Faerie Made

Next Month is 6 years!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:46:00 +0000

Next month is Faerie Made's 6th year in business ... What a long strange trip it has been. I started this company as a way to take care of my daughter and earn a bit of money and keep myself sane as a stay at home mom who used to have a career!

Now here I am 6 years later ... My daughter will be 6 next Thursday and has lost 2 teeth and I am 6 years older and have lost no teeth (but my sanity ... welll .......)

My company has evolved. I started in my kitchen, moved to the basement which I remodeled, moved out of the basement and up the street and now I am back home with an additional building AND the basement workspace ...

Plus in 6 years I went from just me doing it all ... and now I have someone working with me on a daily basis doing all the packaging and inventory and is totally invaluable (and all Mandy wants is a warehouse and to get to drive the forklift :) ) , Clare, who started as my sales rep and is now working more as a sales manager, my husband who weighs out the oils and does some of the production (Mandy and I gave him the job title of Oil Boy hehehe).

I started with a wholesale account at BeanWerks Coffee & Tea, then the Haywood Road Market in West Asheville ... and it has grown ... and it's been tough at times, but I haven't compromised my values.

I still keep my carbon footprint as minimal as possible (of course, I did it for me and my value, not for marketing purposes), I still use essential oils for scenting, I still support local and women owned, I still do not test on animals (although Max, my male cairn terrier needs a bath!), and on and on ...

But I didn't do this post to brag on me, but to just let you know that my brain is working on something for celebrating our 6th birthday and a way to say thank you.

Tina

Back to Work!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:52:00 +0000

We are officially moved from up the street back to the homestead. Mandy and I hung our shelves in our combined office/shipping/packaging area (i'll take pics later).

Still have to get my workspace set up .. Need my counter top tables installed and get a new stove (I got spoiled with a 4 burner stove so looking for something).

We went back to work yesterday with kids at the house. It works great being here. They can play on the covered porch off the back of my house or in the yard. It's more fun for them.

We also hung our sign ...

Faerie's & Electronics Don't Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:10:00 +0000

I don't know what the deal is with me and electronics, but it's like dating someone who alternates between nice and not.

I have this strong draw to electronics and gadgets ... I research until my eyeballs bleed before making a decision on electronic purchases. It doesn't matter if it is an mp3 player, a camera, computer, printer, phone. Nothing impulse here. In fact, I do that for about every purchase I make.

I read reviews check pricing all over (this comes from years in my soap biz sourcing ingredients and looking for best quality and good pricing)...

I am a winner with my ingredients. Yay me!

But man oh man ... why can't I get a cell phone that won't die on me :( :( :(

There are 5 people on my cell phone plan. Three got the same phone at the same time. The lower end Motorola with a camera. Basic and ulititarian. My son had my old Motorala and I had just gotten the Razr. A few months later his cell was stolen and I gave him my old Razr (which worked for him even when he fell into a river on two different occasions) and got myself a Razr Red. Life goes on for over a year ... not a problem (okay, no problem with anyone but me, I had to replace my Razr, but thank the powers that be for insurance)

No problem until Mandy decides to wash her cell phone along with her dishes (total accident).

My contract is up for renewal, so I tell her, I'll give you my old Razr and get myself a new phone.

I get myself a new cell phone. I hate it. HATE IT. Okay, I loved the color, but that was it. Back falls off all the time, blah blah blah. Have to purchase an UGLY skin just so the back won't fall off. I am so sad.

I go into the cell phone store (they know me by name there it got to be that bad) and whine.

They have a new phone coming out in a few weeks ... an LG with touch screen ......... ooooooooohhhhhhhhh ..... so off I go to research it. Good reviews.

I am going to get it as soon as they get it in the store ...

While I am at it I research (by then my eyes are crossing), Blackberrys. Do I need one? Or is it I just want one. They offer me 30 days. Now this is more money because I have to have a data plan. Any way ...

So I take it home. The Pearl. I love it. But wait! The new Blackberry Curve is coming in 2 weeks. OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....

Off I go to research the two compared.

I go sit in the store and play with the Curve. I look at my Pearl. I leave.

I go in the next day. I play with the Pearl, I play with the Curve. I get the Curve, do all the paperwork.

The staff at the cell phone store waves me off as I ride off into the sunset.

Life is bliss for 6 weeks now. I have synched my emails and contacts and have been saving all my appointments etc. God, I love this thing. I leave my laptop at home when I go out of town for a few days because I can check my email, go online if need be, it has a gps etc. LOVE LOVE LOVE this little powerhouse handheld.

I bought it a bright green silicone cover.

Wake up yesterday. I can't get trackball to move up. The battery isn't holding a charge. It died on me. I called the tech support line and they are sending me a new one ... should be here today.

The old one? I brought it in and it wouldn't charge, but I could get it to power up briefly if hooked to my Mac ... so I updated all my everything. I am so sad.

My husband's bottom end Motorola? Going along beautifully. Ugh.

Bad Fae. Not doing much on updating.

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:21:00 +0000

Been pretty busy and haven't been really decently up to par on blogging here. The move is almost complete, however it is utter chaos still.

I am having a huge withdrawal from soapmaking and I am also very low on Arnica Balm (which has been used a lot in the house of the fae this month.)

I hope hope hope to be pouring some by the end of this week or early next week at the latest.

I am almost out of stock.

Scary.

So what's left to be done to be back in the saddle? Move counters from old space and reinstall in new, organize my essential oils and get my soaping oils stored away. Move cases and cases of containers to proper space for storing and get the curing soaps organized.

I have my office space and most of the space where orders are packed organized and it should not be hard to get Mandy set up for labeling things.

But oh my my. I have a lot of work left on the manufacturing area. Today I cleared out a spot for the counters which are going to be moved tomorrow evening. The old space is almost empty and needs to be cleaned, holes patched and a bit of touch up paint, wash floors and final cleaning.

I'm so ready for the next stage.

Almost Gone!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:09:00 +0000

Dancing Sun, Faerie Made's limited edition summer soap is down to about 10 bars!

I started with 136 bars introduced by mid June and a little over a month later ... almost all gone.

I'm pretty impressed ... now just you all wait til September when I toss out the new Autumn Soap. All I am going to say is that it's pretty special :)

.......

It's Coming Along ...

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:51:00 +0000

We are moving things every day. I am crawling in bed at midnight absolutely exhausted. But we have the building wired for electric, phone and cable. walls are painted, floor is painted. Lofts for storage is next.

All the curing soaps have been moved to the other work space and are waiting to be loaded back on the bakers racks. Dehumidifier is humming along.

More soap to move tonight and then we will start moving the bulk oils. Last to move will be the office and the order area. No one will feel a bump at all.

Then as soon as I get in I am making TONS of SOAP!!!!

Moving Sale ... 10% off thru end of the month!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:14:00 +0000

Help me out here folks ... 10% off everything on my site so I don't have as much to shlep!

www.faeriemadesoaps.com

oh and still haven't figured out how to do my newsletter, but I am working on it... :(
If you have purchased from me in the past few years and you get one when/if i do, and don't want one ... just let me know.

Yes, Dorothy, You Can Go Home Again

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:23:00 +0000

This time last year Faerie Made moved out of the house and into a studio space on Haywood Road in West Asheville. This was a good move for the company. Large space to work out of and a nice place for my 18 year old son to live in (has separate living quarters.)

Since then, my son has moved out (well he has, his stuff has stayed ... *sigh* anyone want to buy a nice queen sized bed?) and the business has expanded. However, for several reasons I have missed working out of the home.

I miss my late night creative urges being stifled. That's when I start thinking how something might smell in a blend together.

I miss the flexibility of my hours, I had to set up more or less office hours because I was not at the house.

I miss the ability to pause and go outside during the day to take a break and play with my puppers.

I miss tossing something on the stove or in the crockpot for supper and then heading back to work.

My daughter has enjoyed playing at the studio, but she really loves it when she can get home to play in her room, play with the dogs, and do her thang.

And ... on top of it all ... Rent. Rent is costly! Last year was the first time in almost 20 years I paid rent to anyone. Every month I faithfully wrote out a check and mailed it and every month I thought about how many bars of soap I sold to pay for it.

So ... I did some research into zoning and Faerie Made is moving back to the homestead.

The company has expanded so the space I used to work out of is not large enough and I am adamant about having a separate living space from my work space so I needed an office and additional room for stock and packaging. I purchased a small wood building and had it put up on the property (it's so cute!) It will serve as office, stock and packaging. (and a bit of storage up in the lofts)

The old space is strictly manufacturing, soap curing and storage now.

Or all this will be by the time I get everything done ... end of July.

Stay tuned ... I'll continue to post pics as we continue to set up!

OH ... and I think a moving sale is in order :)

Well It's about time!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:21:00 +0000

I have been in business almost 6 years. 6 years!
And I haven't ever done a newsletter. I think it's about time.
So watch for updates as I work on it and then set up a link for signing up.

Dancing Sun Limited Edition Soap

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:51:00 +0000

In honor of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, Faerie Made brings out Dancing Sun, our summer soap.

Summer time and the days are long and hot. Our interpretation of summer is a lovely soap with lemon essential oil played up with bergamot, peppermint and rosemary. Calendula flower petals scattered throughout the bar. Fresh and bright and only available once a year! Celebrate summer time with this lovely addition to our regular line.

Just added to the site and on sale for $5.00.

We only have a limited amount and when it is gone, no more until next year ... Hurry and get it while you can! It's moving fast.

http://www.faeriemadesoaps.com/catalog.php?category=1

Soleil Part 2!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:32:00 +0000

So I had to take the Soleil perfume outside and take a few pictures to show how pretty it is. It has a natural shimmer to it. The color is so bright, just like summer. The aroma is just lovely (I am wearing it right now)

Oh, and it will be on the website this week.

More Summer Goodness (and limited too!)

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:49:00 +0000

I just decanted my summer perfume, Soleil. I have to get it bottled this week and added to the web site.

It is going to be offered til it is gone and then not available until next summer. (I always pinch a bit for myself!)

Coriander

Blood orange

bergamot

rose & jasmine

with a blend of vanillas, sandalwood and amber.

It's bright.

It's sexy.

It's Soleil

I think I will take my camera tomorrow so I can take a picture of this gorgeous perfume.

Market Soap?

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Plotting and planning a soap just for our local market. Using fresh goat milk from Three Graces Dairy, amazing honey from Green Goddess Farm and then off to peruse a few other vendors and see what I can add to it to help enhance the soaps amazing goodness.

Thinking Thinking Thinking.

I can't wait.

Sand Mandala

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:15:00 +0000

On Saturday I went to the City Gallery at Waterfront Park in Charleston SC.
For two weeks prior, a Tibetan Buddhist Monk had been working on a sand mandala and had completed it. This is a very spiritual ceremony which signifies the impermanent nature of existence. They make it, then destroy it. The whole time they are doing this they are praying over it. Afterwards they gave all who desired a spoon full of the sacred sand and then went to the Charleston Harbor where they poured the rest into the water to send the prayers out to the rest of the world. it was pretty incredible.

Just you wait! Summer is on the way!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:15:00 +0000

Summer Solstice is on the way ...

the soap I mean.

Lemon and bergamot play up the sunshine in this soap blend with a touch of mint and herb accentuating it ... calendula flower petals play throughout this soap.

Limited edition in 3 weeks. Only 130 bars available. (and pre-orders are already coming in!)

It smells lovely. So very lovely.

My niece at the prom

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:04:00 +0000

My niece is 18 years old and had her prom last night. So have a lot of teenagers. It is that time of year. What makes it special for Kelti is that she is here to have it. 18 years ago she was born at barely 2 pounds. She survived and is still here, with a few disabilities. Here she is with her step dad, Randy. Isn't she gorgeous?

Two of my favorite things to eat:

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sat, 17 May 2008 19:35:00 +0000

Goat Cheese and locally baked Artisan Bread!

Today at the City Market I remembered to bring my camera so I could show off two of my favorite yums. Three Graces Dairy sets up next to us at the Asheville City Market and also at our West Asheville Tailgate Market. They have some really amazing goat cheese chevre in a variety of flavors. Our family favorite is the Jumping Juniper which is a combination of juniper and chili. Oh and for a limited time we have been chowing down on RAMP goat cheese. For those of you who don't know wht ramps are, they are a wild onion which are really pungent and strong ... like a combination of garlic and onion. Oh my. This is ramp season, so we don't have a lot of time and I have been getting at least one tub of the ramp goat cheese every week. When it's gone, I'll go back to the garlic & herb. I can't complain about any of it. And soon, they will have feta .... one of my weaknesses.

Check out their website: http://3gracesdairy.com/

A few booths down at our City Market is Farm and Sparrow, http://www.farmandsparrow.com/ , a great small bakery with a wood fired oven. All I can say is WOW.

WOW.

The bread is just amazing. This is what bread is supposed to be like. They offer croisants, tarts, breads with seeds, made from spelt, rye, kamut, organic whole wheat with and with out seeds and nuts and the crust is drop dead amazing. I keep saying amazing, because I just don't have the word in my vocabulary to whine about how I took pictures of the bread and sampled it and then forgot to buy a loaf. I'll get one or two next Saturday. Of course, I could run to a market to pick up a loaf ... they are selling them at the French Broad CO-OP, Greenlife, and Earth Fare.

I want some this second.

WAAH! My aching back

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:49:00 +0000

My back is hurting and my laptop power adapter is broken and i had a new one overnighted to me and they sent me the wrong one.

grumble.

They say bad luck runs in threes. My sink at my studio is backed up and I need to call a plumber in.

There. That's three.

Now that it is all over, let's talk about the good things in life. My back is out, b ut my husband has taken it upon himself to take care of me and insist I take a hot bath, take my ibuprofen, make an appointment for a massage (tomorrow, I hope!) and then use my muscle rub.

Oh that little product is a power house and a top selling item. It works so well. And it's on sale!http://www.faeriemadesoaps.com/catalog.php?item=11&catid=2&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D2

Mother's Day Sale! FREE SHIPPING!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Need a gift for mom or another awesome woman in your life?

Check this awesome gift choice out put together by Mandy, Faerie Made's packaging goddess.

With this gift you get one of our natural handmade soaps, a shea butter sugar scrub, natural shea butter and a hemp lip balm. This comes in a really pretty copper basket. Only $30.00. The scents are already pre-sorted and Limited quantities are available.

Best of all ... This week you get Free Shipping on all orders over $20.00

Order our gift set here:

http://www.faeriemadesoaps.com/catalog.php?category=4

Asheville Herb Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:48:00 +0000

I will be there at booth 53. http://www.ashevilleherbfestival.com/

9-5 friday, 9-5 saturday, 10-3 sunday

come check us out ... i'll be taking pictures and putting them on here too.

Asheville City Market

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:02:00 +0000

Asheville's newest market started last week. I came out today to hang out with Mandy while she vended (you can see her every Saturday through the season until mid October) and I took some pics of the scene there. The market is in the second week and it's onlly going to continue to get better. The veggies aren't in full force yet. I am really excited about this new venture. Glad we could be in from the beginning.

West Asheville Tailgate Market

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:19:00 +0000

The West Asheville Tailgate Market opened yesterday and Faerie Made was there. This is the tailgate market here in Asheville that is just a block from my house and my studio. I have been attending this market since my daughter was a little baby who was still crawling.
The night before she was jumping up and down from excitement because it was market time.
Opening day this year was amazing. We were full! Here are a few pics from it, including Mandy my assistant and her husband who were there.
Next week I hope to take my camera again and get a few images of the goodies all the vendors are offering.
We have meat, veggies, soap :), goat cheese, plants,nuts and jams, organic fresh pasta, candied apples and tie dyes ........... and on and on ...

Sunday Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:28:00 +0000

This woman who writes this blog is constantly putting on pounds... Wonder why? Well, my husband is an amazing cook. I am so spoiled. When I was in Costa Rica I missed his cooking. The food there was amazing, as fresh and pure as it could be, but it was lacking my husband's gift of that special something he does. He is good. He should open a restaurant.
Anyway, I didn't get a chance for completing the photo shoot of our Sunday dinner, but he did take a ham, and pulled out this and that ... including some flat cola we had in the refrigerator. MMMMMMM ...... we are still eating on that ham. Tonight he plans to take some amazing fresh goat cheese chevre and black walnuts and organic fresh pasta that I purchased at our local tailgate market yesterday and making an amazing dish with that and the last of our ham.

It's Market Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:27:00 +0000

It's Market season again here. Yesterday was the first day of the new Asheville City Market. Faerie Made was there (and will be there every Saturday from 8 am until 1 pm). The City Market is located at the Public Works Building at 161 S. Charlotte Street in downtown Asheville.

This market will have over 60 vendors during the height of the growing season. My assistant, Mandy will be there with me floating in and out on the weekends. This is going to be a really nice market, there are people there with jams and jellies, goat cheese, plants, meats, fish, fresh pastries and breads, vegetables and fruits and of course, awesome soaps and body care!!!

If you live or are visiting in the Asheville area, come check us out! You won't be sorry.

Also, if you live in the West Asheville area or just want to come hang out in a really cool space ... The West Asheville Tailgate Market starts this Wednesday. This is a smaller market, with about 14 or so vendors. I have been attending this market since my daughter was one year old and is one block from my house and my studio.

I love this Market, it is a community place. Live music, meats, veggies, fruits and honey, goat cheese (mmmmmmm!), handmade pasta and of course Faerie Made. We set up from 3:30 until 6:30 during the season (until about mid October).

Oh and both markets have live music. It's such an awesome venue.

Speaking of Spring ... New Soap, New Soap

noreply@blogger.com (Faerie Made) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:31:00 +0000

Spring Equinox soap is here and almost gone. I am doing it limited edition, but I think it may become part of my regular wholesale line since my sales rep, my assistant, and all my testers are crazy about it. It's pretty awesome. Has citrus essential oils (tons of grapefruit), rosemary, lavender and ylang. I am looking at renaming it to not be such a seasonal name, but still seasonal. I am leaning to calling it Ostara, which is what I wanted to call it originally.

Unfortunately I have to let a soap go. Grassy Mint, a lovely bar, very simple and unassuming, has had lower sales and I am going to discontinue wholesaling it as soon as the stock is gone. Mandy, my assistant, has already insisted on taking 20 bars home because it is one of her favorites.

Speaking of which ... I need to make soap this week.

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