Famous Positano Beach

Positano, IT .. a place I had always dreamed of going.  Seeing it's picturesque villa covered hills on 100's of travel magazines all of my life.  I had wanted to go there since I was 12 yrs. old.  I finally made it!!  Positano was better than any dream I could have had.  It exceeded my expectations in so many ways, but the people were what truly made the experience so wonderful.

I worked in the travel industry for years and although I loved it I always felt something was missing in my life.  I had creative energy stirring within me that needed to be developed in to something.  In 1996 I accidently found my calling when stumbling upon a candle and soap making kit in a new age shop in Seattle, WA while looking for Christmas gifts for my family.  Well needless to say they were the very first recipients of my handmade candles and soap that year.

It was strange how as time went on I was able to combine all the things I love in to a career, it was some sort of natural progression by following my heart.  I couldn't quite give up travel so I found a way to make it part of all I do.  Every year now I take a trip to collect ingredients for all of my handmade bath and body goodies.  My trip to Positano in 2005 was one of those trips.  I found a wonderful place for lemon oil in which I still purchase from today.  Not sure where I am going to go this year, that is still in the works.

You can always find my handmade creations at

My Website:  http://www.deshawnmarie.com

My Etsy Shop:  http://deshawnmarie.etsy.com

Amo Italia! (translation “I love Italy”)

For some reason ever since I was a little girl I have been in love with Italy.  I had always wanted to go even though I don’t have a drop of Italian blood in me.  I use to plan imaginary trips and dream of going there some day.  Well eventually I grew up and turned those dreams into reality. 

A lot of my soaps are inspired by Italian food, landscapes and even architecture.  For instance take a look at my Cedarwood Lavender Handmade Soap pictured below.

and now take a look at this photo I took in Venice, IT

When I took that photo in Venice I never thought it would inspire a soap, but when I arrived home and looked through my photos this photo grabbed me every time and became one of my favorites.  Over time I wanted a soap that had the same complexity as this picture with the aged walls and the natural texture that jumps out at you.  I wanted the soap to have the warmth of the soft natural light in this photo and voila!  That is when I made my Cedarwood Lavender Soap.

Another one of my Italian inspired soaps is the Limoncello Soap which is created after the famous Italian liqueur Limoncello.  I had never heard of  it until one day I was sitting in a beautiful cafe in Positano, IT and they served me a complimentary Limoncello as an after dinner drink.  At first it was kind of tart, but then it grew on me and I fell in love with it.

Here is a photo of my Limoncello Soap

and here is a photo of the famous Limoncello Liqueur

I love all things Italian and I’m sure you’ll see more of my Italian inspired soaps and themes in the future, but thought I would take the time today to show you a few of my favorite Italian inspired soaps I make.

Ci vediamo presto!! (see you soon)