So yeah...I am irritated

I'm turning into that person I bitch about. I've been spending a lot of time lately going through the Etsy Gift Guids, looking at the new B&B Voter on Etsy, and today looking at the Stork articles. You know what I keep seeing? Not only the same B&B sellers repeated throughout, but in some cases, the exact same listings from the same sellers. I'm not saying they don't deserve the recognition, because they do. They have fantastic products with amazing photographs.

Yes, I am jealous. I won't deny it. Yes, I am greedy because we have been on the front page 5 times in 4 months and been in 2 gift guides in Decemeber....but really...there are thousands of B&B shops on Etsy and hundreds of those that have great pics and fabulous products...so why is there a need to repeat sellers and items throughout the gift guides?

I'm trying to remain calm and respectful, because I truly do love selling on Etsy...in fact, Amy and I have been two of the biggest Etsy supporters and cheerleaders....but there is a little voice in my head screaming, "Who do I have to blow to get that sort of recognition?!"

So Amy said to me last night, "You realize we've sold over 100 items in the last 10 days, right?" I knew that we had sold a lot this month...we have had an AMAZING February....but I didn't really realize just HOW much we have sold.

106 items in the last 10 days. It's unreal. Surreal. What we thought was a hobby and way to make some extra cash here and there just may be turning into something a whole helluva lot more.

I had always thought, "Wow, wouldn't it be great if I could get paid to actually do this?" though I never really thought it would be a possibility. Now, I am wondering if it may actually be possible. Maybe 6 months or a year down the road, I can work just part time and put even more effort into Heathen's Hearth.

Truly...we have all of you to thank. For supporting us, loving our products and spreading the word. Thank you so much!

Update!

I was able to purchase my ticket home, so thank you all! But we are still running our free shipping sale thru the end of the weekend...so take advantage of it now!

Thanks!!

Just a friendly reminder

That our Everything But the Bathtub Give Away is now closed to new entries. Any entries after midnight this morning will not be counted.

There are still 5 days left to enter the Give Away sponsored by AuntiDis.

Entries into Everything But the Bathtub will be tallied over the next 2 days (there were over 400 entries!) and a winner will be announced here on our blog, and in our shop announcement on Friday February 25th by 6pm!

Good luck to you all!

Bwahahahaha!!

My favorite feedback by far! This one made me sniggle (snort/giggle)...

"The soap is awesome. The scrub is awesome. Used together, I don't know if I want to eat me or take me under the bleachers." - MontiLee

Free Misty Sale: Free Domestic Shipping in our shop

So, here's the scoop. Misty needs to fly home to spend some time with her son.

(Ain't he a cutie pie?)

We need to gather up some extra funds for her to be able to afford the flight and all the hoopla that goes with being on vacation for a week (and after the work the poor woman has had to do with me being out of town for the last 2 months, even working to fill orders on her birthday!!!).

So, we are having the Ship Misty Home with FREE Shipping! Sale. The sale will last until we have enough to purchase her plane ticket home, or until March 14th, which is the day we have to buy the ticket.

Don't let this one slip by you... since we have no idea when the sale will end, take advantage of it early!

*** Please note that free shipping applies only to the US. Canadian shoppers will pay only $1 for the first item purchased and .50 cents each additional item. All other shoppers from other countries must contact us through convo to recieve discounted shipping rates on their orders!

My latest collection

The Mighty Oak

(click me!)

Saturday Night Specials!!!

From now until 6am EST 2/22....25% off all orders in our shop over $10. Please leave a comment of "SNS" in the notes to seller and wait for a revised invoice through paypal.

If you do not wait for a revised invoice, we will issue the 25% discount via paypal refund on Sunday 2/22 by no later than 8pm.

Shipping is not included in the 25% discount.

Don't forget, that all entrants in our Everything but the Bathtub Give-away also recieve one entry per $ spent, so if you are an entrant in our give away (see this post) leave your blogger name in the notes to seller as well!

Happy shopping!

AuntieDis Giveway!!

This give away is closed as of FEB 28. Thank you for entering!

I think by now, everyone knows my love for AuntieDis' candles, jewelry, tags and cards. She's not only a friend, but an amazing crafter! Di has the BEST candles on Etsy....and customer service to match her unparalleled products.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a stay at home mom of 3 and one furbaby, and wife to the love of my life, my soldier, my hero. I live for pizza, 80's rock, and Food Network. I have a huge and voracious sweet tooth. I would die without chocolate and coke (coca cola that is).

2. Apart from creating things, what do you do?
Take lots of naps while the kids are at school, talk to the dog (she understands, I swear!!), shop, chat online, and right now I'm in the process of redecorating my house.

3. What first made you want to become an artist and crafter?
A long, LONG time ago (about 10 years now), I used to be a Yankee Candle fanatic, but after some time, and lots of money, they just weren't doing it for me. I decided that I had to be able to do it better (and at a better value), so I started researching. The beads and paper addictions started more recently. I think I have an addictive personality, and I do love anything that sparkles! And there's a lot of things I just have to *have* so then eventually I have to find stuff to do with them before they overtake my house.

4. What advice would you give to artists who are new to selling their handmade products?
Don't give up! Keep your chin up, and keep working to find what works for you. Keep improving your pictures, your site, your product, and remember that just because someone does great at craft shows, or on one venue, or one social networking site, doesn't necessarily mean it's going to work for you. Try different things. Don't be afraid to experiment. Advertising is important. Talk to anyone who will listen about your stuff!

5. How did you first find Etsy?
Honestly? I can't remember what we had for dinner last night, I surely can't remember how I found Etsy 3 years ago. LOL I am sure someone probably told me about it! It has become another facet to my 'addictive personality'. It's the first thing I check in the morning and the last thing I check at night.

6. How do you promote your work?
Flickr, Myspace, most recently Facebook, I have vinyl on my car, I pass out business cards wherever I can.

7. Anything else you would like to add?
Rock on!

AuntieDis is offering one of her amazing candles for this giveaway...and it just so happens to be my very favorite scent, Pink Sugar! You have 5 chances to win!

1. Go to AuntieDis' Etsy Shop and come back here and leave a comment telling us which of her scents is your favorite!

2. Go to her other shop, auntiescardshop, and come back here telling us what your favorite item in that shop is.

3. Go to her blog and become a follower...then come back here and leave another comment letting us know you have done so!

4. Blog/twitter/plurk/etc about this giveway and come back and leave another comment letting us know you have done so!

5. Purchase something from either of her shops and come back here leaving another entry letting us know you have done so!

Be sure you leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the winner!
This giveaway is open to the US only and will run until Saturday, February 28th at midnight EST. Good luck!

Check out this giveaway!

Our latest interview and giveaway is posted on the Etsy Chatters Team Blog...check it out!!

http://etsychatters.blogspot.com/2009/02/mymothermary-interview-and-giveaway.html

I found the most adorable shop! Timberline Treasures

Ok, so I didn't find her shop, I found a thread she started in the forums. :-) And we beat a dead horse and I decided to check out the items... its a thing with me. When people talk about slow sales, the first thing I do before venting my spleen about advertising and networking is to check the quality of the shop. If the quality isn't there, I don't bother, its kind of evident why there aren't any sales.

But I digress...

Ginny's work is very pretty, and quite unique, with some very evident Mid-western flair. I think I might have actually found a Christmas gift for my FIL for this year... he's a hunting/fishing/cabin type guy... so I'll get him some throw pillows (ok, they'll be more for his woman's benefit, but ya know, at least it fits my image of what he might like..LOL)

I'm digressing again, you have to stop letting me do that or I'll never get to show you the works put out by timberlineltd (also known as Timberline Treasures)!

I absolutely LOVE this - Black and White Pendleton Fabric Wool Shoulder Bag.

And these adorable matching organizer pouches. I'm debating saving up some cash to buy some of these for those little mini-gift sets like we were doing over the holidays. they'd make great gifts and makeup/purse bags. :)

So feel free to stop by, and if you find something you've been hoping for, tell her amy, the evil twin, says hello. :)

Mature Content! Adults Only!!

This is not for children to see...it may be too racy....

LOL! My friend Kel sent me some Lady Bug Truffles from Swiss Colony and the perv in me couldn't help myself....

Happy Birthday To ME!!

Yeah, it's a couple days late, but kiss it.

So, as a birthday present to myself, I finally (I say finally because I've been orgasming over her stuff for months and months) bought myself a pretty from sojourcuriosities! Aaaaaannnnnd it was sitting all nice and gorgeously in my mailbox for me when I got home yesterday evening.

I would like to say that I opened the envelope then very serenely and ladylike, but I would be lying. I ripped the f&cker open, yanked on the strings (it was very prettily wrapped, by the way, sojo, lol!) until they snapped, threw the top of the box off, and pulled out My Precious.

Ahhhhhhhhh....it's so pretty. By far, the best birthday gift I've ever given myself...all thanks to the creative genius that is sojourncuriosities.

Normally I would say "Hey check out her shop, you won't be sorry!" but in this instance, I am gonna go a bit further:

"Hey! Go to her shop and buy something or else I'll break your kneecaps and make you very sorry!"

Hehehe...hopefully I don't um...get in trouble for that.

Have a great day, my blogger loves!

-Misty aka the-usually-not-so-evil-twin

Happy Birthday to Misty!

Happy Birthday Seester ;-) I know its been a good one so far, but I hope it stays that way.

No, you're not seeing double

Heathen's Hearth really did get two treasuries, lol. Amy and I were both able to snag one yesterday when the main treasury opened.

Amy did a Spring theme which is fresh and gorgeous...Spring is in the air


























I went with a more gothic and macabre Snow White theme...Fairest of them all

I have a nit pick aka Shea Butter and Lavender Essential Oil

I'm not usually all that nit-picky, at least, I don't think I am - ok...so maybe a little.

But I saw some soap for sale today, that said it was "nut free" and made for those people who suffer from nut allergies.

So what's my gripe?

My gripe is that its primary component was Shea Butter. For those of you who don't know, Shea butter is made from the fat extracted from the *nut* of the Shea Tree. Granted, not everyone with nut allergies will be allergic to shea butter, (though there are reports that people with latex allergies will be), but to claim something is "nut free" and then make it with a "nut butter", just got my goat. That's my nit pick of the day. I now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

For those of you without shea nut allergies out there, the following is some information on the healing properties of Shea Butter:

Shea butter is both a moisturizer and emollient, meaning that it not only adds moisture to the skin, but that it also softens skin and helps repair dry and scaly skin. It is also a known anti-inflammatory agent, which makes it a good choice as a moisturizer for people like me who suffer from arthritis flares. It won't heal it or make it go away, but it does help allievate some of the inflammation, especially in conjunction with your regular routine of anti-inflammatories.

Shea butter is often marketed as being effective at treating scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. I find that it works best as an adjunct to other herbal remedies - such as those using pure essential oils. Whipped Shea Butter is an excellent carrier for salves due to its skin healing abilities.

Anecdotally, a friend of mine, who happens to be a faithful customer, recently wrote to me about the fact that he had recieved 2nd - 3rd degree burns across his stomach due to a clash with a pot of boiling water while cooking rice. He said "I've been meaning to tell you the lavendar body frosting has incredible healing powers. I put the lavendar body frosting on it twice a day, [and] it's just about completely healed,[after only] 2 weeks." There apparently has not been any scarring either.

This is also supported by research concerning the lavender plant itself.

A French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse, considered by many to be the "father of aromatherapy" accidentally discovered Lavender's healing qualities when he burned himself in his lab, and immediately plunged it into the closest vat of liquid - pure lavender essential oil. Not only did it immediately soothe the burn but it left no scarring of any kind behind once it healed.

Lavender essential oil has long been known to have a calming effect on the mind and nerves. Most people react favorably to lavender in small doses. When concentrated into a pure essential oil, the scent can be overwhelming however, so many people choose not to use it "neat" or straight out of the bottle - instead using it in products like soaps, lotions, and bath oils, or by adding just 1 or 2 drops to a posey or potpouri.

It is also a natural antiseptic, having a chemical composition that allows it to kill some bacteria, virsuses, and fungus; as well as reduce pain and inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms and tension. Because it helps regulate mood, it is also an excellent adjunct for temporary relief of mild depression symptoms.

Given all of that information, and the fact that our Lavender Body Frosting is made of 50% Pure Shea Butter (along with coconut oil, apricot kernal oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E, and rosemary oleoresin extract) and scented with Pure Lavender Essential Oil, I am not surprised that our friend had such good luck in using it to prevent scarring in his most recent catastrophy. Hopefully next time, he will be much more careful in the kitchen! :-)


*and now a note to CMA*: Please if you burn yourself, go to the hospital or doctor and have them check on the burns. While I am pleased that my friend had no scarring, and I use herbal remedies myself, I am *NOT* a medical professional and am *not* licensed to dispense medical care. This information is provided solely for the sake of information, and everyone is encouraged to do their own research.

Reminds me of Spring

Cute little eggs and nesting birds....

N E S T

Pink Sugar!

I have a new favorite scent. I am obsessed with it. I bought a candle from AuntieDis and from there, I was a lost cause. I ordered some fragrance oil and started creating. To say I smell sweet is an understatement. To say I am soft and fragrant is the truth!

I am soooooo happy to present our Pink Sugar (Aquolina Type) line of products!

Pink Sugar Type Natural Goat's Milk Soap

Pink Sugar Type Scrumptious Sugar Scrub

Pink Sugar Type Whipped Body Frosting

Pink Sugar Type Sugar Scrub Cubes

BeInspiredDesigns!!

Check out BeInspiredDesigns Blog Feature and enter to win this pendant in her awesome giveway!

Clicky HERE!

La Bella Toscana

I WILL visit there someday....

Tuscany

Important Updates and Information

If you entered, or are entering our blog give away (Click here to see that post), there has apparently been some confusion, and I'd like to clear those things up before we are deluged with more entries.

*****All manual entries (ie...those who enter by commenting on this post- 1 entry max per person) will be eligible to recieve 10% off their next purchase after the end of the contest (offer expires on March 31st, does not apply to purchases made during the contest).*****

This particular line is apparently causing some confusion.

So I will break it down for clarity's sake.

1. The only entries that count are the entries made by commenting here with the scent you would like if you would win.

2. All other comments, blogging/social networking/following, entries are excluded from this.

3. That means you only get 1 10% discount per person.

4. The 10% discount does not apply to purchases made during the contest. After the contest is over on Feb 25th anyone who would like to take advantage of the 10% off, will be required to leave the name they entered under (ie.. your blog name) in the notes to seller in order to be eligible for the 10% discount. After I have verified your entry on the original blog, then I will refund the 10% through paypal. The 10% discount will *not* apply to shipping.

If you do not leave the name you entered in the notes to seller, you will be ineligible for recieving the discount on that order. We will not be able to accept the information via email or convo. It will *only* apply if you leave your entry name in the notes to seller.

With over 100 entries in the contest already, I am trying to keep it as fair as possible, and keep any possible confusion to a dull roar. :-D

We thank you for your interest in our products, and wish you all the best of luck.

~amy

More freebies?!

Yes, folks, more freebies...this time from some fellow Etsy Chatters Team Members! Click here for details!

You can have a chance to win this:

or this!

Got a little Scots in ya?

I do! And I thought it was time I paid some homage to my Scottish heritage...today I did so by curating a Scottish themed treasury!

S C O T L A N D

Day late and a dollar short

Story of my life! Anyway, I curated a treasury a couple days ago and completely neglected to blog about it. So here you go...you can click and love on it for 6 more hours :)

Misty Blue

Aaaaaaaand AMIdesigns curated this gorgeous Sage and Plum treasury with our Multi-Purchase Soap Special listing in it.

Our Full Scent List

So I've been informed via our contest blog (see below) comments, that we don't have a full listing of our scents for everyone to choose from.

So to correct that... Here is the full list of available scents.

Floral Scents:
Heather
Honeysuckle Jasmine
Victorian Rose
Calla Lily
Chamomile
Love Spell
Heavenly type

Food Inspired Scents:
Crème Brule
Pumpkin Pie
Café Mocha
Fresh Vanilla
Chocolate Mousse
Caramel Café
Oatmeal Milk & Honey
Chocolate Mint

Fruit Inspired Scents:
French Pear
Lemon Cream
Orange Cream
Strawberries & Cream
Pomegranate Vanilla
Pomegranate Orange
Blueberry Cobbler
Farmers Market

Fresh Scents:
Rain Garden
Ocean Breeze
Citrus Amber
Bedtime Bath
Cucumber Mint
Clean Cotton
Baby Bee Buttermilk

Sensual Scents:
Cedar & Saffron
Leather
Amber
Sandalwood
Black Amber Musk
Mid Summer Night
Dragons Blood
Teakwood

Essential Oil Blends:
Eucalyptus Spearmint
Tea Tree Peppermint
Lemongrass & Thyme
Euphoria
Sensuality
Muscle Rescue
Lavender
Lavender Mint

Whew. That's a long list. Enjoy!!!

Everything But the Bathtub! February Give Away!

This contest has closed as of March 1st. Thank you for entering!

Hello my friends, we meet again...Its been a while, where should we begin? (Creed, My Sacrifice)
I have that song stuck in my head now, but it was too appropriate to the occasion to pass up. :)

It has been quite a while since we did our last give-away...and now its back again!

Welcome to our "Everything But the Bathtub" Give - Away!

Misty will be taking pictures for your viewing pleasure tonight (so you'll have to forgive them if they're not up to her usual photogenic perfection, she'll be forced to use artificial light), I'm too excited to wait though....

For now, here are some pics of our products that we are offering for the giveway...

So what are we giving away this time? Well, Like it says, Everything but the bathtub - a little bit of every product we make - in the scent of your choice!

You're going to get

2 ounces of Clarifying Shampoo
2 ounces of Moisturizing Conditioner
2 sampler cubes of Soap (Goats milk, shea butter or glycerin - your choice)
2 sampler Scrub Cubes
2 sampler Bath Melts
2 ounces of Bath Salts

1 ounce of Scrumptious Sugar Scrub
1 ounce of Body Frosting
1 ounce of Massage Oil
1 .25 ounce jar of Lip Balm

This is over $20 worth of fantastic handmade bath products!!

So how do you enter this fabulous give-away? There are ways to do it, you can enter as many ways as you would like, but only 1 entry per type.

1. Leave a comment to this blog telling us what scent you would choose if you won (if you do not have a blogger account, please leave an email where we can reach you!).

2. Blog about our contest (please convo or comment here with a link to the post for verification)

3. Use a social networking site to talk about our shop (again, please link to page in a comment here... Valid sites are Twitter, Myspace, Facebook, etc...)

4. Purchases from our shop: Any purchase made from our shop will earn you entries into the give away. 1 entry for every dollar spent.

5. Be a follower of our blog.

So get hopping... with 100 followers of our blog, there is already a slew of entries :)

Important information:

This contest will end on February 23 at 11:59pm Eastern Time. It is open to anyone, anywhere. Winner will be selected at random using Random.org's list randomizer - whoever comes out on top, wins.

The winner will be announced no later than February 25th, and your prize will be mailed out on February 27th.

All manual entries (ie...those who enter by commenting on this post- 1 entry max per person) will be eligible to recieve 10% off their next purchase after the end of the contest (offer expires on March 31st, does not apply to purchases made during the contest).

Good Luck! And tell your friends!

2kute Kreations!

One of the sweetest ladies on Etsy is Rose from 2kute kreations. I met Rose in Etsy Chat and over the last 4 or 5 months, built a friendship with her. I not only adore Rose, but I adore her work, too!

Soap Saver Set

I've been a customer of 2kute kreations a few times over, and I will continue coming back...Rose has a wonderful attitude and quality, beautiful, items. I have one of her face scrubbies hanging in my shower!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Baby Washclothes

Best of all, she LOVES to do custom work...here are some things she made for my newborn niece....

I love 2kute's work so much, I have included her face scrubbies in our Sandalwood Large Spa Basket and our Coffee Lovers Large Spa Basket.

Wonderful seller, beautiful work, and affordable prices....really...what are you waiting for?!

We've been busy little bees

One of our most popular scents, Sandalwood, is now available in a Spa Basket!

It includes:

6 ounce Whipped Body Frosting

8 ounce Sugar Scrub

8 ounce Bath Salts

5 ounce Natural Goat's Milk Soap

and a face/body scrubby made by Rose over at 2kute kreations!

And since our Lip Balms have been selling well, we've added 4 new flavors to the line-up!

Chocolate Mint Peppermint Frosting

French Vanilla Pomegranate Vanilla

Don't forget our other yummy flavors! You can find them all here.

Stay tuned...we are getting ready to start a fantastic giveaway. Details tonight!

Oatmeal

It was a balmy 9 degrees in Southern Virginia this morning. To make it even better, the heat here at work was not on. So it's a little chilly in the office. Luckily, I have some instant oatmeal in my desk (maple brown sugar, baby!). That along with a cup or 4 of coffee should thaw me out.

I love my oatmeal...it's such a comfort food for me...makes me all warm and cozy. But it got me thinking...what could I find on Etsy if I searched for "oatmeal"?

Here are some of my favorite findings...

Oatmeal Neck Warmer by lylakayt

Oatmeal Leather Pocket Journal by MyHandboundBooks

Cookie Mix - 2 Packages of Oatmeal and Chocolate Chip by KitchenStories

Treasuries Galore!!

Not only did I snag another one yesterday, but we are honored to be featured in quite a few, also!

Here is my newest collection...Darkness.

My good friend, the lovely and talented AuntieDis featured us in her 'Tis the Month For Love(Spell).

vscozythings featured our soap in her Oh Baby! treasury.

mujoyas included us in this dreamy collection, Creammmmm....

Our Sandalwood soap is featured in the fresh and delicate PINK STUFF!!! treasury curated by Lirola.

And last but certainly not least this striking collection of Dramatic Reds and Blacks by donnascrochet.

A newly found favorite

I was in Etsy Chat one night last week and found an awesome Etsian...Kara from onaroll. She makes the cutest knitted cozies...and I knew I had to have one.

Kara was AWESOME to work with...she did up a custom listing for me for an iPod/phone cozy and a matching coffee cup cozy in the color I wanted and did a fabulous job...take a look!

My Motorola Razr fits snugly in this baby...it's so cute and keeps my phone from being scratched up in my purse.

I am also in love with the coffee cozy...it can be used on hot coffee cups and will save you from using the disposable paper sleeves...or use it on your water bottle to keep your hand from freezing! They can even be worn as a wrist cuff :).

Be sure to check out her shop...you won't be disappointed.