OK! New phones issue fixed! Software in the phone had to be reprogrammed & re-started. As it turns out, devices really do NOT run the world, humans do! Apologies for any unreturned voicemails...please call us again if I did not return yours! ~ Carol

Dear Customers: We got a new phone system that we're having trouble with, having to replace devices. Voicemail not recording. If you need to reach us, please send EMAIL and we'll return your inquiry ASAP! carolochsart(at)aol.com I apologize for the inconvenience. Hope to have it remedied QUICK! If you've left a message in the last couple of days and I did not return your call, you may have been one who called before we realized the problem. Please EMAIL!  Thanks for your patience...

Sincerely,
~Carol
The Imaginative Arts of Carol Ochs
Simply Soap, Wild Oaks Arts, Enchantasies - Handmade Soaps & Fantasy Art

Happy Father's Day!

It's not too late to send Dear Old Dad a gift of skin & beard-stubble-rash-soothing soap!  And let him pick his OWN with an online E-gift certificate that will still arrive today!  GIFT CERTIFICATES!  He'll find men's most popular soaps at Simply Men!

10% off sale, today-only on all of our WYLDE soap lines, including our just-introduced Wylde Mermaid Soaps!  (Hint-hint...a newly-declared men's fav-soap is "Deepest Depths").  Sale in effect till midnight tonight Pacific Time.  And don't worry if you don't see the 10% discount in your shopping cart, we take it of ourselves.  If we forget, YOU get a free bar of soap! 

Wylde Faerie Soaps
Wylde Mermaid Soaps
Wylde Wytch Soaps

~Carol Ochs
The Imaginative Arts of Carol Ochs

Howdy Folks! 

A NEW newsletter and a TODAY ONLY (5/15) 15% off sale on handmade soap & art!

http://carolochs.com/Newsletter-May-2013.html

~Carol

The Imaginative Arts of Carol Ochs
- Handmade Artisan Soaps (Large collection of SPECIALTY LINES!)
- Fantasy Art (Fairies, Mermaids, Witches & More!)

Customers!

Dear Customers.....

I want to ask all my customers, especially wholesale clients, what is the best way to communicate with you? Do you use social networking?  And if so, which do you prefer, ...use most, ...and go to regularly for info or updates?   What do you pay the most attention to?  :)

I routinely post notices/updates on my website , Blogger Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Mailing List Newsletter, and also as an automated email response to emails sent to me, .....and still many of you report not receiving or seeing notices sent out.  So I'm just trying to figure out the best way to reach you when there are important product/sale or other notices and seasonal lead time issues. Feedback welcome! CarolOchsArts(at)aol.com  THANKS!

Sincerely,
~Carol

The Imaginative Arts of Carol Ochs
www.carolochs.com
 Soap, Art, Fiber Wares

Happy 2013!

We are back at work here at the soap workshop, feverishly making soap, packing/shipping orders, many that were placed after our cut-off date for the old year....2012 was an overwhelming banner year for holiday sales! We are having to re-think production management and more help, will see how the new year goes. Meanwhile, the backlog of orders is being processed!!! Thank you for your patience! Wishing all of our customers successful & healthy new year blessings! ~Carol

Merry Christmas to All!

Happy Halloween!

 

Super BUSY day today if I hope to get all my soap made, orders shipped, be done with work and dressed by sundown, and have some quiet time for private communing with my passed loved ones before the celebrating begins...but can't pass up a chance to wish you all a Happy Halloween, Blessed Samhain, and beautiful evening! Enjoy! 

Love, Carol

 

 

 

Corn Chowder & Famous Chili Recipes for Halloween Feasting!

 

Everyone has their own Halloween traditions, these are two of ours!  The night before Halloween, on Pumpkin Carving Night, my three (now grown) kids all come over and we feast on great cauldrons of Corn Chowder, my Famous Chili, with a big salad, and chucks of warm bread, hot spiced cider, and pumpkin pie!  Then carving commences!  And because I always cook enough for an army, there is plenty of leftovers for Halloween night, in-between scaring children!  Enjoy! 

Corn Chowder

1 large sweet onion

1 red pepper

4+ slices of bacon (regular or turkey)

3 medium golden potatoes, pared & diced

2 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cans whole kernel corn (1 lb. each)

2 tall can evaporated milk

Cook bacon until crisp in large pot.  Set aside to drain.  Saute onion and red pepper in same pot until soft.  Add potatoes, 2 cups of the water sale, pepper, cover.  Simmer 15 min. until tender.  Stir in corn & evaporated milk.   Blend flour with remaining water and stir into chowder.  Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat until chowder thickens and bubbles.  Stir in chopped bacon & serve  10-12 servings.

Optional add-ins: 2 cups cooked chicken cut into chunks. 

 

Carol's Famous Chili

2 tsp. olive oil

1 large sweet onion

1 large green pepper

1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, pared and cubed

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 lbs. lean ground beef or turkey, or cooked beef sirloin cubed

1 - 14 1/2 oz. can of diced tomatoes

1 bottle of dark beer

1 cup strong coffee, brewed

2 - 6 oz. cans tomato paste

1 can beef or other broth

small can sliced black olives

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 up molasses

1 tablsp. cumin

1 tablsp cocoa powder

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp salt

1 pinch cinnamon

4 15 oz. cans of chili beans or whatever selection of beans you most prefer (kidney, etc.)

2 chili peppers chopped (remove seeds)

Heat oil.  Cook onions, garlic, apple, green pepper, and meat until brown, then add to large crockpot. Add tomatoes, beer, coffee, tomato paste and beef broth. Add spices and all remaining ingredients, and slow cook low all day.  If cooking stovetop, simmer for 1 1/2 hours. 

Jack-o-Lantern Stuffed Peppers!

Dinner tonight!  Love cooking for my family.....they're the best!

I stuffed the orange peppers with a mixture of couscous and sauteed onion, mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, & red pepper!

Let the Halloween festivities BEGIN!

(P.S.  Will post Corn Chowder and Famous Chili recipes tomorrow!)

Love, ~Carol