Hip Happenings this Saturday

This Saturday from 11 to 5 I will be vending at Hip Happenings at the Masonic Lodge in Sellwood. Come on by for a fun Halloween themed show and gets some great hand made stuff.

Come & See Me at Skating with Scissors

Due to my current pregnant state I haven't done any shows since April and now that I am finally feeling better (most days) I am excited I signed up for Skating with Scissors, a craft fair to raise some fund-edge for the Rose City Rollers roller derby team. It will be Saturday at Oaks Amusement Park in Sellwood from 11am to 7pm. Hope you all can make it. There will be a ton of great stuff and crafters sharing there hand made goodness.

Vineyard Wedding

A few months back I cut a large quantity of wine bottles sent to me by a wonderful customer. She requested the labels be left on and used the wine bottles as vases for her wedding at a vineyard in Washington State. She was sweet enough to send some pictures of how they turned out so I thought I would share.

Our Sweet Rose

We lost our sweet wonderful dog, Rose this week. She started to take a turn for the worse late last week and by Tuesday we knew it was time. I couldn't tell anyone because I just haven't been able to talk about it with out getting emotional and I just wasn't ready. Aaron has taken it very hard. And although we didn't go into detail with Cohen (Wyatt hasn't seemed to notice) Even telling him that she would be going to the vet and wouldn't come back was very tough for him also. We have had a lot of tears this week, but we are much better. It's the strangest feeling to not have her here. I still think "Oh I need to feed Rose" or "let Rose in". She will be dearly missed. She has been part of our family for so long. We knew this time was coming, but you just can't prepare yourself for the loss. We love you Rosie!!

I make it Myself and You can too!

Over here at AC I have been diligently working on a new line of natural cleaning products. I have been using a my own handmade laundry soap and all purpose cleaner for a while now (about a year) and they work great! They work just as good as any product you can buy at Target or Fred Meyer only they are better. They are better because they are made from naturally derived ingredients that are better for the environment and better for your family. The thing is I am one of "those" people. I am someone who looks at an item in the store and says "Hey, I could totally make that myself." and then I go home and after much trial and error and a lot of Google usage I figure it out. I have always been a DIY girl. I taught myself to sew, embroider, make soap, play piano (ok, I had a teacher for that one) tile a counter, cook, garden, draw (not well) repair thing on our home, and write because that is just how I roll. It's what make me happy. I find that learning how to do something for myself is my favorite hobby.

This got me thinking that there are really only are 2 kinds of people in the world: The maker and the admirer of the maker. Now there are many varying degrees of personality with in those two categories, and a maker can and still is someone who can admire other makers work. There are about a million things I have never made, and maybe about half of which I would love to have, but have no interest or ability to create myself. In those cases I find myself seeking out and purchasing the item I so love, but wont make myself.

So here is my plan. I am starting to list my handmade cleaning products in my Etsy shop, and I hope a million people (OK, maybe like 100,00) buy them, love them and come back for more. But for those of you who think "Hey, I could make that" I am going to list some of my recipes here on my blog. I actually shared a recipe for Laundry soap about a year ago. Now I am not the best blogger, and the recipes are just what has worked for me so be patient and I'll get em all up eventually.

The first recipe I will put up today is for Laundry Soap (I have been improving apon it for a year so I figure I'll update it from a year ago.

One box of Washing Soda (not making soda and some places refer to it as soda ash so keep your eyes out) This is the toughest ingredient to find but most Freddy's stores have it.
One box Borax (Stick to the 20 Mules brand. They don't add extra stuff to it like fragrances or other unnatural chemicals)

1 cup baking soda

1 cup of Oxygen Cleaner (make sure to buy the Clear and Free one because it just the basic stuff too. More natural.

2 to 3 bars of cold processed Castile soap. The best would be to visit Etsy and buy some from your favorite soap maker. My favorite is Green Springs Body Works but she makes it special just for me. Another option (a way less cool one and not quite as good) is to find a bar at the grocery store. Kirks makes a fragrance free, but most stores carry the original which has synthetic fragrance in it.

Optional - Your favorite essential oil. Now the amount here is really up to personal preference. I recommended starting with a tablespoon, mixing, and see what you think from there.

Now grate all your bar soap and add all the dry ingredients. Mix and then add your essential oil should you want it. This soap is extremely gentle. It better then any baby laundry soap and your cloths will feel so soft you will wish you had been using it your whole life. (well that's how I feel.)

Have fun and if making laundry soap just isn't your thing check out Autumn Comfort for some yummy smelling options.

Have you heard of 350 Project ?

If you haven't heard about this you really must check it out. In this economy the decisions we make effect us more then ever. So take a minute to look at the site. Add the banner to your FaceBook page, Myspace page, blog or website. Post the printable fliers at work. And sign up, take the pledge! Be the change!!!

And the Winner is........

I just want to thank everyone so much who gave me there input and help with this new project I am working on. It really help me to know what to focus on. The winner of an 8oz all natural soy candle is ..........

NANCY

Thanks again to ALL!!!! It's so great to have such an incredible support system from new friends and old.

Give me your input and you could win a Autumn Comfort Candle

As some of you know I have been starting some work on a small line of natural cleaning products. Some of the recipes are ones that I have been using to clean my house for a while. What I need your help with is deciding what type of products in particular should I focus on offering? For example I use natural laundry soap, a natural all purpose cleaner, dish soap and a granite cleaner for my kitchen counters. I was also considering a simple carpet powder, a room spray and and maybe a window cleaner. So post a comment below listing the most common natural cleaners you would like to have and include your email address by Saturday April 18th and you could win a 8oz soy candle in the scent of your choice.I will announce the winner early next week and send an email to find out what address you would like you candle shipped to.

The Beautiful Truth

My friend Julia told me about this great documentary. Incredible information!

Food Inc.

This looks amazing....

My First Etsy Front Page

Etsy Front Page 3/26/09 Admin
Originally uploaded by Etsy Front Pagers

Here is a screen shot of a front page My candles was on on Thursday. It's my first time on the front page of Etsy and it pretty much made my day. I also got a little shot out in the Guest Curator chat last night for my work with Bread and Badger on our hand cut and etched wine bottle candles. It was just the boost I needed to brighten my week.

Crafty Wonderland's 3rd Birthday Celebration

On April 5th I will be vending at a very exciting Crafty Wonderland event. This will be Crafty Wonderlands 3rd birthday and the creator of the documentary Handmade NationFaythe Levine will be available to sign copies of her book. And they will be having a special Handmade Nation themed DIY Table project! Some of the crafters featured in her film/book are going to be there as well! There are going to be some great Artists and Crafters there so don't miss it. 11 to 4 in the basement of the Doug Fir on SE Burnside.

and for your viewing pleasure a preview of Handmade Nation which will be premiering here the same weekend at the Museum of Contemporary Craft

AC is now at Bella Sirota in Jantzen Beach

Autumn Comfort Candles are now available at the cruelty free shop Bella Sirota located in the Jantzen Beach Super Center near the Target entrance. I'm am really excited because she is currently in the process of moving to a larger shop just a few doors down from her current location in the mall. It's a great shop with lots of local hand crafted and Vegan only items! So if live in the area stop on by and check it out!

Our Kitchen Counters - Before & After

We have spent the last several days getting rid of the chipped white Formica counters in our kitchen and replacing them with large stone tiles. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out considering we are pretty new to tile work. Here are some before and after photos from our project.

We cut the tile first and laid it all out.

And the end result.....

And yes I know my kids are in almost every photo. They hear the camera and come a runnin'. Next we will replace the horrible flooring. But for now I'm happy with the update.

Some exciting things for me

Things have really started taking off over hear in Autumn Comfort Candles Land. I just wanted to share a couple features I have been in lately.
Last week I was in a small article in the Home and Garden section of The Oregonian which you can check out here:

The Oregonian

I am also in this weeks Portland Picks which you can see here:

Portland Pcks

And starting next week I will be featuring my candles in a new shop called Splurge. Slpurge. I am really excited about all of this and hope you are too. Thanks for reading and suporting me in my sweet little dream coming true. I have a long way to go but I feel like things are moving in a positive direction.

A Busy Weekend Ahead

Just wanted to let anyone who maybe looking for some shopping fun this weekend or that special handmade Valentines gift I'll be at 2 craft fairs this weekend with a lot of candles in tow. Saturday I'll be at Hip Happenings.

Then Sunday I'll be at Crafty Wonderland at the Doug Fir from 11 to 4.

You can check out Crafty Wonderlands site for a link of venders and directions if you have never been to the Doug Fir.