Finding Comfort in a World of Chaos

When I was a child, I remember picking various leaves, twigs, flowers, and berries from our yard and stirring them into a mud soup that I very seriously named a "potion", though I could never manage to get my test subject, er, sister...  to try it so that I could see what effect it might have wrought. Probably for the best, of course, as I had no idea what various plants could do, or even what I was gathering and "cooking up". 

Throughout the years, I've remained a fan of putting various ingredients together into experimental concoctions... mostly in the kitchen. I love cooking, baking, and even candy making.  I also have a love for most forms of creation...  from fabric arts to poetry and music, and yes, handcrafting skincare products and home remedies that use simple ingredients and simple processes. 

I'm naturally scattered, having grown up with undiagnosed Autism and ADHD... I come by the varied interests honestly, picking up a hobby and obsessing over it until I can accomplish it with relative competence, and finding something new to learn. Then I can return to visit them, like old friends.  

I fell in love with making skincare products when I discovered lotion bars at a renaissance festival. I bought one, and used it daily until there was only a sliver left, and was honestly surprised at how long it lasted... several years went by, and one day, the urge for a new hobby hit. I researched a bit, and jumped in, buying cocoa butter and carrier oils, infusing herbs... it took a while, but finally I had my triple butter blend down, and a delightfully lavender-scented bar of creamy goodness in my hands. 

Fast forward a few more years, and I started getting really interested in natural medicine, and how plants had been used in traditional remedies for various ailments. As I learned more, I discovered how a lot of modern medicine relies on the power of plants, and what herbs were safe to work with.  I started off with a fermentation project, brewing a large jar of fire cider for boosting immunity (tastes nasty, but it sure did knock out the cold).  Then an earache prompted me to try infusing mullein & garlic for a remedy...  a little messy, but my ear felt a lot better. 

Not only were these old folk recipes working, but they were accessible. They used things I had around the house already (I keep mullein on a shelf of herbs for tea and incense), and they were things I could pronounce...  and they didn't cost me an arm and a leg for a tiny bottle. 

In addition to being AuDHD, I'm a chronic pain sufferer, with multiple conditions, and no insurance...  which means I'm limited in treatment options. OTC pain meds are pretty useless against the joint, muscle, and nerve pain and stiffness that I deal with most days, so I set out to create something that helped. Ember Ease was born of that mission, and is my daily companion. 

I loved how easy it was to apply, and while I won't try to say it made the pain go away, I will say that I noticed less aching and stiffness in my joints after using it. I shared it with friends...  a waitress who swears by it for her achy feet, my partner who has me rub it into his neck and shoulders at least once or twice a week, neighbors with arthritis...  and one of them asked me one day why I wasn't selling this stuff. 

It took a minute to make it happen, but the wheels started turning. I started out with a simple online store where I could get a website rolling, and stocked it with items that fit my vibe when I'm in creative mode, from vendor partners. I imagined a mossy cobblestone cottage at the edge of a forest clearing, where a mist hangs in the air and dew gathers on the grasses and ferns. It's the kind of place where you're sure there are fairies lurking, and you know something magickal is underway. That's Fernshadow Glen. Cozy, warm, nurturing... 

I like to think we all have that magick inside us, just waiting to be used. Not claiming that anything crazy goes on in my workshop, unless you count singing along to guilty pleasure one-hit wonders while pouring my 8th cup of coffee...  I just mix things together while thinking of what I want them to do. If that sounds a bit witchy, I don't mind at all. I DO, after all, have a rather fabulous lacy purple velvet witch hat, and a collection of crystals and incense, as well as a deep and abiding love for Stevie Nicks.

I'm not a doctor. I have no medical training. I'm not here to offer advice. I'm not here to promise you that these products will work for you. Legally, I'm not allowed to do that.  Instead, I market cosmetic products that soften your skin, with herbal additions. We'll be using this blog space to educate and inform about the herbs and other components we use to create the items on our Apothecary Shelf, what they do cosmetically, and how they have been used traditionally. We'll mention what products we include them in, and how we hope they will help.  

Of course, every single body that touches one of our products will have a different experience with it. As stated previously, I do not offer medical advice. If you are using one of our products for a potential herbal benefit, it is highly recommended that you do your own research, especially if you are taking any medications or other supplements, and to speak to your doctor or pharmacist to be sure that there are no interactions.