101 things to do with Soak | 007 Cleaning makeup brushes
Posted: 23/03/2010 Filed under: Uses for Soak | Tags: 101, soak Leave a commentAuthor: Hannah (our co-op student)
As a girl who applies a bit of makeup daily, I can vouch for the importance of keeping your brushes clean. I use at least two different types of brushes every day so by the end of the week, there is a lot of bacteria, oil and make up residue built up on these brushes.
Keeping your brushes clean will help prolong its life and help with smooth application of makeup. Here at the Soak office, we discovered that Soak does a great job at keeping brushes clean.
You can plug your sink and fill it with a bit of water and add a small squirt of Soak. Less than half a teaspoon is sufficient.
Gently swirl and wipe the brushes being sure not to press too hard or you may cause the bristles to misshapen. We would also recommend you not leave your brushes in to soak as it may cause the glue that holds the bristles together to loosen. After gently swirling, you can see all the old makeup that was in your brush come out in the water.
Gently wipe your brush against a paper towel or cloth to dry it off a bit. Then leave it lying on a cloth to air dry. I personally take a piece of paper towel and wrap the brush head to help maintain the shape as it air dries.
This test was done using MAC cosmetic brushes. We love our MAC brushes and keeping them clean with Soak will help them last for years.
Find the hidden mini-soaks!
Posted: 23/03/2010 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentLast year that crazy rabbit left treats all over our office!
This year he’s hopped on over to our blog! He’s hidden some mini-soaks behind some of his favourite photos. Find them and you’ll also receive a promo code to save 15% off your online order placed before April 9 2010 at soakwash.com.
Soak is also sold at Sears across Canada, and in various yarn shops and lingerie boutiques. Visit our website for a local retailer near you.
Row 13
Posted: 22/03/2010 Filed under: Knitting 1 CommentIn case you haven’t met Ruby, our other cat, she was both helpful and supportive as I knit row 13 (make a pocket) a thousand times over. Okay, four times, but it felt like a thousand. Alas, I have moved on and I dare say my wrap looks like it is supposed to in the photo. Seven rows until sleepy time (otherwise known as the next transition which shall wait until lunch tomorrow when I shall consult with Chris).
Notes on Knitting
Posted: 21/03/2010 Filed under: Knitting | Tags: Jacqueline Sava, Knitting 1 CommentAuthor: Jacqueline
Here are some Sunday morning thoughts from my Saturday night babysitting (I love hanging out with Ariana and family) and knitting adventures.
1. ‘a long tail’ is not an adequate word to describe yarn needed for a double cast-on for a new knitter. There must be some reference for how long a ‘tail’ should be relative to the CO stitches. If you know, do tell.
2. A row counter is a beautiful thing. Even after one row.
3. 70 stitches is considerably wider than my little cable scarf was.
4. The circular needle and I are still trying to get to know each other.
5. Thank goodness for re-run girly movies on TV, I didn’t look up from the needles once in two hours.
6. Pen and paper trumps yarn counter. They are going to have to learn to work together.
7. Shell-on pistachios are not a brilliant choice for a ‘hand-relaxing’ snack during knitting.
8. One day I hope to be able to knit and talk/ watch tv/ think/ multitask or anything else. I forsee a very antisocial knit night at my LYS this week.
It’s Friday and I’m bagged. Week 8: Lee Lee’s Valise
Posted: 19/03/2010 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bags, Jacqueline Sava Leave a commentAuthor: Jacqueline
Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!
We did it. We ventured out of New York City to Brooklyn to visit Lisa, founder of Lee Lee’s Valise. Located in beautiful Carroll Gardens, Lee Lee’s is the perfect shopping experience catering to women sizes 10-28. Lisa not only stocks a nice selection of lingerie (and Soak), but also designs exceptionally stylish and well fitting dresses. We spent hours drinking coffee and trying on dresses. Brianna, LuLu, Shantung Shift, they were as lovely as their names.
I settled on a mid-length black wrap dress, knowing my 35th birthday was coming the next week and I had special plans. Every woman needs a little black dress, especially one so comfortable that can go from day to evening in a flash.
Lisa showed us her secret mini-soak stash under the front counter; she gives a treat to every customer! We also met Opera singer Claudia Waite who was in shopping for a dress for an upcoming event. How cool is that?
Lisa wrapped up my lovely new dress in a chocolate brown Lee Lee’s Valise bag (toile and all!). I like nothing more than buying myself a gift, having it wrapped to perfection and taking it home. Sure, I knot what is inside before I open it, yet the excitement of opening a present is always there. I kept the bag and not surprisingly, the toile.
We visited the local bakery for treats, strolled over the highway to Brooklyn General (a lovely yarn/ quilt/ craft shop) and worked our way to Park Slope for dinner with friends. We rounded out the evening with Lisa and her husband at their favorite local wine bar. What a great way to finish a day and get us excited for the Curve Lingerie show that followed. We spent a great day in Brooklyn and look forward to many more.
It is worth noting that Lisa, in addition to maintaining her exceptional store, sells her dresses online, and has had her shop featured on TLC’s “What not to Wear”. She was featured in InStyle magazine in 2009 under Best of the Web. Go Lisa!
Jacqueline’s latest attempt at (hand) knitting
Posted: 18/03/2010 Filed under: Knitting | Tags: Jacqueline Sava, Knitting 3 CommentsAuthor: Jacqueline
You may very well know that I am, by training, a machine knitter. If you talked to my mother, you’d be told that I haven’t fully completed a hand-knit project since I was 12 years old. Arguably, I didn’t finish the purple and green checkered sweater I started then either. Well Mom, I did it. A real cable scarf. Here it is, all finished.
Made from lush Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky yarn (acquired directly from them as a gift at TNNA circa June 2009) these skeins sat in a Carrie Basin in my office begging to be knit for well, way too long. Chris dug out this pattern as a great hand-knitting refresher project, leading up to the yarn and pattern I picked up at this most recent TNNA.
It was love at first sight, in the ShiBuiKnits booth. I picked up the lush wrap off the chair and it fit me perfectly. I’m a tall gal, so it is rare that a pattern ever fits correctly the first time. As my eyes moved through the booth, spotting the perfect shade of green yarn alongside the pattern, I knew I had found my next (I say that like I’ve done a lot!) knitting project.
The next step was clear, asking Chris (our Director of Sales and Operations and resident expert knitter) to have a look and advise on whether or not this project could become knitting reality or was better suited to the office yarn collection. Chris too was taken by the colours and pattern, probably distracted more by the smile on my face while I was wearing the show sample.
It was determined that I could do it, and I set the goal (which I’m proclaiming again now) to be done by the next TNNA, June 2010.
It is 11:34, on a sunny morning in Mississauga. I’m casting on at lunch today. I brought my yarn bag home last night, to cast on this weekend, but I’m feeling as though my first casting on to circular needles might best be done under Chris’ supervision, so back to the office it came.
As per Annie’s request, “Alright, I’m expecting a blog post from you pronto!” here it is, the beginnings of my Oscillation Wrap. I’m quite certain Pam Powers (via email) will become my new best friend as I work my way through the pattern. I’m going to track my progress weekly, using this forum as a way to accomplish not only continuity, but completion by my said goal date.
I started with a trip to The Purple Purl on knit night (Tuesdays, for those who wish to attend) to get needles, I photocopied the pattern so I could scribble and make notes and I turned the first skein into balls and filled my Lexie Barnes accessory bag with all the appropriate accoutrement.
12 weeks ’till TNNA.
101 things you can do with Soak | 006 Giving well loved teddies a bath
Posted: 16/03/2010 Filed under: Uses for Soak | Tags: 101, hand washing, shoes, soak wash, teddy 2 CommentsAuthor: Ngoc
If you have kids, then you can understand the adventures that a well loved teddy bear goes through. And Mr. Teddy sure attracts some dirt, stains, and other battle scars along the way. Now those teddies COULD be thrown in to a washing machine, however, I along with many of our customers opt to use Soak instead.
Now I will never forget the time my mom threw my beloved Jesse bear in the washing machine, and he came out with not just one, but both of his arms missing. This was a very traumatic experience that could have been avoided if only we had Soak back in the day. 18 years later, Jesse bear still has the stitches from this accident.
Take a look at these pictures that one of our loyal customers has submitted of her daughter giving Teddy a bath.
“My daughter’s teddy is on his last legs (too fragile for the washer) but at the same time is extremely filthy – yuck!! Teddy has had his bath and he looks great – no damage!”
Just fill a basin with water. Add some Soak. Leave Mr. Teddy in there for 15 mins. Maybe give him some privacy if he’s shy. Squeeze out as much water as you can and then squeeze between a towel. Then leave him on a drying rack to completely dry.
It’s so simple that your son or daughter could do it!
It’s Friday and I’m bagged. Week 8: Kaori’s Closet
Posted: 12/03/2010 Filed under: lingerie | Tags: bags, Jacqueline Sava, Kaori's closet 1 CommentAuthor: Jacqueline
Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!
On the edge of Soho, in a beautiful strip on W. Houston you’ll find Kaori’s closet. This delicate boutique features stylish Japanese lingerie, and, of course, Soak.
Their romantic collections feature soft colors, ruffles and gentle details in a stunning and intimate retail environment. Yes, I love the pink bags with little black cat, who wouldn’t. Next time you are in Soho, stop by and have a visit. You’re sure to find yourself a lovely treat that is as cozy and delightful as the store is itself.
101 things you can do with Soak | 005 Removing dirt and oil off wildlife
Posted: 09/03/2010 Filed under: SWeco, Uncategorized | Tags: 101, soak wash 1 CommentAuthor: Ngoc
Most of us have heard stories about oil spills and their effects on wild life. One of our customers, Laura Westlake is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and she sent us her Soak story.
“I can’t tell you how much I love your product. As a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, I use your “Soak” to bath my wild birds that need more than just water to clean their feathers. It is non toxic and gets the “bad” dirt and oil off them safely! I also use “Soak” to wash my 11 year old dog. I’ve used all other dog products, but there is none that compare to the way it cleans and makes her fur feel. It is also so gentle on the skin. It is the best!”
– Laura Westlake
These are two birds that she has saved. They are happily swimming and bathing after she has clean the oil and dirt off their feathers using Soak.
We all loved her story and it stirred my curiosity about how exactly the oil effects the birds. Here is a summary of why oil spills are so detrimental and how wildlife rehabilitators are saving these birds. The information for this post was taken from here.
If you’ve ever looked at a feather closely, it has the stem in the middle and little veins coming out of both sides of the stem. These veins are then covered in tiny little barbs. All the little barbs link together to create a water proof barrier to prevent water from seeping in and keeps their skin nice and dry. When their feathers become covered in oil, the barbs don’t link together smoothly and the feathers clump and leave gaps, which essentially strip the feathers of their water proofing nature. Birds will then try to preen their feathers to smooth them out and in the process they will ingest the oil which is toxic and damages their organs. If left too long with oil on their feathers, these birds tend to freeze to death due to their inability to keep the water off their skin.
These wildlife rehabilitators find these birds and clean their feathers with a mild soap or in Laura’s case, Soak. They feed the animals until they are back to a healthy weight and free them back into the wild.
Thanks for the great story Laura!
It’s Friday and I’m bagged. Week 7: Once Upon a Tart
Posted: 05/03/2010 Filed under: Food | Tags: bags, Jacqueline Sava, Once upon a tart 1 CommentAuthor: Jacqueline
Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!
New York. Bright lights, big city.
Last week we were in NY for the Curve trade show. (Aisles and aisles of lingerie!) We spent a day visiting friends and lovely shop owners who sell Soak. The next few weeks will trace a bag filled excursion through multiple boroughs and great shops. First on our stop, nestled in Soho was a walk on the crafty side, to Purl and Purl Patchwork. For all that we love Purl, we were a bit distracted by her neighbour, Once Upon a Tart… Before I get carried away, be sure to watch the Purlbee blog, for updates on Purls exciting move, bringing both stores into one, later this year.
It was an unusually warm winter day in New York, especially for us Canadians. We took advantage of the sunshine, stopping for a mid-morning pear and chocolate tart on the patio. Choosing which tart to have was indeed a challenge, but I always do favour finely sliced fruit, so the pear tarts immediately caught my attention. I’ve even tried to make the likes at home once or twice. If you are in the neighbourhood, grab a bag off the wall, select some delicate tarts and if you forgot your sweet tooth at home, grab some of their delicious salads and sandwiches instead. From baguettes to cupcakes everything looked scrumptious. They also have a cookbook. It was early in the day, with the walking we had ahead, I resisted temptation… but something tells me on my next trip through Soho (perhaps Purl’s grand opening?) I’m likely going to pick it up.
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