Lotions and Potions Christmas

 I started planning my Christmas gifts in September. It was going to need a bit of sewing and a lot of kitchen work. This year I am giving everyone on my list handmade creams, powders, soaps and other care products. I call them "Lotions and Potions."  I have been making my own care products for over ten years now. 

I met a great herbalist a few years back named Joanne Bauman. (Kansas herbalist | Prairie Magic Herbals | Kansas herb education)  She has taught me to see the plants of my garden and even the weeds in my yard in a new light. Now you will find me harvesting dandelions for a Dandelion Hand Cream or drying rosemary for hair care as well as use in the kitchen. Out of all of that has grown my love of lotions and potions. In the photo you will see dusting powder, cold cream, hand cream, night cream, hot oil hair treatment, facial scrubs, hand soap, shaving soap, beard oil and after shave. My daughter has the nose of a perfumer. She helped me blend a cherry vanilla tobacco coffee fragrance for the men's products. It has memories of the Borkum Riff tobacco my brother used to smoke. 

It wasn't enough to plan to give the lotions and potions, though. They needed to be IN something. That is where the sewing came in. I made block bags or shaving kits, for the men and tote bags for the women. I found the block bag pattern on Pinterest. It was scaled for a child's bag, so I had to scale it up for my needs, but the instructions were clearly presented and it wasn't difficult to get the size I needed. The ladies' bags are from Charm Patterns and called the Hattie Tote. Gretchen Hirsch, known as Gertie, designed the bags to hold her chihuahua. I would not be surprised if one of my family members uses her bag that way! Five tote bags and six block bags later, all my gifts are ready. I hope everyone has fun with them Christmas Day.

                            And Merry Christmas, 2025 to all of you!