Catching up with my inventory

Thanks to my wonderful customers, and due to my vacations and my day job - my inventory got pretty low this month. I'm finally catching up and I'm starting to have a workable number of soaps.

About a third of what my inventory should be - lots of work ahead this next week!

The major customer I have is soon opening another store in a part of town that I've been asked to sell my products lots of times, so I'm really exited for that. It will also mean a pick up in my sales, hopefully double what I have right now (or more) - which also means I have to double up on production YAY!!

I've also been contacted by another store that purchased one of my soaps and loved it! They have three stores distributed quite well around town. I'm set up to meet with them and hopefully start working with them by next week.

I'm struggling with reducing the number of fragrances/styles of soap, but it's so fun to make each and everyone one of them that I think I'll end up adding to them :) there's just so many cool things to do with soap and so many pretty scents that I just can't cut any. Especially with the new Great Cakes Soap challenges every month - the soaps featured there are to die for!! So much talent :)

As of right now, here are some little piggies that are being delivered tomorrow, in search for their new homes.

49 piggies looking for a new home

xoxo
Irene

Paso a paso-jabón proceso frío

Esta semana me he dedicado a hacer jabon. Mi inventario bajó a cero en muchas clases de jabón gracias a mis maravillosos clientes. Así que me he puesto manos a la obra. En el interín, tomé unas cuantas fotos de cómo es mi proceso...espero lo disfruten! El modelo de ésta semana es Naranja y Especies.

Paso 1 - decidir que jabón van a hacer


Paso 2 - preparar la lejía, combinando cuidadosamente la sosa con el agua

Paso 3 - preparar el molde, medir los ingredientes, derretir las mantecas y preparar los colores









Paso 4 - mezclar las mantecas con los aceites y agregar la fragancia/aceite esencial, mezclando bien

Paso 5 - agregar lentamente la lejía a los aceites

Paso 6 - batir hasta que esté emulsionado pero no en etapa de  traza

Paso 7 - dividir y agregar los colores. Mezclar hasta llegar a traza mediana

Paso 8 - volcar en el molde y dar unos golpes para expulsar las burbujas de aire. Decorar a su gusto.

Paso 9 - dejar descansar en un lugar cálido un mínimo de 24 horas

Paso 10 - desmoldar y cortar

Paso 11 - dejar curar en un lugar aireado un mínimo de 4 semanas

Espero hayan disfrutado del paso a paso. Si tienen preguntas no duden en contactarme.

xoxo
Irene

Un dato interesante acerca del jabón natural

http://marianadelasflores.blogspot.com/2012/08/por-que-el-jabon-natural-y-ecologico.html

A beautiful inspirational workshop

I found this beautiful inspirational workshop on flickr. I could not find the soap brand but her screen name is ellenapril if you want to check her other pics out.
I would really like to upgrade my soap lab to this...it's nice and cozy, very well organized and set up into different stages...which is required by law in CR.
I need to convince the hubby to take this on along with building our house...which FYI is on week 4 of 18 :-):-):-)

Does your workshop inspire you to be the best?

xoxo
Irene

Nomada fair

After a long pause...I'm trying to get back on the horse...the blogging horse that is. Today I have for you guys a nice pic of my table at what I hope will be a permanent fair, every Saturday and Sunday.
I'm a little scared as the venue seems a little dead, but the project includes a space where I could give lessons during the week. Today was the first day so anything can happen!
I feel like I should be doing more but I don't know where to start...It's a little overhwelming to say the least.
Enough whining and more action...take risks is this year's motto...so of we go!
xoxo
Irene