Make your own laundry detergent.

185/366 - laundry detergent, originally uploaded by Torm1.

Making your own laundry detergent is not only a fun and easy craft, but it's also good for the environment and it saves money versus buying costly name brand laundry detergents. Following is a simple recipe for making your own detergent at home.

Ingredients:
1 Bar of Handmade Cold Process Soap
1 Cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
1 Cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Directions:
Grate the handmade soap into a bowl using a cheese grater. If soap is damp, allow to dry. Combine with borax and washing soda - note that washing soda is NOT the same as baking soda - along with grated soap in a food processor or blender. Blend into a powder. Store in a container of your choice. Use 1 Tablespoon of detergent for small loads or 2 Tablespoons for large loads. For extra cleaning power on heavily soiled linens, you may add 1/4 Cup Oxi-Clean or generic alternative to your wash cycle.

Article by Rebecca's Soap Delicatessen.

For Those Who Love Christmas But Just Can't Wait

Everyone loves Christmas! It's the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone seem to be more open to bringing a little cheer to each other. People seem a little kinder to their neighbors. We seem to have a little bounce in our steps.

Maybe it is because we know the season is about giving and sharing. Maybe it is because some of us get a free pass to indulge in a little more treats and sweets. Or, maybe just maybe, it is ALSO because we get to do a LOT of guilt-free shopping!

Well, for those of you who just can't wait another long and agonizing six months until December, there is an Etsy solution we offer. It is called Christmas in July!

Yes, Christmas shopping in July is now in vogue. Now mind you, Etsy did not invent this little trend. Christmas in July has been around ever since there has been down turns in the economy, or even just a little slack in retail sales. This is a wonderful marketing invention which is there to help Etsy shops get through the summer doldrums. And, by helping them get through the summer, they are helping us shoppers save a little and start shopping early. Yes, this is a marketplace wide sale on Etsy.com.

Whoa! Wait! Can you please repeat that? You mean OUR favorite marketplace is having a store-wide SALE? What is this that you speak of? How can I take advantage of this? How can I find the great deals waiting for me? How do I know if my favorite Virginia shop is participating in this wonderment?

So, here’s some answers. Go to Etsy.com. On the search bar, search for “christmasinjuly", "christmas in july ", or "cij" (apostrophes not necessary). Shops which are having a sale will pop up! Yes, it is that simple.
To find Virginia Shops, type "vaetsy".

However, for easier Christmas in July Sale shopping, CLICK on the links below and support your favorite Virginia Etsyer Shop!
P.S. By the way, don’t forget to also buy your loved ones their gifts early :)

Participating Virginia SHOPS Pictured Above
All Things Wood - wood carved gifts and novelties
Barn Owl Primitives - lettered signs, famous wooden snowmen, fabulous sayings
BG's Studio 13 - unique jewelry
Dyche Designs - mixed media paintings, handmade bags, general gift shop
Eternal Autumn - specialty jewelry
Fine Heart - handmade and custom jewelry
Kate and Violet - currently on vacation but please bookmark
MB Chills - patterns, sewing related supplies and vintage finds
Rebecca's Soap Deli - shea butter and cocoa butter soaps made from scratch
Taylor DV - handmade wallets, travel cases and fabric accessories

Help The Gulf Coast: A Rallying Cry from Etsy Shop Owners

July 2, 2010. Day 74.
The gulf oil spill has been in the news for two solid months. Every day, in all the evening news reports, the Yahoo News front page, on Facebook, Twitter, and all forms of media, we have heard about the tragic beginning, the horrible middle, and the on going struggles the Gulf Coast region is facing due to a terrible industrial accident. An imaginable, traumatic, and, quite frankly, horrific reality we all have to live with from now on.

This is a global reality folks, and we have to face that fact. It is a small world. By our own doing, it is a very small world indeed. Unfortunately, what happens in the Gulf Coast region of the United States of America, will not stay in the Gulf Coast for long.

Being a half glass full kind of girl, I find it very hard to see my “water half.” However, I do like looking for a silver lining in everything. Luckily, just before I was about to give up, I found ONE very nice silver lining, indeed!

Help The Gulf Coast
There is an Etsy Shop which is completely run by the individual artists and entrepreneurs that form Etsy which sole purpose is to collect donations to help the Gulf Coast region. The way it works is Etsy Shop owners can donate items - virtually - to this new collective store and once the item they donate sells, the monies go directly to the collective store’s account. Once Etsy and Paypal fees have been paid from the sale, the rest of the money is donated to two charity groups - Oxfam and the National Wildlife Foundation.

Thanks to Katie.
A girl named Katie started the whole thing. She initiated the rallying cry, she opened an account with Paypal, connected the new Etsy collective shop to that account, contacted Oxfam, contacted the National Wildlife Foundation, promoted her idea, recruited Etsians, recruited her mother, and frankly, I don’t know how she gets any sleep at all or have a life. But for her, I am grateful!

So, here’s to Etsy entrepreneurs trying to “save the world” one handmade, vintage, or art supply at a time. And, here’s to the Gulf Coast region, may you have a miraculous recovery and get back all you have lost.

Join Us and Click on These Links
Help The Gulf Coast Etsy Store - Shop, Browse, Buy!
Buy from this Etsy Store! Not only do you get FREE shipping, you will own a cool Etsy item, and also donate to Oxfam and National Wildlife Foundation in the process. Get early Christmas presents, make your birthday list, call your friends and help our small and fragile world!

Help The Gulf Coast Blog Page - Donate!
If you’re an Etsian who would like to donate items or learn more about
where the donations are going.

Help The Gulf Coast on Facebook - Spread The Word
Just want to help in any way? Spread the word to your
friends and family and join their Facebook Page.

Lastly, to Katie, this is her shop link Flapperdoodle Store