I’m really not good at being creative or artsy. If you hand me a paintbrush dipped in the most gorgeous, luscious colours and tell me to paint anything my heart desires I’ll totally choke and end up producing a weak attempt at a smiley face. My latest attempt at being creative was at Otion Soap in Bellingham, but thanks to their foolproof drop-in soapmaking session, I actually made a handful of items that look and smell pretty — even if my imagination took me to a place where unicorns are blue and spaceships are hot pink.
Making Soap at Otion Soap in Bellingham
Located in the heat of Downtown Bellingham (301 W Holly St), across from the iconic Rocket Donuts rocket, Otion Soap is a maker’s dream. They have a drop-in space, Crafter’s Corner, where you can make lip balm, nail polish, bath bombs, and soap all within an hour (for $10 to $20).
If you’re making the melt & pour soap, first pick out your glycerin soap base (with additional options like shea butter or olive oil), pick pre-set mold, your colours, fragrance, and you’re good to go. Otion’s staff will do all the heavy lifting by heating up your soap base for you so that you can concentrate on your creations.
Reservations for Crafter’s Corner are encouraged but drop-ins are welcome. While you’re waiting for your soap to set, browse the wide selection of Bramble Berry Soap Making Supplies that you can purchase and take home to develop even more soap goods on your own time.
Also check out the jam-packed class board on the side wall. They have everything from candle making and mineral makeup classes to beer, milk, juice, cold process soap classes. You can also book the whole Crafter’s Corner for birthdays, company parties, bridal parties and more.
I was pretty pleased with my unicorns and spaceships, complete with sparkles, and was amazed at how easy the process was. Another member of my group made her soap with shae butter so it wasn’t translucent, it was more pastel, and used white and blue with nautical-themed molds. Another used olive oil base, as I did, and went with a tiki theme.
You can be pretty creative with this drop-in experience or, if you’re like me and need a bit of a boost, there are literally out-of-the-box solutions that can help you along with the guidance of Otion’s staff.
Stop by with friends on your next trip to Bellingham for a fun, hands-on, and creative afternoon of making useful beauty products or call 360-676-1030 and reserve your spot. Follow Otion on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Making Soap in Vancouver
In Vancouver, there are no permanent drop-in soap-making shops but occasional workshops are hosted by The Soap Dispensary, or 4Cats Arts Studio.
The Salish Sea connects us all here in the Pacific Northwest, from Powell River to Seattle, Victoria to Bellingham and I love exploring opportunities that get me out on the water, whether it’s on a paddle board, a whale watching tour, and especially in a kayak. I recently had the pleasure of paddling on the waters of Bellingham Bay, just 30 minutes south of the Canada/USA border with Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures.
Kayaking on Bellingham Bay
Established in 1992 by Sharmon Hill, Moondance is based in Bellingham and they specialize in Wildcat Cove Half-Day Adventures; Chuckanut Bay Full-Fay Adventures; Cypress, Jones or Sucia Island Multi-Day Adventures.
From Bellingham my group headed south, past Fairhaven, and into Larrabee State Park along Chuckanut Drive. The Chuckanut (established in 1895) is a scenic byway that used to be part of the old route to Seattle until it became and alternate to US 99 in the 1930s. With just two lanes, tree limbs bend and form a leafy canopy above the winding route with hidden driveways and the occasional viewpoint popping up, providing a window through which to gaze out at Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands.
We turned down Cove Road, and parked at the boat launch at Wildcat Cove where we met Kristi Kucera, owner and guide with Moondance Sea Kayak Adventures. Kristi had a van and trailer loaded up with double kayaks for our group, and we took turns plucking each one from its perch and resting it down in the surf.
The wicked windstorm just the day before rustled up a carpet of seagrass (marine eelgrass) that lapped at the boats and coated their rudders while Kristi led us through gear application (spray skirts, PFDs) and gave everyone a safety lesson.
Our group was fairly well-seasoned, and I’ve been paddling the water for the last 30 years, but whenever you’re in a new location, with a guide and a new group, it’s always a good idea to have a full safety demo, hear about the landscape and the route you’ll be taking. Chances are your guide will know more than you when it comes to navigating the waters they call home, and which you are visiting.
Once we were all in the water, everyone split into double kayaks, we cruised along the shoreline of Larrabee State Park as visitors from the nearby campground lined the shores for seaside selfies and rock skipping before the incoming tide took away the beach.
We then followed the land north of Wildcat Cove, passing impressive private residences perched just as precariously on the cliffs as the nearby arbutus trees. Kristi told us about the islands in the distance and the sandstone facades we passed that had been carved out by the sea.
The water was still fairly choppy a day after the major storm so we didn’t stay out for more than two hours, but it was long enough to catch a harbour seal frolicking in the water as a sunset tried its best to poke through the dark clouds on the horizon. Returning to the cove, the air was thick with the smell of Cedar as it began to rain, which didn’t phase us one bit as the falling droplets met the emerald sea.
Kristi was a very fun and knowledgeable guide, and I enjoyed hearing all about the San Juan Islands since I’m so familiar with the Gulf Islands in BC and it was great to hear about their sister chain across the border.
Moondance’s half-day, full-day, and multi-day kayaking trips can take you from Bellingham Bay around Bellingham and Anacortes, or Orcas Island. They don’t rent kayaks individually so you’ll be signing up for a fully guided, and informative tour, which is definitely the way to go if you’re just visiting the area. Reservations can be made online and their season runs from April to October. Guided tours (kayaks, spray skirts, life jackets included) start at $70 USD.
Help a young girl reach her academic goals by volunteering for the Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland Study Buddy Mentoring Program. Volunteers are currently needed in Burnaby and East and South Vancouver.
The Study Buddy Mentoring program nurtures the self-esteem of girls by matching them with volunteers who offer them educational support. This program is for girls, ages 7 to 17, who need academic assistance and cannot access other tutoring services due to financial constraints.
The Study Buddy Mentoring program requires one tutoring session per week (1 hour) and a minimum 6 month commitment. Sessions take place at a mutually-agreeable location (i.e. library) after school or on weekends.
The program strives to do the following:
- Provide an academic role model to girls and young women (ages 7-17)
- Increase educational performance
- Promote the importance of staying in school and increase school attendance
- Enhance educational goal setting
- Decrease disruptive behaviour in school
Study Buddies work together to set appropriate educational goals for the Little Sister. With the support of a Study Buddy tutor, Little Sisters are encouraged and equipped to improve their educational performance and meet their academic goals, which contributes to their overall self-esteem.
Learn more about becoming a Study Buddy tutor, referring a Little Sister, or donating to the Study Buddy Mentoring program. You can also contact us directly at 604-873-4525 ext.300 or [email protected].
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the 2015 Big Sister of BC Lower Mainland Volunteer Recruitment Campaign. Follow Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Steam Whistle Brewing is hosting an Oktoberfest celebration at the Vancouver Alpen Club on September 19th. This authentic German party, in line with Munich’s traditional Oktoberfest that also starts on the 19th, will feature keg tapping, German cuisine, and music and entertainment by The Rheinlander Band and the Edelweiss Dancers. Come dressed in your best dirndls and lederhosen for a chance to win great prizes.
What: Steam Whistle Oktoberfest Party
Where: Vancouver Alpen Club (4875 Victoria Drive, Vancouver)
When: Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 7:00pm
Tickets: Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, and your admission comes with a collectible Steam Whistle Oktoberfest stein (1/2L) with the first fill of refreshing all-natural Pilsner courtesy of Steam Whistle.
Win Tickets to the Steam Whistle Oktoberfest Party
Get your oom-pah-pah on at the Steam Whistle Oktoberfest Party at the Vancouver Alpen Club on Saturday, September 19th. I have two pairs of tickets to give away, here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post… in German (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow Steam Whistle on Facebook and Twitter for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00pm on Monday, September 14, 2015. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly.
Update The winners are Brent and James!
The first ever Richmond World Festival took place on Saturday, September 5th at Minoru Park, presenting a full day of live music, food, and culture with free admission. Two music stages, complimented by pop-up show spaces, kept the site moving to beat all day long, a culinary stage had national experts sharing their best foodie tips, while cultural activities and sporting demos entertained.
The YVR T-Shirts to Paradise tent along with the Coast Capital Savings booth had long lines, rivaling that of the bouncy castle, as they handed out shirts and sunglasses. Aromas from food trucks filled the park grounds with tummy tantalizing cravings, and fair-goers young and old enjoyed all of the free entertainment that filled the air with everything from dhols and bongos to tambourines and castanets.
Later in the afternoon, En Karma had the crowd dancing, Karen Flamenco dazzled on the main stage, and Alex Cuba was a crowd pleaser. The Digital Carnival opened up at 7pm in a series of connected tents, darkened to reveal unique, mind-bending projections and artistic digital displays.
For the grande finale, Matt and Kim, an American alternative dance duo from Brooklyn, brought the house (the park) down with a high energy set complete with balloons, confetti, and crowd walking.
Richmond World Festival Photos
Follow Fun Richmond on Twitter for the latest events happening in Richmond, BC and check out more photos from the Richmond World Festival on Facebook.
