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On Etsy or Naiad Soap Arts - use coupon code FREESHIPAUG

Etsy new Search by Relevance - an experiment!

Looking but not finding? We try to get more proactive about who is finding us on the web!

I have noticed a sharp drop in Sales on Etsy in the past couple of months so I did a search for my items and they were pages deep. Ok, I just did a search for soap and expected to see my items, ones I just listed come up right away, but they were buried! My item "Blood Orange & Rose Artisan Soap" was 3 pages deep in the search but you know who had multiple soap on the first page? The guy who calls his soaps this "Bamboo Soap, Vegan Soap, Unscented Soap, All Natural Soap, Handmade Soap".  Those same words were in the first line of the product description as well!
In August Etsy switched from a "by most recently listed" search to a SEO based relevancy search and I am thinking my listings are just not "relevant" enough!

Yesterday I listed about 8 items on Etsy and noticed they were not getting any hits! With the recently listed search my items would have been in double digit looks within minutes but after 3 hours my numbers were 0-3 looks per item. Yikes!

I started looking around and found a GREAT blog post on the issue on the papernstitch blog, so I have used the guidance in this post to change my Etsy listings. I have to admit I never really knew how SEO worked and this post on How Stuff Works makes it easy!

I have changed all of my product descriptions and titles to include one or more of the following:

Shea Butter Soap, Olive Oil Soap, Clay Soap, Vegan Soap, Moisturizing Soap, Natural Soap, Scented Soap, Herbal Soap, Exfoliating Soap.

I hope it works and will follow up if I see an uptick in views to my items!

? Have you had the same issue with the new way Etsy allows buyers to search items? Have you found a successful method for getting seen?

Cute Big Cartel Find!

I have a thing for stamps! It is a great way to get cool graphics onto just about anything and a quick and easy way to make custom note cards on a budget. I was thrilled when I ran across this site called Paper Pastries while browsing on Big Cartel! They even do custom stamps!

 

This set makes me want to write more letters!

This would be so cute for a kids Birthday invitation!

I want this one for when the Husband and I FINALLY drive cross country! It would be cute to color in the state you are traveling through when you send the card! That reminds me - I have to update my address book! :)

A Soap A Day Project: Day 5

I took Saturday off and found it hard to get the energy to take a picture of yesterdays soap! Mondays are always a bit of a drag for me! I was pressed for time after my helper left and production was complete, but I did get to visit one of the shops I had on my list and I left my business card and a price list. The clerk had no control over ordering and said she would send the info to the owner of the store but she was nice in the brief chat I had with her. I had to fight hard to make contact but I did it and feel a little bit better about going around to more shops! Here is the soap for Sunday. I was inspired by my shower curtain of all things! :)~

A Soap A Day Project: Day 3

Loving the neon green with the dark peach color combo!

I tried a new technique with this one and it isn't what I visualized in my head but that is ok! I am not sure what I was thinking with the strips in the background. Sometimes I just don't know when to stop and have to learn to let things be! The technique I used on the first two would have been better so I will switch back to that and keep this in the back of my mind for when it is needed.

This just reminds me that I have to focus on what I am good at! I strayed last night and tried making some bath bombs and I was having a hard time with the press I was using. (The recipe was fabulous though!) Mind you, I am going to get it right eventually and add them to my line eventually but I can keep the project close and bring it out when I get a marketing strategy in full swing! I have a little adventure to find some local retailers I am embarking on tomorrow and I will tell you all about it!

Do any of you have a technique for approaching Local Retailers that you would like to share?

In the mean time I am trying to do one thing a day to promote my business and am trying to get better at my customer service! Those of you who get an email back a week or two later know what I am talking about!

A side note - there is a reason I have suddenly started stressing about my business but I will tell that story later. :)

So far these posts have gotten a great response! I hope to keep em' coming!

A Soap A Day Project: Day 2

 

These circles are so small that the were about the size of my finger tip!

I already almost failed! This soap, supposed to be finished yesterday, got finished this morning because I really had to get to bed last night. I was just too tired! I did stay awake for another hour reading one of my Dresden novels. When I closed my eyes I wondered if I could have kept going with the soap and was just lazy, or if stopping was the right thing to do to give myself time to wind down. We can't always work at 100%, 100% of the time. You will probably be more productive working at 100% in short bursts and then giving yourself sufficient time to recover.

A Soap A Day Project

{pictures below} 
"Never thinking anything is good enough is a mindset breeding ground for self doubt and failure!"

As a small business owner, some days are good and some are bad. I am at a transition point with my business and I am finding it hard to stay focused. I have spent long hours for the past month of nights trying to develop new products that will "blow up", when I should be happy with what I am doing and focusing on marketing the products that my customers and myself already love. I have no idea what I am doing with the marketing so I have been taking on-line classes and reading books, trying to implement what I learn as I go, but it is a long road and I am moving slowly!

I am trained in art drawing, painting, photography, and graphic design, and have been thinking about why I didn't have the confidence to start a business as a graphic designer then, and how it pertains to my business now. I have set out on A Soap A Day art quest to try and answer some questions and to fill a creative void that I sometimes feel with regular daily production. I had some real talent as an artist studying photography, painting, and graphic design, and I wanted desperately to be some sort of visual artist after school but kind of failed at it. Wanting something isn't enough if you don't take action! Looking at my past failures may help me actively recognize pieces of my personality that are holding me back from taking my business to the next level, thus empowering me to change those pieces of my personality.

My husband recently told me the Japanese concept of Kaizen or continuous improvement, which is just taking baby steps on a daily basis to reach a goal, rather than being overwhelmed with big tasks that are daunting and may not actually help you achieve success. I am going to try and use my art and soap as a medium to visualize those baby steps I want to take in my business, and hopefully it will help open my mind to what is holding me back!

Here is the bar for June 5th 2012. The concept is "beginning" as depicted in cell type shapes. If you think about it the process of creating life is a series of baby steps! My business started with a single bar of soap like my life started with a single cell. I am going to keep going on this theme for a while slowly moving my way to an end.

 This one bar of soap took over 60 minutes to make! 3 inch x 3 inch bar.

The small "cell" shapes were made with a thin sliver of pink soap that I shaved round and centered in an empty pen tube and plugged off with clay. They are very tiny and were difficult to work with! The first couple of tries did not work as soap was hardening before I could pour it, or the soap was hot enough to pour but then melted the thin pink soap!

What I have learned from this bar is that I am fickle. I loved it for a second when I made it and the this morning was already looking for ways to make it better and criticizing the design, rather than just being happy with it as is. This is often my thoughts on products, not that there is anything wrong with wanting to improve, but sometimes you just have to be happy with what you have! Never thinking anything is good enough is a mindset breeding ground for self doubt and failure!

Come say hi!

I will be introducing my new Purifying Facial Cleanser and Mask! To all of my San Diego Friends out there I will be The Rockefeller Center for Anti-Aging in Kensington from 4-7 om selling my goods! They are located at 3938 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116.  Come enjoy boutique shopping, food and wine tasting, candy bar, raffle prizes, a silent auction, and live music!

You can visit The Rockefeller Center for Anti-Aging on Facebook

Customer Review: Very berry Sugar Whipped Soap

A few weeks ago I sent out a request for customer reviews and the response was great! If you are interested in doing a review just send your name and address to erin@naiadsoaparts.com with a list of three products you would like to review. I will choose one on the list that needs feedback and ship it to you for your feedback!

Today we have a guest post from one of my customers Gail Kahles reviewing Very Berry Sugar Whipped soap. She was nice enough to include some photos too! Thanks so much Gail!

Gail writes: Naiad’s packaging is always pretty, and this product is no exception. The label is classy, featuring a sweet graphic and an eye-catching font. As is true for all Naiad products, this would make an exquisite gift.

I was surprised how hefty the 10 oz. jar felt when I picked it up. There’s a large amount of luscious soap in here! Once opened, I discovered an exact replica of berry frosting, right down to the glistening sugar. Mmmm, mmmm, I almost went searching for a spoon! Sniffing deeply, I detected a light mixed berry scent along with a vibrant clean smell. Delicious!

I first used this soap straight out of the jar and directly onto my skin. It had a gentle scrubbing effect and made me feel very indulged. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed any soap or scrub as much as this one. It’s smoooooth and moisturizing perfection! I later tried it on a bath poof, where it made volumes of rich, luxurious lather. Oh my, this product is truly heavenly!

If I were forced to criticize, I’d have to say I prefer a stronger fragrance. I love the uplifting mix of fresh berries so much that I want to enjoy more of it!

Enough Soap for A Year!

Ok, that is silly. After all, I have enough soap for a few dozen years, but I am not talking about my soap, I am talking about the fabulous soap I procured at the Nova Studio's 7th Anniversary Party soap swap! I don't even know... it is maybe 10 bars! (yes,) It was a while ago but I just dusted off some pics I took and brought out the soap to reacquaint myself with the lovely scents, and just had to share them with you!

Contributors:
Lori Nova
Sirona Springs Soap
Loft Soap
Soapeeze
Sherry Mantranga
Nanda Soap
Garden Natural
Naiad Soap Arts
-plus others that didn't have info on the label. If you were also a contributor please post your info in a comment!

Garden Natural

 This really smells like Dill Pickle no joke! I love it!!!

 Sirona Springs

Um - Soapeez packaging it too cute!

Enjoy!

Sugar Cube Video from Soap Queen!

Anne-Marie aka Soap Queen of Brambleberry has made this awesome video illustrating how to make my solid sugar scrubs! She adapted my recipe from the soap queen blog (here) to make these fantastic neapolitan scented scrubs! Get the recipe on the Soap Queen blog and watch the video here:

Make Solid Sugar Soap Scrub from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

Lip Balms and Sugar Cubes get a Facelift!

Wow! I hadn't realized it has been so long since my last post! I have been Busy, Busy, Busy for the holidays, I recently got engaged (yay!), am planning new classes at the Nova Studio (more details to come!) and just launched the new package design for the Lip Balms and Bath Sugar Cubes! There are new scents and new flavors like Lemon Gingergrass Bath Sugar Cubes with natural color and essential oils and 100% all natural Lemon Sorbet Lip Balm. Enjoy! xoxoxo

New Sweet Acai Berry and Lemon Sorbet Lip Balms

 

New Lemon Gingergrass Bath Sugar Cubes

And our popular Brown Sugar and Fig Bath Sugar Cubes are back with a feature in HGTV's Handmade Gift Guide under Gifts for Her

To learn how to make these scrubs you can but the eClass from the Nova Studio or sign up for one of two classes I am teaching at the Nova Studio in March 2011!

The Art of Soap - a book by Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove

I am constantly amazed by how much people love soap! I get emails, chats and posts on my Facebook fan page from lovers of soap, users with new appreciation and budding soapmakers looking for advice, all praising the idea of soap and the process of making it. Since its invention soap has been here to stay. Soap, that utilitarian staple of human cleanliness (modern usage also for cats and dogs), that modest brick in standard scents like “Dove” and “Irish Spring”. After entering the world of soap making almost four years ago, I felt like I was stepping into the beginning of a soap revolution. I have watched soap making evolve into an exploration of custom fragrances, exotic and ancient ingredients, and wild to mild colors, with soap makers pushing the boundaries of artistic soap design, each with a unique visual perspective – an intimate expression of themselves. After all, as soap makers don’t we all dream of making what we ultimately would like to bathe with?

Soap is no longer modest but is screaming to be front and center.

A woman at the forefront of this soap revolution is Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove, a good friend and a master artisan of glycerin soap. She has conceived an idea in the process of fruition. A book dedicated to the varying aesthetics in soap and the stories behind the bars. Simply: The Art of Soap. When she asked me to photograph the book I didn’t hesitate.

Follow the progress of the book here: http://theartofsoapbook.blogspot.com/

You can see Debbie's amazing soaps here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soapylove/

Debbie's blog: http://soapylove.blogspot.com/

Homemade rose water

This time of year every time I walk out the front door I get the heady waft of of roses at the peak of bloom and sometimes I shut my eyes and breathe deeply lingering for a few moments to imprint the scent on my memory.

I decided to try capturing the delicate scent by attempting some homemade rose water! From what I know of the process I thought a home set up might be do-able and got to work searching the interweb for some methods! I found some things, made a slight modification and went to work with rudimentary household utensils (thought I was, in my mind, acquiring glass do-dads and pipe, rubber stopper and connector thingys and burners like a mad scientist to make something a little more sophisticated - next project!).

TIP: You can use your rose water by itself as a refreshing toner or add 10% witch hazel to make an astringent!

Stuff you will need
• about 8 oz of fresh rose petals - preferably that are chemical free and picked in the morning
If you don;t have roses as a neighbor or see if a local florist will give/sell you old roses (that thye will probably throw out anyway)
NOTE: I made 2 oz of rose water with 8 oz of fresh petals
• double boiler with a steamer
• ramekin or small heat safe dish
• tin foil ( a stainless steel bowl will work better)
• ice
• tap water or distilled water

What to do:
This process will take 3-4 hours depending on how many rose petals you pick.
1) clean the picked petals - mine were covered in insects and spiders so I just filled the pot holding my petals to the top with water to flush critters out.
2) set up your pot. Fill the bottom with water so the steamer pan is about 1 inch above the level of the water. Place the ramekin in the center.
3) Put petals around the ramekin, you can really stuff them in just make sure they sit at or below the level of your ramekin.

4) place a sheet of foil over the top so that it is in a concave shape - you can also use a stainless steel bowl.
5) set water to boil and then simmer - put a few ice cubes on the top of your foil - you will have to keep refilling ice and emptying water so a bowl would indeed be better for this! Just make sure the lowest point of the bowl sits above the ramekin and that it completely seals the top of the pot so that rose water does not escape!

6) You will have to refill rose petals every half hour or so - do not remove old ones. You will already see the rose water in the ramekin after just 30 minutes!You may also have to add more water to the double boiler, but just add a few ounces at a time so it does not breach the bottom of the steam pan. After you have added your last batch of rose petals let the whole thing steam for another hour and then you are done! Discard rose petals into the compost heap or back into your garden soil.

Place the rose water in a sterile glass jar and keep in the refrigerator - lasts about a week.

Has anyone tried making floral water with other types of flowers? If so what did you make and what was your method!

Castile soaps are back!

Soap made with 100% Olive oil is a most gentle soap, is a hard long lasting bar and has a creamy soft silky lather! These soaps get praise from my clients so I am once again offering the Unscented Castile and the Lemon Geranium Facial soap in addition to my Tea Tree facial soap. All three are made with Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and are 100% natural.

find them in my shop!

For oily skin I recommend the Tea tree soap or the Lemon Geranium
For normal/combination skin I recommend the Lemon Geranium or Unscented castile
For dry skin I recommend the Unscented castile

 Traditional Castile Soap

The Geranium facial soap has been revamped to include ground oatmeal ground calendula for a gentle exfoliation and lemon essential oil to brighten the skin. I also added honey, a humectant, and pink clay to help draw toxins out of your skin.

 Lemon Geranium facial soap

For the face I recommend to lather the soap on and let it sit for a minute before rinsing so the ingredients have time to do their magic! Be sure to wash your face with cold water. Hot water will strip moisture from your skin. To finish apply two drops of extra virgin olive oil to a cotton pad and smooth over face. Use your fingers to rub it in!

Tea Tree Facial Soap

Olive oil has been used for thousands of years as a skin ointment and modern science tells us that indeed olive oil is beneficial for the skin whether applied or ingested. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants including Vitamin E, Vitamin A and Hydroxytyrosol, said to slow the aging process by stabilizing the cell plasma membrane with can break down as we age*.

Though I do promote these as facial soaps they are wonderful for the whole body! Enjoy!

*sources

the Pink and Green Sale

In Honor of over 200 fans on the Naiad Soap Arts Facebook Fan Page, and my favorite color combo, I am having a sale!

For the PINK and GREEN sale - anything in my Etsy shop that is either PINK or GREEN or BOTH with be marked 20% off starting April 1st through April 5th! For Instance:

Happy Shopping!

naiad.etsy.com

FINALLY! Geeeze! Presenting Sugar Whipped Soaps (again)

New Sugar Whipped soaps have arrived! (Just in time to still have them up March 15th, at least PST, so I don't look like such a slacker!
Just $11.00 for a 10oz tub! Look for them in the Body Scrub section of my Shop!

Six Yummy Scents, Bubbly Lather, Saturated with fine Sugar for a gentle scrub! Run Down:

~ Key Lime Pie ~ Buttery sweet graham cracker crust filled with sweet, citrusy Key Lime custard and sugared meringue!

 ~ Cardamom Vanilla ~  Warm buttery vanilla custard and fresh ground spicy green cardamom! 

~ Lemon Poppy Cake ~ Mouth watering Lemon butter cake drizzled with buttercreme icing!

~ Orange Sherbet ~ Cold and tangy orange sherbet filled with vanilla bean ice cream - just like an orange creamsicle! You will want to lick it! (but don't!)

~ Very Berry ~ Luscious, tart Acai Berry, Raspberry and Black Currant mingle into a perfect juicy sweet scent!

~ Brown Sugar Pumpkin Crunch ~ Sweet baked Pumpkin with golden crisp brown sugar and butter crumb topping!

Shave Sets are back in time for your Sweetheart!

Just a quick update - The Men's Shave Sets are back! Heather at Muds Evolution Pottery has outdone herself again with this newest batch of mugs in a variety of rich colors! You get the shave mug shown in the listing, your choice of shave soap in tart Grapefruit, Kumquat, Sandalwood or Wasabi, and a boar hair shave brush all in a gift box!  $35.00 at Naiad Soap Arts

Our little Christmas Tree

I debated trees this year and decided on this little artificial tree with fiberoptics lights that dance through the spectrum of color! I love it and wanted to share.

 Our Little Tree, gifts and some of our artwork on the wall behind. The paintings on the left were a gift from our roommate last year.

I know, I know - artificial trees are bad for the environment (trust, it was a difficult decision for me) but I am planning on having this guy for a long time and maybe "they" will figure out how to recycle artificial trees by the time it gets retired. Good news is the wired branches can always be used to make other things and the motor for the lights can be put to some good use. If nothing else that part can be recycled.

The best thing to do is get a live tree that you can plant or a locally cut tree from a sustainable tree farm, but planting a tree in the yard of our rented house may not make the owner happy and there is little space in our cozy living room after furniture and musical instruments are considered, so this little table top tree was a perfect option for us!

My boyfriends guitar ornaments and a little snowman ornament I made with clay and wire.

 

Our Tree topper is a little Day of the Dead Doll I made with clay, wire, vintage fabric and paper. The Santa was "stolen" from my parents collection of vintage ornaments.

Happy Holidays Everyone!