Psssst........ Guess what??

I'm making candles now.

They're 100% soy, so the burn time is pretty extraordinary. Should be in the shop by the weekend. I LOVE candles - burn them every single day of my life, so this seemed like a natural progression and I'm wondering why I didn't do it sooner.

I got a birthday gift in the mail today from one of my best friends. She's an amazing artist and I'm so lucky to receive gifts like these. It's a bowl, but I think I'm going to fill it full of wax so I can have my own candle. You can see her work at www.troutybean.com.

Oh, almost forgot - October 24th marks the one year anniversary  of my shop opening and I will be releasing a limited perfume to commemorate. More info about that coming soon. :-)

Business in the front, party in the back

Hi!

I put 5 new soaps in the shop yesterday. I've been kind of stuck in limbo because my Photoshop pooped on me, but I'm up and running now. I now have CS4 installed on 2 computers and I'm good to go! So yeah... 5 soaps that are, unfortunately, in limited supply (I never make enough).

I'm formulating Xmas soaps now, and will begin making them next week. I've had a lot of requests for really minty, fresh - you know, the kind of soap that gives you a little *zing* when you use it. So I've decided that will be the first one, called (appropriately enough) Ebenezer. Icy cold with a teeny-tiny warm heart. :-)

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Okay - business out of the way.... I'm probably SO late on this one, but.....

I LOVE Tool and I LOVE Queen, so when I saw this, I almost died:

Tool - Bohemian Rhapsody

Tool was, by far, the best concert I've ever been to.It was years and years ago, and I still remember it so vividly. I was mesmerized the entire time.

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It's overcast and raining here. Sooooo beautiful and relaxing. Good online shopping weather. Here are a few things I'm lusting over:

Basilisk Earrings - Sweet Clandestine - I highly recommend this shop. She is making a pair of custom earrings for me and she's super nice AND affordable!

 Tableau Noir Victorian Goth Broken Heart Necklace by MataHariJewelry

MarieClaire beaded embroidered cuff by AnotherCountry

Lady of Versailles Choker by LouiseBlack

Any other shopping suggestions? Let's go spend money. I call it "stimulating the economy" so I don't feel so bad. *wink*

IN AWE

I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite artist.

Having said that, Scott Radke  ranks up there among the highest. His work gives me butterflies in my tummy and an ache in my heart. Amazingly beautiful imagery that I NEVER get tired of looking at. Some of his sculpture is below, but please visit his web site (scottradke.com) and support what he does.

$#!@ technology!!!!

The computer that has my Photoshop program on it is acting up, and it's putting the kibash on a *whole lotta* stuff. I have a bunch of soaps that need to get in the shop, but need to be photographed first, and labels that need to be made. ARGH!!!! I need to either buy another KVM switch, or find someone who has a version of Photoshop I can buy. So...... if any of you have a lead on Photoshop, you know where to find me. :-)

I'm planning Xmas right now, and I think there's going to be some exciting things coming. I've formulated a couple new scents that are...wow. Autumn and Winter are my favorite months, especially for smell-goods.

Very soon I'm going to be cleaning out the shop. Some of the perfumes are going bye-bye - have to make room for new stuff. I'll be listing the discontinued items on the blog as soon as I get it all figured out. I'll have a very limited supply of these scents, and when they're gone, they're gone!

Off to work now!!!

Picture fun:

Going through the hard drive today and found a bunch of photos I forgot about. I love it when that happens!

Ruthless and toothless. God, that was along time ago.

Night vision is fun!!!

We sort of poured gasoline on the pumpkins last year.

Aftermath. :-(

Me

Me again - ultra pose. LAME.

A poster I did for an indie film festival

More artwork

A fake movie poster I did. I thought it was heee-larious.

Kissy Face

New soap, healing, and a bloody good time

Hi people!! :-)

I've been gone for a bit because school started and it's made me BUSY!!! Bella has decided homework is something she can't *possibly* fit into her busy schedule, so that's been a constant struggle - we even had to drive to the school yesterday afternoon because she "forgot" it in her locker. Mmm-hmmm.

But I'm healing well! Yay! I'm not using crutches anymore - just kind of hobbling around. But at least I'm able to do things for myself now, take care of my business, and no longer have to do the butt-shuffle down the stairs to the studio! Boy is THAT a relief! I have an appointment with a foot specialist on the 22nd, and I'm hoping he tells me I can remove the cast. I need everyone to cross their fingers for me...also that he doesn't want to do a bunch of tests.... I'm uninsured.

Spending a lot of time lying in bed has gotten me addicted to True Blood. God, first Dexter, now this. Funny thing is, the whole time I'm watching it, I'm thinking "This is the worst show EVER. Why am I watching it??" But as soon as one episode is over, I play the next one. Good thing there's only 3 episodes left. And let me tell you, Bon Temps is one drama-filled place!

I'm hopefully listing new soaps in the shop today. If not today, then definitely this weekend.

Is anyone else chomping at the bit for Halloween to get here??

Update on shop reopening

Hi guys! Well, one more trip to the hospital later, and I was fitted with this super fly boot. Let me tell you, this thing has changed my life! My mobility is so much better. Still pain, still swelling that made even the nurse at the hospital cringe, but I'm moving SO much better..... I am getting all outstanding orders out this weekend, so I will be able to re-open the shop tomorrow. I'm flying out to get Bella on Monday, but we will be back early Wednesday and I'm going to begin work immediately. Back to normal. That's a VERY good thing.

Here's the Wonder Boot. Don't be jealous.

CHANGES - FRUSTRATION - EXCITEMENT

I leave to get Bella on Monday. Getting through the airport is going to be interesting. Portland airport is big, but LAX is HUGE. Everyone's telling me I should take advantage of their wheelchair service. Although
I don't really want to, I don't think there's going to be a choice. I can't see myself maneuvering these crutches through a crowd of people all the way to my gate. And the thought of seeing my baby girl motivates me to do whatever it takes to get there!! She told me the other night "Mommy, I can't wait to see your face." Oh my god I CAN'T STAND IT!!! So yeah, I'll be leaving Monday morning at 6:00am and returning Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 - with my girl by my side! Yes!

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So I keep getting these emails from customers who've not received their packages. Hmmm...... funny so many packages should get "lost." I know now there's definitely someone at the post office who's stealing. I've started doing delivery confirmation on everything I send, and MAGICALLY everything is arriving as it should. I figured even though it's more expensive for me to do DC, it's a hell of a lot cheaper than replacing product constantly. One of my customers said she's had a few packages go missing and is currently out about $50 on things she's ordered. She also commented on the miracle of delivery confirmation and how everything manages to get there when those 2 little words are printed on the envelope. It's so frustrating for me - I don't want my customers to think I'm just not sending their stuff. ALSO, since I've been doing DC, I've noticed my post office is waiting *days* sometimes to process my mail. I'll send something out on a Monday, and the tracking won't say "processed through sort facility" until Wednesday or Thursday! I know they're busy, but c'mon.......

Also, if any of my international customers are reading this -- It's taking longer for me to get these orders out. I can't drive, so I'm basically at the mercy of anyone who will take me to the post office. Domestic orders can be mailed from home but for internationals I have to physically go to the post office and wait in line.

I've seriously considered removing this cast myself. I can't stand being confined to the house (and bed). I've never been a "do nothing" sort of person and this is killing me!!!

Someone please tell me it's a stupid idea.

Okay, time to to some butt-sledding down the stairs and get to work!