Chemicals you may be absorbing.....

Have some new jewelery I've been working on in the studio. I'm doing a lot of greens, blues and deep garnet lately. I think its the fall/winter getting to me. Now that I have a toddler, I am really growing to loath winter. I don't mind the cold and the coats and I actually like the snow, but its SO dark! by the time I have dinner made and its been eaten by the babe/doggies (Aiben is very big on sharing) It's to dark to go anywhere with him without a car.

With Christmas coming up VERY quickly I just want to remind everyone about soap nuts being a FABULOUS stocking stuffer. Pick up your great and unique soap nut gifts at the Kitchener Market (Bi weekly), Let It Heal (222 Fredrick st), or CH candle making 111 (West minister Dr Cambridge).

A lot of people have been asking me about the uses for soap nuts other then Laundry.

Soap nuts are diverse and can be used for House Hold Cleaner, window cleaner, Shampoo, Dish soap, Hand soap, Insect repellent, jewelery cleaner, dog shampoo and to steam clean your carpets.

To use soap nuts for these different things, the main thing is to use the 'Soap Nut' liquid recipe I posted in a past entry. It's mainly a matter of diluting the liquid to your preference.

Just a little bit of Knowledge in regards to your regular laundry soap brands.........

When it comes to laundry soap, sometimes we don't realize that the stuff in our soap, stays in the clothes in whats called a chemical residue. This is the stuff that causes allergic reactions and sensitivities. Even if you don't react, YOUR SKIN IS STILL ABSORBING THESE CHEMICALS.

Here's a list of some regular ingredients in your brand name laundry soaps :

Cationic Surfactants, Anionic Surfactants,

Nonionic Surfactants,

Polyphyosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate,

aluminosilicate, optical brighteners, coulorants,

sodium sulfate, Enzymes, Mono Ethanol Amine

Ingredients in soap nuts:

Saponin (Plant matter)

A little food for thought......

Please contact me if you have any questions about Soap Nuts or Other rebel Flower Company products!

Tips on a healthier life

As Ive been on facebook lately I've been receiving status updates from a friend with tips on how to get the chemicals out of our lives. I have been following them daily, looking forward to the new tip on how to change something small to get those nasties out of my family's life and live healthier. Suzy is a strict follower of the Feingold diet http://www.feingold.org/.

Tip number 1- Artificial Vanilla. It is what it says artificial. Buy the real vanilla, yes it is more expensive but you use a lot less of it.

Tip number 2- Goodbye Margarine Goodbye Shortening! Real butter is cream and salt but beware of the phrase 'may contain colour'. Gaylea and sealtest are recommended as very good brands

Tip number 3-Ice cream. Most ice cream isn't really ice cream and is filled with additives including the evil artificial vanilla (see tip number 1). Breyers in the black box, real ice cream, real yummy.

Tip number 4- Dyes. Laundry Soap (switch to soap nuts!) Hand soaps, shampoos, even cleaners.
Use the natural products on the market, or create your own hand soap, shampoos and cleaners with soap nuts.

Tip number 5- Things to look for in your labels, artificial colors or flavours, the bad preservatives like TBHQ, BHT and BHA

Tip number 6- Flour. Most all purpose flours are bleached. if it says its bleached they mean the ol scrub your toilets kind of bleach. You can purchase un-bleached flour. If it doesn't say unbleached, it probably isn't.

Tip number 7- Bread. When you are buying bread try the made in store kinds. The expiry dates are a couple of days not a couple of weeks. You need less preservatives if it only is staying fresh for a couple of days. Of course making your own bread is the best way to combat preservatives in bread.

That's all for Suzy's tips so far but I'm sure there is more to come. I personally can't wait to get more info and ideas. Going green isn't just for the environment but for our bodies as well.

And remember SOAP NUTS are available at Kitchener Market, Let it Heal (Kitchener) and CH Candle making (Cambridge)

One cold and rainy sunday

Last weekend Rebel Flower company went travelin abroad. I took my worldy possessions and went to oakville for the day. Rebel Flower took part in the annual fundraiser for the humane society. It was a cold rainy sunday, but the shelter raised a ton of money, I had a booth by the free coffee and I got to spend the day doing my favourite things; Selling jewellery and visiting with my wonderfully funny and beautiful friends my helper (Jess) and my humane society employee connection (Steph). All in all a great day.

Remember to go to CH Candle Making or Rare Funk for the Loriea Moon Designs
And Kitchener Market or Ch Candle Making for soap nuts 7.00 a 40 load bag!

**We are in works with "Let It Heal" kitchener to offer Rebel Flower Products at this bowen/massage/reiki therapy clinic, more info to follow!!**

How to Make Cleaner with Soap Nuts

Making cleaner with soap nuts is a great way to get rid of germs and clean your house without chemicals. Its also incredibly easy!
to make the cleaner I take 7-10 soap nuts in a pot with 6 cups of water
bring to a boil, and let it boil for 30 mins

its as easy as that! You should end up with about 4 cups of liquid.
At this point you can strain the nuts and put the liquid into an air tight container. (Mason jars work best)
Some prefer to leave the soap nuts in the liquid, its really up to you.


Because soap nuts are a fruit, the liquid can go bad if left in an unseal container, or left for to long. I have left my liquid in a mason jar in my cupboard for over a month at a time and in my time with Soup nuts I have yet to experience it go 'bad'. If you are concerned about the possibility or to be proactive on the life of your cleaner keep it in the fridge.
If you are interested in adding scents to your soap nut detergent or cleaner put in a couple drops of essential oils. The liquid will last longer on the shelf with it, and it smells great.


This liquid can be used undiluted as laundry detergent, or mixed with water as a household cleaner (1 part liquid to 3 parts water).


The best part about cleaning with soap nuts is its versatility. I use the same spray bottle on my floors, my bathtub, my counters, even my couch!


Tried and tested I have yet to find something soap nuts can't clean. (It even cleaned blood out of the couch when my dog cut himself!) Try it for yourself and feel free to leave any comments!

Athena Design..Fall coulors are here!

This is my latest from the craft room. The Athena design. Gorgeous fall colors of yellow and browns. I love the fall, the leaves fall from the trees and reminds me how amazing mother nature really is, how despite everything going on in the world there are somethings that remain unchanged. This necklace is made with yellow Aragonite, a gemstone that is believed to hold properties to de-stress and ground the holder. This piece also has gorgeous vintage brown beads, the color of a dark ale (ale, also known to de-stress the drinker). Fall leaves and dark ale, a great combination for any September day. :)

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah....

This is a new creation, this necklace has gray agate, blue lace agate, rose quartz, rhodochrosite,

olive fresh water pearls and garnet. That's lot of diversity! This was a good creative night for me, definitely one of my best pieces right here.

Heres a frame just finishing up. Pretty awesome I know. Lime green, bright blues, deep purple...need I say more

Heres another finished frame. A lime green and lavender, reminds me of spring :)

Festivals, fairs and fundraisers oh my...

Last Saturday was a lovely day for the Preston music festival. I, selling my jewellery and my nuts at the store across the road didn't get to SEE it but everything sounded super awesome and the weather was wickedly cooperative. Was a good day though for me, got to chat with some other craft addicts, make some sales and soak up the sun.
I am going to be taking soap nuts to CH candle Making with my LMD designs :). CH candle making is so much more then candles. Its basically your 'everyday craft sale' (which i got from the painting on the window). The store also carries a ton of all natural goodies and earth friendly helpful goodies.
Because of rental prices at any location Soap nuts from CH candle making or The market will be 7 dollars a bag. Still an amazing deal and half the price of any other natural laundry detergent, and even cheaper then REGULAR laundry soap. cheaper then chemical filled, mass produced cleaners. and 100x better for you, for the environment and for your karma!http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=laundry+soaphttp://
(There's a lot of other stuff on this link, but roll down to see Walmart's prices on detergent..nothing under 10$! and the high efficiency stuff...19.97 holy crap!)

So with Loriea Moon Designs, I have been working hard to get frames vases and candle holders ready for the Christmas season as well as a few new pieces of jewellery to add to my HUGE collection. I am working on funky funky designs with help from my frame maker...who shall remain nameless as he's opposed to fame and fortune.

We will be at the Oakville Humane Society's Fundraiser on October 3rd. Last yr there was a ton of awesome vendors and lots of people, any one in the area needs to check it out and of course I will be there...what more can one person want! Also this weekend (september 25th) There is a TON of craft shows going on Downtown kitchener. Just show up and walk the main drag you wont miss it!

Pictures will be posted soon!!
Well i was going to post this big pretty picture of this sun with some trees and happiness sprinkled all around but for some reason I can't so close your eyes....and theres a tree and some happy sprinkles. You got it!

what the heck is a soap nut?!

Soap nuts? Huh? a nut made from soap? soap that grows on a tree?

Does this sound a little crazy to you? Here's a bit more info on where soap nuts come from:




The tree the nuts are grown from is called 'spandius mukorossi'

http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapindus

I thought about re-writing into my own words...but lets be serious no one can write that scientific stuff like good ol' wikipedia.


Here are some commonly asked questions regarding the nuts, I've taken these questions for http://www.superiorsoapnuts.com/ which is the soapnut supplier.


Are soapnuts safe to use on delicate clothes?


YES. Soapnuts are safe to use on even the most delicate of fabrics, such as wool and silk. The gentleness of the product will maintain the structure of the fabrices for longer. No chemicals means less wear and tear.


Are soapnuts safe for people with sensitive skin?


YES. Because they are chemical free, users will find they are better then other detergents and cleaners. Soap nuts are reccommended for individuals with exzcema, allergies and senstivities.



Are soapnuts safe for my machine?


YES. The life of your machine will only be greater by using the nuts. If you are switching to soapnuts, they will even clean your machine of left over chemical residues from pervious washings.



There aren't many suds is that a problem?


No. Your cleaning will be just as effective without the suds. Soapnuts don't contain the chemical foaming agents used in commercial cleaners, which is why the suds arent as visible.



There is more Q&A's about soap nuts http://http//www.superiorsoapnuts.com/FAQ.html

I got my shipment in yesterday :) My husband thinks im nuts (baha no pun intended!) for being so excited about a GIANT box of laundry soap! but Im pretty sure he decided id gone of the deep end a long time ago, before the age of the soapy nut. He came home one night late, around midnight and I was still up decoupaging my coffee table and he said thats when he knew id lost it and let crafts take over my life. Its true im addicted to crafts and soapnuts. its probably as hard to quit as crack, but not as bad for my lungs? heart? brain? whatever it is that cracks messes up.

With my shipment in I have gotten right to work to offer a great local place for people to come and pick up their soapnuts. We will be at the Kitchener Market!!! (starting the 25th)

Kitchener Market is 7am-2pm Saturdays

Where to Shop for Jewellery and Glass work!

Here is a bit of info on where in Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge you can find Loriea Moon Designs my handcrafted art division of Rebel Flower Company

Ch Candle Making:
111 Westminster Dr Cambridge (Downtown Preston).
The store focuses on items based around candles, bath and body. They have amazing unique offerings from many great artisans in the area. You will find Loriea Moon Necklaces, bracelets and earrings here.
http://www.chcandlemaking.ca/

RareFunk:
91 King St. Kitchener
Rarefunk, is what is says. Rare and funky. They have jewellery, clothing, home decor, recycled art, candles, soaps etc. etc. etc. This is another store that features many great local artists who create handmade goodies. Rarefunk sells Loriea Moon Frames, Vases and Candle holders.
http://www.rarefunk.ca/

The Euphorium:
101-20 Dickson St Cambridge (Downtown Galt)
The Euphorium is located within the coffee smoothie shop Euphoria. The Euphorium is brand new and will be opening this Tuesday September 7th! Again another great shop with lots of great artisans, crafters and designers. Lets not forget the smoothies!


Check out Ch Candle Making, Rarefunk and The Euphoria on Facebook, or even better go in to the store closest to you and take a look.

Please email me with any custom orders, questions, or soap nut orders!

www.loriea_moon_deisgns@live.ca

Starting Something New!

Welcome to my spot, Rebel Flower Company. Rebel Flower Company was created so I could incoroporate my many passions under one name, in a sense making my life a little less chaotic.


Rebel Flower is a combination of Loriea Moon Designs and Superior Soap nuts. Loriea Moon Designs is hand made, unique jewellery and home decor. I create one of a kind vintage, glass fused and semi precious stone infused jewellery. Every piece is different. Every piece is very carefully designed. Loriea Moon Designs also within the last year, started creating glass fused decorated vases, candle holders and frames. These are also all one of a kind and pretty awesome...if I do say so myself. The frames are crafted and painted by hand as well. Alot of time goes into these gorgeous pieces.





Now superior soap nuts! Soap nuts are an amazing little dried fruit, that yes, creates soap from the shell. These 'nuts' (although they contain no nut at all!) are wonderful and powerful cleaners. They are also 100% eco-friendly and at the end of there use they are completely compostable!





Soap nuts are amazing chemical free laundry detergent, they work wonders for cloth diapers, sensitive skin, scent allergy, eczema and anyone looking to make a easy greener change to their ecological foot print. Your clothes are left softer, fresher, and believe it or not customers tell me they work GREAT for removing dog and cat hair from your clothes.

with each bag of soap nuts you get a smaller 'wash bag' . 4-6 soap nuts at a time go into the wash bag, and they clean your clothes for 4-8 washes each time. I usually get at least 7 washes out of each bag.

Soap nuts are more then a detergent though! I have a small baby here at home, and I always stress about cleaners on my floor and around the house. Soap nuts can be boiled down and can create a great floor cleaner that is completely safe for babies and dogs alike. (keep checking for great soap nut recipes to come!)





Are u interested in checking out rebel flower company for jewellery, home decor or Soap Nuts?! keep checking back as I will be updating for up coming shows and festivals.


We do take orders through Paypal for soapnuts! I am able to ship the nuts or deliever orders of 10.00 or more if your in the K-W area.
loriea_moon_designs@live.ca




100g bag- 30-33 soap nuts 30-40 washs per bag, just $7.00