makeScents, LLC

Blogging at (another) New Location

2009-01-01T01:52:00.000-08:00

New Years must inspire me to "begin anew"!

NOW BLOGGING HERE:

www.SeattleScents.blogspot.com

Confession: Identity Crisis

2008-12-31T19:40:00.000-08:00

Maybe you've noticed I have several things going on. Let's count, shall we?

SparklePuss.com

weeLUXURIES.com

FourSeasonsFragrance.com

LemonLollipop.com

Seattle-Scents.com

makeScentsLLC.com

GardenGirlDesign.com

and a HOST of others in the recesses of my mind!

So, what should I do?

Can I really be all of those? Probably, but I think it would be very difficult to grow...and I think I'm ready to grow. So do I have to give something up? How do I make the transition from "hobby business" to real business? I have no idea. Do you?

Invisible

2008-12-31T19:15:00.001-08:00

I just wrote a lovely post and I wasn't logged in.

grrrrr.

Happy New Year!

LEMONBERRY Goat's Milk Soap

2008-12-28T13:44:00.000-08:00

Finally, the snow is melting here! I can't wait to see my grass again!

Last night I made LEMONBERRY Goat's Milk Soap...may I say - it is OUTSTANDING!?

Funny, though, before slicing, the loaf looks like a pan of macaroni & cheese!

I'm very excited to announce NEW BODY BUTTERS for weeLUXURIES.com!! Well, actually they are not on the site yet, but are in my Etsy shop...here. I might even make some LEMONBERRY BODY BUTTER if anyone makes that request, oooohh YUMMEEEEE!

be brave. say "merry christmas".

2008-12-16T13:51:00.000-08:00

I just read the "stupidest" thing on a website...

"order by Dec 19th for holiday delivery".

What holiday?

Do you think they were referring to that holiday next Thursday called CHRISTMAS!??!?

Get a life, people. It's Christmas.

Be brave. Say "Merry Christmas".

GIVE PRESENCE. Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-04T14:01:00.000-08:00

Another link:
http://www.occfamily.org/adventconspiracy/vodcast.asp?video=AdventConspiracy.mov

life is good.

2008-11-07T16:00:00.001-08:00

eat satumas.

The Polish Poll-FUN!

2008-10-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

http://thepolishpoll.com/

get coupons for FREE ZOYA NAIL LACQUER!

New Soy Wax for SparklePuss

2008-10-11T22:05:00.000-07:00

We went to the pumpkin patch today...my kids loved it! What a gorgeous day we had with extreme sunshine and a gentle autumn nip in the air!!

Which of course leads me to the discussion of soy wax. haha! Actually as I twined through the corn maze I was grinding away on this problem of soy wax. Do I just hang it up and forget it? Or do I rise to the occasion and figure this out?

I've decided.

Which is no small thing for me.

I am going to rise. YAY!

It is a daunting task to start over with a different wax. But I have a few ideas to help me work through this methodically and accurately. Since I get so many requests for scented and unscented tealights, I'm GOING TO FIND a way to offer these to my customers. NOW is the perfect time to figure it out.

I'm not sure when the new wax will debut...stay tuned!

So...ONWARD with this new exciting development. :)

SparklePuss and Soy Wax

2008-10-10T22:30:00.000-07:00

I'm very concerned.

My local distributor no longer carries my soy wax. I've known this for about two months. The price per case has increased significantly. At the moment, I only have 1 1/2 cases with no prospect of where to get more.

That leaves me with the prospect of switching soy waxes. That means more testing...it means nearly starting all over.

I'm not sure if I'm really up for that.

Stay tuned.

Lemon Lollipop Product Update

2008-09-24T01:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm a student again.

Not THAT kind of student. I've enrolled in HBU. The Handmade Beauty University. My new favorite person is Donna Maria of Indie Beauty. She like, knows EVERYTHING! I'm getting SO much out of the online classes!

Why do I tell you this? These classes have inspired me to RIGHT a few WRONGS in my endeavors. Now right and wrong are strong words...but I'm going back and solidifying my product lines.

SparklePuss Soy Candles is in a GREAT place...nine scents, four products in candles and wickless and a couple accessories. Need to redesign/market my gift certificates.

Seattle-Scents.com is in a GREAT place...30 scents, 5 products. I LOVE selling these perfume oils...the quality is OUTSTANDING (can I say that? Well maybe this is a good spot for a customer testimonial..."I absolutely love this perfume oil!! Excellent quality, long lasting and smells wonderful!! -AT from PA

ok, where was I?

Seattle Scents. Which brings me to Lemon-Lollipop.com...

Ah. I LOVE this line. I launched it within about a day of inception. I love the label COLORS and after changing two scents today, I love the entire LINE!

So, the two new scents:
Spicy Siren (replaces In the Kitchen)
and
Garden Gal (replacing In the Garden)

10 Fragrances.
5 Product lines include:
Roll-On Perfume Oil
Spray-On Body Mist
Solid Perfume Sticks™
Dab-On Perfume Oil
Shea Glycerin Soap
(researching a whipped body cleanser & sugar/salt scrub)

So once I get my website updated and my Etsy shop updated for Lemon Lollipop, you'll have to come take a LOOK!

Thank you to everyone who TALKS about my stuff! Word of mouth endorsement is MOST appreciated! I wouldn't be here without you! :)

BLOGGED DOWN

2008-09-18T23:00:00.001-07:00

I just got an email from a fellow candlemaker I met online, Lois.

She actually reads my blog!

That's a little scary. I mean, I really don't ever think anyone is going to bother with what I might write!! I guess I need to step it up! (Thanks for reading, Lois!!!)

I have all these "great" ideas...but I realize that I feel BOGGED DOWN. I want to offer a gift-with-purchase, yet I'm lucky just to include one free sample vial of perfume oil in orders. I want to offer a $5 deal every month, but I haven't had much interest from my mailing list subscribers, so I feel bogged down with updating the website every month. I also want to offer a drawing for my customers, but when I email the person who won, I get no response.

Point being, I want to do away with things that BOG ME DOWN.

I think another executive meeting is in order.

I'll keep you posted.

BY THE WAY...I've been pouring SparklePuss Soy Candles and just want you to know...the "space needle SPICY PUMPKIN BREAD" is REALLY REALLY GOOD!! If you like pumpkin scents, please try this one! There's something special about it!

OPPOSE the FDA Globalization Act of 2008

2008-09-18T23:00:00.000-07:00

Being a seller of handmade perfume, I've been meaning to blog about the FDA Globalization Act of 2008.

Anyone in the industry selling food, soaps, perfume or cosmetics needs to get involved to stop this legislation!

Please read the following.

Many thanks to Mike & Tammy Tivis of www.ElementsBathandBody.com as she gave me permission to copy her entire newsletter! What a time saver!
******************************************************************************************************
The FDA Globalization Act can PUT YOU OUT OF BUSINESS!

Have you heard of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008? If you haven't, you need to know that the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce released a proposal that will significantly impact businesses that sell cosmetics.

A few of the major provisions:
1) $2000 annual FDA registration fee
2) Fees for reregistration, inspections & reinspections, certification, certifying agent accreditation, laboratory accreditation, export certification, and importer registration.
3) Cumbersome paperwork
4) Substantial fines for those that do not comply

Who wins??? $600 million is predicted to be generated from the food registration fees alone.

Who loses??? You, your customers & the suppliers that support your business.

We urge you to sign the petition on Donna Maria's site Indie Beauty Network Business Blog. ( www.indiebeauty.com/indie_business/2008/06/stop-the-fda-gl.html ). Debbie May from WSP is heading to DC @ on Sept 24 to meet w/lawmakers. Please take a moment to also answer her short survey so she is armed w/as much info as possible: WSP Survey to stop FDA Globalization Act. Please pass this info along to your customers, friends and family as well. Anyone that wants the choice to purchase handmade cosmetics needs to sign this petition before it is forwarded to Congress. Together, we CAN & MUST make a difference. Best wishes!

ebook

2008-08-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

In consideration of what I really enjoy about all of this crazy activity, I'm decided to write an ebook.

Never done it before. I think there's software out there to help me do this.

I'm pretty excited about it!

This ebook will reveal my steps to starting up an ecommerce business (yeah, because I've done it about 50 times and helped others to do the same)! I'm hoping to expand the concept to include selling my SEVERAL ideas that I don't have time to do. I have "turnkey" business ideas, including domain names, just little homebased businesses ready to go! Just add water...

So the ebook with leverage that and provide a simple checklist to setting up shop.

I can SO help you with that!! :)

I think once the ebook is done I can also offer my consulting services for those who want more of a "hand holding" experience. That way the client can have my undivided attention with regards to areas they find difficult to complete.

Huh.

Sounds good! I better sell something so I can buy the software!

Have I mentioned that "I love my fan"? It has been very hot here in Seattle. Most of us don't have air conditioning, so when it gets into the high 80s and low 90s, we just melt...or rather...bake.

Have a great weekend!

LMAO

2008-08-07T16:14:00.002-07:00

I love that I can never take myself too seriously.

First off, I've decided I really do prefer my blog in Trebuchet and not Verdana. It is this ONGOING thing for me. And who's to say I can't just darn well use both fonts if I want to!?

Next, I posted my last post on one of my other blogs I don't ever use. So I'm all excited to PUBLISH POST and what comes up? Some strange blog I never use! FUNNY!

Acceptance. It is a good thing.

2008-08-07T16:14:00.001-07:00

Well.

This is more of a personal post...I've come realize a few things in the past couple of days.

First-I went to check out some commercial space...the excitement of possible expansions...was dashed. I just don't want to. I thought I did. I can work hard for no money. But I've come to admit that I'm not really a "business-owner" but more of a glorified "hobbyist". And I think I like it that way. Anger. Denial. Grief because I like to think of myself in this lofty way, "I'm a business owner". I went through all those stages (it took me about 8 hours). Now I'm OK. Really. I think I've come to grips with the fact that I like my life...just the way it is. For a long time now, I've had this DRIVE to do more, be more, dobedobebdodododoo more More MORE! And within hours (ok maybe it was over the weekend), somehow, my perspective has changed and my priorities are shifting as we speak. This leads me to

Second-A new season...people know about "empty-nesters" and it is really easy to spout off about "the seasons of life" when I no idea what it is like...but I'm totally going through one and I feel utterly unprepared, or rather, I'm sorta shocked. Both my children will be in elementary school in a matter of (gasp) 4 weeks, yes, that is less than TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS! Many of my friends homeschool...this phenomena will never happen to them...so they don't understand. Only those who have this tragic-ecstasy happen to them understand. As I ponder the thought, I get a little tingly and light-headed! But then some time will pass and I find myself a little sad...cheated...surprised...tragically aware that my life truly IS passing by. No one really prepared me for this transition...oh, sure, it goes like this, "someday your kids will be in school honey, then you can (insert-go clothes shopping alone, go to the bathroom alone, sleep in, etc)" All that sounded WONDERFUL when I had bottles, diapers and goldfish crackers up to my neck. And back then, I didn't really have a braincell to even ponder it. But now...well, I'm going to miss all that. NOW WAIT A MINUTE, how does this happen!??!?! I have no regrets...I've tried to make the best of every single day of my kids' childhood...I think the thing that is just hard for me is that...I can NEVER go back. I hate not having options (!) It seems almost cruel. My mother-in-law says it all the time, "oh, just to have Johnny for a moment at the age of 4, I loved that". I kinda get it now.

Or maybe it is there's a new benchmark..."when your kids go to school"...next for me is "when they go to junior high, high school, college, leave home" and that all goes really TOO fast for my taste!

So where does all this leave me but in standing in a puddle of my own teardrops?

Well, acceptance is a good thing. Today, despite my quivering lower lip, I have decided, IT IS OK. Feel the pain, feel the joy...it really is all part of life. And I want to LIVE LIFE to the fullest! So I must feel it all...pain, joy, etc. So I'm embracing these next four weeks with...well, nothing. I'm just going to BE with my kids...no grand "trying to make up for mistakes along the way" or "let's cram massive kid events into these next 28 days"...just being with them...I think I'm ok with that as I prepare for the inevitable next phase of being a mom...and THAT is a good thing!

Oh Yeah, The Sense of Utter Satisfaction

2008-08-01T00:39:00.000-07:00

Ah.

THAT is a deep sense of satisfaction.

Grin.

SparklePuss.com will turn THREE in December...amazing.

Since the day I officially launched in December 2005 (with $300 click budget on Yahoo and a website no one knew about!) I've been in WAY over my head!

Today, alas, I am FINALLY in a place where I am very proud of the items I offer and equally proud of the fact that I can produce these items in a timely manner!! Reducing my scent choices to NINE has made all the difference and I'm really excited as we move into the buying season.

SparklePuss offers NINE NEW SUPER SCENTS as of August 1st:
please welcome...
alki AUTUMN HARVEST™
fremont FIR BERRY™
emerald city EVERGREEN™
madrona MIDNIGHT MOON™
magnolia SPICY MANDARIN™
pike place PEPPERMINT CANDY
pioneer square CINNAMON PEAR™
ravenna VANILLA VIXEN™
space needle SPICY PUMPKIN BREAD™

Back in action, the (truly) beloved small soy jar candle! I sold out of these like two years ago and have secured a west coast supplier! My prices have bumped up on the soy candle (so I can like stay in business people!) :) Trust me, they are totally worth it...they burn beautifully!

As you can see, I do need a new photo...consider it 'coming soon'.

Sad and missing a favorite scent?...contact me! I'd guess I still have it! I'm offering discontinued scents on my SparklePussOutlet.etsy.com site (sorry, you do have to log in) and that is the place to request scents at half off! I can certainly set up a page on my main site to purchase with debit or credit if you don't want to do that through PayPal. Just communicate with me...I don't bite, just scratch. hehehehe

Four Seasons Fragrance & Lemon Lollipop are up for some web-work and holiday gift ideas (sorry, I have to do this NOW to be ready for you!)

Mr-Yummy.com has been left in the dust for the moment.

Have you visited Seattle-Scents.com yet? I'm really having fun with this one!

And coming this month...BirthstonePerfumes.com :)

Thanks for reading this far. Gotta go!

CUSTOMER PERKS!

2008-07-05T02:15:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've ever blogged on the GREAT CUSTOMER PERKS I offer! And you'll WANT TO KNOW this! :)

For confirmed subscribers on my mailing list:
Once per month I send out the "newsletter" with What's New, Monthly Drawing Prize and Monthly $5 Deal.

The Monthly Drawing Prize is awarded to ONE confirmed subscriber to my mailing list each month. Just being a CONFIRMED subscriber on my mailing list makes you eligible for the drawing each month. Make sure you are ON the mailing list and you are CONFIRMED. I will contact you by email if you win! See makeScentsLLC.com/mailing_list.html for details.

The Monthly $5 Deal is ONLY AVAILABLE from the newsletter...each month I select an item from my product line-up to offer for only $5!

I think I'll blog on the night I finish the newsletter with the new info.
-What's New for July: Mr-Yummy.com launches!
-July Monthly Drawing Prize: Three wickless super-scented soy candle tins in your choice of scents by SparklePuss
-July Monthly $5 Deal: Any TWO Shea-Glycerin Soaps by Seattle Scents for $5
(see newsletter for details, make sure that my email is on your approved list... makeScentsLLC@gmail.com)

AND...I've been wanting to do THIS for a long time-offer a gift-with-purchase!

ALL orders on my websites or Etsy shops will receive the monthly Gift-with-Purchase. Gifts change every month on the first.

July's Gift-with-Purchase: one sample Lemon Lollipop perfume oil AND lemon lollipop!

Thank you very much for your support!

RATS! and Mr-Yummy.com

2008-06-19T01:12:00.000-07:00

Not THOSE rats...rats as in "darn!" or as my husband says, "frank and beans"...that's just his little swear word. Mine is "fudgsicle"!!

So FUDGSICLE!!

I am temporarily discontinuing SOY TEALIGHTS. I've had some feedback that they aren't burning properly. Rather than send out a faulty product, I'm going to just pull them. I'll have to do a little work to get them back, I may need a custom made wick...we'll see.

So sorry to all you tealight lovers out there! :(

What's new (this week)?? Well, I've wanted to launch a line of men's fine fragrance for some time. It was initially going to be associated with Four Seasons Fragrance...but it turned out to be a stand alone thing.

Welcome... Mr-Yummy.com !

25 scents...a few of the names are:
Beefcake
Dog's Best Friend
and
Sports Stud

My signature product is the Scent Sampler Cube by Mr-Yummy.com CLICK HERE to view!

I'm just getting it going, but please come visit and watch it blossom!!!

(p.s. my favorite scent in the line (today) is Mr Yummy...oooooohhhhh, SEXY!)

June-uary and SOAP-in-a-BOX™

2008-06-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is the new term for Seattle Summer 2008...June-uary. It has been COLD and RAINY...usually by June 1st the kids are wearing shorts to school. Not this year lest they freeze to death! Thanks Ang, June-uary!

On that note, everyone needs a new bar of soap!
Introducing...

Soap-in-a-Box™!

I am SO excited about this new product! You'll be able to get the new Soap-in-a-Box™ in all our body-safe fragranced lines (this means NOT SparklePuss for now). This soap is 3.8oz/108g, ivory-white, just right size and fragranced with your choice of any of our lines!! Want soap in your favorite weeLUXURIES or Lemon Lollipop scent?

So why should you get soap from me anyways? You probably already have your very own special soapmaker...

Why get soap from me?? Here's a few reasons to consider:
-no human hands touch your soap, hot soap is poured into container, just pop it out!
-experienced seller since 12/2005-quality supplies, fragrance & packaging
-product is FUN!
-soap won't get crushed, bumped or scratched in transit
-makes terrific gifts-fun, colorful packaging appeals to all ages
-excellent price point for a customized, handmade, glycerin-rich SOAP! :)

This is going to be a label-nightmare, but I'm up for it! (label shows weeLUXURIES.com Sandalwood) You will LOVE this soap!! I offer a shea-glycerin soap (to get other soap blends, visit SOAPinaBOX.etsy.com )

For Posterity

2008-05-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

This little post needs to be tucked away here in between all the "important" stuff...I L O V E what I do! And today I'm doing it during the DAYTIME and not in the wee hours of the night.

On the other hand, like any profession, vocation or job-there are days I want to throw in the towel, light a (SparklePuss) match and smile wickedly while it all burns to the ground. (sometimes it's just intense!)

But today, is an amazing day...I am HOME ALONE - working (UNinterrupted) - listening to KCMS - filling and packaging orders - answering emails - flirting with my husband online - mixing perfume - singing at the top of my lungs because no one can hear me...getting twisted in bubble mask (!) and my children are gone today in good hands and I T I S G O O D.

iTunes is like on 11 (spinal tap - the movie!) and I'm rocking out! Even though I work at home, I eat at my desk, wait too long to take potty breaks (why waste time going to the bathroom when there's fun stuff to do!?!?!) and trip over the cat while I'm procrastinating packaging one more flat rate box of candles.

If I never make a cent-I'll still do it...I just love juggling all the tasks and challenges of "balancing" a family and home business(es)...and I'm like the BEST BOSS, to boot! I give my employees (ME!) plenty of fresh water and yummy chocolate...two VITAL components of a happy life!

In sharp contrast to my amazing and truly abundant life of freedom...there are so so so very many across the globe who suffer on a daily basis from real danger, fear, malnutrition, and hopelessness among other life-threatening and discouraging things. They are always lurking in the margins of my mind and as I think of them, I have endless gratitude to the Lord for His great blessing on my life.

So maybe I'll read this post on one of those "burn it all down" days...and have a sense of perspective.

I LOVE WHAT I DO!

Beautiful Spring!

2008-05-20T00:19:00.000-07:00

Well, not much going on here except I'm busy filling orders! Thank you!

My new favorite movie is Catch and Release, here's the trailer...

NEW-Reed Diffusers!

2008-04-27T04:04:00.000-07:00

Nine Lives by SparklePuss will be launching our new REED DIFFUSERS in the next few weeks!

Look for our 7oz square bottle and NINE (different) diffuser oils!

More will be included in our next newsletter!

To sign up, visit any of our sites!

Monsoon Musk by Four Seasons Fragrance has been getting rave reviews! Try some today!

VelvetLush™ Luxury Body Lotion by Four Seasons Fragrance

2008-04-12T01:48:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to blog about lotions tonight. It is funny that I title my blog before I write it. I don't want to talk lotion.

What I really want to say is this...

I poured a few CUCUMBER COOL tealights tonight. I only labeled and bagged five, but I poured six. So I took the extra one to my desk in a frosted glass votive cup-and lit it.

This is HUGE. I NEVER

ever

NEVER

never

NEVER EVER burn candles for the fun of it.

That may sound really funny. But I've done so much wick testing...I've always got some really lame candle flickering its' way into oblivion on the stove. But NEVER for ambiance or scent. Just business, never pleasure. Isn't that sad!?!? (Reminds me of FRENCH KISS when Kevin Kline says to Meg Ryan, "he makes the wine but never drinks it"...why is so much of life like a scene from a movie? Now that is from YOU'VE GOT MAIL where Meg Ryan says something like that to Greg Kinnear...anyways I'm getting off track...)

To my utter astonishment, that darn little tealight smells REALLY good! Can I say that!?!? I make kick-butt soy candles! Ya WHO !!!!!

I'm the type of person who is pessimistic and can never see the good parts of myself...so it is a step for me to tell myself I make nice candles!! Hey, I'm starting to believe my customers!! (I have a small fan club of two women who are responsible for me STILL being here...they don't know it, but at my lowest of low times (the times every business owner wants to cancel their website and disconnect their 800 number), it was they who placed an order and gave me a boost. I give them credit...they rave about my candles and claim they will die if I ever stop making SparklePuss Super-Scented Soy Candles! For tonight, I believe them for once!!!!! Thank you Ferry Girls!!!!!)

Well, that felt really good to appreciate myself, yay, me!!!

On another note, I'm considering documenting my weight loss journey in a blog. That would be some real accountability, huh? Like reality-blogging. Or maybe blogging is already like reality-tv...whatever. I'm going to bed.

More on lotions tomorrow!

Have a great weekend!!! Seventy in Seattle tomorrow, woo hoo!

Save a Tree

2008-04-10T12:36:00.000-07:00

In a continuing effort to tread lightly on Planet Earth, we've made another executive decision...NO MORE PAPER RECEIPTS will be included with retail orders. Wholesale buyers will still receive a receipt with their packages.

Since we are exclusively online, everyone who orders gets a receipt after checkout...so why print a receipt and send it across the country?

Save a tree...use your computer to view your receipts! :)

Get on the RECYCLE WAGON...we are proud to announce that in two and a half years in business, we have NEVER purchased packing peanuts. WE RE-USE!