Abbiepql

Without a doubt...you ladies always make for a fun filled weekend!

FYI...I talked to OBN today and they will be getting back to me on their status at the gathering.

In all fairness SYR did say she would investigate the bubble bar issue and if she could pull it together by the gathering she would *waiting patiently & crossing fingers * so... there is hope for the elusive bubble bar tut! I would do it, but I am up to my armpits in gellez - in my never ending quest to unlock all secrets *ush.

Liquid soap - why does that topic keep coming up around you ladies? Tabatha is brave, sounds lucrative, but maybe too much work for me. I found great big stainless crocks at Wally, not heavy duty like you would want for cooking but I bet they would work good for soap! Scented I found some awesome dried flowers at the craft store that would work for your bowls, they were for scrapbooking, so they were nice and flat! Deb we would love to see you again! I know what you mean about the DH sitting through demos, Derrick retired last year - but he drops in to visit.

Don't you just love testing new stuff? LOL I got some new ingredients today - in the perfecting phase. Will be testing new jello this weekend (not shooters) Can't wait to see the bowls...inquiring minds and all...I did what you told me with Lori and pleaded for a phenom bubble bar demo!

I left a message for them - no response yet. I will call again on Thursday to see whatzup. I am in for both milk powders too, maybe more depending on cost.

That's it...everyone deserves a break/mini vacation - what better to way than to combine it with biz! I know the Casino and Tangier Outlet make for good fun in between the meeting times.

I think they are milk powders...coconut & goatsmilk! I need some for sure, too hard to find coconut milk for me.

SYR - I wrote you back and if you still can't read the blog - I will re-register for you. So we have pre-buys from Nature's Garden and Candle Science so far. I have not heard from Backwoods? I think Nancy is working on something from an Amish store, but hopefully she will let us know what products that means exactly? I know on the schedule for Friday night besides the Yankee swap is a couple short & sweet demos on herbal beads, scented dusting powder, scrubby conditioner bars and... something else that escapes me right now. Saturday's schedule is still being worked out but tentative topics include: Distilling herbs (with a still demo), Shower & Bath Gellez, Wax Bowls, and Crafter's Liability Insurance. There are a couple more in the works, I will post when scheduled is firm.

We would love to see EVERYONE! JennyJo, Asheebeans - you are really close - I am sure you both would have a great time! Candybee - we moved the gathering date this year, so no conflict right? LOL Early registration ends tonight at midnight! It's a savings of $10. We have sold over half the seats...we only have 40 and we have always had more than 40 attend...we expect to sell out.

That's right, maybe this year I will make it over to the casino. I said I would go if they got tables and they did. Last year they were so crowded. I look forward to seeing everyone again, we are still working on the schedule but so far it looks like some awesome stuff. It's worth the trip just to see everyone again and check out everyone's goodies.

Come join us! July 23rd, Saturday - Washington, PA. Cambria Suites. Early registration underway on our blog/website, until March 15th. Save $10 by registering early. This year the registration includes all the normal goodies AND a continental breakfast! We are still working on the day's schedule and have some fun activities planned for Friday evening as well. Seats are limited to ONLY 40 (and we have always had more than that attending) and will be available until sold out or June 30th. It's always been an extremely fun time and an excellent way to meet many in this CT community as well as network with fellow crafters. PM me if you have any questions.

Even with the reduction of the Lait Sucre from SW I have very good throw in my soy candles - it's a vanilla based scent so it's base is light in nature, but I smell this one all over my house when I burn it and my customers love it - they remark it's stronger burning than in the jar.

Even if you heat gun the tops after a customer burns them they will set up pitted and rough - it's the nature of the wax. Same thing with frosting and wet spots - find to find solutions to fixing those issues but as soon as the customer takes it home and the temperature changes, the wet spots reappear - first time customer lights it and the wax sets back up there will be a frost line and a rough top - it's just the way the wax is. If it's more than you can bear consider a parasoy.

Check out MW Floral Muse when it's back in stock, which Rhonda said will be soon. It's extremely close to the old Flicker's oil, so much so my customers never noticed the difference and I could barely tell.

Try cutting back the quantity of oil on on Lait Sucre, it's weeping out cuz your wax can't hold the volume. The same thing happened to me in soy candles and when I backed off the volume to .75 oz pp and mixed it at a highter temp it bound up fine.

WOW Deb's right if that does not please her - she's crazy! I would have written her a letter explaining the oversight, aplogized and given her a decent discount on her current order or a extra nice giftie (free product) and a coupon on future purchase.

Is this a Spring show? Cuz my reps have a *itch of a time selling candles/home scenting items at shows in the Spring. B&B and Soap does well, but not candles. Just askin'

I agree with what has been written, if there are no numbers to substantiate the fee (proven numbers not estimates) - I would be skeptical. Price wise it's not that bad, but consider "those putting on the show" don't have any track record. I hear from so many lately that shows are poorly attended or those attending are not making purchases, I steer clear of them. The cost of a show like that could easily be absorbed, but the cost of stocking the booth could be piggy bank busting!

Darice - and there are a couple of vendors on Ebay that sell them in bulk.

The Patch Rasp from RE does not smell anything like the one from MW, no where close imo. Those patch mixes discontinued by Elements were only there for a limited time until Rhonda could bring them back in at Moonworks, some were never out of stock? Those oils are Moonworks oils and as of this time (as far as I know) remain the property of MW, so you should be able to get them from Rhonda. I had a post on here somewhere explaining why some of MW oils were at Elements - I think? LOL

Yeah...more Chinese junk, one of my bigges pet peeves with QVC!

Wow there is a lot of good information and advice given in this post, but the the OP question is really loaded! First of all I am all for keeping it simple and finding out what works best for most seems like a fair question, but not one I would use for setting up or starting my business marketing efforts. I think how some posts have responded might have said this, but in case not - here is my take; What works for one may not work for another - and that is for MANY reasons; location, socioeconomic demographics, product, packaging, etc. and most importantly the strength and sucess of the person selling. For example; I can sell my way out of a bag at a craft show- I absolutely despise them, I get chills as people approach the booth. My son on the other hand excels at crafts shows and does really well. So... besides all the factors and variable not under your direct control, you must decide what is your best selling venue based on your skills and abilities and if you don't have those - those of the people you will hire to sell for you. Just being curious as to what manner other have the most success is not a odd or irregular question, but to think that you will use the answers to avoid figuring things out for yourself, to shortline the learning curve - as you yourself worded it - is pretty presumtious. Like regarldess of what method is given you will be sucessful in it - maybe, maybe not. There are simply too many issues to consider. Than again asking the question as a means to determine which you might want to investigate considering your circumstances seems like a fair request. 80% of my business is wholesale and private labeling. The remaining 20% which is retail comes from the internet and work of mouth around town.

I refuse to do business with a company that will not return calls or emails. Their customers service is lacking IMHO. I think it's crazy to have different grades of fragrances, it's a bunch of crap. Difference in strength? No thanks. If you want to tell me one grade is a different composition than the other in order in order to warrant that cost difference - that's acceptable. But this is not what I understand from their explaination - I read "one grade is is more concentrated" does that mean the lesser grade is diluted! So if I buy the lesser grade I am getting something diluted? I think that is biggest joke ever! Combined with their refusal to return calls and emails, I won't be buying.

Don't you love when you find something that has dual purpose? Being a round soap girl I have been collecting Pringles and Crystal Lite containers for years!