The weather is warming up, school is winding down and an exciting summer is unfolding.

With the help of two great students - Sarah and Tracey - the book about how to use glycerin soap to make food props for the theatre is coming together. If all goes well, that book and the skin survival guide for actors with both wrap before school starts in August. I did an interview with Elle magazine for an article about color theory in cosmetics. The article will be in the May issue - I'm very curious to see if I made the final edits.

We're kicking off the summer on Sunday, May 13th with a bang at the Mighty Mama Skate-o-Rama!! This is the third year sk8kleen has sponsored this great event, and this might be the year I actually get up on a board. The annual raffle raises money for children's literacy programs, this year's beneficiary is Rosie's Garage, a grassroots tutoring/mentoring organization in North Orange County. It is a great way to spend Mother's Day - grab your kids and your gear and head on down. Pete at Sk8 the Planet interviewed me about sk8kleen after seeing it on the Mighty Mama Skate-o-Rama website. Pete rocks and is a confirmed sk8kleen fan.

Sunday, June 3 is the Arizona Gathering of soap and candle makers in Scottsdale, Arizona. I'll be doing a demonstration on sculpting with neutral hot cooker soap. I'm also helping with the pre-Gathering gathering on Saturday night. The opportunity to hang out with and learn from fellow soapmakers is such a thrill.

The Long Beach Womanspirit Summer Solstice Fair is on June 9th, so be sure to save the day*. It is the 20th anniversary of LBSW, so it will be an extra-special event.

Out in the Sheddio, we're concentrating on teaching and research. In the garden, we're putting in many new kinds of herbs and getting our overwhelmingly loaded compost pile under control. We're looking forward to many hours in the garden, not a few of those handing out on the swing that has just been given a new canopy and pillows.

Check out Annabella Soap for new varieties and new shapes. Avalonia offerings are expanding to include Tarot bags, Avalonian herbal pillows, drop-spun yarn made from Welsh wool and more decorated boxes. Parfum Sortilège d'Avalon and Avalonia are working together to create all-natural artisan fragrances inspired by the Avalonian Panthean. Rhiannon's is the first, and should be ready by Lughnassadh.

Somewhere in all of this we're teaching soap and handmade toiletries classes, holding a couple of book signings and relaxing. If you'd like to be updated on Collective activities, please email Alicia and she'll put you on the list. If you want to schedule a class, please email soon as spots are filling up fast.

I hope to see you at the events and that you have a great summer.

Creatively yours - Alicia

*Event held at Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, 5450 Atherton, Long Beach, CA

I'm undertaking some long overdue site tweaking. I've been moving my focus further into research, private label and writing. I'm once again post-surgery - three weeks today. I'm hoping to be all put back together by the first week of August, ready to go back to school.

Nicole and Ryan were married this summer, and I had the honor of officiating. Ryan has officially become one of the World's Great Husbands. Their wedding was beautiful and they are busy in Nehalem, making a go of the Inn to which they've brought such life and energy. I will miss her, her active contribution to the Collective, her daily kindnesses.

I've been learning new techniques, new materials and entirely new products. Some will be available for sale, some are for private label and some are just for me. Creating natural perfumes is a major focus. It's like taking all the natural scent blending I've been doing over the years and concentrating and fixing it. Clays, scrubs and active skin care ingredients are coming together in interesting ways.

There are new photos in many places in the collective. I'm hoping for more visual continuity between pages and better ways to navigate. Change, creativity, discernment... all hallmarks of the Collective.

Best wishes for a beautiful summer -

Alicia

June 30, 2005

It has been over a year since the site redesign. The redesign was done prior to major eye surgery in July of '03. The surge in creativity, the kind that can get through the details of "webbing" was, I think, my way of getting through the waiting for the surgery to happen. It turned into a much greater ordeal than any of us had imagined. The aftermath of and healing between what turned out to be three surgeries and teaching an entire semester wearing an eyepatch was made possible by the love and support of many. John and Rachel made the seemingly impossible possible. The Sisterhood of Avalon, my colleagues and students at USC were and remain generous in all things.

New friends and friends once lost have come into my life. A group of people found on the internet (the cold cold world of cyberspace!) with eye situations like mine became a lifeline. From this amazingly brave group Chris, my "eye sister" has become an honorary member of the Collective and has been "guinea pigging" for me. A dear friend from the long-ago Edmonds days resurfaced into my life, lending love and support, and thus Christa has joined the Collective from afar.

The newest fully active Collective member is the incredible Nicole Marusiak. She is becoming an extraordinary scent blender and formulator. She will soon join the ranks of proud "owners" of another of the World's Great Husbands. Ryan is a chef and a gentleman. Nicole is an actor, dancer, director, makeup artist and stylist of surpassing talent. She is also a Yogini in the making.

It is raining enormously. Hugely. I hope people are safe and dry. That said, I am so happy to have weather. No one in the history of the world has been as happy to wear her raincoat as I was today.

I'm looking forward to a busy, happy and creative season.

Many Blessings-

Alicia

What can I tell you about us? The collective is made up of real, incredible women. Many women - and some men - have contributed creative energy in many forms throughout the years.

"Annabella" is a real person. Her name is Julianna and her husband sometimes calls her Annabella. Julianna and I started Annabella and Company when we were making and selling hats, handbags and earrings in the early 1990s. She moved out of the Los Angeles area, and has concentrated her direct energy elsewhere, but continues to be a guiding light. Anna, as she is also known, is a director and teacher of theatre, an actor and a writer. She has two miraculous children and is married to Ben, who is one of the World's Great Husbands.

"The Amazing Rachel" is a driving force in the Collective. Her energy, creativity, supreme editing skills and abject love of handmade luxuries is a well-spring of inspiration. My second book would have never happened if it weren't for her dogged determination. She works all sales events, handles many details of the business and is extraordinarily beautiful. Rachel is also a theatre professional, school board president and cross-word whiz.

Jennifer is a long-time supporter, researcher, sales woman and tester with sensitive skin. She pioneered advanced financial tools and has worked many sales events. Jennifer is a scholar, a professor and a travel agent. She is married to Roger, who is another of the World's Great Husbands.

Alison created the method for setting up at sales events. She has worked many sales events and has been an ardent supporter, tester and product researcher. Alison is a Healer specializing in bodywork and is finishing her work to become a Doctor of Chinese medicine. She is also a talented and accomplished actor.

Jennifer R. was in the kitchen at the very beginning, experimenting, stirring, formulating, stirring, testing and stirring. She has been an avid supporter. She works in Real Estate and has an encyclopedic knowledge of music.

As for me, I continue to be silly-in-love with this whole endeavor and with John, my very own World's Great Husband.

-Alicia

July 8, 2003