camoflauge

Brambleberry has that-it's description says more Hyacinth than Heather. Taylored Concepts has Heather & Hyacinth. not sure if that helps or not. if you do mix your own, according to the scent review you are supposed to do like 60% hyacinth to 40% of the Heather-because the Heather is overpowering. good luck. Heather

:D :cool2: ,...///////////////////////////////////////////////////////// oops. son accidentally posted this. sorry!!! he had fun though, lol. love the look. Heather

Is it possible to hire some extra help-either for the housecleaning-have a maid come in and do some of the cleaning for you, or to hire some kids (or other people needing additional income-to label candles, package, etc. I would love to get those kind of orders, but i don't know what kind of specialty candles you make. i would take 1 day and make a bunch of meals for the month that you could freeze-or at the very least plan your meals for the week and go to the grocery store on sunday and get everything you need to make those meals so you're not constantly running to the grocery store. It doesn't sound like you can handle this all on your own and if you don't get some sort of help you are going to be burnt out and that's no good. Giving up your regular job sounds good in theory, but my guess is the benefits are probably good enough to not want to give it up and hope that you make enough doing candles, etc. it's hard to put all of your eggs in one basket. whatever you decide, good luck. Heather

I've tried both. I like MillCreek's better than BCN-because I like the soy. I tried adding soy oil to BCN's because their shipping is cheaper, but i did not like the feel of it. They are both "ok" in my opinion but nothing to be excited about. Personally, I switched to KY Candle's soy body glaze. I feel that it soaks in quicker and leaves my body feeling softer. I also used their soy whip which is a real thick cream one-but also absorbs a lot faster. I think that my lotions smell better using ky base-not sure why but i could never get vanilla scents to "throw" in either one, and since switching to KY, oh my, the buttercream/vanilla type scents smell heavenly. I have sold a lot more lotion/whip since making the change. seems my customers like the KY lotions better too. here's their website i f you want to take a peek. i know you can do a search too and see what others say about it-that was one thing that prompted me to try it-it got rave reviews from almost everyone that tried it. http://www.kycandlewaxsupply.com/bathandbody.htm the samples from KY are extremely small (think lip pot size), but if you aren't sure, might be the way to go. that's what i did, but i wished i would have purchased the gallons to begin with. but, unfortunately you just never know what you'll get. Just my 2 cents worth. It all depends on the "feel" you are going for. hth. Heather

I've never ordered from any of these, but found it when I was looking. I'm going to try to start making those aroma bead things this way to see how long they last. http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/cooky/cooky.htm http://cincicakeandcandy.com/browse_productType.php?order=all&start=0&limit=0&c=BAKE&pt=CCUTR this one has about 500 on their list. http://www.cookiecutter.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=88 this one has neat outdoor ones and things are categorized by "type"-like hearts, outdoors, flowers, etc. hth. Heather

I've ordered from them not too long ago. Their prices are the best I have found, their shipping is fast and the price is reasonable, and best of all, they are the same quality as any of the other orgazna bags you buy. I would definately recomend them. Here's some past threads. http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64376&highlight=www.yourorganzabag.com http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65388&highlight=www.yourorganzabag.com HTH. Heather

i've used their lotion (millcreek) and like it, however that is the same base a competitor stole from me. so, i'd like to find different suppliers so she can't figure out where I got my stuff. i wish i could just make some of this stuff, but right now I don't have the time or $$ for the ingredients. Heather

I'm looking for soy based b&b type products-including hair shampoo and conditioner, shower gel, bath wash, lip balm, body spray, etc. Soy products seem to be very hot around SD. I know of KY Candles - i'm getting the body glaze and whip-which i absolutely love, i've ordered from Millcreek but my competition has found out about them. i love their shampoo and conditioner but the shampoo tends to get watery even when you don't overdo the FO. i've been using storebought shampoo and my hair does NOT like it at all. it's rough and scratchy compared to what it was when I used the soy shampoo/conditioner. I've heard of moonglow here in sd but they don't have shampoo/conditioner. I have also thought of buying bases and adding some soy protein to it? . i did find this place whose prices almost seem crazy, they are so low. I know the "recipe" is basic and i would need to add my soy or whatever, but i would be willing to add a few things-i need to see what shipping would be to me. http://www.naturecleanproducts.com/unscented.htm . Maybe I should just bite the bullet and order the same products even though she could order them too. at least she won't have the same scents I have. i could thicken up the shampoo with something. TIA, Heather

That's good to know. How is their customer service? Can you recommend any of their fragrances? sugared pink grapefruit sounds good for spring/summer... and have you tried any of their bases? It sounds like you can use their oils for candles too. I think I will place an order for a few samples.. Heather

I found this company called Soap Wizards www.soapwizards.com - they are in Glenville MN and they have some soy bath and body stuff I'd like to try and some other bath and body bases. I'd try some fragrance oils too if I knew of anyone that had used this company before. TIA. Heather

well, with the help of my friend, a gal that pm'd me, some website searching, and some in depth reading of the schedule C i finally got the inventory figured out. I don't really have a problem with the record keeping-i've been using a free computer software for the expenses, etc. I do hate the actual taking of inventory part though. Trying to figure out exactly what I have left of everything is a PITA. Necessary I'm sure. I wish there was some affordable way I could keep track of inventory in some sort of software program. I can't afford a $300 program-I know that there are inventory programs out there. I guess I'll have to look around and see what I can find. Thanks for the help!! Heather

I usually do my own taxes but I am stumped this year. Can anyone tell me what figures you use to figure out your inventory? what "purchases' are included in this section, and what "supplies" do you claim on part 2 (besides office ones) and what expenses do you include on part V expenses-if any. On your invenory, do you have to figure out the cost of everything you haven't sold? or just the items you have made and ready for sale? I just want to make sure I do this right and I can't afford to pay a tax person-this is the only thing I haven't figured out. I've done my own business taxes for 7 years on my daycare so I do know quite a bit, but I've never had to deal with inventory on it so this is a tad confusing. I have read the schedule c instructions and the publication 538 and I still can't seem figure it out. Thanks for anyone who can help me out-if you know a website that will help, feel free to point me that direction. I did a search on here but didn't find anything that would help. Thanks in Advance. Heather

crazy cacti-i pm'd you the links too... hth you envision what they look like. They are easy peasy to make. You don't even need all the herbs if you don't want to. You basically need the flax seed or whatever "filler" you choose. I use flax seeds and hard winter wheat. Heather

You're welcome!!! I will definately reorder from them when I run out. I was very impressed with their service too!!! ( I'm not affiliated with them either, lol!) Heather

crazycacti-what i do is sew one side of both pieces under to make a clean edge to sew together. then, i put the pieces together inside out and sew the 3 pieces together, then, I turn it right side out, you can sew 1 line or 2 (depending on how big it is and how much stuff you want in it. I usually do 2 lines, but for carebear, I only did 1 line right down the middle and made them a little smaller than usual since I didn't have a ton of time to get them done for her). then, i fill with a mix of herbs. I usually use a mix of hard wheat, flax seed, peppermint, lavender, chamomille, I also added some other root & bark herbs-don't remember exactly what anymore, but I don't think all those things are necessary. Then, when you have it filled, just sew the last edge together-either by hand or by sewing machine. I usually do sewing machine. The herbs are basically optional, but I like the "aromatherapy" of the mix of herbs. That reminds me, I've got the bag sewn, but I still haven't gotten it filled. Tomorrow!!!! Carebear, :embarasse I'm just glad they enjoyed them. It made me feel good knowing I was able to help someone else this Christmas. I grew up extremely poor and we always got gifts from the "Giving Tree" where they put boy or girl, your age and a few things you liked. I remember one year being happy/yet disappointed that we got new blankets. Happy that we got something, but slightly disappointed that it wasn't fun like other kids got. My parents did get us stuff but it was rummage sale stuff. Looking back now it doesn't seem as important as it did. Now that I am in a position to help others, I do so as often as I can afford to. I remember how I felt when people helped us during our time of need. I almost teared up knowing that they sent you a thank you and that they have actually been using them. How truly sad that they couldn't even sign their first names. I've been saying my prayers ever since read your "plea for help". At least they have taken the first step and gotten away from the abuse. Take Care. Heather

You're welcome. Glad I could help. I stumbled upon them looking for some bags that were made of fabric (of which I have yet to discover a site that has more than 2-3 patterns for under 60 cents.) I did find one site that has some camoflauge ones i really love, but i'd love to find one that did a bunch of different fabrics. I know a person can make them, but i think it would be so time consuming, especially since I have such limited time to do/make things in the first place. Heather

Tags? Do you mean the little annoying white tags that are sewn into the drawstring area? No, there are absolutely NO tags on these whatsoever. They are the exact same ones you get at walmart or other places. It is just the organza bag with the drawstring ribbon about 1/2 inch from the top.. I use the white, ivory, gold and silver colored ones and then color my beads for a dramatic look. Plus, then I don't have to have 100 different colors on hand to match the beads. I also like to use 2 different colors of beads-like when I do cranberry orange I do part red and part orange. It looks very pretty!! Edited to add that the "strings" on here aren't the really long ones like I think you are talking about. They are tied together on each end, you cinch the bag closed, then I tie around the opening for "safety" and then hang them from the "clothes" hooks usually found in a vehicle. I do have some of those more "handmade" type ones that have super long ribbons and aren't tied together. I personally like the "drawstring" type ones that are tied together as the ribbons are really long. You could cut them to fit and tie them too though. hth, Heather

I'll be truly honest, when I first started out making candles, tarts, bears, I tried a handful of scents from RE and I couldn't get a throw out of any of them. They were weak in the bottle and weak in my soy. I thought maybe it was just me but I asked other "impartial" noses and they could not smell either. So, I tried in b&b figuring it was just my wax (I use EZ soy), but I couldn't get much of a smell in b&b either. Not sure if I just picked some duds or what. I do like some other things from them... I've found enough other places that i really LOVE, LOVE, LOVE so I don't really need to order from them. I may try them out again the next time I need their bags for the dipped critters. HTH, Heather

mine too. in the bridal section too. they are a little spendy at almost 40 cents each, but worth it if you needed them yesterday. a lot of the super walmarts still carry the craft depts. don't have a "regular" walmart around here so I couldn't tell you if they still have craft depts. or not. hope you find some. Heather edited to add www.yourorganzabag.com has awesome prices for the next time you need organza bags. I've used them and definately would reccomend them to anyone.

http://www.candlesupplys.us/

I LOVE this scent!! I only used it in lotion and a bear, but I am definately going to try it in candles. I just need to get my list in to Santa....... Actually I just need to decide what else to get while at ICS to make shipping worthwhile.

Not sure how I did it at the time, but I figured for each 1 oz organza bag I had about 50 cents into it, so I sell mine for $2.50 each and they go like HOTCAKES!!!!! I found my organza bags very cheap on www.yourorganzabag.com for 9 cents each and the shipping is a flat $4.95 and even with that cost figured in, they are still a LOT cheaper than anywhere else I've found them with an extensive color selection. I use the 3x4 favor size as that seems about perfect. I sold over 10#'s of these suckers this craft show season and for me just getting started a year ago and getting a reputation, I thought that was pretty darn good!!! I have a lot of good comments about them. hth... most people like the fact that the price is comparable to the "trees" at wallyworld (and of course they have to put 3 in a package for that price because once you open the package completely, you only have a few days of scent-imo anyways) but that they last for over a month!!! Heather

I've tried a passionate kisses from elsewhere that I really love, but I think I'm going to have to try Bert's too-I could always rename. I use EZ soy and everything I've tried so far smells very good. I'm very impressed and so are my customers!! Heather

aaww shucks... Just helping a friend in need. I needed an excuse to make one for myself anyways!! Heather

In that case, I'd be happy to help you out-mind you they won't be "perfect". Things are busy around here too,I will drop what i'm doing for something important like that. I'll see if I can't get them done this weekend. pm me your address so I know where to send them. Heather