Craft show lessons learned

A few weeks ago I posted about my upcoming craft show, my first, and was looking for recommendations on how to prepare. Well, I apologize for taking so long to update you on the results....it seems I wasn't quite prepared for the follow up and catching up that would happen after.


Let's just say the show was not a stellar success.  Not from my part or for lack of trying, but there were no customers. Well, extremely slim pickings.  So, Lesson #1:

Research the show.

I thought I asked all the right questions: if it's a first year show, how are you promoting this and what's your following? who are the confirmed vendors? And I thought I had enough information and I was ready. But, Lesson #2 is:

Be prepared.

That's me behind the table in the back,
and my son trying to tape the
tablecloth to the table.

Ok, everyone tried to tell me this.  But how is one to be prepared for 60 degree weather and 30+ mph gusts of wind in June?  My son came to the rescue and ran to the hardware store for cinder blocks. I think experience will teach me more on this, and in the meantime, Lesson #3 is:

Don't sell yourself short.

I probably could have counted the number of shoppers on the fingers of two hands and not worried about using my toes. But I noticed that I had more sales than then vendors around me...quite possibly, more than the combined sales from the vendors around me.  Those who browsed my booth, browsed.  But those who shopped my booth, purchased. If someone browsed and moved on, fine. Not everyone is a "candle person," so why should I try to develop a sale? But if someone starting shopping my booth, it was easy to develop conversation about my product and covert the shopper into a buyer.

An old cabinet added visual
interest and display options.

For someone who spends most of her time in operations (yawn), it was enjoyable to relate to people. Asking about their likes, talking about the features and benefits of my products...not really "selling", but putting smiles on peoples' faces. Candles are a luxury item that make us enjoy our surroundings. And I truly enjoyed helping people find a piece of happiness.  But alas, Lesson #4 is:

Pace yourself.

I thought I was pacing myself. Granted, I still had the pre-event late night push to label and to pack everything, but what I didn't count on was how much time the show would consume me after the event.  Rearranging my inventory. The time it took away from my monthly activities such as fragrance of the month publicity and shop distribution, first week of the month Etsy work, newsletter, and so on. Being extremely tired. For a longer period of time than I anticipated. But the best lesson of all, Lesson #5:

Know yourself.

Not the final set up, my goal
was to create an "atmosphere"
with the wine bottle and glasses. 

While my first show was not a stellar success, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed meeting people and introducing them to my product. I have a good product, and it was validated by the purchases made by the few people who attended the event. And I also learned my limitations. I'm not ready for a large show. No multi-day events. But I am ready to participate in two to three good, one day shows this fall. And I have the support of a wonderful fiance and an incredible son, both of whom gave up their weekends to help me. 


I welcome your comments and wisdom. Thank you so much for your comments and thoughts!

Strawberries are here!

The June fragrance of the month is....STRAWBERRY!


It's hard to believe that only one year ago I announced my first fragrance of the month, same as today, Strawberry!  Only to take it a step further, I've decided to announce two additional fragrances for your sensual pleasure: Strawberries & Creme and Strawberry Jasmine.

Scrumptious Strawberry in 12 oz. Interlude jar

Strawberry, in and of itself, is a thrill of its own. Sweet, juicy, and fragrant, you will think these small berry fruits are being stirred into a sugar syrup in your own kitchen. Bring on the shortcake, the cheesecake, or the ice cream...you will not be disappointed with the fragrance of this candle.

Strawberries & Creme interlude jar candle

Strawberries & Creme is a custom blend I also introduced last summer.  Providing a lighter, richer dose of strawberry, this fragrance adds a healthy dose of vanilla. What comes to mind to me is sliced strawberries on a bed of freshly whipped creme fraiche, ok, maybe yogurt if you're being healthy. 

Strawberry Jasmine interlude candle

Strawberry Jasmine is a new fragrance for 2012.  While inspired by this list of trendy fragrances for 2012, testing proved it to be fruity, floral and feminine, and an eastern flair to an early summer blend. The strawberry is fresh, sweet, and citrus, providing a rich undertone base, and jasmine adds top floral notes, creating a slightly exotic Asian blend.


All strawberry fragrances are 10% off throughout the month of June, and are available in home fragrances of candles, room & linen sprays, and diffuser oils, as well as bath & body fragrances of lotions, body wash, and body sprays. For a complete listing of available products, please visit my Etsy shop here. I'll also be posting a board of my favorite strawberry images and recipes on my Pinterest board here. I hope you'll stay tuned!


Thank you!


Dorene

Getting ready for my craft show

Well, I decided to bite the bullet and attempt a craft show.  Not having participating in one before, I set up a booth last weekend at the local farmer's market.  My goal was less to make money and more to have a test run for what it took to pull a show off. I did make money (yeah!), but here are a few lessons I learned:

1. Have a tent or canopy.  At first it didn't seem to be in issue, but at noon, all my tea lights were doomed.  Ok, I feel Mr. Obvious knocking at my door on that one, and I'll address the heat in a moment.  But also, a tent creates a sense of space for your "shop", encouraging shoppers to come inside. Since I'm not certain I want to do a lot of shows, I'm reluctant to purchase a tent.  Fortunately, I'm able to borrow one from a family friend.
2. Protect your wares.  Did I mention my tea lights were doomed? I decided to put only one item on the display table and most of my inventory underneath.  I'll pull from the inventory and give the purchaser a cooler candle.
3. Give people a reason to visit you. I offered a fragrance basket as a giveaway.  This encouraged quite a few to stop and sniff.  While I had their attention, I asked what their favorite fragrance was and directed them to a sample.
4. Use the show as part of your marketing strategy. As I mentioned, I offered a fragrance basket as a giveaway. In doing so, I collected names and email addresses to add to my newsletter list (of course, my follow up email was "Thank you for visiting me" and contained a subscription link). When asking people about their favorite fragrance, I was also able to gain ideas of what people like to buy.
5. Be prepared to improvise. I thought I forgot my order forms and sign up slips.  My receipt book became my order form - just wrote order on the slip to notify myself - and my planner notes paper became my sign up slips.

Now of course, I also had small bills and change, variety of price points, and my Square Up credit card reader. I gave out newsletters and stapled my business card to the receipt.  Bags and thank you gifts. This weekend I'll also have a few shelving units and baskets to create varying heights, as well as a second table for an L-shape.  

But since I don't know if this is an avenue I want to continue, I'm stuck with the following "how do I's":

• I don't have resources to invest in a sign. How do I show who I am without one or with minimal budget and time to create one?
• I'm selling primarily candles in June. How do I create the sense of a "full shop" if I keep most of my inventory under the table in order to keep it protected?
• I've planned most of my inventory to include five cases of 10 fragrances.  How do I know if this is the right fragrance diversification? 
• I'll also have all of my inventory of other fragrances, so my total should be about eight cases. How do I know if this is enough?

I'm excited about this opportunity, but extremely nervous as well.  I'd appreciate your feedback and recommendations!

Celebrating one year

May 1st celebrated the one year anniversary of the start of D'Lites by Dorene.  I thought I'd use this time to record some reflections of running this business:

• It's been fun! I've truly enjoyed the creativity D'Lites has brought to my life.  It's not just in the candlemaking or the choice of fragrance and color. It's been in doing cost analysis for pricing, it's been in developing marketing strategies, and it's been in learning how to manage my time with this new avenue in my life.
• It's been hard work.  I have to be honest here - I really thought that because I enjoy candles so much that my candles would be so popular people would flock to my product! Yes, I acknowledge the level of naivete I felt a year ago. Wow.
• Social media has caught me by surprise.  I really didn't do much social media work until I joined the Promotional Frenzy team on Etsy, where social media participation is a requirement.  I've learned so much about social media and how it has changed the face of marketing as we know it. 
• I've surprised myself with how my product has evolved. Starting out with container candles, I've since evolved into other candle products such as tea lights, fragrance tarts, and votives. I've evolved into other home fragrance products such as fragrance sprays and diffuser oils. I've evolved into bath and body products such as washes, lotions, and sprays.  These have been surprisingly natural outgrowths for vertical integration of my work.
• *sigh* I'm still photography challenged.  My photos have significantly improved, and I've accepted the fact that I need to ask for help in this area.
• Labels are going to be the death of me. We all understand economies of scale, but there is also a reality in economies of time. Labels do not fit in the definition of economies of time, and somewhere, somehow I hope to figure this piece out! (I envy those business who do not have to deal with this issue!)
• I can handle rejection better.  I'm learning not to take "no thank you" quite as personally as I did a year ago.

I could go on and on. But suffice it to say I'm excited about where I've been and where I'm going. 

As a special thank you for my one year anniversary celebration, I am offering you, my loyal readers, a Buy One, Get One 50% off special.  Please mention this blog posting when you call or email me or use coupon code 1YEAR when shopping my Etsy site. 

In addition, all customers throughout the months of May and June will be entered into a drawing for an additional Buy One, Get One 50% off coupon.

*50% off item must be of equal or lesser value. Offer includes sales and clearance items. Only one gift basket may be included with this offer.

Thank you so much for your support!

May Fragrance of the Month

One of my favorite memories growing up was visiting my grandmother Mimi on Mother's Day. Hopefully the weather was agreeable, and we would enjoy the day among the flowers at Mt. Airy Park in Cincinnati.


My grandmother enjoyed flowers, and one of the houseplants she grew best were orchids. Such lovely, delicate flowers.  When I came across the fragrance Orchid Rain, I knew I had found my fragrance of the month for May.

Orchid Rain is a beautiful combination of floral and fresh outdoors. Modern and spa-like, top notes include fresh orchids, peony, water lily, with middle and final notes of watercress, aloe vera, and bamboo. Open your mind and soul to complete harmony! If I had had this post ready by Mother's Day, I would have told you Orchid Rain is a perfect fragrance for a gift for Mom!


At this time, I'm especially glad to have ventured into body fragrances, as I think Orchid Rain is an especially beautiful scent for body lotions and hand balms. Lightly floral, it's a perfect fragrance to wear by itself or under your floral perfumes.


Throughout the month of May, Orchid Rain is 10% off. Stop by to try some today!

Etsy Shop Review - Sewing Granny

Today I'd like to introduce you to the Etsy shop Sewing Granny, run by lovable Mona, one of the dedicated team leaders of our Promotional Frenzy team on Etsy.  Please take some time to get to know her and to shop her store!


**********************************************************************************************************************************


Hello my name is Mona.... aka Sewinggranny! My name was derived from my 2 passions - sewing and my grandsons! My world revolves around them... as a matter of fact most of the proceeds from my shop go to something or other for them. Last year a swimmning pool the year before a 4 wheeler for oldest grandson...

I love to quilt but as it takes alot of time to make a quilt, I sew lots of other items to sell. My baby bibs are a big seller as are my potholders. 

www.etsy.com/listing/97848746/baby-bib-and-burp-pad-set-featuring-zoo

www.etsy.com/listing/86796790/custom-order-4-sets-of-potholders

www.etsy.com/listing/95062441/nautical-baby-bib-with-ships-and-anchors

Lately I have started making infinity scarfs.

www.etsy.com/listing/98333266/infinity-scarf-circle-scarf-cowl-scarf

A pretty piece of fabric is all I need for inspiration! Seeing something I like and want to make gets my creative juices going.

My biggest master piece was a quilt I made for myself... and sorry I do not have a picture of it. I made it for my bedroom but by the time I finished it I had changed my decor so it sits in a sealed bag - hoping I change my color scheme again some day.

I spent alot of time sewing and lately more on the internet trying to get connected to the online venues. But other than that my time is spent with my grandsons... they live close and I love to spend as much time as possible with them.

When I get on a creative roll... I can sew for hours but I need to be in that head space or I might as well give it up.... no fun tearing out seams.

I have my Etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/sewinggranny
Can be found on Pinterest:
pinterest.com/sewinggranny/
I have a blog: 
www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2487412780559154472#overview
or email me at sewinggranny@gmail.com

Decorating with candles

I just love candles.  Even before I began making and selling them, I've been attracted to the warmth and fragrance they bring into a home, even when not lit.  Simple decorations made from candles and other household items can make classic table displays.  


I routinely pin decorations I'm inspired by on my "Decorating with Candles" board on my Pinterest site.  Here are a few of my favorite table displays:

Invert goblets over your favorite flower and place a pillar on  top.

For a shabby chic look, add a wooden cracker tray and add tissue flowers.

For a romantic look, place  tea lights in a votive holder with rose petals.  Be sure to sprinkle rose petals over the table.

While this is a festive look for the holidays, adding  ribbon to clustered pillars can create  a colorful look anytime. 

Place tea lights in votive cups atop a napkin and dinner plate.   

These simply classic designs make me want to clear off my dining room table and begin decorating right away!  I hope you're equally inspired.

What's Your Purple Goldfish?

This week I had the opportunity to travel to a conference and listen to featured speaker Stan Phelps.  Mr. Phelps recently published a book, What's Your Purple Goldfish? I'm not going to give away the secret of what a purple goldfish is, but I will share with you the gist of his message.


The subtitle of the book is How to Win Customers & Influence Word of Mouth.  Mr. Phelps began on a journey to find 1,001 examples of marketing lagniappe.  What's lagniappe? Pronounced lan-yap, it's a Creole term for "a little something extra." This book is the result of his findings of examples of companies who deliver excellent customer services by giving "a little something extra" to their customers.


I haven't completed the book yet, so I'm relying upon my memory of his presentation to give you my favorite examples of marketing lagniappe:

1. Bigelow Tea - A recent customer ordered a box of Bigelow Vanilla Chai Tea, and the first item that fell out was a packet of Constant Comment.  The customer feared he had received the wrong order.  Instead, it turned out to be a complimentary sample, and the customer was delighted to have a fun new item to try.
2. Plaza Cleaners - This Portland, Oregon company posts a sign on their door, "If you are unemployed an need an outfit clean for an interview, we will clean it for free."  They're paying it forward; maybe, just maybe, the local economy will improve a bit if that person gets the job.
3. Nurse Next Door - We all make mistakes, as much as we strive for business and personal perfection.  If this home health service provider makes a mistake, they deliver a fresh baked apple "humble pie" as an apology for the poor customer service. 
4. Southwest Airlines - Ok, we've all seen this one, but who doesn't love the "bags fly free" marketing message? 
5. Nordstrom - This company is famous for its excellent customer service, but I found this story exceptionally interesting.  One customer's feet were two different sizes: a 9 and a 9.5.  The salesman at the store split two pairs of shoes for one order. 

Now, the book is more than short stories about the little somethings extra companies do. It really is a study into marketing behavior and how develop the customer experience.  There are some fantastic, basic rules that will make sense more than your college textbook.

Do you offer a little something extra to your customers? It's not always easy, especially if you're a small business, like me.  I have two.  The first is the Bigelow Tea example. This lagniappe was born out of economy, not marketing strategy.  I send a "Krazee Kandel" with every order.  Some are tea lights, some are votives, all made from leftover amounts of wax I cannot use in the future. It's supply I have, can't do anything with, yet is a relevant gift as a means to say "thank you."  Always packaged neatly with my signature froggie thank you tags.

My second was recently introduced.  Knowing happy customers are the best word of mouth, I decided to start a referral program.  To my repeat customers, I include a referral card for them to give a friend or colleague to recommend my product.  If that friend makes a purchase, she/he receive 15% off their entire order, and my customer receives the same discount from her next order.  The discounts are truly minimal given the increased sales brought my way.

So today I ask you, what is your marketing lagniappe?  Post it here.  Maybe a reader will be inspired to follow your example, maybe a new to you customer will see if and bring you new business!

P.S. All those who post their examples, will be entered into a drawing.  If I draw your name, I'll feature your shop in an upcoming post!

New Facebook Contest!

I would love to know which of my products are your favorites, either ones you already have in your homes or ones you'd like to try.  Here's how you can let me know:

1. Go to my online Etsy store and find the product you like.  Copy the link from your web browser.
2. Go to my Facebook page and share the link on my wall.  If you're so inclined, write a comment or two on why you like it.

It really is that easy! Here's the contest piece: Every month I will draw the name of one fan who has posted a picture to my Facebook wall.  That lucky winner will receive a coupon for 15% off your next order, which can include sales and clearance items. Post as many items as you like, there are no entry limits.

Thanks again for all of your support. I look forward to seeing your favorites!

April Fragrance of the Month is.....?

I'm excited to announce the April Fragrance of the Month is.....ORANGE BLOSSOM!


I'm always trying to search for fragrances that are unique, memorable, yet .....comfortable. Orange Blossom is one of those fragrances.  Top notes of the fragrance feature the floral jasmine, with strong bottom notes of fresh squeezed orange.  All in all, there is a strong core of clean citrus and an overall scent of complete femininity.


My inspiration for this fragrance was two fold.  First, I wanted to feature a unique, floral fragrance for spring.  And while my list of spring fragrances are lovely, I wanted something not quite so predictable.  Second, according to the Perfumer and Flavorist magazine, Orange Flower is one of the top 10 fragrance notes for 2012.  I was on my way!


Orange Blossom is available in a 7 oz. cocktail glass candle

votives,

tealights,

12 oz. candle,

fragrance tarts,

and room and linen spray.

Items soon to be listed on my Etsy site include hand and body lotion, hand and foot balm, body spray, and body wash.  Please send me a convo or an email if you don't see an item you'd like.


All Orange Blossom products are 10% off throughout the month of April.


As a side note, I'm a member of a wonderful team on Etsy, the Promotional Frenzy team.  We have a new blog that we'd love you to view and follow.  When you follow, tell 'em Dorene sent you!

Tips to make your candles last

To get the most out of your candles, follow these tips:


Keep your wick trimmed. Before lighting your candle, trim the wick to 1/4" above the wax.  Anything longer can cause the wick to burn too quickly and to create smoke.  If you have a "mushroom" at the top of your wick after burning, it's too long.

Candles add fragrance, warmth and comfort to a home.
Try these tips to keep them burning longer.

Avoid drafts.  Drafts can cause your candle to burn unevenly.  Sometimes the drafts in your home are subtle and you may not notice.  If you see your candle is burning unevenly, rotate it 90 degrees with every burn .  This will help you get the most from your wax.


Burn your candles long enough.  Burn your candles no more than 3 to 4 hours at a time.  A general rule of thumb is to burn your candle one hour per inch of diameter. Burning candles longer can cause the wax to get too hot and your may risk your glass breaking from the heat.


Use a candle snuffer.  The snuffer eliminates the oxygen needed for the fire to burn and enables the fire to estinguish itself naturally.  This also allows the wax to remain in its melt pool without splattering all over.  If a snuffer is unavailable, blow the candle out by placing your finger in front of the flame and blow gently.


Place a teaspoon of water in the bottom of your votive holder before inserting the candle. This will prevent your votive from overheating and ease in removal of the candle.


And always, keep your candle away from children and pets. 

Follow up to Blogger Blues

Not too long ago, I wrote about my case of "Blogger Blues." Many of you responded that you feel the same from time to time. It's no wonder! Many of my followers are running their own business, sometimes in addition to working part or full time, in addition to family responsibilities.


Some of you responded to the post with comments of "yes, me to!" or even words of wisdom.  Well, today I have a few words of wisdom of my own.


Ok, they aren't quite my own.  While waiting and hoping to get into a Tophatter auction today (another post), I was wandering around the web, trying to find pieces of business advice I could use.  In doing so, I came across the website Hubspot.com.  If you're not familiar with it, check it out.  There is a good, free analysis of your social media ranking, accompanied with a few free white papers on how to optimize your online presence.  (I downloaded their ebooks on Twitter, blogs, and Facebook.)  


While there, I perused their blog and found this awesome article on 41 Fresh Blog Post Ideas for Your Company Blog.  I hope you take the time to check out the website and to read the article on your own, but for those of you with time poverty, here is my Top Ten List:

1. Share a tip of things to avoid.
2. Relate your how-to content to a current event or celebrity. Example "5 _____Lessons from Lady Gaga" or "What the Election Teaches Us About_____".
3. Do a links-round up of relevant news for your community.
4. Do a round-up of your most popular posts.
5. Respond to industry research with your own perspective.
6. Feature guest posts from industry experts.
7. Publish responses to frequently asked questions about your industry.
8. Interview your favorite customer.
9. Run a contest and give away something relevant to your community.

And Number 10: (I really wish there were an auto feature to count down from 10 to 1)

Ask for guest posts from community members!

I love that one! I need to have a few of these in my pocket for whenever my well or my time runs dry!

What tips do you have? Comment and take my poll on the right! (And yes, I may feature them - with credit to the author - in the future!)

Follow me!

I feel so lucky to have grown my fan base to its current level, and it's all because of you!


Those of you who have followed me for a while know I spend a lot of my time marketing my business.  Did you know:

• My first marketing initiative was my newsletter. It has grown from 20+ close friends to nearly 100 people including customers, vendors, and others who are interested? I've also grown the format from a simple Publisher piece to an electronic newsletter with subscriptions? (If you haven't already, you can subscribe here.)
• I have a Facebook Fan page with over 120 fans and I give away a free product every month?
• Through the prodding of the Etsy Promotional Frenzy Team, my third marketing initiative was Twitter.  I never thought I would tweet, and now I have a Klout score of 37. (Go to www.klout.com for more on this). You can follow me @DLitesbyDorene.
• I've fallen in love with Pinterest.
• I've written 24 blog posts.

Perhaps this isn't earth shattering news or the strongest of social media efforts out there, but for someone who began this business venture less than a year ago and had no interest in SEO, it's been huge for me personally.  

I share this with you today for three reasons:

1. I love sharing my product. Please "like" my Facebook page if you haven't already. 
2. I hope to encourage everyone out there that working the social media is easy to do, although it does take time, skill and practice for the efforts to reap the benefits.
3. To thank you for reading my post and to offer you an additional 15% off any purchase (including sales and clearance) through the end of March.  If you email your order to me, the discount will be subtracted from your final price; if you purchase through my Etsy shop, please use coupon code BLOGLOVER at checkout.

I hope you continue to follow me through whichever media outlet you prefer. But please know I offer different  specials at various times through all of my marketing initiatives.

Thank you so much for your support! Enjoy the green this weekend!

Last month I launched new product lines of diffuser oils and fragrance sprays.  I'm happy to say my line continues to grow, but I need your help.  


If you've ever seen my fragrance listing, you know that it is extensive.  I'm currently seeking product testers for feedback on new fragrances to offer.  I've currently received feedback on a handful of fragrances, but have many more to go. So,....I NEED YOUR HELP! 

I am currently seeking testers for my new line of diffuser oils and fragrance sprays.  Please email me three fragrances you'd like to test, and I'll send you one (my choice) 1 oz. complimentary sample to test.  A complete fragrance listing is available here.

Thank you for your help!

Color of the Year

I've recently found myself thinking a lot about trends. All kinds. Technology. Social trends. Fragrance trends (of course). But not fashion, I'm a Capricorn, after all.


So I thought today's post would be about color trends. Every year Pantone researches worldwide socio-economic conditions to determine the color influencer for the upcoming year. Here's a snippet from their news release:


To arrive at the selection, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.


The 2012 color of the year, drum roll please, is Tango Tangerine. 

According to to the Pantone website, 


Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.  Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion.


Personally, when I first heard the news, my reaction was, "Hmmm....." I'm not an orange person.  But the more I see the color, the more I like it.  It is more red and appealing to me than I first thought.  Here are another image of the color from the Pantone website:

So, what are your thoughts? Do you follow color trends, and do you use them in your daily life or business?

Pearberry - March fragrance of the month

Sorry I've been MIA for a while....I'm glad to be back and to announce the March fragrance of the month - Pearberry!


For anyone who is a fan of Bath & Body Works, you know what a wonderful fragrance Pearberry is! Combining the fragrances of perfect pear and beautiful berry, Pearberry is a classic for anyone, anytime.


In addition to launching this new fragrance line, I’m pleased to announce the introduction of bath & body fragrances in addition to my home fragrance line. New products include body lotion and spray, as well as hand and foot balm to soothe away those rough edges and callousness.


While the Fragrance of the Month, Peryberry is 10% off.  Products shown include: 

• 12 oz. container candle, $14.85; 
• 7 oz. cocktail glass candle, $6.75; 
• tea lights, 6 pack for $5.50; 
• fragrance tarts 4 pack, $4.50; 
• room and linen spray, - $9.45; 
• votives, 4 for $9.00; 
• wickless candle, $4.50; 
• body lotion, 4 oz. for $7.20; 
• body spray, 4 oz. for $7.20.; 
• and hand and foot balm, 2 oz. for $10.00.

 Please take a look and indulge yourself!

Blogger Blues

Ok, I have to be honest.  I don't like to make resolutions, but I always strive to be better and to make goals. One of my goals for 2012 was to blog twice a week.


Well, I didn't make it this/last week (depending upon how you view the calendar).


Twice a week for me works best on Sunday and Wednesday.  There was no Sunday post this week.  So, I'll flog myself with a wet noodle in preparation for Lent.


I'll try to post an additional blog later this week (and again on Sunday)....but does anyone out there face the Blogger Blues? It's not writer's block in which you know what you want to write about but can't find the words.  With Blogger Blues, you simply don't have any topic at all, and therefore, the words aren't relevant.


So... I've tried to write about business applications, marketing strategies, favorite shops, and alas! my own products.  But Sunday and today, nothing. Rien. 


Does writing about Blogger Blues count for writing a blog? For today, I'm going to pretend that it does. Because blogs are about getting to know one another, and like it or not, these blues are what I'm going through at the moment.  


Maybe Friday I'll find a recipe to post. Or a book to review. Or any other inspiration. But these Blogger Blues also define me. Please don't be offended.  I'm just being honest.

Etsy shop review, Victorian Swag

Recently I had the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a pair of earrings from Victorian Swag. And low and behold, I won!  


Monday, I received a this lovely pair of earrings:

Here's the description as posted on her web store:


These beautiful stud earrings featuring the print of a single rose and gold embellishments on porcelain would make such a lovely gift for her this valentines day.

I use E6000 Jewelry grade glue so your earrings will stay lovely for years to come!

And they are all as promised. While I've not had a chance to wear these yet, they are all as written and more!

Here's what the owner of Victorian Swag, Missy Perez, has to say about herself:

By day I am your average stay at home mom caring for two wildly lovely children while trying to keep some semblance of a tidy home, but by night I transform to artist and designer extraordinaire forgetting all my mommy duties for just a few hours to churn out original and stunning jewelry for your enjoyment!

I am continually inspired my children, my own childhood growing up in New England, and my amazing mother and grandmother. I'll get an idea for a necklace while reading a beloved storybook to my kids or while watching an old classic movie. The memories of my grandmothers house and her shabby chic country style, before that was ever even a term, are what has inspired the entire look of this shop. My designs are truly from the heart and I hope you'll love them as much as I do. 

Missy, thank you so much for the lovely pair of earrings, but more so, thank you for the opportunity to learn more about you and your store!

New product lines!

Did you know that over 80% of adult Americans have purchased some type of air care product over the past year? These products range from candles, air fresheners, potpourri, and car fragrance products.  Clearly, we have an expectation that our environments smell great year round, not just at the holidays or special events. 


With that, I am so excited to introduce to you my new product lines: Diffuser Oils and Fragrance Sprays!


Now you can take your favorite candle fragrance into the kitchen, the bathroom, and any where in the home.


What is so exciting for me is that my fragrance sprays are completely natural and safe for the environment.  They do not contain alcohol or other additives and can provide fragrance for even those with allergies.

Current diffuser oil fragrances available include:

• Clean Cotton
• Ginger Peach
• Lavender
• Lavender Vanilla

Current fragrance sprays available include:

• Key Lime
• Lavender Vanilla
• Love Spell
• Pearberry

If you've ever seen my fragrance listing, you know that it is extensive.  I'm currently seeking product testers for feedback on new fragrances to offer.  If you are interested in testing diffuser oils and fragrance sprays, please email me to learn how you can receive some free product.

Wednesday musings.....

Ok, all, I'm really tired tonight, but my goal for this year was to post at least two blog posts a week.  So, here are some photos of my favorite shops and products in Etsy land......please shop and enjoy!

Dell Cove Spices - I just love their White Cheddar popcorn topping!

I've tried my hand at wire crochet, and I love the bracelets from  Julie's Crochet Array

Gotta love anyone who is inspired by Pride & Prejudice! Check out  Brookish

Love the sense of humor from Forked Up Art!

I've already introduced Greenhouse Glassworks.  Here pieces are so pretty!

Only a knitter can truly love Sassafras Creations!

If only Alis would make a Dorene! 

Happy shopping, all!