Etsy Fort Worth Team Treasury

One of our Fort Worth Team members, Indigo Orchid Designs, has compiled another treasury featuring SJ Candle Shoppe. Green and browns are the theme of the Pick Your Poison treasury, and can be viewed on the Etsy site here. Be sure to check out the beautiful items our teammates are offering. You can also visit our fellow Etsy artists in person. Check the "Where to Find Us" page on the team blog for local venues and dates.

*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*

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*

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*

Exciting News + Upcoming Shows

First, for the exciting news...my computer is fixed!! I was a little anxious about using this computer after it was infected, and have tried to use Jay's as much as possible. However, I am happy to report that everything has been removed (at least, the stuff that didn't belong!) and I've been going successfully on this computer for two days now. I'm also getting used to this computer in general, as well as getting myself more organized, so I will be blogging more regularly from now on. YAY!!!

So, here's where you can find us in the coming weeks:

Trade Days USA @ Texas Motor Speedway - Fort Worth, TX
(www.tradedaysusa.com)
June 20-21
July 25-26
August 22-23

Trade Days of Waxahachie @ Ellis County Expo Center - Waxahachie, TX
(www.tradedaysofwaxahachie.com)
July 11-12
August 8-9

We'll be, hopefully, filling in more dates as we find more shows. Be sure to stop by and say "hi" if you're at a show where we're exhibiting.

*SJ*

Recent Events

Apologies for staying away so long. I was under the weather for a few days and am still not quite up to par. I also had something *really* terrible happen, which has kept me off of the computer. My laptop - remember, my brand new, hardly used laptop - was hacked! It happened through a virus I got on Facebook. I am still trying to get everything cleaned up, but will definitely be off Facebook for a while!

What I have been doing in the meantime, besides getting well, is researching recipes. In the coming weeks, you'll be seeing a new lotion formula, lip balm, and a sugar scrub. Don't forget to check back often to find out when these goodies will make their debuts.

As always, and especially now that I'm not using Facebook, you can follow me on Twitter @TXshoppegirl or subscribe to this blog. My next show is this weekend, when I'll be debuting my new logo at Trade Days USA. Check us out in booth F1, Saturday and Sunday from 9am-5pm.

*SJ*

Progress Report

I am so excited to report that I finally have some soaps ready to sell! The Green Tea Cucumber guest soaps and the Carrot Veggie Bars are both ready. Several other bars will be ready the first of July. Those soaps are Orange Flower Opulence, Pomegranate Passion, and Peppermint Pick-Me-Up.

As for upcoming shows, I will (tentatively) be at Grapevine Market this Thursday and Saturday. I am just waiting to be approved as a vendor. Next weekend I will be at Trade Days USA at Texas Motor Speedway. ( www.tradedaysusa.com ) I am in booth F1 down the main row. I'm looking for some more shows to fill out my summer, and will update as I book shows.

I also got another request for lotion tonight, so I will be working on that recipe next. I've been wanting to try a few that I've found, so this is a good opportunity. Hopefully, I'll have some ready for July as well.

Remember, you can stay updated by subscribing to this blog or by following me on Twitter @TXshoppegirl

*SJ*

More Soap, and Another Show

Today I cut another batch of soap, called Pomegranate Passion. It is scented with Pomegranate fragrance and has Passionfruit Tea leaves embedded in it. The tea acts as a mild exfoliant, and the pomegranate adds a nice mild fragrance to the bar. It needs to cure before it can be sold, so it won't be ready for 3-4 weeks.

This weekend, I'll be at Trade Days of Waxahachie. The hours are Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 9-4. They have only been re-open a few months, so this weekend they are having a Grand Opening celebration. There will be a band, children's activities, and 100+ vendors out to celebrate. I will be set up in booth #1; be sure to come say hello if you're in the area.

I will be tweeting from the show; you can follow me on Twitter @TXshoppegirl.

*SJ*

One More Day til the Drawing

Well, Kellerfest is in the history books. We survived - just barely! You still have one more day before I announce the winners of the drawings.

As a reminder, there are (2) items. The first is a large candle. It's the same one as the green candle in my profile picture. The second winner will receive a bar of soap and some fizzing bath salts. Come back tomorrow to see the results.

Now, on to our next show. This weekend, I plan to be at Trade Days of Waxahachie. I was scheduled to be there a couple of months ago, but there was a death in the family, so I had to cancel. I look forward to trying this one, as it is a relatively new show. Hopefully, they are already building a following, and I'll be able to meet some more great people. To find out more about this show, including a schedule of upcoming dates, check out their website: www.tradedaysofwaxahachie.com Hope to see you there!

*SJ*

Kellerfest is Here!!

OK, so I just got back from setting up our booth at Kellerfest. We are in Booth #30, just inside the front gate. I'd love to stay and chat, but I need to head back. Hope to see you there!!!

*SJ*