I started Jackson Sage in 2007.  I was a full time elementary school art teacher.  It started as a dream, just something I thought would be fun to do.  Something I thought would be great if someday I could do this full time.  Many hours, tears, blisters and an economic meltdown later, the company is still here.

I never imagined how much I would work, how hard I would work, or even how much I would want to work.  It is not uncommon for me to work 10+ hour days 7 days a week… after all the company is just me.  Well, ok I do have a C.E.O. (Canine Executive Officer), Princess Buttercup, but trust me the only thing she is really good at doing is shredding paper and being cute.

I never imaged how much I would learn, how many roles I would play and more importantly how much I would completely and utter love what I make and do.

Every dime I made the first three years, I reinvested back into the company.  I was able to purchase a better computer, better design programs and better supplies in general.  Because of this, the products were, and are, in constant transformation of improvement.

Below is a look back at where Jackson Sage started.  The first picture is of the VERY first product I made and its photo.  Followed by 4 more generations of products and photos.   Currently we are in transition between generation 6 and 7.

Can you believe that we are already heading in to the holiday season? We are so excited to announce our Holiday Gift Sets and Items!  Find these items online or at one of our many events.  Order early, we do sell out of all of our gift sets and soaps!

Below is a spotlight on some of our sets and ideas.  To see all of the see our Gift Ideas go our Website.

Soap in an Organza Bag = $6.50

Just order any of our soaps October 8 through December 15 and receive a FREE organza gift bag. Turns a bar of soap imediatly into a perfect gift. Choose between all of our soap. Organza bags come in randomly selected Red or Green colors. Great way to make the soaps an instant gift. Fun way to display the soaps during the holiday season.

2 Soaps + Soap Dish = $15.

Random Selection of our popular soaps plus a handcrafted soap dish to prolong the life of the soaps in a red or green organza bag. $3. savings then buying separate plus a free bag!

NEW* Skin Care Sample Set= $20.

A skin care sample set that keeps it simple. A full size Complexion Bar, 1 oz Skin Cream and Sample Size Facial Scrub. Comes in an organza bag (same bag as pictured in the 2 Soaps and Dish Set above).

Choose between two sets:
Set 1 (Normal- Dry): Lemon Sage Complexion Soap Bar, Rose Hip & Sea Buckthorn Skin Lotion, Lavender & Calendula Clay Scrub
Set 2 (Normal- Oily): Tea Tree & Lavender Complexion Soap, Tea Tree & Apple Skin Lotion, French Green Clay Scrub

Complete Skin Care Sample Set= $30.

Same Skin Care Sample Sets as before but now in a red or green organza bag.  Choose between our Revitalizing or Clarifying Sets.

Yum Soap

This is such a yummy soap you will be wondering if you can eat it! Made with Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, and Peppermint. Makes a unique gift that is sure to please. Comes in Organza Bag.  This soap is wildly popular and ONLY available during the holiday season, so purchase early! Buy it now>>>

I make every effort to keep my studio clean and sterile.  I wash the counters before each batch, between batches, during batches.  I make sure my hands are clean and do my best to prevent anything that shouldn’t get into the products stays out of the products.

BUT then lotion making gone bad happens.

I was removing the blender to start pouring the lotion, and then just like that, lotion all over me, all over the floor, my shoes (yes I am barefoot in the photo because it felt really strange and gooey inside my shoes), the walls, the walls around the corner (not sure how that happened but it did).

I stood there for a minute wanting to cry.  I had a big deadline and was already behind on orders.  I wanted to cry because there was a lot of money sloshing around on the floor. I wanted to cry because it was already the evening and I was tired.

But then I stood there slipping around on the floor trying to remain standing up, and I just started to laugh.

Below is a list of my favorite books on Herbs.  Some have been with me for awhile and some are new to my library.  All sit on my office desk, and are used almost daily to help deepen my knowledge of herbs and to inspire my recipes.  All of the books are great for people of all knowledge levels and make excellent books for those just starting out in their herbal journey.

1. The New Age Herbalist

The New Age Herbalist was the first book I purchased on herbs when I was in High School.  I purchased this book at a great herb shop Lucia’s Garden in Houston Texas.  What makes this book stand out above all the rest is pictures.  It has color photos of most of the herbs, and those that are not presented in a photo still have a nice line drawing.  It is a great reference book that details parts used, constituents, and main uses.  The second part that makes this book stand out is half of the book is devoted to recipes.  Of course my favorite part is Chapter Three: Herbs for Natural Living.  Here you will find charts on Herbs for skin type and recipes for skin care.

On a side note, I keep inside it a list I made of all the things I wanted to grow, and learn that I wrote in high school when I bought the book.

2. Indian Herbalogy of North America

What makes this reference book stand out is that it has a bit more detail about each herb than The New Art Herbalist and it gives specific doses for use.  Also the author notes various influences on uses such as India, Russian and Homeopathic Clinical.

3. The Cherokee Herbal

I recently picked this book up at the National Museum of the Native American.  What makes this book unique its Cherokee focus and how each herb is broken into the Four Cardinal Points (East, West, North, South).  J.T. Garrett, the author writes:

What is Indian Medicine?  What there are many variations in answers, the meaning of the term Medicine is much broader than treatment, health, self-care, or preventions.  The traditional idea of Medicine is based on the earlier meanings of the four cardinal directions and the Universal Circle…..I frame the meanings of the Four Directions as spiritual in the East, natural in the South, physical in the West, and mental in the North.  These broad aspects help to describe the importance and scared influence of each direction in our lives.  The lines that cross from the North to South and East to West represent harmony and balance.  Thus, one direction in our lies does not exist without the opposite energy….. Unlike the prevailing thought of today, the individual is not the center of the circle; he or she is an integral part of the circle.  When a person fails, abuses drugs, or becomes diseased, it affects the entire circle of life….. The Medicine is to prevent such occurrences, or to bring that harmony and balance back to the circle.

4. Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs

Each herb is discussed in great detail with basic description of the growing habit and cultivation, history of the herb, Uses of the herb that include medical uses, ornamental uses, and cosmetic uses.  Excellent choice for a first book on herbs.

5. The Herbal Medicine-Makers Handbook

The above books have been all excellent reference books with details about the herbs, The Herbal Medicine Makers Handbook is an excellent source on how to take that knowledge and transform in to a usable form.   From how to harvest, explanations of equipment you will need, details on how to make an infusion, tinctures, lotions, cream and salves.  Lots of excellent herbal recipes.

I thought it would be fun to show everyone a look at what it is like at Jackson Sage behind the soap suds– where and how products are made, packaged and produced.

My company Jackson Sage (and Doggie Sage) are based out of my home studio.  We live in a four square home build in 1925 near the James River in Richmond, VA.

Most of the upstairs is devoted to Jackson Sage.  There are a total of four rooms upstairs, three of which have been converted to Jackson Sage.  I converted a small room in to a kitchen and one of our larger rooms in to a office/storage room/ photo studio/ husband’s closet.  One bedroom is also a storage room but mostly because I can’t figure our how to organize it yet to make it fit into my office area.  And of course the last bedroom is where we sleep.  I have visions of someday being so large that I take over the entire house!

Here are some photos of the office/storage room/ photo studio/ husband’s closet:

From The Office

Soaps Curing From The Office

I was so lucky to be given the change to make a custom order for the Virginia Shop at the Library of Virginia. I was able to choose between several tobacco labels in the Library of Virginia collection. I ended up picking 4 beautiful ladies: Arline, Esmeralda, Josephine and Ruby.

I then took the images and made them in to labels for a soap and body cream set that $15.99 exculsivly at the Virginia Shop.

I am having a hard time figuring out which one I love the most.  It was fun to match up the personality of the women with the scent and the soaps.  Each women really embodies the scent.  Stop by the Virginia Store at the Library of Virgina to see them in person.

I would love to hear from you, which tobacco label is your favorite?