New Limited Edition Summer Scents for 2015 thru May

You already know our Fall and Winter Limited editions and we have decided to make Summer exciting as well with new Summer Limited edition scents! Our Pink Watermelon Scrub and Sea and Sunshine Body Cream perfectly capture the scents of summer! On Sale the whole month of May!

 Limited Edition Pink Watermelon Whipped Soap Sugar Scrub

{SUMMER} Limited Edition - Pink Watermelon: Sweet and Juicy pink watermelon with a hint of sugar and warm summer blossoms. On Sale for Just $12 per 10 oz jar!

Limited Edition Sea & Sunshine Body Cream

Sea and Sunshine: Coconut, Lemongrass, a hint of sweet mango and fresh salt air! You'll be smelling like you were at the beach all day! Just $14 for a 4 oz jar!
Blends well with:
Island Gardenia Sugar Scrub: http://www.naiadsoap.com/sugar-scrubs/island-gardenia-sugar-whipped-soap

Free shipping all weekend!

(domestic only)

On Open Sky (not a member yet? Join here:  https://www.opensky.com/naiad-soap-arts

On Etsy or Naiad Soap Arts - use coupon code FREESHIPAUG

Happy 4th of July! Here is a coupon!

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY!

Use Coupon Code 4th2013 at naiadsoaparts.com or naiad.etsy.com

International shipping goes Way Way Way up in 2013!

Paper Plane Air Mail Hand Carved Stamp from Canadian Etsy seller extase

So it is a new year and that means new postal rates! International shipping rates skyrocketed this year so before I deliver the bad news, I want to start off with a nice comment about the shipping from a customer in Sweden.

Me:

"...Sorry the shipping is so expensive!..."

Customer in Sweden who just paid $23.95 to ship for 6 bars of soap:

"Hi Erin! Thanks for setting this up for me :) Don't worry about the shipping, your products are so worth the money even with increased shipping prices! And it feels great to buy things from a real person :) it's not very easy to find great handmade products that lives up to my expectations here in Sweden, so I'm very happy that I found Naiad to make my showering so much more enjoyable <3>

drum roll please:

New International rates:
First Class 2 oz) Canada $6.55, all other countries $6.55
(One lip balm)

First Class (5 oz) Canada $8.55, all other countries $12.75
(One bar of Soap or three lip balms)

Flat Rate Envelope : Canada $19.95,  all other countries $23.95

(Fits flat items only, soap bars, bath teas, lip balms. Fit up to 6 bars of soap.)

Flat Rate Box Medium: Canada $40.95, all other countries $59.95

(Fits 6 scrubs plus 6 bars of soap or sprays and lip balms)

Flat Rate Box Large: Canada $64.95, all other countries $79.95

(Fits 9 scrubs plus 9 bars of soap or sprays and lip balms)

You're going to vote anyway so...

If you think you have seen this before it is because I just sent a newsletter with this exact text. I am lazy BUT I did add commentary below! :)

Post a Picture of you and your "I Voted" sticker on our Facebook Page for a chance to win a $25 shopping spree! (and free shipping) Be sure to "LIKE" us while you are there! If you are shy you can just post your sticker, and maybe your voter pamphlet or your hand or something! BE HONEST - it promotes good Kharma! :)

Post until Friday, November 9th at 6pm EST. I guess, considering the circumstances, this is for our USA Subscribers only. Sorry my friends afar!

Want to browse in anticipation of your win?
Etsy Shop
Big Cartel Shop

Just a side note - being an informed citizen is HARD sometimes! Especially when it comes to state issues and local candidates. I personally try and block out the TV ads and mailer bombardment, and do a little independent research to find the truth behind scare tactics and bent truths. I got my mail in ballot weeks ago, thinking I would just go a head and fill it out, mail it in, easy peezy, but I was in for it. It took 3 full days to research all of the propositions in California. I felt like I was researching a term paper! It was hard to get a straight line on any of them and what I found interesting was seeing who paid to get the props on the ballot and how the beliefs of those people fit mine. I'll just say it - I am pretty liberal but have been a registered Republican, Democrat and now Independent. I know that as life and experience press on, beliefs may change but the important thing is that you go out and exercise your right to have your beliefs represented! Happy Election Day everyone!

hugs,
-erin

A Soap A Day Project: Day 22

I had so much that I was going to say and I forgot it all because I am in a food coma! It makes me a little ashamed just to say it. Consuming large amounts of food with friends and family always seems like a good idea on the holidays and then I think about the ever growing waste line, and waste in general in Rich countries and I get a little upset at myself! Oh well! I will just have to do some hard manual labor in the next couple of days to justify the 200g + of protein I ate today. Next year I am going to take it easier on the eating and focus more on the patriotic songs and parades and being thankful that I have my loved ones and my freedom!

I also think that I am getting sick (may be cause for the sarcasm). The throat is feeling a little scratchy and the ears are a bit sore. Bleh! A friend of mine just had his gall badder removed. He looks like hell (sorry friend) and is in serious pain, not to mention he can't pick up his 4 month old baby for 2-3 weeks. I think I can deal with a little cold and will try to not feel sorry for myself when it starts getting worse!

So, in lighter news, I am happy with this soap! I have been struggling with how to achieve the concept and ended up wrecking a cheapo basic square mold to get this done - totally worth it! The execution isn't perfect and will be revisited, but the proof of concept was a success!

 Hooray for Helvetica!

A Soap A Day Project Day: Day 12

 

The Updated picture!

Whew - almost missed it! It was dark when I finally got around to taking this picture after a busy day of production and a great workout at the gym. I will get a better pic to change out tomorrow. There is a 3D effect going on with this one that might be hard to see at this angle.

PROCRASTINATION is the word of the day! I didn't have a list of what I needed to get done and I wasted a lot of time! I need to make a more clear cut schedule for myself and assign time slots to projects so I don't go overboard on some things and neglect other things!

Some good news! I have a meeting set up with one of my local retailers to get my entire product line on their new website for sale! Whoo Hoo! I also have a proposal for them to customize their instore display. It is kind of a prototype that I want to test out with someone I have a good relationship with before making it an official product! I want to work on my branding so I am looking at offering displays for my Soaps and Lip Balms with my logo center stage and more memorable!

This is an in progress photo. I am now photographing the projects and steps as I go so I can recreate the projects later for a book of Tutorials! Looks messy huh? There is a lot of clean up involved with these to get a polished final soap!

In the Air!

I am flying right now - well by the time this is posted anyway. I promise you I did not turn on my phone, endangering all of the passengers on my flight, just to write a post. :)

I am on my way to Bellingham Washington Home of Brambleberry and Otion, to teach at this year's Soap Weekend Intensive! You can see what it is all about here. Last I looked there was a spot left, which is rare, so if any of my readers are in the area and come want to learn how to make a variety of bath and body products, you may still have a chance!

Me and students from the 2012 SWI!

I am teaching Sugar Scrubs this year. I am doing a clay based facial scrub, a salt glow and my famous sugar cubes! I am so excited! It is sure to be a blast. I will try and update as much as possible on my Facebook page and I am sure they will be posting over at the Soap Queen Blog!

A Soap A Day Project: Day 7

I am doubling up on soap posts today since the light went down yesterday and I couldn't get my pictures taken! I do all of my photos in natural light so if I don't do it early the light gets lost! This is a visual representation of the all day headache I had yesterday. :) WARNING: Don't stare too long! I definitely got out of my comfort zone with the bright neon colors but I like it!

 I love how the backing pink color creates a neon glow in the white soap dish!

NOTE: I am traveling until Monday but hope to still do my Soap A Day but I may have to post all of them when I get back. I will try and post quick pictures from my phone on my Facebook page!

A Soap A Day Project: Day 6

Monday was more inspiration from home decor!

Labels - one of my many tasks!

Running a small business means you have to basically do everything from designing and producing product to answering the phone and emails, taking orders, shipping, packaging, sales, marketing, and one of my favorites, label design!

I usually start with my logo and a rough color pallet. For the most part I like to keep it simple and let the products shine through, especially when I am doing a clear packaging so you can see the product without too much distraction. An exception are my bar soap labels which are a little fancier since I mostly use recycled paper boxes that hide the soap.

Here is the new square label for the Cardamom Vanilla Marshmallow Cream Soap! (And the old for comparison.) I added some more color to it as you can see - I am on a teal thing lately! All of the information is much larger and clearer. These didn't take too long since I had the old label to work from but my new lip balm labels for instance took 2+ hours to design! Usually the first label in a series of products takes the longest, then it is just a matter of changing color and tweaking text.

new

 

old

The ingredients and my company info will go on a smaller label on the backside. Soap labeling must have the company name, the word "soap", and the weight on the front. The company address can go on the back and I always include my ingredient list.

You may have purchased soap that did not have ingredients and this is perfectly legal but I like to include it so my customers know exactly what the are purchasing. The rule is only for soap -  I won't get into the details, but as soon as you say that your soap is good for anything other than cleaning, like that it is moisturizing for instance,  it is then considered a cosmetic and must be labeled differently. A lot of my soap falls under this category. The FDA defines soap as:

• the bulk of the nonvolatile matter in the product consists of an alkali salt of fatty acids and the product's detergent properties are due to the alkali-fatty acid compounds, and
• the product is labeled, sold, and represented solely as soap

Next is the Chocolate Marshmallow Cream Soap labels and then I can take pictures and get these listed! Look for them June 13th at naiadsoaparts.com!

The 2 hour lip balm label! I'm slow! :)

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! :)~

Big Cartel Meet Up San Diego

Hello all of you San Diego Friends! Do any of you have a shop on Big Cartel?

There is a meet up at Extraordinary Desserts this Thursday June 14th at 6pm. Ana of We Love Citrus coordinated the event and there will be Swag Bags that I put a little something in! Join other Big Cartel Shop owners for a night of Sweets and Networking!

Swag for the event

As always you can see what we are up to on Big cartel here: naiadsoaparts.bigcartel.com

A Soap A Day Project: Day 4

Today is all about facing some fears. My BIG plan for the day was to go around town visiting some boutiques to get a feel for what they are selling, what people are buying, and to target potential retailers. This soap I made yesterday was all about me (little blue dot) breaking out of the fears and distractions. I sit in a comfortable little place all cozy, filled with soap to make and scrubs to whip up but unless I want to become a soap hoarder, I have to break free and sell, sell, sell.

After a night of hanging out with friends I got up late, made a list of boutiques I want to visit and then, made a bird bath, read a little, watched some TV, and took a picture of this soap but did not go around town as I had planned.

I realized that I have a big fear of talking to people. My hubby and I had a really great talk about this today and I realized that I am so afraid that people won't like me that I either don't talk to them, or I am totally fake when I do. (Just a side note, my husband is the smartest person I know and he is a wonderful person to talk to for advice so I may give him cred a lot.) Ok, so I either don't talk, OR I try to make witty remarks to get a laugh, or I interrupt people to draw attention to myself, or I just talk about myself at length with no gaps. Again, that may not be the consensus that others get from me, but in my own head that is what I do. I have thought long and hard about where this behavior comes from but that is another story. So, you can imagine my mind set having to go into an already nervous situation like talking about my products or casually mentioning that I have some "product that I think would be a great fit for your store". I am a wreck! I don't think I am alone in this. I am sure most people would have fears about it.

I have regrouped and the plan is to attack it Monday when there will be better parking if I have to go back to get samples and promotional materials, and I will feel less intimidated in shops teaming with customers and employees who have more pressing things to attend to than someone trying to pimp a product.

My mantra for this task:
Just be yourself
You have awesome products
You are ok with rejection

If anyone has had and experience, good or bad, approaching retailers please share! I want to know how you did it and what fears, if any,  you may have had and how you overcame them!

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

Mythology Local Eco Boutique - San Diego

I have been touring the local shops that sell my products and a few weeks ago I had a chance to visit Mythology in the South Park Area of San Digeo, home to an eclectic mix of shops, galleries and eateries. Mythology is owned by artist and designer Rickard Frederick who is known for his designer VEGAN belts, organic clothing and T-shirt designs.

 "All of our clothing is made of only organic and/or recycled materials like organic cotton, bamboo, soy composite or hemp.  You’re guaranteed to find these fabrics super soft, yet extremely durable.  We also try to buy from local artists and designers as much as possible.  This not only cuts down on the amount of gasoline spent shipping merchandise around the world, but keeps our selection of merchandise extremely unique."

 Richard's Vegan Cuffs

Mythology carries Naiad Soap Arts Natural Lip Balms, Soaps and Liquid Soaps as well as eco-friendly clothing for children and adults, jewelry, accessories, graphic tees, candles and Richard's signature Vegan belts and cuffs. The store has a friendly vibe and unique selections!

 

Eco friendly clothing for men and women

While I was taking pictures one of Richard's T-shirts stood out for me and he told me the story behind the design (below). A regular customer of his came into the store while looking through the tees and mentioned that one one of the images reminded him of images on the walls of Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia. The customer told Richard that he had rare rubbings from the site that his Grandmother took in the 70's before the temple was closed to the public and offered to give Richard the images. The T-Shirt below is one of those images! A truly unique tee that you won't find any where else.

Angkor Wat Temple Rubbing

After talking more with the customer Richard found out that their family contributes to a college fund so that the next generation has money to go to school assuring that the new generation has a chance to reach their goals and dreams! As part of his thanks for the Angkor Wat images, Richard now contributes $1.00 to the family's college fund for every T-shirt he sells. How cool is that!

You can Find Mythology at 2365 30th Street, San Diego, CA 92104 

 Stunning and Studded Vegan Belts

 Naiad Soap Arts Lip Balms

 Kids clothing and accessories

 Ocean Minded Sandals

Print out this promotion and bring it to Mythology for 25% off your purchase!

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!

Contest and Give Away: Name this Soap!

This is a new Limited Edition Soap I am releasing for this summer! The scent is exotic tropical fruit of guava and passionfruit, and pineapple citrus with a hint of peach. I love the variation in the bars - all of these bars came from the same batch of soap! Available for purchase May 7, 2012

If you have an idea for a name for this soap please leave it in a comment below. The person who comes up with the name we choose will receive a free bar of this soap plus a 10 oz Sugar Whipped Soap of the same scent!

Details:
• Contest ends Monday April 30th
• You may leave multiple comments as long as the comment contains a naming idea for this soap.
• The winning name will receive a bar of this soap plus one jar of Sugar Whipped Soap in the same scent.
• An additional winner will be chosen at random to receive one bar of this soap.
• One prize per winner.