So much for a slow summer...

My summer is off to a running start... I barely had time to catch my breath from a grueling finals week before I was staring in the face of three back to back craft shows. My next three weekends look like this:

Super secret new project!

May 25 - Mountain View Bulk Foods Spring Fling Show
Chucky, TN from 8am-7pm

June 1- Scott County Art Bazaar
Gate City, VA from 10am-6pm

June 7 - Boones Creek Day
Johnson City, TN from 9am-5pm

Fun times! I am actually enjoying keeping busy. It keeps me moving, rather than becoming slothy and stagnant over summer. I'm in full production mode, stocking up on 18 different flavors of lip balm (including 4 new ones that have not made their debut on Etsy yet). I'm also working on reformatting my bath bomb recipe. I love my round bath bombs. The shape is so classically bath bomb... But I am working on a new formula, which will help me create new shapes, like hearts and flowers. The bath bombs will be bigger (yay!) and I'll be able to offer more fragrances.

I'm also working on a super secret new project... If I tell you, can you keep a secret? ;o) Ha! It's cupcake bath bombs! I am so excited about them... I am working on mini ones (like the photo above) and normal size ones. I'll be debuting them at my next craft show, so if you are in the East Tennessee area this Satuday, come down and see them!

So, I am headed back to the grind!
For homework, leave a comment below and let me know what new bath bomb scents you would like to see!

Milestone: 300 sales on Etsy!

On Sunday, I passed a huge milestone: my Etsy shop now boasts 300 sales! Wow! I am so excited and happy and thankful for all of the support from my customers, friends, and family.

So, in the spirit of giving back, I am holding another giveaway through Rafflecopter to give back to my awesome people! You can enter a chance to win 3 lip balms (your choice of flavors)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Make sure to enter daily for your best chance to win! Winner will be announced on Monday, May 20!
Thank you all so much for your love, support, and kind words.

Tennessee Soap and Candle Social 2013

This past weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Tennessee Soap and Candle Social in Nashville, TN! I got to rub elbows with some amazingly talented soap makers and candle makers, I got some amazing swag, and I learned loads from the guest speakers!

I thought I would take a few minutes and talk about the amazing speakers, and later this week, I am going to make a YouTube video of all of my swag and goodies from the social.

So... On to the lectures!

We started off our day with Lela Barker of Lucky Break Consulting and her "Dont lose your ass donkey" talk! Barker talked to us from a business standpoint, talking about pricing our products and not forgetting things like labor costs and overhead. She broke down Cost of Goods Sold for us, and gave us simple equations to use to make sure that we dont lose our asses donkeys! ;o)

Our second talk of the day was led by Kayla Fioravanti, and Kayla spoke to us about self publishing, which is something that I have been interested in for AGES! I have been a writer all my life, from poetry to fiction, and I've recently been inspired to start writing some nonfiction. I began researching self publishing back in March during my Spring Break, and I started on my first "How to" book shortly after... But Kayla really inspired me to kick that project into high gear! I purchased Kayla's book, How to Self-Publish: An Author-preneur's Guide to Publishing while at the Social, and I've already learned so much!! I highly recommend her book... Amazing information!!

And our third talk of the day was led by Donna Maria of the Indie Business Network, and Donna spoke to us about "The 5 Best Business Models for Handmade Entrepreneurs."Two that really spoke to me were "clubs and subscription boxes" and "teaching and information sharing." I've already got a soap of the month club, with a three month subscription and a six month subscription, but I have already been inspired to work with my local Etsy team on something bigger and better! And with teaching, I have always wanted to teach classes on soap making... Maybe that is something that I can work on in the future!

We also had some demonstrations by local artisans. The group was taught how to make Massage Candles, Felted Soap, and Shower Tarts, so there are loads of goodies that I cannot wait to try my hand at! :oD

I had such a wonderful time at this year's social! I cannot wait for next year!

I will try to have my YouTube video of my swag bag, my garage sale goodies, and the door prizes that I won this week. Keep an eye out for it!

Featured Post: Pam of PeeGeeJewelry

Meet Pam of PeeGeeJewelry! Pam makes fun and funky jewelry that I absolutely adore! Learn more about Pam below...
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I am Pam George and I sell Country Girl, Gypsy Chic jewelry with a kick of Vintage Boho. I round it out with Shabby Chic!

I am an art quilter at heart, but I love to make jewelry when I'm not quilting. Now the jewelry has seem to taken over. Although I do have a quilt going usually at the same time.

I love to work with cold porcelain and air dry clay. I tend to get inspired by nature and vintage things. I love to create plants and flowers and work a lot with my photography for inspiration.

Right now I have been making vintage camping trailers that I have cut from steel. I paint each one to have it's own retro feel. I hope to create custom pendants for people who "Glamp" , thats glamorous camping. I also would like to reach out to the vintage campers.

I have a Face Book page called PeeGee Jewelry at www.facebook.com/PeeGeeJewelry and I share a blog with my daughter called Family Style Living at Wordpress. familystyleliving.wordpress.com/
We are both DIY girls and I talk about my quilting and jewelry on the blog quite frequently. We share all our decorating projects and cooking and gardening ideas. Life is great!

3 weeks and one final exam to go...

It's finally getting closer and closer to summer break, and I am looking forward to it more than ever! I have so many ideas and plans in my head... But first, I have to get through two end of the year projects, one 10+ page research paper, and one killer final exam. Three more weeks and counting!

I spent last weekend at Tusculum College attending the Old Oak Festival. It was a blast! I was there with a bunch of my friends from Etsy, including PinkMouse, SSBaud, ChickenCoopStamper, JaneyLaughs, JerisJewels, and W.E.Creationz. We had a blast through the cold and the rain, and I got to meet some great people and had a bit of fun as well!

This coming weekend, I am looking forward to heading to the Spring Craft Show at the Boones Creek Baptist Family Life Center in Johnson City, TN! This show is being thrown by my friend Cathi at SistersActTwo, and more of my Etsy people will be attending!

I am planning on bringing my soaps and lip balms, as well as new products like whipped body butters in 5 scents, water-based body sprays, and scented bath salts! I am featuring new scents in soap, as well as classics like lavender, vanilla, and sandalwood.

I will be at the show on Saturday, April 27 from 9-4! Come out and see me!

Only three weeks left until I can kick my shop back into high gear... Stick with me, readers! The blog drought is coming to an end soon!

Feature Friday: Eric and Dustin of KnitsbyED

Eric  and Dustin of Knits by ED features fun knit toys along with a sampling of gorgeous vintage finds. Learn more about him below:
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1.Who are you and what do you sell?

We are Knits by ED; a small town business, producing hand-knit plushies and home décor made from recycled materials. We can recycle any blankets, clothes, knitted items, and even plastic bags. The items are cut into strips (or in the case of knitted items they are simply unraveled) and attached at the ends to create yarn; then we can turn that yarn into unique creations and critters.

2.What inspired you to get started in your craft?

We got a lot of our inspiration from our childhood memories with stuffed plushies, Beanie Babies, and the like. But we really wanted to start our business to help save our environment. Most of the materials used to make our items are recycled. We wanted to turn plastic bags, old sweaters and other knitted items, and even old t-shirts into something useful and memorable instead of them ending up hidden in the back of the closet, or stored away forever in the garage, or even worse, littering our precious Earth.

3.What is your favorite part of your process?

Our favorite part of our craft is seeing the joy that one Knits by Ed creation can bring to a person and knowing that we’re helping the environment in the process.

4.Handmade: What inspires you the most while you create?

We gain a lot of inspiration from nature and animals. We have two cats running around at home plus multiple aquatic critters. Whether it’s from the sea, the sky, or land, all of Earth’s creatures are beautiful and deserve to be recognized and kept safe.

5.If you could pick, what is your most favorite item in your Etsy shop?

Our favorite items to create are the octopi. We love them all too much to pick just one, though!

6.Got any social media links?

Please like us at www.facebook.com/knitsbyed.

7.Anything else that you want to share?

10% of all sales from Knits by Ed are donated to Oceana to help maintain our oceans. We’re just two guys running a small business in a very small town but we believe that everyone can make a difference when it comes to keeping our planet clean and beautiful!

Feature Friday: Lisa of W.E.Creationz

Meet Lisa, of W.E.Creationz fame! You may know her from her bright and fun creations, or you may know her from her colorful, happy presence at craft shows, or you may know her from her Zulily.com fame! Learn more about her below!
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1.Who are you and what do you sell? wecreationz....anything and everything shabby chic and for children!!!! I love creating for children and it needs to be things you can't really find any where else!

2.What inspired you to get started in your craft? I have sewn all my life, I make my own patterns, and when grandchildren started coming along I realized this was the funniest stuff of all to make!!!!!

3.What is your favorite part of your process? Going from a pile of fabric, ribbon and trims to all dolled up kids at a photo shoot. I guess I love the entire process!!!

4.Handmade: What inspires you the most while you create? The love for my grand babies and just how special and cute these little people are in our lives! :)

5.If you could pick, what is your most favorite item in your Etsy shop? My new "Emmelia Grace" set

6.Got any social media links? 
www.wecreationz.blogspot.com
W.E.Creationz on facebook
wecreationz on twitter

7.Anything else that you want to share? Being able to create with your hands are sew gratifying but being able to do this and make your little pint sixed customers and their parents happy is even better!!!!!!