Casey

feels kinda grainy...did I do something wrong? Or did I just buy the wrong stuff?

I cut my 16oz size, peeps seemed to prefer smaller/cheaper, plus they were so heavy to lug to show after show to have them just sit there. I was so glad when the last on finally sold!

For me, decent cust service is a "must have" that said, I used to love some of their oils, I'd have several in my lil' line if they were at all reliable. I loved hawaiian sandalwood, tiny bubbles, emerald seas, katmandu, nag champa...sigh. I could go on...

lookin good!

Why are you assuming they don't speak english? Send an e-mail in english and if you don't get results-then worry about trying to translate.

I have a rolodex thingy. Sorted alpha by FO name. On the cards I also write supplier, $ per LB and notes I may find useful:rolleyes2

Very Cute!

Candle cocoon's rocks!

Ooohhh! Nice!

Beautiful!!

Looks Great Robin! Love the new items board-great idea! Totally stealing it!

The Yuzu was labcolors-I followed the formula for a much lighter color, blended for the light end-and that's how it came out. Using these made me a bit nervous, I followed the dilution instructions for the basic 12 TO THE LETTER-and the preservative is just sitting on the bottom of the bottles & not blending with the dye-like oil and water! Then when going to use them, it pours out faster than the dye, so I end up with a cup full of unmixed preservative instead of a dye blend. Shaking the bottle doesn't work. They're just taking up shelf space, eventually I will probably trash them. I like TKB glycerine based liquids much better, and used those for all other batches. Sucks-labcolors cost like $60 and I spent a whole evening diluting and bottling them, all for nothing.

Thanks Guys! I followed a swirl tutorial-pretty idiot proof, obviously-since mine came out!

Spatula marks look like frosting to me...maybe try a heavy trace pour for the top layer and swish a spatula around the top till you get the look ya want. Keep in mind that I'm a total cp newp that is just guessing, lol :rolleyes2 ETA: :embarasse Geez. I just went to your etsy page, am a bit mortifed that I dared chime in at all, your soaps look awesome! SO...ignore me! :embarasse :embarasse

Lime & Litsea Cubeba EO-1st swirl I am pleased with, smells good too! Yay! Basmati-Had an oops moment with the brown...much darker than I intended, but hey, it's still soap!

1st attemt ever -Yuzu- Pink-Yay! 2nd-Malayan Mango-Accelerated and got all grainy-tried a swirl anyhow 3rd-Orange/Petigrain EO-somewhat successful swirl, but the EO is fading 4th-Citrus EO blend-this one traced kinda fast-ended up doing an "in the pot swirl"

Most people don't really realize what they're asking, and don't mean to offend or really want specific details, they're just curious. For the very few who persist closer to the line, I don't waste energy getting upset about it, I just become the queen of vague. Where I get my supplies? "some locally and some online, depending" "I taught myself-took years to make a truly good candle-there is alot of info online-google is my friend" "Candlemaking isn't for everyone-try a kit from Micheals to see if you like it before jumping in-why pay for shipping just to find out you don't like it?

Haven't read the tutorial-but I've done lots of shows, so here's some of my thoughts. First time is very scary, so 1st off, think of it as a learning experience and an opportunity to interact with customers and watch how they react to your products. Play with display, and test out price points. The only way you can "screw up" is if your products are not tested & actually ready to go into other people's homes and perform well. Be ready to answer questions about materials and methods and reasons. For a small fair, 6-10 FO choices, 2-4 pieces in each should be more than enough. But it's up to you, I dunno what all ya make! People can be very kind, or they can be very rude. It isn't personal. Someone will ALWAYS ask you for something you do not have, let it go-does not mean you would have sold it if you did have it, or that if you go home and buy stuff to make it, that it will sell in the future. Stick to your line-Do not purchase or make anything "extra" or different to sell at any particular show. Gift combo's of stuff you have is okay. DO NOT stay up late the night before making ANYTHING! If you don't have it by ready by Thursday, you don't need it. Night before is for pulling show supplies together from your checklist, packing the car and getting some rest! I promise you that if you stay up all night cuz you think you just can't do without product X-no one will even glance at it for the entire show, and you'll be tired and cranky. And finally-Beware of "Strokers"-these are people who praise and praise, stand around blocking your booth while yaking, monopolize your time and attention, and have no intention of buying anything. Enjoy them, but don't let them make you neglect other browsers.

I do a lot of fairs, festivals and events, and I have never heard of jurying being done that way. You actually have to physically show up and give actual samples of your product? Multiples in sizes? That is so weird to me. Is it a well known and established show/promoter? If not, I'd be wondering if they actually know what they're doing. What is the show fee? Usual process in my experience is sending in an application with pics of your craft, your booth and occasionally one of you making stuff. All that being said, I often think it's the sniffer that sells peeps on our type of stuff, and sometimes I get a no when I mighta got a yes with physical samples vs. pics. So, I can't tell you what to expect, but I would recommend not tripping on it, or trying to do anything new or extra. Just take a box of yummy smellin' stuff and spew a spiel if they ask :rolleyes2

double clicked posted twice-sorry!

Yum! That is beautiful!

I just got an Olympus FE230. It is itty bitty but still has a 2.5" screen. 7.1 megapixel, a rechargeable battery, image stabalization, even specific photo modes for candlelight and underwater! Very easy to use, so far I am really liking it.

I need hot spiced cocoa, I have plenty o' time, so I can wait for them to re-open, keep those suggestions coming!

for a candle order, and it seems really silly...wasteful of valueable shipping materials even :rolleyes2 to just get the one FO that I need, and I just started CP soapin' this month...help me order! Suggest your faves!

You never really can tell how much you may or may not sell at an event, there are so very many factors to consider. I would say for your 1st one don't worry too much about how much you're going to sell, focus on making an attractive display, getting comfortable with the process and enjoy interacting with customers. I have a lot of shows under my belt now, but still remember how scared I was that 1st time! Good luck!