BLOG.DELTAMOONSOAP.COM

The Goat Bridge

Carla — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:05:49 GMT

I came across this and thought it was cool. Goats love to climb, sorta like Murray the cat, although his usually involves knocking something over and then looking innocent... anyhow, we love our goaties!

Gaslight

Carla — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:06:00 GMT

So if you haven't seen this one, see it! Very neat old movie from 1944, of course it's black and white and Joseph Cotten plays a good guy, he's usually a bad guy, ever see Hitchcock's "shadow of a doubt"? I love old movies! If you get a chance to see this one, it was pretty good, and still holds up today. I would totally use some element of this movie to name a soap as I did with Sundance and Captain Gregg's Choice (that's from the Ghost and Mrs Muir) but couldn't come up with anything from the movie that would work well that way. And remember, it's not nice to "gaslight" anyone!

My Shelf

Carla — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:38:00 GMT

I made a delivery to Diablo Foods in Lafayette today. It was the first time I had seen "my shelf" all put together, it looked so nice! I really love that they really do support local businesses, they have little markers to let you know who is local, very cool! It's a pretty nice store and I am really honored to have our products there.

Loved this.....

Carla — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:16:00 GMT

Natural vs. Organic

Carla — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:24:18 GMT

There seems to be a lot of confusion about this, from the public in general, in regard to skin care items. I'll try to give the Reader's Digest Condensed version for you:

Natural can pretty much be anything. I don't like to use the word myself because there is no legal definition of what "natural" is. However, I think of it as being with no additives that don't need to be in there, ingredients that you know and recognize.

Organic, this one really makes me crazy. A guy came to the door the other night for a pest service and mentioned they used "Organic sprays" and that's what started this. When you get your veggies at the Farmers Market, you think of organic as being grown without sprays and pesticides, and I know the farmers have to go through a lot to maintain their "organic" status.When the farmers refer to organic, it's organic in the most pure sense, they take great care to bring you the best produce without using toxic sprays. So in using it as a marketing strategy for pest control, it just makes me aware of how "organic" can be such a buzz word in Marketing right now.

In soap making, you can get the essential oils that are organically grown, however they are quite abit more expensive and that of course would make the cost of the soap more expensive, but the main thing here is that if you are using high quality essential oils, there's really no difference in the soap. The main thing you want to make sure of in your soap is that it is free of phosphates, parabens and generally things you can't pronounce and have to look up on the internet! You want to see things like Olive Oil, Honey and things you know are good for your skin.

I guess the point here is that organic is a choice of course, but be informed of what's in your skin care products and don't just go by folks telling you that they have natural or organic ingredients. Try to learn about what makes a good quality product, especially for something that you will use on your skin, it's your largest organ and so important to take good care of it. Do ask questions, ask why they use a particular oil or ingredient. That's the thing I love most about getting food or anything else from the Farmers Market, you can speak directly to the grower/producer and find out exactly what you're getting and ask questions!

Please feel free to comment, I hope that cleared things up!

Downtown

Carla — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:46:00 GMT

So Antioch didn't have fireworks this year due to money issues, I understand that, the sad thing is that the parade, which we have had for years downtown, was moved to the mall. That is what makes me sad, we have the most adorable little downtown and only a few shops are still open. It really makes me sad, all those cool old buildings just standing there. I wish I knew how to breathe some new life into the downtown, I truly love the downtown area. We lived there for years and I still think of it as home. So how would you go about helping it?

This is the Old Theater, built in 1928, they still have commujity events and sometimes show old retro movies. I got to see Casablanca and The Wizard of Oz Here.

Limited Edition

Carla — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:08:00 GMT

Well after the great Pomegranate fiasco, I had to do another soap for the Limited Edition of the month and I couldn't be more pleased with this one. It may end up being part of the regular line- up depending on how well it does in sales. It makes its debut today at the Pleasanton Farmers Market. Anyhow, it's this really nice Oatmeal Milk and Honey, with ground oatmeal and Shea Butter. It's very softly scented (you know me by now, I hate heavily scented stuff!) and smells really good. I hope it does well, I'd love to keep it around. Sorry I forgot to tale a picture and it's already loaded into the Van. I'll let you know! Have a great weekend everyone!

Letting go of Kaiser Antioch

Carla — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:28:00 GMT

I really get very sort of tortured when the time comes to let a Market go. I have so many friends and favorite customers there. And I get really emotionally invested too, that's what makes it hard. But when you get down to the business part of it, the real black and white, you have to look at what's best for the business, and the most efficient use of my time. Especially being that I'm "it" there's just one me to make this company work, so, I am sorry to say that I will no longer be attending the Antioch Kaiser Market. It's been very quiet for me, espceially this season, and I can better use the time to keep up with my stock.

To the wonderful people that have supported us the last 3 years (since the very first day the Market opened 3 seasosn ago) thank you very much. Know that I will miss each of you. And don't forget you can still get our soap at McCauley Olive Groves in Brentwood!

* * * * * Ok, slight change, I'll go the second week of the month

Didja hear the joke about the roof?.......it woulda gone over your head!! ;-)

Carla — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:12:00 GMT

They are putting a new roof on here, and the guys have been great, they took all this extra time to put plastic in an effort to keep all the roof schmutz from getting everywhere. It worked until the wind came, so I wasn't able to do any soap today. Man that stuff gets everywhere! I am enjoying the "skylight" though!

Etsy Treasury Woot

Carla — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:31:00 GMT

I was chosen to be in a "Treasury" which is a big deal in the world of ETSY. I am very honored to have been chosen!

Right On!

Carla — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:36:00 GMT

I get so tired of hearing folks make excuses, or complain that things don't happen for them. I so believe you need to take responsibility for things, make things happen. I came across this post today in a Blog I read now and then http://www.soap-queen.blogspot.com/

And she said :
Take a stand. Make a choice. Take responsibility. Look at what you can do to change the situation and empower yourself. Don't ever wait for anyone to do things for you.

Loved that!

Go make something good happen!

Vallejo

Carla — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 12:30:00 GMT

This was my view yesterday from the Vallejo Kaiser Farmers Market, you can't really tell from the picture, but it wraps around to the right. It's so much nicer than it was in the old spot and it felt like people were even lingering a bit longer. The music was Blues and very vibrant, not that stuff that puts you in a coma, those of you that do Markets know what I mean!
My favorite comment was from a long time customer that didn't know I was there, and he was in his office and saw a bar of our soap on someone's desk, and he said "Carla's here??" I was really glad he came down to say hello, and next month will be even more fun since more of my "peeps" will know that I'll be attending once a month.
The "download" was the only downside, you can see how far I have to schlepp my stuff, but it's once a month and I'm not complaining!

Fundraiser

Carla — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:30:00 GMT

You may have seen the article in the CC Times a few days ago concerning a very dear friend of mine, Casey, and her daughter Jordan. They are both very special people to me. I worked with Casey at Antioch Veterinary Hospital long time ago and she is simply an awesome person and a really good mommy to her 3 year old Jordan. Casey just had open heart surgery a month ago and Jordan will have open heart surgery very soon too. The following is information on a fundraiser being held here in Antioch, (from Casey's Blog) please attend if you can, you have to take my word for it, just really wonderful people and they deserve all the best!

" I also want to let everyone know that on Saturday 6/5 some friends of mine at Starbucks off of Bluerock and Lonetree are having a Birthday celebration/ fundraiser for Jordan. It will be from 6 to 9 P.M. and there will be a raffle with lots of great prizes. I hope everyone can come and celebrate J's 3rd Bday. There will be cake and coffee and great company. You do not have to spend a dime, just come and celebrate Jordan's miraculous life with us. "

yesterday's soap

Carla — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:30:00 GMT

The soap on the left is the Pomagranate Soap with Organic Pomagranate Juice and Shea Butter. It was really fun to work with this as I wasn't sure what the juice would do to the color. As you can see next to a batch of Lavender Oatmeal, it's WAY dark! It was a sort of mahogany red, and when I sliced it this morning it has calmed down to a dark camel. Its going to be a nice soap with that Shea Butter in there.
The other batch I did that smells really good is a batch of "Fancies" (the little shaped ones that I put in the organza bags) done in "Coconut Milk" it smelled SO good! Made me want a Mai Tai or something! Those will get unmolded tomorrow and then the cure starts from there. Those always take a long time, oh and I unmolded another couple dozen "poo bars" (solid shampoo) yesterday too, making them 12 at a time wont work when folks buy them a few at a time! Anyhow, it will be fun to see how folks like these Limited Editions after they're ready. The hot Studio is in my favor!

Comfort

Carla — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:22:00 GMT

Went to my Kaiser Antioch Market yesterday and the weather was incredible, it was supposed to be "showers" but it turned into "storms" for some of the time I was there. It was cold and windy, not your ideal day. A dear friend (you know who you are!) stopped by with some hot Chai tea and it was JUST The ticket! Anyhow, the funny thing about days like that is, all you can think about is getting to go home and get a hot bath or shower, getting into your "lazy clothes" and relaxing! Which believe me I did! I scored some Gnocchi and Parmesan Sauce from Home Maid and it was yummy! I didn't even realize that they HAD Gnocchi! Anyhow, being at home at the end of a soggy day with family and cats in this cozy house is just the best, simply put "comfort".

The Garage Door

Carla — Sun, 23 May 2010 12:28:00 GMT

This falls under the cataogy of "don't take anything for granted". You don't realize what a convenience it is being able to load, unload from Market with a working garage door. Yesteray before Market I went to put the door down and it said "no!" I tried and tried but didn't want to be late but couldn't get it, so woke up my sweet hubby at 6:30 to please help me. He got it most of the way down. So when I came home I had the reverse problem, putting everything inside to restock for today, and bringing it back out to Piper (my van). So at one point I got so tired of going all the way around, that I actually limbo'd under the garage door! That must have been hysterical for anyone that was watching! I am hoping they can get it fixed sooner than later, it makes me appreciate that door so much more! The little conveniences! You guys know how much stuff I have to bring in and out!

Flying Fandangos!

Carla — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:52:00 GMT

The weather we've been having this year is weird to say the least. Yesterday I was at my Kaiser Antioch Market and it was SO COLD in the morning! We usually get a fair amount of wind too, but that's not unusual. This couple came up and she remarked that he wanted to take a short walk but didn't realize it was so cold, and that her husband was going to "freeze his fandango off" and I remarked that if I saw a flying fandango I'd know where it came from!
Of course most of us attend the Farmers Market sun, rain or wind, so really apprecaite those of you that brave the weather, what ever it may be at the moment! I'd love some 80 degree weather this weekend, I put in my order, we'll see if it arrives!

Two things I miss about my "day job"

Carla — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:39:00 GMT

I absolutely LOVE working for myself, it's very rewarding, I wouldn't change a thing about it, but there are two things I definately miss about the day job.
1) Having "operating instructions". It was nice to have an actual book to go to when you were unsure about how something worked or where to find a particular item. So, in not having that I have learnmed to be more resourceful.
2) The Supply Closet. I really miss that, just getting something needed and not having to drop what I'm doing to run to Staples. Usually it's ink, I go through a ton of it! I have discovered the little Cartdrige World place close by and I am there about every two weeks. Anyhow, the thing with working for someone else is that THEY have to pay for the contents of the supply closet!

Anyhow, if that's all I have to gripe about, it's not much! Working for yourself definately teaches you how to manage, conserve and be creative!
Anyone else have thoughts about working for yourself?

Biz words of wisdom

Carla — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:00:00 GMT

So I think it's funny, you spend all this time reading books about business and you just never know where you're going to hear something so profound. I was watching this show on TV, I think it's called "How'd you get so rich" with Joan Rivers, I really can't stand her, but that's another story. Anyhow, she had John Paul from Paul Mitchell Haircare on there, and the thing he said was so right, something along the lines of "if you build your brand by using the best quality ingredients available, and then follow that up with the best customer service possible, you'll be in the re-sale business rather than just the sale business". Wow! He articulated that so well! What you strive for is new customers, but you want them coming back! That's when you get into the 80/20 rule, which is that 80% of your business comes from about 20% of your customers! I do believe that, because when you are missing your "regulars" you really feel it! Anyhow, just thought that was interesting! We have always strived to make the best products and provide the best service, nice to know we are doing something right!

Shampoo Bars

Carla — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:50:00 GMT

Yesterday at my Antioch Kaiser Farmers Market, the Shampoo Bars made their debut, and they did very well! We used beer, avocado oil and honey in these bars, and they are that really comfortable shape, like the "foot bars". So since they did so well, we'll keep them going, but wanted to use a really great quality beer, and since we believe in "Supporting Local" we went right to Schooners (www.schoonersbrewery.com) , and purchased some Apricot Wheat Beer, oh man that smells good! The young lady that assisted me, Carrie, was very helpful, so it was easy to decide which variety of beer I wanted, they had so many! I ended up getting a "Growler" which is 64 ounces of beer, and I get a little discount when I bring it back to refill it. I thought it would be a waste to not get to even have a glass before it went into the soap, so I did have a glass, it was even more wonderful than it smelled! So, I'll be doing the next batch today, can't wait to see how it comes out with a really high quality beer! Here's a picture of the "Growler" - don't mind the messy Studio in the background!