Pick One of Two... EtsyBloggers Carnival Fun

Happy New Year everyone! The Carnival Blog topics at EtsyBloggers Street Team for January are thought provoking. One choice is to write about the CPSIA Law of 2008. You can read up on it at Joey & Aleethea's blogpost. What I know is that it's hauntingly reminiscent of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008 which threatened the handcrafted bath & body business with all of its weighty regulation & hefty registration fees. Since I participated in local government for 4 years as a Selectboard member here in Randolph(please don't call me a Selectman!) LOL, I have seen with my own eyes how ordinances, laws & regulations can enhance & impede community life. I'm 100% support the guidelines in place to help our products be safe & well made. I am grateful to the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild for the wealth of information that they provide to all of us independent businesses. I don't favor regulating small business out of business. I believe they are the honest backbone of a healthy economy. Whew! That was serious!

The other choice was to list some New Years resolutions. I can't be that serious about them because I hardly ever keep them for the whole year! Here are my not so serious promises to myself:

1. I will not freak out over cleaning my house anymore! It's one thing to be neat & tidy *(I am) it's something totally different to be a cranky whirling dervish upending the house in the name of vacuuming up some dust bunnies.

2. I will stop calling Atkins Shakes my breakfast. We have 10 hens. We get at least 56 eggs a week. No more shakes.

3. (And I am serious about this one) I will adopt a "drop everything and play" policy.
Since Austen entered 7th grade, I realize how fast these precious days evaporate. I don't care if the laundry needs switching or the email needs answering. I'll never be sad for putting those things off and spending time with our 4 sweet kids and my wonderful, adorable husband.

Three seems like a fair number. Of course I could go on & on about business goals, but those are written down and in place. Hopefully, this will be another Year of the Birch! :)

Oh, 1 more resolution... when someone says pick one of two, I will follow directions! LOL!

Swirly Girl

Back in April, I was lucky enough to attend a seminar taught by Lori Nova. She is one of the soaper rock stars that I'd learned about when I was doing my bubble research. Lori is out in California and she owns The Nova Studio, where she teaches the craft of soapmaking and other bath & body techniques. She is knowledgeable, nice & super sweet!

Her seminar was fantastic. She took all of us in the room (about 75 for the 2nd seminar) through the step-by-step process of creating CP soap. From oil temps to colorants & fragrance options all the way to the actual swirl, she was thorough and clear. She also answered a lot of questions. It was a great class! BTW, isn't her apron darling?

Armed with the packet that Lori handed out and a picture in my mind's eye, I decided to give it a go. I chose to go very basic with a Lavender bar. Have you all tried BB's Lavender de Provence? It's soo yummy. I've never been a Lavender lover, but this is just perfect. Anyway, here's a look at my first batch. Although I would use a darker color next time, I'm so psyched about the actual swirl. I wish I'd taken a picture of my novice batch from last winter. ick.

My Love You Lavender Swirl will be available on Etsy by June 20th. ;)

So Wonderful, I Cried!

I have to admit that I was a little depleted after the great Soap Guild Conference! Not only was there a TON of great information, but I was kind of out of my zone! Usually, I hang out with other mommies who are also sleep deprived and can't finish a sentence. Or else, I'm bubbling in the lab listening to Sirius and lost in my own thoughts. At the conference I was surrounded by sharp, talented people. I'm not saying that I'm not sharp and talented, just that I don't often get to exercise that part of my brain. It was a well-worth-it-wouldn't-trade-it effort to keep up.

One of the last seminars I attended was done by Alicia Grosso. Alicia wrote a book that I refer to often called "The Everything Soapmaking Book". It's a great reference and I love it. She also teaches at Otion. Her topic was "Hot Process Sculpting". I expected more technical information. What I got instead was a fabulous reminder of why I love making soap.

Alicia spoke about taking the time for ourselves and our customers to really meditate on good things while we create our products. She explained how important it is to nurture the love that soapmaking comes from. She shared that her brother is gravely ill and told the story of how she developed a fragrance blend with him a short time ago. She then went on to share with us the intimate moments of crafting soap with that blend and how she put all of her love and positive energy into making it a wonderful batch of soap. She distributed it amongst her family members and now they all have a piece of the love and good thoughts that came from the whole process. wow.

That night I came home and there was a little box from Scotland waiting for me! The second I opened it, I was enveloped by the most wonderful fragrance. I realized that it was from Elizabeth of gracefruit fame. She sent me 3 bars of the yummiest soap and 2 super-softening lip balms. Everything was made, wrapped and shipped with so much love it was palpable. I cried.
Who knew that soap could be so emotional? I did.

Thank you Elizabeth for your generosity and love. I felt it from the Highlands of Scotland all the way here in the Green Mountains. I can't stop pausing to close my eyes and inhale deeply the wonderful fragrance of love and kindness. Big hugs!

Even Sweeter in Person

I am so psyched about the HSMG Conference! It's bursting with information and tons of great people. I've met so many talented soapers and I've already had about 16 "AH-HA!" moments!

I had the chance to say hi to Anne-Marie Faiola from Brambleberry for a brief moment! It was so great to meet her and see her in person! She is an amazing and dynamic speaker! She's funny and natural. Plus, she shared fantastic information! The greatest part is that it's info that actually applies to my business and ideas that I walked away with to help Twin Birch grow! I'm such a happy girl!

Sadly, my phone's camera is LAME!, so the picture I snapped while she was speaking is pathetic!
And, I have to admit that I was slightly (ok a lot!) star struck when I talked to her! I mean, there she was! Live! In person! Anne-Marie the Soap Queen! *gasp*! All I can say is that she is even sweeter in person and I'm so happy to have met her!

Off to the showers and another day of super-fun learning!!

Off to the HSMG Conference

I can't believe the HSMG Conference starts tomorrow. It seems like time has flown since I registered. I'm excited about the great schedule! I promise to report back to you all as soon as I can!

In other news, there has been a run on Out of the World Alien Bath Bizzies on Etsy. I've sold 9 "orders" since Thursday. Eight of those (24 bizzies) are a custom order to be used as birthday party favors for a little girl named Ella who will be 1. Our Ella was very excited to know that she is now a Big Ella!