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Otion Soapy Creations

October 6, 2007 Filed Under: Melt & Pour Soap

We had a fun field day at Otion with a reporter (stay tuned for our October 14th story about Otion). Erik and I taught her the basics of melt and pour. If you’ve never made melt and pour soap, check out our instructional here.

Here are some photos of our creations. The above photo is done with the Aloha Molds Plumeria mold (which has been discontinued), orange and coral mica and Cellini Blue and Stormy Blue Mica. We used our ever-popular Energy Fragrance Oil for a positively uplifting tropical vacation feel.

Erik and I also started our Halloween display for the store. Check out our use of Vintage Gray Mica and Silver Glitter (discontinued) in our fun Skull Mold. The soap is ghoulish, kid-pleasing and scented with anise essential oil.

Herbal Deodorant & First Week of Use

October 5, 2007 Filed Under: Home Crafts

The Herbal Deodorant test turned out to be slightly gummy. The balm unmolded slightly soft, as evidenced by the bit that was left behind.

Using the deodorant takes some getting used to. It’s a lotion bar so requires some melting before the product will actually adhere to the armpit. Since I was cheap (I mean, frugal) and did not use a lotion bar/deodorant tube, I have to apply the deodorant via hand. It’s messy and requires hand-washing afterwards. Note to self: next time, spring for the $1.50 for the deodorant tube.

For the entire test week, my armpits feel slimy. It actually feels like I am sweating even though I am perfectly dry. This is not a position of confidence. To add insult to clammy injury, I smell a bit. It’s not a bad smell thanks to the ylang ylang. But, it’s a smell, an unmistakable odor of “not just showeredclean.”

I wore the homemade deodorant for six days and showered twice a day out of paranoia. The last two days at Richmond PR, I wasn’t entirely certain my homemade science project would hold up so (head hanging low) um…. I resorted to using traditional antiperspirant. I feel like a traitor.

But (whiny voice), I just didn’t want to smell either.

I’ll be back to the drawing board, with more anti-bacterial essential oils and more smell maskers. I am confident that there is an option for making handmade deodorant that doesn’t involve ingredients slightly linked to horrible, life-threatening illnesses.

First Attempt at Herbal Deodorant

October 4, 2007 Filed Under: Home Crafts

The ingredients:

Beeswax
Olive Oil
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Frankincense Essential Oil
Sodium Bicarbonate
Tapioca Starch Powder

For a photo of the set up, click here.

For this first attempt at an all natural deodorant, I mimicked making lotion bars.

Step One: Measure out Beeswax and Olive Oil. In this recipe, I did 1:1 Beeswax: Olive Oil. Melt the mixture in the microwave. It took approximately 4 minutes to melt the beeswax thoroughly.

Step Two: Add the Powders. I added approximately 2 teaspoons of Tapioca Starch Powder and 1 teaspoon of Sodium Bicarbonate to 3 oz. of melted wax and oil. The powders mixed in easily with a chopstick.

I wasn’t sure what consistency this pseudo-deodorant would be. I decided to be safe and use a mold, rather than a traditional deodorant push tube. A push tube won’t easily push when the product is mush. This project was an experiment so spending $1.50 on a push tube seemed frivolous. This frugality ends up being a bad choice.

To balance out single cavity molds that are prone to tipping, you can balance them in a spare mug, vase (the square one in the photo is particularly handy) or just shove them in a bowl full of rice.

I added the Ylang Ylang and Frankincense at the last possible second to ensure minimal heat degradation of the essential oils. I used a 1% Ylang Ylang and 1% Frankincense. It smells strong. It’s not entirely horrible but also not as pleasant or alluring as I envisioned.

I did not fill the entire mold up. Sometimes, too-full molds can be difficult to release. The final product appears a milky smooth balm. It feels soft and squishy.

Check back tomorrow for a report on unmolding and the first week of use.

October 3, 2007 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

http://groups.google.com/group/organicfusion/web/a1_Pike_Ack_Ltr.pdf

https://www.soapqueen.com/personal-ramblings/2514/

She’s way too cool

October 3, 2007 Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Johanna, the latest addition to our Customer Service team, has her own indie business. Check out her Etsy shop here.

She even knits her own bikinis. Johanna’s knitting and general craftiness is a good fit for Bramble Berry and we are thrilled to have her indie cool sensibilities in our midst.

The photo on the right is her own original design and took her over a month to knit! The neckline is a natural scoop necked cowl which looks figure flattering when worn.

Hopefully Johanna will pass some of her knitting genius tips along to those of us less talented in the office!

Coconut Creamed Soap

October 3, 2007 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

This lovely soap was made by Playing With Soap in New York. Her blog has good photos of cold process soapmaking. The creativity in the coconut cream pie soap above is impressive considering the degree of difficulty with the project.

Vocation Vacations

October 2, 2007 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Otion recently signed up to be a Vocation Vacation. What is a “Vocation Vacation?” A Vocation Vacation is a short trip where curious job seekers or career shifters can test drive a new job for one or two days. A vocationer pays a mentor to download the good, the bad and the ugly part of their jobs. There are Vocation Vacations designed for cheese making, running an opera house, being a cowboy or running a public relations firm. Click here to see all the jobs currently open to test drive.

For the last two days, I have been in the heart of downtown Seattle at Richmond PR, learning the fine art of public relations from Louie Richmond and his staff at RPR. Yesterday was a full day, run with military like precision. Louie had me going from staff member to staff member, learning all I could about the individual jobs that they do. I even got to have lunch with all the interns and hear what their perceptions are about the field of public relations. Their fresh (just out school) perspective was an interesting contrast to some of the vetrens.

I am amazed at how much access Louie has given me to his staff and his openness about the difficulties of setting up a public relations shop. After just a day and a half here, I have come to the conclusion that the work done at Richmond PR would be difficult (if not impossible) to duplicate at my own company. The machinery and experience that RPR has makes all the flailing around I do with media relations look pathetic and downright inept.

Today, I will be learning about budgeting, planning a media campaign and reviewing some press kits for product launches. Louie will also be finishing up his philosophy on ethics and truth telling in media relations. After this positive experience, I would definitely consider another Vocation Vacation.

If you’re interested in learning about how to run a small soapmaking retail store, you can come to Otion for two days to learn from our management team (Erik and myself) and also take private classes on soapmaking. Click here to learn more about the Otion Vocation Vacation.

Making Herbal Deoderant

October 1, 2007 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

My friend Jody recently told me that she uses Ylang Ylang and Frankincense Essential Oil instead of regular aluminum-based deodorant. It sounded like an interesting idea. After all, there are some very limited links to Alzheimer’s and aluminum. Though the links aren’t conclusive, if something all natural that I can make myself at home can replace traditional antiperspirant, it sounds like something worth trying. As a bonus, Jody always smells great!

For the first trial, I designed a recipe using traditional lotion bar ingredients (olive oil and beeswax) and some (hopefully!) odor-absorbing powders (Tapioca Starch Powder and Sodium Bicarbonate) and essential oils of Ylang Ylang and Frankincense.

Why those two essential oils? Because Ylang Ylang is a purported aphrodisiac. Putting out pheromones instead of sweat seems like a good idea. Frankincense Essential Oil because it has natural anti bacterial properties and smalls considerably better than Tea Tree essential oil. Both the steam distilled and the CO2 extracted Frankincense essential oil versions were used in this recipe.

Check back this week for updates on making herbal deodorant and the report of the first few days of no antiperspirant.

Goatsmilk Soapmaking Class at Otion

September 30, 2007 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

I had the privilege of teaching a sold out goatsmilk soapmaking class at Otion. We had nine students who came from all over the Pacific Northwest to learn the technical aspects of goatsmilk soapmaking.

Here I am, measuring out the lye.

This class had a particularly joyous time picking out their fragrance and color combinations. They were positively giddy at the possibilities for artistic choice.

I made an extra batch of brown sugar and mulled cider swirled in our 5 pound collapsible wooden log molds.

Here is Erik, demonstrating how to use the stick blender.

Some of the students got very creative with their second batches, doing layers, swirling and experimenting heavily with additions.

A few of the students colored their batches so dark that they will have colored lather when they shower with their creations.

The students also loved the exfoliants. Some of them will be finding out just how effective apricot seeds can be when added to soaps in large quantities.

Some of the students really took to swirling.

It was a wonderful class. I’ll be teaching a goatsmilk lotionmaking class this upcoming Wednesday. There are still a few spots available here. If you’re in town, sign up and learn how to make lotion using goatsmilk as your base.

I love this necklace!

September 28, 2007 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

This necklace is going to be my reward for reaching a stretch goal. A stretch goal is something that’s achievable, but only through a large amount of effort, dedication, follow-through and maybe a bit of luck. You can even personalize the necklace here.

Goals should be achievable through daily amounts of small incremental effort. Meeting this sales stretch goal requires making 5 phone calls per day. So far, I’m 300 phone calls into the goal and 50% there. I’m refining my technique and getting better. Fingers crossed, the goal should be hit within 200 phone calls.

I’ve designed a photo of the necklace into a poster with the goal printed below. The poster reminds me, every day, about the goal and the reward when I meet (or exceed!) the goal. Wish me luck! I’ll let you know when I reach the goal and get the sweet reward.

Bob Parson’s 16 Rules for Business

September 28, 2007 Filed Under: Business Musings

Bob Parson’s 16 Rules:

Get and stay out of your comfort zone. I believe that not much happens of any significance when we’re in our comfort zone. I hear people say, “But I’m concerned about security.” My response to that is simple: “Security is for cadavers.”
Never give up. Almost nothing works the first time it’s attempted. Just because what you’re doing does not seem to be working, doesn’t mean it won’t work. It just means that it might not work the way you’re doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn’t have an opportunity.
When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think. There’s an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”
With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of “undefined consequences.” My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, “Well, Robert, if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.”
Focus on what you want to have happen. Remember that old saying, “As you think, so shall you be.”
Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.
Always be moving forward. Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.
Be quick to decide. Remember what General George S. Patton said: “A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”
Measure everything of significance. I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched, improves.
Anything that is not managed will deteriorate. If you want to uncover problems you don’t know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven’t examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.
Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you’re doing. When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.
Never let anybody push you around. In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you’re doing as anyone else, provided that what you’re doing is legal.
Never expect life to be fair. Life isn’t fair. You make your own breaks. You’ll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).
Solve your own problems. You’ll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you’ll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: “You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others.” There’s also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: “A wise man keeps his own counsel.”
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.
There’s always a reason to smile. Find it. After all, you’re really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: “We’re not here for a long time; we’re here for a good time.”

Rare Bird Finds Contest

September 28, 2007 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Enter to win a gift set of Organic Fusion products here. Scroll mid way down the page, it’s about 2/3 down on the blog. Rare Bird Findsis one of my favorite blogs. I read it at least once per week to keep up on cool indie finds.

Tips for getting your products into blogs

September 28, 2007 Filed Under: Business Musings

Donna Maria from the Indie Business Blog has written an article about how to get your products into the hands of beauty bloggers. Click here to read this informative, helpful article and ramp up your press coverage today!

Craftzine teaches you to crochet!

September 27, 2007 Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

Craftzine has added to their fun crochet tutorial. If you’ve never crocheted or knitted, this is the time to start learning. Needlework can be done at any time when you’re not actively driving or using your hands. My favorite time to knit is when on long plane flights, during movies or as a passenger in a car.

Once you’ve learned to crochet, it’s just one more needle to add and you’re knitting with ease.