cedar_lea

Stella -- How do these dyes compare with Peaks liquid? I've only really played with Peaks before & I'm thinking I need to switch dyes because I'm not getting very far in the frosting battle. I really want to be able to stick with the liquid because it makes more sense to me color theory wise.

I like the apple jack idea for fall. Apples screem fall to me. Fresh Pressed Cider? September Harvest? Apple Picking Season . . . I'm sure you get the idea & I could probobly blather allong this line for quite awile. Cloven orange seems more winter to me so that one's trickier. I could see the bakery scent as fall a little easier. Goes back to the harvest theme again . .

Favorate scents of the men I know are: Bergamont, Amber, Dragon's Blood, Leather, Clove, & Lavender. I only do blends so I can't speak on specific FOs that sell well (also not much in the selling yet).

Where was this post 3 days ago when I ordered from them! I totally would have grabbed some of that coconut!

I love your more abstact ones. I can't decide if #2 or #3 are my favorate. I also really like the vertical striped diamond one and your rubix cube.

I want to play with it too! I wish they were a little bit closer & I'd try to pick some up myself. Where's our Seattle people?

Speaking of cake decorating techniques has anyone seen/heard of anyone decorating soap like fondant? It seems like it *should* be possible but I'm not sure.

Elements always has such great priced containers. It's what got me started buying from them in the first place.

My must haves are Ocean Fresh Cut Roses I've only used them in B&B so far, but I read alot of positive reccomendations before I purchased them.

I did a quick search for you. I haven't actually ordered any of these, but I have ordered from several of the suppliers and I know they're all pretty reputable. http://www.lotioncrafter.com/lip-gloss-wands.html http://www.tkbtrading.com/item.php?item_id=508 http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/1-3-oz-Lip-Gloss-Bottle-w-Gold-Wand-pr-1183.html http://www.sunburstbottle.com/plastic-jars/lip-balm-and-tubes/LIP http://www.makingcosmetics.com/Containers-amp-Bags/Lip-Care-Containers/Lip-Gloss-Container-Sala-1-p257.html

Thanks! I never would have thought of that!

Tell me if you do try to Coppertone. In my other life I'm the local rep so product info is always good

Thank you guys! I showed it to my SO last night and we decided that I need one. He's being good about not beeing too excited about inheriting the fancy crock pot. I think I definately want the spigot. I have never been good with a ladel (it is possible that I am the messiest person in the world.) I'd seen them in the stores but hadn't noticed the temp gage & if I did I was probobly scared off by it only having big numbers. I just couldn't picture how they worked so I would chicken out. Are they easy to clean? OH & thank you for the detailed description Stella. You're always so good at making things clear.

Oh wow! How cool is that! I've read several posts on the subject and never came accross that link. Do you typically just pop the lid off and stick a thermomenter in it every so often then? When I use my double boiler I sometimes clip one of those bulldog paperclips to the side of my container and just let the thermomenter sit. Would that work or is the lid importaint to the way it heats?

OK . . . that would make my SO very happy. He was totally jealous when I brought it home (I hadn't realized his crock had cracked). OK even sillier question. How to the prestos work. Do they even have a temp gage? I don't remember seeing one on any that I'd looked at in stores. What I saw on like looks like the come with steamer pots. Is there a bowl that comes out that I'm just not seeing or is it all just one big cavity. I'm getting the indea that that is the case from Stella's post but I'm sure that that's what scared me away from the ones I'd seen in stores.

So I was at a thrift store the other day and I found a brand new crock pot with a temperature gage so you can heat it to the exact right temperature and even a thermometer that can go in your wax and measure it that way for a really great price. I had previously been using a makeshift double boiler with a pyrex container & getting really annoyed when my water evaporated just before everything got to the right temp. So now I have this tool that should make everything easier and I'm wondering how exactly do I use it? Do I put the wax directly in the basin and if so how do I get it out again without spilling? For small batches I could fill it with water and still use my smaller pyrex . . I could maybe pick up the crock and slowly pour into my bigger pyrex and then from there pour into my candles or use a ladel or something . . but wouldn't that leave alot of wax behind? I'm a wee kitchen impared so I apologize if this seems like a really dumb question. I've never actually used a crock pot to cook. Actually since I discovered wax I've done more in the kitchen than most of the rest of my life.

There's something really classy about that green tea & lemongrass one.

Have you tried Coppertone's sensitive skin formula? It's pretty zinc based but not so white it doesn't rub in. They came out with it last year & I'd be curious how it does for you.

I'm in Portland so I thought that might be the case when you said WA. Just in case you didn't already know there is a supplier in driving distance from you. One day while I was waiting for a shipment I went crazy and tracked down as many local suppliers as possible, just in case I needed to not have a wait for some reason. http://www.candlesoylutions.com/thumbnail.asp

Where are you?

I'm just fighting with frosting. It's no big. I'm the one who decided that I HAD to use soy wax I could buy in town & I'm satisfied with it's ability to take scent which was my biggest worry. And really I just picked up some soy additive so I just need to stop being distracted by body butter and go see if that makes it all better. . . so I really don't have much room to complain. But those even colored smooth things do spark a bit of envy.

Peaks Ocean taught me not to judge OOB. I was like "kinda bland clean smelling ocean scent like all the others" and then I put it in a soap and it was Holy Cow Salty Perfect Ocean Scent! So sold I broke down and bought a lb . . and a sample of one of AHRE's watery scents (I think it was kelp) just to see if I hadn't been giving all the others enough credit too.

what she said

Beautiful! Someday my tarts will be pretty like yours! (I had to say it because I know it'll make your feel good, but it's also VERY true)

Just a simple thought on display: Could you move the shelf so that it is the closest thing to the wall? I could see it feeling like it's blocking you from your customers and making you seem unavailable to that half of the area. The section next to the wall looks like it's just as tall but is less heavy so it would be easier to chat through. All and all your displays look well merchandised and very professional. I personally don't know too much about markets but from your description it sounds like you've done fairly small events and definately gotten your share of the attention, so that would equal good.