I've Moved!

This is a bittersweet announcement. I'm excited, nervous and just a little wistful all at the same time. This is my very last post here on my Blogger bloggity-blog.

I've moved to a new website, and taken this little blog with it. The new site is gorgeous and fresh and clean. Something I've been working on for a long time, but as with any new technology stuff, nervous about the first beginnings as there are bound to be glitches or hiccups along the way. Nothing that can't be tweaked, tho. And it's going to be so much easier to both customers and me too to use going forward. Gotta keep it fresh and up-to-date!

With the new site, however is a new space for the blog to live. This one will remain here for as long as I'm still working the soap biz. Nothing is going away, and there is an awful lot here to still explore.

But if you're looking to see what's cooking - all the new blog posts will over here. Just CLICK THE LINK and head on over.

And if you want to start at the very beginning of my new journey, I've written a little something about  why I made the change, with a little backdrop about my blogging history. It's Not My First Rodeo!

Please join me at the new hangout! I so appreciate all of you who are following along for the ride.

Closed for Winter Break

Public Service Announcement!

Soapworks Studio will be closed Monday Feb 2nd through Friday Feb 6th for a winter break. 

All phone calls, emails, requests, orders and whatnot will be on hold until we return to business on Monday Feb 9th.

Thanks for you patience and understanding. We value your business. And we believe a little siesta from time to time allows us to be our very best - in customer service, creative ideas, production, efficiency, and in happiness. Ole´!

All the cool cats are doing it.

Valentine's Day Humbug

I had to make a couple of shopping stops over the weekend and was horrified to see the stores full of Valentine's Day merchandise already. The whole holiday hoopla thing went by in a blink of an eye and I'm really having to push myself into all that "new year" activity and get back to work. It's all too much, too soon. I'm not ready. Especially to start planning another holiday. Is that just me? I'm thinking it's you too. 

Usually I do the big spring seasonal announcement and newsletter on Feb 1st each year. But this year I'm going to wait until mid-February. I don't have to follow the big box stores for my retail schedule. I'm thinking that the spring stuff should be a bit closer to the actual spring outside. Ok, two weeks isn't that much :) But it gives me a chance to recover and take a tiny break before rushing off into the next big thing. #MakeYourOwnRules

Hello. Can we get a bazillion bars by Friday?

My giant "to-do" list for Wednesday just got blown out of the water. Change of plans for tomorrow's itinerary. Just got a call from the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. They just decided this afternoon that they need a small mountain of "cotton" smelling soap bars as gifts for the cast and crew of their Showboat production which ends Saturday night.  Hmm, Flannel Jammies sounds just about right for that.

Oh yes, we need those shipped like immediately, to arrive by Friday so we can wrap them and have them ready for Saturday night's performance.

How awesome and unexpected it that? Who says no to that?  My little bars of soap will be out in a much bigger world and traveling with celebrities to boot.  Do you see those names on the list?!! Vanessa Williams?! And I so love me some Fred Willard too.

The gal who called me is the absolute sweetest.  We met at a street fair this summer, where we bonded over our mutual vintage cat eye glasses, and chatted at length about our secret sources for our collections. She remembered how much she liked the soaps and thought of me first, even though I'm on the opposite side of the country. Which just goes to show you, it really is a small world.

FAQ

I've spent the last few months trying to answer frequently asked customer questions. Just stuff people ask me about all the time. With my new(ish) monthly newsletter and the blog here, I'm trying to cover the bases, one at a time, like:

How long does the soap last?
What's your best seller?
What's the best soap dish?

But there are so many other - and even more basic - questions that people want to know about soap in general, my soap specifically, and lots of other product and business questions. That's the kind of stuff that should be answered right up front in the FAQ page on the web site, right?

I wrote up my FAQ page a million years ago when I first built the site. I think it was a few years after they discovered the earth was round, or right around the time of Edison and the light bulb. Anyway, it was way, way too long ago. And I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't even thought about it since then. There's just too many things bouncing around vying for attention when you wear ALL the hats, and some things just slip through the cracks. That's not an excuse. That's an explanation.

So  . . . with much fanfare . . . TA DAH!! The brand spanking new FAQ page. And this one hopefully covers the whole kit and caboodle. If you see something missing, please let me know. Or a topic that I haven't covered, ditto. I expect there will be corrections and additions as I try this on and twirl around a bit in the mirror.

If you want to see it live, head over with this link. If you can't be bothered to click, or you're like me and your clicker finger is pooped out and you think you might be developing carpal tunnel, you can scroll down right here with the full text below. Use your thumb on the little down-arrow key - that's what I'm doing.  It doesn't hurt as much.

FAQ

What’s the deal with handmade soap? Why are they better than Dove or any of the other commercial brands?

Short answer: handmade soap is a million times kinder to your skin, better for your health in general, and has minimum ecological impact too. 

Longer version: Commercially made soaps are harsh, petroleum-derived detergents rather than real soap, often made with leftover animal fats from the industrial meat industry or recycled cooking oils that have already been used in the food industry (hello french fry grease and used popcorn oil!). They contain all kinds of synthetic, chemical ingredients, like preservatives, which often cause dryness, sensitivities and itchiness.  Some people think that’s normal, since that’s all they’ve ever used on their skin.  It’s not.  Healthy skin doesn’t itch when you get out of the shower.

In the soap making process, glycerin is a naturally occurring byproduct and is a really silky, moisturizing part of a handmade soap bar. The commercial soaps, always looking for a way to increase profits, remove the good stuff for use in the cosmetic business, leaving the soap much harsher and drying.

And when you realize that 99% of what you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body, you want to choose products with less ingredients altogether and more natural stuff that soothes your skin.  Fewer ingredients equals less chance for irritation, higher potency nutirent benefits, and smaller overall ecological impact too.  Have you seen the ingredient list on a bar of Dove “Beauty Bar” soap? You need a degree in chemistry just to read it --

sodium cocoyl isethionate
(derived from coconut oil)

stearic acid
(synthetic sodium salt)

coconut acid

sodium tallowate
(soap from animal fats)

sodium isethionate
(detergent)

sodium stearate
(synthetic sodium salt)

cocamidopropyl betaine
(synthetic surfactant; may cause irritation)

sodium cocoate or palm kernelate
(we use palm kernel oil)

fragrance
(artificial scent)

tetrasodium EDTA
(preservative with no known benefit to skin)

trisodium etidronate
(preservative)

BHT
(Butylated hydroxytoluene; cancer suspect agent; may cause reproductive defects; harmful if swallowed; eye, respiratory tract and skin irritant)

titanium dioxide
(whitening agent)

sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate
(suspected gastrointestinal and liver toxin; possible neurotoxin; waste water hazard)

Do you really want to wash up with all that in the shower?  Soapworks Studio soaps have just a short list of food grade vegetable oils, a bit of natural colorant often derived from actual food, and a scent which is most likely botanical essential oils, though we use a few high  quality fragrance oils by demand also.

Why are Soapworks Studio soaps better?

We’ve taken that whole handmade soap thing and kicked it up a notch.  If Emerill were here, he’d give it a “BAM.” We choose the highest quality ingredients, organic and free trade when possible, and local and sustainable when available too.  We’re constantly sourcing better stuff to put in our products, because we’re putting this stuff on ourselves too.  These are some of the smoooothest, longest lasting soaps you’ll find anywhere, with really fun seasonal ingredients. Who doesn’t love to lather up with pumpkin and cinnamon in October, or suds with tomato, cucumber and yogurt in the heat of summer?

How are your soaps made?

We handcraft our soaps in the time-honored traditional way, called the cold process method – cooked on a stove-top and stirred by hand.  All of the products are made in small batches with great carem ensuring freshness, quality, and the highest standards. 

The soap bars are all vegetable-based, utilizing food-grade olive oil, organic coconut oil, sustainably harvested palm oil, plus luxurious nourishing organic shea butter. All of the formulations are super-fatted, meaning they have higher levels of unsaponified oils, creating a glycerin-rich, highly moisturizing bar for all skin types and sensitivites. The clouds of rich, luxurious lather are soothing and healthy for your skin.

Colors and textures are created from organic herbs, spices, grains, clays, minerals and sea vegetables. No synthetic dyes, preservatives, fixatives, germicides or extra fillers are ever added.  The unique scents are made primarily with pure botanical essential oils and a few of them contain the highest quality fragrance oils.

Why should I pay $4.50 for a bar of soap when the supermarket brands are so much cheaper?

For starters, a bar of Soapworks Studio soap will last at least twice as long as a bar of supermarket soap, usually outlasting that stuff by three times or more.  And then you factor in a whole bunch of extra body lotions and creams you need to buy to counteract all that dryness and/or itchiness.  Or doctor’s appointments because you’ve developed skin issues like dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis – many of which have been caused by harsh soaps, or cruel laundry detergents and dryer sheets. So you spend a few cents more up front on a bar of really good soap, but you feel great, your skin is healthy and you’ve saved a ton of money on long term effects down the road.  What’s the better deal?

How long will a bar of your soap last in the shower?

My customers are often amazed at how long a bar of my soap lasts, right down to the very thinnest sliver.  As a standard rule of thumb, they will last 2 to 3 times longer than a commercially made soap.  But obviously this depends on how many people are using that same bar, how long their showers are, and how they handle it too – like if they are using a good soap dish that lets the soap dry out between uses.  The blend of oils we use ensure that it will be a hard, durable bar of soap. They weigh approximately 4.5 ounces at the start, but continue to lose a bit of water weight due to evaporation as they continue to cure.  Although the bar may weigh just a tad less, these bars will have a bit more longevity too.  Grandma used to unwrap her bars of soap and leave them in the linen closet for a year before she used them, just so they would last longer.  We don’t recommend that, since we are using fresher and foodie ingredients, plus we want you to enjoy the scent while it still has a lovely fragrance.

What is the shelf life of a bar of your soap?

Commercial soaps have a shelf life of forever, like a twinkie.  We use fresh, natural and sometimes food ingredients in our soaps, but no chemical preservatives, so we recommend that you use them within about six months.  That way they are at their absolute peak.  If you wait for a year, they are still pretty fabulous, but some of the lighter scents will begin to fade.  I’ve had some soaps in storage for several years that are still scented and wonderful. But I’ve also had soaps in the summer heat begin to turn a little “off” due to the high content of nutrient oils in them.  These are still perfectly fine to use without causing irritation, just not as lovely in scent or color.

Does your soap leave scum in my bathroom?

Good handmade soaps do leave a natural residue on bathroom surfaces, yes they do, it’s true.  It’s a super easy clean-up with warm water and any basic cleanser, which we find doesn’t take any more time and effort to clean your bathroom than usual.  Any body soap product that claims not to leave a residue is most likely a detergent, probably with a bunch of additives. If it’s stripping the natural oils of the soap off your bathroom sink, it’s certainly stripping it off your body too.

Is your soap antibacterial?

Yes! But not in the way the advertised commercial antibacterial soaps are. Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that using regular soap and water for a full minute removes 99.5% of all germs that any antibacterial soap does.  In addition these antibiotics have been proven to be so harmful that Triclosan in particular has been banned from all products in the state of Minnesota.  The overuse of antibacterial products of all kinds is a major factor in the rise of those deadly antibiotic-resistant superbugs.  By killing off all bacteria, we are destroying the good bacteria as well, which are proven to boost our health and immunity, and fight disease too. Good old soap and water keeps our natural ecosystem and wellness in balance and perfect harmony.

Are your products vegan?

Everything we make is 100% vegetarian or vegetable-based. All of our soaps are vegan, except for the Oatmeal, Buttermilk and Honey soap, which uses both milk and honey in the recipe.  Any other “honey” named soap is for fragrance description only and doesn’t actually have honey in the ingredients.

Our lip balms, Shea Butter Balm, and Healing Salve use local beeswax in them.

Everything else – bath salts, aromatic sprays, etc. are most definitely vegan.

Do you do animal testing?

No way!! Never ever ever. Though some people have used the soaps on their dogs with great results. And other customers have used the aromatic sprays on their pets with pleasant smelling outcomes too.

Which soap is the most moisturizing?

All of our soaps are richly moisturizing and are formulated with the same blend of base oils.  Every bar is loaded with extra emollients, especially lush shea butter, to soften and soothe skin. If someone is extra sensitive or looking for the absolute most-est one, we recommend the Oatmeal, Buttermilk & Honey because the addition of fresh, whole buttermilk, real honey and powdered oatmeal has the benefits of those classic beautifiers that even Cleopatra bathed in.  And the Bergamot Shea Butter soap has a smidge more shea butter than the standard recipe, if you want to take it up a notch.

Which bar is best for sensitive skin?

We’ve gotten lots of compliments on the gentle nature of our soap bars from loads of sensitive skin customers.  We usually advise people with concerns to stick to the all-natural ones that use botanic essential oils instead of fragrance oils.  (The ingredient listing for each bar will have a special note if they are all natural.) And we also make a Pure Soap, which is 100% color free, fragrance free, additive free – it’s just the plain soap with absolutely nothing else in it.

I’ve heard that we should boycott palm oil because the industry is devastating the tropical forests and orangutan populations in Indonesia.  Do you use palm oil?

Yes, we do use palm oil in our soap recipe. While it is used in smaller quantities than some of the other base oils, it is essential to our soap's creamy, luscious lather as well as the longevity and hardness of the bar. No other vegetable oils can replace the quality that palm oil brings to soap. And like all crops really, it's not what is grown, but how it's grown.

And yes, the palm oil industry is destroying the wildlife and the tropical forests in their efforts to grow their local economies, primarily in Indonesia.  While the food industry accounts for over 95% of the palm oil use, the soap and skin care industry has their own stake in the issue.  No matter how small our cottage business is in that big picture, our beliefs and personal responsibility are at the heart of what we do, and we take extra care to purchase ingredients and supplies from sources that promote environmental sustainability.  The palm oil that is used in our soap recipe is RSPO certified (Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil) as 100% sustainably grown. This organization is working to protect the environment by utilizing previously cleared land and protecting conservation of valuable forests, increasing yields and harvest through better agricultural practices, and protecting the rights of workers and small farmers too.  For more complete information, see our blog post on the issue.

What do you use to fragrance your products?

We use a combination of natural essential oils and high quality fragrance oils.  Whenever possible, we like to utilize nature’s brilliant gifts by using top grade essential oils, distilled from pure plant material.  If you are concerned about using all natural soaps, there are many of these on our list.  Check the ingredient list where the scent will be essential oils only and they will have the “100% natural” tag.

We also use synthetic fragrance oils in some of our soaps and products. We strive to give our customers the best of both worlds, and want to include some of the seasonal fragrances (pear, vanilla, lilac) that are much loved and anticipated. These oils are manufactured especially for skin care and cosmetics and are proven to be safe. We are constantly searching to find the best possible ingredients, including phthalate-free fragrance oils when we can, and always using the highest quality on the market.

Do you make a liquid soap?

Short answer: no.  There seems to be two camps – the bar soap folks and the liquid pump soap folks.  We’re in the bar soap camp, because we believe they are healthier. Plus we just plain like to hold onto something substantial in the shower - not some plastic “puff”. There’s no use going back and forth on the debate between which one is less messy or easier to use – it’s really just a personal preference and both sides go their own way.  We’re sticking with the solid form.

Of note, however, most liquid “soaps” are not soap at all, but a lot of water mixed with a detergent, preservatives, clarifiers, emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactants, fragrances, etc., which are often harsh and drying.

Where can I find Soapworks Studio products?

The full, up-to-the- minute line of Soapworks Studio products can always be found here on this web site.  We sell our items primarily through craft shows, street fairs, festivals, and mail order -- through the seasonal newsletters and this web site.  For the full list of shows we are participating in, please check out the Events tab. 

Are there any retail stores in my area that carry Soapworks Studio products?

Unfortunately, due to the fleeting nature of many of the seasonal Soapworks Studio products and the small quantity we produce, we're unable to do a large wholesale business. Preferring to keep the collection small, special, freshly made, and in harmony with the seasons, we promise that we are able to offer you excellent quality at a reasonable price.

Having said that, there are just a select few shops which carry Soapworks Studio Products, and they are listed under the “Stockists” button at the bottom of the page.

If I don’t do that whole internet shopping thing, is there another way to order your products?

Yes, you can also call the studio during office hours (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) at 206-322-4503 and order directly by phone using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.   You can also send in the order form attached to the most recent brochure, with a check or credit card number for payment. There is also a printable order form that you can print and mail in with your payment, located at the bottom of the page.

Do you wholesale your products?

Due to the seasonal nature of our products, and the limited quantities we produce, we are doing just a little bit of wholesale or consignment sales at this time.  Please email us at SoapworksStudio@comcast.net if you are interested.

Ooops!  I thought I saw the shipping charges when I was checking out, but they don't show up on my email confirmation.  What are the shipping charges and how does that work?

The shopping cart affiliated with this web site cannot calculate shipping charges because I have chosen flat rates based on the amount of the order, rather than by weight calculations.  When you are placing your order, this chart will appear in red on the page where you fill in your name, address and credit information.  Since the shopping cart is not calculating the cost for shipping, it will not appear in your email confirmation -- but it will be charged to your credit card exactly as explained, and will appear in the actual invoice that comes with your order.  That final invoice is your actual receipt for the amount charged.   It will include taxes too if you are local.  The chart is as follows -- but if there are any questions, please don't hesitate to call and ask!

Orders totalling:

$20 or less = $5.00

$21.00 to $35.00 = $6.50

$36 to $60.00 = $ 8.00

$61.00 to $99.00 = $10.00

$100 and above = 10% of order total

One final note:  The 4 bars for $16.00 discount that is mentioned in all our material will also be calculated at the time of transaction and will appear on your final invoice.

I don't see your (blank) soap on the list anymore?  or I used to buy your (blank) spray and it's not listed here?  Do you still have it?

One of the most unique aspects of the Soapworks Studio business is the seasonal focus.  We are always experimenting with seasonal scents and ingredients, and creating new product ideas that are available just for a short window of time.   While our regular menu remains standard, four times each year as the seasons change, we announce a new menu of seasonal scents and products.  These are made in smaller quantity and available for a limited time, until the item is sold out. If you find something you can't live without - stock up! 

However, the fragrances that become huge hits or get requested often, usually show up again.   I plan my new scents around requests and customer feedback, so it's always great to hear from you.  Aromatic spray fragrances can almost always be made out of season as a custom order, so don't hesitate to call.  And out-of-season soap scents are also sometimes still available - just quietly resting here at the studio - it never hurts to ask. 

For more detailed Shipping Information, click here.

For more information on our returns and exchanges policies, click here.

You want my trade secret recipe?

First off - the weekend was a bit of a bummer. Even though we were spared from really, really bad rain and high wind, and even the thunder and lightening, we did get enough rain - especially in the first few hours of the show - that a lot of people stayed home.

That was the bad news. The good news was that it was "mostly" dry and I didn't have to slog a whole bunch of wet tent bits and soggy bins to the car on Sunday evening, and there is no big huge dry-out spread around my living room and dining room today.

Another thing that happened this weekend at the tulip festival street fair was a request a brand new soaper (been doing it for a year or so) for my soap recipe.  She did not buy any of my soap, but just by fondling it, realized that it was way softer and smoother than her bars.  She uses mostly palm oil as the base because it makes the soap last longer.

(Just a thought, why would you want not-so-good soap to last even longer? but I digress..)

I told her that I was not willing to share my recipe - that it was a trade secret.  And I went on to explain that it took me 2 whole years of constant experimenting to really get the recipe adjusted to the way I like it.  Plus another 15 years of practicing it daily and weekly to get it as beautiful as it is now.

So yes, gentle tough love to all you newbie soap makers, getting your craft to become an art takes time and practice, diligence and commitment.  You can certainly make nice soap right away, don't get me wrong.  But there is something to be said for all the extra years of passion put into doing a thing that you love too.

I've not been asked outright for my recipe in a really long time.  So my answer was different this time than it was years ago.  And it got me thinking about all that trade secret stuff again.

I am generally a pretty "share-y" person, but I won't give out the proprietary information about my recipe, or where I got a specific super-cute packaging item, because that stuff is my trademark, my business, the very essence of what I'm selling and my livelihood.

I will tell you all kinds of suppliers to search on your own time and find what suits you best. I've seen them all, and I can shoot out a dozen soapmaking suppliers and packaging peeps and whatnot that you can browse online and see what grabs you.  If you are starting your own business, you should not only want to do it your own way, but you should expect to put in some time to build it yourself and not have it handed to you from somebody who already built it.  That's just how it is. Even when you see those amaaazing infomercials that tell you they are going to share all their super secret methods to make a million dollars in six months or lose 50 pounds in two weeks, you yourself still have to put in the work to make that happen.  Life, eh.

So this woman and I had a great conversation about all the qualities of different base oils in making soap, because I don't get to do that kind of insider talk with people very often and it's fun.  And here's what I will tell anybody else out there that is interested in making soap and looking for a good recipe . .

Buy some soap that you love.  Then read the label on the back.  Every product has to have a list of ingredients on it.  And they have to list them in order of volume (weight? ) on the back.  Just like food.  When you pick up a box of cereal and the first two ingredients are "wheat, sugar . ." then you know that the primary ingredient is wheat, secondarily sugar.  It's just like that for everything that has a label.

My soap labels say "Olive, coconut, palm oil, shea butter" (plus other stuff for scent and color) as the base oils of the soap.  So I use primarily olive oil, with a lesser amount of coconut oil, then even smaller bits of palm oil and shea butter.  If the other soaps you really enjoy are similar, then you're on to something.

There are literally thousands of soap recipes online, and in books too, and it is not too hard to find a recipe that starts with those base oils in that order.  Then try that one.  If you love how it turns out, you're there.  If you think you still need to modify, experiment more by adjusting those amounts, or researching more, or trying different recipes altogether.  There are so many resources online that it's ridiculous.  From Youtube videos, video tutorials on other sites, courses, databases, forums, etc. - you can find lye calculators to figure out how much lye to add once you monkey with recipes etc. It's an abundance of riches in this online world and everything is out there.

Maybe that's something I could dive into deeper in a future blog post, but for the point of wrapping this whole thing up - here's my point.  It's not hard.  DIY is everywhere.  Jump in.  Start with what you love and go from there.

Also, welcome to the club :)

Studio Closed Jan 23-28

PLEASE NOTE:  The studio will be closed from Thursday, January 23 through Tuesday, January 28.  All orders, inquiries, etc. will resume on Wednesday, January 29th.  Thanks for your understanding.

Hi all!  That little red note up there - that's what I just plastered on all the pages of the web site.  I'm taking a few days off before the whole spring newsletter and hoopla at the start of February gets going.  A quick break before the madness begins.  The holiday season was a long haul.  And the last few weeks have been a lot of behind the scenes catch-up plus work on all the new spring seasonal products and announcements.  So a short break is definitely due.

I won't be shipping orders or available by phone or email until next week.  Beginning Wed, Jan 29, everything will be open for business.  Back on track.  And in full swing mode.  The following Monday (Feb 3) all the spring stuff goes live on the website.  The newsletter gets mailed.  The email version gets sent too.  I'll have a copy of the announcement here on the blog. The cycle of the seasons takes another turn . . .

Until then, however -- just taking a quickie breather.  See you soon!

Oh, and if you were still thinking about catching some deals on the big winter clearance sale, do it soon.  I'll mention it in the newsletter and then the early bird favorites will be long gone.  There's still a pretty good selection of stuff this week, although a few of them have sold out.

P.S. We're going to the superbowl!  . . . happy dance . . . Go Seahawks!

Made in America

Each seasonal newsletter, I use a different postage stamp for those who are getting it via snail mail.

Yes, it's totally old school. I put little address labels on envelopes by hand. And stick little postage stamps on each envelope by hand. And then stuff and glue them all up. Again, by myself. By hand.

Which is why I'd love to have more people transfer over to the electronic version. So much easier to just hit "send" and everyone gets it immediately. No loss of trees either.  But I get it - it's nice to have a little something new in your real mail box -- that's not bills. And to have something in your hand to read. Plus a paper calendar thingie that you can stick on your fridge to remind you of the show you want to catch me at. All that is valid. Just saying . . if you want to transfer over to email instead, click here. Fill out the form and request email only instead of snail mail or both.

The email version is the same as the snail mail one as far as content. I even include the images, poems and calendar. You don't miss a thing :)

However . . . that was a side-track. What I meant to post about today was the actual postage stamps. This time around, for the fall newsletter going out in a couple of weeks, there was a pretty lame selection of postage stamps to choose from. I like to pick colors that work with the season, or themes - obviously holiday.

This time I thought about doing those super sweet seed packets from the last mailing. But after all these years I've never repeated a stamp and it seemed wrong to start now. Plus the seed packet time is totally over for fall, so it didn't work anyway.

Here's what we got then, "Made in America: Building A Nation."

The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes,” social activist Helen Keller wrote in 1908, “but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.” The Made in America: Building a Nation Forever® stamps honor the courageous workers who helped build our country.

The theme is great.  It fits with my whole thing. And I'm making all this stuff in America, by Jove. Course it's not quite the industrial manufacturing that are depicted in these images. It's a little softer, cozier and quaint in my factory.

Plus, black and white goes along just fine with a fall color palette and the brown envelopes. So that's it then. Now I just need to get started with all that 'licking and sticking.' Gross, right? Just so you know, I don't lick the envelopes. I use a glue stick. Way faster and a lot less paper cuts.

Also, as long as I'm discussing all my old-schooliness . . . I know that it's proper typing etiquette to only put one space after a period. But I learned to type on actual typewriters and we had to use two spaces.  HAD TO use two spaces after period. It's really hard to unlearn the auto-pilot muscle mechanics. And half the time I have to go back and un-space almost an entire post after I've written it. Because the spacing comes out weird in the final version, and often doesn't wind around the paragraph or inserted image correctly.

So yes.  Basically I'm still a lot of old-school myself.  Because I'm getting old. And I totally get why people want to receive my letters in the actual mail by mail carriers in their blue uniforms. When I started my business, that was the only it could happen anyway - yep we're talking the way back machine. I've been doing this a long time.  Maybe too long? By next year we'll not even need soap anymore or something. We'll clean ourselves virtually, or by some kind of electronic steam blast unit that takes no energy or water and leaves us completely germ-free and wrinkle-free. Yes?

Studio Closed - just a few days

PLEASE NOTE:  The studio will be closed from Wednesday, May 1 through Sunday, May 5.  All orders, inquiries, etc. will resume on Monday, May 6th.  Thanks for your understanding.

Hi all!  That little red note there - that's what I just put up on all the pages of the web site.  I'm taking just a couple of days off before the whole summer newsletter and hoopla hits next week.  A quick break before the madness begins.

So I won't be shipping orders or available by phone or email until next Monday.  Beginning Monday, May 6, everything will be open for business.  Back on track.  And in full swing mode.  The summer stuff on the website goes live.  The newsletter gets mailed.  The email version gets sent too.  I'll have a copy of the announcement here on the blog.  And I'll start right in with a show next week too - my Mother's Day sale at the Group Health Central spot on Capitol Hill in Seattle.

Until then, however -- just taking a quick breather.  See you soon!

Credit Card Processing - Don't Call Me!

Warning:  Cranky vent post ahead.

I just got a telemarketing call from a credit card processor.  Did I know that they have these new super cheap rates and that my small business can have the same credit card processing rates as the big stores, like Walmart?

Why yes.  I did know that.  Because you called me yesterday.  Very same company.  And the day before that too.  Very same company.  Are you so hard up that you have to call the same list every. single. day.??

But I've gotten almost this exact same groundhog day telemarketing call several times each and every week for like a year now from a huge list of credit card processing companies.  I can't stand it any more.  I guess it doesn't matter that you are on the "Do Not Call" list.  This law applies to everyone else except credit card processors.  Oh, and that creepy robo woman who calls about once a month to steam my carpets.

Here's the longer version.  When they first starting calling, it was when the Durbin law or some blah-de-blah came into effect, and I actually did have the first company do an estimate and comparison of what I was currently paying.  And it was a lot less.  Sort of.  The rates were less, but I had to buy all new equipment to do it - at a substantial cost.  The next company was pretty much the same.  But I took those rates back to my current company, and they adjusted me down to lower rates all around.  And I was happy.  I like my little system right now.  It works great.  And when my machine breaks down or gets technologically obsolete (which could be three months from now, meh) then I would re-look at my options and find the best deal at that point.

Now?  I am not spending another minute listening to every single sales rep's schtick about how much cheaper (by a penny or two) they are to the next guy.  It's all such a math game anyway.  And it gives me a headache.

If you have not had a merchant account before, then you have no idea what a pain it all is.  These people are bankers.  Enough said.

Some have minimum fees.  Some have statement fees.  If you decide to go wireless, there are wireless fees.  There is a transaction fee for each transaction.  Plus there is a percentage rate for each card transaction - which of course, varies with each card.  A credit card is different from a debit card.  And a rewards card costs more.  A swiped card is the cheapest.  But when I do mail order or internet orders, and do not have the card in hand - only the number - that's a different rate altogether.  Then they make you buy a terminal.   If you're doing it only online, that's a whole different kind of fees.  Oy.

Of course, there's now the Square - one flat rate for every single swipe and the reader thingy is free if you have a smart phone.  But that doesn't help me much for my mail and internet orders.  And their rate is probably the highest of anything else I've seen.  So there is no need to pay more if it's only for my show sales.

I am quite sure there is something a little less expensive out there.  But I am not interested in spending a month of tedious hours trying to ferret it out from all the other deals out there.  It's not worth my time.  I'm good where I am.  The cheapest thing usually comes with it's own set of problems.  Like bad customer service.  Or going out of business suddenly.

The entire system is going to change in the next few years anyway.  The entire credit card system is being transitioned from having those magnetic strips on the back of the card where all the information is stored, to having a chip in them.  For security.  Apparently the chip is much harder to read and steal from than the current stripe type card.  So we'll all be getting new cards and merchants will have to get new equipment all over again.  There is a date by when it's required to be effective and I think it's some time in 2015, but don't want to look it up right now.   It will affect every single person with a card - and for every single card too.

But back to the telemarketing dilemma:  Caller ID doesn't help me at all over here.  They have regular phone numbers that just say 'Dallas, TX' or 'private number' - something ambiguous that I would never know is not a customer or other business type call.  In good faith I try to answer everything.

These people are really trying my patience.  What's the solution?  Are you hounded by telemarketing calls too?  Or do you have some gem of information about credit card processing that you'd like to share.  Let me know.  I'm all ears :)

Bluebird of Happiness

Today was show application day. I did a few last month when the early deadlines came up. But today was a big huge pile of all the other ones, basically my entire spring and summer season. Now I can chirp happily for the rest of the week, like the little birds which are twittering and dive-bombing the bushes outside for the last of the winter berries.

The birds seem so happy out there lately. Maybe it's the intoxicating berries. I heard somewhere that late in the season the berries have begun to ferment, and when the birds ingest them, it's like getting drunk on wine. They get a little loopy and wild - which explains why they seem to hit the glass windows every now and then.

I'm feeling a little like that myself, not that I'm going to slam into a window, but just a bit giddy for finally getting that long and tedious chore off my to-do list. Every single one needs a different type of application form, some online, some paper. Some need a check for jury fees, others need copies of licenses or whatnot. All of them need photos, but each one in a different size or format or named in some special way. It's tiresome, long and a headache at best. It's a necessary part of the process, and I do rather like to be in the shows.  But I've just been procrastinating on the application process. Or was. Until today. It's done. DONE!

And in a few short weeks or possibly a month, I'll know how it turns out and have my schedule all lined up. There is only Best of the Northwest next month, Tulip Festival in April and U District in May which I have totally confirmed at this point.

Do you put off the stuff you don't want to do too? Or are you one of those that does the crappy stuff first and gets it out of the way in order to spend more time on the fun stuff. Sigh. I wish I was the latter. Instead, I spend more time fretting and fussing over the yucky stuff, pushing it around my desk and moving it back day after day on the calendar until I can't stand it any more. Probably not the best method.

Maybe while I'm on a roll I should tackle the next big thing I'm resisting and get it taken care of.  Hmmm.  That would be an overload of productivity.  Maybe too much.  Nah, I'll do that tomorrow :)

Twelve. Twelve. Twelve.

Today is the most awesomest day of Dec 12, 2012.  I woke up a little after midnight last night, just to see if anything earth-shattering would happen at 12:12 am on 12/12/12.  Nope, nothing.  Sigh.  But to be fair, I don't even know if I was awake for that whole minute before falling back to sleep.  I've been so exhausted.

We're into sorta mid-December now, and I'm done with the new shows.  You can find my goods at the Allied Arts show in Bellingham still.  And at Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Camp - in the Joyland Emporium shop.  But other than that, it's only mail order at this point.  And even that is getting short.

I heard on the radio that this past Monday was the busiest shipping day of the year.  And I know that it was pretty huge for me too.  FedEx did something like 19 million packages that day.  Mine was a bit less :),  but it took several trips from the car to the Post Office desk.  And I was completely cooked, trying to rush over there just before they closed with every last order from the weekend.

Some of the most popular soap scents are sold out at the moment.  This is such a big disappointment to me.  I tried so very hard this year to not have that happen.  But it does.  Every time.  No matter how much I make, it's always just not quite enough.  I made dozens of extra batches in the last few months so that I would have gazillions of bars of soap to sail through til Christmas.  And it didn't last.

I am still madly making soap every day and most things will be back on the site next week, but at that point, it's really a bit late to ship things in time for Christmas.  Sigh.  Well, I'll be ready for those New Year's orders, I guess.  But I truly need to already get started on producing spring scented soaps for the next newsletter at the beginning of February.

I'm thinking I might need to change my schedule a little bit.  It's all too squished together from Fall/September, Winter/November and then Spring/February.  As I said, I'm tired.  

But for now, it's back to more orders this morning.  And I'm headed up to Bellingham tomorrow with a ton of restock.  I know it's totally picked over and bare up there, but I just didn't have a single day to drive up last week since I was at Group Health.  So if you are waiting for goods, head over tomorrow.

And I'll take another moment today at noon to see what kind of magic might happen at 12:12 pm.  Maybe the universe slept through the midnight thing like I did.

What's up this week

Bunch of shows this week - but it's winding down for holiday craft shows.

Here's the schedule and it's all I've got left before Christmas:

Nov 16 - Dec 24           Allied Arts of Whatcom County
                                   Holiday Festival of the Arts
                                   1200 Meador St, near the Haskell Business Ctr
                                   Wed - Sun 10am - 6pm,
                                   Bonus Days:  Mon 12/20, Tues 12/21,  Sat 12/24 10am - 3pm

Nov 29 - Dec 29            Warm Beach Camp - Lights of  Christmas
                                   Warm Beach Camp, 20800 Marine Dr., Stanwood
                                   Dates: Nov 29 - Dec 2, Dec 6-9, 13-16, 18-23, 26-29
                                   Gates open 5pm - 10pm   

Dec 1 - 2                      Winter Festival and Crafts Fair
                                    Phinney Neighborhood Center
                                    6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle
                                    Sat and Sun 10am - 5pm                   

Dec 5 - 8                     Group Health Holiday Shop
                                   Group Health Central Campus, shop space
                                   108 - 15th Ave E, Capitol Hill
                                    Wed - Fri 9am-4pm

Allied Arts has been going on for a couple of weeks now.  I think they've finally got enough signs up all over town :)  The actual space is quite nice, but it is a little bit off the beaten path.  It's in the Haskell Business Park, just off of I-5 at the Lakeview exit if you are going north.  Lots of ways to get there from other parts of town.  Click the link above and it will take you to a map and directions.  Really great one-of-a-kind gift ideas.  If you don't find what you need on the top of my table, take a peek below.  I'm bringing bins and bins of stuff, but can't be there every day to fluff up the display.

Warm Beach will start tomorrow.  I'm in the Joyland Emporium like I have been the last two years, just near the cashier's.  I've brought all the seasonal stuff there too.  Gosh, if you haven't been up there to see their light display, it's really gorgeous and a fun thing to do with the family.  So much entertainment, restaurants and snack booths (the hot mini donuts are amazing).  Carolers, concerts, the works.  Click the link above to see the whole caboodle - maps, directions, entertainment schedule, etc.  There is even a pay-what-you-can night for admission, but that will be incredibly crowded and long waits.

And this is Phinney weekend.  Always one of my biggest shows of the year and even if it wasn't I would still love it so, so much.  Great, super duper quality artists.  So many holiday gifts under one roof (oops, two roofs).  Also entertainment and bands, bake sale, restaurant in the brick building below.  I'm in the big blue building with the parking lot, top floor, largest room just next to the entertainment lobby up there.  Almost same space as last year.  It was fun to be so close to all the music and hoopla!  I'm dreading hoofing all my heavy bins up the stairs, but I'll just consider it exercise in exchange for all the holiday goodies I'll be eating later.

Finally, next week is my little shop space at Group Health again.  I know I won't probably get back to blog about it Monday, I'll be toast by then, so I'm including it here.  Same spot, same times - I'm always so excited to see my fans over there.  But everyone is welcome.  It's an actual little glass front shop space that we artists/craftspeople get to borrow from them to set up our own little store.  A portion of our sales goes to their Patient Needs fund and it's bought so many great things for the folks over there - from little things like toothbrushes, to big things like wheelchairs.  So I'm open for business with all my wares in one spot.  Great way to see the entire selection, pick up all your holiday gifting without shipping costs.  

So after next week, it's mail order only.  Unless you're in Bellingham or stopping by the lights.  

And I might note now, while I'm at it, that even though this year I have made literally a thousand more bars than I did for all of last year (and I'm still making soap for another month), I'm starting to get low in all kinds of things, and expect this next week or so to wipe me out of a lot.  Plus there are a couple of rather large corporate orders to send off too this week and next.  So if you have a list you're wanting for holiday gifts, don't delay.  I just hate, hate, hate to disappoint people by running out of what they want.  And I tried my very best to be better prepared this year (again).  But I'm in the very same spot as always - running low, running out, and fretting.  poo

Endings and beginnings

An update on all that fretting from last post:  I do indeed have 3 new fall scents that I'm pretty happy and excited about.  They turned out better than I hoped, and I just need to get a few more batches of those made in the next week so that I'm covered.

And yes, in fact, the Baby Love soap is over.  Both of the fragrance oils I used to make that particular blend are discontinued forever.  They were discontinued in December, but I guess I had just re-ordered in November, so I didn't notice until now, and have no way to stock up or get more.  They were pretty expensive and special things, so there is nobody else making or carrying anything similar.  I've done an exhaustive search.

I know this will make some people very upset.  Loss of a beloved thing is always really hard.  I feel the same way.  Of course the first reaction is denial.  And then how can I get something almost like it to replace it as quickly as possible so I hardly know it's gone missing.  I haven't given up hope that I can somehow mix something together as a replacement (like the Havana soap).  But it's going to be awhile before I have the time to work on that.  The investment I put into it will sort of match the requests, sobbing and hand wringing I get from customers.  It hasn't been the biggest selling soap, so a little wait and see . . . please feel free to contact me.

So just a little rant about the state of things in the world now since it's hit me in the arse a few times in a row this past week.  We're living in a place of vanilla and it makes me sad.  I love choice.  I love variety.  That's why I make so many seasonals and new scents.  It's so much fun to try new things and not be stuck with just the same old.

But first the recession and then the economy never really turning around, retailers have had to cut back on stock and selection.  Stores stopped carrying myriad smaller and obscure type things and just focused on the few most-popular brands and items.  In the crunch, customers bought less and only the primary things they needed.  So stores carried less items.  They couldn't afford to keep such large stocks of things that didn't turn over as fast.  So suppliers got hit too, and stopped making the stuff that didn't sell.  Or they made changes to the minimums, and if you didn't want thousands of them at a time, they were discontinued.

It's happened everywhere, and I'm not immune to it either.  I've had to go through all those heart-breaking decisions myself.  But I hate it.  I hate that special or custom or unusual things are now no longer available anywhere.  That's what happened at my local grocery store with some of my favorite ethnic and organic products.  That's what is happening everywhere you look.  Sure, there are still some niche shops - but the prices are high.  And there is still the one-of-a-kind handmade stuff (please support these too before they have to quit!).  But in general, in the mainstream shopping, it's much more limited than it was a few years ago.

The man I lamented all this with at the fragrance oil company said he has never sold as much vanilla and lavender in his life as the last few years.  And I have to agree, it's the same with me - those two scents have really been so much more popular recently.  The slightly kooky ones, I don't hardly make at all because nobody orders them.  Sort of chicken and egg thing.  Maybe it starts with the customers, and they are looking for simplicity and comfort?

I don't know.  You can go round and round.  The answers are the same.  Discontinued.

Sorry for the downer.  Have a great end-of-summer weekend y'all.  It's the final hurrah before school, back to work and fall begins in earnest.

Running backwards

I'm frazzled today.  Things are going in the wrong direction.

First, the Havana soap.  I'm pretty sure I made an announcement here that the Havana soap is back.  It was a scent that I carried for years, a long time ago.  And then the fragrance was discontinued.  I bought up what I could and made it for awhile longer while I searched for a substitute.   Years passed and there just wasn't anything like it out there.  Until late last year.  I found a new fragrance that was almost like it.  And I made a test batch.  It turned out perfect.  Yahoo.  It's fixed!

So I put it back on the website.  Made the announcement.  And nothing.  I took it to a show, but during the summer I had so many spring and summer scents, that mostly I didn't bring it out to the public.  It just wasn't selling online at all, so I took it out to Anacortes where people went crazy for it and I sold all I had.  So when I went back to the website to temporarily put the "out of stock" sign on it, I realized that I had totally goofed and it was invisible all that time.  It wasn't actually on the site.  Oy.

I made more last week, the day I got back from vacation.  I wasn't thinking.  I just made it by memory without looking at my notes.  Forgot a major component of the scent.  So I've got about 60 bars of woodsy, but not Havana soap.  And no time immediately to make more of that.  I'm buried in Fall soaps and Puyallup Fair soaps - trying to get everything finished by the end of the month.  I will get it back up, I promise, but maybe mid-September?  Kicking myself.

Which brings me to the Fall soaps.  I started a plan last month and made a little flurry of test batches.  When I got back last week, I didn't like any of them.  I really, really, really hate just doing what I did last time.  Even though I've got requests for some of those same soaps, and I've still got bottles of those fragrances just cluttering up the studio.  So I gave in, and made a couple of batches of repeats.  But over the weekend I came up with a new plan, and made a few more test batches.  This morning, I'm convinced they aren't going to be good either.  I'm out of time!  I've got to make all the rest of it, like yesterday.  And I still don't know what to do.  Looks like it's going to be a bit of repeats and a bit of um, something else.  We'll see how today's and tomorrow's last minute batches turn out.  But there will definitely be a few weirdo extra soaps at shows and maybe the clearance section.

Lastly, I'm in a panic about the Baby Love soap.  It's one of the very first fragrances I started with.  I've had it for over 15 years.  And this weekend when I tried to buy the 2 different fragrance oils that I use to make that blend, both are discontinued.  I think.  They are just gone from my supplier's website.  And they won't return my frantic phone calls today.  Oh.  My.  God.  There are so many people who will freak right out.  It's all they use.  Like forever.   I have no idea how to replicate that sort of thing.  It's a complicated blend of a bunch of things, and I'll never be able to do it on my own.  An exhaustive search all weekend came up with absolutely nothing out there that even comes close.   Just like Havana.  It would be easier to try to do it on my own with a bit of McGyvering.  But that's going to be a very long and expensive journey, and it will still be out of stock for an extra long time.

Ok, don't make a mad run on buying me out of that one.  I'm still waiting for a call.  I've got a bit more of the fragrances at the moment to make more, and the last batch isn't cured yet.

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything.  But I'm in anxiety mode and don't know what to do about any of it today.  Except dither and fret.

Bumps in the road.  There are ups.  And there are definitely downs.  Gotta have both.

Studio Closed - Summer Break

Popping in for a couple of quick things:

1.  I'm taking a short summer break this week.  The studio will be closed starting today, through Monday, August 13.  Any orders, emails calls, etc. will be dealt with on Tuesday, Aug 14.  Thanks for your understanding.  It's been a long summer and I need to recharge my batteries and enjoy a little of life outside of work.

2.  A ginormous THANK YOU to all my loyal friends and customers in Anacortes this last weekend.  Even though it was hot, hot, you all came out to buy soap and support the artists out there.  I had my best weekend sale ever.  Really.  EVER!  Which is tough to do after 16 years in business and especially in our still crappy economy.  I broke records, and I couldn't be more pleased.  I know it's still tough for a lot of folks to make enough money at the shows.  And I'm incredibly grateful that you continue to buy my products and make the effort to come out to the festival and spend your hard-earned dollars.  Much love to you all!!

Whew.  Whirlwind weekend.  I'm fatigued beyond belief.   And I just have to power through the loose ends today before I get a chance to think about something else while I sit quietly somewhere and just take in the success.  Long summer.  Lots of hard work.  And a little something to show for it.  Feels good.

Yellow

(For photo credits and to see my other photo sets, visit me on Flickr)

It's Thursday.  Yesterday was the official start of summer.  And today it finally feels like it here.  Warm, sunny, yellow.

I'm not usually a huge fan of the color yellow.  I guess I like it best mixed with grey.  But when it's sunshine - I lurve me some bright, light, sunlit yellow.

It's final packing up day before the Redmond show tomorrow.  I totally didn't get enough sleep last night, having to be up before dawn to race over and meet the delivery truck for my new oils supplier.  I'm on a new route, but they can't squeeze the semi-truck down my super narrow, very steep hilled street.  So I need to meet them at their first delivery of the day (5:30am!) and pick up my order.

It's going to save me money in the long run.  The constant increase in base oils has really put a dent in my bottom line the past year or two.   So I'm hoping this new supplier works out - that the oils are great quality and stay a bit more reasonable.  I can certainly give up a few hours beauty sleep to make that happen.

Tomorrow is going to be another early one - having to be in Redmond for set up by 7am.  With all the morning traffic between here and there, through downtown Bellevue and all that 520 congestion, I'm sure it will be rough.  Hmm, note to self, maybe I can map a different route through surface streets.

Ok, I'm out.  So much to do.  But head on over to the Redmond Town Center this weekend to see what it's all about.