Happy Anniversary Morning Valley Soaps

This week I'm celebrating my shop's 1 year anniversary! It's a few days premature, but tomorrow is my turn as the Shop of the Day on the Fun and Friends promotion team, so it seemed fitting to start the festivities early. I've prepared by listing a few new items as well as bringing back some of my classic items from last year when I was starting out.
Use coupon code ANNIVERSARY for 10% off anything in my shop this week.
My herb drying has also inspired me to start experimenting with blending teas for personal use, but who knows if it could expand?

Herb Drying for Winter

I know it it early, but the herbs have been abundant and yield better when they're trimmed, so I've started drying for winter. All summer long I've been updating my herb book, investigating natural remedies, aromatherapy, compiling all the wonderful uses for herbs and oils.
I am so interested in natural medicine and herbal remedies. The earth's abundance always amazes me. I took care of my own sinus infection a few weeks ago with teas and chest rubs. The many uses for things like lavender and geranium are incredible.
Currently I am drying peppermint, spearmint, lemon mint, lemon balm, lemon verbena, thyme, sage, tansy, and rosemary. When the days aren't too humid I hang them off of the porch to let the sun help dry them, the verbena is currently in my closet, which is warmer than the rest of my room. It perfumes all of my clothing with its loveliness. I have discovered that tending my garden and being around my herbs makes me happy. It gives me a sense of fulfillment to work with the earth and help her to grow wonderful things. I've enjoyed it ever since I was a little girl.

Expanding and Contracting

My sales have increased beyond my imaginings on my Etsy shop. Next month will be my shop's one year anniversary, so I'm trying to think of a way to celebrate.
My stock has changed considerably since I started out. I've been taking cues from my wonderful customers, what they seem to be buying, what items they buy together. Some have even sent me suggestions for what varieties they would like to see me introduce. I take inspiration from the brands of soap I see in the health food stores, new perfumes my friends are wearing, and from the scents that fill the world around me.
The moment I decided to combine two of my loves: literature and soap was a very good moment for me. Some of my most popular scents have been inspired by my favorite literary characters. That is an area I would like to expand in. Taking a cue from my lovely customers, I'm expanding my Sherlock Holmes inspired products. I've just added an Irene Adler soap and am working on a Moriarty at the moment. This winter I intend to offer a Holmes and Watson set of both colognes and soaps, as well as The Complete Sherlock Holmes which will include the fragrances and soaps for Holmes, Watson, Adler, and Moriarty.
I also need to invest in some new equipment. Earlier in the week I split of my glass bowls I use for perfumery. I submerged it in cool water too quickly and two clean halves emerged after I heard a pop. While getting rid of it, I slashed open my finger on the edge.
Eventually, I'd love to have my own distillation equipment, I could make my own essential oils and extracts. I'll have a coupon next month in honor of my anniversary and as a thank you for my loyal friends and customers!

Blog Feature

I'm in a blog feature today! It's by StitchSilly and it's on her site here.
She very kindly conducted an interview with me yesterday and posted about it today. Hopefully it will up the traffic on my blog, it's been a little slow this month, comparatively. Even my market night last Friday wasn't as nice as my June market night. Oh well.
Check out her blog, she's a fellow Etsian and is just starting her series of features.

Painting for the Market

I'll be at the farmer's market again this weekend. Last time I was there I noticed that I was one of the only venders with no sign with my business name on it. I found some old signs and took to sanding and repainting one. I'm no artist, but I think that for now it will do. A somewhat homespun look is good in my line of work anyway.
Before:

After:

Hopefully it will help draw people into my tent and help me move some merchandise. I'll report back next week with how it went.

Beautiful Things

I had my first real live market day on Friday. I enjoyed being out in the fine weather (even if the wind did endanger my tent). It was a very community oriented event, so I was able to speak with many friendly local people. I even sold a decent amount of my soaps-- especially considering that there was another soap seller there with a bigger spread.
I'll be going back in July to sell again.
Right now I'm still working on my custom order that will be sent out the end of the month and trying to promote as much as possible.
Speaking of promoting, today's featured HEART Seller is temmadolla. She's from Pittsburg and she makes the most amazing safety pin bracelets I've ever seen. Here's one of my favorites from her shop:

Definitely check her out.

AndiaCreations on Etsy

This seller from Yorkshire, UK is a member of the HEART promotion group I'm in. Her shop is full of cute knitting and sewing. Find her here on Etsy. Above are just two of her items that struck my fancy.