Faerywren

Merlin's Forest *swoon* One of my absolute faves. I have Moonwork's Autumn Embers, Earthen Oak, Native Princess, Saffron and Spice, Patchouli Raspberry, Fairy Garden, Merlin's Forest, Spirit of Avalon and Winter Festival in my line right now. *shrug* I just can't say no to any of them. I think I need help.

I love anything from Moonworks. Except Gaia. Smells like dirt, Granted its supposed to, but i dont like it.

pics?

Wow! Thanks Carrie.

Bottles and jars are listed as to the "fluid ounces" they will hold. Unfortunately, when making soap and other products, one is taught to do everything in "weight ounces". For a heavy product like lotion or shower gel, 2oz in weight will occur before filling a 2oz bottle. What I've found useful is to weigh a measuring cup, tare to zero, pour my product into the measuring cup to desired fluid ounces, check weight, add correct percentage of FO. I don't go super strong or heavy on any of my FO, so it is a minimal increase in the volume. Most bottles will hold a smidge more than the advertised amount, also. I still get extra sometimes, but my daughters snatch it up quickly, or I use it.

I use a potato peeler. I bought a beveler off the classies here and don't like it. It's clunky and big and (I know it's not rocket science) can't really tell how to use it properly. The For Crafts Sake one looks nice, and I've considered buying that one many times over the years. I wish I would have instead of the one I have.

I bought some of this off the classies. It is wonderful.

Most crafters sell what they make because if gives them an excuse to make more. Because the joy comes from the making, formulating, experimenting. A lot of people see the popularity of candles or bath and body crafting and see nothing but dollar signs. They don't realize the years most of us put into making a quality consistent product. The testing process costs a lot in wax, wicks, fragrance oils (because different ones behave differently) etc. In the beginning of selling you're just going to be recouping your costs, not making a lot of profit. I'm not saying this is you, but like Delphic said, if you don't love the experimentation now, you're really going to hate it when you HAVE to do it. :smiley2:

That's great to know! I just started with candles/tarts so haven't ordered much wax or jars yet. I will definately make the drive when and if I get more into that hobby.

I know how that is. I use a Droid with the new "swipe" text feature. If I don't double check, people have NO idea what I'm trying to say.

I live in Alabama, too. And still order from others besides Alabaster. Sometimes I'd rather have something shipped and it's the same shipping from Peaks as it is from Alabaster! And Peaks always has what I need/want.

There self's? Should be their selves or their self. Sorry, I'm a grammar and spelling snob.

I named my b&b business after my 2 oldest daughters, Willow and Fern. The name is versatile enough that it could be country, posh or contemporary,natural etc. I've gone through quite a bit of logo changes, trying to find my identity. :rolleyes2 I have debated having a separate "sub-brand" for candles called Autumn's Hue using my youngest daughter and a play on my only son's middle name (Hugh). His first name is Alec, which doesn't lend itself to much...lol.

I met Brenda at our local soapmaker and chandler meeting. She is just a doll, and very quick to help! Love Oak Court!

I make my shaving soaps from M&P and add 2 tablespoons of castor oil and 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay per pound of soap. It has a great slip and is a huge hit with my customers. I have one husband who buys his wife a gift basket of nothing but shaving soaps for her birthday every year 'cuz she loves them so much. I bought a pound of the shaving soap base to try, but the ingredients were exactly the same as the other bases with the exception of some wheat protein added (and it was the last ingredient, so not sure how much is in there). I'm going to add my regular castor and clay to be sure. Hope that helps!

My hubby's faves are: bay rum and lime green irish tweed black irish spirit of avalon (from moonworks...yummy! lime with white musk, so wonderful)

EBC is Essentials by Catalina. WSP carries Crafter's Choice bases. Is there no one else that carries Crafter's Choice or did WSP have exclusive rights to their products? I love the Goat's Milk and Honey lotion, and it's a great seller for me, but I won't be paying exorbitant shipping fees to get it. Guess I'll shop around. That's too bad. I was always happy with WSP.

If you couldn't grind it fine enough you could just use it in bath salts. I have some customers who really like the big crystal salts, and they look very pretty when colored in jars. I've used rock/ice cream salt, kosher salt, sea salt, spa salt, you name it I've probably used it.

These are prepared fragranced body oils. They aren't meant to be used in candle or soap preparations. They are for re packaging as roll on perfumes or body oils.

Bramble Berry was one of my first suppliers. I still use them on occasion because their customer service is amazing, but their distance from me makes shipping so much. That is the SFIC base. They don't put a lot of added "junk" to their bases and, IMO, is one of the more "natural" M&P bases you can find. Many suppliers carry SFIC, including Peak Candle, KY Candle and Southern Soapers to name a few.

I do mostly HP and they look very smooth. I don't discount water and I cook on low heat in the crock pot. At the end of the cook I add some glycerin with my FO.

There is a process to make "clear" soaps from traditional CP by adding high proof alcohol. Norma Coneys book tells how to do it.

Guam is US territory, and would be a good "halfway point" to other, further locations shipping-wise. -Julia

My problem with questions like these, is the fact that the person is sitting at the computer and never gets a clue to "SEARCH"! Really? you're going to wait for me to answer you, when you could have been reading oodles of info on the internet!

hey, it wasn't my interpretation. The books say he smells like honey, sunshine and flowers. A point which my older kids, who've read the books, think is "lame". :tiptoe: