SUMMER SALE ~ 136 Days Until Christmas!

Don't procrastinate until the last minute to start your Christmas shopping for this year.  We are currently offering a 40% off sale in our shop!  Anything listed in the SUMMER SALE section of our shop is on sale.  Supplies are limited on some items, so make your selections early.  As we clean out the soap room additional items will be added.

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.

Favors for Special Occasions, Parties, and Events

Birthday Party Bath Treat Favors

This summer has been a busy one for me both personally and professionally.  Additionally, the soap business has kept me steadily busy with retail orders, wedding favors, birthday party favors, bridal shower favors, baby shower favors, and wholesale orders.

Bridal Shower Heart Soap Favors

Currently I am working on gift boxes for an upcoming bridal event, which I am thrilled about.  This is the second year I've been asked to participate in this upscale bridal event.  Last year's request came with a very short time line to pull together a worthy contribution, but proved to be a valuable marketing tool for my soap business.  I can only hope that by having more time and thought going into this year's contribution, and developing a bridal sampler of favor themed products, that this year's contribution will net even more business.

Soy Candle Wedding Favors

In addition to soap, I have started pouring soy candles this year.  I had a wedding this summer where I free hand painted a custom design on the votive cups to match the theme of their invitations, and used a fragrance that the bride and groom both love.

Baby Shower Pacifier Favors

Custom design soap molds came into the picture when I came up empty handed with the availability of soap molds in the size I needed to finish my project.  I used a method found on You Tube using 100% silicone caulking and dawn dish liquid.  While this worked sufficiently for what I needed, I have decided that I will be investing in silicone mold making material that is available commercially for future custom mold making projects.

As the last few weeks of summer vacation rapidly close in on me, I've turned my focus toward autumn and Holiday themes.  Judging from the appearance of the leaves on some trees already (yes, some have already got patches of color emerging), I guess the change of weather and cooler temps is sure to take over before we know it.

I'll Have a Maple Creamee For My Bath, Please

Vermont Maple Bath Treats

It's that time of year when we yearn for that delectable treat and wait in line to get our fill of Ice Cream.  In Vermont the line for the popular and much anticipated Maple Creamee is long, but well worth the wait.

After a day of fun in the sun, your skin is in need of some extra TLC.  We've made an extra special fizzing bath treat for your skin to enjoy.  Fizzing Bath Melts combine the fizzing action of a bath bomb with a luxury bath melt made with Cocoa Butter.  Each delectable bath treat has been scooped up to look like a scoop of ice cream.

To use, simply drop the Bath Treat into bath water and allow to dissolve.  Climb in the tub and allow your skin to enjoy the bath treat!  Please remember to use caution when exiting the tub, as the cocoa butter will make the surface of the tub slippery.

Bath Treats

In addition to Maple, we have Bath Treats available in Raspberry Sorbet, Margarita Lime, Orange Mimosa, Champagne, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry.

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!