From Curiosity to Hobby to the Gypsy Life

January is the start of a new, shiny year. It's time for fresh starts and a chance to try something different. Like a new blog!

It's also Hobby Month. Hobbies are an interesting thing for me. Celtic Chairde started as a renewed interest in all things herbal, it was a hobby I had when I was younger. That renewed curiosity led to me finding a few interesting recipes for salves and lip balms.

At that time, almost 15 (gulp!) years ago, Cindy and I would get together every couple of weeks with the intent of finishing up some of those half completed projects and hobby pieces we had. You know the ones. A partially finished decoupage kit, some half done plaques, crocheted pieces that still need to get made into something. We all have something like that tucked away. After working on those things for a few months, we began to look for some new playthings. We decided to try a few of those herbal recipes for body butters and lotion bars and lip balms that I had uncovered.

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Well, the next thing you know we're diddling around with the recipes, researching new oils and butters, finding new ways to blend them together - and having way too many items to give away to friends and family. Only one thing to do. Stop having fun or start offering these goodies to other people. Then there we are, at our first craft fair.

It's now been hundreds of shows later, and hundreds of people who have visited us on our gypsy journeys around New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We've been having a blast, and hope you have too. I'm still studying herbs, finding new ways to add them to our products. Coming up with new recipes and new goodies that smell great and make you feel fabulous. Our crazy little hobby became a wonderful small business.

We can't wait to see what this year brings. Where will we travel to and who will we meet? We hope it's you. When we meet, tell us about your hobbies. You never know where it's going to lead you.