Celebrating 1,500 likes on Facebook!

Ok everyone, it's giveaway time again on Earthern Magic Essence. Comment under the giveaway post on my Facebook page, share post and click on link below for two extra entries.  for a chance to win!! This giveaway is for a gift basket of products! Starts today until the 14th of February.  You must follow all the steps to be entered.  Thank you all for your support! Additional Entries

Decorating for Valentine's Day

Hello 2017!  Christmas has passed and with the new year starts the new round of holidays.  Valentine's is quickly approaching and I decided for the new year I would decorate my house accordingly.  Although I make many home decor items, I never decorate my own house!  So, I made a few items to decorate my mantle and coffee table.  First, I made a set of candle holders to go on my coffee table.  I used candle stick holders and glass candle plates.  I spray painted them all in metallic silver and glued them together.  I got three large glass containers and tied tile. Ones around th and put large white pillar candles in them. Then I purchase four 5x7 gold frames. I took the backing off, removed the glass and cut vinyl stencils to make the word "love". A letter on each piece of glass and then I etched each piece.  I glued the frames to make a box and set the glass back in.  I cut a piece of foam board to go on the bottom and glued it in.  The next thing I made were rose topiaries.  I used a candle stick holder again and glued a styrofoam ball on top.  Took the roses apart and placed them around the ball.  I used a whole ball for one and a half ball for another.  The last item I made was another set of candle holders, using candle stick holders again.  I got round glass jars and glued small glass gens around each jar and glued them together.  Overall I am happy with the look and can't wait to decorate for the next holiday! Oh, and most of the items I purchased from the Dollar Tree!

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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

 

New Giveaway, Celebrating 1400 Likes on my Facebook Page!

Well, I have reached a new goal on Facebook and to celebrate, I am hosting a new giveaway.  I will pick three winners for a small gift bag of two products.  Spread the word and let everyone know!  I truly appreciate all the support you all have given me over the past four years.  Here is the link to enter and the contest ends June 15th. 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/83e9824/"

Summer is Almost Here!

Wow, I can't believe that it has been months since I last posted.  I have been a busy beaver here lately.  Let's see what's new since I last posted.  Well, I won a trip to Italy and went there in October.  It was AMAZING!!!! Who would've thought that I would win such a sweet prize.  I won it through the EF Foundation Exchange Year and was there for five days.  My first time out of the country and what a beautiful place to go.  Then in January I went to New Orleans with EF and again had a wonderful time.  Then in April I went to Puerto Rico!  It had been years since I have been on vacation and the last year I have been several places and I love it.  In between all that traveling, I continue to make my soaps and other products, I love making soap! I have been gearing up for this years up-coming shows and have one this coming weekend in Cave Springs, Georgia and then the next two weekends I plan on being in Birmingham.  So the Festival Season has begun and I'm loving it.  I know that I keep saying that I am going to do better about posting to my blog and I promise I really have every intention of doing so and I will continue to work at it.  Here are a couple of pics from my travels and I hope that you enjoy.

Interview and Giveaway!

Hi everyone, its give away time again and who will the lucky winner be?  I also did an interview with Sampler Village that you can read here and have a sale going on.  So, come check it out!  

http://samplervillage.blogspot.com/2013/08/villager-voices-interview-giveaway.html?m=1

New Soaps

The new year brings up-coming festivals and making new soaps.  Sadly the last few festivals have rained either one or both days.  But that doesn't stop me from making soap and coming up with new ideas for products to include in my shop.  I love making soap and always thinking of new ideas for this one or that one.  Sometimes I will wake up from my sleep with an idea for a new soap, how sad it that, lol.  this year will mark me making soap for almost 7 years.  I can't believe it has been that long.  I can still remember my first batch and last year I used the last of it.  Who would've thought that I would love doing what I do.  I am still holding out on my dream to have an actual store and I have a vision of the design and layout and dying to see it come to fruition.  I will continue to strive and work towards that goal.  In the meantime, my presence will continue on-line and social media.  Here are some of the soaps that I have made in the last few months. 

Lemon Berry Ice Cream Soap

Appollo for Him with Poppy Seeds

Strawberries and Cream Cupcake Soaps

Unscented Goat's Milk Soap

Banana Facial Bar

Fresh Linen

Opening My Door to Another World

It has been a busy year for me this year and I really can't see many accomplishments.  Last year I began working for the EF Foundation as an IEC (International Exchange Coordinator).  I find host families who are willing to host an exchange student from another country.  Students come from Germany, Norway, Taiwan, Sweden; just to name a few.  I hosted a student this year; Aron from Germany.  Aron came to us in August of last year, he attended school with my son Ryon and we have grown attached and love him dearly.  He will be leaving us soon and I hate to see him go, but I'm very sure that his mother father and siblings will be so very happy to see him.  He has changed so much from when he first came here, they are not going to recognize him.  We've been though good times and bad, and I wouldn't change any of it for the world.  Aron was able to experience some of the American culture, like fast food, country living, Disney World,  high school (prom and sports) Southern hospitality and so much more.  He made many friends and all the girls were crazy about him.  He has such a charming personality and if he read what I was saying, he would be embarrassed.  It will be failry quiet without him and I know that Ryon will be lost without his "brother" being here.  He has made a friend for life and had new experiences that he will treasure.  Aron, we love you and are going to miss you dearly.  Thankful for Skype and Facebook so that we can continue to stay in touch. 

Soccer

Playing Soccer

Halloween Party

Aron and Tabitha at Prom

2012-2013 Exchange Students

Happy New Year!!

Well, how is everyone doing?  I know, I know, it has been a while since I have posted and I say that I am going to do better.  Well, as you can see, I haven't been doing so well.  I have been so looking forward to this year in hopes that it will be bigger and brighter for everyone.  Last year was an emotional roller coaster.  My son has been in the service for a year now and in December, he deployed to Afghanistan and will be there for nine months.  It was our first Christmas apart and boy did  I have a heavy heart; and still do.  I finally got to speak with him over the phone a couple of days ago and he sounded so good, it truly set my heart at ease and I can sleep a little easier at night.  As long as I am able to communicate with him, I am happy.  I was out of work for five months to tend to my mother while she was recovering, so getting back into the swing of things at work took some time, lol.  I've lost loved ones last year and heard of so many others who have lost loved ones.  It truly causes you to re-evaluaate your life and definitely not to take things for granted.  I have an exchange student from Germany and he will be with us until June. He has been wonderful while he has been here.  He and my son get along and we have learned alot from one another. 

On the business side of things, I have been disappointed with the lack of sales over the past year and I have been wresting with whether or not I should just close up shop and count my losses.  I know the economy is having a big impact on us small businesses everywhere and that I am not the only effected.  I made the decision to try one more year and see if things will improve.  Financially, it has been a strain; but I am thankful that I have a full-time job to keep me afloat.  I participated in several craft fairs and festivals in Georgia and Alabama and for the most part, I did fairly well.  There were a few shows that were truly disappointing.  I've done better in Georgia than I did in Alabama and not quite sure why that is.  I've branched out with some of my products and added handmade pendants, altered art and more handmade greeting cards.  Let's hope for a prosperous new year and let's see what it brings to my personal and business life.  Hope to see you around.