Plans for the NewYear

As the Christmas rush comes to an end and New Year's Eve rapidly approaches I find myself pondering the coming New Year.  It's time to think about things that worked well this year and things that need improvement.  Two things that immediately pop in my head in the improvement category are TIME MANAGEMENT and ORGANIZATION!  These are both skills (according to my husband) that I dearly need to work on.  Time management is partially a problem because of things like an old computer, that I use to print my labels, moves at the speed of a sickly slug.  I will solve this problem with a new desktop publishing program for my new computer.  Organization is only a problem when I get busy, but as my husband would say you are always busy.  So, I guess this area needs a little work.

Summarizing 2009  I did 25 craft shows, 5 of which I would say were great, 9 of which were good, 6 were OK, and 5 which were terrible.  Through the summer I did 2 to 3 farmer's markets a week depending if I had a show on the weekend.   My best market was in Eagles Mere where I consistently did good week to week.  I sold my work on 4 online venues, Etsy bringing the best results, my own website offered consistent sales, and Artfire and 1000 Markets which both lagged way behind. 

This coming year I plan to do less shows mainly because we will be moving sometime in the summer.  This means a lot of organization and planning because we live in a very old house that has been in our family for over 30 years.  Various family members have lived in and owned the house over this time period and they have all left stuff here, so guess who has a massive sorting job on their hands? 

My number one goal for this year is to increase my online sales.  I am even planning on opening a second Etsy shop with a line of specialty soaps that I am not going to reveal just yet.  My other hope is to spend some time on my photography.  I do miss photographing and being in the darkroom.  Maybe I will have an Etsy shop for my photographs.  So much to plan and think about.  I wish everyone a wonderful New Year and good luck with all of your projects and plans!
 

 

Merry Christmas

Favorite Gift

Etsyblogger's blog carnival question is "What was your favorite gift?"  Well, I would have to say my favorite gift was not a Christmas present but a birthday gift from my husband 5 years ago.  He secretly got me a puppy.  A couple of weeks before my birthday we lost our dog of 15 years.  Although Auggie had a long and happy life it is always traumatic loosing your family pet.  I must admit I was in a vulnerable state.  My son and I went in our local pet shop and the pet store lady starts putting puppies in my arms, one of them being the most adorable little red husky with one blue eye and one brown.   That's all it took, I was in love!

I went home and told my husband all about this wonderful little puppy.  Of course he said NO!  Too expensive, too soon after loosing Auggie, huskies are known to be difficult dogs, pet store are not the place to get a dog.   I started reading about huskies and yes they can be challenging dogs.  They are smart and can be very willful.  And I agree that pet stores are not the best place to get a dog.  I know adopting a homeless dog is a great thing to do but pet store dogs need a good home too. But he still kept saying no, my spirits were crushed!

This all took place a couple of days before my birthday.  On my birthday my son and I went back to the pet store to see if the puppy was still there.  He was but the pet store lady said he was SOLD.  Oh what a sad day.  I have had some rotten birthdays in the past but this seemed like the absolute worst.   I moped around the rest of the day. 

Late that afternoon my son calls me to come out to my husband's workshop and to my great surprise there is my puppy.  My husband had secretly went and bought the puppy early that morning.  My son and the pet store lady were in on the secret.  My birthday went from being one of the worst to being one of the best.  I was so happy!  Oh yes my husband was right about huskies being challenging.  Sitka is beautiful and very smart, a little bit willful (ok a lot bit willful) and he definitely has a mind of his own, but we love him very much. 

 

Featured Etsyblogger CalKat

This month's featured Etsyblogger is CalKat, the combined efforts of Kathy and Carrie.  They have not just one etsy shop but 4 shops all featuring different aspect of their creativity.   http://calkat.etsy.com This shop is mostly jewelry. http://Ametista.etsy.com This shop has an interesting array of bottles and boxes.  http://theclayshoppe.etsy.com The ClayShoppe is stocked with lots and lots of molds and other things used with polymer clay.  http://YogaFairies.etsy.com  And last but not least is YogaFaries which has all these great little yoga fairy figures in different yoga poses.  So takes some time and check out all their shops and don't forget to look at their blog too!   http://calkatthejewelryjunkie.blogspot.com

New, New, New!!!

I have added lots of new products to my etsy shop just in time for last minute Christmas shopping,  I have new Sugar Scrubs, Solid Perfumes, and Christmas shaped goat milk soaps. I also have added a Gift Basket that you can customize by choosing which soap and lotion you want.  So don't wait until it's too late, take a look at all these great new products.  http://sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com

Essential Oils 101 Part Three

Today's featured essential is lemongrass.  Lemongrass essential oil has a wonderful citrus aroma, but it is not in the citrus family.  It is instead a tall perennial grass that is native to India.  The plant is used extensively in Asian cooking.  Like some other essential oils lemongrass essential oil has a whole host of beneficial properties, including  being an antiseptic, analgesic, antifungal, antimicrobial and even has antidepressant effects.  The oil is used in the treatment of athlete’s foot, acne, skin rashes, excessive sweating, stress, and muscle pain.

Lemongrass essential oil is also used in natural insect repellents.   It has an astringent quality so it can be helpful to people with oily skin.  But my favorite quality of lemongrass is it's ability to promote the feeling of emotional well being. It has a relaxing effect and can even help with anxiety and depression.  A relaxing massage with lemongrass essential oil is indeed a treat. 

I currently have 4 soaps that have lemongrass essential oil in, Lemongrass and Sage, By the Sea Salt Bar, Lemon Poppyseed, and Oatmeal and Honey.  I will offering all of these soaps at 15% off in all of my shops. 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSallysSoaps  http://www.artfire.com/users/SweetSallysSoaps  
http://www.1000markets.com/users/sweetsallyssoaps

Cyber Monday Special

My Cyber Monday Special is buy any three soaps and get the fourth one FREE.  Take advantage of this great offer at my Etsy shop http://sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com

Holiday Sales

I am participating in two Etsy Team Holiday Sales starting Nov 27th and running until Nov 30th.  My shop will be offering FREE SHIPPING on anything in my shop.    http://sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com  Below are spotlights of both of my teams, first Etsybloggers and second Etsyfriends.



http://www.etsy.com/shop/etsybloggers



http://etsyfriends.blogspot.com/

My Favorite Holiday Film

This month's Blog Carnival asks the question what is your favorite Holiday Movie?  I guess my very favorite holiday film would have to be Miracle on 34th Street, the original 1947 version of course with Natalie Wood. There is something about that movie that gives me that warm squishy holiday feeling inside, that internal optimism that if you believe in something strong enough it will really happen.  If you haven't seen the original version of this movie I suggest you check it out. 

Essential Oils 101 Part Two

Today's post is about another very important and rather popular essential oil, Tea Tree.  Tea tree grows in the wild in Australia and thrives in marshy areas.  It is a tree or shrub with needle-like leaves and yellow or purplish flowers.  Twigs and the spiky leaves are what the oil is distilled form.

Tea tree essential oil has a rather medicinal scent but has some very impressive characteristics including being  an anti-fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial.  The oil is used for the treatment of acne, burns, blisters, cold sores, warts, athlete's foot, sunburn, herpes, and insect bites.

Today you can find tea tree oil in many popular products in your health food store from shampoos and soaps to salves and shower cleaners.  I use tea tree oil in two of my soaps, the first being one of my soaps of the month, Tea Tree & Eucalyptus.  Eucalyptus, also from Australia has it's own powerful characteristic including being an antiseptic and antiviral.  The two essential oils teamed together not only make a wonderful scent combination but also make for a powerhouse of healing properties.

 

Link

My other soap with tea tree essential oil is my newest soap Charcoal &Tea Tree.  Here the powerful characteristic of tea tree are matched with activated charcoal which clarifies and detoxes your skin of impurities.   This is a great soap for acne prone skin. 

 

Link

These two soaps will be 15% OFF in both my Etsy  and Artfire Shops.

http://sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com

http://www.artfire.com/users/SweetSallysSoaps

 

Featured EtsyBlogger Fab Miss B

This month's Featured Etsyblogger is the Fab Miss B. She has two fabulous etsy shops, one featuring unique vintage items for you and your home and the other shop has vintage inspired chenille pipe cleaner ornaments and wonderful cards featuring reproductions of the Fab Miss B's original watercolors.



Take some time and check out both of these charming shops and don't forget to also visit her blog!
http://thefabmissb.etsy.com
http://beckykazana.etsy.com
http://thefabmissb.blogspot.com

Essential Oils 101

Today I am starting a new series on my blog called Essential Oils 101.  I will be posting weekly about the benefits of essential oils in our everyday lives.  I realize many people are not aware of the difference between an essential oil and a fragrance oil, so this is a great place to start.  Essential oils are the real essence extracted from a plant, a wood, or a resin.  Because essential oils come from living plant matter they contain all sorts of wonderful properties such as being anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antiviral and antiseptic.  On the other hand fragrance oils may smell nice but they do not contain any of the healing properties of pure essential oils.  They are synthetic version and often times made up scents that do not exist in nature.

Essential oils are grouped into three categories, top notes which are the most volatile (meaning they evaporate the quickest) have uplifting and invigorating qualities, middle notes are stimulating and regulate the main body system, and base notes which are the least volatile and are used for their calming and sedating actions.    Examples of top notes are citrus, juniper, and mints, examples of middle notes are rose, lemongrass and pine and examples of base notes are patchouli, cinnamon, and vetiver.


According to many aromatherapist if you could only have one essential oil, your choice should be lavender.  I thought this would be the best oil to start our discussion on essential oils.   Lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils and has been used as far back as ancient times for its calming qualities.  Lavender can help with depression, insomnia, stress, headache, burns, acne, sore muscles and nervous tension.

Lavender is also many peoples favorite scent, it is showing up everywhere these days  from dish washing liquid to room sprays and even in Comet for scrubbing your sink.  Lavender blends well with many other essential oils including bergamot, clary sage, patchouli, rosemary and rose.

I scent most of my soaps with pure natural essential oils.  I sometimes use fragrance oils if the essential oil is cost prohibitive to use in soapmaking.  Essential oil prices differ radically from scent to scent, some of the most expensive being rose, neroli, sandalwood, and vanilla.  As part of my essential oil series I will be selling my soaps with that essential oil at 15% off the regular price.  Below you will see some soaps that are mostly lavender and some that are part lavender, but they all contain the wonderful therapeutic qualities of lavender.



Please take advantage of these savings at my etsy shop and enjoy the marvels that nature provides.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSallysSoaps

November's Featured Soaps

This months featured soaps are Oatmeal & Honey and Tea Tree & Eucalyptus. Oatmeal & Honey is wonderful smelling soap and is scented with lemongrass essential oil, made with pure honey that helps your skin maintain moisture, and oatmeal which is soothing to all skin types. Tea Tree & Eucalyptus is made with an abundant amount of Tea Tree essential oil which is used for easing many skin problems including acne, rashes, insect bites, and athlete's foot. Pairing tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils makes for a delightful smelling soap. Green clay is also added which makes your skin feel extra clean.

Check out the savings available at my different sites and don't forget about Sweet Sally's Soap of the Month Club for your upcoming Holiday shopping.

Take advantage of the great savings throughout the month. Sweet Sally's Soaps Soap of the Month Club is available at http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.com/ and http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com/ Specially priced soaps are available at http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com/, and soon will be available at http://www.1000markets.com/shops/sweetsallyssoaps and http://www.artfire.com/users/SweetSallysSoaps

Etsyfriends Team Wide Sale

Etsyfriends Team is having a TEAM WIDE SALE to kick off the Holiday Shopping Season.  Take a look at our team blog for all the shops and what they are offering.  http://efpromotions.blogspot.com/ Sales start today November1st and ends November 7th.



Sweet Sally's Soaps is offering FREE SHIPPING on anything in my shop. http://sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com

Handmade Craft Show

Here's a great idea, an online virtual Handmade Craft Show. This is a fun way to shop online reminiscent of a traditional craft, without the hassles, no worries about rain or wind or 95 degree heat. Aisles and aisles of an amazing array of handmade goods from talented artists and crafters.

If you are an artist or crafts person looking for more exposure for your shop Handmade Craft Show offers you several different options at with very reasonable pricing. You get your own booth, just like a traditional craft show, which includes links to your shop, 5 photos of your work, a description of your work, and most importantly all the benefits of the marketing efforts of the Handmade Craft Show through their syndicated network of popular handmade craft sites and online social networks.

I am looking forward to having a booth at Handmade Craft Show just in time for the upcoming Holiday Season. Hope to see you there. Also check out there blog at Handmade Craft Show Blog.

Just a Touch of Red

Hers is another spotlight of FFEST artist. If you have an interest in our group check out the group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113391211629 or the team blog at http://facebookfansonetsy.blogspot.com/

Pumpkin Soap

I have added a new goat milk soap to my line just in time for Halloween and the beautiful fall season. My Pumpkin soap is made with real pumpkin puree and pumpkin powder and smells divine. It has a warm spicy scent of vanilla, clove and cinnamon.

Pumpkin is excellent for your skin because it is high in Vitamin A (skin healing), C (anti-oxidant) and Zinc, and the pumpkin soothes, and moisturizes.

The Pumpkin soap is available in several different styles. Large and small rounds, Jack-o-lantern shaped, which unfortunately I am already sold out of, and large rounds with a loofah embedded in the soap.





The loofah embedded soap otherwise know as Pumpkin Scrub is a great for exfoliating. Gets rid of all that dead skin and leaves your skin soft and smooth.





Take a look at my new Pumpkin soaps in my etsy shop sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com also in my 1000 Market shop http://www.1000markets.com/users/sweetsallyssoaps

October's Featured Soaps

October's featured soaps are Juniper and Sage and Patchouli Cedarwood. Juniper and Sage has a rustic woodsy scent making this an ideal soap for men or anyone not wanting a flowery smelling soap. Earthy patchouli induces peace of mind while cedarwood promotes spiritual balance. A great woodsy scent for the men.






Check out the savings available at my different sites and don't forget about Sweet Sally's Soap of the Month Club for your upcoming Holiday shopping.

Take advantage of the great savings throughout the month. Sweet Sally's Soaps Soap of the Month Club is available at http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.com/ and http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com/ Specially priced soaps are available at http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com/, and soon will be available at http://www.1000markets.com/shops/sweetsallyssoaps and http://www.artfire.com/users/SweetSallysSoaps

Letchworth State Park

I spent Columbus Day weekend at Letchworth State Park in Northwestern New York. I participated in a large craft show that takes place in the park and draws thousands of people. Sales wise the show was pretty good even though the weather was rather on the chilly side. Saturday the place was packed, I barely had time to sit down all day.


Letchworth State Park is a beautiful setting for a craft show. At one point in the park there is a spectacular waterfalls, which I have never had the time to go see. The area of the park I was in has a deep gorge lined with trees wearing their warm fall colors.

This show always amazes me by the amount of people that come to such a remote area. The first time I did the show I was totally overwhelmed when people started arriving 2 hours before the advertised show hours. Mind you I am not complaining, I just was not prepared. So this year I promised myself I would be ready, but things don't always go as planned. We made a slight wrong turn on the way to the show which put us a little behind schedule. Of course there were people already there but I managed to get the booth set up and open for business in a relatively short time. All in all the show went well and I plan to return next year.

FREE SHIPPING

Sweet Sally's Soaps is offering FREE SHIPPING on any item in my Etsy Shop, through Columbus Day Weekend!



http://sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com

MadebyMelissa

This month's featured Etsyblogger is MadebyMelissa. She creates all kinds of fun beaded jewelry and crocheted items. She even has some special Fall and Halloween themed things.



Please take a look at her Etsy shop and her blog.
http://madebymelissa.etsy.com
http://madebymelissa.blogspot.com

FFEST Got the Blues

I recently joined a new Etsy Team called FFEST. The common link amongst us is we all have Facebook Fan Pages and have Etsy shops. Today I made a spotlight of some of the talented artist in the FFEST group. If you have an interest in our group check out the group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113391211629 or the team blog at http://facebookfansonetsy.blogspot.com/

Show Your Face

One of the themes for this months Etsy Bloggers blog Carnival is Show Your Face. Let's see the person behind the work. Well here is a picture of me making soap in my somewhat messy workspace. I must admit I am not the most organized person on earth. I have struggled with the issue of organization over the years and I am coming to the the conclusion that I waste too much time trying to be organized. I think I am far more productive when I just relax and stop worrying that my environment doesn't look picture perfect. If my workspace functions well and I produce a great product that is what is important. So my lesson for today is relax, be productive and stop trying to be something your not. Clutter lives on!

DesignsbyVanessa

September's Featured Etsy Blogger is DesignsbyVanessa. She has a really cute Etsy shop with many of her items having a birdie motif. She works with paper and makes lovely jewelery too.


Please take a look at her shop and her blog!
http://designsbyvanessa.etsy.com
http://designsbyvanessa.blogspot.com/

September's Featured Soaps

This months featured soaps are Lavender Swirl and Carrot. Lavender is of course an all time favorite of many people. My Lavender Swirl has a beautiful purple swirl with added wheat germ oil to nourish the skin.


My Carrot soap is made with natural carrot juice packed with vitamin A, oatmeal which is soothing for the skin and a mix of Lavender, Carrot Seed, and Frankincense essential oils. It has a wonderful clean smell and makes a great facial soap.

Check out the savings available at my different sites and don't forget about Sweet Sally's Soap of the Month Club for your upcoming Holiday shopping.

Take advantage of the great savings throughout the month. Sweet Sally's Soaps Soap of the Month Club is available at http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.com/ and http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com/ Specially priced soaps are available at http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com/, and soon will be available at http://www.1000markets.com/shops/sweetsallyssoaps and http://www.artfire.com/users/SweetSallysSoaps

Featured Etsy Blogger Memoriesforlifesb

This month's Featured Etsy Blogger is Memoriesforlifesb. She enjoys crafting with paper. In her shop you can find scrapbooks, albums, and greeting cards.



Please take a look at her Etsy shop! http://memoriesforlifesb.etsy.com

Tai Kwon Do Summer Camp

Every summer my son and I go to Tai Kwon Do Summer Camp. My son has been studying Martial Arts since he was 6 years old. He is currently preparing to test for his 4th Degree Black Belt. Unfortunately we missed Friday night camping because of rain and Sunday morning workout was cancelled due to rain.

Saturday night we always have a big water gun battle for the kids but usually adults join in the fun too.

All in all camp is a lot of fun and very exhausting.

Etsy Bloggers Mega Giveaway

Etsy Bloggers - Mega Giveaway

Celebrate with Etsy Bloggers on their 2nd Anniversary by taking part in a MEGA Giveaway.
The EtsyBloggers MEGA GIVEAWAY starts Sunday August 9th, 2009 and ends Friday Aug 14th, 2009 @ 11:59pm EST. All winners will be announced on: Saturday August 15th, 2009. Go to http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com/ to enter. Over 2 dozen handmade items will be given away. Their are 10 ways to enter and the total giveaway value is almost $300!!

Sweet Sally's Soaps is giving away a Handmade Soap Gift Set which includes 2 soaps of your choice and a wooden soap dish and a natural fiber washcloth. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27105277

So hurry over to http://etsybloggers.blogspot.com/ and enter before Friday August 14th 11:59pm EST. Good luck!!!!!!

Soap of the Month

Sweet Sally's Soaps Soap of the Month Club is a great way try different soaps each month of the year. As a member you not only get two different soaps each month you also receive added goodies along the way. The first month you will get two soaps bundled together with a wooden soap dish and a natural fiber washcloth and month 7 you will receive a mini gift basket.

As a new feature to compliment Sweet Sally's Soaps Soap of the Month Club I will be highlighting the 2 soaps you would receive as a member. The 2 soaps will be available together, at my various shops, at a special discount pricing.

August's soaps are Rosemary Mint, a great refreshing morning shower soap and Lime and Basil, a zesty mix of essential oils that are uplifting and good for stress reduction.


Take advantage of the great savings throughout the month. Sweet Sally's Soaps Soap of the Month Club is available at http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.com/ and http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com/ Specially priced soaps are available at http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com/, and soon will be available at http://www.1000markets.com/shops/sweetsallyssoaps and http://www.artfire.com/users/SweetSallysSoaps

Miesmama's

This months featured Etsy Blogger is Miesmama's. She creates all sorts of fun items with fabric, yarn and buttons, including headbands, pins , key rings and felted bags. Please check out her Etsy shop at http://miesmama.etsy.com.

Christmas in July

Starting July 20th Sweet Sally's Soaps will be celebrating Christmas in July. I will be offering FREE SHIPPING on any item in my shop until the end of the month. I will be adding several new soaps to my line including Rose Geranium Goat Milk Soap and Olive Oil Soap made with only pure olive oil.

Later in the week I plan to add some brand new products to my line including salts scrubs and body sprays. Check back soon to see the new products and FREE SHIPPING!

Five Favorite Things of Summer

Another part of being a member of the Etsy Bloggers Street Team is to take part in a Blog Carnival once a month. To tell you the truth I am not sure why it's called a carnival, but it is. The topic I chose to write about is my five favorite things of summer. That seemed like the most fun topic and I have always really liked summer. When I was a kid my least favorite part of summer was when the swimming pool closed for the season. It was so sad!

1. My most favorite thing of summer has to be really good tomatoes. After a long winter of tomatoes that taste like paper a sweet yummy tomato is a welcome treat.

2. My next favorite thing would be walking my dog and not freezing to death. My dog needs to be walked twice a day no matter what the weather is so walking on a warm summer evening is quite nice.

3. Long days and not being dark when I have to get up early in the morning.

4. Enjoying some relaxing times with my family.

5. I do love to go to the beach but mostly when the crowds of people are gone for the season and the ocean is warm. That reminds me of one of my newest soaps, By the Sea Salt Bar it smells just like being by the sea. http://www.sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com

Etsy Bloggers Street Team

I have recently joined an Etsy team called the Etsy Bloggers Street Team. As the name implies it is all about blogging. I thought it would get me some motivation to blogg more often. One of the requirements of the team is to blog about a featured member each month.

This month's featured member is LazyTcrochet, she makes lovely crocheted shawls, hats and scarves. Please go check out her Etsy shop and see all of her beautiful creations.

http://LazyTCrochet.etsy.com

Free Shipping For Mother's Day

I am offering FREE shipping on everything in my Etsy shop until May 7th for Mother's Day Gifts.

http://sweetsallyssoaps.etsy.com

Herb Festival and Dream Garden

The weekend before last I attended the Pennsylvania Herb Festival. Sales for me were better than last year, so I can't complain about that. While at the Herb Festival, amidst all these wonderful herbs and plants I conjured up in my mind my DREAM garden. I would love to have bed after bed of beautiful blooming flowers in every color of the rainbow. Flowers would be blooming all through the season ready for picking and making into sumptuous bouquets. Of course I would also have an amazing vegetable garden with all my favorite veggies including tomatoes, eggplant, arugula, and shell peas. Abundant herbs would be tucked in amongst the flowers and vegetables, both medicinal and cooking.



But alas reality strikes. My dog would probably dig up most of the flowers, our resident neighborhood squirrels always have a hay day with the vegetables, and oh yes that little factor of time that we all seem to run out of. Oh well for this year I guess I will stick to my little herb garden and my meager veggie patch. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24037740

Celebrate Etsy Day

Brighter Days Ahead

Well I have been to two more shows since last we spoke and they were definitely a little brighter than the last. Two weeks ago I attended a Women's Conference sponsored by Bloomsburg University and it was quite a nice little event. Women at these sort of events always seem anxious to spend a little money on a quality local product. Last weekend I did a craft show in Harrisburg, PA at the Central Dauphin High School. The event had a good number of exhibitors, the attendance was strong, and sales were not bad for an early spring show.

Next weekend I will be at the PA Herb Festival in York, PA at the fairgrounds. I did this show last year and I am looking forward to this years event. I enjoy attending this show because I love learning more about herbs and all of their uses. And of course I will probably have to buy some herb plants for my garden. I have even made a new soap, Lavender and Bay Laurel, to celebrate the herb of the year bay laurel.

Below are some new items I have added to my Etsy shop.

Slow Start to the Year!

Well, my first craft show of the year did not start off with a bang. Spring craft shows are traditionally a little on the slow side, but this was well beyond a little slow. I spent the last two weekends at the Maryland Spring Crafts Show, a show that I did last year and did fairly well. This year was definitely a different story. My sales were pro bally about half of what I sold last year. The economy, the weather is too nice, the weather is too bad, other events happening same weekend.................if there is one thing I have learned doing arts and crafts shows is that
exhibitors always have a million reasons why things aren't going well. I think this show was a reflection of our poor economy. All I can do is hope the rest of the year will be a little brighter.

As always at craft shows you get to meet a lot of people. Slow shows you usually have a chance to get better acquainted with other exhibitors. I had 2 very nice neighbors, to my left was Sassy Sweets http://stores.sassysweets.net/StoreFront.bok a gentleman from Virginia who sold handmade chocolate goodies. My son and I bolstered his weekend sales by buying and eating way too many chocolate covered pretzels. Very yummy!

On my other side was Mitzi Hall of Mosaic Mitzi, from the Pittsburgh PA area. As you can see from the pictures she does a vast array of mosaics ranging from very cute small items to stunning large pieces. Mitzi is fairly new to the craft show world, this being only her 4th show, but she is not new to mosaics. She has been making mosaics for over 10 years. she also does stained glass work which has been doing for 25 years. Mitzi told me she started making mosaics because she had so much left over glass pieces from her stained glass work, making mosaics seemed the perfect answer.

Saturday evening Mitzi told me she was a little disappointed in the show, but by the end of the day Sunday seemed to have done fairly well. At least she sold more than most people. If you would like to see more of Mitzi's work take a look at her shop http://www.mosaicmitzi.etsy.com/