Hello, Spring... Where Are You Hiding?

Citrus Spring Spa Washcloth

 It's about this time of year that I start to feel cabin fever.  I know we're on the downward side of winter, given the number of frost heaves starting to make their appearance.  I am also eagerly anticipating another trip to Washington DC at the end of this month, and closely monitoring the extended forecast projections.  I'm hoping and praying that I'll be able to enjoy some warmer weather minus the snow for a few days, at least.  Mother Nature just needs to remember to take her meds and behave!  LOL

For those who are clueless about frost heaves, in Vermont there is a lot of slate and ledge which moves and shifts as the ground begins to warm.  We can't see the ground warming up now that the sun is getting closer and shining longer on our portion of the world, because we are still buried under piles of snow.  Not like the folks in Boston, but we still have our fair share to contend with.  Anyway, as the ground warms, and with all the shifting and moving underground, roads quickly turn into a roller coaster.  Roads that are paved tend to buckle which then the game of dodge the potholes begins.  Roads that aren't paved turn into mud holes, thus explains the fifth season in the Northeast ~ Mud Season.

Today is a very cold and blustery winter day with dangerous wind chills.  My husband is off snowmobiling (crazy man) and attending the annual winter cookout (totally crazy man) for the snowmobile club he is a member of.  Not to mention, I'm quite happy to stay tucked indoors where it is toasty warm.

To pass the time, I'm buried under blankets on the couch armed with a crochet hook and a ball of yarn in spring like colors.  As I stitch away, the colorful ball of yarn is magically transformed into a useful item ~ A Citrus Spring Spa Washcloth, to be exact.  Made with 100% cotton yarn, a renewable resource, makes this an Eco Friendly option.  Colors may fade and shrink slightly on the first wash, but the cloth gets softer and more absorbent the longer you use it.  These spa washcloths quickly become a favorite to use for washing.

Time For a Change

Spotted Cow Soaps

I've been toying with the notion to build my own web store for well over a year now, and it has finally come to the point where I felt it needed to be done.

I have my own personal reasons as to why Etsy is no longer a good fit for my business, but I won't turn this into a bowl of sour grapes.  What I will mention is that the biggest reason for the change is economics.   It is cheaper for me to purchase a monthly hosting fee elsewhere than to continue with things as they have been. The last several months I have spent more on  listing fees and per transaction fees per sale than it would have cost me to pay hosting fees for a website of my own.  Please realize this is not including the transaction fees imposed to accept through Paypal or Etsy's Direct Check Out, which is understandable and expected.  

This is actually good news for me, because this means sales have been steady and growing.  During  the transition period current listings with Etsy will remain until they sell or run out.  All new listings, products, etc. will be listed in our new storefront.  I've still got a lot of work to do but this is a start to turning the page and starting a new chapter.  

Last Minute Gifts and Stocking Stuffers for 25% OFF Sale!

Vermont Maple Lip Balm

It's that time of year for another big sale!  25% off everything (except party favors) starts at 12:01 AM on 12/7/2014 through 11 PM 12/15/2014.  Soap, Soy Candles, Soy wax melts, lip balm, sugar scrub, bath bombs, build a gift basket...you decide.  We are happy to gift wrap at no additional cost, include custom messages, and ship directly to intended recipient.  Give the pampering gift that your loved one will enjoy well after the tinsel and mistletoe disappear. Shop early for the best choices.

40% Off Summer Sale, 133 days until Christmas!

Don't you just love a bargain?   Let us help you get a head start on your Christmas 2014 shopping!  With 133 days left, everything in our SUMMER SALE section is 40% off.  Don't delay your purchases, some items are limited in quantity and will be sold on a first come first serve basis.

Wedding Favor Sampler, Part 1

Favors in the molds

The work has started on the wedding favors that will be part of the favor samplers that will be going into the gift boxes for prospective brides in attendance at an upcoming bridal show.

Heart embeds were made with glycerin soap that has similar qualities to cold processed soap in that it is less likely to sweat.  The process was a labor intensive undertaking due to the fact that the molds had small indentations in the center of the hearts which needed some definition, so I went to task piping the red centers.

Once the embeds were complete, it was on to making the cold process soap for pouring the mini cupcake bottoms and piping the tops.

Curing Favors

After 72 mini cupcakes I ran out of molds and had to wait until they set up enough for releasing from the molds.  And the fun begins of creating the next 72 mini cupcakes!

Eventually these will be wrapped in organza bags before getting tucked into the favor sampler boxes.

Are You Ready for Some Flip Flops?

Butterfly Loofah/Luffa Soap

We've had a few teaser days where I dusted off the old flip flops and it felt glorious! Upon closer inspection of my sockless/slipperless feet, they are in serious need of some TLC after the long winter.  Time to do some aggressive exfoliation and pampering to get them ready for summer.  

I always like to use a loofah/luffa soap.  True to form, I can't have just any plain jane soap for my pampering experience, so I had to create a fun design.  Butterflies and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly.  So, butterflies it is!  

These butterfly loofah/luffa soaps will make your feet feel the love.  We've taken a generous slice of loofah/luffa, and submerged it in a luxurious helping of 100% Vegan Friendly Glycerin Soap and molded them into butterflies. What can be better than a nice bar of scented soap that will both exfoliate and cleanse those rough, stinky feet?

With several scents to choose from, there is one that would appeal to most everyone. 

Winter Disconnect is OVER...Hello Spring!

A sign of spring

The landscape has dramatically changed around here the past couple weeks.  The ski slopes hope to remain open for another couple weeks, but for the most part our snow is gone and the green grass is slowly emerging, the buds are coming out on the lilac tree (YES!) and some trees are starting to bud out, as well.

Easter Sunday I caught a glimpse of the first flowers of spring emerging from one of the flower beds around the house.  These are miniatures, a gift from my hubby for our anniversary about 10 years ago.  I planted them in the ground and moved them two years ago, dividing them so they could "breathe" once again, and they were eagerly coming back to greet me once again.  Their beauty is a welcome sight after the long dreary winter we just endured and inspired me to sit and enjoy the beauty of my yard once again.

Just like I have felt a disconnect with my yard this past winter, the same rings true of doing business online.  Sometimes it is hard to feel a connection with customers when doing business online instead of face to face.  Orders come from near and far, mostly from people I have never met or had a connection with in the past.  It's hard to read body language, find out what the customer is looking for, and guide them to the product/scent that would appeal to them.  If the customer doesn't leave feedback or you never hear from them again it leaves one to wonder if they liked their order, or not?  Some customers return and the relationship grows.

Despite taking a couple years away from the soaping business, I do have customers from the past that are happy to have me back.  Our relationship is rekindled, much like seeing someone you haven't seen in a while. They know they can ask me to send an order on a short time line, and/or wrapping up a gift with personalized messages to send directly to their intended recipient.  The trust we've gained with each other is much like the bond between old friends.  

This week I received an order from someone who lives in the same town as I do and I offered to reverse the shipping charges so to personally deliver the order. The customer was delighted and agreed to the arrangement.  I've seen her around town but had never been formally introduced, so this was a great opportunity.

Gift from a customer

Imagine my surprise when upon arrival, she gifted ME the sweetest (personalized) gift for making the time and effort of delivering the order. She paints on tree mushrooms/fungus and painted this for my business.  This absolutely made my day and I walked away with a big smile on my face.  I hope she can be successful in her endeavors to market her artistic talent.  I know I will enjoy my gift for many years to come, and this will be displayed in a prominent place in my soaping room and on the table when I go to shows.

Moments like this definitely makes one realize it really is a small world after all.

Bath Bomb Fizzies and The Massive Snow Melt

It is hard to believe how fast the snow banks and snow piles are melting around here.  Just last weekend my husband was out enjoying the last weekend ride on the snowmobile trails.  By Tuesday the snow had melted so much that they officially declared the trails closed for the year and each day we've seen more of our yard emerging (yippee) as the snow continues to melt at a rapid pace.  I can see over the snowbanks at the end of the drive without having to scoot up in the seat and do the "hope and pray no one is coming" as I back out (yeah!).

Planning for the summer food service program and the 2014/2015 school year has kept me quite busy the last few weeks (did I mention we have started operating a supper meal program 3 weeks ago?) and I am anxiously counting down the next 5 days until spring break starts on Friday afternoon.

Bath Bomb Fizzies

Earlier this month I made a new batch of Razz Nilla Soap, and a big pile of bath bomb fizzies.  While the soap won't be ready for another couple weeks, the bath bomb fizzies are now available for sale.

After the traditional celebratory launch of vacation I will be tackling some much needed spring cleaning around the house.  After the de-clutter and cleaning is finished, I have compiled a list of soapy projects that I hope to tackle.  OK, the list isn't JUST soapy projects, I have a lot of other ideas (companion products) to go WITH the soapy fun...just in time for Mother's Day!

Whipped Sugar Scrubs Overstock Sale

Before Christmas I was a busy bee making whipped sugar scrubs for a wholesale account and I went a bit overboard with several of the fragrances.  Well... not exactly, the extras were meant to be offered up for late Christmas/early January Sales but time got away from me.  The main reason for going overboard is that many of you have been asking if I will bring back the whipped sugar scrubs, and the answer is yes.  It has been a quite a while since I offered whipped sugar scrubs for retail sales, as I prefer to make them to order to ensure they are freshly made.  So, yes, the whipped sugar scrubs are back with these Overstock Sugar Scrubs, and are available in 4 oz. and 8 oz. jars for a limited time, in the fragrances and quantities listed...AND best of all,  they are on SALE!

I am working on a plan to permanently bring back the whipped sugar scrubs, whipped soaps, and lotion parfaits in the near future, along with lip balms and bath bombs.  I have some of these products waiting to be photographed and am hopeful that during my week of vacation later in April that I will be able to add more of these companion products to my online shop.

Hyacinth, Where Are You Hiding?

Hyacinth Goat Milk Soap

I looked out the living room window this morning and discovered yet another coating of snow that we were blessed with overnight (sigh).  I looked down at the massive pile of snow covering my flower beds that has piled up from the many inches of snow we've received in the last month, to which my husband said, "you don't have any flower beds, you have snow beds".  Exactly!

Inside the house I have created one of my favorite early spring soaps scented with Hyacinth.  This soap has the luxurious addition of Goat Milk, making it the perfect pairing to use during these transitional days between winter and spring.  I'm not wishing for much, am I?  ;)

Goat Milk offers emollient properties, leaving your skin feel extremely loved and nourished. The color for this soap was achieved using micas and the fragrance captures the green essence of the plant along with the flowers.

So while I can't see any evidence of my Hyacinth returning outdoors, I've created a soap masterpiece to tied me over for a while longer.

Curing the Winter Blues

Smile!

It is hard to believe that it has already been five years since my first Grandbaby was born.  How did time fly by so fast?  Stop the clock, already!!!  We went for a visit and to celebrate the momentous occasion. I also snagged some cute T-shirts for the girlies while I was in Washington, DC which required a photo session, of course.  This is one proud Grammy, grinning from ear to ear, because we learned earlier this week that Grandbaby #3 will join our happy, growing family in October and these two precious girlies will have a new cousin to grow up with!

Watermelon Soap

Midweek we were inundated with yet another major winter storm that delivered 2 feet of snow followed by yet another deep arctic freeze.  I am so done with winter, and yearn for warm sunshine, flip flops, and summer fun.  I'm ready to retire the coats, boots, and scarves for a while.  Alas, winter is holding a tight grip and not relinquishing its hold quite yet.  In the soaping room I created Watermelon Soap that not only looks fun, it smells amazing!  A fragrance that cures the winter blues, for sure.

In other news, phase one of our new website design is now complete.  A real website that connects to our blog feed, and for now, to our Etsy shop.  In time products will migrate over to the new website.  At least for now I am please to have everything somewhat tidy and connected from the domain to make finding the online shop and blog/news updates easier.  And now it is time for me to head back into the soap room and create.  :)

News, Updates, and Twilight Inspired Soaps

It has been a while since my last post, and with good reason. My professional life has been consuming a considerable amount of my time the past couple months in ways I never dreamed or imagined. In October I assumed a position on the Executive Board for School Nutrition Association of Vermont and as a result there are many new adventures and opportunities at my disposal.  Additionally, due to the fact that better than 50% of our student population at our school qualifies for free or reduced priced meals this year, we are embarking on establishing a supper meals program which has resulted in a lot of extra planning and preparation to launch.


Visit with
Senator Patrick Leahy (VT)
on Capitol Hill

Perhaps the biggest adventure to date happened last week when I traveled with several others to Washington DC for a conference which culminated in a Capitol Hill visit to speak with our state delegates about child nutrition in schools and how the additional/impending changes to school meals will affect our small rural state. The experience was very rewarding and educational for me, not to mention a rather large step forward for this first time visitor to Capitol Hill. 

I have many new soap designs to share with you, but first some exciting news. We are currently designing our own website and will announce both here and on our Facebook fan page as soon as it is ready. In the meantime, you may still shop in our online shop on Etsy.   

Bella's Kiss Soap

First up is Bella's Kiss Soap. This soap is part of our Twilight inspired collection. Edward and Bella are in a field of wild flowers, and she radiates her presence with a lush blend of violet, gardenia, jasmine with fresh grapefruit, vanilla and white woods. The colors in this soap were inpsired by the color of the wild flowers from the scene in the movie.

Next up is Edward's Tempation Soap.  This soap is also part of our Twilight inspired collection. Edward is smitten with Bella, and radiates his presence with a warm, earthy concoction of bergamot, rosemary, moss, sandalwood, mint and amber. The blue in the soap is inpsired by the dress Bella wore after their wedding, and the red is remiscent of Bella's glowing eyes after her transformation. A sure hit with the men, but this scent is also a great unisex fragrance. 

These soaps are made with Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, Sunflower Oil, Shea Butter, and Castor Oil. The colors were achieved with the use of micas, and the tops have been dusted with a touch of iridescent glitter, reminiscent of sparkling aura exhibited by Edward and Bella.