rebeccajo99

I have been making and testing soap with ground oatmeal. My ratio that I have been using is 1/4 cup to 1 lb of oils as that is what I have been finding on the internet when I search for recipes to test and tweek, but I feel like it is too scrubby. So, before you laugh at me... let me tell you a little about myself. My sister-in-law laughs at me because I'm not girly. I don't wear make-up and only take 10 mins to get ready in the mornings. So before I started making my own soap and B&B items, I never "pampered" myself with this stuff, I never understood why. So, am I just being a whimp and I should throw my bars to my testers for thier opinion or have you found in your testing that 1/4 cup to 1 lb of oils has been too scrubby as well and I should lower it the ratio. Thanks in advance.

I don't know how I missed this post earlier. Your soap is amazing. Could you point me in the direction on how you did the swirls in the one on the left in the bottom picture. It looks green on the bottom, white on the top, and it almost looked like you draged somthing through the soap to get the green lines in the white. I've been doing HP and love it, but I want to start doing some other coloring techinques besides the 2 that I do right now Is there a spot that I can go that will show me all the different techniques and things you can do with HP soap? I've been searching, but cannot find anything. I was about ready to say that there must not be anymore techniques until I saw your soap!!!!

I like how this one has come to life:) Thanks for all of the website sharing. I like the one with all of the other animals, but don't know if I like the idea of stuffing them myself and it sounds like once it is zipped up, you cannot unzip it Hopefully Bittercreek will add other animals.

You probably could, but I wouldn't know of a way to refresh the beads then either. (Plus my sewing skills are not the best )

I am testing a sachet made with aroma beads and my clothes seem to smell like the scent. Is that was sachets are supposed to do or do I have this one too strong? I don't think I had that with my other scents I tested. HOwever, my other scents were in sock drawers where this one is in my teashirt drawer, so I don't know if that makes a difference.

I don't use it, but I looked it up. At first glance, it looks like they use excel for the data and made it look pretty. You can keep track of all that information yourself with excel.

I did 3 shows too!!! 1 Thursday, which was bad, but no booth fee so I can't complain, 1 Saturday which went well. Lot of foot trafic, but people were just not buying. I am still very happy with my results. and 1 that was Thursday, Friday and Saturday. That was at my Aunt's house, so she manned my stuff while I was at the other shows. That did very well!!! 1 more show on Thursday, then I'm done for the season. Then it is test test test to add new things to my line for next year

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I knew I could count on you guys to come up with some great ideas. :yay: Now what to use/create with your suggestions

Any suggestions on what to rename Candle Science Day at the Spa? I'm drawing a blank. Here is their description of the scent. Day at the Spa is a calming and balanced fragrance oil that combines notes of lemongrass and black currant with hints of patchouli and sugar cane. It's a great year-round fragrance that fits well in an aromatherapy line. Thanks in advance:)

I have been wanting to use clamshells too, but I use palm wax for my melts. Has anybody found a clamshell that has a high enough pour temp so palm wax can be used?

The lease agreement that I signed in September is written. This change that she is charging me for was supposedly sent via e-mail. I am paying rent and the percentage of the sales she keeps is only 6%. So I get a majority of of the money. I am not going to be signing any more agreements for consignment again.

I guess I don't understand why she would be upset about paying the fees. When I signed the lease the agreement in September, it said that we could pay using paypal. I asked her if we had to pay extra by doing that, she said no, she eats the fees incurred by paypal. She is now asking that we send our rent payment as a gift so she won't get the fees. I was using paypal to pay since I am sharing a booth with my aunt. That way, I did not have to get money from my aunt before mailing or driving there to drop off the check. I just wait for our check from our monthly sales and then take my aunts portion from that and give her the rest of her sales.

no, this is not the same person that took deductions from my check before. That person and I talked about it and I showed her the paperwork and evidence. She admit that everything was her mistake and we have a new agreement in place about it. I have not had any problems since. This one today is a totally different person/landlord and store. The e-mail that she copied does not have an effective immediantly or date when the change will go into effect. The lease agreement that I signed says "Terms and conditions are subject to change by Management upon written notification to Vendor." I've been trying to figure out if sending an e-mail counts as written notification. I've talked to 2 people about it so far, 1 says no it is not and the other says it can be used, but I would have had to respond saying I got it, or a read receipt would have needed to be sent back to the sender showing that I got it before the change can go into effect. She sent me an e-mail (not in reply to the one that I sent earlier) indicating the dates she sent the e-mails. I received one on a date that she says she sent the e-mails, but it is not for the same policy change and I reread that e-mail 5 times now wondering if I missed it, but I still don't see it in that e-mail. I was going to have my husband read it too when he gets home from work. The deduction she is making is to cover the paypal fees that she incurred from me paying the rent with paypal. The change in policy was how the rent is to be sent if using paypal to pay it.

I don't use the card reader, but have been researching it. From what I researched on it, you can do it 2 ways. You can have it connected to a computer with internet access (make sure it is secure internet access) at shows and swipe and run the card there or you can just swipe all the cards and then attach it to your computer when you get home to process the cards. However, if you choose to process the cards later, you will have to write down some information (like the last 4 and amount) so you can go back and write in how much to charge the card. I've been thinking about getting one too, but for the amount that it is and the amount of cards I process right now... it isn't worth it. I maybe do 1 or 2 transactions a month. If I start doing that a show, then I will think about it more.

I so should have taken all of your advice and not done any consignment shops. I have 2 of them and 1 I was having problems with, but we worked them out and we are now doing great. Sales are starting to pick up and all is good so far and the store owner and I have a good and open relationship. However, I am now having problems with the other one. I payed my rent as I always do and this morning I went to go check my e-mail and she sends me one saying she is deducting money from my commission check as according to the following policy change. I read the e-mail that was copied and pasted below the message and I was like "what, you can't do that without telling me". I looked at the time stamp on the copied e-mail and it was sent Friday. I looked at all my e-mails and I never recieved it. I called to talk to her about it and she snapped at me and said she sent 3 e-mails on it and she doesn't have time to talk about it. I sent her an e-mail telling her that I didn't receive the e-mail... even included a screen shot of all e-mails recieved from her to show it and asked for the fee to be refunded. I'm still waiting to hear back from her, but all I can say is... I should have taken your advice. I only did it to get my name out there since with my kids, I don't have time to go around to shops looking for wholesale accounts. I don't think I will actually get any wholesale accounts from just having the information out on my table at shows, but we are going to just have to hope and pray that I do... otherwise, that part will just have to wait until my kids are older.

Thanks guys for all of your encouragement. I never made jewelry before, but I bought the stuff yesterday to start practicing. I want to make just resin pendents (for now ). I was with my aunt yesterday and told her what I wanted to do. She was looking through a book on resin jewelry while I was picking out my supplies and said she wants me to make beads for the jewelry that she makes too!!! I have not started yet and I already have an order. Good thing she didn't put a due date on it so I don't feel pressure if testing and practicing doesn't go smoothly

I like the key rack idea. I'll have to find a tester for that as I don't have a key rack

Thanks. I thought maybe it would look tacky by having a hodge podge of things making it look like you couldn't make up your mind what you wanted to make. I'll give it a go.

Do you think it would be tacky to sell jewelry and/or home decorating products (like etched picture frames or glass figuring’s) with soaps and tarts.

Thanks Vicki I am going to marketing them only as drawer fresheners until I can test them in a car in all weather conditions like you do. Money isn't rolling in with this business where I can tie funds up in testing for long periods of time. Which is why I was thinking about doing just drawer fresheners to start and add uses as they are tested. I started thinking this morning about maybe doing it as room fresheners as well and find a way to put them on vents for the air flow, but with a lot of vents being on the floor, didn't know how I would do that and still be safe for pets and children.

I was at a show this weekend and actually had time to wander before the show started. Scentsy was there and this person had this cute little stuffed elephant sitting there. I picked it up intrigued and the rep told me that you use their scent packs (which look like aroma beads in a mesh/fabric sachet) and put it inside the animal. You can smell the scent through the animal. I thought this was a great alternative to wax dipping animals. Does anybody know where you can get animals for this. I found some at bitter creek, but I only saw teddies. I would like other types of critters too. Thanks in advanced

I've been searching on here and couldn't find an answer to my question. I was wondering how long you waited before considering a scent marketable in aroma beads. I am currently testing 2 scents right now which are about 3 weeks old(which is after all the oil was soaked up). I've been testing them in my dresser drawers as sachets and they both still smell great. Part of me is thinking that those scents are good, but another part of me is saying wait longer. Just wondering what you guys do. Thanks in advance (if this is actually posted somewhere, please just give me the link )

Thanks!!! I will work on getting those added too.

I'm starting to write up a wholesale "agreement" (order form and terms/conditions) I was wondering if you offer the accessories for your product on your orderform (like candle warmers, sisal bags, soap dishes) Also, do you mention approximently how long it will take to fill the order. I didn't know if this would even be possible since you won't know the order size and what else is going on order/life wise. I think that is all my questions so far:)

I just started testing wicked palm candles and have been liking csn wicks. I wonder if they will discontinue those as well. I hope not as that will make most of my testing of that I have done null and void now:sad2:. Oh well, life of candle making While I don't like the fact of disforestation, there are ways to help. For every tree they cut down for whatever reason... (lumber, oil, wax) plant a new tree. Yes it takes a long time for a tree to grow to the point where it can be used again for whatever reason (again, lumber, oil, wax) it is better than leaving the ground plain. A newly planted tree still provides shade on hot sunny days (maybe not for a large animal or a person, but even the smallest bug needs shade) and it take CO2 and turns it to Oxegan. But then again, that is only my opinion:)