Christmas Soap Bars! October 22, 2009

Well here it is, "Christmas Memories"...in all it's glory! 

LOL  Just kidding--they actually turned out nothing like I envisioned.  Well, actually the two samples on the bottom didn't.  Those chunks are the gold angels, the green trees and the red bells.  I don't know if they will ever show up nicely, but, I guess the color is alright.  The soap on the top with the red and green marbeling turned out nice.  Will it matter--nope!  They are all the same scent!!  Slightly spicey, cinnamon note--very nice and seasonal.  The next batch will be with just the marbeling as all the chunks are gone, and I am not making more this year!!!

On another front, I found a guy who was looking to unload a bunch of these smoking bottles.  They are beautifully done--the picture above is just three of the colors I have available.  Much nicer than the plain ones I used to make.  :)  I will be selling them on the website's incense page along with three packs of incense (that's 30 sticks) for just $12. 

Lady Lake Florida, October 17-18. 2009

So I did a little show in Lady Lake, Florida, over the weekend.  It was the first weekend of COLD (for Florida) weather.  Even though I knew that when I checked the weather, the weather-masters had forecast that it would be in the low 70's/upper 60's once it warmed up Saturday afternoon.  But during setup I was really regretting wearing my standard shorts and t-shirt.  Luckily I had a jacket in the car, but, it was COLD after coming off mid ninety degree weather since I got in Florida in September. 

As far as the warmup...when you are sitting on the north side of the show with no wind break in the SHADE, it stays cold all day.  The eight of us that were in the shade all day were little popsicles by the time 5 o'clock roller around.  The people that came out were very nice (although they looked at us funny wearing hats, gloves and coats all day!  LOL  The downside is that the show was very poorly advertised and thus--no crowds either day. 

I did however give out lots of sample soaps.  Since Mt. Dora is just around the corner, so to speak, I hope to see many of these gals at the show next weekend.  Cross fingers!

Christmas Soaps Finis, October 14, 2009

Here's the little packs of Christmas Memories guest soaps.  I think they turned out great!!  The price is $4.00 for the five soaps that weigh approximately 2.0 ounces.  There are only a dozen sets available. 

                                     

 

And then here is how the half bar size octogon Christmas Memories turned out.  I have several dozen of these (all those candy boxes are now gone!) and they weigh out at 2.0 ounces and will retail at $3.00 each. 

I added a show in Lady Lake, The Villages, this weekend October 17 and 18th!  Come out and see me if you can.

Peppermint...Arghhhhh, October 8, 2009

Well, today I spent some time doing the last minute odds and ends that come with having a weekend show.  Oh, and making sure Rod has some food in the house for while I am gone to Georgia.  So after my Mammogram, we went to get groceries before heading home. 

I got some ribbon at Walmart to finish off the Christmas octagon soaps, but, I will show you that later when the Candy Box Christmas guest soap set is done too.  Mainly I had to finish packing up the incense and then wait on the dropper bottles to arrive via UPS to package my oils.  It was all going great--I got everything bottled and was going to clear off the table before I started printing the labels I was missing.  Then...disaster!!!

What you are seeing is the remains of a two pound bottle of Peppermint Essential Oil which was emptied all over my work table, when the bottom gave out when I went to pick it up!!!  Can you believe it?  I now have very clean floors, make that minty clean floors, in this corner of the living room.  Luckily I like Peppermint, but, this is ridiculous!!!  I am just so thankful it wasn't the new 2 pound bottle of Patchouli Oil (I would have had to move out of the house!!!)...or one that was super expensive. 

Clean but Minty Floors!

Christmas Soaps Part 2, October 7, 2009

Here's the first of the Christmas Guest Soaps.  These are done by Hot Process, then colored with mica or oxide when cooled and then rolled out--almost like doing really thick sugar cookies.  Just don't bite into one!  I am still working on the candy box labels for these.  I may do a small batch of white angels--again all with the Christmas Memories scent to add to the "set".  Someone asked me to describe it--I would say slightly spicy from a cinnamon note with a ribbon candy mixed in! 

The second part of the Christmas soaps is done using these white truffle boxes--I have always loved these boxes.  These will cure out to 2.0 ounce guest soaps. 

I am going to finish these off with a 3/4 - 1" red/green ribbon around the boxes.  That should make them perfect for a quick, easy grab gift!  I will pull out my glass cake stand to display them at shows once they are ready to sell. 

Tomorrow is Mammogram day!  Don't worry, no pictures of THAT coming!!!!

Christmas Soaps, October 6, 2009

Today after Cindy and Mo came over to discuss the business end of the Bazi business, it was time to get moving on this year's Christmas soap.  Usually it is something I start working on toward the end of the summer.  This year, I just didn't have time to do it with all the trips to the Midwest.  So...what to do?!

The scent I had decided on was Simple Soothings "Christmas Memory" which I had ordered on the last fastbuy Lezlee ran.  The first part was to do a small batch of soap in the crockpot.  Once it was cooled, I added the scent with a teaspoon of "Bordeaux" mica to give a red tint to the soap.  I made up a couple of piping bags out of freezer paper to get the soap into the cute little candy boxes I was going to use.  Then with the extra I used a little Christmas Bell cookie cutter to make some guest soaps.  I forgot to take a picture of those...maybe tomorrow!

So, the plan for tomorrow is to do some more candy boxes with a green tinted soap base using the same fragrance oil.  Then with the extra to do some little Christmas Tree cookie cutter guest soaps.  Sometime next week I will do two other little shaped guest soaps to complete a limited edition set of four Christmas guest soaps.   Oh, and I will do several big batches of the Christmas Memories in a full size bar--with red and green marbeling!

Autumn in the Park, Vero Beach, FL, October 3 & 4, 2009

Riverside Park, Vero Beach

The first Florida show of the Fall...and it was 90+ degrees down in Vero Beach!  It was humid, but, it never rained and for that we are all so thankful.  I am especially thankful for all my wonderful customers down there.  Some of you have been with me for just about every one of the ten years I have been selling soap.  I am so grateful for the blessings of having a good business and great customers who continue to be there when I need you.  This was one of those weekends--I have had three weekends off and orders were trickling in ever so slowly and then....BOOM!!!  Another great weekend in Vero Beach.  Again, thank you each and every one of you. 

Incense sales were through the roof.  This is one of those shows I should just about do double the sticks I do for any other show because they are going to be gone in a blink.  Soap and oils sales were pretty steady.  I just wish I had my Christmas soap ready.  Several people were asking, but, I just haven't had time to put it together yet.  Maybe a small batch this weekend to test the "concept" and then full size bars the following week.  Hopefully!

Next weekend it's up to Saint Simons Island, Georgia at the park by the Pier.  Another one of my favorite places.  Hopefully it will be cool enough to camp out, but, I may have to get a hotel.  I hope all of you have a great week.  Come see me up there if you are close by!