Tea at Trianon: Diva Treva Soapworks

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Diva Treva Soapworks

Definitely a place to visit in Abingdon, Virginia. From the blog of actress, photographer and writer Sarah Laughland, my little sister:

Connecting with someone after having only talked for a few minutes doesn’t happen everyday. Treva Watson shares herself with you, her trials and her triumphs, and pours her heart and soul into the molds that form her gloriously transcending soaps and candles. Hard-working, determined, partnered with love, hope and prayer by her side, she’s created Diva Treva Soapworks & the newer Bohicket Apothecary, always drawing customers back for more. Soaps, candles, lotions, deodorants, bath bombs, laundry detergent, lip balm, skincare products, and more…

I’ve began repeating a mantra lately, “every second of my life has led up to this moment”. Intense as it sounds, I mean that everything before today has lead us to where we are now. Some creative impulses or business endeavors take years to discover, with obligation and resistance taking the front seat. But for those who continue listening to the creative voice inside, there’s bound to be fruit. For Treva, she’s loved candles and the power of scent for as long as she can remember and finally decided that she’d like to try her hand at creating scents and colors to match her creative inner being. We each possess our own unique way to communicate and the power of smell is Treva’s. I would definitely say that it’s a gift to all of us.

Our hippie souls connected this warm summer afternoon (yes, twas a while ago), sitting on Treva’s couch as she recounted her journey. Her house smells divine, by the way, with various stations of operation. Both basement and garage are scent factories, detailed with machinery, some newer and some old school, bottles, bags, and baskets. My personal go-to items that Treva has created? “Honeysuckle Patchouli” lotion, “Vetiver” & “Hippie Chick” candles, and her “Lavender” and “Barnwood” laundry detergents. OH, her laundry detergents are divine. (Read more.)