - it seems that people who migrate to this area stay put. Which bodes well for J and me in the long run, I figure.

I've been feeling so antsy to get up and go, and have been seeking constructive, grounding outlets for this buildup of internal static. Since my energy's still low and I'm in bed I've been using whatever works - big grounding hunks of quartz crystal, home-simmered soups, organic chocolate chips, a new Twitter account (did I say constructive and grounding? i feel this list quickly skittering to the other side of that spectrum), craigslist blitzes (we've met some astoundingly helpful and friendly realtors!), marathoning Buffy the Vampire Slayer (I didn't watch TV through most of the 90's so it's been education to see what I was "missing" - remember that phase when it seemed that everyone had two super prominent blonde streaks framing their face?). In a similar vein, I'm also watching Alias with partner-in-crime, J - apparently the criteria for mindless house-hunting-downtime entertainment includes dramedies with both intentional and unintentional humor, covert operations, a supernatural twist, and most definitely a woman protagonist who has mastered the fine art of kickboxing and is not afraid to use it.

The critically acclaimed German documentaries just aren't doing it for me at the moment. There's something about a good dose of cheap adrenaline, I've found over the years, that really calms me down! One of the smartest people I know turned me on to bad TV - we used to watch together and call it "ocular freebasing."

Ok, time to shut down the television and computer and sink into meditation, for real. To turn the burner down lowwwwwww. On all of it: the ecstatic, the horrific, and the in-between.

xox.n

As Promised

2009-05-03T16:00:00.002-04:00

Something o so new and entirely different has hit my littleflowers shop with a BOOM and a bit of gold dust settling in its wake. As Jason and I gear up for - exciting news! - a move to southern Vermont, and my senses are feeling all prickly and heightened in anticipation, I lay this at your feet. For a limited time.

Now. Take my hand and come with me, dear.

xox.n

2009-04-22T00:35:00.003-04:00

art saves

memory lane . . .

2009-04-06T01:26:00.005-04:00

Phaedra's Letter creme parfum

Blue Lotus & Leather creme parfum extrait

Divine Rose self-love balm!

assorted scent lockets

Diana's back on the hunt . . .

i miss her dearly

2009-04-04T15:28:00.001-04:00

i miss her dearly
Originally uploaded by littleflowers past & present

R.I.P Tessa, who was and is often still is my inspiration to keep going. xox.n

Scented Jewels and Tools

2009-03-29T18:10:00.007-04:00

Exciting news - up now in the shop is a special listing is for a beginner’s natural perfumery essence collection, with a high quality, carefully chosen array of natural essences - also known as the kit I wish was available when I was first starting out!

Since a few of the oils are diluted in jojoba, it is recommended that you use jojoba (an oil-like substance – technically a type of liquid wax - with an exceptionally long shelf-life) as your blending medium.

Included is a no-holds-barred spread of oils, absolutes, and resins for blending simple and elegant– or else intricately constructed– perfumes.

Although I consider this an “essence starter kit” and not a complete perfumer’s kit or educational guide, I couldn’t resist enclosing a few items to help you get started. This way you can dive right in and begin exploring and creating as soon as the kit arrives. Along with the essences, you’ll find:

-two glass droppers

-a jar for rubbing alcohol in which to clean your dropper in between essences (so you don’t contaminate them)

-a measured amount of 10 ml jojoba in which to blend your very first perfume (try roughly 35-40 drops of essence to every 10 ml jojoba, to start)

-two ounces of additional jojoba (which can also be found at most of the larger health food stores, and online)

-a packet of scent strips for getting to know your essences

-a few sweet glass bottles for storing and sharing your finished blends, along with two extra fancy bottles, and a tiny plastic funnel

-a package of 3 small Moleskine notebooks, perfect for recording every single blend you attempt (these are the notebooks that I use and love)

-a list of recommended reading, plus a list of online suppliers of everything you could want for perfuming, from tools of the trade such as beakers and books, to alcohol and jojoba, to more essences, etc. (you will get a hard copy as well as an emailed version of the online references, for your clicking convenience.) This is arguably the most valuable item in the parcel!

I wish I could magically enclose just the right mix of caution and boldness when it comes to blending, but this is a balance you’ll have to strike on your own, with practice. (Please note the written section on resources for online education available to you, some of it free.)

Your aromatics are best stored in a cool, dark, stable environment. Keep all citrus in the fridge and check for freshness periodically. (Citrus can be volatile, and, luckily, it's inexpensive to replace!)

The scent oils in this kit are measured by weight. All are pourable and easy to work with:

BASE NOTES:

Sandalwood EO (New Caledonia) – 2 grams
Frankincense EO (var. Boswellia Carterii) – 3 grams
Himalayan Cedar EO – 3 grams
*Peru Balsam Resin (liquid resin) – 3 grams
Patchouli EO, Iron Free – 3 grams
Patchouli EO, Dark – 3 grams
Labdanum Abs. diluted 10% in jojoba – 2 grams
Vetiver as Ruh Khus (a special, smoother distillation of Vetiver) – 2 grams
Coffee C02 – 2 grams

MIDDLE NOTES:

Nutmeg Abs. – 2 grams
Jasmine Grandiflorum Abs. – 2 grams
Rose de Mai Abs. (Rosa Centifolia) – 2 grams
Palmarosa EO – 3 grams
Violet leaf Abs. diluted 10% in jojoba – 2 grams
Ylang Ylang Extra EO – 3 grams
Boronia Abs. 5% dilution in jojoba – 2 grams
Lavender Abs. – 3 grams
Cocoa Abs. – 3 grams
Lemongrass EO – 3 grams
Litsea Cubeba (aka May Chang) EO – 3 grams:

TOP NOTES:

Lavender EO – 3 grams
Bergamot EO (sun-safe/bergaptene-free) – 3 grams
Gingergrass EO – 3 grams
Lime Essence EO – 3 grams
Basil EO – 3 grams
Cinnamon Leaf EO – 3 grams
Fresh Ginger EO – 3 grams
Ho Wood EO – 3 grams
+Sweet Orange EO – 3 grams
+Pink Grapefruit EO – 2 grams
Petitgrain EO – 3 grams
Black Pepper EO – 3 grams

*potential skin sensitizer – use in moderation
+potential photosensitizer – use in moderation

USPS Insurance with tracking and delivery confirmation is automatically included in the shipping cost.

There is one of these kits available - when it's gone, it's gone!

You are in for a wild ride.

xox.nicole

Lulu Honey Vamp

2009-03-23T13:22:00.005-04:00

as well as other "Pretty Poison Perfumes," and therapeutic apothecary blends, can and dare I say should be found at Crushed Velvet & Roses etsy shop. Sticky, gooey, vampy, gorgeous, well-aged, coveted, precious, and natural!

love!

xox.n

(gnarly) bitch is back!

2009-03-19T15:46:00.003-04:00

fans of tasty and artistic body/bath confections can't not check this out.

(right?)

xox.n

Littleflowers Goes Down For a Nap

2009-03-11T21:44:00.013-04:00

Giorgione, Giorgio Da Castelfranco
Venus Asleep
C. 1510
Oil On Canvas
108 X 175 Cm
Gemaeldegallerie Alte Meister, Dresden

Holy crow - thanks so much to everyone who participated in my birthday sale - items flew off the shelves at a rate beyond what I could have imagined.

As you may have noticed, our stock has dwindled quite a bit! This is not unplanned; it is time - until I am well enough to get back to full-time, hardcore creating - for my beloved home-away-from-home, Littleflowers, to go down for a nap. Plus, as amazing as it's been to work in tandem with Jason, I've missed being able to write to each of you individually; to connect. I've missed wrapping up your items with little flourishes and sneaking in a sample of this or that tailored especially for you, if you're enough of a regular that I have an idea of things you might covet. I really am struck by how many true sweethearts I've been privileged to meet since the shop hit etsy in summer '07.

Please know that even if I was unable to drop you a note directly this last round of orders, I followed every purchase (with wonder and gratitude, as always - These people are buying my stuff!), read each one of your sweet notes, and was happy.

Our remaining stock is still up for grabs (sans sale prices as of tonight though!), and that will be all for now in the perfume/ natural skin care department. Really.

In a shocking twist of events, however, I have tentative plans to post types of items in the shop that neither of us has ever seen there before - perhaps some scrips and scraps of original art, hand-made dolls, poetry, even music! As I convalesce, my creative impulse grows restless; the muse is definitely back with the coming of spring. So, as I continue to grow stronger, I will make art from bed until bed becomes couch and so on (picture the evolution of early man for a quick animation of how my healing progress shall play out). If you're so inclined to follow the track-marks of this wily creative journey and come along, please do!

I will be popping in regularly to update this blog, and I hope to keep in contact with each and every one of you who have touched my life and made it better.

much love,

xox.nicole

Three More Days

2009-03-09T00:58:00.001-04:00

Til the sale winds
up . . .

Littleflowers' Second Annual Birthday SALE!

2009-02-24T01:11:00.009-05:00

Nicole's birthday, that is!

Last year we threw in a mystery gift with your purchase. This eco-challenged year we've decided to simply celebrate in the form of insanely deep discounts on every single item in the store - no minimum purchase required, no strings attached, just happy birthday fun. I suppose the only catch is that once an item is whisked from our shelves, we cannot guarantee that there will be another waiting in the wings to replace it. *(a whispered word to those who have perhaps had their eye on a sweet little something for a while now . . .)

We hope you get a kick out of this special sale while it lasts! The Nicole's Birthday Sale expires at 12:01 a.m. March 13.

Enjoy!

xox.nicole

*a little bird told me that if you are hooked on any of our face care products, now is the time to stock up. of course i trust that you speak bird, but to be extra clear: really, RUN DON'T WALK!

Update

2009-01-05T20:37:00.004-05:00

little J

I'm still here and I'm still fighting (the good fight). Thanks so much for all the love, prayers, and support. Nothing too poetic to share at the moment with you dear ones - just saying hi and happy (healthy!) new year to all!

Jason's been doing an amazing job handling the Littleflowers orders - I'm heartened that some of you have gotten to know him a little bit, at least to say hi. He's a rare one; one worth knowing.

xoxox.n

Holiday Scent Sales

2008-11-29T23:07:00.009-05:00

While we at Littleflowers are off duty, convalescing by candlelight in the back bedroom with the moon calendar and the collection of favorite perfumes and the pill bottles and the blur of visitors and edge-of-survival-meets-ecstasy/dread and the elegant blue glass vase whose neck is so graceful and steep and who swells so boldly toward its bottom and the sponge baths and the symptom journal and the no appetite except for the relief of late night poetry and the mischievous glint off of the silver IV pole like the glint in the eye of an expectant dance partner to whom we must whisper not quite yet, why, you may be doing some smart holiday shopping right here.

Life alters, it does not stop. Grounding seasonal ritual, and our easy pleasure held in the hand or simply experienced with loved ones, and the filaments that bind these two elements need not break - even in the heart of the dark night.

Oh, and let's not forget the blessed Vicodin. Just for the time being . . . we all know what a natural girl I am at heart.

xoxoxox.n

Squeamish? Look Away!

2008-11-18T19:38:00.005-05:00

Here's to doctors who still make home visits!

And a BIG thank you to all the folk who have been so incredibly kind and supportive during these trying past couple of weeks. xox.n

Holiday Gift Bundles Are Up!

2008-11-17T15:31:00.006-05:00

photograph courtesy of Rachel N, an amazing cook who also happens to be an angel

There are now three holiday gift bundles posted in the shop. I didn't do the math for you - you can calculate the savings for yourselves! ;-) I'm eying the listing for the vanilla duo rather greedily, which is frankly odd, you may be thinking, as I could theoretically just pluck a few of them for myself from the studio . . . I think my favorite of the three, if I had to pick, is the bundle pictured here. Its shop listing:

'This economical, luxury-sized kit of littleflowers products contains everything you'll need to cleanse, soften, brighten, and moisturize your smiling face! All enclosed goodies are formulated from lovely, pure ingredients:

-One Goat Milk & Seaweed Brightening Cleanser/Masque

-One Chamomile Cleansing Oil

-One Fresh Floral Toner

-One Rich Silk Eye Treatment

-One Toning Skin Serum (*Please specify in a note to me at checkout if you'd like to substitute a Regenerating Skin Serum for the Toning Serum.)

All items are in glass containers. You can reference individual item listings for a description and complete ingredient list of each item.

Packaged in a moss-green organza bag, this spa-to-go makes a functional yet luxurious gift for yourself or someone you love."

You saw it here!

xox.nicole

2008-11-13T13:59:00.003-05:00

Carl Larsson ~ "Convalescence"

Ripped from the headlines! (of our shop's front page):

"Right now, Littleflowers is an active fundraiser for our proprietress, Nicole, so that she may receive the healing treatments she needs (many of which are not covered by insurance). Jason, her partner-in-crime with an uncanny eye for feminine aesthetics, will be assisting her in packing up each one of your orders with loving care. Please refer to item descriptions for details, as Nicole will be unable to provide her usual in-depth "skin care consultations" via etsy convos. And don't miss out on our special holiday gift bundles! With gratitude for your support, XOX"

more to come . . .

*I do not mix business with pleasure

2008-11-06T15:03:00.009-05:00

But I do occasionally, it appears, swirl it with a bit of sadness. That stubborn island of true despair smack in the center of a luminous puddle of joy. The public mixing is a personal decision; one that I am comfortable with. I like it when we're allowed to be human, even here in the pick-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps, we-don't-air-our-dirty-laundry-in-public, rugged individualism-or-bust USA.

On the brighter side - as there can be no light without shadow, some creatives, some Jungians might postulate - what kind of poet/perfumer would Littleflowers be were she out of touch with the heart of true melancholy?! I ask you.

xox.n

*Total lie - i mix business and pleasure all the time!

Perhaps Balloons Won't Fall . . .

2008-11-04T21:21:00.009-05:00

but, make no mistake, the person who lands the 1000th purchase in the shop will receive a special package. A few fun extras, if you will, enclosed with their regular purchase(s). I'm feeling so grateful for the support and xo so many of you have sent to me and my little shop during this past year, and you know I'm always up for a celebration.

I'm also feeling celebratory as it's election night, and things are looking promising. If you're a US citizen on the west coast and have yet to vote, I hope that you will - there are several important propositions that have nothing to do with the presidential vote, but that could still use more voices! So even if the big stuff begins to look "sewn up," there are still key local measures at stake.

This whole business is monumentally important and exciting, and it is making me verrrrry nerrrrrrvous! Good-nervous, but still. Hold my hand!

On the edge of my futon, checking in,

xox.nicole

Curiouser and Curiouser

2008-11-01T18:28:00.004-04:00

A surprise oddity came in today's mail - see that double-bottle in the bottom right corner of the picture? A dear friend all the way across the country in Oakland found it while thrifting and knew I had to have it. Jason hypothesizes that it was intended for oil and vinegar . . . I'm not ruling that out; I'm not at all sure of its original intended purpose. It is missing one of its pretty green ground-glass stoppers, and I am hunting around for a proper-sized cork while my online sweep for stopper #2 commences. I've got this gestating image of 2 blends, side by side: one, an amber-y veggie musk; the other, a tuberose-and-orris-heavy fantasy floral . . .

Today Only - Halloween Grab Bags!

2008-10-31T12:56:00.007-04:00

Much as you cannot control which treats will be tipped into your pillowcase or plastic pumpkin whilst trick-or-treating, the mystery contents of your special grab-bag will be decided entirely by Littleflowers!

What we can promise is that the items will be thoughtfully selected, and that their value will certainly exceed what you pay!

For your consideration is an array of three different grab bag options in staggered denominations - proceed if you desire, but beware of the glinting eyes everywhere, of the giant web and the oversized spider who pauses just to spy on you a while.

Care to play?

THIS GAME EXPIRES AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!!

Enjoy!

xox

Spooky Stop on Fantasy Shopping Tour

2008-10-27T13:49:00.009-04:00

Anja Lubach, from Ruth Cross online catalog

Lots of things in life are spooky. Some of them are spooky/beautiful, like these votive cups by artist Anja Lubach, whose work is just one of the stops on the Fantasy Shopping Tour I created for these wonky economic times (see Tour, right side of this page - it's almost as fun as trick-or-treating!).

Some things are spooky/exciting, like the idea of opening up my own online - or real life - boutique one day. Perhaps one day sooner than later. Perhaps more exciting than spooky, come to think of it!

Some things are spooky/ enthralling, like the gothic princess with darkened lips and glitter tears and icicles and twigs tangled in her hair you glimpse - just for a second -in the mirror. A reminder that life is fleeting and it is long; that suffering and beauty transmute into a third, painful and lovely thing, sometimes known simply as living.

Happy Halloween, my fellow spectres!

SandalRose Nectar - Concentrated Perfume Oil, Limited Edition

2008-10-26T14:08:00.005-04:00

This special limited edition holiday nectar is a very concentrated, long-lasting natural perfume oil, blended in a jojoba base.

The centerpiece is a decadent blend of four rose absolutes: Rose Maroc, Russian Rose, Bulgarian Rose, and gorgeous Rose de Mai.

Spices like Nutmeg and Clove are barely detectable, except as a toasty boost of holiday warmth.

A shot of morning-blooming Jasmine and Orange Blossom sneaks in a sweet/sultry edge. A light touch of Pink Grapefruit crowns the scent.

As it dries down, the spiced rose heart lingers as a gorgeous, ethically harvested Sandalwood (New Caledonia) emerges.

SandalRose Nectar comes in a 3.5 gram glass vial, each one carefully wrapped and individually boxed.

A perfect sweet, sophisticated gift to slip to a fragrance-lover - or to slip into your own cache of scents. This special rose-centered blend will only grow more deep and complex with age – so be sure to hoard some away to re-visit 5, 10, and even 20 years from now!

The essences in this blend are all natural; carefully sourced extracts of flowers, woods, fruits and fruit rinds, spices, and resins.

Enjoy!

xox.nicole

Special Holiday Surprise

2008-10-25T14:46:00.005-04:00

coming any day now to Littleflowers - a decadent limited edition that's been carefully aging, waiting for release.

Watch the blog and the shop!

xox.n

Natural Scents in the Twenty-First Century

2008-10-23T17:55:00.003-04:00

photo from www.wholeliving.com

Natural perfume is a growing force - grab a hot drink and read more about it here. Then check out some of the links to natural perfumeries at the end of the article, if you're feeling intrigued . . .

R.I.P. Part Two

2008-10-17T21:52:00.015-04:00

Wow. In the short time since that last post I've received quite a few inquiries about the discontinued face scrubs. I'm flattered that these products worked so well for many of you, and sad to have to let them go. And I'm grateful for all the interest - it's nice to know that so many folks (some who I've never sold to before) care.

So. I thought I'd address a few of your questions here, en masse, to save my poor eyes from the computer screen!

-Will Littleflowers consider making the Adzuki Rose scrub in a dry form?

Absolutely. I'm playing with the idea.

-Would you consider custom-making either of these scrubs for me?

These two products are being discontinued, so I won't be making them to order. Here's what I can offer - I do have eight tubes of freshly blended Adzuki Rose Micro Exfoliate left (no joke - we really are small-batch blenders!), and about twelve also freshly-blended Lemon Mint Sugar Scrub. Since some of you have expressed such disappointment, feeling "cut off" from your supply of the cleanser you've become hooked on, I will go ahead post these last few, each one clearly labeled with its own expiration date. When these are gone, they're really gone. Hopefully, this will at least give you diehards a chance to grab a cleanser (and buy yourself a little time while you're scouting around for a suitable replacement). Your LF loyalty does not go unnoticed, and it is - as always - very much appreciated!

-Would you consider still offering the scrubs, but in smaller tubes? I promise I'll pay attention to the expiration date!

After careful consideration I've decided to discontinue offering preservative-free aqueous cleansers. It's safer for you, and it's the only way I can feel comfortable as a seller. There's no getting around it. Unfortunately, even companies that claim to be "all natural" often use preservatives such as methylparaben and propylparaben in their water-containing cleansers - it's in the fine print, but it's there.

It's the absence of synthetic materials (such as parabens) - as much as it's the conscious use of quality materials - that defines our little shop, Littleflowers.

And it's challenges like this one that keeps us on our toes, constantly brainstorming new ways to keep naturals gorgeous, effective, and safe. It can be done!

Thanks for all of your collective interest - and for understanding.

xox.nicole

R.I.P. Dear Adzuki Rose, Lemon Mint Face Scrubs! You Will Be Missed!

2008-10-16T12:06:00.021-04:00

Being preservative-free is something I'm committed to - in the case of cosmetics, I choose to be natural because it's healthier for the planet, it's certainly healthier for me, and it makes my skin looks pretty.

Today, that commitment means scaling back and removing two top-selling products from Littleflowers' "shelves" - namely, Adzuki Rose Micro Exfoliate and Lemon Mint Sugar Scrub. Although they're packaged in such a way that keeps fingers (and therefore, potential contaminants) out (oh, the love/hate relationship with that upside down shouldered bottle referred to, for some reason, as a "Malibu Tube"), and although I take care that these babies are blended and bottled under sterile conditions, they are perishable. Which means that they can, indeed, go "off" (someone actually reported an instance of this recently - and I'm so grateful for the heads up! big shoutout to the ever savvy, observant, and communicative customers who frequent the shop!).

Despite words of caution in the listings for each of these two items (please keep cool or refrigerated, please use up or toss within six months), these products are aqueous (water- containing), which simply makes them more temperamental by nature - and although I'm a huge proponent of naturals, I don't think customers should be expected to babysit their cosmetics to the vigilant level that these limited-shelf-life guys demand. So I've followed my gut feeling and ganked them from the etsy shelves - may they rest in peace! And my condolences to those who will sincerely miss them as much as I'll miss getting to share them with you.

Bottom line: It's my responsibility, not yours, to make sure that you're getting hooked up with products that are good for you, reliable, and reasonably long-lasting! This is why I feel good about this decision. And I now feel extra-good about everything that remains in the shop - items that are powdered, oil/butter based, or alcohol based, and therefore blessed with a long, healthy, "normal" shelf-life!

The one remaining exception is Fresh Floral Toner, which still needs cool storage, and still has a fixed expiration date. This product, however, sports a much more stable shelf-life than either of the two wet scrubs, so we're keeping it. :-)

I may consider playing with a dry version of the Adzuki Rose Micro Exfoliate, because those are some gorgeous ingredients that I think would work nicely as an at-home mix n' scrub.

Meanwhile, more and more people have reported to me that they're loving the creamy Goat Milk and Seaweed Brightening Mask as a cleanser/ gentle exfoliate (I like it, too!), and happily this item will not be going anywhere.

All part of the live n' learn! If you have recently ordered an exfoliate from Littleflowers, no need to panic. Please enjoy it - and please do (chorus!) keep it in a cool dry place and toss it six months from the time you received it (if there's still any left).

Any specific concerns about either one of these scrubs that you've ordered in the recent past? Don't hesitate to convo me directly through the shop. Thanks so much!

Here's wishing you a healthy, radiant autumn day!

xox.nicole

Bedtime Scents

2008-10-10T23:19:00.008-04:00

No matter what is going on in my life, I love to apply scent just before I climb into bed. The ritual of it. For me, it sets the tone; it drops a veil between me and the day's chatter that I am preparing to leave behind.

Lately my send-off scent of choice has been the warm, deep & sensual Chanteusse by etsy's own perfumier Loreto Aromatica:

Combining only pure essential oils in a jojoba oil base Chanteuse seduces you from across a smoky Parisian lounge with her mournful voice. Chanteuse is a siren from the 20s, draped across a grand piano in a satin gown holding a half empty glass of wine.

Chanteuse is part cyphre part floriental with a heavy dose of Patchouli, Sandalwood and Madagascar Vanilla. Hints of spices, resins, herbs, mosses and florals complete the blend. Rich, deep, mysterious and just a little smoky with a long dry-down. Lingers for hours.

Chanteuse is among a handful of entirely natural scents currently offered in Loreto's shop. Also found there - of seasonal interest, and brand new! - are two richly described, limited edition releases, Dark Fruit and Blood Moon - the former, a lusty harvest celebration; the latter, what looks like a mysterious and promising homage to All Hallow's Eve. Check them out for yourself, if you're so inclined . . .

Now is, in my humble opinion, an especially great time for magic, for self-empowerment, and for small yet profound moments of beauty wherever they can be found. A good time for tossing a bit of glitter - literal or otherwise - in your wake, for casting glamours, for keeping feet on the ground and head simultaneously way up in the stars . . . for winking at the day's ration of troubles before parting the veil and slipping on through to do a little bit of exploring on the other side . . . a little bit of dreaming.

Just curious: do you apply scent at night? If so, what are your favorite sleepytime 'fumes? Littleflowers wants to know! xox.n

Reveling

2008-10-07T15:46:00.005-04:00

Pictures courtesy of Enflourage.

If you're a scent hound and you live in/near NYC (on or near 321 Bleeker St., to be specific), get thee to Enflourage, a wonderful shop for natural aromatics that has - unlike many such suppliers - an actual storefront! If you're not in the neighborhood, you can order scent materials from them online. You might also want to check out the blog of the proprietress, the enigmatic, energetic Trygve Harris whose zest for life and new experiences is fully contagious.

From the shop's online homepage:

Enfleurage is New York's first and only store specializing in essential oils, agarwood, and interesting aromatics from all around the planet. We import directly from farms and stills, bringing in high quality, fresh and sparkling essential oils from 6 continents. The owner, Trygve Harris, travels extensively, visiting suppliers, checking on growing conditions and exploring the aromatic world. In addition to essential oils and agarwood, we offer an interesting and comprehensive selection of frankincenses and Arabic aromatics as well as many other hard to find items.

Trygve is currently in Thailand.

What's Up With All The Citrus?

2008-10-01T12:09:00.006-04:00

It was nagging at me, just a little. Why am I blending up and bottling liquid notes like orange blossom, lime, and yuzu now - these are "refreshing summer scents," right? Shouldn't I be getting down with the season of pumpkin-pie-spice-smelling perfumes?

But I just haven't been feeling it. I've talked with other perfume-making friends who also haven't been feeling it. And then it hit me this morning, as I furrowed up my brow and did a little googling that 1) Although I respect the art of aromatherapy, I am in no way any sort of expert in this arena, and 2) Oh yeah. Citrus scents are antidepressant.

So after a string of grey and gloomy days, and with quite a long stretch of the very same ahead (one of these days I will take the plunge and invest in a full-spectrum, sun-simulating light box!), I am reaching into the refrigerator for my lovely collection of sweet citrus scents. To counterpoint the autumn season, rather than to mimic it.

Thought I'd share my mini-epiphany here, and also say happy October 1, happy sliver of a waxing moon for new beginnings and new ventures, whatever they may be - best wishes to you all.

xox.nicole

"Glam," Meet Not-So-Glam

2008-09-29T10:43:00.008-04:00

Two days and counting til the LF shop re-opens . . . meanwhile, I thought I'd share this photo with you. If you enlarge the image, there I am, frumped out in my favorite striped pajama pants and matted bedtime hair, squinting into the camera, reflected in the bottle's cap . . . I'm so not changing it! :-)

Happy Harvest Tide

2008-09-23T01:20:00.009-04:00

which is another name for the Autumnal Equinox. As I sip a bit of sweet icewine from an old honey jar in celebration, I'd like to announce that it looks like the tide has indeed swept Littleflowers back in with it - we appear to be right on schedule with our hoped-for return date of October 1.

Although still officially on break, we don't mind whispering in your ear that along with the ol' faithfuls, we've just possibly got a brand new seasonal offering or two up our sleeve, as well as the result of a sepia-scented creation that's been months in the making . . .

We aim to bring more playfulness, more joy to the table. Stay tuned.

xoxo,

your Autumn Ophelia

Littleflowers on Hiatus

2008-08-31T23:02:00.008-04:00

As of September first, the shop and I are on hiatus! I will not be answering emails/convos/questions during this time. That said, please DO NOT HESITATE to contact me if you experience a problem - large or small - with a Littleflowers order. I will be checking the site once a day in case any glitches should crop up, so that we can fix it right away - rest easy, you will not be left hanging!

I will miss you guys, and will see you before we both know it! For now, I'd like to share a few feedback comments I was recently honored with - they didn't make it onto the website, so I thought I'd post them here.

Hope you have a wonderful September!

xox.n

Littleflowers HQ!

2008-08-29T15:18:00.017-04:00

photo courtesy of Jason, whose love, compassion, and support are boundless, and who does not question my let's-just-call-them-"quirks."

Welcome to a little pice of my workspace! Air conditioned, tucked away in a back room on a quiet street, never with music playing (I like to focus in silence), always shoes off, and always low to the ground is how I work.

Stock is dwindling as the sale week winds down . . .

I'd like to offer more thanks than I can adequately express here for all the support you sweet folk have shown during these past few days, and for the kind and healing sentiments so many of you have sent my way. I've taken them straight into my heart. Good medicine!

Roughly two more days until the LF hiatus. Things feel calm and right.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend! (Lovely extra-long weekend, for those here in the US!)

With gratitude,

Nicole

BEGINNING SEPTEMBER FIRST: LITTLEFLOWERS ON HIATUS!

2008-08-24T15:23:00.028-04:00

Lady Godiva by John Collier, ca 1897

As of September first, the online "shelves" of the Littleflowers shop will be - temporarily - emptied. Please note that orders will not be able to be placed during this time, nor will questions/convos/emails be returned.

My health is such that I need to pace my activities, and lately I have not been properly heeding my body's warnings. Who wants to rest when there are things to get done, when there's fun to be had? Yet it has come time that I practice what I preach - self care! - and take a long overdue healing break. From many elements of my life, including the sweet online shop which brings me so much joy.

I wanted to give enough of a heads-up so that you can stock up on essentials that will not be available while the shop is down. Unfortunately, I cannot provide a definite return date, though the target date for us to be up and running again is October 1 (in time for some Halloween fun). You will be able to place orders through Sunday, August 31, EST.

Because you are awesome customers, I've placed quite a few items in the shop on sale - some of them at deep discounts. Prices will revert back to normal upon Littleflowers' active return to etsy.

Meanwhile, enjoy what I affectionately refer to (in my mind, at least) as FRENZY WEEK! :-)

xox.nicole

Makes The Clothing Come Alive

2008-08-22T23:00:00.015-04:00

Photo by NICKOLAS MURAY: Frida on White Bench, New York, 1939

Frida Kahlo is not an unpopular idol and she's been one of mine for years now. She endured her physical suffering with grace, transcending personal limitation by approaching her life itself as a work of art. She did this consciously. Her legacy is deep, and I'd guess that many are first attracted to her bold sense of personal style as a portal through which they catch an initial glimpse of her larger story.

Her style drew heavily on native Mexican traditional attire. Frida's costume also incorporated full skirts that concealed her right leg, which was atrophied and much thinner than her left one.

Many of Kahlo's clothing items were found - untouched - in a trunk over fifty years after her death. "There is still a trace of that very particular odor," said Magdalena Rosen Zweig, who helped restore the clothing. "It's not mildew or mothballs, but the smell of a person, cigarettes, perfume. It's a very particular smell, something that makes the clothing come alive. It's something that helps you understand a person."

MEXICO CITY - The trunk, discovered in the back of an old wardrobe that had been forgotten in an unused bathroom, was like stepping into the past.

Curators opened the lid to find hundreds of Frida Kahlo's colorful skirts and blouses, many still infused with the late artist's perfume and cigarette smoke.

It has taken two years to log and restore the nearly 300 articles of clothing. Next summer, the embroidered and sometimes paint-smeared pieces will be put on display at Kahlo's family home-turned-museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the painter's birth. The exhibit will offer the public a new glimpse into Kahlo's flamboyant and tortured life.

The wife of muralist Diego Rivera, Kahlo is known as much for her outspoken and sometimes outrageous style as for her intensely personal paintings. She survived a horrible bus crash and polio as a child, was openly bisexual and had an affair with Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

Her tumultuous life has inspired several plays and films, including the 2002 movie "Frida," starring Salma Hayek.

Kahlo was known in part for her fashion leadership, and was featured on the cover of Vogue's French edition.

While most women were turning toward the simple, elegant dresses, Kahlo was wearing long, full skirts that borrowed heavily from Mexico's traditional Indian dress. She often had her hair in braids, and refused to remove a mustache or trim her unibrow, both of which she exaggerated in her signature self-portraits.

The trunk of clothes was found in 2004 during a renovation of her family's home, where she died in 1954 after a life of nearly constant pain and dozens of surgeries for broken bones she suffered in the bus accident. Inside were dresses, tablecloths and a letter from Rivera.

The clothes were a window on Kahlo's life. The curators of her museum were struck not only by the actual garments, but by the fact that they still smelled of Kahlo.

"There is still a trace of that very particular odor," said Magdalena Rosen Zweig, who helped restore the clothing. "It's not mildew or mothballs, but the smell of a person, cigarettes, perfume. It's a very particular smell, something that makes the clothing come alive. It's something that helps you understand a person."

Some of the skirts were stained by Kahlo's oil paint, and one had a small, scorched hole from a cigarette.

"We respected that during the restoration process ... because it is part of history," Rosen Zweig said in an interview.

The clothing was fumigated, studied, logged, classified and photographed for an exhibit catalog.

Besides providing a comprehensive look at Kahlo's style, the clothes also reveal how tiny she was. Rivera, more than 6 feet tall and about 300 pounds, towered over the 5-foot-3 Kahlo, who weighed less than 100 pounds. The disparity prompted Kahlo's mother to nickname the couple "the elephant and the dove."

"She has such a small waist," Rosen Zweig said. "You can't find mannequins her size. She had a tiny waist and a very small back. Everything about her was tiny."

Her body, crippled by disease and the bus accident, was the main topic of many of her paintings -- stark self-portraits that depicted her unending pain and inability to have children.

Clothing became a way to hide or even address her physical disabilities. After suffering a broken back, she often wore a hard, plaster corset that she painted with intricate designs. During her months of bed rest, "it was a ritual to get dressed," Rosen Zweig said.

She noted that the clothes showed how Kahlo's style evolved. As a young woman, she wore high-neck blouses and black gloves that may have belonged to her mother. Later, she mixed loose-fitting dresses with ornate necklaces, ear rings, flowers and hair ribbons.

Rosen Zweig hopes the new exhibit will spark interest in native Mexican textiles and clothing.

She said it was hard to calculate the value of the clothes.

"You can't put a price on the rescue of this collection," she said.

-found online in a North County Times 2006 news article

For a Limited Time: Half Off! (While Supplies Last.)

2008-08-18T02:34:00.009-04:00

I always wanted to make an official sale announcement like that. Who doesn't?

Littleflowers' Fresh Floral Toner is now on sale at half its usual price - down from $12 to $6. Why? There doesn't always have to be a reason - and there often isn't, with me! In this case, however, it's because this is a perishable item crafted of all natural ingredients, and it is time for this batch to leave the LF nest while it is still fresh, to make way for a new little army of bottles (I'm not a huge fan of the fighting connotation, but that's really what all the products look like, lined up in their neat rows on my workshop shelves - I'll show you some time!).

As always, please store your glass bottle of toner in a cool, dry place. (Although it's a bit of a hassle, the fridge is best if it's still warm where you're living, unless your bathroom is air conditioned. If you live in a locale that is currently cool, into the medicine cabinet/onto the bathroom shelf for easier access it goes!)

Here's a product description, to refresh your memory:

**For all skin types**

For super deep hydration, spritz on Fresh Floral Toner after cleansing, before applying oil-based moisture in order to lock in a “water element.” It can also be used alone in hot weather as a light moisturizer all by itself.

Keep a bottle in the fridge and mist yourself anytime to cool and refresh! It is great for soothing sunburns, too.

Contains certified organic rose hydrosol, certified organic calendula hydrosol, and organic aloe vera.

(A hydrosol is a floral water; the water byproduct of the essential oil distillation process.)

Healing Benefit:

CALENDULA aids in skin soothing and healing. It is a famous calming and anti-inflammatory tonic for the skin.

ROSE is a wonderful toner for all skin types; it balances sebum production making it ideal for both dry and oily skin. It harmonizes the skin's Ph, tightening enlarged pores and fighting wrinkles. Rose is known the world over as a relaxing and spiritually grounding treatment, especially for women.

ALOE VERA cools, calms, and heals all types of skin maladies. It is a wonderful water-based moisture source for the skin.

All ingredients in Fresh Floral Toner are food grade.

The scent of this toner is slightly herbal, slightly aloe-y, and mostly dominated by uplifting rose scent (rose damask variety).

Store in a cool, dry place, and please use up or dispose of within six months' time.

2 fluid oz. in a clear glass spritz bottle

~

Tell your friends! Enjoy! Spritz with abaondon!

xox.n

Lavender: Another Take

2008-08-15T01:49:00.007-04:00

Kiva Rose, the woman behind the wise words

Since I had the pleasure of stumbling upon it, I've only been impressed by the wonderfully poetic and informative herbal descriptions found on Kiva Rose's website. Here, she describes lavender as a nervine, or a calming agent - and also as a sort of "surrogate mother." What follows are two excerpts. For those in the mood to really delve in, the second, longer excerpt can be found here in its entirety.

"Lavender (Lavendula spp.)

My favorite overall, for absolutely everyone kind of nervine. It’s warm, fuzzy and sweet and works for nearly anyone. A hug in a bottle, if you will. A flower that is able to move energy as well as calm, many people have found Lavender to be distinctly mood enhancing. For pain, stress, trauma, hyperactivity and other unpleasantness. It seems especially helpful at teaching us how to enjoy close up comforts - a hug, a big quilt, warm tea, a cozy sweater. It just enhances our ability to be sensorily aware and present. Even if that means getting really sleepy."

~

"A great indication that Lavender is indicated as a nervine is when a person is anxious, confused and has a wrinkled forehead that can’t relax. The forehead will give it away every time. Lavender, being the botanical incarnate of a mother’s hug, will smooth away the furrowed brow and calm the troubled, busy mind. Like Pulsatilla, Lavender is a plant that can help us see through the eyes of a child, everything close up, comforting and lucidly tactile. I especially like Lavender where anxiousness is accompanied by despondency, a resigned sense of befuddlement and a bit of the moody blues. In these cases, the fragrant tea or tincture, has a wonderful way of lifting the spirits while calming and cheering.

Lavender has been considered either warming or cooling, depending on who you read or talk to. I find it to be one of those lovely mint family plants with both warming and cooling properties that is amazingly appropriate for people of almost any constitution. It’s also both relaxing and stimulating, and has an invigorating effect upon the circulation and brain, while soothing the spirit, liver, heart and nerves.

Lavender’s nervine effects are well known and is very effective for anxiety, headaches and insomnia; but the extent of its influence is much wider that popular use would indicate. It’s a wonderful ally for use in liver tension and heat, where it is well combined with Rose to relax and soothe Hepatitis and other hot liver conditions. It’s also well indicated in many kinds of stress related heart arrhythmias, where it resolves tension and allows the energy to flow more smoothly through the heart. Even tension triggered asthma can be treated with this gentle and effective ally. Another stress related condition, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, with spasms and pain, is also often effectively treated with Lavender.

The key here is anxiety with some level of depression, either psychologically or physiologically, though they usually go together to some degree. Some have said it is most indicated where there is anxiousness from fatigue — and while it is certainly very applicable there, I have also found it of great use in more robust individuals who simply have their energy a bit out of balance, where it’s stuck and hyperactive in one area but empty or underactive in another area. I find that it is an excellent agent for clearing stubborn, stuck Qi or vital energy nearly anywhere in the body."

Herbs That Work Overtime

2008-08-09T18:53:00.012-04:00

French lavender fields

To me, lavender means both beauty and medicine. Creamy, dreamy (literally - it is often used to induce bedtime sleepiness), and spiritually aligning, a good lavender oil is - according to Marge over at essential oil supplier Nature's Gift, "anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and, possibly, anti-viral." It is also - according to the below research - a likely bug repellent!

This time of the year is High Bug Season here in New England, when mosquitos breed in pools of standing water, then craftily make their way to our homes and backyard gatherings; even finding their way into urban areas - my apartment, for example! (I'm wearing the evidence of a recent visitation right now.)

"If you can grow but one plant, let it be lavender. Whether it's in a pot on a New York City balcony or sprawling across a California wine country estate, there is no rival to its beauty and scent. Trace its lineage into the mists of time and you'll uncover Egyptians and Romans who treasured the oil extracted from leaves and flowers.

Evidence suggests that lavender was incorporated into [ . . . ] preparations to keep mosquitoes and flies at bay. This may be the reason why it became such a staple in the ancient Roman baths. The Eternal City was built on an insect-infested swamp and such a repellent would help reduce the incidence of malaria. Perhaps fresh lavender or lavender oil may prove a more natural alternative to chemical repellents."

-scrippsnews.com

As timing would have it, I just listed a fresh batch of Lavender Vanilla Body Butter, in mini-sized amber jars, in the shop. Enjoy the soft, soothing scent. Perhaps even be protected, in the ways of the ancients, as well.

xox.n

Peek Behind the Curtain . . .

2008-08-08T18:49:00.030-04:00

Just a heads-up: both the Regenerating and the Toning skin serums listed in my etsy shop are now priced at $27, up from $20. So why is this news an alright, or even a good thing? Welp, I did some math, and realized that this is what it costs to keep it worth my while to continue producing these lovely ladies. At first I was a little blown away, breaking these items down for the first time ever, really looking at what goes into them - and realizing that, aside from the joy of creating, I wasn't getting back what I put in. It wasn't sustainable. The good news is that - after squinting close at long lists of numbers, and then stepping wayyy back and looking at the big picture - I'm going to continue making the serum that, is, frankly, my favorite moisturizer. (How could I not?) I know a lot of you guys really enjoy it too, which thrills me. And the price - while it is bumped a bit - stays within a reasonable range. Whew!

Part of this rather fascinating - um, to me, at least - process was factoring in all the time it takes to simply source the materials - did you know I source the frosted glass bottles, the pump-tops, the label paper, the ink, the carrier oils, the organic herbs for infusing into the carrier oils, the scent oils, and the healing oils all from a gazillion different locations? Yup, there's a lot that goes on behind the curtain, and what's laid out here is, relatively speaking, just a peek. A lot of hours of work go into the process of simply gathering batches of fresh materials on a regular basis (nevermind the process of crafting the serum!). And I enjoy every second of it (except maybe the part where I go through internet checkout at all of these different suppliers, and balk - just a little bit - at the ever-increasing shipping costs!).

I weighed sacrificing quality, which took about a half-second - I'm just not willing to skimp by using, for example, plastic packaging or, say, cutting out the meadowfoam seed oil (by far the priciest carrier oil in the formula). But you knew that about me. And with healing Corsica Helichrysum oil at $128 for a half ounce, and the wonderfully soothing German Blue Chamomile weighing in at about half that price (the list goes on and on, but I won't!), the cost of the good stuff - the raw ingredients - is steep. No getting around that. And the list of different raw materials in these babies is long and lovely.

Then there's another whole factor that customers don't often get an opportunity to appreciate - at least, I know that before I was making my own products, I certainly didn't give it a second thought - part of what we pay for when shelling our for a gorgeous perfume, say, or even for a skin care product that really works, is all of the thought behind the product. A friend of mine who works in advertising would call this "intellectual property," but I prefer to think of it as the art of formulary - the trial-and-error sweat that is the path to the product's ultimate creation. One of my favorite natural perfumes is made with ingredients that are, taken on their own, relatively affordable, but the end product - the perfume - is set at quite a high price. The rationale behind this is similar to why one wouldn't walk up to an artist at a gallery show and inquire, puzzled, about the cost of the canvas, paints, and brushes it took to make a particular artwork versus the cost of the finished piece. I get this now, regarding finished, hand-made items in all realms extending far beyond the visual arts. I didn't necessarily get it before - it simply hadn't occurred to me.

To be clear, this "It's my art!" factor is not why I adjusted the serum prices - I didn't just wake up this morning and think, "My mind is worth more than this, dammit!" I'm bumping up the price a bit to keep it viable for me to continue creating this product en masse; to be able to continue offering it for sale at a price that feels fair. But I do think that formulation/creation is an interesting - and important - factor in pricing that it can be easy for a buyer to overlook. My eyes have been opened wide to it only over the past few years.

I considered simply adjusting the cost as needed and not writing about it here, but I decided that this time I would, especially since it's a favored item. To slake the curiosity of inquisitive types like myself. And in case there was any confusion as to why I sometimes tinker with pricing: there is indeed a method to the madness of littleflowers studio, from sourcing and formulating to design and pricing. It may not be the most sophisticated method in the world; it is, nonetheless, a method. And it is sturdy enough that it works for me, at least for right now. :-)

New Mascot for Litleflowers!

2008-08-06T13:13:00.010-04:00

Image courtesy Rima Staines/The Hermitage 2008

It's a clock! I've been a big fan of Rima's work over at The Hermitage for a while now, and when she announced she was beginning to make custom, hand-painted clocks, something seized me and the next thing I knew, Rima - who pedals her artwork on the streets of Scotland, travels in a funky, decked-out house on wheels, and who transmits what you might describe as an "old soul" or "timeless" quality - was graciously coaxing my vision out of the sawed off cross-section of a tree. It's featured in more detail right here.

If time has to pass, it might as well pass beautifully. My request was for a wise-woman/healer to remind me that we can all heal, and that sometimes we are, in fact, our own best "physicians." It's about perfume, and self-care - and it's also about deeper, more private realms of healing. It's a welcome place for tired eyes to rest.

xo.n

Pretty Little Things

2008-07-31T15:56:00.005-04:00

Things that currently grace my dressing table. Mostly liquid, with a few artifacts like powder, jewelry and girly hair clips to round out the morning or evening toilette. Among the (constantly rotated) display we find - today - lots of love from The Scented Djinn, a bottle of 100% fresh cologne from Velvet and Sweet Pea's Purrfumery, A lovely and wild EdP from Mandrake Apothecary, & plenty of Soivohle. Courtesy of scent artists Laurie Stern, Justine Crane, Liz Zorn, and Sara Phillips. Not pictured is some liquid love from Miz Bella aka Kim Ayers, Roxana Villa, Ayala Moriel, and quite a few others. Thank you, ladies, for brightening my days with your stellar natural/botanical blends!

yum.

2008-07-27T02:02:00.011-04:00

From the tropical climbing orchids of Madagascar all the way to Littleflowers' studio:

Fresh vanilla pods, split lengthwise and slightly mashed to release the seeds' essence, drift and bump in their glass vessel of golden jojoba. Containers of the oil are placed, small batch by small batch, into a warm water bath atop a bunsen burner set to "lo," each covered batch left to infuse (with careful supervision at intervals) for eight delicious hours until the oil has absorbed as much of the heavenly essence as it can hold: creamy, fruity, boozy, and very caramel. It is my pleasure to I present Littleflowers' Madagascar Vanilla Body oil.

For vanilla diehards, seekers of special anointing oils for the body, lucky recipients of stellar massages, meditators, sensualists, scent-swooners, gift-givers and self-gifters, this oil is most likely one that you won't want to miss.

:-) cheers to simple visions realized!

Fantasy Honey

2008-07-23T16:29:00.006-04:00

Raw, unfiltered, and straight from the hive.

V for Vanilla

2008-07-18T01:43:00.023-04:00

So the heat of "rose fever" has come and gone for now, leaving me with a steady, more stable and healthy long-term relationship with roses, I'd say. What I currently suffer, I fear, is even stronger - the vanilla plague. Can't get it out of my "olfactory memory." Can't stop thinking about it. Don't WANT to stop.

There is now a fresh batch of Musky Vanilla body butter up in the shop. And coming soon: a second vanilla treat I will be posting soon . . . Meanwhile, I decided to hit the website of The Vanilla Queen herself, to learn a little more about the fresh & fragrant vanilla bourbon beans from Madagascar that I've been using regularly. She describes them as "creamy, haylike, and sweet, with vanillin overtone." Breathing in a freshly infused batch of vanilla oil, I'd add to that a distinct fruitiness, and an almost boozy note.

But why my obsession of late? I began reading a bit more, and hit on a few uses of vanilla, from folklore to modern-day scientifically researched aromatherapy. For example:

-Vanilla pods have been traditionally used as amulets to ward off illness.
-They have an aphrodisiac quality. Their scent - specifically the compound heliotropin - has been shown to reduce stress.
-Vanilla is sometimes used in aromatherapy to treat headaches.
-It is used to assist in weight loss

. . . the list goes on.

Interesting stuff. But i'm not going to worry about why the obsession, it turns out. I'm just going to indulge. I'm simply too relaxed right now . . .

This key vanilla info is courtesy of The Spice House:

Why are vanilla beans and extract so expensive? We are often asked this question. A member of the orchid family, the vanilla flower is the only one of 350 species of orchids to produce an edible product. The first harvest of the vine does not occur for at least 3 years, giving a maximum harvest after about 8 years. When the flower on the vine blossoms, it must be hand-pollinated during the one or two days in which it blooms. It takes 4-9 months for the vanilla pods to mature and they are picked just as their color changes from green to yellow. Because these beans are so valuable (especially in light of some of the extremely poor economic areas in which they are grown), the beans are branded while still green. Much like cattle ranchers, each farmer has his own brand, which is formed by inserting pins into a cork and imprinted on the vanilla bean while still young, so it will remain on the bean when it is ready for sale. When the green beans are initially picked, they do not have any flavor. The processes for curing the beans vary in different locations: this results in subtle, but noticeable differences in the flavor of the vanilla bean.

More on the vanilla orchid and its precious, calming fruits - including the prized Tahitian vanilla plant - still ahead . . .

Deals and Steals, Meet Urges and Splurges

2008-07-14T14:41:00.012-04:00

image courtesy of Back of the Moon Day Spa

That last whirlwind giveaway really got my blood pumping, so to keep the momentum going, I thought I'd take a moment and share a few fun sources of sales, freebies, & samples, as well as just plain quality goods. I didn't think you'd mind ;-)

First, the time-sensitive sale that is today only (it's a Bastille Day sale) at Alchemille's Garden on etsy. Alchemille offers earth-friendly products crafted in the Wise Woman tradition, including smudge sticks crafted from herbs from her own garden, three-card Tarot readings, face creams, lip balms, from-scratch incense, and gorgeous artisinal teas including a four-phase tea that lasts for a month and follows the cycles of the moon. All items in her shop are 25% off TODAY ONLY (the sale doesn't apply to bargain books, gardening seeds, bulk herbs and items that are already on sale), so if you're going, go!

Also time-sensitive and noteworthy (I can't even believe I'm diluting my chances of winning this giveaway by sending all y'all in this direction - this is love, ok? ;-) is a no-strings giveaway courtesy of Justine at The Scented Djinn. This link will take you to her blog where a comment enters you in a drawing for "a half-ounce spritz bottle of *Boronia Eau de Cologne fait par moi (one each to two lucky participants). This scent features classic EdC notes of citrus and neroli with a boronia twist." The boronia note intrigues me - it's a little like the scent of raspberries carried on a soft breeze, if I may. And, um, the stuff runs roughly in the ballpark of $1,000 per ounce! Just in case you were curious. I spritz this EdC on at night before bed and am happy.

And for flickering lights and romantic summer nights: have you guys checked out the candles over at Gabriel's Aunt? They are scented with 100% natural essential oils and absolutes, which piqued my interest. The prices are also incredibly reasonable; check out this $2 off choose-any-three candle sampler.

Now, a shocker for those of you who know me well - a link to a niche perfume company that uses synthetic ingredients! Ooooo. I was curious about L'artisan Parfumeur, so when J and I drove past a boutique that had their name painted on the window, I had to stop and pop in for a scent strip spritz or two. I was impressed: who knew you could do that with tuberose?? I'd been thinking about their scents ever since, until the other night when I realized that they offer as many samples as you'd like via their website - all you pay is a flat $7 shipping/handling fee. I went for it.

These last two items aren't on sale. But the quality of the ingredients and the level of craftsmanship means - to me - that they are complete and total "deals" - little glimmering gems I feel lucky to have found, and to be able to experience. The first is one of Ayala Moriel's insanely fresh, special perfumed tea, Immortelle L'Amour, created as a companion to the hay/vanilla/maple scented perfume of the same name. Ayala partnered with artisan tea makers Inner Alchemy Tea Co. to create this blend, which is unlike anything I've experienced before. She recently began selling this tea in one ounce (v. two ounce) containers, and I decided that now was the time to check it out. (This link is to the 2 oz size.) No regrets!

Lastly, a friend recently turned me on to Back of the Moon products, and I am hooked one of their two lip balm flavors, which is made with honey and pure rose otto - I traded for my first round of goodies (and am also swooning over their Jasmine Hand Cream, by the way), but I already know that I'll be back as a regular ol' customer.

I enjoy a bargain as much as the next girl, and I'm a big proponent of affordable luxury, which is all around us. I also know that sometimes - if the budget fits - it can pay to pay a little more for "the good stuff." Enjoy!

And The Winner Is . . .

2008-07-11T16:38:00.005-04:00

Thanks so much to everyone for the plethora of gorgeous recipes and intriguing movie recommendations!

And now, the winner of the Littleflowers Summer Giveaway is . . .

Ms. Felicia Shenker! Please come on down and 'mail me your address so I can ship your prize out ASAP!

xox.nicole

Dreaming of a Littleflowers Summer Giveaway?

2008-07-08T13:59:00.014-04:00

You have come to the right place.

One lucky winner will receive a duo of littleflowers tools to help combat the hazy heat of midsummer; our invigorating Lemon Mint Sugar Scrub paired with the ever-calming-and-cooling Fresh Floral Toner.

Overseas folks, rest assured that we will ship this prize anywhere in the world (all free of charge, naturally!).

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post with either

1) a link to your favorite online healthy/tasty recipe, or

2) a film recommendation (psychological thrillers and period pieces encouraged!)

The winner will be chosen in a blind drawing - don't forget to leave your name or alias with your comment!

Friends, family members, and affiliates of littleflowers are strictly encouraged to enter. Winner will be announced Friday, July 11th.

Thanks for playing!!

xox.nicole

Sweet n Dirty

2008-07-03T16:35:00.004-04:00

The cameo compacts are now filed with perfume and posted in the shop.

For the 2-compartment one I chose the sweet and dirty combo (actually, this theme applies to most of my scents) of Lime Grotto paired with Cocoa Basil. I like the way they sit next to one another.

I filled the hand-beaded watch-style cameo featuring a little decorative rose cab on its lid with the sultry Rose Cardamom.

Both of these roomy compacts hold a healthy amount of perfume. Enjoy!

xox!

The Scented Djinn Apothecary: Open For Business!

2008-06-30T13:20:00.007-04:00

I have a lot of favorite etsy sites. But, for me, this one stands apart. It's the newly re-opened shop of one of my mentors/peers: the botanical perfumer and skillful artist behind the lush and luxurious products you'll find at The Scented Djinn.

I have a feeling that her home won't be etsy forever - and that when she skyrockets to perfume/bath & body fame and fortune (I'm so not being facetious), "etsy-prices" will not follow her. Nor should they.

This is a person whose amazing scent creations directly inspired me to improve my craft, and to keep on improving it. Scent is her art and her gift (What I mean is, among many other gifts, but I'm trying to stay focused here!), and I'm continually awed by her latest creations. She keeps me on my toes, to say the least! And she's one of those people who just gets it; she's fun.

Now out of my way! Ahem, I mean, excuse me please. I have some shopping to do . . .

Thinking Outside the Mind

2008-06-29T13:34:00.011-04:00

I've identified as a dedicated writer since age 14. Seriously. It's when I began writing a column for a free paper in Providence. It's when I began my first novel (which, by the way, will never see the light of day!). By 18 that was it; I was locked in - a poet for life. I did the requisite performing and publishing and dutifully collecting rejection slips right along with my acceptance slips: picture an aqua folder with pockets, one side for each. Yin-yang.

My tools were clean and orderly, inexpensive and largely portable. Notebook, clean white sheets of typing paper, pen. Electric typewriter. Stamps, envelopes. Folders. It was crisp and under control.

SO WHERE DID THIS MESS COME FROM??

(I would have liked to have captured the behind-the-scenes chaos with a better quality photograph, but J is away at a library conference, with our - er, technically his, unless squatters' rights apply to electronics? - camera. I snapped this shot with my actual laptop - crazy modern technology!)

I'm still writing, but far less, these days. It's a struggle to keep the balance. I have little doubt, however, that at some point - who can say exactly when - the mysterious embers will flash back into flame, and I will find myself once again (hate to be melodramatic, but this is truly how it feels) writing for my life.

Until (if and when) this undeniable urge wheels fully around on its axis and clicks back into place, I'm not complaining. I'm following other undeniable creative urges. And noticing - with some humor, and with a little bit of awe - what happens when we let go and follow where we are led. :-)

Total Shutdown?

2008-06-26T12:48:00.012-04:00

If you enjoy shopping with indie beauty companies versus huge corporations, this post pertains directly to you.

The proposed FDA Globalization Act of 2008 will impose heaps of paperwork and insane fees - thousands - on all your favorite small businesses cosmetics/perfume businesses. If passed, it will simply vanish all of us.

There is a lot of behind-the-scenes networking going on among small beauty businesses and their advocates, which is a good thing. Please take a moment to sign the petition found here. At this site - The Indie Beauty Network blog - you'll also find a video outlining this proposed act in greater detail, and more ways to get involved if you're so moved.

This could be a really sad outcome for many women-owned/ family-owned businesses, and for the customers who support and rely on them. It's real, and it could happen soon.

Aside from its extreme importance, your added benefit for signing the petition: if you can find it, you get to read my rambling entry, in which I randomly reference KanYe West.

Thanks, guys.

Lime Grotto

2008-06-26T02:40:00.012-04:00

A few little slide-tins of the new lime solid perfume are freshly posted in the shop. This perfume began - as a few other of my favorite littleflowers creations have - as a request from a sweetheart customer for a particular scent. Lime Grotto is a bit of a variation on what came out of that project, but the key elements are similar.

It's a strong hit of sweet lime with a floral hint. Playing in the background is a smoky, slightly herbacious theme which, for me, kicks it up to "adult" from "lime lollipop my mom let me pick out of the fishbowl at the bank." Not that there's anything wrong with those lollipops, mind you - the disc-shaped ones on hard white paper sticks. When I was little, they gave a trip to the bank with my mom definition and purpose, to be sure. "Trip to the Bank" just wasn't cutting it for the name of this particular scent, though I wrestled with it. :-)

I've added Lime Grotto as an option in the solid perfume sampler pack, if you just want to check it out - I've been playing with layering it over other scents. I like it with Cocoa Basil . . .

xox!

Sneak Peek

2008-06-23T17:12:00.005-04:00

at the two new cameo compacts lined up for posting in the shop. I'm a little bit in shock that I've decided to part with them - especially the one on the left that I'm pretty much officially in love with; how its exterior is all distressed and Victoriana. The interior's in good as new condition, split diagonally into 2 separate compartments, for filling with two complementing solid perfumes . . . sigh (a good sigh).

Then there's the one on the right, the pocket-watch-styled hand-beaded compact that pops open with the push of a button. Lush, no?

Also right around the corner: a new, summery scent that I can only describe as lime candy for adults. It hits the spot.

xo!

"Rose Moon"

2008-06-21T14:09:00.010-04:00

is one term for a full solstice moon. What timing! Today in the shop you'll find Littleflowers' latest and possibly most "whimsical" offering to date - rose-naysayers, back away slowly! You have been warned.

I hope this little item warms your hearts as much as it warmed mine to conceptualize and create it. As mentioned in the item description, this balm is a limited edition, and there are twelve of them available, all told. Enjoy!

~

Back one night from vacation and I already miss the sound of bullfrogs croaking outside of my window at night. Waking up the next morning to a breathtaking, panoramic view of the coastline. I miss it a lot! The city mouse and the country mouse in me have always battled it out with no clear champ, but I think that in my old(er) age, the little country guy might finally end in triumph.

Meanwhile, this weekend (and most all of the time) I am dreaming - of new things I'll create, from poems to perfumes (both alcohol and oil based) to "art dolls" and decorative textiles. Soon I will take a bottles & jars inventory, set up a more accessible textile/fiber-based craft station, and most likely infuse some jojoba oil with vanilla beans, for hours on end, at a very low heat . . . the results are luscious, and it's a good thing to do while the weather's still light and breezy . . . before the humidity clamps down . . .

Alright, fellow dreamers. I'm wishing you all a truly wonderful weekend. xox

Honey as Medicine

2008-06-09T00:51:00.018-04:00

I was raised on fresh, local honey - when I was little my grandfather William kept a beehive. I learned not to fear the bees that seemed to sort of drift - rather than fly - around my grandparents' property. Every now and then my Grampa would suit up in gloves and a hat with the protective netting that covered his face and neck, and walk slowly toward the hive to make some adjustment, or to harvest a drawer of honeycomb. Whenever I slept over my grandparents' house, we'd have big breakfasts with bacon, eggs fried in bacon fat, coffee for the adults, orange juice, honey, and every type of jam and marmalade you can think of - the table was heavy with jars. The slices of toast, which popped up two by two, were just a vehicle for getting these various sweet spreads into our mouths. With the honey (the jar currently in use always had a few visible toast crumbs suspended in it like mosquitos fossilized in amber), William didn't even bother with toast - I remember watching him plunge a butter knife into the jar and draw up a golden, tapered stream, then expertly twirl it around the knife and eat it. My grandmother clucked disapprovingly and he always winked at me.

I've never lost my taste for honey, and was disappointed when I recently sampled a generic-brand jar of it we got from the big chain health food store (you know the one). The flavor was just flat, sweet, and kind of dull, with no tang, no pungency. It lacked that killer high note, too - the one so sweet that you almost can't stand it if you eat too big a gob of it at once. It just didn't taste alive - it didn't taste like flowers.

The problem of the creepy honey was soon remedied when Jason brought home a jar of honey from a tiny local company. Ahh. Better. The reason he brought it home? His allergies have been acting up lately (I'll bet many of you can relate), and he wanted to see if what he'd heard about local honey as an allergy remedy was true. It is, if you count the results of our little household of two. I'd heard about this before, but in the sneezy heat of the moment I had never trusted it enough to try it (which now has me wondering what I was waiting for!).

Apparently, along with it's amazing nourishing and antiseptic properties when used externally as a face-mask or even as a salve for small injuries, and along with sweetening your tea as it feeds your insides with vitamins, honey might also be enough to wean you off of your Zyrtec or Benadryl or whatever you (read: I) resort to when allergy season rolls around every year and it just gets to be too much.

If you're around an airborne element - say, a clover pollen - long enough, you could develop an allergy to it. Eating local honey that contains traces of this very allergen acts almost like allergy shots, in that it introduces a bit of the offending element/s into your body in minute doses, allowing your immune system to build up antibodies to the allergens over time. Ideally, when you are exposed to these same airborne elements again out in nature - viola, no reaction. Or, a lessened reaction. The closer to your home the honey was made, the more antibodies to your personal allergens it will contain. Now take your medicine! :-)

It's worked remarkably well for Jason and myself thus far this season (I haven't popped one allergy pill, which is big for me), and I wanted to share this delicious trick with you all.

My grandfather died in 1994, when I was 18. He meant a lot more to me than sweet breakfasts together, though that was definitely an important part of our shared time. Good honey has become a bit of a personal emblem that ties me to him; to his work ethic which has become mine, his dedication to his family, and his ability to stand strong and make important decisions. I suppose you could say I learned something about being an "adult" from William. I miss him. And I know it's been a while, but - to put it simply - I have not been the same since he left.

chocolat d'artisan

2008-06-04T21:02:00.014-04:00

If you've hung out at all in my etsy shop, you may have glimpsed the liquid ribbon of chocolate winding its way through many of the products, from cocoa basil solid perfume to the high content of cocoa butter in some of the balms.

Just opening up a box of cocoa butter in its raw form releases such an overpowering, mouth-watering chocolate scent that it makes me feel like the proud owner of my very own golden ticket.

Jason and I decided that, since we both have sweet-tooth dads, we'd splurge for Father's Day and order a package of what is nearly the best - if not the very best - chocolate and candy I've ever experienced. The artisan company that produces these coveted confections is Byrne and Carlson, located in New Hampshire. They say,

"To give our chocolates and confections their exceptional flavor, we use the best chocolate from France, Belgium and Venezuela. The finest nuts are roasted just before each recipe is created. Fresh cream from local dairies, real fruits and fine liqueurs are used in our unique line of truffles and pure fruit jelly squares. [Just had to pop in to share that these jelly squares are killer - the flavor is super intense, and they're all naturally fruit flavored, too, which you know I'm loving. -N]

Everything we make is produced in small quantities to ensure freshness: each chocolate is hand-dipped, the marzipan is shaped and painted individually. This is artisanal production at its best; a method rooted in the traditions of the elegant chocolate houses of Europe and old-fashioned seaside candy shops alike.

In creating our candies, we rely on regional confectionery traditions from around the world: Truffles in the French tradition; Turkish Delight from Istanbul; Marzipan fruits in the Swiss style; and American Pecan Pralines, Caramel confections and roasted nuts in chocolate."

I thought I'd share this gem of a confectionary in case any of you all are scratching your heads in search of the perfect gift for your sweets-loving father, husband, partner, father-figure, or yourself! I've always just ordered over the phone; their turnaround time in insanely quick (one day for us, always - it's like magic!) and this recent warm-weather order came fortified in a styrofoam crate with one of those cold-pak thingies to ward off the dreaded melt.

An actual road trip to this place has been discussed - and that's a bit of a drive for us. But do not put it past me! In fact, don't put anything past me when sugared violet petals are involved. ;-)

Rose Fever

2008-06-02T12:21:00.015-04:00

Rosa Centifolia (or "Cabbage Rose")

Lately, I can't get enough rose. It's an actual craving. Of course, there is my beloved (and quite heavy) jug of rose hydrosol that should last through the summer, as well as a little pot of rose ink (!) made of crushed organic rose petals and added oils, found here.

I collect different rose oils - rosa bourbon from India, rose damask from Bulgaria, rose otto from Turkey, rose from Russia, rose from Morocco - rose oil ages exquisitely, and I love knowing that even when I'm resting and not working, the glorious rose oils in their amber bottles, tucked safely away in the cool apothecary cabinet, are transmuting all on their own . . . i almost think of them (semi-abstractly) as slowly caramelizing . . .

Just sprung for an outrageously expensive bottle of the famed "Rose de Mai" (species rosa centifolia, pictured) from France. I'd been holding off for months until I just . . . couldn't . . . takeitanymore!

"The rose carries the meaning of purity or heavenly, passion, transmutation, completion, of consummate achievement and perfection in addition to being an ancient symbol of joy. The Persian poet Sa’adi of Shiraz wrote of the rose garden as a garden of contemplation. Today most people think of the rose as a symbol for love. It is all of these meanings."
-Bettye Johnson

rich silk and self care

2008-05-31T11:59:00.027-04:00

Welcome the latest addition to our mix n match line of skin care products, Rich Silk Eye Treatment. It is packed with effective and luxurious ingredients yet still incredibly gentle - it's meant to go right around your eyes, after all! Along with being a sensitive person myself (skin-wise and otherwise), I'm at that age where the area around my eyes is beginning to just look . . . crepe-y. A little dull. Like it wants freshening, plumping, hydrating. All that. While other parts of the face produce oil naturally (in spades, as many of us know too well!), this area doesn't produce its own moisture at all. It is up to us, ladies and gentlemen!

~

In other news, I've been thinking a lot about self-care in general. Part of what got me going making body care products in the first place is that I was unhappy that chemicals - aroma chemicals and preservatives - were being used even some of the "natural" health food store brand products. Most of them, in fact. The stuff was cheap and mass-produced; it appeared to be all about marketing. To put it simply, the ingredients lacked integrity, and so did (does) the industry.

The one all natural, commercial-scale product line I found and fell in love with cost an arm and a leg for a single product: speaking of eye treatments, for example, I think they charged in the arena of $45 for a lil' pot o' eye balm. So I dipped into my bank of natural healing info (a passion of mine for over twelve years now), did some research, and mixed up a cleansing, moisturizing sugar scrub for myself. I ordered my first crate of wholesale commercial jars (sterilized baby food jars weren't cutting it) and guess what everyone got for Christmas that year!

Then I did a whole lot more research. Then I did some more. I'm still - constantly - doing research; it's a compulsion. I became transfixed by the healing properties of essential oils, as well as all the different nuances of carrier oils and rich butters. I made my first emulsion (a stable mixture of oil and water into a lotion - think mayonnaise.) I swooned over absolutes extracted from the petals of exotic flowers, and I sampled every "indie," cottage-industry natural product - soaps, butters - I could get ahold of. It didn't feel like "research" at all - I was just following my drive. And I didn't quite know it at the time, but the project called Littleflowers was gestating . . .

It came clear that for some, formulating these recipes and creating products is truly an art, and I came to respect that and learn that factors like safety, knowledge, and precision, - when paired magically with intuition - can create great things. I also witnessed a spirit of generosity and sharing from people who I can only call my mentors, and I took this spirit into my heart. It all felt right.

For another thing, it just felt so great to be empowering myself by making the EXACT products that I'd want to stumble upon stocked on some hidden-away little shelf at Sephora! It felt (and feels) so good to be able to package these items simply, and to be able to share them - at a fair price, in my humble opinion - with like-minded folk. What a relief! (I swear the people who purchase my products are some of the most skin-savvy women in the Universe - and I LOVE this!!)

As I worked and explored this world more deeply, I began to realize that there is often more to a "product" than simply its ability to do its job. A creamy jar of scented body butter is - for many - more than just a moisturizer; it's really a little bit of nurturing in a jar. It is a teddy bear! I still buy other folks' products, even though I don't NEED them now that I make my own, probably for this same reason - aside from my drive to support the naturals scene, I want cool stuff to show up in my mailbox, and I want the thrill of anticipating it. I delight in items that look pretty and are presented nicely, with little handmade flourishes and even imperfections that remind me they didn't come off a factory's conveyor belt. Sometimes the sellers I buy from are friends to me, sometimes they're acquaintances - or else they're strangers whose blogs I read or who, for whatever reason, I respect and admire from a distance. Regardless, I can perceive all the care that these lovely ladies put into their gorgeous balms and spritzes and powders and perfumes - and this makes the process of applying these potions to my body almost a healing ritual; so much more than robotic body-maintenance. It can become something else entirely . . .

Littleflowers Upcoming Vacation . . .

2008-05-28T16:49:00.010-04:00

I know this photo is a little dark (double click it for a magnified version), but I love how it captures the "anticipating sunset" mood of this fabulous house, which was the scene of a happy Littleflowers wedding just last year!

This year we return to the house, for a glorious week of lying around on the beach, in the grass under the wide skies and under the cherry trees. And we will be totally and completely . . . without computer access!

This means that Littleflowers will be on vacation from June 10th through the 20th. Feel free to browse up a storm, of course, and also to place orders as usual while we're away - but I won't be filling orders or answering questions during this ten day stretch.

I'll post a formal announcement on the shop's main page during our absence, but I wanted to pop in here and give you folks an early heads-up. I think I also just wanted to share my excitement about my upcoming retreat to this seriously magical place!

Eye serum . . . and perhaps another new treat or two . . . still ahead!

It's a Serum!

2008-05-24T14:38:00.004-04:00

"Ledanum, which the Arabs call ladanum, is procured in a yet
stranger fashion. Found in a most inodorous place, it is the
sweetest-scented of all substances. It is gathered from the beards
of he-goats, where it is found sticking like gum, having come from the
bushes on which they browse. It is used in many sorts of unguents, and is what the Arabs burn chiefly as incense."

-Cistus Ladanum Labdanum (blog)

You'd probably recognize the earthy, sensuous smell of ladanum - or labdanum as it's mostly known today - as it's a key component in many amber blends. This sticky, deep green or brown substance is distilled from the gorgeous, flowering, low-growing rockrose plant.

While labdanum extract is drawn from the plant matter using a solvent, it's lighter cousin cistus (also from the rockrose) is distilled using steam, making it a "clean" oil. Along with its rep for calming and elevating the spirit, cistus is also renowned as an anti-wrinkle treatment, since it can plump up the skin and erase fine lines (culled from Suzanne Catty's great book on hydrosols). Along with its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, it is used in massage for drainage of congested tissues . . .

all of these properties got me thinking about eyes; about those pockets of fluid that can accumulate just beneath them (sound familiar?), and about the lines we call "crow's feet." (I know a lot of us wacky women will do anything to look younger; my friend Chloe loves crow's feet and thinks that they look cool. I love Chloe.)

I've been working on an eye cream for what feels like forever. After a while, the cream morphed into a firmer balm. But something was wrong - there were too many unnecessary ingredients, and durnit if there wasn't always that creepy menthol-y cool breeze wafting over the sensitive surface of my eyes, as well as the eyes of my in-house human guinea pig. (I've personally experience this same sensation with eye treatments I've tried in the past, and wonder if you know what I mean . . . ) So I cut out all "filler" and started from scratch.

Now, in its final incarnation, my pet eye treatment has morphed into a very rich serum. With only the necessary stuff - concentrated and super high-quality ingredients. A couple of hints:
olive squalene.
infused green tea.
rosehip seed oil.
And - you guessed it - a tiny bit of cistus. Otherwise known as the beloved rockrose.

Not for fragrance - no. Just enough for it to do its job.

Stay tuned . . .

New Littleflowers Blog!

2008-05-22T02:09:00.001-04:00

Ahh, a white background. That's better.

A quick reminder:

The clock's ticking!

For a shot at winning this creamy & dreamy Littleflowers item courtesy of Le Parfumeur Rebelle's May Giveaway, hop on over here, and enter your info ASAP!

Contest ends May 31