Saturday, January 15, 2011

New Giveaway: Sheep's Milk Soap Balls

Time for a new giveaway, and this time it's something new:  handmade sheep's milk soap balls!

As many of you may know, thanks to the success of my Kickstarter soap making project, I've been able to start making all of our luscious sheep's milk soap right here on the farm instead of hiring an outside person to do it for me.  I'm currently in the process of building up inventory, which takes a while because after the soaps are made, they have to cure for a few weeks before they're ready to be sold.

I have a small amount of soap that is ready to go now (contact me directly if you'd like to buy some), and a much larger amount that will be ready in early February.

But meanwhile, I'm giving some away. 

I make all of my soap in small batches, and pour it into molds that hold about 6 lbs. of soap at a time.  Sometimes after filling the molds, I have a little bit of soap left over.  That soap gets made into old-fashioned, hand-rolled soap balls.


They are decorative as well as practical, and are made with the exact same natural ingredients as my regular bar soap:  olive oil, sheep's milk from my own flock of Icelandic sheep, water, lye, and essential oils.  They are very mild to your skin, and they smell great.

I'm going to give away four sets of three soap balls.  These giveaways will happen at four different "milestones":

1.  I'll give away one set of soap balls when our next batch of piglets are born.  That could take place any time in the next few days, so enter soon!  If you click the link above, you can also enter our "Guess A Piglet" contest for a chance to name one of the piglets when they are born.

2.  I'll give away another set of soap balls when the number of "Likers" for the farm's Facebook page reaches 1,100.  As I type this, we need only 12 new likers, so this could happen almost immediately.  Feel free to use the "Suggest to Friends" feature (right under the ram photo in the upper left corner of the page) to help speed things along!

3.  Getting 12 new likers for our fan page is too easy a goal.  Let's make you work for the next one!  I'll give away another set of soap balls if you can push our number all the way up to 1,200.  Recommend us to your friends, and don't forget to let them know that they can enter to win some soap balls too.

4.  See that column on the right hand side of this blog page?  The one with my photo and the blog archive and all that?  Right below the blog archive is a listing of this blog's followers, with an easy button to click to become a follower.  When the number of followers listed there reaches 100, I'll give away the last set of soap balls.  If you're not a follower, please consider becoming one.  And if you have friends who like to read about farming, nature, and hand crafting, encourage them to follow as well.  That way, you'll all be first in line to get the news when I announce my NEXT giveaway!  :-)

Okay, I've told you the "What" and the "When" of the giveaway.  Now you need to know the "How," as in "How do I enter to win these marvelous soap balls?"

It's easy as can be:  Just post a comment on this blog entry. 

Make sure to include some way of contacting you if you win---If you comment anonymously, I may not be able to reach you to tell you you're a winner.  Winners will be selected at random from among all the people to comment on this post.  I'll contact winners by email to get their shipping address, and the winning names will be announced on this blog.  One entry per person, please. 

Now, go win yourself some soap!  :-)



66 comments:

Unknown said...

I just love reading your post and would love to win your Soap! grzp1106(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Molly said...

A soap ball! I just love saying "soap ball!" A soap ball made from sheep's milk from your farm would be so awesome. PLUS .... my kids would just be mortified by my saying "soap ball" over and over again so I really do hope I win. Good luck with your stats, I'm already a facebook fan :)

Nancy K. said...

OOOOOO! I'd love to try your soap and compare it to my goat milk soap! I raise Shetland sheep so could possibly milk my sheep, instead of buying goat milk, if I like it better.

Who am I kidding? I seriously doubt that I'm going to start MILKING MY SHEEP! How on Earth do you milk your Icelandics???

;-)

P.S. I'd still love to try your soap!

Nancy Chase said...

BailyGirl, not just 1 soap ball. Each winner gets 3 soap balls, so you could torment your children 3 times as long! :-)

Nancy Chase said...

Nancy K.: I milk my sheep on a stand, using the Udderly EZ milker (http://udderlyez.com/sheep_milkers.php). You could use it to milk your Shetlands, but they definitely won't give as much milk as your goats!

Heidi Hart said...

I would love to try your soap, If I win I'll send you some of mine.
Heidi Hart
wefroggy@ptd.net

Anonymous said...

Here is my entry! :D I "liked" your FB page and followed you on the reader. Just doing my part for more cute sheep and piglet photos! By the way, do you have any updates on the horses? They are so pretty!

Nancy Chase said...

Tikabelle: Which horses are you wondering about? The ones who had been starved? Glory, the one my sister rescued, is doing great. This will be the year for her to be started under saddle, and she might possibly be bred this year too, to have a foal next year. My stallion Senter is still at his new farm: http://www.noblefarmsportponies.com/senter_stage_govold_stallion. And the other filly Torchsong is (as far as I know) still with her new owner.

Johara said...

Can't wait for piglet pictures. :)
Just followed the blog, and will send out more 'suggestions' over on fb.

Unknown said...

I'm excited to see the new piglets :-)

I started following your blog after I realized that you are living my dream (complete with blue Orpingtons!) I really enjoy reading your blog and would love to win some of your soap!

http://pandulaartscreations.blogspot.com/ said...

I have never used goat soap, but I am an avid follower of your blog and facebook and would love to get to try them out. I love that you are doing so much on your farm in an organic manner. Bravo!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I would love to win this! I've been lusting after homemade milk soaps in general lately, lol!

theambitioushousewife@hotmail.com

Poetryqn said...

I ADORE this soap! (especially the one wrapped in wool - soap and a washcloth in one, neat package!) I mean, how often is something this natural and 'green' also something that feels absolutely decadent on my skin?) Thanks for running another give away, Nancy! If I win, you can let me know: poetryqn(at)optonline(dot)net.

Rich Radtke said...

We've been busy checking-out all of your info, blog posts and links.

Please put us in for your soap give-away. We too make soap (from goat milk, never sheep), but we're newbies. We'd like to learn more.

Keep up the great work.

Carol R said...

I'd love to win your soap ball. What a fun idea to do with leftovers. Icelantic sheep are soo beautiful. I have 3 shetland wethers with beautiful fiber but no milk.. LOL

Good Goats said...

Enter me! I'd really like to try it!!!

Marie from Markhed Design said...

I love your bog, and especially love following your facebook posts! You guys rock!

Marie

Anonymous said...

I just want to win this so I can say I wash with sheep (soap) balls :)


Yes, I'm still emotionally an adolescent :)

stephstephmobile at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to try the soap balls; if I'm feeling generous, I might even pass along two of them to friends.

Penny said...

Sheep soap .. how cool!
I love goat's milk soap so is this similar??

Unknown said...

I love the idea of giving away extras. I have a small farm in Tacoma and I give away my extra eggs. People try to give me money, but I am raising chickens for fun and it makes me smile to give something away.
Maybe some day I will sell my eggs.
Keep up the good work. I also follow you on Facebook.
Morgan

dinasue said...

I'm excited to try the new soaps! They sound amazing.

Terrye said...

I love goat milk soap, but have never tried sheep's milk soap. Am looking forward to it!
Thanks!!

terrye said...

oops! terrye@kayewood.com

C. Michele said...

Piglets! Funny you mention that. My aunt found a stray pig in her woods today. No idea where it came from.

cassandra (dot) pendergraff (at) gmail (dot) com

Kat Wie said...

I really enjoy reading your posts - I grew up in urban areas so the farm life fascinates me.

kmlang (at) yahoo (dot) com

Heather O. said...

I'm using "bar" soap now (well not "right now) and I love it! I love you and your farm! xooxxo heather o., madison , WI

Cyndi Howard said...

I have never had Sheeps milk soap! Hope I win and get to experience your wonderful home made soap! Love the Sheep! Love your postings and knowing how the animals are doing! Love the babies, sheep and piglets!


Cyndi

JenB said...

I would love to win some soap! And good luck on the piglets.

Unknown said...

I have an 11 yr old granddaughter who seems to be allergic to everything that we have tried on her!!!! So please consider us, we would love to try it out on her!!

Thank you,
Teresa

WifeyLearnsToCook said...

Having never used sheeps milk soap - I'd love to win and try some - the whole concept of soap "balls" is awesome.

i LOVE reading your updates on facebook - takes me away from working in a big dirty city!

Can't wait to see and hear updates of all the lovely piglets! :)

debfosten@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I have an 11 yr old granddaughter, who seems to be allergic to everything that we have tried on her!! Maybe your soaps would do the trick, would love to give them a try!

Thanks you,
Teresa

Unknown said...

Congrats on the piglets! Sheep milk soap sounds devine!

sheeplady said...

I would love to try your soap Nancy. Like I said, when I grow up I wanna be just like you!

Anonymous said...

Also being an adolescent minded fellow, I would like to win your sheep ball soap. My mother would like it too, so she could wash my mouth out with them. Micahlhaines11(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would love to try your soap too....

Roseane from facebook..

Debbie Cannatella said...

Throw my name into the pot as well... I never make milk soaps and would love the luxury of trying some.

Barb said...

I'd love to try your soap!
barb_schuetz@hotmail.com

Gail Storm said...

I bet this would be perfect for washing off the dirt after I come in from sheep chores. (c:
Hey I do love see your pics on Facebook too!
Brush Creek Farm (blogger page too)
Gail Storm

Kyra said...

Neat soap balls! Missing you and Ken. Hoping to get down your way this year. Keep your fingers crossed. :-D

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Great sheep soap balls; I enjoy making soap and yours looks wonderful. Would you like to exchange being followers? I'll follow you, please come to Thistle Cove Farm and follow me.

Ang said...

I don't think I've ever tried sheep's milk soap. Sounds really interesting!

aunaturelle said...

I just recently started using natural homemade soap and I must say I LOVE IT my skins feels amazing I really like goat's milk soap it makes your feel so smooth would love to add sheep's milk to my list.....

Anonymous said...

hello

Wayne A. Shingler said...

I'd like to enter. The last time I used milk soap was when my wife and I made it...about nine years ago!

If my number comes up, you can get a hold of me at wayne@frijolitofarm.com .

Leighway said...

I've been following your blog for about a month and each entry is a joy. would love to win the soap balls!

Brooke said...

I adore reading about your farm. I'd love to win some of your terrific soap!

barbara said...

Like I said before, I'd LOVE to have some of your kids soap balls! bwahaha. Here's my info. Thanks for all your stories & pictures!
Barbara

baschultz26@yahoo.com

simply_complicated said...

recently found your blog and signed up to 'like your facebook page. i'd love to win!

Unknown said...

I have been following your facebook page and have enjoyed reading and seeing all you have done. We live in a 90-yr farmhouse in the middle of a cornfield (practically). We aren't raising anything but ducks and a huge garden and orchard - you gotta have ducks - great bug control! :o) And a couple of horses for when gas prices top $5 a gallon! Love your blog!

Sandy said...

Add my name to the list for the soap. I love your blog and would so enjoy some of your soap.

Marsha Knox Art Expression said...

Could have sworn I had left a comment. Just in case here is another. I learn so much from this blog and envy you your 'natural' lifestyle.

Wish me luck the 'passion flower' seeds are in the ground. A friend says if she can she will make us some jam. Wooo hoooo. Now if I just had some goatmilk soap for my bath I could live in luxury. Happy 100 follwers.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on 100 followers -- would love to win soap balls -- thanks for the opportunity

Jean - MN

Unknown said...

I'd love to win these great soaps!! ss10001 (at) hotmail.com

Judith/Finnseach said...

I've heard wonderful things about your soaps from a friend of mine who "friended/liked" your FB page from me.

I would love to try your soap... especialy after reading about your shampoo experiment.

Anonymous said...

I just love reading your blog entries! I would love to be able to do what you do. We will be building our home soon on 50+ acres. Maybe then I can farm like you!!!

Nanci, KY

Unknown said...

Love reading about you farm and all the amazing stuff you do and make. What a truly amazing life :)

Marion said...

They look good enough to eat!!

stace41971 said...

Congrats on your 100 followers!! :)

dREaMinGiRL said...

I thought the soaps we're egg!! HAHA! Can i have one or two of those goat milk soap?! PLEASE?!

Kate said...

I just learned how to milk a goat which is such an amazing experience. Yes, the goat said I had lots to learn and she was NOT certain how tolerant she would be of my steep learning curve.
I am two weeks new to using goats milk soap...and would love to try the sheep milk soap too. You know we're coming to get piglets in September...and no, I won't try to make pig's milk soap...but the thought did cross my mind. I'd rather consider the bacon and sausage and ham that we'll eventually enjoy. Thanks for a wonderful blog. Kate

From Mom to Grandma said...

I live my dream life vicariously through your posts. Thanks Nancy.

jeanie bowling edmonds said...

I love looking at your posts and pics and would
absolutely love to win some of your "soap balls".

I grew up in the country and you just can't take the country out of me. lol

Anonymous said...

I have drooled over your soaps for a long, long time. These are so very cute...
Jan / wonderdogsemail at yahoo

Valera, The Village Witch said...

I would actually love to learn to make this soap! But, in the meantime, I'd happily settle for some free soap from you. :)

Nancy Chase said...

The winner of the final Soap Balls giveaway is.... Kate, who just entered to win at 11:07 on July 20th. Congratulations Kate! Send me your mailing address, so I know where to ship your soap!