Busy Little Beaver

Boy, I tell you, time flies when you're having fun.  Not that everything I've been doing lately has been fun, but I have been busy.  I have been doing craft shows every weekend since the end of September and working full-time and doing shows on the weekend has been taking a toll.  And I have three more to go before the end of this season. 

Let's see, I was in Adairsville,GA, Gainesville. GA, Summerville, GA and Lylery, GA.  Adairsville was a slow start and it was my first three-day show.  Friday, was so slow, I was beginning to have my doubts about how good a show this was going to be, despite what other vendors have said.  I held out and it did get better.  I didn't make huge sales but I did have fun and would go back again.  Gainesville, on the other hand, was so disappointing, I don't think that I will go back.  It was another three-day show and the forecast said a perfect weekend.  I was excited and said, I should do real well at this show.  (My first time doing this one).  Friday was good. Saturday, I woke up to it pouring down rain.  When I got to my booth, I saw some of my totes outside of my tent.  I go in my tent and everything that was under my tent was turned over and filled with water.  Do you know what it's like to see your hard earned work, go down the drain, literally.  There were suds going down the curb because many of soaps were still in their totes.  Apparently, it flooded and washed my out from under the tables and tent.  I lost a few hundred dollars in product and I was soooo disappointed, that I was ready to pack up and leave right then and there.  Well my friend, Mandy and another soapmaker that I had met the day before, talked me into staying.  I did and it wasn't too bad but definitely did not make the money expected for a 70,000 show attendance.  Then Sunday came and guess what?  It started raining again, and I threw my hands up and said forget it.  I packed everything up, by myself I might add, and drove 2 1/2 hours home wet from head to toe. 

Those two shows made me re-group and re-think my business strategy and whether or not I was going to continue on this journey.  I love what I do and I can't see myself not making soap or any of my other products, but there has got to be a better way to get my name/brand out there.  So, right now, I am going to finish this year out with my commitment to the other shows and then it is down to business and come up with a new business plan.  I am not going to give up, nothing that is worth anything comes easy and I am not a quitter. 

With that being said, I will be making more soap and getting ready for the Christmas holidays.  I am also planning on having an open house party at my home in December for those last minute gifts you would like to purchase.  I am also formulating some new products and narrowing down the fragrances that I will offer in my soaps. 

I also want to thank those of you who have supported me in my journey and look forward to a much more successful year next year.

Green Springs

Black Raspberry Vanilla



Rainbow Sherbet

Triple Action Facial bar with Oatmeal, Charcoal, Sea Salt

One of my soap cakes I made.  First try at a rosette Cake.

No. 1 Men's Fragrance - Perfect Gentleman