Cherrywood Art Fair

I'll be at the annual Cherrywood Art Fair this weekend (December 13 & 14). This is a great event and a wonderful opportunity to pickup some unique and reasonably priced Christmas gifts.

Maplewood Elementary
38 1/2 Street & Maplewood Avenue

For more information, check out the site

www.cherrywoodartfair.org

Hope to see you there!

Site accepting orders

After some frustrating issues with the ssl certificate, our website is working again! Sorry for any frustration this may have caused. Please let me know if there are any other problems with the website.

Happy shopping!!!

Skyrocketing Costs

Wow! I just placed my big order for oils and butters to make soap for the holidays and the prices have gone through the roof. Olive Oil has DOUBLED since last year. Since olive oil is at least 35% of my soap, that represents quite a cost increase. Essential oils, particularly lavender and patchouli, have also shown huge increases.

I am struggling with the decision about whether or not to raise the price of my soap, because I want it to be affordable. But I want to be able to afford to keep making it. My cost have increased about 75% over the last 5 years, and I've raised my soap price from the original $4 to $5 - which is a 25% increase. Not quite keeping pace with my costs, but I don't know if I'm comfortable going much higher.

There are many folks who wouldn't consider paying $5 a bar (my current price) for soap, but there are quite a few who will pay a little extra for something hand made with care using good ingredients. I'm blessed that some have found Violet Crown Soap and I can count them as my customers.

I'm considering a 50 cent per bar increase. One thing that I will have to do is reduce the amount of discount I give for the 3-bar price at shows.

If you have any thoughts, let me know.

Learn to Make Soap

I am a proud member for the Texas Soapmakers Association. One of the things this group does is have a convention each year. The convention is in Austin this year, July 18-20. Registration is open to the public.

This year, we are doing something new -an introductory soapmaker's class will be offered. You don't have to register for the convention to attend this class.

For more information, check this link:
http://www.txsoapmakers.org//meetings/upcoming.php

Why am I doing this?

In my work-a-day life, I am an accountant. In my real life, I am a wife, mother, sister and friend who makes soap. As I approach retirement from my work-a-day life (less than 9 months!) I thought it might be fun to chronicle my adventures.

My soap-making time is limited, and often happens in marathon sessions when I have a show coming up. Generally, though, making soap is very fulfilling. It requires planning and patience - a lot like cooking. It is very special to me that I can make something that people use and like.

So why a blog? I have many new projects planned - liquid soap for one. Also beer soap and salt bars. I thought my customers might be interested in the process. See you around.