Candybee

Forgot one of my favorite pumpkin blends is Pumpkin & Gingerbread. Also like Pumpkin Brulee, Pumpkin Latte, and Pumpkin Vanilla types.

I was wondering about that too! Steve, you have some 'splaining to do. LOL

Nice to have you back!

Steve-- check out your local farmer's markets. I was able to find a couple of farmers that butcher their own stock and willing to sell me lard and or tallow. One said they had the leaf lard. I never took them up on it because I don't think I really want to render my own fat other than for the experience. But local markets, butchers, etc. may have leaf lard if you ask around. Every town, city, and county around here has a local farmers market. I'm sure their are some in your area too. Lots more people selling at markets who lost their jobs and using it as a source for income so more chances to find one that sells meat and meat products. BTW-- I love both lard and tallow soaps too!

I use CS Pumpkin Pie and Pumpkin Souffle. I also like BW's Pumpkin Cornbread.

I have to second nurturesoapsupplies for their customer service and their micas. Love them! Haven't tried their molds yet-- they are pricey-- but they are gorgeous. If I had the money I would buy me some in a heartbeat.

You said it! A well made soap is wonderful no matter what process you use. I've had both M&P and CP soaps that were great. I've had some of each that sucked too. It all boils down to the quality of your recipe, method, and ingredients.

I have not had one customer complain or even question my palm wax candles. You can find pros and cons with just about every manufactured wax and oil on the market, eg; palm, soy, olive oil, coconut oil, and paraffin if you look into it. Just depends on which one is the 'hot' topic for that year. There is an enormous amount of marketing hype aimed to undermine sales of competing products by unscrupulous manufacturers. I love making soap and candles and don't let all the hype stop me from doing what I love. Okay, off my soapbox now.

Why don't you? You won't regret it. My customers complained at first when I switched from soy to palm. But the sales person in me touted the pros of palm and once my customers started using them they loved them. Also, most candles at craft venues are soy so palm is pretty new to many and that makes them unique. I tested palm out for a couple years before I switched. I knew my customers would complain at first but by then I knew the wax inside and out so felt comfortable talking about it. Sorry about the threadjack. My apologies to the OP.

It was hot! hot! hot! The weather not the market! The summer heat and humidity always effects my sales. July can be pretty slow. Two of my farmers markets were pretty slow because of the heat. My Friday and Sunday markets are new for me this season so its been slow going building a customer base. But my Sunday market I am beginning to see more repeat customers and so by the end of the day all my sales were from repeat customers. Saturday was my best day. Again the majority of my sales were from repeat customers. I like those because they spend the most money! I sold out of my salt bars and shaving soap so I will be making more this week. I am getting more requests for facial soaps especially my lard soap, non-drying hand soap, and extra moisturizing soaps. Seems the Summer heat is making more of my customers looking towards soap for dry skin and skin blemish problems. I am also getting requests for a soap with Jewelweed for poison ivy. Since I don't make those I will research jewelweed and see if I can come up with a recipe. Soooooo.... Summer heat does have its perks. I have one repeat customer that keeps buying out all my spearmint and eucalyptus salt bars. I keep making them but by the time I put them up for sale they sell out real fast. Anyway, she's the one that's buying them as gifts for an upcoming Sept. wedding. She picked up her 2nd order Saturday and asked about a 3rd order for next week. Apparently they are making a big hit. I am waiting to hear back from her this week on her decision. Lavender blends, citrus, and earthy scents like Goddess, Patchouli, Oakmoss and Amber, and Egyptian Amber are again big sellers this weekend along with the skin problem soaps.

I tested C3 a while back and it seemed pretty decent. I liked the wax okay but have since moved on to palm. When I did use soy I used the Ecosoya waxes instead. If it weren't for those I would have gone with C3.

Those look really good. Looks like your wicking is doing well for that tin. How is your HT?

M&P vs CP is one of those arguments that I'm afraid will never go away as long as both are around. I think the best advice I can give since I have done both for many years is to say be honest about your soapmaking and make the best soap that you can. Then you can be proud of your soap and it will show. Remember that you chose M&P for a reason and that reason is valid to you. If you have a well made product you should be proud and not worry about the other soaper. The soaper that bragged about her CP soap is one thing but to dis another soaper because hers is made from M&P base is just bad business, unprofessional, and just plain tacky. It makes her look bad and a bit creepy to badmouth another soaper. Customers are smart enough to pick up on that. I don't do it and don't think much of soapers or other crafters that do. On the other hand, if you know for a fact that another crafter or soaper at a craft show or market is badmouthing your products you should tell the show organizer about it. Most won't tolerate that crap and the badmouther could be ejected from the show or not invited back.

Oooh! That sounds nice. I use their lemon verbena in my CP soap. Wonder if their lemon slices is soap safe?.. going to check it out.....

Too bad! That sounds like a great combo. CS has a nice pomegranate sage. I imagine if you mixed that with some cinnamon you would have a lovely pomegranate sage spice.

Number2of7-- that's a whole lot of fragrances to carry!

I've never seen soap felting done before. Interesting vid. Thanks for sharing Vicky! We have a large alpaca farm in our area, Poseythisisit Farm. Will give me an excuse to go visit it and pick up some batting for felting.

Sorry about the font. Tried twice to make it bigger in editor but it didn't take.

Is FB Fragrance Buddy? I use SGS/ Pure Fragrance Oils Cucumber Melon and its a big seller for me. I use aloe and cucumber juice as my lye water and coconut milk for the other half of my liquid. This year I have sold a lot of CM so it is definitely making a comeback. I've been saving my tallow mostly for my shaving soaps but I love a good animal fat soap with either tallow or lard.

Fillmore Container's Iced Lemon Biscotti is wonderful and a great thrower. Or are you looking for a straight up lemon scent with not bakery or floral notes? I have only used blended lemon fragrances as they tend to smell fuel like or like kerosene if not blended with a vanilla note.

I notice they have CP info on the FOs. Very nice. Will have to see what they get in the future. That Smoke & Mirrors and Golden Embargo amber FO sounds nice.

This week's batches I made were: Burberry Rum, Twilight Woods, Unscented Lard soap, and Cinnamon CP soaps. I wanted to make more but I also have some orders to fill. Got another order for more of my Spearmint & Eucalyptus salt bars. Those are really selling and now I need to make another batch of those two. I have a sample of Patchouli Amber that Barbara sent me a while back that is calling my name. Hopefully next week I can make that. So what are you all working on this week?

I have often wished to start a blog but like others don't really have the skills or the know how to begin. The other part is the time factor. I don't seem to have the time to do soap website let alone even log on to my twitter and facebook accounts. I think the #1 reason I don't is the lack of time. I would still be interested in a class. The kind I can just read through when I have the time. I don't want to be tied down to a set time as my priorities change from day to day with my orders and production needs.

That's so cool-- hope you do well!! I too am worried about sales over the next few weeks. We are just entering the really sloooooow part of the year. Its hot in July and August and well, sales are always slow.

Thanks for the suggestion.