New Schedule is Up + More News

Couple of things today:

The new August schedule is up. Check the sidebar for dates. Also, I've added more events to the Etsy Fort Worth blog. You can check the schedule here.

Also, I had to make some changes to the newsletter, and the first one was sent this evening. I decided it would be better to go out before the 1st. That's because there is a special promotion announced in the newsletter that begins on the first.

If you'd like to subscribe to the newsletter, either complete the info on the Contact Us page here or send us an email to sjcandleshoppe@gmail.com.

*SJ*

Newsletter Is Ready!

I am so thrilled to report that the first issue of "Shoppe Talk," our monthly newsletter, is ready! I have scheduled it to go out Monday morning. If you haven't signed up to receive the newsletter, send me an email to sjcandleshoppe@gmail.com so I can add you. I'll do my final edit on the list Sunday night, so be sure to send the email right away. You don't want to miss out on the special promotion that is announced in the newsletter!

Also, you can follow our promos, news, etc throughout the month on Twitter @TXshoppegirl.

*SJ*

August Show Schedule

As it stands right now, I will still be at Grapevine Market every Thursday and Saturday through August. I emailed the director of Keller's new Farmers' Market, and all the spaces are filled right now. Also, I don't want to jump the gun, but it looks as though I may be getting a job soon. If that is the case (and my husband *really* hopes it is) then I will update the schedule accordingly. Either way, my Etsy shop is still open, and the website is as active as ever!

*SJ*

KW Cares Event @ Keller Williams

Today was the KW Cares event at Keller Williams in Fort Worth. I think the event was a success. We got to meet many new people, including a fellow Etsy Fort Worth team member, DiAnne Arnette. DiAnne has some beautiful, elaborate jewelry in her shops Wantzit and Wantzit2. Amanda from Indigo Orchid was also there, along with a few other clothing and purse vendors.

Overall, it was a good day to "talk shop," meet new people, and stay out of the heat! I'll be sure to post some pictures as soon as I get them downloaded from my Blackberry.

*SJ*

Wow! Busy Day!

It was really nice to get a ton of stuff done today. I got three batches of soapsicles done and picked up some new bags and got them ready for the show tomorrow. I also met up with Crystal from Annie's Powder Room. I'm taking some of her whimsical soaps to the KW Cares event tomorrow.

The KW Cares event is at Keller Williams in Fort Worth. KW Cares is their program for helping agents in crisis. Ten percent of the proceeds from sales at the event will go to their program. If it's a success, they may make it an annual event.

Here are the bags I was working on tonight. I'm quite proud of the way they turned out!

*SJ*

Lazy Saturday

I've had a great couple of days meeting with friends, hanging out with my husband, and getting some things done around the house. I may be having too much fun hanging out with friends, because I didn't even make it out to Grapevine today!

Thursday night, of course, was the Etsy Fort Worth meeting. After the meeting, my mind was spinning, and I started writing down a bunch of ideas that I had. Some ideas are for our shoppe, and some are for the group. I ended up working so long that I didn't go to sleep until five in the morning! Of course, I think the giant caramel latte that I drank had something to do with that.

Then, Friday night I spent some time at my friend Cass' house. We hadn't seen each other for a few months, so I ended up staying there until 3 am! Still, I swore I was going to get up at 5 and go out to Grapevine Market, just as I've been doing every Saturday.

At 7:45, Jay was finally able to wake me. Obviously, I was just too drained to wake up. I even slept through two alarms! Regardless, I was glad I got to spend the day with him. He was off today, so after we made lunch, we went to the mall and a movie.

The mall was fun. We're not usually mall people, but we were walking around and found an embroidery shop. We stopped to talk to them about getting new shirts done, and they are going to give us some really great prices. We also stopped at the cookie place to get something to drink. The girl behind the counter asked what soy candles were, because Jay was wearing his shirt with our logo on it. We explained to her what we do and why it is different. Then I gave her my card, because she said her mom is a candle "freak."

So even on a day we weren't really "working," we made two contacts. That, plus getting to spend time with my husband were enough to make it a great lazy Saturday.

*SJ*

Etsy Fort Worth Meeting

The Fort Worth Etsy team had a great meeting tonight at Gallery Art Cafe. Seven of us met, drank coffee and talked shop. The members who met tonight are:

FlowerBedHead
IndigoOrchid
AnniePoo
Shastinalynn + her guest, Sarah
BlueSkySunburn
SJCandleShoppe

Danica (FlowerBedHead) posted some good pics on our team blog. She's going to forward a few on to me. For once I remembered to bring my camera, but forgot my SD card! I'll be sure to post the pics when Danica sends them. Meanwhile, keep checking the team blog for more great info about the team.

*SJ*

New Show Schedule Coming Soon

July is drawing to a close, and I will be publishing our August show schedule soon. I had previously said that I would be at Grapevine Market each Thursday and Saturday through mid-October. I still intend to participate in that market, but hopefully only on Thursdays. I am waiting to hear back from the market director for Keller Farmers Market to see if I am accepted. If so, I will be attending there on Saturdays from 8am til noon.


I have a meeting with the Etsy Fort Worth team tomorrow evening. I am looking forward to meeting many of our fellow etsians and "putting our heads together" on how we can get the word out about our group. We are having a contest for those who follow our team blog. Many of the artists are contributing to a gift basket that one lucky follower will win. You can see the details on this thread, and you can follow our team blog here. I'll have more info, pictures and follow up after our meeting tomorrow.

*SJ*

Finally Got My Day of Rest

Since Jay was off today, I decided I was going to be "off" too. I let him sleep, and curled up with a book. I spent most of the day reading, then we caught up on some Tivo recordings. Unfortunately, I didn't get a lot accomplished, but at least I feel rested. I have a lot to do tomorrow, because I will be very busy Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

*SJ*

In Need of a Day of Rest

I had every intention of going to church today, then coming home and doing nothing. I got up, got ready to go, then proceeded to freak out when I couldn't find my keys. I finally found them, just in time to be late! : (

Instead, I turned to the oft-neglected laundry basket. I got four loads done before I had to call it quits. I decided I had earned some fun time, so I set about catching up on some of the blogs I follow. I'm hoping that some day soon I will have a beautifully designed blog with lots and lots of followers.

I also got caught up on some Etsy news, plus our Fort Worth street team tidbits. We are having a contest for followers of our blog (the team blog, that is). The details are in the Etsy forum, here. Please check out the blog and my fellow Fort Worth artists. There is some real talent in this group!

*SJ*

Another Scorcher

I am really enjoying spending time out at Grapevine Market. I have met many great people, both vendors and shoppers. Many of our shoppers are from out of town, so it feels good to be sharing what we love with such a diverse audience.

Today was another hot one. The day started out nice, with a cool breeze, and only about 76 degrees or so. All that was forgotten, though, when the temperatures climbed to 100+ around noon. It certainly wasn't the hottest day we've had, but that's easy to forget when you're "in the heat of it."

Even still, I had a great time. I talked to a lot of people, sold some things, and will do it all over again on Thursday. Hope to see you there!

Help Us Make Room!

Although we are in the heat of summer, I am already looking ahead to Christmas! I have several shows already lined up, and am looking to book many more. The only bad thing is I am running out of room!

I have several shelves of discontinued items that I am ready to clear out. I've added a clearance page to the website, with some nice discounts. The recipes are our same high-quality soy candle recipes. In most cases, only the packaging has changed. In some cases, the scents are discontinued. Either way, we don't have room for them on our shelves anymore!

Check out the clearance page of the website, and help us make room for more great things to come!

*SJ*

Another Successful Show

I was at Grapevine Market today from 9-2. It was a good day to be outside; although it was hot, there was a nice breeze most of the day.

I was also invited to participate in a new market today. Keller started a farmers' market a couple of weeks ago, and the market director was in Grapevine today. I'm going to check out the website, and may try to participate. Of course I will keep this blog and the website updated with any changes.

*SJ*

Hostess Program is Here

Exciting news! After many inquiries from our loyal customers, we are introducing a hostess program! We wanted to keep it very simple, not so complicated you didn't know what you were getting. The program works like this:

When you host an event, you'll get 10% of order totals toward free product. Plus, you'll get one item at 50% off. You can choose to host your party in your own home or online. If you choose to host in your home (or venue of your choice), I will bring all of my items, and you and your guests can sniff to your hearts' content. I will have additional inventory on hand, and you and your guests should be able to take most of your items at that time (excluding any custom orders, of course).

If you choose to host an online party, I will set up a special page on the website where you will direct your shoppers. Each of your guests will have the items shipped directly to their home, and you will still get credit for the orders.

If you have any questions about the Hostess Program, or to host your own event, email me at sjcandleshoppe@gmail.com

*SJ*

We're Featured in an Etsy Treasury!

I recently made a decision to become more involved in our Etsy team, Team Fort Worth. Yesterday, one of our members created a Treasury that is featured on the site. Our soapsicle is featured in her treasury. So why is that a big deal, and what the heck is a treasury anyway? According to Etsy:

What is the Treasury?

The Treasury is a member-curated gallery of short-lived lists of 12 hand-picked items each. Members can feature their favorite items, items selected on a theme or just whoever they like. The Treasury is not intended for self-promotion, but instead to acknowledge and share the many cool things for sale on Etsy. Admin often choose an exceptional Treasury list to promote to the the homepage hand-picked items.

Hand-picked. Pretty cool, huh? To check out the treasury, click here. You can search all of our team's items on Etsy by entering "Team Fort Worth" in the search bar.

*SJ*

Newsletter Coming Soon

I spent most of the day today researching different sites to handle our email newsletter. It looks like our first newsletter will go out at the beginning of August. Jay and I are celebrating our three year anniversary in August, so we'll have an anniversary special just for newsletter subscribers. We'll begin showcasing gift baskets and gift giving ideas in our September issue.

Make sure you're "in the know" by signing up to receive our newsletter before August 1. Just go to the Contact Us page on the website to be added to our customer list. If you're in the area, you can also sign up at any of our local shows. You'll get 1-2 newsletters per month, plus an additional email for a special gift during your birthday month. (no SPAM - I promise!!)

*SJ*

Shopping Cart is Available!

It took a little longer than I expected, but the shopping cart is up and fully functional on the site! I also added a page with a link back to the blog, so if you're searching the site, it's just one click to get back here.

I went to Grapevine Market today, and it turned into a really good day. The weather was comfortable until just after noon, when it started to reach 100. Thankfully, the Market is only open until 2 every Thursday and Saturday, so it wasn't long before we were packing up to leave. I was even told I had "the best smelling booth" there!

I still plan to list some sample packs, both on Etsy and on the regular site, so be sure to check back for those items. I will have monthly specials beginning in August, and all orders ship out within 2 business days in most cases. Shipping is via USPS Priority Mail, which usually arrives in 2-3 business days.

I spoke with a woman at the Market today who wanted to place a large Soapsicle order for her daughter's birthday. I think they would also make a great stocking stuffer, and it's not too early to start thinking about Christmas! If I can help you with your party or wedding favors, or fundraising needs, please email me at sjcandleshoppe@gmail.com .

New Website Capabilities

I have made some upgrades to the site, including adding the shopping cart. It isn't available yet, because I've only been able to add two items. It's *much* more time consuming than I would have thought! I'll also be adding a fragrance page that will give descriptions of each of the scents we carry. You won't have to guess just by the name anymore!

I've been trying to get together with my sister, Stephanie, and tonight is the only night we are both available. Tomorrow is Grapevine Market, after which I will continue working on the site. I hope to have the entire cart operational by the end of the weekend, so check back Monday to see the changes take effect.

As always, you can email me with any questions you have at sjcandleshoppe@gmail.com or use the Contact Us form on the website.

*SJ*

Sugar Scrub Is a "Go"

Wow, wow, WOW! I am so thrilled with the results of my sugar scrub, and I can't wait to have it added to our line. Here's the history of the scrub, and why I'm so excited.

I had been asked about adding bath and body goods to our line for the last several months. I kept reassuring our customers that I was working on recipes, and that we would have some new additions soon. I was thrilled when Jay and I were both able to attend a bath & body class at one of our favorite suppliers a couple of months ago. (Although Jay assured me I would be the point person for the B&B..."I'm not telling people I make soap and bubble bath.")

So the big day arrived, and we got to the showroom early (!!!). The instructor arrived late, and spent the majority of the class plugging her newly-published book. She then proceeded to tell a story about a lotion she made that failed miserably. She ended the story by saying, "This is the lotion we're going to make today."

Umm...huh? Jay and I glanced across our work stations at each other, and I shrugged. We gathered our ingredients, mixed everything together, and stick-blended our little hearts out. We blended for a really long time, without the lotion achieving the "whipped" texture it was supposed to. Then the instructor mentioned we may not get that texture right away. She suggested we take it home and let it rest, assuring us it would be a beautiful rich lotion in the morning.

We went on to try our hand at the sugar scrub, which we partially finished before our class time was up. Jay and I took our half-finished batches of scrub home and played with the recipe a little (we didn't have one of the oils on hand, so we had to substitute).

The next morning, we went to check on our lotion, very excited about what we had concocted. Of course, by now you've probably already guessed that the lotion was a big flop. We tried everything short of standing on our heads to try to get this lotion to set like it was supposed to...nothing.

After that debacle, aside from being furious, I put it to rest. I shoved the lotions and the scrubs in the back of our supplies, and went on my merry way. I researched online, tried a few things, but couldn't come up with something that I loved.

Then, last night, I found the courage to try the scrubs. I came across them several days ago and wasn't sure what to do with them. I've been having problems with ingrown hairs after I shave my legs, so I thought I would try using the scrub to see if the exfoliation would help. Lo and behold...it worked beautifully! Even tonight, I don't have any stubble, and my legs still feel remarkably smooth.

I am so thrilled that the scrubs turned out. It makes me a little bummed that I didn't try them sooner, but now that I know I have a good recipe, I plan to make more...and soon!

I'm going to be listing sample packs of our goodies on Etsy, hopefully beginning tomorrow. I will group a sample of the scrub with some bath salts, a small bar of soap, a small bath bomb, and possibly a tart melt or two. Check out the shop here, and look for the scrub and other bath goodies on the full site soon www.sjcandleshoppe.com

*SJ*

Slight Change of Plans

There have been some interesting developments on the trade show front recently. First, one of our shows is on hiatus for the summer. During July and August, Trade Days USA at Texas Motor Speedway will not take place. The show will resume September 26-27. I'm not sure at this point whether we will be participating. There are three other shows scheduled for the same day, and I need to determine which is going to be the best for us.

Also, I have decided, for the time being, not to participate in Trade Days of Waxahachie. I wanted to give it a fair shot, but it is a very new show, and its quite a drive. For the traffic that we saw the last time we were there, it's hard to justify a permanent booth there at this time.

The good news is, through October 17, Grapevine Market will take place every Thursday and Saturday. The Market has actually been going on since mid-April, but we haven't taken advantage of it. I have talked to a number of vendors at the Market, and they all have had success there. The advantage to this is that I know I have a show lined up every week for the next three months!

After mid-October, the holiday show season will be in full swing. I will, of course, continue updating the blog and the website as I book shows. Do you know a can't miss show in your area? What are your favorite things to shop for at an open-air market? Please share!

*SJ*

Some Website Photos

Candle Trio~ 16 oz jar, 10 oz jar, 8 oz tin

Tart Melts with Warmer


Soapsicle Set~ 1 Soapsicle with cloth in your choice of color

Group Photo~ Reed Diffuser, Candle Trio, Tart Melt, Soapsicle Set

Hope you enjoyed this quick look at how the website is progressing. It is up and running, so don't forget to visit: www.sjcandleshoppe.com

*SJ*

New Scents Now Available

I have had many people request custom scents over the last several months. Now that we have the scents in stock, I am adding the scents to our available fragrances. For now they will be limited edition, but if there is enough demand, I may add them to the regular line. The limited edition scents are:

Lilac
Gardenia
Citronella
Creme Brulee

You can find the full Spring 2009 Fragrance List on the home page of our website www.sjcandleshoppe.com

*SJ*

Happy 4th of July!!

Hope you all had a fantastic day celebrating our nation's Independence. We took it easy today and stayed around the house.

I took some time today to get our Etsy shop up and running again. I am now part of the Etsy Fort Worth team. The Team has meetings and shows together periodically, so that's something else to look forward to soon. I've already listed a few items in the shop. If you see something you like, you can purchase it directly through Etsy. That way, you won't have to wait until I get the shopping cart up on the full site. We accept PayPal or personal check through Etsy.

I'm going to start ingredient profiles here on the blog. Basically, I will take one ingredient - let's say shea butter - and then discuss all the benefits of shea butter. We can talk about any ingredient you'd like, so if there is something candle or bath/body related that you have a question about, let me know. I'll do the research and then share it with all of our readers.

As always, please let me know if there is something you would like to see, either on the Etsy site, the full website, or here on the blog. Thanks for supporting us as we grow!

*SJ*

Signature Line Coming Soon

One of the things I love most about this business is getting to experiment with different scents. Many times, we get special requests to duplicate fragrances from this company or that, and it's always interesting to see other people's preferences. Every once in a while, though, I like to throw a bunch of scents into wax and see what comes of it.

It's that urge to throw stuff together that prompts us to create our signature line. Jay and I had so much fun at the supplier last week, that we spent nearly three hours there! We mixed fragrances until I didn't think my nose could handle it anymore! In doing so, we came up with several combinations that we really like, and we want to share those with you. We decided, since these are our own creations, that these will be our new signature line.

We'll still have all your old favorites (Pumpkin Pie Spice, anyone?), and we'll keep trying to track down those duplicates for you, but the signature scents will be uniquely ours. We hope you love them, and we look forward to their website debut soon.

*SJ*

Another Contest Winner

For those that were paying attention, today was the monthly drawing. For those who weren't (myself included), this probably snuck up on you. Don't forget, the monthly drawing will be held at 11 pm Central Time on the 2nd of each month. So without further ado, the winner is...

Diana!

Diana has won a 16 oz candle from our top eight fragrances. Congrats, Diana! I will be emailing you soon with your scent choices. For next month's drawing, you can get extra entries by 1) leaving a comment on any post from this blog, 2) subscribing to this blog, 3) attending one of our shows and signing up in person, or 4) visiting our website www.sjcandleshoppe.com and signing up as a customer through the Contact Us page.

We hope you have had a chance to check out our new website. Please let us know what you think. If you have any suggestions, questions, or special requests, you can contact us through the site or email me directly at sjcandleshoppe@gmail.com

*SJ*

Website Is Up!!!

It will please some of you to know that I have been working feverishly to get our website up and running. I can now officially say that it is ready. The shopping cart hasn't been added yet, but you can see photos and descriptions of all of our items, a brief bio about us, and a page that will show all of our upcoming events.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that it is finally available. I will still be updating here regularly. In fact, this site will be updated daily beginning today. The other site will evolve some too, but here is where you should look for the day-to-day workings of the shoppe.

Once again, thanks to everyone who has encouraged us over the last several months. We look forward to branching out and meeting many more candle fanatics like us. Be sure to check out the new site and let us know what you think. www.sjcandleshoppe.com

*SJ*