Urban Agrestic

Renegade SF Recap and Renegade LA

2011-07-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Renegade San Francisco was this past weekend at Fort Mason. The show was great, I sold a bunch of soaps, met some lovely folks (Amy from Lemon Bird and Paula from Paulova Ceramics) and started a few chats about resources, learning opportunities and potential collaborations. These shows are always fun but definitely exhausting. If you've never done a show, or something similar, just imagine getting up early after a late night packing (and/or creating), hauling your stuff somewhere (in my case down one flight of very steep very narrow stairs), unpacking, setting up, then standing for 8+ hours on your feet, chatting, smiling and being the most friendly version of yourself possible – it's extremely tiring and definitely requires at least one post show martini (photo here), if not two. Luckily, I had a great booth mate (Ms. Molly Della who also happens to be my best friend) and we kept the energy alive by dancing to the music during slow times. I finally recovered fully from SF Renegade Tuesday, just in time to prep and get amped up for Renegade LA this weekend (if you are asking yourself – is she crazy? two big shows back to back? the answer is yes, I'm totally nuts). I will be heading out early tomorrow morning to grab dry ice for the show (the show is outdoors and potentially HOT so I have to protect my product) before I pack the car, pick up my fabulous booth mate Kendra (check her stuff out), and drive the 5+ hours to LA. Whew!

So, if you happen to be in the LA area, please brave the 405 closure aka 'Carmaggedon' and come check out the Renegade Craft Show from 11 – 7 Saturday and Sunday at the Los Angeles Historic State Park. I hope to see you there!

Renegade San Francisco Here I Come!

2011-07-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

I'll be at the Renegade Craft Show this weekend at Fort Mason. Come by to say hi and to check out my friend Molly's sweet baby bibs!

Oh yeah, I got a little mention in the SF Chronicle blog in relation to the show – press mentions always make me giddy!

HSMG Conference Miami

2011-06-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

view from our hotel

Wow! May was a blur (clearly since its now almost the middle of June). I had a busy month with the annual soap conference, fun times in Miami, wedding plans and a big birthday. The main event was the 2011 Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild Conference in Miami - which then turned into a pre-pre wedding celebration. The soap conference was a blast (as always), I shared a room with the fabulous Jen Hardaway from Klean Spa (she has shops in Santa Monica and Burbank). I met great people, got the chance to talk soap to my hearts content and I learned a lot of great things from the speakers. To make sure that I dont write a 3 page blog post, I've condensed down a few things from the conference.

Swirl Class with Kat from Otion

Here are my top 5 take-aways:

soap cannot be 100 % certified organic according to new FDA regulations
preception creates reality (a key point from speaker Barbara Cocoran)
customers are the single most important person in my biz (I already knew that)
knowing when to say enough when swirling
there is no perfect size company so I have to choose what works best for me

INDIE Book Club: Delivering Happiness

2011-04-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday was the second installment of the Indie Biz Book Club (a group of fantastic women entrepreneurs - read about meeting number one here). We are reading Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh. First before I discuss the meeting, I just want to say that this book is an easy ready and totally inspiring. I was sucked into the story of Tony’s life and the beginning of Zappos. He started his first business at the age of 8!! When I was 8, all I cared about were Barbies and My Little Ponies, the last thing on my mind was starting a business. Incredible.

The second installment of the book club meeting started with each of us sharing our favorite passage from part two of the book. I shared the following section from page 163

"We must all learn not only to fear change, but to embrace it enthusiastically and, perhaps even more important, encourage and drive it. We must always plan for and be prepared for constant change."

- this particular passage struck me because it is so true and also happens to be something I am currently working on accepting both in my life and in my business.

Part two of Delivering Happiness was incredibly interesting, Tony shares the evolution of the Culture Book, 10 Core Values and staying committed to the unique culture that has developed (which became the Zappos brand). We discussed delegating non-core tasks, knowing when to hire people, hiring good employees, working with interns, making sure you are looking at the big picture and the small picture. I am looking forward to the next section of our Biz Book Meeting: Profits, Passion, and Purpose

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

Dish cloths by RebeccaJayStudios

It finally feels like spring here in San Francisco, the perfect time to open windows and get cracking on some serious cleaning. This is a great opportunity to assess your cleaning products and move toward an ‘eco-friendly’ cleaning regime. Take stock of all your cleaning products - most conventional cleaning products filled with a variety of harsh and potentially toxic chemicals. Now is the time to get rid of those nasty cleanser - you will need to dispose of them properly (no, you can't just dump in down the drain or toss the bottle in the garbage) so check out info for your local Hazardous Waste Facility. Most have certain days or drop off locations for residential hazardous waste materials. Now you can re-stock your cleaning supplies with environmentally friendly effective cleansers. Most of the ingredients are things you can find in your cabinets like baking soda, white vinegar and natural dish soap (I like Ecover and Earth Friendly Products). These are great “double duty” ingredients plus you will save money by making your own cleaning products.

I’ve listed a few of my favorite natural DIY cleaning recipes below:

All Purpose Cleanser 1

1 cups white vinegar
1 cup distilled water (or tap)
1/2 tsp natural dishwashing liquid/liquid castile soap
20 drops essential oil*

Measure and mix ingredients. Pour into a spray bottle. Label!!

All Purpose Cleaner 2

1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup baking soda
6 cups distilled water (or tap)
50-60 drops essential oils*

Measure ingredients, mix before pouring into spray bottle (the vinegar and baking soda will bubble and expand - make sure to use a large enough container to handle any overflow). Pour into a spray bottle. Label!! Shake before use.

Bath Tub Scrub

1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax (should be able to get this at hardware store/grocery store - this can be harsh on the skin so make sure to wear gloves)
2 tbsp liquid soap (like dr bronners)
40-60 drops essential oil

Measure and mix ingredients in glass or ceramic bowl or dish (preferably one you dont eat out of) store in glass jar (I like to re-use condiment/pickles jars for this product) or heavy duty plastic container. When ready to use, sprinkle around damp tub and start scrubbing! ***Do Not use on metal fixtures

Bath Tub Cleaner 2 (the ULTRA basic formula)

I just toss some baking soda all around the tub and then spritz with some white vinegar - the fizzy action helps with the cleaning process. I let that sit for about 5 minutes and then start scrubbing!

Super Simple Room & Linen Spray:

½ cup vodka
15-20 drops essential oils/blend

Pour ingredients into a glass bottle with spray nozzle. When ready to use, shake and spritz!

Simple Furniture Polish

1 tbsp olive oil
½ cup vinegar
15-20 drops lemon or orange essential oil

Measure ingredients and pour in to bottle with a spray nozzle. When ready to use, shake vigorously and spray directly onto wood furniture or onto rag. Polish away!

*essential oil recommendations: lemon, lime, tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, thyme (use caution with this oil as it is a skin irritant), sage. These essential oils are great for cleansing because of their anti-bacterial/anti-fungal properties and because they smell great!

Make sure to label each bottle carefully and keep out of reach of small children and pets.

You can also green your cleaning by cutting up old t-shirts, towels or sheets to create cleaning rags rather than using sponges or paper towels. Or, choose one of the gorgeous wash cloths above.

Do you have a DIY cleaning recipe you like?

Interview: Funlayo Alabi, Shea Queen

2011-03-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

Funlayo Alabi is the co-owner of Shea Radiance (with her husband, so impressive) a fabulous company based in Baltimore, that works with communities in West Africa to import traditionally harvested shea butter (an Etta + Billie favorite). Not only do they sell this fabulous shea butter they also make luscious shea butter skin treats. Luckily, Funlayo was kind enough to answer a few of my questions about the business of shea butter:

How did you start your business?

My business started more out out of a need for richer more emollient products. We had dry skin and the kids had eczema and we couldn't find any good products on the market.

We started using raw shea butter and saw a remarkable difference in our skin. We knew that there had to be a market for people who shared our need for a natural effective solution to dry skin, because our friends and family were raving about the samples we gave them.

What have been some of your biggest challenges with your business?

Finances. When you are involved in the shea butter supply chain at the level we are, there are a lot of upfront expenses. Working directly with shea producers in the early stages involves pre paying for the the nuts, providing storage facilities, bagging and boxing product and getting the product from the 'Farmgate' (point of production which is usually in the 'interior' country (village) where the shea trees grow and the butter is extracted) to the port.

We also do all our product manufacturing here in the states, so the expense of running a small scale manufacturing facility does require expense.

What have you been most proud of with your business?

I am most proud of the fact that we are positioned to be a company that will have a positive impact on the lives of women in Africa and in the US. The personal care business is a womans business on any levels. Our key ingredient, shea butter, is produced by women and 90% of the customers who buy our product are women.

What is your favorite product to create with shea butter?

The chocolate whipped butters. They look and smell so yummy. Like dessert for the skin. (these sound fantastic!)

What should consumers look for when sourcing fair trade shea butter from vendors?

The main thing I look for is a connection with local producers. Many of us who work directly with the women do not necessarily have all the finances to obtain 'Fair Trade' and/or Organic Certification. These are all very expensive for small businesses to obtain in addition to the fact tat they are taking on a lot of financial risk working on a grass roots level. What I look for is intent and progress and the mission of the vendor.

Check out a description of the processing with photos here.

Why should consumers choose fair trade?

Fairly Traded means that there is financial and social benefit to the local producers.

Do you have a favorite product that you don’t make yourself?

I love the rich organic soap bars produced by Botanical Skin Works. A local business here in Baltimore.

Thank you again Funlayo for sharing your story! Hopefully I can come along on a shea trip next year!

2011 Biz Goals

2011-03-18T11:42:00.001-07:00

to do list by mondernemotive

I've been meaning to post these for a while and finally (the story of my blogging life) have them postable.

Create a real business budget: I am a little embarrassed to admit this but I have never created a budget for my business. That is not to say that I didn't track my sales or purchases or my COGs (cost of goods sold). But I have never had an actual budget as a guide. Part of the reason was I was scared, how much would I actually need to make to move to part time work? or quit my day job all together? I also kept putting it off for other “more important” tasks. This year I’ve vowed to create a real budget for myself so I can track my progress, create goals and make changes when necessary. As of last week, I have finally created a real budget for my business. There are some scary numbers there but at least I have a real idea of what I need to make to move my business forward.

Add three new products to my line. I would like to add lip balm, candles, and whipped scrubs to my line this year. I hope you are all as excited about these new products as I am!

Add a soap of the month club. Done, you can check it out here.

Add 2-3 new wholesale accounts each quarter. This is a big goal. After completely my budget I see the necessity of adding additional accounts if I want to move to part time work by the end of the year. This is also a part of the business that is a bit hard for me. It is really scary to put your business out there, especially when it is such a part of you. However, its something I have to get over if I want my business to succeed, so I need to suck it up and get it done.

Create a production schedule. I’ve created a long term production schedule and am working on breaking the larger goals into smaller pieces. I feel so much better. :)

Create a marketing plan. Marketing is on of my biggest business struggles. I’ve read books, gone to seminars and I still don't seem to have a full grasp of everything, especially a plan that I will consistently follow and refer to. So, I started seeing on of the free business counselors at the San Francisco Chapter of the Small Business Development Center. I should have a “real” plan in the next few months.

Start blogging 1-3 times a week. Obviously this has been going ok, but could be better. I need someone to get tough with me - any volunteers?

Ingredient Feature: Beeswax

2011-03-08T11:32:00.000-08:00

image from Little Alexander

I am a bee fan and have been since I was little. I never had a fear of bees and was so concerned with their welfare that I would save them from drowning if I ever found them in a pool or at the lake. Perhaps that is why I've only ever been stung a handful of times...I have good bee karma. My affinity for bees makes me a devotee of honey and beeswax. I love the sweet rich honey like smell that emanates from the wax. If you’ve ever been to a farmer’s market and stumbled upon the local honey booth you know exactly what I’m talking about. Beeswax is a wonderful natural ingredient that is part of my lotion bars and the new product I am working on (hint: its for your lips). I wanted to share a little more information with all of you about this amazing ingredient.

Beeswax is created by honeybees to make the honey combs where honeybees raise their young, store honey and pollen. The wax, secreted from glands of the worker bees (who happen to be female), is molded in the six sided comb, filled, then capped. When the wax is first secreted it is clear, after it is molded to form the comb it turns white and overtime ranges from yellow to deep brown. To produce one pound of wax, the worker bees need to consume about ten pounds of honey and fly approximately 150,000 miles, the equivalent of almost six trips around the world (Wow!). Clearly, beeswax is a precious natural resource. The wax is a wonderful addition to skin care products because it has similar “wax esthers” to skin. When in skin care, it acts as a natural humectant (which means it attracts moisture to the skin) and creates a breathable moisture barrier on the skin. Beeswax also contains Vitamin A which is necessary for healthy cell development. It has been used for centuries for its antiseptic, emollient and healing properties. The beeswax in Etta + Billie products comes from a company that works with American beekeepers.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T21:10:00.000-08:00

Bi-Rite I love you!

After a day at the office and a few hours of Etta + Billie work, I managed to fit it a great dinner with my Mister to celebrate V-Day....and dessert. Hope you had a sweet Valentine's Day with your lover, family and friends!

Personal Goals 2011

2011-02-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

Here is the short list of my personal goals for 2011. I know these will likely change throughout the year but its good to get something posted as a reminder for what I'd like to accomplish this year.

1. Fit exercise into my life. I have never been an athletic person nor gotten to the point where I really enjoyed exercising (except maybe recess when I was in middle school) but I have begun to see the effects of my lack of fitness (sore joints, knee troubles, trouble sleeping, stress - according to my doctor most of these should get better once I get into exercising on a regular basis). I have been struggling with fitting this into my life for the last few years but I am going to make this work this year. Part of my mission for 2011 to get at least 20-30min of exercise or activity 3 times a week. How have I done so far? This hasnt happened yet, but I did go to the gym Saturday morning and I walked about 2 miles yesterday.

2. Visit one new place or do one new thing every month. This sounds like a simple one but I think it will make a huge difference in my creativity level. It is very easy for me to get stuck in the same a routine each week. Especially when I am dealing with my day job, my business, and all the assorted other things in my life. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes this is a bad thing. Lately, I find that I've been loosing creative energy and getting cranky when I feel stuck in my routines. I hope that this goal with help me up my creativity, give me new focus and generally make me happier. How have I done so far? January - I went to Austin - check. February - Shain and I plan on taking a hike in the San Bruno mountains.

3. Keep my home/office tidy. This is important to me because like many people, I easily loose focus when I am surrounded by clutter or I feel like the house is dirty. Sometimes it makes me so anxious that I must stop what I am doing to clean. Very annoying. How have I done so far? Pretty dang good.

4. Utilize the public library. We have a great public library in San Francisco and I really would like to take advantage of that by borrowing every other book that I read. How have I done so far? Haven't made my way to the library yet, but I do have a great list of books I'd like to get.

5. Stay on Budget. This is a fairly broad goal that I will need to break up into smaller categories. I've been doing well for the past year but have definitely fallen off the budget wagon a few times. One of my first steps to stay on track is to sign up for Mint.com - which I've heard is pretty fantastic. The next step is to re-assess my monthy/weekly budget and make adjusts, committing to my new numbers. This is also good practice for my business. How have I done so far? Ok, probably a 6 out of 10.

What are your goals for 2011? How do you plan on accomplishing them?

I heart Austin, TX

2011-01-31T22:59:00.000-08:00

I am officially in love with Austin. I went for a visit with two of my girlfriends from college just over two weeks ago. I miss it already. We had a blast hanging out and doing the things we like best such as eating great food (I am still talking about the breakfast tacos),

cupcake trailer!

trailer park eatery's...heck yes

our very exciting happy hour appetizers from South Congress Cafe

discovering great shops and of course soap,

south of congress shops

smelling soap in the giant Whole Foods

listening to great live music and we got real crazy....

mine is the oak leaf in the center

by getting tattoos (that sounds wild but we've each been thinking about getting one for a while)!

It wasn't all fun and games while in Austin ;). I made a few product drops at a few stores (see here and here). I am really hoping to pick up some new clients to help get my products out there! Send me all your good vibes.

Happy 2011...I am back!

2011-01-14T22:34:00.001-08:00

This is a view from the top of the zip line tower in Justin Herman Plaza in SF...yes I went for it!

Whew....yet again a bit of a hiatus from the blogging, but I am back and I have a plan and some goals to help me get it together. Speaking of which, I am working on my 2011 goals (I dont like resolutions) right now using tips from a few of my favorite blogs like Soap Queen and Indie Business. I plan on posting them soon. Do you have any tips/tricks to share??

Post Turkey Day Sale

2010-11-24T21:09:00.000-08:00

pumpkin spice, chai tea and ginger orange peel soap

I tend to be a last minute Holiday shopper but in an effort to mend my ways and help others I am having a Post Turkey Day Sale. Everything in my shop will be 15% off November 26 – 29. Plus, if you spend $35 in product you get free US shipping. If you happen to be a newsletter subscriber you get an additional 15% off – sign up here. Happy Shopping!

p.s. my fellow SF Etsian’s are also having a sale – check out the shops that are offering discounts here.

Update

2010-11-24T20:52:00.000-08:00

green sand beach in Hawaii

Wow, it has been a while since I’ve blogged. A lot has happened both personally and businesswise in the last few months, so I figure I should give everyone a little update. Since my last major post in July, I’ve signed a few new wholesale accounts (more about those later), gotten a great blog mention (here is the link in case you missed it), debuted a new product, been on a mad soaping mission, went on an amazing trip to Hawaii and got myself engaged.

the beach where we got engaged

I am excited about all the changes in my life and a little nervous too (not about the marriage part, I swear). I get nervous that things are moving too fast, or not fast enough, that I’m not doing enough, that I I need to delegate more, etc. A friend of mine put things into perspective for me the other day when he mentioned how proud and amazed he is at how far I’ve come. It really made me think.

contemplative moment in Kona

I rarely take time to reflect on how much I’ve accomplished, I’m almost always focused on what needs to be done or what I haven’t done yet. I am not saying that I should be constantly looking back but I think it would help put things in perspective if I did a little check in once in a while. I think one of the best ways to accomplish this is to get back on track with my blog. It will give me the opportunity to see how far I’ve come. Please help me keep up with my new vow, I need your support!

one of the feral horses in the waipio valley

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a great day with lots of treats!

p.s. we had our very first trick-or-treaters tonight after 6 years in the city with nothing and had no candy for them...figures

(Etta + Billie) + (Fig + Sage) = Love

2010-09-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

Over a year ago I set up a Google news feed for Etta + Billie, after months of getting links to posts about Billie Holiday and Etta James, yesterday I finally received something amazing...a real live amazing blog post about Etta + Billie on one of my favorite blogs Fig + Sage. I was so excited I'm pretty sure I squealed and completely freaked out my co-worker. Fig + Sage is all about organic and eco-finds so its right up my alley. She found me completely randomly from Facebook and Twitter (social media does work!) from a mutual friend clicking like on my Facebook Page. I am ecstatic about the review and am thankful for the exposure from the lovely ladies at Fig + Sage, special thanks goes to Stancie - you totally rock!

Check out the post here

I just got another google alert for a re-post over at Wellsphere here

Happy Fourth!!

2010-07-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend with friends and family, lots of BBQ and a few beers. I wanted to share a great recipe that my Mister and I made a few weeks ago. Its a perfect easy to make 4th of July dessert that sounds fancy - Strawberry Blueberry Shortcakes with Brown Sugar Biscuits and Balsamic Black Pepper Syrup.

The original recipe is here (thank you Bon Apetite),we made the following changes: Substituted all the regular sugar for brown sugar to create our brown sugar biscuits; used a mix of fresh strawberries and blueberries and plenty of whip cream (red, white and blue!); Mister used star shaped cookie cutters to make the biscuits extra special. Enjoy!! Happy Fourth of July!

Farmers Market Skin Care: Cucumber Lemon Mint Facial

2010-06-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

picture from Foodmomiac

The Cucumber Lemon Mint Facial is great for oily skin. Summer can be especially taxing on oilier complexions. The combination of sun exposure, sunscreen and increased heat can cause oily skin to go a little nuts, this combo will help soothe, cleanse and tone the skin. Mint naturally helps brighten dull skin and it's cooling properties are perfect for acne prone skin. Cucumber is high in skin soothing Vitamin C (more info here) and has astringent (pore tightening) qualities that make it a natural skin toner. Lemon peel adds Vitamin C and a bright uplifting scent with mild exfoliating properties. Lemon is also said to help rid skin of blackheads.

Grate 1 tsp. of fresh lemon peel add to a blender with 2 tsp. fresh mint with 1/2 peeled de-seeded cucumber. Apply and gently massage onto clean skin. Leave on for 15 mins, rinsing with cool/room temperature water. Apply witch hazel toner and a light moisturizer.

Use extra mint and lemon in ice water to create a refreshing beverage.

Farmers Market Skin Care: Strawberry Watermelon Facial

2010-06-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

picture from Make it Do

A few weeks ago I saw a query for Farmers Market inspired facials in the media lead section of the IBN (Indie Beauty Network) site. I missed the deadline to respond but I was inspired to come up easy recipes anyone can do at home with a few farm fresh ingredients. More facials to come!

Strawberry Watermelon Facial

This facial was created with normal skin in mind but would definitely be lovely for oily, combination or even dry skin (for dry skin you may want to add half/half, jojoba or olive oil). Strawberries are filled with Vitamin C and fruit acids that gently exfoliate the skin. Vitamin C plays a vital roll in your skins production of collagen and it helps combat free radicals that can damage and age skin. Watermelon has a high water content so its great for re-hydrating skin. It also contains A, B and C vitamins. Our skin needs Vitamin A to maintain a healthy moisture balance and repair itself. Topically Vitamin A has been shown to reduce signs of aging. While B vitamins have been shown to tone skin and give it an instant glow. Plus the two make great summer snacks. :)

Recipe: Gently mash 2 strawberries with about 1/4 cup of watermelon. If mixture is too watery add 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. of honey to help bind together. Apply mixture to clean damp skin and leave on for 10-15 min. Rinse with lukewarm water, follow with lavender flower water and light moisturizer.

The Soap Studio Part 1

2010-06-07T18:49:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, I let everyone know about my exciting new soap studio and posted a few of my studio inspirations here. I would love to say that the soap room is looking as amazing as these studio spaces but I haven't quite completed my soap room project. I have basically gone from this:

to this:

which isn't horrible but it definitely needs some work. Here is the plan: Mister is going to build some extra shelving into the closet area, then I can re-organize a bit, reassessing the space to see if I need more organizational devices, I'll sew curtains to cover the closet (I haven't touched a sewing machine since I was 13, so that will be interesting), put up my bulletin board, then some art and I'll be much closer to my Etta + Billie soap studio vision. In the meantime, I am dealing with the semi-organized chaos. :)

Etta + Billie at Maker Faire This Weekend!

2010-05-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Maker Faire
San Mateo County Fair Grounds
Saturday, May 22 (10am - 8pm) and Sunday, May 23 (10am - 6pm)

Please come say hi if you are around (there will be a rocket ship), especially Sunday when you will receive extra fancy soap samples and get the chance to wish me a Happy Birthday :).

Here is a pic of the new craft booth sign I did yesterday, I am actually impressed with how it turned out (even though my perfectionist side is having trouble with the slightly wonky letters - check out the e!). I used the printable iron on sheets by Avery on a white sheet I got at the Thrift store for $3 - super high tech. :)

HSMG Conference 2010

2010-05-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

It's been just over a week since I got back from the 2010 HSMG (Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild) Conference in Denver, CO and I am still adjusting to my 'normal' life (moving doesn’t help ease the transition)! I looooved my time at the conference. It is a great opportunity for crazy soapmakers to meet each other, share and learn. It's wonderful to find a group of people who are as passionate as you are about the same things – it kind of feels like summer camp for adults!

soapers showcase entries, can you spy my geranium patchouli? hint: its next to a showcase winner

There were wonderful presentations ranging from Liquid Soap Making (Soap Queen Anne-Marie Faiola) to Branding (fellow bay area girl Alison Covarrubias) to The Nature of Chemistry (Dr. Cindy Jones). I really enjoyed Kayla Fioravanti's (Essential Wholesale co-mastermind, fabulous mom and all around awesome lady) presentation on formulating your dream business; Donna-Maria Coles Johnson's (Social Media guru and Indie Biz Champion) simple breakdown of social media strategies; Jamilla White's (E-Commerce Diva and all around kick ass lady) energetic E-Commerce talk; Kevin Dunn's (soapy mad scientist - I won his latest book Scientific Soapmaking and got him to sign it) hilarious breakdown of Trace; Robert Tisserand's (Aromatherapy Icon) insightful discussion of essential oils and fragrance oils (I was ready to move to Ojai so I could become his apprentice)

me grinning like a fool next to Josh Onysko

and Joshua Onysko's story of Pangea Organics (I got chills while the man was talking! His passion was completely infectious and his values hit so close to home…I considered packing everything up and camping outside the Pangea facility until the man hired me). The whole conference was filled with amazingingly energetic successful woman (and men) who generously shared their stories and support, which makes the conference a wonderful uplifting informational experience.

When I wasn’t filling my head with business info, I got the chance to meet some new folks and spend some time with people I met last year like my fabulous award winning (HSMG Soapers Showcase Best Melt and Pour Scent) roomie Jenn Hardaway from KLEAN SPA (photo below is Jen with her certificate) and the hilarious incredibly successful Lela Barker of Belle Lucce.

There were parties (Wild Wild West extravaganza sponsored by Kayla and Dennis Fioravanti), networking meet ups (where my table really got loud and I met some fab ladies like super funny Amy Kalinchuk – the Old Crone herself :), Kristen Bowen and Rose Cunfer) and had a few drinks at the Spotted Dog with Debbie Chialtas (Melt and Pour soap star), Erin Pikor (amazing cold process soap artist with killer arms), Bill and Val from super lovely Piper Tate and my pal Lori Nova (super bath and body teacher and creator of The Nova Studio).

I had a great time and can't wait till next year's conference in Miami (I swear I am starting my workout and savings plan now).

Biz/Life News

2010-04-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

I am a naughty naughty blogger these days and havent been keeping to my writing schedule, I hope to change this bad pattern starting this week.

My big life/biz news is that Mister and I are moving!!! My growing biz has forced us into a bigger place - 3 whole bedrooms! Which means I get my own soap studio....YIPEEEE!!! Can you tell I am excited?? I am already planning out my work space. Here are current inspirations:

Sharilyn Wright's Studio via Apartment Therapy

Kate Gabrielle via paper n stitch

Geninne's Studio via Apartment Therapy

via ReveRse Notoriety

Friday Finds: Royal Blue

2010-04-16T16:26:00.001-07:00

I am totally obsessed with Royal Blue right now.

1.
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4.
5.

1. 1980s Pencil Skirt from SimpleVintage $14.99
2. Embroidered Silk Clutch from ClutchThat $87.50
3. 1980s Studs from Heidi2983 $12.00
4. Veggie Brekkie from Mr. PS $12.50
5. Damask Pillow Cover from Shorely Chic $50.00
6. Soy/Organic Cotton Jersey Braided Shirt from Isla New York $80.00

Weekend Recap: Taste of Yountville

2010-03-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

Image from Art and Living

I had my first craft show of 2010 this last weekend at the Napa Valley Mustard Festival's Taste of Yountville. This is only the second year they did a "craft" area but I think they realized that the combination of wine and shopping is a winner.

I got to share my outdoor 10x10 space with the very talented Kendra of Kendra Renee Jewelry Design, we shared laughs, snacks and booth tricks (Kendra had some awesome fabric hook thingy that she let me use). The show was a lot of fun and went well. The best part was it really got me excited about connecting with customers face to face again - which is good since I just found out today that I got into the Maker Faire in May...YIPEEE!!!!

Weekend Recap: Last Weekend

2010-03-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Mister and I went on a mini-break to Napa. I know it seems as though we go on mini-breaks all the time (Muir Beach), but really it happens very rarely because Mister works on Saturdays and because of our limited budget. However, when I was feeling spendy I found a great deal on Jetsetter for the Avia Hotel Napa (the bath tub totally sold me), so I went for it. But, that was in December, so we had to wait a few looong months.

Our trip was finally here (woohoo)!! Before we went up, we decided that we were going to stay in city limits, rather than venture about the Napa valley and focus on tasty relatively cheap food and wine (wine tasting can get pretty expensive when its $10-$20 at each winery).We headed up to Napa Friday night after work, checked into our hotel, and headed out for some dinner. We walked to the Pearl Restaurant - an Asian fusion spot frequented by locals. We read some great reviews on Yelp and were not disappointed. The owner greeted us at the door and was extremely gracious and attentive. To start, we shared a potato swiss chard sausage soup. For the main, I got the Chicken Chile Verde with homemade tortillas, creamy polenta and veggies. Mister got the Meatloaf with a Brooklyn style Red Gravy, mash potatoes and veggies. Both mains were great, but Mister and I both agreed that mine was pretty amazing. For dessert we shared the house made brioche bread pudding which was yummy. We headed back to the hotel, where Mister promptly fell asleep and I took a lovely bath.
The next morning we headed out in search of coffee, pastries and the Taste card. I found out about the Taste card, which gets you a taste at 14 tasting rooms in downtown Napa for $20 (all are walking distance from one another), while paging through a Budget Travel magazine. The card is a great alternative to the pricey wineries around Napa Valley. We got a bit off course in our early attempt to reach The Model Bakery at the Oxbow Market (I blame Google maps on our iphones) but it made our Coffees, Pecan Sticky Bun and Egg, Chorizo Breakfast Torta totally worth it. After breakie, we did a quick circuit of the Oxbow Market and I bought a few spices from the Whole Spice Company to try in soap. We walked off towards the rest of downtown to find the visitors center so we could get our Taste cards. We ended up taking the long way to get there and got a great tour of the down town transit station - really sweet. At least we got more walking in. With cards in hand and a plan to do a circuit of the downtown tasting rooms we headed out but got briefly sidetracked by a few antique stores (I couldnt help it - there were sparkly things calling my name. I found some fabulous earrings, old vichy springs mineral water bottles, and old soap boxes). We didnt realize it till we headed to our first wine tasting spot but the Mustard Festival was in full effect in Napa so it was crazy packed. Our first tasting room was the Napa General Store, which is in the old re-furbished red brick mill. After being denied at the neighboring tasting room because of the festival, we decided to get away from the festivities and found our way back to the Oxbow Market area. We went to Mason (which specializes in delicious Sauv Blanc), GustavoThrace (Gustavo inspired the movie Bottle Shock), and Taste at Oxbow featuring Mahoney Vineyards (the wine maker and owner were there pouring glasses of wine. We chatted up the wine maker for about an hour and liked everything so much we joined the wine club). By this time we were a bit tipsy and hadnt really eaten lunch yet and it was almost 4pm, so we headed to The Fatted Calf (soooo good) for some cured meats, got one last glass of wine in at the Wine Merchant, grabbed cheese from the Oxbow Cheese Merchant and a baguette from The Model Bakery and headed back to the hotel. After our snack and a nap we decided to make one last trip out for the amazing pulled pork sandwich at The Bounty Hunter. Back at the hotel, I took a bath and went to bed. It was an amazing day.

After a lazy morning we headed to the ABC Cafe and enjoyed home made biscuits and gravy, spiced apple and cream cheese stuffed pancakes and coffee...wow. We then said good bye to Napa and went back to the city.

As you can tell we had a very fatty delicious lovely weekend...I want to go back every weekend.

What is a solid lotion bar?

2010-03-09T21:43:00.000-08:00

I get this question a lot when I'm at craft shows. Here is how the typical exchange goes:

Customer: What is a Solid Lotion bar?

Me: Well, its a convenient portable alternative to lotion. It's a combination of lip balm and body butter. I use a combination of Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Organic Virgin Coconut oil and Beeswax. So, its super moisturizing. This also makes them more heat stable than a typical body butter, but not as waxy as a lip balm. They are great for moisturizing cuticles, elbows and dry hands. The tin they come in is light weight which makes them great for purses, desks, and travel. And you can reuse or recycle the tin.

Customer: That sounds kind of great.

Yep, they definitely are.

To get your own -go to my Etsy shop.

Aloo Palak

2010-03-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

We have been inundated with spinach from our CSA for the last few weeks so I have been trying to find new recipes so we dont get bored. Of course, as always, I turned to Tastespotting and found this amazing Indian Dish, Aloo Palak (spinach and potato version), at Honey, What's Cooking. The recipe seemed simple and sounded delish - perfect for a weeknight meal.

You can find the recipe and instructions here.

The only changes we made were using a Pasilla chili instead of spicy green chilies, using 4 yukon gold type potatoes with skin on (there are lots of nutrients in the skins), using about 16 oz of spinach and doubling the amount of Turmeric (it has anti-inflammatory properties and my knees have been bothering me - yes, I'm old). It turned out pretty good. I think I would just add some hot chilies for some heat.

Business Time: Accounting Class

2010-03-03T15:57:00.001-08:00

Image courtesy of my alma mater

Last weeks class at the SBA really encouraged me to start taking charge and educating myself in the areas of business where I am totally clueless...like Accounting. After doing a bit of research about online courses and city college courses I decided that the SBA's classes would work the best for me. So, this week I finally committed to the three part series of Accounting Classes at the SBA, and they start tomorrow! For the next three Thursdays from 1-4pm I will be taking copious notes and attempting to ask extremely sensible questions at the SBA's downtown office. Wish me luck!

What accounting questions would you ask?

Its back....

2010-03-03T15:45:00.000-08:00

Start spring a little early with my uplifting Rosemary Lemon soap. My revamped formula has much more citrus punch with hints of herbaceous rosemary and moisturizing fair trade shea butter. Banish dry winter skin with the exfoliating properties of ground rosemary leaves and skin soothing calendula petals. This will definitely help with the winter blues.

Weekend Recap: Cookies

2010-03-01T20:40:00.000-08:00

Image from San Francisco Days

This weekend I finally made my way over to Anthony's Cookies in the Mission and it was fantastic. We walked in and were enveloped by the smell of fresh baked cookies. Neighbors of this little cookie shop must be in a state of bliss all the time! Of course Mister and I planned on only getting one cookie each but with flavors like Cookies and Cream, Toffee Chip and Semi Sweet Chocolate Chip with Walnuts we were forced to get a half dozen to share. The cookies were crisp on the edges and chewy in the middle...totally perfect. Good thing we had already walked a mile to get there...we might have burned off about 1 cookie each ;).

I highly recommend a visit.

Friday Finds: Studs

2010-02-26T17:06:00.000-08:00

I am on the hunt for some stud earrings since apparently I only buy ginormous semi-flashy earrings. This makes it hard to wear a statement necklace and earrings - so usually I dont. Then I feel naked. Hence the search for some studs (haha...).

Here are a few of my favorites from Etsy.

Black Tie Studs $8 from Scarlet Begonia

Vermeil Starflower Studs $98 from Signe Njust

Silver and Gold Tear Drop Studs from Rio Rita
(i know they're sold out but i love them)

Vintage Button Studs $8 from PingVina

Vintage Studs $22 from Laura Lombardi Jewelry

Baked Eggs for Dinner

2010-02-25T20:18:00.000-08:00

(aren't these eggs pretty?? yes, they really are green, blue and brown!!)

Mister went out with the boys tonight so I was left to fend for myself. I usually love cooking big meals but tonight I just didnt feel like it. I decided I would do something simple, easy and delicious - which usually means I make some sort of egg dish. I love eggs. They are rich, easy and quick! A perfect main for busy nights. The eggs I used tonight come from my parents free range hens. They are so delicious and wonderful...yummm. Back to dinner - I ended up make a simple baked egg dish with toast sticks and a green salad. It sounds so sophisticated and French...until you have me try to say it in French "Oeufs Cocotte". The backwoods girl in me just cant get it right ;). My dinner inspiration came from She Wears Many Hats Basic Baked Eggs recipe.Baked Eggs (for one)
-2 free range eggs (recipe calls for one per person but that just doesn't cut it for me)-butter
-about 1 tbsp of heavy whipping cream
-pinch of salt
-pinch of pepper
-pinch of herbs de provence
-pinch of cayenne pepper
-2 slices sourdough bread cut into sticks
Preheat oven to 350F. Boil water. Grease small ramekin with butter, add two eggs cream and spices. Place ramekin in a baking dish and pour boiling water into the dish until it comes about halfway up the ramekin (make a water bath). Put in the oven and set timer for 15 min (my eggs came out slightly underdone which is how I like them for this dish). Toast bread. TA DA! That's it! Green Salad w/Dijon Mustard dressing
-1 small bunch green lettuce
-Olive oil, salt, pepper, organic dijon mustard, homemade apple cider vinegar (I do not have measurements for these because I totally eyeballed the dressing)

Clean lettuce and slice into 1 inch thick strips. Put about 2 tsp. vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil, good squirt of mustard, dash of salt and pepper into a bowl or cup and whisk until thoroughly mixed.

It's Business Time

2010-02-24T20:12:00.000-08:00

image from StartUp

Monday I took a day off from the day job to take a business class at the Small Business Administration office of San Francisco. The class was produced by SCORE (small business mentoring and training). It was great to be in a room full of entrepreneurs, there was so much energy and enthusiasm. I took How to Start and Manage a Small Business which covered writing business plans, accounting (umm this is what I need the most help with), legal structure, marketing and small business loans. Each topic was presented by a different current or past business ownerI got some great info from the class and was glad that I went. One thing I definitely know I need to do asap is find more classes on accounting/Quickbooks (oh how I dread Quickbooks). I do not feel comfortable with these topics at all so I am on the hunt for some classes.

If you are considering owning your own business I highly recommend checking out your local SBA and SCORE chapters for classes and mentoring - they have many low cost and free classes that are great resources for entrepreneurs.

SOS: Save Our Soap

2010-02-23T11:38:00.000-08:00

Love love love this post by Ruth Esteves of Sirona Springs (aren't her soaps lovely??). I am just as frugal with my soaps as Ruth is!! She was kind enough to let me re-post here. ;)

It always pays to be frugal, but when it comes to something as wonderful as handmade soap (yes, I’m biased; so shoot me) you can never be too neurotic about saving every last bit of that soapy goodness. I’ve collected some ideas on how to use up those tiny little bits of soap before they end up going down the drain or (gasp!) into the trashcan.

Stick it on a new bar

Once you find yourself with a soap sliver, start a new bar of soap, but keep that sliver handy. Once both are good and wet, score each one with little hatch marks. I use my fingernail, since pointy tools are hard to come by in the shower (well, in my shower, anyway). Then slap the little bit onto the new bar and leave them to get to know each other better. By the next day they should be as one. If not, just repeat the scoring and slapping and leave it to dry a bit longer. (Interestingly, this is also the method used by potters to attach pieces of wet clay together; another of my past hobbies!)

Make something new

When you find yourself with a collection of soap scraps, grate them up and make soap balls! Just use your regular box grater (or even your food processor, if you’re making a lot of these) to shred the soap. Then moisten lightly, just until the shreds start to stick together. Now just squeeze the shreds together to make a ball of soap whatever size you would like. Set the balls aside to dry for about a week so that they get good and hard. I love doing this with scraps from different bars and allowing the scents to mingle, creating something totally unique!

Get yourself a soap bag

Of course you can go out and get yourself a specially designed thingy for saving your soap bits. I sell such a sack at the Sirona Springs online store. I like it because it’s made of a natural fiber and exfoliates gently. Nothing could be easier; just toss in your slivers and lather away. There are also some that are made of a nylon mesh, or even terry cloth. And if you already own a bath mitt, you could certainly turn it into a soap saver by just tossing your slivers into that.

Make yourself a soap bag

But if you want to be really frugal, throw your soap bits into the leg of some old pantyhose: tie off the end and hang it in your shower or outside by the garden hose. Or make your own soap holder from a mesh onion bag like in this tutorial at Instructables.com! Not only are you saving your soap, you’re also repurposing something and saving it from a landfill.

Weekend Recap: Soap and the Sea

2010-02-22T21:22:00.000-08:00

I had a great weekend. Saturday morning was filled with making some Peppermint Lime and Geranium Patchouli soap - the entire apartment smelled amazing. Then Mister and I left to meet a few of our friends for a one night mini break at Muir Beach. Six couples rented rooms at the Pelican Inn a fabulous little British Pub/Bed and Breakfast about 30-45 min north of San Francisco. We had a great time chatting at the beach (even though the weather was iffy), drinking a few beers, playing Apples to Apples and laughing it up around the fireplace. If you are ever in the area I highly suggest a visit - the Pelican has great beer and delicious food. It was really hard to leave yesterday!!

Eco Tips

2010-02-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

Image from Take Pride in Utah

In an effort to get my blogging on track and to share some valuable info with you all I am starting a new weekly Eco Tips series. I will be sharing ideas to "green" your life and your business.

My first Eco Tip: Buy PCW (post-consumer waster) recycled paper.

PCW paper is made from previously used paper like newspaper and office paper. Recycled paper manufacturing uses less energy, water and chemicals than conventional paper. You will not only be saving trees but other valuable resources. It is easy and fairly inexpensive to find PCW recycled paper. This simple switch is a great way to help reduce your environmental impact.

One thing you might have to get used to with the PCW papers is that there are definitely color variations and its harder to find "pure white" paper. I say embrace the variations - it adds some interest and character.

All major office supply place (office depot, staples etc.) offer recycled paper options. You can also find some great products at these online retailers Treecycle (this is where I get PCW paper for my soap labels), Greenline and Echo Paper Store (free standard shipping on all orders).

Come back next week for another eco tip.

Udon Soup

2010-02-11T21:47:00.000-08:00

Last week I had a serious craving for some warm comforting Udon noodle soup, especially since it was supposed to rain all weekend. I decided I would give it a try using some veggies from our CSA. I got all my inspiration from recipes found on TasteSpotting (Nourish Network and Not So Humble Pie specifically).

I really wanted to make my own Dashi (traditional Japanese soup base made with Kombu and Bonito Flakes - seaweed and dried smoked Bonito fish) but my local co-op doesnt carry any fish based products so I got a vegetarian Dashi base. You can find a simple recipe for Dashi here.

CSA Udon Soup
6 oz Cremini mushrooms sliced (Shitake would be delicious)
1 small bunch baby kale, collards and spinach sliced
2 carrots sliced in rounds
1 Diakon radish sliced in rounds
1 package organic fresh garlic udon noodles (Ohana brand)
3/4 cup vegetarian Dashi concentrate
3 3/4 cups water
1 tsp mellow white Miso (optional - but make sure to buy the high quality refrigerated kind - it tastes better and is better for you)
Dash of rice vinegar
Dash of soy sauce
1 green onion sliced

I started by sauteing the mushrooms in sesame oil until browned, then added the kale, collards and spinach, cooking for another 6 minutes. Once cooked, I removed the greens and mushrooms and placed them in a bowl. I put the Dashi concentrate, water, soy sauce and rice vinegar in a pot and waited for everything to come to a boil. Once everything was boiling, I added Diakon, carrots and the noodles (cooking according to package directions about 6 min). After the timer went off, I added the mushrooms and greens, then turned off the heat. I removed about 1/4 cup of the liquid and mixed this with the Miso, then added everything back into the pot mixing thoroughly. Ladled into bowls, added the green onion and done! Super simple, delicious and pretty darn healthy. Its a really good way to get veggies into a meal. I ate leftovers on Saturday and it tasted even better.

Friday Finds - V-Day Edition

2010-02-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

My limited edition Heart Soap

I am not a huge Valentine's Day nut - in fact I have been anti-V-day for many years (yes, I might still be bitter about the fact that the only V-Day carnations I got in high school came from friends) but I am starting to change my tune....slightly. Cute V-Day related items kinda help. Here are some of my picks for V-Day (I hope my Mister is reading this).

Valentine's Day Butterfly from Bug Under Glass

This Little Light Locket from Cosmic Girl

eco friendly felted bowl from The Fuzzy Monkey

Custom Heart Sampler from Miniature Rhino

Etta + Billie Biz News

2010-02-04T14:31:00.000-08:00

Some news I wanted to share for those who dont follow me on Twitter or Facebook - if you dont follow me you definitely should :O)

Paxton Gate
I got my very first wholesale account a few weeks ago. One of the most amazing parts about this is that Paxton Gate is one of the stores that I really wanted my products to be in when I first started making my business a reality. It's completely amazing that it has actually happened. I want to be the first one to announce that you can officially purchase Etta + Billie products at Paxton Gate in San Francisco as of today. Go check it out if you are in the city!

824 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

Blog Love
In other news, my special Valentine's Day heart soaps have been featured in a few V-Day gift guides. Please check them both out!

Organic Living 101's - Organic Valentine’s Day Bath and Beauty Gifts Under $10 on Etsy

7x7's Glamwatch - Our Pick of the Litter: Etsy Local V-Day Gifts

Butternut Squash Pasta

2010-01-29T22:16:00.001-08:00

I love our CSA (dont know what that is? read here) but sometimes its hard to come up with new recipes that combine the loads of produce we get each week. Last week, I was on a mission to find something new to do with butternut squash and greens. The first thing I do when looking for a new recipe is to check Tastespotting (crazy amazing food porn that I could look at for hours) "a community driven visual potluck". After some searching, I found a great recipe from Former Chef that I figured I could modify since I didnt have all the ingredients. When I start experimenting in the kitchen it doesnt always come out so well (I am much better at soap experiments) so Mister and I were both pleasantly surprised at how good my little modifications turned out to be so I thought I'd share it with you all.

Butternut Squash Pasta with Greens and Bacon

1 butternut squash peeled and diced into bite size pieces
3 strips of bacon (or pancetta)
2 garlic cloves minced
1 bunch baby greens washed and chopped (you could sub spinach)
1 container goat milk cream cheese
parmesan cheese
olive oil
red pepper flakes (optional)
sea salt and pepper to taste
2-3 servings whole wheat penne pasta

Preheat oven to 375F while you are chopping up the veggies. Coat the butternut squash in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 30-40 min (check periodically). When the squash is about half way done start on the rest of the meal. Cook pasta making sure to set aside about 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Cut bacon into strips and cook until crisp, remove bacon from pan and drain on a paper towel. Leave a decent amount of bacon fat in the bottom of the pan and add the garlic, cooking for a minute. Add the chopped greens and saute until wilted - about 6-8 minutes. Take the greens from the pan and set aside. Add cooking liquid and goat milk cream cheese, whisk until smooth. Alright - almost done. Add the greens, butternut squash, bacon, and cream cheese/cooking liquid mixture to the pasta, mix and season with salt pepper and a few sprinkles of red pepper flakes. Note: if sauce seems too liquidy let it sit for a few minutes and it will thicken up. Add fresh grated parmesan cheese. Serve with salad and enjoy!!

Guess what!?!?!?!

2010-01-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

I made it onto Etsy's front page!!!!! (yes, I do need that many exclamation points that's how excited I am)

I received the excellent news this morning via fellow SF Etsy Street Team member Kendra (thanks a bunch!) that my Citrus Poppy Seed Soap made it onto Etsy's front page yesterday evening. OMG! I cant believe I missed it, but thanks to the fabulous Craft Cult site I was able to get a glimpse of what my lovely product looked like. Ever since I started selling on Etsy about I've wanted to be on the front page and it feels amazing to have it happen (one goal down approximately 9 million more to go - I say that in a good way). Check out the mini version of what my front page looked like. I am definitely going to celebrate by buying myself a treat this afternoon (cookie or fresh made juice??) ;).

2010 Price Changes

2010-01-19T22:24:00.000-08:00

At the end of this month I have to raise my prices. This has been a really difficult decision for me but it has to be done so that I am able to continue following my dream of building my business.

The price changes are the result of the increasing cost of raw goods and a realistic look at my business finances. Over the course of the last few years there has been a steady increase in the cost of many of the organic raw goods I use to make my products. For example, the cost of cocoa butter has increased by almost 50% since this same time last year. That is a huge jump!! Combine those increases with the fact that I haven't priced my products at what they are worth and I am creating a situation where I will not be able to sustain my small business. The only way to continue providing high quality organic products and build my business is to make a change.

In order to ease into this transition, I'm offering my current low prices until the end of the month and anyone who orders now through January 31 will receive extra free goodies. To stock up now visit Etta + Billie.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding!!

Best,
Alana

2010 handmade olympics!

2010-01-13T16:31:00.001-08:00

I just entered my citrus poppy seed soap and my friend Erin's reindeer head pillow in the eco-friendly category at rikrak studio's handmade olympics 2010! go check out all the entries, add your own (wink wink), and check back for the results.

Top 10 for 2009

2010-01-11T20:20:00.000-08:00

There is a big push around this time to reflect on the past year and start setting goals for the coming year. I used to fight this phenomenon but as I have gotten older and wiser (hopefully), I really appreciate reflecting back and looking to the future. I wanted to share my thoughts with you all but I am going to keep it short and sweet. Below is my top 10 list of accomplishments and things I've learned in 2009 - this is by no means a comprehensive list just a few things that I am really proud of/know I need to work on..

1. Opened up my Etsy Shop
2. Triple checking is a good thing and can save you money!
3. Attended my first Soap conference
4. Consistency is key (I will talk more about this is goals for 2010)
5. Received first wholesale inquiries (yippeee, I feel so legitimate)
6. Visited Alaska
7. Reviewing and re-evaluating my goals is necessary for me to move my business and life forward
8. Attended my first craft show
9. I am not a good time manager
10. Its really important to delegate

Happy New Year!

Thanks-Giving

2009-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Me and my sis.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to take this opportunity to share 20 things that I am thankful for right now (disclaimer: these are not in any particular order).

1. My Mister
2. Having my parents and sister within 2 hours of where I live
3. The wonderful friends that I have in my life.
4. The fact that I am healthy
5. That I was able to spend my grandmother's 90th birthday with her
6. The support I receive from all my friends and family
7. My fabulous customers!
8. Good food :)
9. My day job, even though it drives me nuts
10. That I found a creative outlet in soap making
11. That I was able to go back to school and not put myself in major debt
12. My knowledge of essential oils and herbs
13. That I have a car (except for parking tickets)
14. That I can read during my commute
15. That I have been able to travel
16. That I grew up in the country
17. Mister is a damn good cook
18. Mentors I have in my life
19. That I am not allergic to cheese
20. My business!!

Friday Finds & Blog Love

2009-11-06T16:16:00.000-08:00

My Friday Find is another gray hair...boooo!! :)

On the flip side, my blog interview for Bazaar Bizarre is out. Check it out here. Happy Friday!

Indie Mart Craft Show

2009-11-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

I will be at the Indie Mart's last outdoor craft show of the season this Sunday at Thee Parkside. Come say hello, get a drink, some tater tots (seriously, I am so excited), listen to some live music, play some ping pong and make your own upcycled drink coozie!!!

Big Birthday Sale at Etta + Billie!

2009-10-29T21:29:00.000-07:00

DeLessio Chocolate Tower Cake

Tomorrow is my Grandma Billie's 90th Birthday!!! We are celebrating the big 9-0 tomorrow evening with good food (including the chocolate cake above) and lots of family.

Citrus Poppy Seed Soap

My grandmother is one of the major influences for my business and I am so excited to be spending this birthday with her. I want to share this celebration with everyone so everything in my Etsy shop is 20% off starting tomorrow October 30 through November 1st. Help Etta + Billie celebrate by heading to www.ettaandbillie.etsy.com and use "grandma90" in the "message to seller" when checking out.

Happy Birthday Grandma Billie!!

Pumpkin Carving Dia De Los Muertos Style

2009-10-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Skull-A-Day

Mister and I received a full size pumpkin as part of our CSA and I decided I want to carve it up a little differently this year. Rather than going with the traditional Halloween pumpkin, I have decided I want to do a Dia De Los Muertos theme.

Thaneeya McArdle New York

For those that dont know, Dia De Los Muertos is a Latin American festival where friends and families gather to celebrate and remember their dead loved ones. I love the imagery of Dia De Los Muertos (sugar skulls, masks, bright colors, flowers) so I want to do some sort of carving using the skulls as inspiration (like the one below). I am not very skilled with the pumpkin carving knife but I will share my results even if it looks horrible.

Skull-A-Day

The Show!

2009-09-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

My booth

So, my first show went fairly well. I did better than I expected, I met a bunch of fantastic SF Etsiers (Sarah Deragon, Annie of Sourdoughs, Rebecca of JimDandys, Kendra of KendraRenee, Erin of Eristotle...) other crafters (like Jess of XOJF and Liz of 1 by liz) and my fantastic friends came to visit me (and make purchases).

My fabulous friend and customer Heidi

Thanks to the ladies of Lightbox SF for making my first show so painless - cant wait for the next one!!!

Trippy photo of me at my booth and Liz in the background

My photos didn't turn out very well - Sorry - still getting a hang of the new camera!

First Craft Show Eva!!!

2009-09-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

My very first craft show is tomorrow night hosted by the wonderful Lightbox. They are doing these "Crafty Hour" show to gain support and funds to open an artists workshop space - how amazing is that??

I am excited and a bit nervous about tomorrow (what if no one talks to me!). I hope some of my Bay Area peeps can come visit me.

I love the evening craft show idea because cocktails + shopping is a lovely combination :).

Just what I've been looking for

2009-09-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

I just saw this fantastic post about DIY Headboards on SF Apartment Therapy (yeah I am a little obsessed with the site right now...so what?). I have been "trying" to figure out what the heck to do in my bedroom for over a year now (by "trying" I mean that I get annoyed every couple months and find stuff I want to do and then never do anything). This post might actually push me into finally taking the plunge, I am truly inspired!! So my favorite ideas are above and below. What do you think I should try??

(DIY Book Headboard - I swear my love for this has nothing to do with the quilt)

(Cathy of California 1966 Wall Hanging)

I scream you scream, we all scream for

2009-09-03T10:27:00.001-07:00

I just had to share this fantastic packaging for ice cream that I found on Packaging of the World - love the colors and typography - very playful. Of course, the ice cream looks pretty dang good too (and its au natural). I will be keeping my eyes peeled for this stuff.

Soap Class

2009-08-24T21:22:00.000-07:00

(sweet shot of me pouring oils)

This weekend I spent my Saturday at The Nova Studio (owned by the wonderful Lori Nova) assisting Ruth Esteves of Sirona Springs (don't her soaps look amazing...I am a bit jelly belly) teach "Advanced CP Soap Designs with a Loaf Mold".

(all photos via student Rick's flickr)

Ruth's class covered multiple design techniques including "in the pot" swirl method, layering, and the very cool "funnel" swirl. She is a fantastic teacher and I know that all the students were really excited about what they learned. Personally, I was overwhelmed with ideas and kept bugging Ruth with questions about different techniques (thanks Ruth!).

The class was a great reminder that soap making is truly an art form, that is one of the things that I love about it!

New obsession...quilts

2009-08-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when I saw today's post on Apartment Therapy about Got Me in Stitches' modern quilts. I have had a little obsession lately with quilts especially after my trip to Alaska (there are a lot of quilts there). I want the one above to hang over my bed. Here are some other great quilts I found.Dainty Time via Apartment Therapy

lovely quilt from Warm 'N Fuzzies

Manic Monday: Alaska at Dusk

2009-08-17T20:51:00.001-07:00

The guilt has finally gotten to me and I am finally posting after a month (or more hiatus). I am officially turning a new leaf today with this photo of the Chilkoot Lake in Haines Alaska at 10pm. Enjoy!

MJ Tribute

2009-06-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterdays needs was very upsetting. Thriller (see the cover photo below) was the first cassette tape I ever owned and I played that baby over and over on my playschool boom box. Here is one of my very favorite Michael Jackson songs....RIP MJ.

New clothes...just what I need.

2009-06-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Love the new line from Mona & Holly - I pretty much want everything...even the shorts and I hate shorts.

SF Etsy Meet Up

2009-06-11T15:46:00.000-07:00

Tuesday I had the opportunity to go to an official Etsy meet up at the Crossroads Cafe (run by the Delancey Street Foundation) in San Francisco. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet some of the big wigs behind the scenes of Etsy. Maria Thomas (Etsy CEO), Sara Hicks (VP of Product), Chad Dickerson (Cheif Tech Officer), Jesse Hertzberg (Director of Biz Development), Carrington Williams (Director of Strategic Finance and CB (engineer I think) answered a TON of questions from various people. Topics ranged from Etsy's marketing to Paypal snafus to missing newsletters. This meeting reinforced one of the reasons that I love Etsy - the personal connections that are created through an online marketplace!!

While there, I met up with fellow B&B seller Valerie from Piper Tate (we met at the HSMG Conference see my post here) and fabulous vintage seller Jen from Maven Vintage (check out her blog here). Val and I chatted away for hours about various business nity gritty. Thanks Val for dealing with a million and one questions!

Say hello to Anise Peppermint

2009-06-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

I just listed my newest soap creation Anise Peppermint. As a child, I despised Black Licorice (YUCKIE!) but I've matured since then and love the scent of Licorice, especially when its mixed with other things. I started thinking about this bar after taking a class at The Nova Studio with the fabulous Lori Nova. She made Anise scented soap and I just loved the scent so much I started thinking up my own fabulous combinations, thus Anise Peppermint was born. This soap is a fresh scented blend of bright clean Peppermint and sweet tangy Anise. The swirl was created thanks to some help from mother nature (charcoal) and gravity!

Doesn't the spot near the top look like a Chambered Nautilus? Check out this link for comparison.

Anise has traditionally been used as a deodorizer (fisherman used to rub the plant on their hands to help rid them of odors) and charcoal packs its own odor neutralizing punch, so this bar is perfect for a kitchen soap or a post work out shower. Check out my listing on Etsy here.