Angie's Suds 'N' Such

New Project

2012-02-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

For the first time in ages, I've decided to make something for myself. I've been eyeing this pattern for awhile now and I finally got up the nerve to go for it. Isn't it beautiful?

Mine is going to be a blanket for our queen size bed. This will be the biggest crochet project I've ever done. I love the bright colors in this one but it doesn't match our room. So I got yarn that does:

Here is what I've accomplished so far today:

(It looks a lot better in person than it does in this picture) I calculated that I'll need about 288 hexagons to make a blanket large enough for our bed. 6 down, 282 to go!

My First Book Feature!

2012-02-01T06:58:00.000-08:00

Awhile back I was interviewed by a local author about my Etsy shop. He said he was writing a book about selling on Etsy and wanted to feature a few successful sellers. A few weeks later he emailed me a draft copy of the book and then I forgot all about it. Saturday I was shocked when I opened my mailbox and found this waiting for me:

Here's my feature!!

Sorry about the shadows on the pages. I didn't want to smash the book in the scanner so I took pictures of the pages instead.

This is a great book for those wanting to start selling, or just starting out, on Etsy. I just checked to see if it's been released yet and it looks like it came out on January 16th. It's available at most book sites for about $9. Tell me if you get a copy!

Discontinuing the Sugar Scrub Cubes

2012-01-30T15:08:00.000-08:00

After 2 years of making the Sugar Scrub Cubes I think it's time to put them to rest. I get a lot of great reviews on them at craft shows but they're just not selling well online. I need to focus my time and money on something that's more popular, so as of today they've all been marked down 25% to clear them out of my shop. Once they're gone, they're gone. (Unless I get a wholesale request that I just can't refuse)

This brings up a question though. I was using these in my gift sets along with a bar of soap, perfume, and lotion stick. What would you like to see take their place? I was thinking maybe a candle. Any thoughts?

Fotofuze is My New Best Friend!

2012-01-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

Somebody in the Etsy forum yesterday was raving about a new photo editing website. It makes all those grayish white background a nice, crisp white. I just had to give it a try.

Here's my pic before Fotofuze:

And here's the after:

What a difference! Now I'm hooked and I'm editing all my photos. It's so simple. You just highlight the image and Fotofuze does the rest. Just make sure you turn off the autocropping option if your pics are already cropped. That part gets a bit annoying because I keep forgetting and have to go back and redo each pic. Other than that, I love it!

The Great Perfume Debate

2012-01-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I currently make solid perfumes in little pots:

I started making these because they're easy to carry around in a bag since they're small and they don't spill. Well, I started wondering if maybe I should sell other types of perfume as well. I was going through some options and here's what I came up with:

Solid Perfume in a Pot
I like these because, as I said, they're small and spill proof. The bad thing about them is having to rub your finger into it to apply it.

Solid Perfume in a Stick
These are also nice and portable. With this option you can rub it directly onto your skin.

Roll-On
These are one of my favorites although I'm afraid to carry it in my purse for fear of spilling.

Spray
Also not one that I would carry around, just in case it spilled.

Cost Issue:
Then there's the price factor on each. The solid ones aren't as costly to make. The plastic pots/tubes are inexpensive. The roll-ons and sprays cost a bit more. I'd prefer to use glass for those which off course makes the bottle more expensive. From what I've been researching, the glass containers cost almost 4-5 times as much as the tubes/pots. This would, of course, mean that 1/3oz of liquid perfume would cost a lot more than 1/3oz of solid perfume. Is it worth it?

I would love to hear opinions on this! Please comment below and take the poll to the right to help me decide what to do!

Spring Soaps are Back in Stock!

2012-01-18T06:44:00.000-08:00

I know it's still winter but I'm so ready for the warm weather that I decided to get a head start on some spring soaps. The Taffy Soaps are my favorite! They remind me of warm, sunny days on the beach.

For Easter, I have the Jelly Beans ready! These adorable soaps come in a set of 20 and are perfect for little hands.

Book Review: Departures by Robin Jones Gunn

2012-01-12T05:51:00.000-08:00

Departures is a book containing two separate stories. Both are about teenage girls on summer vacation. They talk about friendships, love and feelings.

The book was a quick and easy read. I'd recommend it for a teenage girl but it wasn't really for me. It held my interest enough to get through it quickly but I didn't find it very captivating.

An excerpt from the book can be found HERE.

As a reminder, I was given this book for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions are my own.

Craft Show Display

2011-10-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize I have so many more products than last year! It took me about two hours to figure out how to display everything on one 6-foot table but I finally did it. Here are a few pics:

Let me know what you think!

Craft Show Addition

2011-10-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

One more show for this year's list:

November 19 10am-4pm
TC Williams High School
Alexandria, VA

Book Review: The Crossing by Serita Jakes

2011-10-11T10:39:00.000-07:00

"On the way home from a football game a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fire on a Texas school bus. Cheerleading coach B.J. Remington was killed but he murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her assistant district attorney husband becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart.
Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world-until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.'s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves"

This book was very easy to get into. Each chapter begins with the thoughts of Ms. Remington as she lay dying on the floor of the bus. More secrets and clues become revealed with each chapter but the killer still came as a surprise to me.

This book held my attention and I was able to finish it in only 3 days. I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a mystery.

An excerpt from the book can be found HERE.

As a reminder, I was given this book for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions are my own.

2011 Show Schedule

2011-10-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

Here is my list of shows so far for this year:

October 22 9am-3pm
Forest Park High School
Woodbridge, VA

November 12 9am-3pm
Centreville United Methodist Church
Centreville, VA

December 10 9am-3pm
Gar-Field High School
Woodbridge, VA

I'm working on a few more so I'll keep you posted. I hope to see you there!

Christmas Ornaments

2011-09-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

The holidays are quickly approaching! It's time to work on some ornaments for my other Etsy shop. Here's what they look like so far:

Each ornament has between 85-90 origami stars that I patiently folded, taking over 1 hour per ornament. The stars were then placed into the plastic ornament and the sides were glued so it stays together.
Eventually they'll have a ribbon like this one I made last year:

If you have any color suggestions I'd love to hear them!

Book Review: Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

2011-08-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

I think this is my favorite of all the books I've reviewed. I was hooked from the first chapter when the young priestess, Melaia, witnesses the murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard. Legends that she has been told since childhood suddenly come to life with the discovery of angels and shape-shifters.

Melaia finds herself caught in the middle of a feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. After being tricked into giving away a very important item to one of the brothers, Melaia discovers that she is the key to repairing the stairway. She must find a way to get the items back, save her friends, and repair the stairway.

This is the first in a series of books. As the book ends, Melaia has not yet repaired the stairway. Eye of the Sword will be coming out in Spring 2012 and I'm very much looking forward to it.

An excerpt from this book can be found HERE.

As a reminder, I was given this book for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions are my own.

Sugar Scrub Bars!

2011-08-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

For those of you who love the sugar scrub cubes, I have a wonderful new product for you! These sugar scrub *bars* are just like the cubes but the same size as a bar of soap. You can use the whole bar as an exfoliating soap, or break a piece off and crush it up like you do with the cubes.

These bars will be available early next week. I currently have Sugar Dust (above), Yuzu (below), and Herbal Bliss. I'm also working on Lavender, Cherry Blossom, and Pumpkin Spice.

New Packaging - I Need Your Help!

2011-08-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

Most of you know what my current packaging looks like. If not, here's a peek:

I love the look of this but it's very time consuming so I'm trying to come up with some other options. Here's the first one:

It's very similar but the bottom isn't covered. There's also a bit less soap showing at the top since the paper doesn't fold down as far now that the bottom inch is gone.
Another option is this one:

This one is a just a band of paper with the same label and ribbon. (Please ignore the label on this one; it printed incorrectly so I decided to use it as my trial.) This is the easiest and it uses the least amount of paper. I like this option for those reasons but it seems odd to me since I'm so used to seeing my soaps wrapped with the front folded down.

Please comment and let me know what you think! Which option would you prefer? Or maybe something else that I haven't thought of?

4 Year Anniversary Sale!

2011-08-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy lately that I forgot July 26th was my 4 year anniversary of selling on Etsy! I decided that I have to do something to celebrate so as a Thank You to all my customers who helped me reach this milestone, everything is now 25% off! All of the prices on my website will be marked down through Saturday the 6th.

Be sure to keep an eye on my facebook page for more events!

New Soaps!

2011-07-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

New soaps have finally been listed in my shop. Here is the Pineapple Cilantro:

Perfect Pear:

And I restocked the Sandalwood Vanilla:

My new friend

2011-06-26T16:57:00.000-07:00

Isn't she beautiful? She's been coming by to visit almost every day lately. I've been trying to lure her closer with some apples but she just takes them after I go inside. She's comfortable enough with me that I can go about my yardwork while she continues to eat. She loves hanging out by those grape vines and blackberry bushes.

The Corrubtible by Mark Mynheir

2011-06-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

I really need to start blogging more about my soap. I'm starting to have more book reviews than soap entries on here. I promise that my next few posts *will* be about soap. For now, here's my latest book review.

The book I read was The Corrubtible by Mark Mynheir. Here's the summary:

Ex-homicide detective Ray Quinn never expected life as a private investigator to be glamorous-but being cornered in a bathroom stall by the enraged philandering husband of a client? That's something he could live without. Retired from the force and living with a painful disability, Ray's options are limited. Stick to the job, keep impetuous sidekick Crevis alive, and spend quiet evenings with trusted pal Jim Beam-that's about the best he can hope for.
As a new client emerges, Ray finds himself in an impossibly large boardroom holding a check with enough zeros to finally lift him from his financial pit. The job seems easy enough: find Logan Ramsey, an ex-cop turned security officer who's taken off with sensitive corporate information. But few things are easy in Ray's world, regardless of the number of zeros on the check.
Ray soon stumbles across Logan Ramsey in a seedy motel room. Only Ray wasn't the first to find him. Now Logan's dead, the client's information is nowhere to be found, and Ray's employer is less than forthcoming with the details. Suddenly the line between the good guys and bad guys isn't so clear. With a foot in both worlds and an illuminating look at an unhappy ending that could well be his own, which will Ray choose?

It took me a little while to get into this book but once I was, I was hooked. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something new was thrown in and I had to rethink my entire theory. There are so many possible suspects and motives that it will keep you guessing long after you put the book down for the day. Great for mystery lovers!

You can read an excerpt HERE.

As a reminder, I was given this book for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions are my own.

New shirts to promote my shop

2011-06-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

Vistaprint is having an awesome $2 t-shirt sale so I grabbed these yesterday. They have over 1000 designs to choose from and you get to customize the message.

Book Review - Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

2011-04-28T09:38:00.001-07:00

I was very excited when this book was in my list of review options since it's historical fiction. If you've read some of my previous book reviews you know this is one of my favorite genres.

As I started reading, I was slightly disappointed. I could NOT get into this book! The chapters are each only a few pages long and after just one chapter I'd put the book down and walk away. I never do that! Honestly, I can't quite figure out what my problem was with the book. It was a decent story, just not captivating. When I finally got interested in the book (at the very end) and kept reading and reading to find out what happened to a specific character, he went away and the author never says what happened to him! There is a sequel to this book called "Mine is the Night", however, I don't think I want to read through it with the sheer hope that she brings the character back.

Here is the summary from the back of the book:

"Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.
Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.
His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory's many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.
One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.
A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illuminates the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home."

An excerpt from the book can be found HERE.

If you decide to read this, let me know what you thought!

As a reminder, I was given this book for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions are my own.

Tutorial: Two-Sided Loofah Soap

2011-04-10T14:51:00.000-07:00

Here are instructions for a fun soap making project to do at home. It's a two-sided loofah soap! Scrubby on one side, smooth on the other. Supplies you'll need:

white soap base

clear soap base

loofah

a mold that will fit your loofah

fragrance oil

color

rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle

Measure the height of your mold and use a sharp knife to cut your loofah so it's half the size. My mold is 1 1/4" high so I cut my loofah to 5/8". Be careful not to cut your fingers! I got my loofah from Sahara's Supplies. Cut up and measure out enough clear soap base to fill half your mold. (You can purchase cheap melt and pour soap base at most craft stores but if you'd like a quality base I suggest finding a source online) My mold holds 6 ounces so I needed 3 ounces of soap for this step. Melt the soap in your microwave (about 30 seconds should do the trick) and mix in your fragrance oil. I used 1/4 tsp of Raspberry fragrance, also from Sahara's Supplies. Place your loofah in your mold and pour the melted soap on top of it. Spritz with the rubbing alcohol to remove any bubbles that may have formed. Allow this to cool for approximately 15 minutes. The soap will need to be hard enough to pour another layer on top without melting it. This next step is the same as the previous step, but using our white base. I chose to add some color to mine. I used "chameleon" mica from Sahara's Supplies. The picture doesn't do it justice but this is an amazing red with silver mixed into it.

Need a tip on mixing mica so it blends properly? I add the mica to my fragrance oil first. Mix well and then add a bit of the soap base. Mix well again before adding the rest of the base.

Now you're ready to pour the melted soap base on top of the first layer but first, spritz a bit of the rubbing alcohol onto the first layer to help them adhere. Allow the soap to cool completely. After it has cooled, you're ready to remove it from the mold. Congratulations! Now you're ready to hop in the shower with your fun new soap! If you make this project let me know how it goes!

4th Annual Autism Awareness Fundraiser

2011-04-07T07:13:00.000-07:00

For the 4th year in a row I will be donating 50% of all Puzzle Soap sales to the Autism Society of America. Please help support this cause! This fundraiser will last the entire month of April.

Pictures and a Poll

2011-03-22T07:39:00.001-07:00

As promised, here are pictures of the "swirled soap". It turned out more blotchy than swirled.

And now I need your help! I'm getting ready to order more lip balm flavors and I want your opinions. Please vote for your favorites from the list:

honey
caramel
cucumber melon
coconut milk & peaches
black cherry
anise
pear
coconut
strawberry lemonade
apricot
kona coffee
bananas foster
mango peach
watermelon
lavender
iced pineapple & tangerine
something not listed: ________

Thank you!

My First Attempt at Swirling

2011-03-12T17:14:00.001-08:00

For a challenge with a few of my teammates on Etsy, we have to make a tropical themed product that contains more than one color. I had the perfect scent for this...HoneyCocoMango! It's a delicious blend of honey, coconut, and mango. Now the color is where the challenge comes in. I've done layers before. I wanted to do something more unique for this one so I decided to do swirls.

I picked pink, orange, yellow, and green for my colors. Since I use log molds I used the 'in the pot' swirling method. Let's just say it's a lot harder than it looks. I was getting a little flustered trying to get all four colors mixed before the soap became too thick. I think I swirled a little too much once I put it into the pot and now I'm afraid it's going to be a big, ugly mess when I cut it.

Stay tuned for pics to see how it turned out. I'm very anxious to see for myself.

Big Giveaway on Facebook!

2011-03-04T06:18:00.000-08:00

Want a chance to win some great prizes? Head on over to Super Coupon Lady's facebook page and see what you can win. One of the prizes is my Herbal Bliss Sugar Scrubs. Good Luck!

Flight of Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer

2011-03-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

Time for another book review! This one is for "Flight of Shadows" by Sigmund Brouwer.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The story itself was good. Caitlyn, the result of a scientific experiment, is on the run from bounty hunters and the government. She meets a street-smart illusionist named Razor who helps her escape but she's not sure she can trust him. Razor helps her learn about herself and the unique power of her DNA. It leads her to make a choice between the two men who love her, and whether to keep her freedom or sacrifice herself to change human destiny.

The first few chapters of the book were rather hard to follow. Every chapter jumped to a new scene and introduced new characters. It took a paragraph or two to figure out what was going on. The entire book reads this way but after learning all the characters it becomes easier to follow. I discovered after I started that this book is the sequel to Sigmund Brouwer's other book, "Broken Angel". Perhaps I should have read that first.

There are a few disgusting scenes involving a man eating a rat and the author has an abnormal obsession with coffee. This probably bothered me more than it should have but everytime coffee was mentioned I thought "here we go again...".

All in all it was a pretty good book. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Read the prologue HERE.

As a reminder, I was given this book for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions are my own.

Did you find the review helpful? Rank it here:

Diaper Pail Deodorizing Disk Recipe

2011-02-22T07:25:00.001-08:00

I just made a few of these as part of a baby shower gift so I thought I'd share the recipe. These are very easy to make and are great for sticking in your diaper pail if it has a compartment for them, or nearby if it doesn't.

Supplies you'll need:
Lavender Essential Oil
Water
Baking Soda
Silicone Cupcake Molds or other small flexible molds
Cookie Sheet

Preheat your oven to 175 degrees. Mix a few drops of lavender essential oil with a small amount of water. Add baking soda and mix to make a paste. Keep adding more baking soda and water until you have the desired amount. You want it to be wet enough so it holds together, but not so wet that it will take forever to dry out. Fill each cupcake mold with approximately 1/2" of the paste. Set the cupcake molds on your cookies sheet. Place in the oven at 175 degrees for 1 hour. Turn the oven off and leave them in the oven for another hour, or until fully dry and solid. Remove from cupcake molds and they're ready to use! After they've lost their fragrance, don't toss them out! These are great to use in your laundry. Crumble them up and toss them in with baby's clothes to deodorize and soften them.

Body Butter Giveaway!

2011-02-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

Body Butters are now available in my shop! Even more exciting...I'm giving one away! Tomorrow, February 3rd, one lucky winner will be picked to receive a free 3.5oz jar of Yuzu Whipped Body Butter!

To enter:
Head over to facebook tomorrow and post a comment on the following two pages:

http://facebook.com/pages/Vixens-Natural-Jewelry/284357900776

http://facebook.com/AngiesSudsNSuch

Good luck!

Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner

2011-01-27T13:54:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction so I was immediately drawn to this book. My obsession with this genre began with a trip to the thrift store. I was browsing the books and came across "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory. I recognized the title since it had recently been made into a movie so I bought it...and LOVED it! Within the next few months I acquired the rest of the Tudor series by Philippa Gregory and all of the ones I read so far are amazing. When I received "Lady in Waiting" I had no idea it would tie in with those books.

"Lady in Waiting" is two stories in one. The first story is about Jane Lindsay, modern day New Yorker whose husband of 22 years recently walked out on her. She runs an antique store and one day finds an old ring stuffed into the binding of a book. The ring is inscribed in Latin with the only recognizable word being "Jane". She instantly feels a bond with this ring and its owner and tried to find out more about it. Along the way she discovers more about herself and how to deal with her marrital problems.

Story two takes place in sixteenth century England right after the death of Queen Katherine, Henry VIII's sixth wife (this is where it ties in with the Tudor series). It's about Lady Jane Grey who would eventually reign as Queen of England for a total of nine days.

The story revolves around the decisions that both women have made (or that others have made for them) and how they affected their lives.

I give this story two thumbs up! You can download and read the first 4 chapters of this book on the WaterBrook Multnomah website.

As a reminder, I was given this book for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions are my own.

A few of my favorite things

2011-01-26T07:40:00.000-08:00

A few of my favorite necklaces:

Sorry about the small pic on this one. I can't figure out how to make it larger.
This beautiful necklace is by Bella Mei Designs. I met the owner at a craft show back in December. Actually, she walked past me wearing this necklace and I followed her back to her booth to purchase it.

This lovely piece is by Vixen's Natural Jewelry. I now own two of her necklaces and I just noticed she added a purple one to her line!

This gorgeous work of art is by 3Dots. Unfortunately, I don't own this one (it sold out before I got to it) but I have my eye on a few other items in her shop as well.

Whipped Shea Butter

2011-01-14T13:03:00.001-08:00

I love whipped shea butter...the creamy frosting-like texture, the way it melts right into your skin. I've been wanting to make some for ages and finally got around to it. This is a picture of my first batch:

There are many tips and tricks on the internet about making whipped shea butter but I learned the hard way that softening the shea butter instead of melting it, doesn't work. It turned out all gritty.

What *does* work? First off, I melted the shea butter completely. After melting I added my oil, cornstarch (to reduce greasiness) and fragrance. Then I alternated between beating it with a hand mixer (with my pyrex bowl placed on top of a larger bowl of ice), and putting it in the freezer for 5-10 minute intervals. Voila!

Not only is shea butter good for your skin but it does wonders for hair as well! I've read about the benefits of using it on naturally curly but was always afraid to try it. I thought it would make my hair greasy. Not at all! No grease, no stiffness, and best of all...no frizz!

Here's a picture of my hair after using the shea butter. I put a bit on my damp hair after my shower (no other product) and blow dried a bit and let it air dry the rest of the way. I should take a "before" picture of what my hair looks like without any product in it, but I'd rather not have anyone see me like that. It's scary!

My Newest Toy

2011-01-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting one of these for ages so I couldn't resist when I saw it at 40% off! I've already used it to make some of my Christmas tags and I plan on making some fancy ones to add to my etsy shop for next holiday season.

Anybody else treat themselves to a new toy recently? I'd love to hear about it!

Book Review - The Charlatan's Boy

2010-12-30T13:51:00.000-08:00

I love to read. What I love even more is receiving books for free. I found this great program called "Blogging for Books" which gives away free books in exchange for a blog review. My first thought was "What's the catch?". Well, I haven't found one! No credit card required, no trial offers to sign up for, and I received my first book within a few days of requesting it.

The book I chose is "The Charlatan's Boy" by Jonathan Rogers. From the book cover:

"As far back as he can remember, the orphan Grady has tramped from village to village with a huckster named Floyd, pulling a variety of hoaxes and flimflams on the good citizens of the Corenwald frontier. It's a hard way to make a living, made harder by the memory of fatter times when audiences thronged to see Grady perform as "The Wild Man of the Feechiefen Swamp." But what can they do? No one believes in feechies anymore.

Unless Floyd and Grady can make them believe.

Armed with the tricks of their trade, the charlatan and his boy set out to create another Great Feechie Scare, which Floyd swears will make them rich. But while Grady longs for the days when he played the feechie, he can't stop wondering if, after a life of lies, he'll ever know who he really is."

This book is a young adult novel about a boy named Grady and his travelling companion, Floyd. Grady has no idea how or where Floyd found him or why Floyd kept him. He's tried to get the story out of Floyd but showmen aren't the best at telling the truth. The two of them travel Corenwald with their many get rich quick schemes such as "The Ugliest Boy in the World", a short time as phrenologists, and of course their famous "Wild Man of the Feechiefen Swamp" act. Grady loved the feechie act and was thrilled when their Great Feechie Scare seemed to be working. All the while, he continued to wonder where he came from and scour the villages for someone as ugly as him who could possibly be his mother. Grady finally gets the answers to his questions in a completely unexpected ending.

"The Charlatan's Boy" is available through most major retailers with an MSRP of $13.99.

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale!

2010-11-25T18:10:00.000-08:00

Now's the time to stock up! Whether it's for gifts or to pamper yourself, this weekend is the perfect opportunity to save some money on bath and body products. All items in my etsy shop (http://SudsNSuch.etsy.com) are 25% off with coupon code "Holiday2010". Coupon is valid from now through 11/29/10.

Happy Holidays!

Craft Show Set-Up

2010-09-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

Someone just emailed me a picture of my table set-up from the 2009 Gar-Field Craft Show:

I plan to add a lot more to my table this year. It looks very "boring" to me. I think I need some different things on the top row instead of everything being the same height. I'm thinking a cake stand with cupcake soaps on it and a few other nice displays. I didn't have my scrubs and perfumes for that show either.

2010 Show Schedule

2010-08-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

Angie's Suds 'N Such will be at the following events this year:

September 26 from 11am to 4pm
Bow Wow and Meow SPCA Fundraising Event
Riverfront Park, Pottstown, PA

October 23 from 10am to 3pm
Charles Wesley United Methodist Church Oktoberfest Craft Fair
6817 Dean Drive, McLean, VA

November 13 from 9am to 3pm
Centreville United Methodist Church Craft Fair and Holiday Bazaar
6400 Old Centreville Rd, Centreville, VA

December 11 from 9am to 3pm (application pending)
Gar-Field High School Orchestra Boosters Holiday Craft Show
14000 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge, VA

If you're in the area, please stop by!

New Labels!

2010-08-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to ordering new labels for my soaps. Now they have my logo so they match everything else in my shop. Aren't they great?! I got them from Jennifer over at MyPaperCrafts. She's the greatest!

Suds is Turning Three!

2010-07-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

July 26th is my 3 year Etsy-versary! Come celebrate all month long with great specials in my shop. Current special is Buy 2 Get 1 Free on everything!!

Washing your hair with a bar of soap?

2010-05-19T06:28:00.001-07:00

I've heard so much about shampoo bars lately that I just *had* to try it! Being a soap maker I probably should have tried this years ago but I just couldn't get used to the idea of using a bar of soap on my head. I've been so brainwashed that shampoo with lots of lather is what my hair needs and I was SO wrong!

Instead of whipping up a new formula, I decided to go ahead and use one of the bar soaps that I already have made. I went with the Yuzu. It's a nice basic bar that is perfect for hair. (I didn't want to be washing out bits of oatmeal or poppy seeds!)

Most shampoo bar instructions say to lather the bar in your hands and rub that lather into your hair. This is why I couldn't get used to a shampoo bar. They don't produce near as much lather as commercial shampoo. Now here's what I figured out that makes it a lot easier: Rub the soap directly onto your hair! You'll be amazed at how much lather this produces! It's kind of like rubbing the soap onto a mesh sponge. It makes WAY more lather than rubbing it onto your hands!

Now that I had all that lather I knew my hair had to be clean. After rinsing, it felt different than if I had washed with shampoo. Not bad, just different. I still used conditioner and hair product as always. (my new favorite hair product is Creme Brulee by beijaflores. I have naturally curly, frizzy hair and this works wonders) After my hair dried I could definitely tell a difference. It felt much softer than normal. I love it!

I think I'm hooked now and I'm going to have to start formulating some recipes for "real" shampoo bars. That commercial shampoo is outta here!

Do you know your essential oils?

2010-04-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

I try to use a mix of essential oils and fragrance oils in my products. I know that a lot of people prefer the natural essential oils over synthetic fragrance oils but sometimes essential oils aren't always the best choice. I list warnings on all my essential oil products but here are a few things you should know:

-Citrus essential oils are photosensitizers. These increase your skin's reaction to sunlight, making it more likely to burn. These include oils such as orange, grapefruit, lime, and lemon.

-Certain essential oils are not considered safe during pregnancy. Some of these are: Rosemary, Peppermint, Lavender, Clary Sage, Jasmine.

-Rosemary and Eucalyptus (among others) should not be used if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.

This is not meant to scare anyone away from using essential oils. They *are* wonderful. This is just a reminder to research what you are using to make sure it won't cause you any harm. A good soap maker should be able to answer your questions and help you choose a product that is right for you.

April is Autism Awareness Month

2010-04-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

For the 3rd year in a row I will be donating 50% of all Puzzle Soap purchases to the Autism Society of America. Please help support this great cause!

Name My Newest Perfume!

2010-03-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

I made a wonderful new solid perfume that is similar to Pink Sugar by Aquolina. The problem? I can't call it Pink Sugar because it's a trademarked name. Here's where I need a little help. I had some great suggestions given to me in the Etsy forums but I need help choosing one:

Sugar Dust
Sweet Memories
Pink Frost
Caramel Musk
Frosted Sugar
Pretty in Pink

The scent is described as:

"a journey through the pleasures and flavors of childhood with a playful blend of vanilla and caramel. Notes include Bergamot, Sicilian Orange, Raspberry, Fig Leaves, Lily of the Valley, Licorice, Strawberry, Red Fruit, Cotton Candy, Tonka (Vanilla), Caramel, Musk, Sandalwood, Powder."

I'm trying to appeal to women in their 20s and 30s. Please leave a comment with your favorite. Feel free to add to the list if you come up with something better!

New Products!

2010-03-10T08:18:00.001-08:00

Finally!

Single Use Sugar Scrubs:

Solid Perfumes:

Tips for Getting Traffic to Your Etsy Site

2010-01-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

Many, many times I've heard the question "How do I get people to come to my Etsy website?". Well, I decided to put together a list of some ideas.

1) Spend some time in the forums but NOT just promoting. Answer questions. Ask questions. make friends. Most promotions go ignored but helping others gives you a good name.

2) Comment in the Storque and in treasuries. And by comment I mean relevant comments. No spamming!

3) Join a team. There's a whole list of teams on Etsy. Find one that you think would be a good fit for you and email the leader asking to join. (I'll do another post later on the benefits of teams)

4) Add a link to your website as your email signature.

5) Start a blog. Talk about your new products, current sales, post some tutorials, etc.

6) Wear/carry your product everywhere you go. I can't wear my soap but I do carry my Soap-To-Go and Lip Balm in my purse at all times!

7) Carry business cards and tell people about your site! Place some business cards on public bulletin boards.

8) Try sending samples to some sampler boxes. These are a great way to get your products in the hands of customers. Try to find a sampler that has the same target market as you to make the most of it.

Good luck!

New Year, Newly Organized Workroom

2010-01-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

In order to be more efficient this year, I decided to clean out my entire workroom. I went through EVERYTHING. That included opening ALL boxes, getting rid of what I don't need anymore, and organizing what I still use.

Here are a few pics of how nice it looks now:

Now I'd better get to work making some soap. See how empty those shelves are? Eek!

Black Friday - Cyber Monday Sale!

2009-11-22T08:45:00.000-08:00

Get ready to stock up on your holiday gifts! Angie's Suds 'N Such is having a Black Friday - Cyber Monday sale!

Sneak Peek at one of the deals:
My 8 bar listing will have FREE worldwide shipping!

Be sure to check out my whole shop for great deals that weekend!

Shows, New Products, and the Cherry Blossom Festival

2009-11-09T06:05:00.001-08:00

It's show season! The last one I did went fairly well and I'm hoping the rest do the same. If you're in the area I'd love for you to stop by and say 'hi' at one of my shows! Here are the locations of my next 2:

November 14 - Centreville United Methodist Church - 6400 Old Centreville Rd, Centreville, VA

December 12 - Gar-Field High School - 14000 Smoketown Rd, Woodbridge, VA

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Products!

I've been busy here in my 'lab' experimenting with new recipes. My two newest products will be lip balms and lotion sticks! I'll be listing them in my shop sometime this week.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cherry Blossom Festival

So, what's given me the push to create those new products? The Cherry Blossom Festival committee! I submitted a cherry blossom soap for consideration for their online boutique and they loved it! BUT...they wanted more items to make it a gift set. I'll be including a few more items other than the lip balm and lotion sticks as soon as the recipes are perfected. I have to send the set in for a final consideration and as long as they like it all, I'm in!

Parents Magazine!

2009-09-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

Some of you know, some of you don't, that Parents magazine recently did an article on bartering and interviewed me! Well, here it is! They featured it in the October 2009 issue. Page 99 to be exact:)

Making Room for New Soaps!

2009-09-23T06:55:00.000-07:00

New seasons are coming which means new soap scents! Not only do I have new scents coming but I have new packaging! Before I can list these new soaps I need to get rid of the old ones! Help me out! I've reduced all my cold process soaps by 30% to help make room for the new ones. All prices have already been marked down. Please take some time to stop by my Etsy shop and check it out!

Mini Soap-on-a-Rope Tutorial

2009-09-09T12:55:00.001-07:00

Today I'm going to show you how to make your own mini Soap-on-a-Rope! Yay!

Here's what you need:

Approximately 4 ounces of melt and pour soap base
Mini bath puff (I got mine from Parasox on etsy)
Fragrance oil (I used Cherry Blossom from Sahara's Supplies)
Blueberry seeds for exfoliation (also from Sahara)
Bath bomb mold (from...you guessed it!...Sahara)
A spoon for mixing
Knife for cutting
Measuring glass to melt your soap in

Have all your supplies? Okay, let's get started!

First you need to cut up your soap base and measure out 2 ounces. Melt it in the microwave (about 20 seconds should do the trick), add about 1/4 tsp fragrance oil, a bit of blueberry seeds, and mix it all together.

Now, set your mini puff in one half of the bath bomb mold. I recommend greasing the mold a bit so your soap doesn't stick.

Carefully pour your soap mixture into the mold. You'll need to pull the puff away from the sides a bit to get it in there. Pour slowly so the puff has time to absorb some of the soap. Now, go grab a cup of coffee and wait for this to dry.

Is it dry? Alright, next step!

Measure out another 2 ounces of your soap base. Melt it and add your fragrance and blueberry seeds like last time. Pour it into the other half of your mold. (Don't forget to grease it!)

Unmold the dry soap that you made earlier. I tried doing this with the first half still in the mold but the mold won't close completely and you'll have a little gap between the two halves.

Very carefully and very slowly set it into the melted soap, puff side down. You'll want to put something under it to catch the soap that runs out over the side. Trust me, now matter how slow you go it's going to happen.

We're done! Well, almost. Go grab a book or watch tv for about 3o minutes and then come back and unmold your creation!

Congrats! You just made a mini soap-on-a-rope!

P.S. I don't recommend making your soap outside like I did. I only did this for the purpose of taking pictures in the natural lighting.

New Product and Weekend Deals!

2009-08-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Time for Weekend Deals!

This weekend I'm offering Buy One Get One Half Off on everything in my shop!

Not only am I having a sale but I have a new product. Suds 'N Such now makes shower gel! I currently have 3 scents listed (peppermint, orange, and green apple) but more will be coming soon. I'm also taking custom orders for scents that I don't have listed yet so if you don't see your favorite scent, feel free to ask!

Make Your Samples Work for You!

2009-08-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

After a few years of sending and receiving samples I thought I’d share a few tips that I’ve come up with. Please remember, these are tips for *samples*. Samples and promos are not the same thing. Samples are a smaller version of something that you sell in your shop. Not a pen or button with your name on it. Promos are nice but not always memorable.

First of all, make sure your sample is an accurate representation of your work because that’s what potential customers will see it as. Don’t send seconds/mistakes! You want the customer to *want* your item. Your samples should be as good as the full sized item.

Send samples that the customer can *use*. If you are a soapmaker, send soap. Jewelry makers, how about a small pair of earrings? If the potential customer can use the item, they are more likely to fall in love with it and purchase more later.

Here are a few questions that the potential customer will want to know about your product sample:

1) What is it?
A customer can’t buy it if they don’t know what it is. Not only that, but a lot of my soap looks like food. I don’t want anyone to eat it! Soap and tarts smell and look alike. If a customer doesn’t know what it is, they won’t use it.

2) What’s in it?
This is especially important for bakers and bath & body makers. Please list all your ingredients in case anyone has allergies.

3) What do I do with it?
If it’s not obvious, please give details on how to use your sample.

4) How can I buy more?
Don’t forget to include your business card or website info! If the customer can’t find you, they can’t buy anything from you!

Now who do you give these samples to?

Try to focus on your target market. When you ship out an order include a sample of something else that you think that customer will like. Submit to sampler boxes that focus on your target market. Keep a few with you so when you strike up a conversation with someone about your business you can hand them a sample to remember you by. Hand them out to friends and family. Even if it’s not something they’ll use, there’s a good chance they’ll still support your business by promoting it to others.

I hope these tips help someone. If you have any tips of your own, feel free to post them here!

And the Winner is...

2009-08-24T09:06:00.001-07:00

I just put all the names in a bucket and let my daughter pick out the winner. The name she picked is...
CarolSue! Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!

Back to School Sale!

2009-08-18T09:44:00.001-07:00

You need soap. My daughter needs school clothes. SO...

Back to School Sale!

Everything in my etsy shop is Buy 3 Get 1 FREE! When you buy any 3 items you can pick a 4th item of equal or lesser value for FREE! Just let me know which free item you would like when checking out.

These are great for keeping in a backpack or for college students to keep in their shower caddy:

Giveaway! Soap and Soap Dish!

2009-08-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

Want a chance to win a bar of soap from my shop and a soap dish from CrochetGal? Entering is easy!

1)Visit both of our shops and pick out your favorite item from each.

2)Comment on this post letting us know which items were your favorite.

3)Include your email address so I know how to contact you.

Links to our shops:

Angie's Suds 'N Such

CrochetGal

Want more chances to win?

-Every order from my shop during the time of the contest (now through August 24 at 12pm EDT) will receive another entry.

-Write about this contest on your blog, twitter, or facebook for another entry. Be sure to leave an additional comment with a link to your post.

Winner will be picked on Monday, August 24th at 12pm EDT. Winner will receive their choice of one bar soap from my shop and a soap dish from CrochetGal.

Good luck!

Weekend Deals!

2009-08-14T06:41:00.001-07:00

In honor of Etsy's free shipping weekend deal, I'm offering FREE shipping *within the US* on all Yarn items in my AngiesOthers shop! This includes all Scarves, Blankets, Coasters, and Crocheted Food! Sale will run from Friday, August 14th through Sunday, August 16th.

Of course I can't leave out my soap shop! Soap weighs a little to much for me to offer free shipping but instead I'll give you a discount of 20% off you entire order!

How do you get these great deals? Simply enter "weekend deals" in the notes to seller when checking out. I will refund you via paypal once your order and payment is complete.

Don't forget to check out my new "Make Your Own Soap" listing! You design it, I make it!

Have a great weekend!

What do I do when I'm not soaping?

2009-08-10T06:59:00.000-07:00

I make scarves! Here are my two newest that I made for my other Etsy shop.

I crocheted this one using a beautiful autumn colored yarn:

I knitted this neckwarmer in a delicious raspberry colored cotton:

Don't worry, I'm still working on soap! I have some new fall scents on the curing racks and they'll be listed soon!

I'm Sorry!

2009-07-31T07:38:00.001-07:00

I just realized that I haven't posted anything in over a month! I'll be back later with an update. I promise!

My First Front Page Feature!

2009-06-26T09:19:00.001-07:00

For the first time ever, my soap has been featured on the Front Page of Etsy! That's my Lemon Poppy Seed soap in the middle of the 3rd row! Thank you to CurlyGirlCrochet for including me in that treasury!

For All My Loyal Customers

2009-06-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

Angie's Suds 'N Such now has a customer loyalty program!

With each order from my Etsy shop you will receive one of these cards. Save 5 and redeem them for a free bar of soap!

You get to pick from any bar soap in my shop at the time of redemption!

To make it even better, I won't charge you shipping for the free bar!

One Lovely Blog Award!

2009-06-16T17:24:00.000-07:00

I got an email yesterday letting me know that I had a new comment from Megan of mdstudio, who had chosen my blog to receive the "Lovely Blog Award"! Be sure to click the links above to check out her awesome blog and Etsy shop!

Here are the rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

These are the great blogs I am passing the award on to:

1) Lowell and Son
2) Artisanne
3) The Midnight Carver
4) Indie Finds on Etsy

5) Flax and Spindle
6) Hypnotransformations
7) Allover Art
8) The Rabbit Muse
9) Stelladanza's Confections
10) Jellybeans
11) Art's Desire
12) Pink Lemonade Stand
13) Bath Buddies

14) Happy Cloud Moments
15) Kiddlebug

Anyone hungry for cookies?

2009-06-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a few things for my other shop recently. I just listed these yummy chocolate chip cookies:

Sorry, you can't eat them but they'd make a great addition to your little baker's kitchen set!

Speaking of food, I finally listed my Pizza Soap! It's available as a whole pizza or by the slice.

Hungry yet?

$30 raised for the Autism Society of America!

2009-05-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone who purchased a Puzzle Set during April to support the Autism Society of America!

Some of these awesome customers include:
AudreysCountryCrafts
sarawestermark
msumbie99
meArtDesign
gifteddesigns
queenjane0

$30 was raised for this wonderful charity!

I also want to thank everyone who helped spread the word about this fundraiser.

THANK YOU!

April is Autism Awareness Month

2009-03-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

April is Autism Awareness Month. You can help support the cause by purchasing a set of puzzle soaps. For each set purchased in April, I will donate 50% to the Autism Society of America.

Sets are $5 each and can be found in my Etsy shop. You can choose from the fruit set (shown above) or the childhood set which includes bubblegum, creamsicle, popcorn, and cotton candy scents.

Please consider supporting this great cause!

Make Your Own Make-Up Remover?

2009-03-15T13:19:00.001-07:00

I'm running low on make-up remover and instead of buying a new bottle of commercial make-up remover with ingredients that I can barely pronounce, let alone know what they are, I decided to try to make my own. I found a few recipes online but this one seems to be the most popular:

1T. Olive Oil
1T. Castor Oil
2t. Canola Oil

I didn't have any canola oil so I substituted it with sweet almond oil. It was very easy to make. I mixed it all up and stored it in a little bottle.

Now for the real test...did it work? Well, it took off my eyeliner and eyeshadow really well. The mascara, not so much. I had to hold it on my eyelashes and let it soak in for a bit before it did anything and even then it left a lot on. Not to mention it made me feel quite greasy.

I'm not going to give up though. I'm sure there's a solution out there instead of using chemicals. I'll keep you all posted on what I come up with and if you have any recipes, feel free to share!

$.75 Shipping!

2009-03-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

Yes, you read that right! Almost all my soaps are currently only $.75 to ship within the United States! Discounts for other countries also.

Stock up now! This is a limited time offer.

Pizza!

2009-02-27T19:50:00.002-08:00

Just as I promised...another new soap! This one is also shaped like food. A delicious pepperoni pizza! Here's a peek:

Keep an eye on my shop for details and more pics. I hope to have it listed tomorrow.

Mmm...Ice Cream!

2009-02-26T06:06:00.001-08:00

I've finally had a chance to work on some new soaps! Here's a sneak peek before they hit my website:

The chocolate layers smell like chocolate and the ice cream smells like vanilla! I just need the sun to come out so I can take better pics and get them listed. I have some more ideas up my sleeve so check back soon!

Coaster Crazy!

2009-02-25T09:18:00.000-08:00

While waiting on an order of soap supplies I decided to work on my other shop. What have I been making? Coasters! And lots of them! Here are a few pics:

If you have any ideas for more color combos let me know! Oh, and if you mention this post you'll receive a 10% discount on any coaster set! Yay!

Does Handmade Soap Lather?

2009-02-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a myth out there that handmade soap doesn't lather. Boy, is that wrong! With the right combination of oils, your handmade soap will have tons of bubbly goodness! Check out the pics if you don't believe me:

This luscious lather was created by taking a mesh shower puff to a bar of my peanut butter soap.

So, all you body wash lovers...why not switch to a beautiful bar of handmade soap instead? Your skin will love you for it!

Etsy Trading

2009-02-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

"What can I get for 2 bars of soap and a washcloth?"

Ask that at your local store and all you'll get is funny looks. Ask that on Etsy and the possibilities are endless! (one more reason I love etsy)

Here are a few of the FABULOUS things I've gotten through Etsy trading:

Wine Stopper by DreaBunny: (custom made to match my kitchen...isn't she awesome?!)

Crackle Glass Purple Earrings by KSchaffter:

Fabric Covered Pocket Mirror by flirtbuttons: (Please note, flirtbuttons is not currently trading)

Pluck Bracelet by relishdress:

You might be wondering how you go about trading. There are a few ways you can do this. One way is to search the Etsy forums. There are numerous trading threads you can search through or add your name to.

Another way is to contact a shop owner directly. Read through the shop announcements, policies, and profile first. Some owners will state whether they are open to trades or not. Please be respectful and courteous when contacting shop owners. Not everyone likes to trade. Ask nicely and don't be offended or upset if they say no.

Some people do trades differently, but the most common way is to agree on an equal trade (example: a $5 item for a $5 item) and then purchase the items from each others shop but don't actually pay for it. Then send out your item! Oh, and don't forget to leave great feedback for your awesome new goodies!

I'm currently on the lookout for some cloth napkins, placemats, and a tablecloth to match my blue and purple kitchen. So...what can I get for 2 bars of soap and a washcloth? :)

Another Sale!

2009-02-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

All soaps in my Etsy shop have been reduced by at least 25%!

Wanna know the best deal in my shop?
Fill a flat rate envelope with 8 soaps for only $26.25! That's only $3.28 per bar!

Etsy CREST Inauguration Sale

2009-01-20T11:42:00.000-08:00

Along with my fellow Capital Region Etsy Street Team members, I am having a sale ALL week! That's right, from January 17th through 25th everything in my shop is 15% off! Now is a great time to stock up on Valentine's Day gifts or just get that special soap for yourself.

There are a few new additions to my shop as well. I now have salt bars! These bars are loaded with sea salt to exfoliate your skin. The scent will make you want to eat them...Salty Caramel Peanut! Yum!

I've also relisted my Cucumber Facial Bars:

So head on over to my Etsy shop and when you're done stocking up on soaps, do a search for "etsy crest sale" to see what my team members have to offer!

Suds 'N' Such is now on Artfire!

2009-01-18T19:04:00.001-08:00

Suds 'N' Such is expanding!

I have recently opened a shop over on Artfire. For those who don't know, Artfire is a great new place to buy and sell handmade. When you get a chance, stop by and check out my new shop.

Soapers Exposed!

2009-01-15T06:31:00.001-08:00

Etsy soapers have been exposed! Here's a peek at myself and some of my fellow CYA (Clean up Your Act) team members:

Just in Time for Valentine's Day!

2009-01-14T08:22:00.000-08:00

New Pucker Up Soap Pops available in my Etsy store! These soap pops are great for Valentine's Day! Get those luscious, plump lips you've always wanted! When you're tired of being beautiful, just take the soap off the stick to wash with it!

Featured by an Author!

2009-01-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

Parenting author and "Chicken Soup for the Soul" editor, Susan Heim, featured my soaps on her blog today! How cool is that?!?!

Recently, a little birdie told me that she was looking for products to feature on her parenting blog. Immediately, I thought of my Soap-To-Go. I wrote to her about my product and she asked me for a sample. I didn't need to think twice about that! The very next day I sent her a bubblegum scented Soap-To-Go.

I had completely forgotten about it until today (not even a week later!) she emailed me to let me know that my soaps were featured on her blog! She wrote an incredible article (what else would you expect from an author?) and made my soaps sound amazing.

She is the sweetest person and I want to give her a great big THANK YOU for the amazing feature. Thank you, Susan!

Peanut Butter Soap - Good enough to eat?

2008-12-20T14:28:00.001-08:00

As usual I had packages sitting outside waiting for a pick-up this morning. It looked like it was going to rain so I peeked out to see if the mailman had taken them yet. One of them had fallen on the ground so I went out to pick it up. As I set it back on the pile, guess what I discovered? Two other packages with holes in them and a bar of my Peanut Butter Soap had a bite taken out of it!

Hubby thinks it was squirrels. After all, they do like nuts. However, those crows sitting on my neighbors truck were looking quite suspicious...

Whatever it was had ripped all the way through my flat rate envelope to get to the soap. The other package was ok, just a few holes poked in it but I guess it was strong enough to keep the critter out.

Luckily, I had more and quick repackaged it with a new bar before the mailman got here. I can't even imagine the convo I'd get about that one! "Umm, my soap arrived partially eaten". I would never have believed it!

Sale!

2008-12-18T06:49:00.001-08:00

In an effort to reach my goal for the year, I'm having a 10% off sale in my shop! This sale will only last until I reach 400 sales, so hurry before it's over! Whoever gets me to 400 will also receive a FREE Soap-To-Go in addition to their 10% discount!

I'm Still Alive!

2008-12-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been almost a whole month since I posted! The Christmas rush has been wonderful! Between that, a wholesale order, and craft show season, I've been crazy busy lately. I'm working on some new soaps too, so keep an eye on my shop for some exciting new items!

Speaking of exciting, I'm getting closer and closer to my goal of 400 sales! I'll have to have a big celebration sale when it happens:)

Check out this cute new packaging for my Caramel Macchiato Soaps:

I found these cups at the store the other day and couldn't resist.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Christmas is Coming!

2008-11-10T06:26:00.001-08:00

Can you believe Christmas is next month already?! I finally got some of my Christmas soaps listed in my shop. Above are my Peppermint Candy Soaps.

I can't wait to see what everyone else on Etsy makes for Christmas. I need to start shopping for gifts and I have my eye on quite a few shops already!

Sneak Attack Was A Success!

2008-10-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

The other day I posted about the Sneak Attack I was sponsoring on the 29th. Well, it turned out to be a HUGE success! My "victim" was herbanlifestyle. During her attack she received 28 sales! I'm really not surprised considering what great products she sells. Here's a peek at a few of them.

Deep Relaxation Massage/Bath Oil:

Soak On It Bath Salts:

Gift Set containing 6 of her items:

Congrats on all the sales, herban! And a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated!

Wanna help make someone's day? Here's a list of the upcoming Sneak Attacks: http://www.handmademovement.com/

Getting Ready for Winter

2008-10-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

Some winter soaps that will be available in my shop shortly:

Frostbite (wintergreen):

Sugarplum:

Sinus Relief:

Everything's on SALE!

2008-10-27T06:42:00.000-07:00

It's time to stock up on Christmas gifts! Everything in both my shops is 10% off for the CREST team sale! The sale is going from today until November 3rd.

Be sure to check out the other great CREST sales going on too! Just search for the tag "etsycrestsale".

New ornaments in my AngiesOthers shop:

New soap sampler in my Suds 'N' Such shop:

Happy shopping everyone!

Vote and Win!

2008-10-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Hop on over to the CYA Team blog and vote for your favorite Autumn item from a few of our shops. The winner will receive the winning item! Voting ends midnight October 26th and the winner will be announced on the 27th.

Not only do you get a chance to win a great item, but after you vote you'll receive 10% off any of the participating shops! Just ask the seller for your voter's discount.

Here's my entry...My autumn themed washcloths!

Cross Promoting - Get Some More Customers!

2008-10-19T18:54:00.000-07:00

Need some more customers? Who doesn't? Today I'm going to share an idea that I've been working on lately to promote my store.

What is it? Cross promoting!

What is cross promoting? Cross promoting is when you collaborate with another seller to promote each others work. Here are a few tips to get you started.

1) Find someone who sells something that fits with your product so you can reach your target audience. Example: I'm working with a feminine product seller to help promote my PMS Relief soap.

2) Research the other seller. I have absolutely nothing against new shops but if you want the promotion to work, you need someone who is selling. If they're not making sales, your samples are just sitting in their house.

3) Contact the seller. Be polite. Explain the benefits of the cross promotion for both the other seller and yourself. Don't be pushy. If they don't want to work with you, don't be offended. Just find someone else.

4) Work out the details. Discuss with the other seller how many items you want to swap and when. Trade addresses.

5) Get to work on your samples/promo items. Make something that will stand out. Something that the customer can use is always best. People are more likely to buy if they can try out the product first. If your product isn't something that can be made into samples, try a promotional item like a lipgloss or pen with your logo on it. Preferably something that fits the theme of your shop and will remind them of you when they use it.

6) Be considerate of the other seller. Don't send big samples that are going to cause the other seller to lose profits to pay the extra shipping charges. Keep them small.

7) Hand the other sellers items out with your orders! This should be obvious. Please hold up to your end of the bargain.

8) Watch the sales roll in! Well, I hope anyway:)

I'm thinking for the future I might add a coupon to the samples with a special code so I know where my customers are coming from. This will help me track which promotions are working best.

If you give this a try let me know how it works for you!

Sneak Attack!

2008-10-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sponsoring a Sneak Attack on Tuesday October 28th at 2:00pm!

If you don't already know what a "Sneak Attack" is here's some info:

We all get together and "attack" an unsuspecting Etsy shop at the same time and make a purchase (or several). The shop chosen has zero or only a few sales, so this is an awesome surprise!

Sneak Attacks are planned almost every weekday. Check out www.handmademovement.com for the schedule.

The shop isn't announced until it's time for the attack. That way the surprise isn't ruined. You will be given a hint as to what the shop sells though. The shops always have at least a few items under $10.

It's easy to participate! Just show up at the given time and make a purchase from that shop. Even if you can only afford one small item, sales add up quickly when everyone gets involved.

Check out the schedule and help make someone's day!

Sneak Peek

2008-10-16T10:03:00.001-07:00

I know I haven't posted in awhile but I've been super busy preparing for the holiday/craft show season. I'm also working on a few contests, cross-promotions, etc. Here's a little peek at what's coming to my shop soon.

This is a batch of Sugar Plum that I made this morning. That's real sugar sprinkled on the top.

This one is Almond with Almond Meal for exfoliation:

This has absolutely nothing to do with soap but I found this little guy in my yard yesterday. His face cracks me up:)

Now I've gotta get back to work! I promise to try to update more often!

And the new name is....

2008-10-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Dark Chocolate Chunk!

Thanks jewelstreet for the great new name!

Runners up were:
Double Fudge Brownie
Death by Chocolate
Double Chocolate Chip

Thank you to everyone who participated! Now I can go list this in my Etsy shop.

Name the Soap Contest!

2008-10-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

I've decided to hold a contest to name the chocolate soap I blogged about earlier today. If I pick the name you submit, you'll win a free bar!

Enter as many times as you like. Winner will be chosen at noon on Friday!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip?

2008-10-06T09:38:00.001-07:00

My chocolate chip cookie soap is finally done curing, but...look what happened! I knew it would get a bit darker as it sat, but this is DARK!

Here's what they used to look like:

I'm not quite sure what to do with them now. Do I label them Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie or some other clever name that fits the color? Or do I sell them at a discount cuz they don't look so pretty?

New Etsy Baker!

2008-10-02T06:28:00.001-07:00

These cookies are what I found in my mailbox yesterday. Aren't you jealous? hehe:) They were made by Heidi of Heidi's Cookie Shop. She's one of my fellow etsy soapmakers who recently decided to open a cookie shop. I'm glad she did! These are her Strawberry White Chocolate Cookies. As I opened the package, the smell was enough to make me want to eat them all right then. They were moist and chewy and delicious! Notice I said "were". The cookies didn't last very long once my husband and daughter discovered them. Looks like I'll need to buy more! Keep up the great work Heidi, and good luck with the new shop!

I've Been Featured!

2008-10-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to an email telling me that my Lemon Meringue Soap has been featured on a website! What a great way to start the day!

Here's the site:
http://www.freewebs.com/thinkyummythoughts/index.htm

Thanks daiseedeb!

About Me

2008-09-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Joanna over at The Soap Blog told us all about herself and challenged us to do the same. So here are some facts about me:

-I don't really like beer
-I like wine and girly drinks
-I've been allergic to bees every since getting stung 7 times at once when I was younger
-I can't whistle (my husband and daughter try endlessly to teach me)
-I'm 5'4"
-I weigh in at about 107 lbs
-I'm 28
-I wanted to be a nurse (doctors make more $ but work too much)
-I wanted to be a Muppeteer
-I worked in a ribbon factory
-I was a travel agent
-I worked as a daycare provider
-I love almost any type of Italian food, seafood(except oysters), or baked good
-I hate crowded stores
-I hate people who whine about their food being wrong in a restaurant just so they get it for free
-I'm originally from a small town in Pennsylvania
-I went to the same high school as Steve Burns from Blues Clues
-My middle name is Dawn
-My b-day is December 14, 1979
-I've owned 7 different cars
-I know how to drive a stick shift
-I have 17 piercings (16 on the ears and 1 bellybutton)
-I don't have any tattoos or any desire to get one
-I grew up going to the same church and high school as my husband but we didn't actually start dating until we graduated
-I got married in 2001
-I have a 5 year old daughter
-I have a cat named Mercedes
-I want a Yorkie and I'm going to name her Lexus (stop laughing)
-I love everything about soap
-I love to sleep but if I sleep too long I get headaches
-Dolls scare me (I think I've seen too many Child's Play movies)
-I love to read, knit, and crochet
-I hate sitting still

Well, like I said, I hate sitting still so I'm gonna go get some stuff done. I'm gonna pass along the challenge for everyone reading this to post a bit about yourself as well. Let me know if you do it. I'd love to read about you!

I'm Addicted to Additives!

2008-09-29T06:19:00.000-07:00

I think I need help...

Lately I can't seem to make a bar of soap without adding something to it. I made tomato facial bars with tomato juice, almond bars with almond meal, chocolate raspberry with real chocolate, etc., etc. I think the watermelon and Drakkar are the only cold process soaps in my shop that don't have something special added to them.

So...I have some questions for you:

Do you like your soap plain, or with something special added?

Do you think it's weird to have fruit and veggie purees in your soap?

Would you rather have a smooth bar or a scrubby bar?

I love the additives but I want to know what everyone else likes. Leave me a comment with your opinion!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2008-09-26T14:42:00.000-07:00

Trying to make products for my new shop and keep up with all my soap is exhausting! I have 10 things in my new shop so far and I'm working on a lot more. Right now I'm making some more cupcake play sets like I made my friend's daughter for her birthday. It comes with 4 cute cupcakes in their own cupcake box.

Hopefully I'll have these ready for my shop by Monday. I have a busy weekend ahead so I won't be getting much done.

Thankfully I had a nice break from making dinner last night. My food from athyme2bcomforted arrived yesterday afternoon so we had some delicious Carne de Puerco en Salsa Roja for dinner. I made it with rice and we all loved it! After dinner I got out the Pico Salsa (remember this from my previous post?) and Baja Chips. I will definitely be ordering from her again!

Shop #2 Open for Business!

2008-09-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

Yay! I finally opened my second Etsy shop that I've been thinking about for ages! I named it "Angie's Others" because it contains all my 'other' crafts besides soap. So far I've added some washcloth/dishcloth sets (shown above), origami paper boxes, and a few other crochet items. I'll be adding some more paper goods and Christmas items soon. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Look What I Bought!

2008-09-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Doesn't that look delicious?! I just ordered this fabulous salsa from athyme2bcomforted. I also got the baja flavored tortilla chips and Carne de Puerco en Salsa Roja (Pork meat in red sauce). Don't Etsians make the most fantastic food? I just wish I could pull it out of the computer screen and enjoy it immediately. The wait is so hard!

I finally gave in and ordered that brownie sampler from ASugarAffair as well. It comes with six different brownies that make me drool just looking at them! Now I just need to figure out how to hide them from my husband and 5 year old so they don't eat them all...

Tomato Juice Facial Bars

2008-09-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

My tomato bars finally let me take their picture:

I can't wait to use these! Tomato is supposed to tighten pores, balance and maintain moisture and pH levels, cleanse oily skin, and help with troubled complexions.

These bars are unscented and uncolored. Their peachy hue comes from the tomato juice.