We've Moved....

We've move our blog to http://blog.bonghinatura.com so come check out, and don't forget to add us to your blog roll.

Come by and visit our etsy shop at http://bonghinatura.com

Lavanda - New Lavender Soap

This 5.5oz shea butter soap is for all the lavender lovers out there. Lavanda is made of sweet, crisp lavender essential oil and dried lavender flower buds for a wonderfully relaxing aroma.

Lavender has a beautiful floral scent and is said to be very calming, and soothing to the senses. This bar would be a great way to unwind after a long day.

http://bonghinatura.com

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A few months ago I started making a soap, for Breast Cancer Awareness, for each bar sold 50% of the proceeds is donated to Breast Cancer. In honor of breast cancer awareness month 10% of all regular sales will be donated to breast cancer.

Click here to visit our etsy shop!

To read other post about breast cancer please check out the links below!
http://bonghinatura.blogspot.com/2008/04/for-cure-breast-cancer-awarenss.htm
http://bonghinatura.blogspot.com/2008/04/tuesday-tips-breast-cancer-prevention.html

On vacation.....

It's been very busy around here, and my blog has been been getting no attention at all. Things are finally starting to calm down and get back to normal so I've finally found some time to post. I recently took a trip out to San Francisco for the first time with my husband and daughter. It was such a beautiful city, we had so much fun. My only complaint, it was so cold!

FRIDAY FEATURE - Jennifer Squires Productions

Give us a summary of your shop, and how you got started?
I've been photographing professionally since 1996 and I opened my Etsy shop in February 2008. My work covers a broad range of categories, from shopping carts to gerbera daisies, but I always find that I focus on the details of life.

How did you select your name?
I use my name for my shop name and business name, so I guess it comes from good ole Mom and Dad.

What makes your shop unique?
My photographs are fresh, contemporary, and very professional, complimenting a wide range of decor styles.

Do you sell anywhere outside of etsy? If so, where?
The prints exhibited on Etsy are only available through my Etsy shop, however I can be commissioned for private pieces through my website: www.jennifersquires.ca

How long have you been making your craft?
I've been taking pictures my whole life, but I began to study photography in high school and continued through college.

Is it your full-time job?
I am very happy to say that photography is my full-time job, and has been since 2001.



How do you balance work, and/or your shop, and home?
I restrict blocks of time throughout my days and weeks that are specifically for work and specifically for play.

What is your favorite material?
My favourite materials are found objects and paper.

What inspires you?
I am constantly inspired by the world around me and I use photography to search for simplicity and meaning in the beauty of the everyday.

Click HERE to visit Jennifer Squires Shop.

On vacation......

All last week I took a little vacation, while we had a friend in town visiting from Rome, Italy so that I could take her around Washington D.C and Northern VA. She left yesterday morning for Chicago, and will be traveling across the US for the rest of the month, so it's back to normal around here and I thought I would share some of our adventures

The National Monument, view from the the Lincoln Memorial.

The Luray Singing Tower contains a carillon of 47 bells, and was erected in 1937.

The Luray Carverns.

The Caverns were first discovered in 1878.

Friday Feature - V Silcox Designs

Give us a summary of your shop, and how you got started?
answer: Back in 2001, and right after September 11th, I made a life changing decision. On that day, I was sitting in a high rise building in downtown Los Angeles when the news came. Of course we evacuated, and on the long drive home I had pleanty of time to think, specifically about how valuable my family was to me, how sad I was for those who were lost, and what choices I had made for my life.

I gave up my 20 plus year career in construction, to persue my passion for art. All my life I had toyed with pen and ink...and I suppose charcoal as well, but I had always envisioned painting glass, wine glasses specifically, so I figured....why not go with the fantasy. And here I am.


How did you select your name?
Answer: I wanted my pieces identified with a person, not a company name. Hence, V Silcox Designs.

What makes your shop unique?
I'm not sure that I'm all that unique, although I have found my own style of painting, which so far seems to be mine alone.

Do you sell anywhere outside of etsy? If so, where?
I usually average about 35 to 40 art and high craft shows per year, so I'm on the road constantly...from here in Southern California...to the San Francisco Bay Area...to Arizona.

How long have you been making your craft?
Answer: I started toying with glass painting in 2001 and practiced for well over a year, trying to perfect a clear transparent painting method, which would resemble stained glass. I didn't show until 2003, and it's been non stop ever since.

Is it your full-time job?
Answer: Absolutely! I average no less than 9 hours per day painting.

How do you balance work, and/or your shop, and home?
Answer: Well, the studio is in my home, so it's convenient. I have a fabulous husband, who handles a lot of the running around. The hardest thing for me is to stay off the Etsy site, in order to get things accomplished!

What is your favorite material?
Answer: Well, of course glass and enamels. But after that, I love fabric painting, charcoal, pen and ink, and over the past year, have started to dabble in graphic design.

What inspires you?
Answer: Light refraction....sounds weird...but it's the absolute truth.

Click HERE to visit V Silcox Designs

SKIN CARE A-Z CONTINUED

Here's is " Your Everything Guide To Skin. All you need to know from A-Z." Continued. This is a series of post I started last week from article I read in Elle Magazine, so if you miss tips A-L make sure you go back and check them out! Here are tips M-O, enjoy!

m. - MINERAL: Big news in makeup, mineral formulas consist of natural substances like zinc oxide, ultamarine, and titanium dioxide. Sine the particles don't penetrate skin they offer cover with low risk of irritation.

n. - NIACIN: A derivative of vitamin B3, niacin helps the digestive system convert food to energy and assists nerve function. But skin care gurus love it because niacin breaks down into nicotinic acid, which stimulates the release of leptin, a hormone that's been shown to reduce hyperpigmentation. Applied twice a day, a niacin-enriched product could fade brown spots and other discoloration over time, and since it's gentle niacin is well suited for delicate faces.

o. - OIL: When it comes to creating the perfect skin cream, water and oil truly do mix. It's the ratio of these two ingredients that makes some textures feel thick and other slip on the light and airy. But not all oils are created equal. Occlusive versions such as mineral oil lay on the skin to create a protective barrier, while lighter formulas like jojoba seep into skin's cracks and crevices

Make sure you check back for more skin care tips, everything you need know from a-z coming soon!

FRIDAY FEATURE - Expressions By Devin

Give us a summary of your shop, and how you got started?
My shop is comprised mainly of hand made greeting cards and some other gifts that come to mind while working in my studio. It got started a couple of years ago when I began making cards for family and friends and then just expanded when someone asked me if they were for sale.


How did you select your name?
Expressions By Devin is the name of my business. It just started as something that sounded good and not too cheesy.

What makes your shop unique?
I like to think my shop is unique because I hand stamp, color, and design all of my cards. I refuse to use stickers. My cards you definitely can't find at the store.

Do you sell anywhere outside of etsy? If so, where?
I sell my cards in my aunt and uncle bakery ,plus i have a website www.expressionsbydevin.com. I also try to set up at any fall craft fairs I can find in my area.

How long have you been making your craft?
For 3 years

Is it your full-time job?
I certainly wish that it could be. I own my own cleaning business.

How do you balance work, and/or your shop, and home?
After work, I spend much of my time working on items for the shop. My husband is my business adviser and does a lot of work with me. My dog Lovie likes to hang out in the studio with me also.

What is your favorite material?
Do clear stamps count? I absolutely love using clear stamps. My current favorites are the vintage stamps I found on vacation.

What inspires you?
I find inspiration from lots of places. I love classic art. When I get stumped for new ideas I put on the radio and let the music give me direction.
Click HERE to Visit Expressions By Devin

Tuesday Tips - SKIN CARE

Here is a special addition of Tuesday Tips, this the 3rd post out of a series of post on skin care I started last Thursday from an article I read in ELLE Magazine "Your Everything Guide To Skin. All you need to know from A-Z." Tips J-L, Enjoy!

j. - JUICE: Greapefruit, oranges, lemons, and limes, make more than thirst-slacking vitamin packed beverages. Fruit acids, part of the alpha-hydroxy family have also been proven to be brilliant exfloiants (citric and malic acid are two popular varieties.) Unlike scrubs, which pyshically slough off the dead tissue, fruit acids break apart the bonds holding together old cells in surface-dulling clumps. This action also encourages the formation of new cells, which not only makes the complexion radiant and fresh but also evens tone and minimzes hyperpigmentation.

k. - vitamin K: Found in dark leafy greens such as spinach and kale, vitamin k helps build strong bones. Applied topically, it repairs broken blood vessels, zapping dark circles and accelerating bruise healing.

l. - LINE FILLERS: From Restylane to CosmoDerm to Zyderm, fillers (made respectively, of hyaluronic acid, lab produced human collagen and bovine collage) are injectedunder the skin to erase lines and restore fullness. Needle-phobes should opt for creams and cosmetic that mimic the look with optical light diffusers.

Make sure you check make for more skin care tips coming soon!

Skin Care A-Z Continued

I started a series of posts on Thursday from an article I read in ELLE Magazine "Your Everything Guide To Skin. All you need to know from A-Z." Here are tips E-I for the 2nd part of this series on skin care, Enjoy!

e. -ESSENTIAL OILS: Plant-derived oils such as sandalwood and rose can create the aroma behind your beloved eau de perfum an offer countless remedies: De-stress instantly in a lavender infused bath; dab on tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic, to banish breakouts.

f. - FAT: It may be loathsome when you're trying to squeeze into your skinny jeans, but facially speaking, fat is a major ally in turning back the clock. When injected the springy cells plump up the complexion, pushing out wrinkles, and lifting sagging skin (plus, doctors harvest the fats cells from the butt and thighs - a win-win situation.)

g. - GRAPES: Grapes are the main source of the antiaging powerhouse resveratrol. When taken internally, this ingredient triggers health effects similar to a low-calorie diet and is believed to help prevent diseases including diabetes and cancer, as well as ward off weight gain and increase endurance. Found within the skin and fruit, resveratrol offers several complexion benefits when applied topically - amped-up collagen production, protection from from UV damage, and defense against loss of eleasticity.

h.- HUMECTANT: By drawing water from the air and the skin's surface, humectants keep the underlaying cells bouncy and moist. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most widely used; others include glycerin, urea, and panthenol.

i.- ICE: Sure, it soothes a twisted ankle, but ice - or a chilled cloth or a straight-from-the-fridge mask -is also the best way to calm overstressed skin ( and depuff undereye bags). Cool compresses constrict capillaries , forcing clood redness and inflammation away from the skin's surface.

Coming Soon tips J-M, you don't want to miss these!

FRIDAY FEATURE - Diva Loves Silver

Give us a summary of your shop, and how you got started?
Hi, this is Gina from Diva loves silver. We feature silver flower pendants, silver bracelets and silver cross pendants, as well as silver animal pendants and lovely silver earrings, just to name a few of our unique silver jewelry.
We opened this Etsy store in May of 2007. All the jewelry in our store is designed by my sister Jane who is in Australia working as an artist and hand-forged in our studio here in Toronto. We have a small boutique store located in Toronto which opened just 2 years ago in 2006. Basically, we made jewelry from our studio and then sell them through our boutique store. Eric is the artisan in our studio and also my boyfriend. ^_*
It was sometime in 2006, at the Ebay’s seller forum, I saw few people talked about how good Etsy was in a thread. I was curious and wanted to see how it looks like. And that’s it; I end up selling in Etsy a year’s later.

How did you select your name?
We don’t like fancy name, actually. We all believed store’s name must be straightforward. It must point out directly to the customers what we are selling. So we came out this name “diva loves silver”.

What makes your shop unique?
Each piece of jewelry in our store is an Original creation designed by my sister Jane. Many of our jewelry pieces are one-of-a-kind. Most of pieces are inspired by Asian and western art (She took art program in university).
For Jane, making jewelry is a way of expression of herself. She wants to make unique jewelry that can mean something very different to each person.


Do you sell anywhere outside of etsy? If so, where?
Yes, we sell them through our own boutique store here in Toronto.
How long have you been making your craft?
We are in this business for around 2 years now. But our Etsy store is still new.


Is it your full-time job?
I will say it is a part-time job for me, I am a musician. But for Eric and Jane, it is a full-time job.
How do you balance work, and/or your shop, and home?
Eric helps me out in the boutique store, so I can just focus on our ETSY store, doing promotion and posting stuff. It is all about time-devotion (less TV and less entertainment). ^^

What is your favorite material?
925 silver

Click HERE to visit Diva Loves Silver.

Skin Care A-Z

In the mail the other day I got my Elle Magazine, and in this month issue was a great little "tear out" section titled "Your Everything Guide to Skin. All you need to know from A-Z." It had a lot of great tips in it so I thought I would share them with everyone in a series of posts. For the first set here are tips A-D

a.- ANTIOXIDANTS: The Pac-Men of skin care, antioxidants - such as vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and those within green tea and grape seed - gobble up the free radicals produced by factors like sun exposure, pollution, stress, and cigarette smoke, neutralizing their skin-weakening powers. Dermatologist trumpet the virtues of the face saving ingredients, both as a part of a healthy diet that reinforces tissue from the inside and as a key step in a daily skin care regimen.

b.- BODY BRUSH: An age- old cellulite buster, a dry natural-bristle body brush raises blood flow to the epidermis, revs up lymphatic drainage, and exfoliates dead cells.

c. - COLLAGEN: Along with elastin and hyaluronic acid, collagen provides the mesh framework that keeps skin plums, lifted, and wrinkle free. A strong, fibrous protein, collagen is multitasking antiager. In addition to preventing collagen breakdown by diligent daily application of SPF, you can help your body generate more of the good stuff by using topicals: Ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C are proven collagen builders.

d. - DHA: The active ingredient in self-tanners, DHA (dihydroxyacetone, if you want to get technical) reacts with the uppermost layer of dead skin cells, turning them brown, Results last about a week - less, if you exfoliate.

Make sure you check back Saturday for E-I. All tips courtesy of Elle Magazine " Your Everything Guide to Skin. All you need to know from A-Z."

Something For The Guys!

Foresta Soap - Sandalwood, Cedarwood, and Sea Clay
This bar of soap has a deep earthy aroma. It has a very masculine scent combination of dry-woody, smokey cedarwood,and warm, musky, sandalwood. The aroma is very elevating and uplifting, yet comforting. This earthy fragrance is perfectly complimented with sea clay which is thought to remove acne causing toxins from the skin and revitalize tired skin.

Click HERE to visit Bonghi Natura

A new summer time soap

Gioioso Soap - Grapefruit and Tangerine

This soap has the sweet citrus aroma blend of grapefruit and tangerine that is refreshing and uplifting.
You will find that this invigorating soap is the perfect way to start your day as the scent of grapefruit is both stimulating and energizing.

Click HERE to visit Bonghi Natura

Sweet Orange and Ginger Creamy Sugar Scrub

This gentle sugar exfoliant is made with shea butter which is highly emollient with skin softening properties. It also contains a combination of sweet almond oil and apricot oil to help moisturize you skin This creamy scrub has the sweet citrus aroma of oranges and spicy ginger. Aromatherapists regard sweet orange as empowering, and ginger root is believed to be stimulating and refreshing, making this scrub the perfect way to start your day.

Click HERE to Visit Bonghi Natura

Bonghi Natura Introduces New Body Lotion

Bergamot, Lime and Ylang Ylang Body Lotion 8oz

This is a shear luxurious lotion. It absorbs into the skin wonderfully leaving you feeling smooth without feeling greasy. The sweet citrus blend of bergmot, lime and ylang ylang essential oils is cool and refreshing.
This lotion contains evening primrose oil which is said to have many benefits to the skin which include:




* Rejuvenate Your Skin
* Help Smooth Out Rough Skin
* Help Hydrate Terribly Dry Skin
* Create What is Needed to Produce New Skin Cells
* Give Your Skin Better Elasticity
* Reduce Blemishes and Noticeable Redness by Creating a Better Skin Coloration.

This lotion will compliment Energia Soap, or can be paired with a Bergamot, Lime and Ylang Ylang Creamy Sugar Scrub.

More Scents Coming Soon!

Primavera - Rose and Honey Exfoliating Bar

This is a 6.5 oz exfoliating bar. The feminine floral aroma of rose is perfectly accompanied by sweet honey to create a delectable combination that will entice your senses.

The exfoliating bar will buff away you dry dead skin and leave you feeling silky smooth. This bar is gentle enough to use every day and keep your skin looking fresh and vibrant. Honey is full of vitamins and minerals and has wonderful emollient properties. Emollients make the skin feel softer and smoother.BONGHI NATURA

GIVEAWAY CONTEST

It's giveaway time again, this time we're giving away three 4oz Scrubs. Winners may choose either Creamy Sugar Scrub (any scent) or Espresso Italiano. The rules are simple leave a comment containing your favorite scent combination/aroma. (does not have to be one carried by Bonghi Natura).Winners will be chosen at random on June 25th!
One entry per person, any one who links to my contest or blog on their blog receives an additional entry. (Please let me know in your comment or via convo if you have posted a link)

New Soap Release

Tranquillo - 4 oz- Clary Sage Bergamot LitseaThis 4oz soap is a balancing blend of sweet clary sage, fresh bergamot and calming litsea essential oils. The aroma of this soap is rich and warm, with spicy undertones and citrus herbaceous top notes. This relaxing soap will soothe your mind and body