Fig Lover's UNITE!

Figged Out soap is listed and ready to go on the Etsy Shop!

Sweet!

Venus has nothing to do with soap. . . this is her Internet debut!

Secrets Revealed

Okay, good news!  The soaps are sellin' and Shenandoah Soaps is becoming a bit more than a hobby these days.  If business continues to go well, I'm considering making this an official small business in the beginning of next year.  This means that a lot of things are going to have to change.  Things like paying attention to how much I give away, instituting some sort of real financial practice (luckily, I have accountants in the family), and learning how to feel confident about selling my products. 

First of all, I'm going to have to figure out what products I would like to focus on making.  Right now, I'm knee deep in fabric (with a broken sewing machine) and Knitorious on Watson is starting to recognize me (although, I'm a closeted crocheter and not a knitter).  But, the idea behind Shenandoah Soaps is fairly self-explanatory, and I want to continue to improve and expand my soap product line. 

Secretly, my goal has been to begin making my own fragrances with essential oils and use them for my soaps.  I've been researching essential oils and will soon be providing all natural products, including the use of Spectrum brand palm kernel oil, to help save the orangutans.

Oh yeah, finances.  Obviously focusing is going to be a challenge with all of the different things I like to make as well as organizing finances.  I continue to give half of my products away and buy half of Etsy as soon as I sell something.  Practicing frugality will be on my "to do" list every day.

I am in serious need of some sweet marketing skills.  I get unbelievably nervous when selling at a craft fair or talking with people face to face about the soaps.   Sometimes, I accidentally say the opposite of what I mean.  Matt as my witness, it's true.  For example, recently I told some people that my soaps are "vegan made with ALL animal fats."  I should have said the soaps are vegan made with NO animal fats!  Ugh.  Embarrassing.

I hope you will all enjoy the positive changes that will be made toward all natural and eco-friendly products coming up next year.  I will definitely keep you posted.

Scroogery is a word, right?

Three years ago, I got fed up with holiday gift giving pressure. The anxiety and financial obligation compounded and turned into some ugly Scroogery on my part. The expectation that I had to spend money on someone in order for him or her to feel some sort of fulfillment bothered me ... a lot.  So, I decided to start creating useful handmade gifts for friends and loved ones, because I enjoy gift giving. 

Coming up with something that men and women could both enjoy was tough, so I made some soaps and lotions.  I never had the intention of selling them, but I had so much encouragement from people who tried them that I've decided to try to make it work.

Consider giving some handmade gifts this season.  There are a lot of excellent quality products out there that provide charm and character.  Click on those links to get to some of my Treasury lists on Etsy.

You should also try to make it to this if you can:

NO MORE BAH HUMBUG!

Shenandoah Soaps will be the guest of  Folie a Deux Boutique.  If you've never been to a STL Craft Mafia event, now is your chance to get in on the action and have a good time.

See you there!