Michelle at WW

Nice job and good to see you back!

Hi,

I don't know much about it, but here is a link to the blog for the lady who owns the local wool shop in my town. It might give you some ideas. At least you can find her blog service (blogspot?).

http://inasknit.blogspot.com/

Michelle

Like many of you, I am an avid scrapbooking supply collector. I am slowly using it all up making greeting cards. I am also a fabric collector. I have fabulous intentions of sewing sundresses for my girls, quilts, Hallowe'en costumes, home dec. Many things cut and partially sewn... It is always a thrill when I finish something. I also go through a knitting phase every couple of years.

Michelle

I was thinking about this thread last week and didn't realize it had been revived.

I, too, have found that it is simply best to not worry about the people who don't get it. I gave CP soap as part of my gift box for far away friends - but only to those who I knew would "get it". I had email feedback from each one of them within days of unwrapping. One of the friends who didn't get soap acted all insulted to find out that others got soap (one of them mentioned it). She didn't take the sample I gave her when she came over, though. Not worth my effort.

My husband is my greatest supporter. Uses the less girly-scented soaps, the ones with fugly swirls, talks up my craft work with anyone who will listen, and acted all indignant for me when the local farmers' market said they already had a soaper (they didn't care about the differences between M&P and CP). I am pretty lucky.

And Doris, you have a great kid. My kids are only 5 years old, but are so proud of the things "Mommy" makes. They love it when I let them go "shopping" through my finished products to pick gifts for their teachers.

Michelle

I use IGI 4630 for tealights and they last at least 8 hours. I also received some soy tealights in a swap and they went for 8 hours, too.

Michelle

Mango Papaya votives and catching up on my QuickBooks work.

Michelle

Hi,

I order from VCC and Canwax. Every now and then a list member in Ontario does a Peak's or Nature's Garden or similar co-op, which helps in enhancing the offering. Keep an eye on the co-ops because they usually put "Canadian" in the title. That doesn't help you if you are in a hurry, though.

Michelle

The cost of my votives, at C$1.27/lb for wax, using my most expensive FO from the most far away place (higher shipping) is C$0.56 or US$0.47 without packaging. Usually they are less than 50 cents Cdn. Can't wait until I can buy in bigger quantities and get the price lower.

Michelle

Pillars and votives in Mango Papaya and Clean Cotton and a few dipped bears in Crushed Velvet.

Michelle

Hi,

There will be the occasional (or, as I was feeling lately, regularly) unsuccessful show. The weather sometimes does not cooperate, the venue may not be the best, the mix of vendors is not conducive, or the people may not be interested in parting with their money. Each time I encounter one of those shows, I think about what I could do better. I look at the other displays. Does mine stand out? In a good way? How is my packaging compared to any competitors? I look at the products offered by the vendors: are they handcrafted, bought from wholesalers or are they part of an established franchise (PL, Pampered Chef, Tupperware)?

I learned a lesson a couple of weeks ago about doing proper due diligence before signing up for a show. I only found out a week before that non-handcrafted items would be available. Since I had made a non-refundable deposit, I went anyway. It was a dud, but I saw it as time for me and was prepared. I made my Christmas cards (rubber stamping) and put them on display for sale. I sold more cards than candles that day! Still didn't make booth, but my cards are made - just need to be signed!

Better luck next time!

Michelle

I am working on filling my first fundraiser order. I had anticipated most of the orders, so really, I'll be making dipped bears every day for a week!

Hi,

In case you aren't a sewer, try these guys:

http://dunwoodybooth.com/outer.php?UserID=b1a0844f24911eebaada7db4651020b4&page=product&product_type_id=184

I'd give you my amazing Canadian supplier, but they don't ship to the US.

Michelle

Hi,

I would not recommend using your silicone mold for tealights. Tealights usually are made of container wax and completely liquify. Best to make tealights with an acrylic, glass or metal holder in order to have a safe product.

You could make tarts with your mold, though.

M

Hi,

The new font looks better - much easier to read and less skewed.

Michelle

Hi,

That is a great idea! How did you make the embeds? Do you have some sort of mold set with all the letters and numbers? If so, can I ask where you got it?

Thanks!

Michelle

Hi,

I give friends the "no tax" deal, which amounts to a 14% savings for them on the surface, only a 12.28% reduction for me. (I still have to remit the taxes!) Family gets a better deal: 25% off.

Michelle

Thanks for the laugh Robin! Of course, I'm going to keep that technique in mind for when I start selling soap!

Michelle

I spent last weekend doing tart samples for a fundraiser. Dropping the stuff off tomorrow. So, this weekend, it's all fun for me. Might try making some raspberry shaped & scented chunks and make pillars with chocolate overpour. I'll call them raspberry truffle.

Michelle

Those are beautiful soaps. Definitely worth the $8.99 you are going to charge. One day, I hope to be half as talented as you!

Michelle

I am getting a fundraiser presentation ready for a local charity group. Bringing sample products, brochure ideas and melts/tarts for sniffing. I hope the ladies like it!

Michelle

Hi,

I have been working on my M&P for an upcoming fair this past weekend. Everything was working great. My maple leaves were marbling, my pumpkins were popping out of Ginger's molds perfectly, as were my oak leaves... Then I decided to try out the candy corn idea (Tricky Soap Treats) on the PVS site... Well... The orange layer insisted on being PINK. I swear I must have used 1/4 oz of a Bittercreek B&B dye - combination of their orange (which worked fine for my clear pumpkins) and yellow.

Anyway, it's all good now. And all my scraps from the candy corn soap have made their way into the delighted hands of all the neighbourhood kids who passed through the house today.

Michelle

I just received a shipment of M&P to play with, which will help me decide what to do for a swap. And I have some upcoming craft shows to prepare for, so filling in some of the blanks.

Hi,

I made a 2lb version of Eugenia's recipe with a 5% discount on Sunday morning. No fragrance was added. Poured it into my mold when trace looked like thick pudding (which seemed to take forever - will try deeper discount next time - like carolgrant). I took it out of the mold about 30 minutes ago to cut it (so, it's been 62.5 hours since poured). It is opaque on the outside, but marbled on the inside. Is it possibly still in the gel phase? Or, is this typical of castile soap?

I kept out the few pieces I cut and put them into my curing area, but re-wrapped up the rest. Did I do anything wrong?

I washed my hands with some scraps, got lather and lived to tell the tale.

Michelle

Hi,

I have never had a problem with Canwax, but I have found that email is their lowest priority. I place my order by email, but follow it up with a phone call. I pick up my stuff and it is always ready on the agreed upon date.

Like someone said, they were probably bogged down with a ton of orders because they are on two weeks of vacation. I hope everything turned out.

Michelle

Prairieannie, I feel your pain! Lilac, urgh!

I am melting down a Pier 1 pillar that was given to me as a gift long before I started making my own candles. It smells nice but tunnel burned and smoked like no tomorrow. It's going to turn into nice-smelling firestarters.

If I have time, more bath bombs and matching soy votives.

Michelle