Dot and Lil

use it or lose it, people, use it or lose it

2010-06-29T23:27:00.000-04:00

I'm confused. And sort of at a loss for my next step. It all started when I introduced Dot & Lil Violet soap. This was maybe, ummmm, two years ago? It was spring, and so I made some layered violet soap as a limited edition, stuck a rosebud in the top, and sat back to watch how it would do. And it flew. It was like suddenly, somehow, all things Dot & Lil had to revolve around this little purple and white layered bar of soap. I sold out of the first three batches in under two months. It was the first thing gone from the table at all my events. It was the soap I got the most and the best compliments on.

Things quieted down a bit after the initial crazed rush for it. They do with most scents, even my most popular ones. And for a long time now violet has held it's own, justified it's web and table space, and generally performed as it should, sales-wise.

But for some reason, it is now at a complete stand-still. I have not sold a single bar of violet soap in months. I just don't get it. I mean I've seen scent trends blow through before, but violet? Really? come on, that one's pretty classic. So, here's the deal people. I can't keep it around indefinitely if it's not getting anyone clean. So if you don't want it gone forever? Use it or lose it my dears! You've been warned! It's available here.

Don't get me wrong, I love this soap. But my shelf space, well, it's not loving violet quite as much now that it's around all the time!

the dot & lil newsletter

2010-06-29T23:07:00.000-04:00

Dot & Lil sends out a monthly newsletter, frequently with a free item code for web orders. I know! Your reading time is limited, your inboxes are packed, Dot & Lil lovers are busy, happy people with lots to do! But if you'd like the secret scoop on limited editions before they're posted to the website, and codes for freebies at upcoming shows, and contests and free stuff with your next web order...well, would you make some space for the newsletter? I promise not to pester you too much!

click here to sign up for the newsletter!

Many of you read this blog in your email inbox, or via your RSS feed. Some of you pop in here and there to see what's up. Some of you follow the breadcrumbs from my Facebook page or Twitter. And some of you check in regularly all on your own! I'm very appreciative and constantly amazed and thankful for the few moments of your week that you invest in this blog, in hearing what's happening at Dot & Lil, and what's happening with me, on this crazy journey to build a soap empire. I don't love every minute of this journey. But I do love almost every minute I spend building this blog and the thinking it makes me do about my life, myself and my business. Thank you!

click here to sign up for the newsletter!

a collaboration of quebec artists

2010-06-29T22:29:00.000-04:00

Dot & Lil will be participating in a great little show in a wonderful gallery space on St-Laurent tomorrow and Saturday. If you missed out on our events this spring or you just can't get enough of our soapy goodness in your life, you'll wanna come by and see our limited editions for the summer while sipping on wine, nibbling on cheese and checking out the other local talents.

Friday July 9th, 3pm - 9pm &
Saturday July 10th, 10am - 8pm
Studio OFF Interarts
5145 Boulevard St-Laurent (near Laurier)

Wine and cheese will be served! Come visit us and meet the other local artsits and talents! Take a peak below at a few of the other fantastic collaborators for this show.

Fabric creations by Tammy Leclaire

Wood crafts by Joseph Minotti

Mosaic works by Aleksandro J. Haslek

Painting by Ruth Gelinas:

www.paintingsilove.com/artist/ruthlynessgelinas

Paintings by Catherine Colosimo:

www.catherinecolosimo.com

See you there!

zone orange

2010-06-29T20:09:00.000-04:00

Dot & Lil products are now available at Galerie Zone Orange in Montreal. I had never been in there until today, when I dropped off their first order of Dot & Lil stuff. And wow are there ever amazing goodies in there! It's packed with one of a kind, handmade, local and well-designed items, from jewelery to housewares to organic kids clothing to games to bags and unique paper goods. I'm really happy that Dot & Lil will be featured there amongst such coolness! It's a fantastic place to browse, for yourself, for gifts, or just to explore the good design and great products that are on offer. A really unique store.

Ok I'm gushing. But I really liked it! Check them out next time you're in Old Montreal, and have a look at their website in the meantime. www.galeriezoneorange.com

Galerie Boutique Zone Orange
410 St-Pierre (coin St-Paul)
H2Y 2M2
Montréal, QC
(514) 510 58 09
contact@galeriezoneorange.com

twitter contest!

2010-06-24T11:23:00.000-04:00

I currently have 295 followers on Twitter. For some Twitter people this is peanuts, but personally I'm proud to have that many people listening to what Dot & Lil has to say! And I get new followers each and every day. To celebrate my nearing 300 followers, the next 5 people to follow @DotandLil on Twitter will have names drawn to win a Dot & Lil Rosemary & Lavender soap, which you can read more about on our website here

I like Twitter because it gives me an opportunity to interact with Dot & Lil fans directly and casually, in a way that is hard to do otherwise. A few weeks ago, while I was at Puces Pop, I was delighted to discover that people were buying soap and then giving immediate feedback about it on Twitter either from smart phones or once they got home. What a great feeling!

So if you already have a twitter account or want to see what all the fuss is about then make sure to follow Dot & Lil for a well-researched, truthful resource on skin care as well as yummy new products!

Click here to visit Dot & Lil on Twitter.
Click here to visit the Dot & Lil website.

a reminder about preservatives

2010-06-20T12:51:00.000-04:00

Someone recently asked me whether the things I make are "preservative-free". The simple answer is "yes". But the truth is longer than one word. Read on if you want to learn a nugget of truth about the things we all use on our skin!

The products I choose to make at Dot & Lil are anhydrous. This means that I formulate them without water. Because of this, they do not require a preservative. That's why I choose to make them that way. So...what happens when water-containing products AREN'T preserved?

Preparations that contain water (like lotions, which are oil and water emulsified) or will come into contact with water (scrubs that you dip wet fingers into) need a preservative than can prevent the growth of yeast, mold, bacteria and fungi. This bacteria can lead to staph infections and other serious infections. Whether a product "looks ok" or not does not determine whether it's spoiled or not. This can't be determined without lab testing. And where there's water, I assure you, there will be the growth of nasties. Since I am currently not set up to be able to send my formulations for lab testing, I don't make anything that would require it. No water = no preservative needed.

So, yes, Dot & Lil products are "preservative-free". But I don't want to feed into the hype that says that preservatives are bad! Natural preservatives that are truly effective in skin care do not currently exist. Synthetic preservatives keep us safe and healthy! If my products required one, you'd better believe I'd do the safe thing and use one! When I buy things like lotion, I check the ingredients to make sure there is a preservative used.

Many people choose to ignore these simple, common-sense truths about skincare because they aren't convenient. They are not a simple yes or no answer. Natural isn't always good, and synthetic isn't always bad. A lot of things will spin it differently. But you know what? It's still the truth.

Comments on my blog are welcome!

rosemary & lavender soap

2010-06-17T20:00:00.000-04:00

Now available for summer, a Dot & Lil limited edition soap so good that I already have 3 bars of it in my own shower, ousting my usual favorites which are Honeysuckle and Satsuma! Scandalous, I know. The soap drama, it's ongoing at my house I tell ya.

Without further ado, let me introduce Dot & Lil Rosemary & Lavender soap! This balmy, herbal and floral soap smells like a summer garden at it's very best! The comforting aroma of lavender blended with the warm and slightly spicy herbal zing of rosemary. A twist on our classic lavender scent. Gardeners, lavender enthusiasts, foodies and floral lovers rejoice! It is available here on the Dot & Lil website, or via phone order at (514) 836-6073.

Also...can you keep a secret? Ok well, you didn't hear it from me but a little birdie told me that Dot & Lil prices were about to go up a little, on www.dotandlil.com , at shows and in person. So....stock up right now!

new montreal stockist

2010-06-15T15:13:00.000-04:00

As of yesterday, Dot & Lil products are available at Aliments Naturels À Votre Santé in Westmount. They are carrying a wide variety of Dot & Lil products and scents, so stop by to check it out!

Aliments Naturels À Votre Santé
5126 Sherbrooke St. West
Montreal, Qc
(514) 482-8233

And don't forget that Canadian orders over $40 on www.dotandlil.com receive free shipping! Maybe Dad would appreciate a Dot & Lil shaving bar for Father's Day?

hope and magic

2010-06-13T17:59:00.000-04:00

I know I've talked about Seth Godin before, but...wow. Did this post ever just speak directly to me, in terms of what I'm feeling with my business these days.

"If your business or your music or your art or your project is truly worth your energy and your passion, then don't sell it short by putting its future into a lottery ticket.", he says. And I see what he means. It's easy, sometimes, to get a little caught up in fairy tale visions of being featured on Martha Stewart and your business skyrocketing to a point of no return within weeks. And don't get me wrong, these things do happen. And there's nothing wrong with wanting them. I guess the danger is in doing more wishing than step-taking.

The thing is, progress is slow when you are building a business. Very slow. It's also not constant, it ebbs and flows and drives you crazy. But wishing for a one-shot solution can keep you away from the painstaking, ever-so-slow, true work of making your growing vision a reality.

I want to think big. I want a huge vision, one so big that people laugh at me for thinking I can make it happen. But I also want to keep doing the real work that can bring me there, not sit around waiting for a fairy tale. Just like in my life, my business will be what I am ready for it to be. Baby steps!

why is daddy crying?

2010-06-12T11:18:00.000-04:00

A great contest is going on at a great blog! A three-minute animation short created by animator JC Little (@littleanimation on Twitter) will be launched on www.whyisdaddycrying.com and on Little Animation's YouTube channel. Take a stab at guessing "Why is Daddy Crying?" before the launch of the film for a chance to win a Dot & Lil Spring & Summer 2010 Soap Set, along with a whole list of other amazing prizes. The deadline is the end of the day Tuesday, June 15! The winner will be announced Thursday, June 17.

More details on the contest at www.whyisdaddycrying.com. You can also follow @whyisdaddycryin on Twitter

spring puces pop & my soap empire

2010-06-08T21:53:00.001-04:00

Here is some pictures of me at this past weekend's Spring Puces Pop and a little taste of the great setup we had! It was great to get to talk to some Dot & Lil lovers and create some new ones, too! If I don't get out in front of the public often enough I start to think I'm all alone in this great big soap empire I'm building.

The pictures were taken by Eliza Struthers-Jobin, the mastermind behind the ever-so-fabulous www.unefillecommelesautres.com which you should most definitely check out. She's always got good stuff going on over there!

And there's some exciting video stuff on the way too...

puces pop this weekend!

2010-06-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

This upcoming weekend it is time for Montreal to come alive for the spring edition of Puces Pop, the busy and bustling celebration of all things beautiful, handcrafted and local. You get to check out all the Dot & Lil goodies in person, and browse the offerings of the rest of the talented Puces Pop crew too!

The event is organized by Pop Montreal and never fails to be busy and happy and full of surprising, unique and charming items.

Join us at the Ukrainian Federation, 5213, Rue Hutchison (corner Fairmount) from 11 am -6 pm Saturday and Sunday June 5th & 6th.

truth in skin care

2010-05-30T21:59:00.000-04:00

So, I know I have blogged about www.personalcaretruth.com before (click here) but I am so enamored by their truth-seeking, scare-mongering free, science-backed information that I have added them to the sidebar here on the blog permanently. Truth in skin care is a big deal here at Dot & Lil. It is something I strive to have my brand represent. I badly want to educate people and put an end to the misinformation that runs rampant in this industry. I am proud to associate myself with Personal Care Truth.

I can't encourage you enough to go check out some of the information on their site. Have a good week everyone! And stay tuned for an upcoming Dot & Lil video project that's going to blow your minds!

peppermint foot soak

2010-05-25T15:28:00.000-04:00

Cool off and relax on this hot, hot day by soaking your feet in a tub of cool water with Dot & Lil's Peppermint Foot Soak. Super refreshing, and it gets your feet in shape for flip flop season, too! Visit Dot & Lil at www.dotandlil.com to get some. We also carry it in Tea Tree & Rosemary!

new things and places to be

2010-05-21T15:35:00.000-04:00

Craving our limited edition sweet pea soap? Aching to try our new Lilac, Lavender & Rosemary, Ginger & Lime or Sweet Clementine soaps? Hankering for a Dot & Lil classic like Oatmeal & Honey Milk Bath or Grapefruit & Bergamot Bath Truffles? Well then there are two upcoming Mile End shows that you won't want to miss!

Rusty Plum Spring Sale
Saturday & Sunday May 29th & 30th
St-Michael Church
105 st-Viateur O.
11am-6pm

Spring Puces POP
Saturday & Sunday June 5th & 6th
Ukrainian Federation
5213 Rue Hutchison
11am-6pm

Sign up for our newsletter at either of these events and get a free soap with any www.dotandlil.com order.

just what I've been waiting for: personal care truth

2010-05-18T16:14:00.000-04:00

I am overjoyed, ecstatic even, to finally be able to point you in the direction of a well-thought out, accurate and scaremongering-free web resource about personal care ingredients and issues. Resources like this are so few and far between that I had given up hope! But behold, www.personalcaretruth.com was born!

You see, most of what the media has to say about skincare is inaccurate, and they usually fail to back it up with a little thing I like to call science. And many of the consumer-run or protection agencies, like the database Skin Deep for example, are just as bad in terms of backing up their claims. They use fear and not reason or fact to keep people away from ingredients that are often, in fact, perfectly safe. They do this without solid evidence backing up what they are saying. The words "natural", "chemical", and "toxic" are some of the most misused around! We all want to stay safe. Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformation floating around out there.

I know I'll be busy scouring every inch of www.personalcaretruth.com and you should check it out too! The hard science is there, and the people speaking about skincare do in fact know of what they speak. Revolutionary!

shaving soap

2010-05-15T15:58:00.000-04:00

More and more people are giving me amazing, glowing reviews of Dot & Lil shaving soap. It seems I've gotten it just right! These bars lather like crazy and leave your skin really soft. The kaolin clay in the soap is what gives your razor the slip it needs to glide smoothly over your skin.

Dot & Lil shaving bars are available in Peppermint, or Unscented. You can use them in a bowl with a shaving brush, or lather them in your hands or directly onto your skin.

They're great for traveling, earth-friendly, simple, natural and affordable yet luxurious. Is it just me, or does that sound really good! You can find Dot & Lil shaving bars at www.dotandlil.com And make sure to check out our free shipping deal for Canadian orders!

8 little words

2010-05-10T21:29:00.000-04:00

Have you experienced TED talks? Here's one to get you started, but really there's something there to interest everyone and anyone. One of my favorites of all time is Richard St. John's humorous, insightful and short speech "8 secrets of success". What I love about his eight secrets is that, in fact, none of them are a secret. He's pretty funny too!

Of the eight, 'Push' and 'Persist' and his explanations of them are my two favorites. I have all 8 (well, 9 really) printed in big letters and hanging on my wall.

Passion
Work
Focus
Push
Ideas
Improve
Serve
Persist

...Success...

Thank you TED, and thank you Richard St. John!

today; a (somewhat cheesy) list of thankfulness

2010-05-02T12:02:00.001-04:00

Today...

it is a beautiful Montreal day.
my business is growing.
lilacs are blooming on my back porch.
I am healthy.
I'm in love.
I love my friends and they are remarkable people.
It's my birthday tomorrow and this past year has been the best of my life.
I had Tiramisu, crumpets and strawberries for breakfast.
I've committed to my first half-marathon, and knowing I'll finish it is empowering.
my family is supportive and loving and full of strong people that I can learn from.
I know more than ever that I can do the things that I dream about doing.

.... I woke up feeling thankful. And then I received Seth Godin's blog post, which I receive via email, "Odds and Ends" in which he recommends this blog, www.thxthxthx.com . So thank you to Seth Godin for the recommendation , and thank you to Leah Dieterich who writes the blog, for prompting me to share the things I am thankful for on this beautiful Sunday morning. And you should ALL check out www.thxthxthx.com because it's a beautiful little place!

free shipping

2010-04-25T18:52:00.001-04:00

Starting this past week, shipping on Canadian orders over $40 is now free on www.dotandlil.com Yup! Free.

You see what I do for you? Now you can spend more money on soapy goodness, like the two limited edition spring soaps above, and less money on shipping charges. Sounds pretty good, huh?

www.dotandlil.com

the e-myth and my soap empire

2010-04-20T20:41:00.000-04:00

I have been reading Michael Gerber's "The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It". If you've never heard of it and you are in any way involved in business or want to be, I very strongly suggest you track down a copy. Like, now.

I'm not always a huge fan of the way it's written, but fixating on that would be like standing in front of a pile of free money and saying "I wish it were in smaller bills." His remarks about how small business owners often hide in the work they are most comfortable with instead of leading their business into bigger and better (but scarier, less familiar) territory are so spot on that I laughed out loud at myself. How many times have I spent a day inventing new soap scents instead of calling people who are going to get excited about selling it?

Gerber also talks extensively about building your business as if it were going to be franchised. That idea was kind of off-putting to me at first, but I have to say that on further inspection it makes perfect sense. Whether I franchise Dot & Lil or not, his point is that I should build it from the ground up to work as effectively as it would have to in order for 5000 more to be modeled after it. I'm about half way through the book, and I'm already thinking bigger and expanding my vision. And singing Michael Gerber's praises!

So, people, I'm building a soap empire. No jokes. And I love this book!

http://www.e-myth.com/

poetry

2010-04-13T23:01:00.000-04:00

I recently read a book that many of you will have heard of, called "Eat, Pray, Love", by Elizabeth Gilbert (who gives a very interesting talk here ). Among many of the concepts within it that really spoke to me, the one that has really stuck is that of spirit brothers. Gilberts explains that in Bali, many people believe that we are each born with spirit brothers to guide us:

"The child is taught from earliest consciousness that she has these four brothers with her in the world wherever she goes, and that they will always look after her. The brothers inhabit the four virtues a person needs in order to be safe and happy in life: intelligence, friendship, strength, and (I [Gilbert] love this one) poetry. The brothers can be called upon in any critical situation for rescue and assistance."

I find the concept of this kind of protection beautiful. A sort of internal council to bring you safely through the difficulties of life. But I also love the four virtues Gilbert says are necessary to happiness. Namely, poetry, although I don't mean that literally. To me, the virtue of poetry in my life is represented by all the sightly magical or intangible things. The written word, surely, but really anything that stimulates imagination, creativity and genius. This is the pillar that feeds all my creative energy into Dot & Lil. The things that are beautiful, if not serious. The ones that make your soul feel nicer and open your mind up to let the sunshine in.

So, as an offering to a spirit brother who represents the pillar of poetry in my life, here is a sneak preview poem by Susan Briscoe from the book The Crow's Vow , that will be published by Véhicule Press next month. The poem is a fitting one for spring at Dot & Lil!

Spring has spilled

its most beguiling perfumes

– honeysuckle, lilac,

lily of the valley –

all at once, luring me

down to a clover bed

to breathe in,

in, with you if you would,

while the apple tree swings

its hips and hums.

spring cleaning

2010-04-12T00:39:00.000-04:00

As I come back to the real world after my month away, I'm starting my spring cleaning. This year, I'm replacing some of my usual cleaning products with solutions I make up myself.

Cost effective, simple, and it works! Because the solution contains water, make sure you use it within 2 or 3 days as it does not contain a preservative and can mold or spoil even if it looks ok.

All-Purpose Cleaner

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water (less if it's a really tough cleaning job)
10 drops of orange essential oil
10 drops of lavender essential oil

Happy cleaning!

coop la maison verte

2010-04-06T22:16:00.000-04:00

I am very happy to say that since last month, Dot & Lil products are available at Coop la Maison Verte , 5785 Sherbrooke West. The Coop is a fantastic cozy spot to enjoy a fair trade coffee in Montreal's N.D.G. area, as well as track down fair trade and ecologically responsible food items and products. They're in mid-expansion, getting ready to bring you even more fantastic-ness. Check out their heirloom and organic fruit and vegetable seedlings.

It was a pretty amazing spot even before Dot & Lil came through their doors. But now...well, now they're nothing short of an eco-shopping fantasy. (I'm having a dramatic and not very modest day, can you tell?)

Coop la Maison Verte
5785 Sherbrooke West
514-489-8000
www.cooplamaisonverte.com

carbon offsets

2010-02-20T15:20:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking lately about sustainability in my business and it has brought me to consider carbon offsets as an option for Dot & Lil. A small carbon footprint has been part of the philosophy at Dot & Lil since day one. I have accomplished this in many ways--thoughtful packaging, local purchasing and carefully sourced ingredients.

But certainly, as an individual as well as a business, there is a certain amount of emissions that I cannot avoid, whether I am careful or not. I certainly feel responsible to the earth and try and make the right choices as I go along. It's not always clear to me what the green choices are--I suspect that often they are not the ones publicized as green.

To make sure I do things right and pick the right projects, I have been doing a fair amount of research. You can find out how to become carbon neutral along with Dot & Lil at the David Suzuki Foundation website, by reading their How to Go Carbon Neutral page.