Alligator Rose soap shop boutique

Alligator Rose is Tehachapi's new local soap shop boutique. It is located at 117 S. Mill St.(galleria H). Their motto is "luxury body-care basics" with a focus on minimal but high quality ingredients. Owner Ma Belle Ammie Graves-Fisher makes body oils that are non-greasy and ten times more moisturizing than lotion. She hand crafts more than a dozen soaps that are 25% organic and leave your skin feeling nourished and hydrated with a variety of clays and minerals.

Ammie uses special fragrances in both men's and women's scents to customize the oils, face scrubs, therapeutic grade epsom salt blends, hair oil, and beard oil. They are sold in diffuser-friendly dropper bottles. She uses over 30 different essenial oils that are collected from around the world to fragrance her products. Everything is made to order and poured fresh with either fragrance or essential oil at her Mill St. shop or at the Farmer's Market every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m.

In addition, Ammie makes lovely jewelry in 14karat gold fill, rose gold fill or sterling silver combined with Swarovski crystals, semi-precious gemstones and fresh water pearls. She also fires glass on metal in a kiln for signature focal pieces. She feels her flare comes from her Native American heritage (Cherokee and Choctaw)and reflects aspects of her background and life.

The name Alligator Rose began with a rescued kitty named Rose. The Fire Point Siamese with cream color fur, bright orange markings and bright blue eyes was found in a dumpster and adopted by a family that terrorized her for a week before returning her for a refund. Ammie had to keep her in a small space at first. After about a week her emotions came to life for the first time and she demanded unending affection by putting herself under your hand and would roll over in a spin. It was like an alligator death grip because she was spinning in one direction; thus the name Alligator Rose.

Ammie said that she related to Rose's story, feeling that she was metaphorically found in a dumpster in her life and adopted out to a family that terrorized her. It wasn't until she came to the loving arms of Creator/Jesus that love came to life in her for the first time. She is now a minister and has dedicated her business "to all the Roses" - those who have been forgotten, cast off, abused and trampled upon.

She also plans to dedicate a space in her business to be used for spiritual counseling.

Come by the shop and test her variety of body care basics and check out the gorgeous jewelry. Alligator Rose is open Tues. from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Wed. - Fri from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sat. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ammie will be having her Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday,

July 25 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. So be sure to drop in and join the party.