Check out Zzzonkowl's blog and read about my interview here.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Friday, June 6, 2014
Interview with Shawnee from Alchemy & Ashes
When I was first learning to make soap, I stumbled upon the Alchemy & Ashes website and loved what I saw. I thought the names that Shawnee had come up with for her products and the stories she gave with each was unique.
From the description of Nevermore, Lenore on Etsy:
"From my books surcease of sorrow
Sorrow for the lost Lenore
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore
Nameless here for evermore." ~ The Raven by Edgar Allen poe
Inspired by Poe's lost love in his poem, The Raven...this vegetable based cold process soap is made by hand in small batches using Cocoa Butter, Madder Root and Activated Charcoal for colorants, and scented with essential oils of Ylang Ylang, Pink Grapefruit, and Patchouli."
Since Shawnee was a great inspiration to me in my soaping adventures, I wanted to feature her on my blog and interview her so that you could be introduced to her works. She graciously accepted when I asked! Keep reading to find out about Shawnee and Alchemy & Ashes.
1) What do you make in your shop?
Shawnee: Cold Process Soaps, Lip Balms, Eau de Parfums and Colognes, Perfumed Oils, and Solid Lotion Bars, all utilizing essential oils, herbs, and plant based oils. I also make occult items that I call "Arcana Artis" (Latin for "Mystical Arts") like Tarot Boxes, Rune Boxes and Runes, Witch Boxes, and Herb Cabinets - all made from upcycled and vintage materials.
2) What inspired you to do this?
Shawnee: About 14 years ago, I decided to leave my job as a hairstylist to take care of my two sons. I had become really involved with Aromatherapy after reading Robert Tisserand's "The Art of Aromatherapy". To bridge the gap between where I had already been and where I wanted to go, I took an Herbal Cosmetology class. That led me to an apprenticeship under the teacher who was a Master Herbalist, who also happened to be a soapmaker. She made an awesome Bay Rum soap!
3) Do you feel there's something that differentiates you from other similar sellers on Etsy?
Shawnee: I like to think that my essential oil blends are unique, not the typical scents you would find in most soaps. I also think the names of my products set them apart. All of my product names are inspired by history and myth, two things that keep me captivated. Those two things (scent and names) are what my customers comment on the most.
4) How long have you been making these items and how long have you been selling on Etsy?
Shawnee: I've been making body products on and off since 2000, but I only opened my Etsy shop 2 years ago.
5) What has been your biggest struggle as a seller on Etsy?
Shawnee: I think the biggest struggle in any market, especially one as saturated as the handmade soap market, is to set yourself apart - to offer something different. There's more than 100,000 handmade soap listings on Etsy, all competing for the same (or similar) customers. Some of us go the natural direction, while others go for artistic designs, or with fragrance or color as the main focus. There's definitely something for everybody. So coming up with a product or concept that doesn't seem the same as your competitors can be tough.
6) What has been your biggest accomplishment as a seller?
Shawnee: I always consider it an accomplishment when I receive positive feedback and repeat sales! It's so important to me that people are happy with their purchases and their experience shopping with me.
7) What's one tip you'd give someone who is new to selling on Etsy?
Shawnee: If I have to narrow it down to only one tip, it would be to "sell your heart". Anyone who handcrafts a product that they love puts a piece of their heart into everything they make. There's no other way to do it for me. Love what you make, and no matter what it is, someone else will love it too. Other people will see that you put your heart into it, and they'll feel it too - the way you describe it in your listing will convey that. I'll never sell (or make) something that I don't love. It just wouldn't work for me, no matter how profitable it was.
8) What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?
Shawnee: I really love my Eau de Parfums. Lately I've been wearing my "Soothsayer" Eau de Parfum and getting lots of compliments from both women and men. When it appeals to both, I know it's good.
9) What is your favorite product to make?
Shawnee: This may be a strange analogy, but I would equate Perfume with my heart, and Soap with my brain - both very important parts of me, but sometimes one wins out over the other. Soap works as a medium for my first love - essential oils. And while I love formulating soap recipes that will be gentle and luxurious on the skin, my inspiration almost always starts with the fragrance. I know it's very hard for someone to purchase a fragrance online based on my description, because we all pick up different elements from the same scent. I may smell the complexities of each ingredient, while you may only smell the synergistic blend of all the ingredients. Fragrance is a very personal choice, and for a multitude of reasons. It's mysterious, elusive, intangible - but it's also provocative and passionate, and very real. It's magic. It's alchemy.
Here are a few of my favorite thing srom Alchemy & Ashes on Etsy:
If you would like to see more of Shawnee's products check out her Etsy shop or like Alchemy & Ashes on Facebook.
"From my books surcease of sorrow
Sorrow for the lost Lenore
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore
Nameless here for evermore." ~ The Raven by Edgar Allen poe
Inspired by Poe's lost love in his poem, The Raven...this vegetable based cold process soap is made by hand in small batches using Cocoa Butter, Madder Root and Activated Charcoal for colorants, and scented with essential oils of Ylang Ylang, Pink Grapefruit, and Patchouli."
Since Shawnee was a great inspiration to me in my soaping adventures, I wanted to feature her on my blog and interview her so that you could be introduced to her works. She graciously accepted when I asked! Keep reading to find out about Shawnee and Alchemy & Ashes.
1) What do you make in your shop?
Shawnee: Cold Process Soaps, Lip Balms, Eau de Parfums and Colognes, Perfumed Oils, and Solid Lotion Bars, all utilizing essential oils, herbs, and plant based oils. I also make occult items that I call "Arcana Artis" (Latin for "Mystical Arts") like Tarot Boxes, Rune Boxes and Runes, Witch Boxes, and Herb Cabinets - all made from upcycled and vintage materials.
2) What inspired you to do this?
Shawnee: About 14 years ago, I decided to leave my job as a hairstylist to take care of my two sons. I had become really involved with Aromatherapy after reading Robert Tisserand's "The Art of Aromatherapy". To bridge the gap between where I had already been and where I wanted to go, I took an Herbal Cosmetology class. That led me to an apprenticeship under the teacher who was a Master Herbalist, who also happened to be a soapmaker. She made an awesome Bay Rum soap!
3) Do you feel there's something that differentiates you from other similar sellers on Etsy?
Shawnee: I like to think that my essential oil blends are unique, not the typical scents you would find in most soaps. I also think the names of my products set them apart. All of my product names are inspired by history and myth, two things that keep me captivated. Those two things (scent and names) are what my customers comment on the most.
4) How long have you been making these items and how long have you been selling on Etsy?
Shawnee: I've been making body products on and off since 2000, but I only opened my Etsy shop 2 years ago.
5) What has been your biggest struggle as a seller on Etsy?
Shawnee: I think the biggest struggle in any market, especially one as saturated as the handmade soap market, is to set yourself apart - to offer something different. There's more than 100,000 handmade soap listings on Etsy, all competing for the same (or similar) customers. Some of us go the natural direction, while others go for artistic designs, or with fragrance or color as the main focus. There's definitely something for everybody. So coming up with a product or concept that doesn't seem the same as your competitors can be tough.
6) What has been your biggest accomplishment as a seller?
Shawnee: I always consider it an accomplishment when I receive positive feedback and repeat sales! It's so important to me that people are happy with their purchases and their experience shopping with me.
7) What's one tip you'd give someone who is new to selling on Etsy?
Shawnee: If I have to narrow it down to only one tip, it would be to "sell your heart". Anyone who handcrafts a product that they love puts a piece of their heart into everything they make. There's no other way to do it for me. Love what you make, and no matter what it is, someone else will love it too. Other people will see that you put your heart into it, and they'll feel it too - the way you describe it in your listing will convey that. I'll never sell (or make) something that I don't love. It just wouldn't work for me, no matter how profitable it was.
8) What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?Shawnee: I really love my Eau de Parfums. Lately I've been wearing my "Soothsayer" Eau de Parfum and getting lots of compliments from both women and men. When it appeals to both, I know it's good.
9) What is your favorite product to make?
Shawnee: This may be a strange analogy, but I would equate Perfume with my heart, and Soap with my brain - both very important parts of me, but sometimes one wins out over the other. Soap works as a medium for my first love - essential oils. And while I love formulating soap recipes that will be gentle and luxurious on the skin, my inspiration almost always starts with the fragrance. I know it's very hard for someone to purchase a fragrance online based on my description, because we all pick up different elements from the same scent. I may smell the complexities of each ingredient, while you may only smell the synergistic blend of all the ingredients. Fragrance is a very personal choice, and for a multitude of reasons. It's mysterious, elusive, intangible - but it's also provocative and passionate, and very real. It's magic. It's alchemy.
Here are a few of my favorite thing srom Alchemy & Ashes on Etsy:
If you would like to see more of Shawnee's products check out her Etsy shop or like Alchemy & Ashes on Facebook.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Hog Wild Festival
I had a blast at the Hog Wild Festival yesterday. Getting up before dawn and being out in the rain all day was totally worth it. I got to see some really cool booths and meet some really awesome people. To the left of my booth was a booth trying to raise money to construct a memorial in front of the courthouse for local veterans. Their goal is to have enough money raised to unveil it on Veterans Day this year. They were great company throughout the day.
Down from them was a booth by 2 Sisters and a Brush. They were custom-making t-shirts along with very cute distressed items. Here's a few pictures of their booth they posted to Facebook.
They made my booth look quite empty and boring. But I was happy with how it turned out for my first set up. Looking at it now, I realize that there was a lot of brown-on-brown-on-brown action. I think for my next show, I will either paint my baskets to match my tablecloth, or line them with fabric that matches. For my next show, I will also have more products, as I will have my body butter there as well and perhaps some lip balms and lotion bars.
They made my booth look quite empty and boring. But I was happy with how it turned out for my first set up. Looking at it now, I realize that there was a lot of brown-on-brown-on-brown action. I think for my next show, I will either paint my baskets to match my tablecloth, or line them with fabric that matches. For my next show, I will also have more products, as I will have my body butter there as well and perhaps some lip balms and lotion bars.
I was really glad that I thought to leave my tent's walls attached to the tent and just roll them up. Many times throughout the day, I had to let down them to keep my products from getting wet. Everyone around me was commenting how smart it was and how they wish they had walls on their tents as well. The booth to my right, which had really cute wooden designs, decided to pack up and leave after the second shower. Too bad they did, because it was after that when everyone came. Before then, I was afraid that I wasn't even going to make back my booth fee, but between showers, I more than tripled that! I think it was a really good turn out for a rainy day and my first show. I can't wait for the next one!
Shop Rustic Silk Soaps on Etsy!
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
About Rustic Silk Soaps
Hello out there! I just wanted to welcome you to my business's blog, and give you a little info on Rustic Silk Soaps.
Rustic Silk Soaps opened January 16, 2014. I knew that I wanted to start a business that would provide people with safer, more effective, and more environmentally friendly products. For a time before I opened, I tossed around business name ideas and, finally, one stuck! My product line is ever expanding and I am constantly testing new creations. I want you to have the best product I can give!
I started out making only melt and pour, or glycerin, soaps in small batches in my kitchen because, to be honest, I was afraid of the lye used to make cold process soap. But my growing curiosity helped me to quickly overcome my fear because I have never settled for the simplistic or easy route. I decided that I wanted more of a challenge than the melt and pour was able to give me so I started making cold process soaps. I have even joked that melt and pour soap was the gateway drug to my soap-making addiction! Since then, my addiction has spread to other bath and body products such as lotion bars, salt and sugar scrubs, bath bombs, and more!
Of course, all of my products are made with the highest quality and most luxurious ingredients available. Many of my recipes include luscious shea butter or mango butter, as well as luxury oils such as avocado, hemp, and jojoba oils. I hardly ever use just plain old boring water in my products as I like to incorporate other liquids, such as herbal teas, milks, or coffee into my recipes to make them even more unique!
Rustic Silk Soaps' soaps are artfully crafted with natural and sustainable ingredients through the time-honored cold process method. My soaps provide a rich, creamy lather that will leave your skin feeling clean and wonderfully refreshed.
I make both vegan and non-vegan products. Some of my recipes are made using wonderful and skin-loving animal "products" like beeswax, honey, or milks. My beeswax and honey comes from a local provider who does not use pesticides or antibiotics on his bees. I carefully choose products that come from sustainable and responsibly harvested resources only so as to make our products more environmentally friendly. For this reason, I only use RSPO certified palm oil products.
Thanks for reading!
Rustic Silk Soaps opened January 16, 2014. I knew that I wanted to start a business that would provide people with safer, more effective, and more environmentally friendly products. For a time before I opened, I tossed around business name ideas and, finally, one stuck! My product line is ever expanding and I am constantly testing new creations. I want you to have the best product I can give!
I started out making only melt and pour, or glycerin, soaps in small batches in my kitchen because, to be honest, I was afraid of the lye used to make cold process soap. But my growing curiosity helped me to quickly overcome my fear because I have never settled for the simplistic or easy route. I decided that I wanted more of a challenge than the melt and pour was able to give me so I started making cold process soaps. I have even joked that melt and pour soap was the gateway drug to my soap-making addiction! Since then, my addiction has spread to other bath and body products such as lotion bars, salt and sugar scrubs, bath bombs, and more!
Of course, all of my products are made with the highest quality and most luxurious ingredients available. Many of my recipes include luscious shea butter or mango butter, as well as luxury oils such as avocado, hemp, and jojoba oils. I hardly ever use just plain old boring water in my products as I like to incorporate other liquids, such as herbal teas, milks, or coffee into my recipes to make them even more unique!
Rustic Silk Soaps' soaps are artfully crafted with natural and sustainable ingredients through the time-honored cold process method. My soaps provide a rich, creamy lather that will leave your skin feeling clean and wonderfully refreshed.
I make both vegan and non-vegan products. Some of my recipes are made using wonderful and skin-loving animal "products" like beeswax, honey, or milks. My beeswax and honey comes from a local provider who does not use pesticides or antibiotics on his bees. I carefully choose products that come from sustainable and responsibly harvested resources only so as to make our products more environmentally friendly. For this reason, I only use RSPO certified palm oil products.
Thanks for reading!
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