It’s been a whirlwind adventure this year in our Realms of Enchantment series. From icy palaces to far-flung exotic islands, from rabbit holes to the star-studded skies to mysterious ocean depths, we’ve traveled to extraordinary worlds of magick, myth and folklore. Are you weary, my dear travelers? It is time now to rest a spell and return to the welcoming comforts of home. Come, friends and neighbors, sit with me on the porch and sip an icy glass of sun tea while we while away a lazy Sunday afternoon chatting about our dreams. Let’s step into the garden and prepare a feast of the fresh harvest to serve al fresco on the patio or on a blanket on the lush green lawn. Swing in the hammock and nod off to the chatter of birdsong and the buzzing of the bees. As the sun’s rays soften and dusk turns to twilight, we need not part ways just yet. We’ll gather now around the firepit and tell fantastical stories of our adventures. Welcome home, dear ones….pull up a chair, y’all.
Artist Frederick Childe Hassam, Couch on the Porch Cos Cob circa 1914
August’s Gather & Grow Collection takes its inspiration from our most nostalgic memories of summers past and present. Our literary inspo draws partly from Beatrix Potter’s gardens and her treasured writings about Peter Rabbit and McGregor’s garden. But most of the influences spring right from our own backyards and favorite local hangouts. From epic summer pool parties and late night campfires at the lake or river to gorgeous gardens bursting with bounty, we’ve discovered all the summer magick right here at home. Revisit cherished memories of summer with every scent in this distinctive collection.
"What this world needs is more front porches, where people talk, live, laugh, and love."
- Unknown
SUMMER IN THE SOUTH
As our world spins faster, louder, and more chaotic, it seems fitting - even necessary - to return to our rural roots, where the front porch was the focal point for authentic connections. There used to be a time when Southern homes were known for their front porches: a place to cool off, to watch the world, to talk things over. Nothin' was better than sitting on the front porch, rocking in a comfortable chair or on the porch swing, sipping ice-cold lemonade or sweet tea, and chattin' up the neighbors. Porches were made for napping and storytelling and card playing, lightning-bug spotting and watermelon-seed spitting, guitar strumming and the jingle of ice cream trucks. (And first kisses, of course!) It's high time we brought back front porch culture, don't ya think? Personal connections are so much more rewarding than electronic connections, and enjoying the company and conversation sans cell phone will refresh your soul and calm your spirit.
We're blessed here in Chatham County to have a unique and historic gathering place where the front porch tradition remains strong. Bynum Front Porch in Bynum, NC, perched on the banks of the picturesque Haw River, is a nearly century-old general store where you can sit in a rocking chair on balmy summer nights and listen to free folk music or captivating storytellers who bring country lore to life for all ages. The community spirit fostered in this storied, treasured gem is a testament to the strength of this age-old tradition of gathering together as friends and neighbors, making memories and keeping history alive.
Photo credit: Chatham Arts Council, artist Unknown
Lemme spin ya a lil yarn (as they used to say in the old days!)....so there I was at Phoenix Bakery one fine summer morn, staring out the window and racking my brain trying to think of someone local I knew that might have the perfect front porch to use for some photos, and there it was...staring me right in the face...literally! Yep, IYKYK....directly across from Phoenix is Pittsboro's most adorable AirBnB, Whimsy on West! This charming historic bungalow in the heart of PBO with its sprawling front porch was indeed THE front porch I was seeking! A quick call to the lovely owner and sweet friend, Beth, to schedule my quick photo sesh and....well, just look at these enchanting photos! If you have out-of-town friends and fam coming here for a visit, I highly recommend checking Whimsy's availability before you book anything else. The inside is even more delightfully endearing and it's just a few blocks from all the downtown action.
Pictured here on Whimsy's porch is our Front Porch artisan botanical soap bar
EVERY GARDEN TELLS A STORY
August's artisan botanical soap collection emphasizes garden freshness and honors Solstice’s herbal roots. Lively green and fresh herbaceous notes blend with zesty citrus and playful fruits to showcase the gifts of the summer garden. Layers of botanical goodness highlight our farm-to-skincare philosophy and our commitment to local love. Cheerful and whimsical meet utilitarian in each unique soap in this special homegrown collection.
You'll find some of our most popular perennial favorites, with fresh new updates, and some brand new releases that will soon become new faves in your Solstice soap collection.
Our Wild Tomato Vine bar has been a top summer seller since we first debuted it 3 years ago. This bar is our go-to for stinky kitchen hands (think garlic and onion), and now we've taken it up a notch and added real farm fresh tomato puree. Take that, stinkiness! :) If you love the notable smell of tomato leaf when you brush up against your tomato plants in the garden, you'll adore this iconic bar. We intentionally made these bars hand-sized for kitchen use.
Another summer fave is our Summertime Blues bar (formerly labeled Blueberry Thyme) and this one, too, has a facelift and an update. A generous dollop of real blueberry puree adds a bounty of antioxidant bennies to this #farmtoskincare bar. We were lucky to get ahold of some fresh blueberries grown by our neighbors, Shari & Noah, at Wild Abandon Farm. Their specialty is Southern varieties of blues and they offer U-pick in mid-summer when the bushes are lush with fruit. We visited their farm for our photo shoot and not gonna lie, a couple of berries may have made their way to our bellies, lol!
Here on our own property, the perennial herbs are lush and potent with herbal magick and medicine. Our Green Witch botanical bar sings a green harmony that will appeal to all lovers of herbal magick! This bar starts out with an elderflower infusion from the elders that border our property. Each swirl in this rustic bar is made from a different herb, all beloved by the herb witch - nettle, comfrey, plantain, and mugwort - and all grown right here on our farm. A topping of black salt adds more than just a dramatic aesthetic. A true witch knows that black salt is inherently cleansing and useful in rituals and spellwork. Check our product listing in the hyperlink above to read more about the soap and to learn about what it means to be a "green witch".
There's more herbal skincare love to be found this month in our brand new Herbal Skincare Soap Sampler. If our artistic, "fancy" soaps are not your jam, this collection might be your preference. Each of the soaps in this sampler were hand-selected from our premium complexion bar collection, are naturally colored with clays and botanicals and scented primarily with essential oils. If you've ever wondered which of our complexion bars is right for you, or have simply been looking for a minimalist, #cleanbeauty bar, you'll find something to love in this bountiful botanical assortment.
And for a bit of extra whimsy this month, we are featuring a fun new bath bomb to bring some joy to our garden lovers. Our Good Gnomen bath bomb smells like a garden-fresh bouquet and is as charming as they come! Did you know that garden gnome statues have an extensive and magical history?These whimiscal garden companions have been livening up gardens around the world for hundreds of years.
Gnomes have appeared in folklore through the ages, some became known as friendly nature spirits that tend to our gardens at night. The gnome statue, and other statues like it, were used in gardens to ensure a bountiful harvest by protecting the animals and plants. They also were said to keep evil spirits away....thus our cheeky name "Good Gnomen"!
UNWIND AND UNPLUG
"As children, each of us had a dep and easily triggered sense that the world is full of wonder, that everything is strange and amazing. Stepping out into the backyard, we'd get entranced staring at an anthill or watching leaves pirouette as they fell." by Adam Frank, published in The Atlantic
Do you have that childlike sense of wonder that you had as a kid? Even just an inkling of it still? For our mental health in these crazy times, we all need to feel those moments that stir our souls and bring those precious memories of carefree summer days and evenings to our minds. Reliving those tender, innocent moments with our own children ensures that we keep these awe-inspiring occasions alive for the next generation to enjoy. So get out there in the backyard and explore anthills, grow a pizza garden with the kids, and read books snuggled on the front porch and embrace these moments sans devices and screens. Your children will thank you and perhaps, too, so will your grandchildren....
A striking new limited-edition Summer Nostalgia candle collection debuts this month that accentuates our garden theme in distinctive style. These minimalist modern ceramic tumblers offer a polished aesthetic for your summer gatherings and an aromatic array of summer’s splendors! Our carefully curated scent collection gathers its aromatic inspiration from the outdoors - from humble gardens to orchard picnics and backyard living. We don't make candles often, so you know when we do, we make sure they're extra special, and this collection is lit! ;)
COMING HOME TO COMFORT....
People often remark that we need more front porches. But we also need that screechy back screen door that slams when you close it, that old rocker that almost shakes the house when you rock, a cook stove with a warming closet, a back yard with a muddy spot when it rains for making mud pies; a place under a big shade tree where the kids can play house, or where they put on a play with all the neighborhood children. Kids need outdoors, sunshine, and freedom to allow their imagination to fly. Grownups need outdoors, sunshine, and freedom from worry, work and the changes we face in our everyday life. We need more coffee with neighbors, more waves and handshakes. We need more bird songs, more starry nights, more listening to the loud night sounds of creatures around us, more butterfly moments, more moments of flower smelling. We just need more!
-Author unknown
Bountiful green blessings to all of you!
xoxo
Stephanie
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