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!

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!" 

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. 

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?

Fall in Bend, Oregon

Fall is officially here!  I am so excited to see the Three Sisters Wilderness Area is lit up with vibrant aspens and sunshine.  The weather is turning crisp and I am excited for the newness of autumn.  This is by far my favorite season of all time--the clouds seem brighter, the trees grow bare, and the sounds of crunching leaves just can't be duplicated.  I feel most creative this time of year, and good thing!  It's craft fair season! 

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?