One of the best ways for me to snap out of a bad mood or to gain perpective on my life is to create a Gratitude List. I want to create an ongoing list with the help of Etsy members and you!
Add a comment below, stating at least one thing that you're grateful for in your life. I'll have this be ongoing, though I'd like to add incentive for people to participate! On Thanksgiving Day, 11/25/2010, I'll randomly draw one name from the comments to receive free soap!
Let me start the list:
I'm grateful for my health and creativity.
How about you?
10.30.2010
10.22.2010
Home Again on Etsy
It's official! I'm back on Etsy. Don't know what Etsy is? Well, I describe it as an online marketplace for handmade items. Translation--the best place EVER to sell my soap! My shop is found HERE, and I'm super thrilled to say that I made my first sale today.
My previous Etsy experience is extensive. I sold soap and more online when I lived in Virginia--my shop, Aspen Spa, was very successful. I wasn't aware of how successful it was until I took it off "Vacation Mode" and got email after email from previous customers, welcoming me back! I had request after request for my sugar scrubs, bath salts and (more than once) perfume sticks. I'm so grateful for all of you, my repeat customers! :)
Are you looking for the best shopping experience ever? Check out Etsy. Unique, one of a kind, wonderful creations from some of the most talented people ever! Share with me what you find on Etsy. What do you like?
My previous Etsy experience is extensive. I sold soap and more online when I lived in Virginia--my shop, Aspen Spa, was very successful. I wasn't aware of how successful it was until I took it off "Vacation Mode" and got email after email from previous customers, welcoming me back! I had request after request for my sugar scrubs, bath salts and (more than once) perfume sticks. I'm so grateful for all of you, my repeat customers! :)
Are you looking for the best shopping experience ever? Check out Etsy. Unique, one of a kind, wonderful creations from some of the most talented people ever! Share with me what you find on Etsy. What do you like?
10.16.2010
Making Goat's Milk Soap (or The Stick Blender Instigator)
One day, while browsing my favorite local thrift store, I noticed a used stick blender in the kitchen section of the store. A "tool of the trade" (and not the most common object on Earth), I took note and passed it by.
Minutes later, I see a woman holding that stick blender AND a crinkle cutter tool! I knew she had to be a soap maker. I struck up conversation with this wonderful woman, Tara, who shared that she owns a goat farm near Bend and wanted to put her fresh goat's milk to good use. She shared that she had just (20 hours earlier) created her first ever batch of cold process goat's milk soap! I was so excited for her--I recall my first ever batch of soap, the anticipation for when it was time to uncover my mold...the fear that it didn't work and all those dollars worth of oils went to waste...that soap making was really hard and I just wasn't smart enough to pull it off. Tara and I exchanged numbers, and within hours I purchased the freshest goat's milk ever!
I can't tell you how many times, at craft shows, I've been asked if I make goat's milk soap. Having always focused on vegan-friendly only products, I would have to turn people away to find a different soap seller. When I decided to start business again here in Oregon, I knew that...if not for customers...I wanted to make GM soap for myself. I mean, what's the hype all about???
Tara and her husband, Shannon, own Bantam Lane Natural Farm near Bend, Oregon. They are wonderful people with the freshest of goat's milk and a welcoming farm only minutes from my home. I have used their GM to create a number of batches and finally understand the HYPE! Goat's milk soap lathers beautifully, it is rich in Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K and I find it to be very luxurious on my skin. I couldn't believe the lather! Fluffy, creamy, soft.
Making GM soap isn't much different than oils-only cold process soap. My method involves adding the GM just before blending diluted sodium hydroxide with the oils. I use just enough GM to add to the luxury of the soap, but not so much as to increase the likelihood of spoilage. (After all, soap IS a fresh product!)
Interested in trying goat's milk soap? I have fragrance free and scented varieties available here: Goat's Milk Soap for Sale
Minutes later, I see a woman holding that stick blender AND a crinkle cutter tool! I knew she had to be a soap maker. I struck up conversation with this wonderful woman, Tara, who shared that she owns a goat farm near Bend and wanted to put her fresh goat's milk to good use. She shared that she had just (20 hours earlier) created her first ever batch of cold process goat's milk soap! I was so excited for her--I recall my first ever batch of soap, the anticipation for when it was time to uncover my mold...the fear that it didn't work and all those dollars worth of oils went to waste...that soap making was really hard and I just wasn't smart enough to pull it off. Tara and I exchanged numbers, and within hours I purchased the freshest goat's milk ever!
I can't tell you how many times, at craft shows, I've been asked if I make goat's milk soap. Having always focused on vegan-friendly only products, I would have to turn people away to find a different soap seller. When I decided to start business again here in Oregon, I knew that...if not for customers...I wanted to make GM soap for myself. I mean, what's the hype all about???
Tara and her husband, Shannon, own Bantam Lane Natural Farm near Bend, Oregon. They are wonderful people with the freshest of goat's milk and a welcoming farm only minutes from my home. I have used their GM to create a number of batches and finally understand the HYPE! Goat's milk soap lathers beautifully, it is rich in Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K and I find it to be very luxurious on my skin. I couldn't believe the lather! Fluffy, creamy, soft.
Making GM soap isn't much different than oils-only cold process soap. My method involves adding the GM just before blending diluted sodium hydroxide with the oils. I use just enough GM to add to the luxury of the soap, but not so much as to increase the likelihood of spoilage. (After all, soap IS a fresh product!)
Interested in trying goat's milk soap? I have fragrance free and scented varieties available here: Goat's Milk Soap for Sale
10.13.2010
Best.News.Ever!
Ok, I'm a little impulsive sometimes. Other times, I'm super practical, thoughtful and patient. And times like today--I'm a combination of both.
For months, I've been planning and talking about starting my soap business again in January. I've been stock piling my favorite soaps since this summer and have slowly started talking to my friends, colleagues and family about my intention to sell soap once again. And for months, Sharon (a lovely friend from work) has been pushing me..."Jensine, start before the holidays!" And for months, I've had to temper Sharon's enthusiasm with my practicality and patience.
Now, don't get me wrong...everything's in place for me to start my business again. I was a successful soap seller in Virginia (check out my former store HERE, and here's my FEEDBACK). This year, I took a number of business classes at the local college to learn the regulations about selling in Oregon. And my system? Well, let's just say that when I was in business before, I worked out lots of kinks through hard work and a few well-placed errors. I've got loads of well-cured, flawless bars of soap just curing away...so I'm literally ready to go!
Waiting seemed like a good idea--start fresh with a new tax year, the holidays will be over so no crazy-making, and I can slowly begin to build my clientele here in Oregon. The argument for waiting, though, was weak in a lot of ways...I mean, I am ready to go now!
THEN....the perfect storm. Sharon announces that she knows someone who knows someone who...can help me get into the biggest craft fair of the season! A woman emails me to see if I'm interested in selling in her upcoming show, and I'm overwhelmed with the amount of holiday fairs are within my reach.
Could I start...NOW? Of course I can! And I am. I anticipate having my business license (in Oregon--yippee!!) by Friday, and can't wait to start sharing my lovely soaps with more than my closest friends, but the fabulous people of Bend.
My website is a work in progress, but here it is: Scarlet Ivy Soaps
Check back often, as I'm constantly adding new soaps to my inventory and bringing back customers' favorites. Wooo hooooo!! Off we go!
For months, I've been planning and talking about starting my soap business again in January. I've been stock piling my favorite soaps since this summer and have slowly started talking to my friends, colleagues and family about my intention to sell soap once again. And for months, Sharon (a lovely friend from work) has been pushing me..."Jensine, start before the holidays!" And for months, I've had to temper Sharon's enthusiasm with my practicality and patience.
Now, don't get me wrong...everything's in place for me to start my business again. I was a successful soap seller in Virginia (check out my former store HERE, and here's my FEEDBACK). This year, I took a number of business classes at the local college to learn the regulations about selling in Oregon. And my system? Well, let's just say that when I was in business before, I worked out lots of kinks through hard work and a few well-placed errors. I've got loads of well-cured, flawless bars of soap just curing away...so I'm literally ready to go!
Waiting seemed like a good idea--start fresh with a new tax year, the holidays will be over so no crazy-making, and I can slowly begin to build my clientele here in Oregon. The argument for waiting, though, was weak in a lot of ways...I mean, I am ready to go now!
THEN....the perfect storm. Sharon announces that she knows someone who knows someone who...can help me get into the biggest craft fair of the season! A woman emails me to see if I'm interested in selling in her upcoming show, and I'm overwhelmed with the amount of holiday fairs are within my reach.
Could I start...NOW? Of course I can! And I am. I anticipate having my business license (in Oregon--yippee!!) by Friday, and can't wait to start sharing my lovely soaps with more than my closest friends, but the fabulous people of Bend.
My website is a work in progress, but here it is: Scarlet Ivy Soaps
Check back often, as I'm constantly adding new soaps to my inventory and bringing back customers' favorites. Wooo hooooo!! Off we go!
10.10.2010
Berry Fragrance = evil!
So I've got this fragrance oil (FO)... I bought it from my favorite FO vendor online last year (Day-Star Supplies) having been woo'ed by the promise of sweet fruity fragrance that *most* would love. Out of the bottle, I dare say it's not my favorite, but I certainly have customers that are drawn to rich fruit scents. What I love most about Day-Star is that they give lots of details about how the FO performed in a variety of media. As a cold process soap maker, I appreciate not having to waste expensive oils and time experimenting--they do it for me. Yay Day-Star!
"Slight acceleration in CP." "Soap on a stick," is how the warning should have read. In the soap pan, my pink layer with FO seized on me within seconds. I knew going in that I had issues with the FO in the past, but I did what all emotionally charged soapers do once in a while...I told myself, "This time it will be different. I will work quicker. I'll work at lower temps. I will reduce the amount of FO. Seizure won't happen to me!"
"Slight acceleration in CP." "Soap on a stick," is how the warning should have read. In the soap pan, my pink layer with FO seized on me within seconds. I knew going in that I had issues with the FO in the past, but I did what all emotionally charged soapers do once in a while...I told myself, "This time it will be different. I will work quicker. I'll work at lower temps. I will reduce the amount of FO. Seizure won't happen to me!"
Moments later, I was I rapidly scooping fat globs of pink berry heaven into my wooden molds. It happened to me. I added a top layer of fragrance-free, color-free soap. Then I put those babies to bed. When it was time to cut...
From one bar to the next, it just got worse. The first bars were heavenly! Even colors, lovely fragrance and layers. But as I got closer to the end of mold #2 (total seizure!), I found hideousness.
Not too bad!
There's a few air pockets from the top of the pink layer where it was seized and I didn't smooth down the cream-colored layer.
There's a few air pockets from the top of the pink layer where it was seized and I didn't smooth down the cream-colored layer. Bleck! Mottled, scary, for my use only!
Moral of the story--Write "Not for CP Use" on my own FO bottles! Maybe, just maybe I'll follow my own warnings?
10.08.2010
Fall in Bend, Oregon
I spent the last two days working on new creations in soap making (for me, anyway). The first was a rebatch of some super-fragrant ripe berry soap, and the other was goat's milk soap! I have found the best provider in Central Oregon (that is a story unto itself!), and I'm anxious to unmold it and see how it turned out.
Thinking of fall makes me wonder...do you go through scent phases with the seasons? You know, pumpkin and spices in fall, mint and pine in the winter... Let me know! Are scents seasonless, or season-bound?
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