Easter Basket Ideas!

As signs of spring begin to emerge in most parts of the country, we're already thinking about ways to welcome it with open arms! Since Easter is just around the corner, we'd like to share some fun DIY ideas to make the season hop to life; instead of filling your basket with lots of candy, why not try some of these fun ideas instead:

There are some very cute free patterns on Ravelry for knitters and crocheters; below are just a few of our top picks!

Easter Marshmallow Bunnies by Doni Spiegle (crochet)

Sheep in Sheep's Clothing by Frankie Brown (knit)

Chick-in-an-Egg by Purl Soho

Click here to view more free patterns on Ravelry!

Of course, there are plenty of other creative ways for fill your Easter basket this spring! Below, we share some fun DIY ideas that just about anyone can manage, and you can find even more here on our Celebrate Spring & Summer inspiration board!

DIY Bunny Crayons - Great for Kids!

Kool-Aid Play Dough - Great for Kids! 

DIY Bath Bunnies - Great for Kids!

...and, of course, don't forget the LaviShea bars! Family and friends will love this thoughtful gift! We have plenty of scent options to please just about anyone, from our #1 best seller Lavender to fresh scent for spring such as Aloe & Green Clover, Citrus Basil, and Cucumber Melon, we've got you covered!

What Is Natural?

We just returned from an inspiring weekend at the Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, CA! Seeing so many natural, organic, and good-for-you products under one roof got us thinking about the term natural. What does it really mean?

Walking the aisles of your average store, you're bound to see a variety of products labeled as "natural." Did you know that it is currently an unregulated term in the USA? Technically, anyone can label their product as "natural" without having to back it up with actual proof!

We're pleased to say that LaviShea lotion bars are truly natural: they are made using 100% Unrefined Shea Butter which is handcrafted in Togo, West Africa and produced under organic standards. We have made a conscious choice to source a high-quality, unrefined product to use in our lotion bars for three main reasons: First, the process of refining shea butter removes many of the beneficial properties and vitamins which nourish skin; second, it also requires the use of harsh chemicals which are damaging to the environment; lastly, refined Shea Butter often has preservatives added to it.

Only pure, unrefined Shea Butter has the true healing and moisturizing properties which make our bars so special. We blend our Shea with 100% pure soy, then add botanical oils, essential oils, and/or fragrances. The result is a bar that nourishes skin, smells great, travels well - and you can pronounce all of the ingredients, too!

Our Lavender Lotion Bar is just one of several options featuring pure essential oils.

Spring Color Report

While the snow still flies, we are thinking ahead to Spring - after all, it's just around the corner...we hope! On our last post, we shared some tips for planning your springtime garden; today, we'll be talking about the latest color trends for spring. Enjoy!

On Your Nails

Think neutrals, especially white. We love this simple look from Deborah Lippman which was spotted at Kate Spade New York.

Image via Fashion Pulse Daily

To really get back to basics, try a simple brush of a soft neutral such as this look spotted at Herve Leger.

Image via the Nail Polish Exchange

If you need a little more color in your life (not to mention, on your nails), try a gradient effect such as this Essie manicure spotted at Nanette Lepore.

Image via Fashion Pulse Daily

Pro Tip: Keep your hands moisturized between manicures with a LaviShea lotion bar!

In Your Closet

For color forecasting, you can't beat Pantone. For Spring 2015, cool tones, neutrals, and nature-inspired colors make up their color forecast, which is centered around the 2015 Color of the Year, Marsala. Click here to view the entire palette; below are just a few of our favorites to inspire you!

Images via Pantone

We're seeing lots of crafty folks pledging to build their own wardrobe in 2015; whether you plan to shop the racks for your springtime look or plan to knit, crochet, or sew a few pieces this season, we hope these colorful inspirations will help guide you! You can also get plenty of good ideas on how to maximize your crafting time by checking out the Wardrobe Architect challenge or reading up on how to create a Capsule Wardrobe.

For more springtime inspiration, join us over on Pinterest!

Plan Now, Plant Later: 4 Tips For Planning Your Springtime Garden

Stuck indoors and looking for ways to banish cabin fever? Why not start planning your springtime garden? It's a great way to bring a little sunshine into your life during the lingering dark days of winter. Here are a few of our favorite tips for making sure your 2015 garden is a success!

1. Start a Journal: Now is an excellent time to review what you planted last year to determine which varieties to revisit and which ones didn't work out as planned. This is also a wonderful place to collect articles and other ideas for things to try in this year's garden. You may wish to have a paper notebook to get the job done, or perhaps collecting your ideas and inspirations on Pinterest is more your speed! We've been pinning some of our favorite gardening ideas here on Pinterest.

2. Build Something: A lovely bench or birdhouse can make your garden even more enjoyable, and why not use the winter months to build something with your own two hands? If you don't feel particularly handy, there are plenty of interesting ways you can upcycle or repurpose everyday objects to serve as planters or other outdoor decor. We have plenty of DIY ideas for every speed here on our Garden-themed pinterest board.

3. Get Technical: Why not try out an app to help you plan & keep track of your garden? There are several apps available for smart phones and tablets, from garden planners to resources to help your identify plants and diseases. If you're overwhelmed with the number of apps available, click here to see a top 10 list from the Gardenista blog!

4. Stock Up: Make sure you have all of the seeds on your must-plant list so that you aren't unpleasantly surprised later down the road. Now is also a great time to take an inventory of all of your gardening implements to make sure you have what you need and that everything is in good working order. Last but not least, don't forget to stock up on LaviShea lotion bars! Our non-greasy moisture is perfect for keeping your hard-working hands moisturized and supple; we recommend our all-natural Citronella bar to keep pests away while you work in the garden! Our Lavender and Lemongrass scents are also excellent choices since they are made with essential oils which do double-duty: they are also mosquito repellent!

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Don't let Valentine's Day sneak up on you! We have some fun, fast, and thoughtful ways for you to say "Be My Valentine" this year!

First, set the stage with some festive decor! It's easy to whip up this DIY Burlap Valentine's Garden found here on the Glorious Treats Blog:

To create a memorable gift for everyone on your list (family, coworkers, or perhaps the folks in your knitting group), all you need is to round up some mason jars, then check out this blog post from Uncommon Designs which has dozens of creative ways to say "Be Mine."

One of the more unusual ideas we've seen for Valentine's Day are these heart-shaped bird feeders - you can find the recipe here on the Wine and Glue blog:

Last but not least, we might be biased, but we think a Lavishea bar is a great way to say "I Love You" this Valentine's Day! For the man in your life, we recommend the spicy, clean scent of the aptly-name Man Bar, or the spicy scent of our Woodland Spice bar; for a more feminine option, we recommend the romantic scent of Jasmine Vanilla. 

No matter which scent you choose, be sure to use this fun, easy and eco-friendly idea for prettying up your present: grab some yarn, string, twine, or ribbon, and wrap several times around your LaviShea package like so: 

Tie a knot on the back and secure with hot glue or some tape:

Using some red, pink, or white felt, cut out a heart and attach to front of package with hot glue. If you have pinking shears, you can use them to cut a heart with zig-zag edges:

Feeling extra-creative? Use beads, buttons, or other embellishments to decorate your heart. Voila! You have a lovely little Valentine with a sweet handmade touch!

Trend: Arm Knitting

We've just returned from The National NeedleArts (TNNA) trade show in Phoenix, AZ, which is where folks in the yarn, fiber, and needlepoint industry come together to share the newest products and trends. It was an inspirational weekend, and we'd love to share the joys of knitting with all of our fans with a trend which emerged last year and continues in its popularity as we kick off 2015: arm knitting.

Arm knitting is a quick introduction to the world of fiber, and it requires very little in the way of supplies to get you started: just grab some yarn and you're ready to go! There are tons of free tutorials and fun projects available online, many of which can be completed in under an hour's time. Here are just a few of our favorites to get you started:

Basic Arm Knitting Tutorials - Flax and Twine

Arm Knitting Necklaces - Vickie Howell

15-Minute Cowl - Mari Knits

Arm Knitting Blanket - Crafts Unleashed

Arm Knitting Infinity Scarf - Becoming Martha

These quick projects are sure to keep you warm this winter, but don't let dry hands slow you down! If you find that the yarn you're using is catching on rough cuticles, we recommend using a trusty LaviShea lotion bar to keep hands supple while crafting. Fiber artists trust our non-greasy moisture which absorbs quickly and keeps skin naturally moisturized - that's a trend that never goes out of style! 

Everything Etsy!

We have some exciting news! Not only can you purchase your favorite lotion bars on our new & improved website, the LaviShea Lotion Bar Etsy store is now open for business! It's now easier than ever to get your LaviShea fix on this popular website for handmade items. Our fans with an Etsy addiction are in luck: our store also accepts Etsy gift cards!

Click here to visit our Etsy Shop!

LaviShea Lotion Bar & Louet Spinning Fiber
on the Roving Crafters Blog

The theme of holiday gifting is ever-present on our minds, and in our last post we shared several DIY ideas - click here to check them out! Recently, LaviShea has been mentioned on a few gift guides in the blogosphere, and we'd like to take some time to share links to these recent posts which also contain other fabulous ideas to inspire your holiday shopping this year: 

• Roving Crafters Gift Ideas for Knitters
• Cornwall Yarn Shop Holiday Gift Guide
• Fiesta Cat Yarn LaviShea Lotion Bar Review

Still looking for creative gift ideas for knitters, crocheters or spinners? There are some fabulous gift ideas on the WEBS yarn store blog archive - click here for gift ideas for knitters & crocheters and here for ideas for handspinners!