Hallo Nourishers!
The Witch’s Brew has moved! I have found a little gorgeous hidey hole up in the Byron Hills, and moved into a ‘gypsy’ style self contained caravan, with permanent annex. I’m surrounded by lushious gardens, trees, and have even started my own herb garden, which I intend to use for my brews and potions!
I am full of ideas for this year and how to improve my products. I am so grateful for everyone who has bought products, and left such wonderful feedback! Thankyou!
On the agenda is the addition of cinnamon oil for the anti-ageing cream. Not only does cinnamon work synergistically with the other herbs, but it has a gorgeous smell, and you only need a tiny amount. Cinnamon is warming, and helps blood flow and circulation. Perfect!
Still working on a cleanser. I’ve found a wonderful book called ‘Celtic Daily Life’ with lots of recipes for cosmetics. A lot of the cleansers include raw milk, and were remarkably simple to make.
I’ve found a lot of organic brand cleansers are still a bit harsh for me, so I’m thinking of perhaps providing a recipe, some of the ingredients, like perhaps dried soapwort, cosmetic bottles, and you can make your own. Its just an idea……
Cheers! and have a wonderful February!
Karen, aka Witchypoo!
Feb 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I so wish I could come purchase your goods at your little shop! I’ll just have to go on ebay and get the same great product, without the cool experience of going to your shop!
Feb 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Thanks Lacey!
My little shop is also my little home now. It is so gorgeous. If you’re ever in the area, you are more than welcome to stop by for some herbal tea/kombucha/raw milk (WAPF beverage of your choice!)
Cheers,
Karen.
Feb 3rd, 2008 at 1:29 am
Hi Karen - your hidey hole sounds so lovely! My sister has a property near Murwillimbah (Tumbulgum) she is hoping to move to soon so when I next come to Australia I must come and visit you! K xx
Feb 3rd, 2008 at 4:42 am
Hi Karina,
You must indeed!! Murwillimbah is just down the road. It would be lovely to meet you and treat you to some homemade kombucha!
Cheers,
Karen.
Feb 5th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
The addition of cinamon oil sounds nice. I don’t know if its my imagination but my skin seems to look younger after only using your anti-ageing and day cream products for a very short while. Even hubby said I’m looking younger!!
Feb 5th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Thanks Sue!
My creams pack quite a punch, so I’m not surprised. Its wonderful you’re getting such quick results. I’m in the middle of making my next batch of anti=ageing with cinnamon and evening primrose, it smells lovely….
Also thinking of adding the cinnamon into the cocoa butter lip balm, its good for plumping up lips apparently. Will keep you informed!
Cheers,
Karen.
Feb 6th, 2008 at 2:29 am
Hi Karen, how do your products go on very sensitive, eczema prone skin? I have found (ironically) that the only soap I don’t react to is Dove. I find that sensitive skin tends to react to coconut oil and essential oils so commonly found in more natural soaps. What are your thoughts/experience on this?
Thanks!
Katrina.
Feb 6th, 2008 at 4:08 am
Hi Katrina,
Thanks for your comments and question.
When I was first starting out, I had some citrus essential oils in my creams, which made my products smell lovely, but did cause reactions in some people. For this reason I cut them out. I also started using raw unbleached, and non-deodorised oils and butters, which have their own unique and I find delicious aroma. I haven’t had any problems since.
I’ve also been trying to find a good cleanser which is gentle enough for anyone, sensitive skin especially. I discovered the herb soapwort and have been experimenting with it. Its the best thing I’ve found so far, and am trying to make it more user friendly. I find the fractionated coconut oil products found in most organic soaps (and shampoos) to be quite drying, and really do not want to use them in my products. I’m also thinking about using bi-carb soda in some way….
With cleansers, I am thinking the simpler the better.
Cheers,
Karen.
Feb 6th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Check this out Kaz
http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html
Shampoo free clean hair using bi carb and apple cider vinegar
Feb 6th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
For anyone wanting to ditch their shampoo and conditioner, and have gorgeous hair, check out the above site. Personally I’ve gotten to the point where I’m using a miniscule amount of organic shampoo and washing maybe once or twice a week, but having to use quite a bit more conditioner. I’m now looking forward to ditching it altogether. I found a similar article a week ago regarding using flax seeds for hair gel, finally made some up and discovered its bloody marvelous. I have shoulder length fine, curly hair which frizzes and kinks constantly in this sub tropical climate. I run a dollop through my wet hair and it stays sleek, curly and shiny.
Cheers, and thank you admin!
Karen.
Feb 6th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Hey I’ve been doing this for about a month now! It’s great! My hair is more manageable and way less frizzy. Also my henna doesn’t seem to fade as fast. I can’t believe I didn’t know about all this years before! And that’s the same link that got me started! It’s a small web world.
Feb 6th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Karen, would you mind sharing your flax seed recipe for hair gel? Is it just Flax oil or are there other ingredients? Thanks!
Feb 6th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
No probs Lacey,
Its a very simple recipe. You need organic flax seeds and water. Basically you have 1 tablespoon of seed for every glass or 250ml of water, and boil it on a slow simmer. When the water content is reduced by half, you strain and let cool, and then pour into jars. You can add your own essential oils and play a little with it too.
I’m making up a brew of it at the moment to put in my ebay store, and I’m adding cinnamon oil and phenoxyethanol (synthetic but safe preservative at 0.75%) so you don’t have to keep it in the fridge. It feels and looks awesome.
Cheers,
Karen.
Feb 7th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I’m in the process of making some right now, I was wondering, which part do you save? The part strained, or the part that goes through the strainer? I’m assuming I’ll be able to tell when I get to that point. I thought I’d ask!
Feb 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Hey Lacey,
You save the liquid, which should be quite glutinous and globby, and throw out the seeds.
I’m sure you probably figured that out. How’d it go? Pretty cool eh?
Feb 7th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
OH, I am laughing so hard right now. I just saw that you have written SEEDS, not OIL!!! I am such a nerd sometimes. Okay, no wonder it didn’t seem to work out the way I expected. Here I go for Round two!!!
Feb 7th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I’m off to ebay to buy some of your amazing ‘gunk’ hehe the anti aging cream I’m 24 so I figure it’s a great time to feed my skin all the yummy goodies from your concoctions. They do sound quite wonderful!
Feb 7th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Lacey you tripper!
Oh I laughed when I read your comment. No wonder you were asking about which part to save!!
How did round two go?
Feb 7th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Hi Lauren,
thank you very much! Will look forward to posting off your order. 24 is a good age, enjoy it for the next 10years or so……
Feb 8th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I actually ended up adding some gelatin, lemon and coconut oil. It’s sort of in a really liquid gel form, so I put it in an old hair spray bottle and tried it out. Then I added some lavender and orange essential oils. It works pretty well! However, I need to go buy some SEEDS and try to make it the way you had suggested!
Feb 9th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
That sounds like a really good hairspray actually. There have been so many times I’ve buggered up a recipe, but then managed to salvage it into something new or at least workable. Its one of the funnest parts of creating.
Feb 17th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Hi Karen sweetie - the bicarb works really well as a hairwash if you have really short hair like Keith and I. We just mix up a tablespoon or so with a bit of water and massage it in, also as a facial scrub. Everything squeaks after it’s so shiny and clean, but what I like best is that there are no chemicals going down the drain. You can’t use it all the time because it does dry things out a bit but we use it a fair bit without any worries.
Missing you honey….
Feb 17th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Cheers Mands, I miss you too!
Amanda is one of my LTF’s (long term friends)
Maybe with the aid of a conditioner like the flax seed gel, the bicarb wouldn’t be so drying? I hope you’re not allergic to flax seeds?
I’ve been using a basic herb rinse with soapwort for the past week, and the flax seed gel. Its been working well too. Been reading up on the ancient Celts and their diet is something out of Nourishing Traditions, it was awesome. All the women were reputed to have beautiful waist length hair - something I’ve wanted ever since childhood. They used herbal rinses and natural bristle brushes. I’m hoping to prove my last hairdresser wrong when he said I would never have healthy long hair. Nourishing diet with nourishing haircare….. and the bristle brushes are on order!
Feb 17th, 2008 at 8:08 am
After using the bicarb on my hair 2 times a week I rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar and then rinse with cold water. My hair is shiny and not dry at all! I’m sure the ‘hairspray’ I concocted has helped with the healthy sheen my hair has as well. I’ll never go back to shampoo and conditioner! Oh, I do scrub real well with Dr. Bronner’s peppermint castile soap once a week. I get pretty sweaty often during the day as my job is a personal trainer, so it’s nice to have that nice clean peppermint feeling once in awhile!
Feb 18th, 2008 at 5:44 am
hi, i reading these blogs i need to tell you about my experience with this lovely line of products,,,,karen truly is a wild witch, i have suffered with severe psoriasis for 13 years onmy face, making me so unslighly i sometimes would not leave the house for weeks, i have not worn make-up for 10 years i have been using ALL of the witches brew line for 2.5 weeks, i have gone out in public, i have now got a job, and although my face is still red, i have not SCALED UP for 8 days…i cannot express my feelings to karen, although i have tried on several occasions, if you have sensitive skin, this is well worth a try, i think she has woven a little bit of magic into her creams and potions, and i dont mind one little bit…..thanks………P.S where can i get kombucha from??????
Feb 18th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Oh my God(dess)! Wow. I didn’t realise just how bad it is/was Nadine. Hearing testimonials like yours is the reason I got into this business in the first place, and I am just so happy to hear how well you’re doing. Thank you! I so want for you to be completely healed. This is a good first step! And congratulations on your job!!
Getting your hands on some kombucha is definitely going to help too. I don’t know of a better detoxifyer for your system. I drink it and brew it all the time. (and add a slice of fresh ginger when bottling) I’m sure I have a spare mushroom hanging about somewhere…. :-)
Feb 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I can attest to the wonders of Kombucha as well! I also put fresh ginger into mine as well Karen! I love the zing it adds to it! I cant wait to try some of your ‘potions’ Karen! Finances are the only thing holding me back right now, soon though, soon!
Feb 19th, 2008 at 6:33 am
GEE KAREN, I WOULD LOVE A MUSHY IF YOU HAVE ONE TO SPARE, I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT IT AND DONT QUITE KNOW HOW TO LOOK AFTER IT YET, BUT I AM FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND A SOURCE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH THE COST AND POSTAGE WILL BE AND I WILL GET IT OFF TO YOU ASAP..LET ME KNOW IF YOU STILL HAVE MY ADRESS, CHEERS NADINE
Feb 19th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Cheers Lacey!! You’re awesome!
Nadine, am posting one off for you this afternoon. I’d just finished another brew, so I had one quite handy, and I always have a spare jar lying around. Consider it a ‘congratulations on your new job’ gift. Cheers hon, looking forward to hearing more of your progress, Karen.
Feb 19th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Hi Karen, I was wondering when your new batch of anti aging cream (with cinnamon) is going to be up and running? I thought I might wait as I’m particularly sensitive tp smell the ‘interesting’ original scent may not agree with my nose.
Daaarrrrllliiinnngggg (big cheesy smile), do you possibly have any more spare Kombucha mushies as I would loovvveeee to get a hold of one, of course I’m happy to pay for postage and the mushie if you can spare one. Cheers Lozzy
Feb 20th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Hey Lauren,
My new batch has been made, bottled, labeled and ready to go. I was waiting for the last two of the older batch creams to sell before changing the ebay description and announcing them to the world.. I think I might do a special to speed up the process. However I am more than happy to sell you a cinnamon anti-ageing cream if you are after one.
You are in luck with the mushy also. I brew up my ‘bucha in quite a large pot, and so mushy’s tend to be quite large. Its only a thin piece compared to what I gave Nadine, but still big. The most important part is the starter liquid anyways.
Will email you for costs etc etc…
Cheers,
Karen.
Feb 20th, 2008 at 4:22 am
Sale! Anti-ageing cream (original formula) is listed at $15.00 on the online auction at ebay. Auction ends Saturday. 2 up for grabs. For winning nourishers, send me a note at checkout and I’ll include a free lipbalm.