Amy: Posted on Saturday, May 18, 2013 3:27 PM
Take a journey with your nose through the USA! I'm creating, based upon my own, personal travels, a series of candles that takes you on a journey through each state with your nose! As Helen Keller put it so perfectly , " Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived." Currently ready are: Oregon (made with pure essential oils of Douglas fir, sage & coffee with a helping of organic hazelnut and marionberry flavor oils) Washington (made with pure essential oils of Douglas fir, lavender, & lilac with a generous helping of organic apple flavor oil) California (nothing reminds me more of California than a fresh, warm, just of the tree, juicy orange- plus, I've added essential oils of Redwood cedar & eucalyptus along with organic strawberry and grape flavor oils) Pennsylvania (we used to live near Hershey, Pa so I was awakened by the smell of warm chocolate wafting through my window each morning. Thus, this yummy candle contains: organic chocolate flavor oil along with organic oils of: honeysuckle, cinnamon, and molasses) South Dakota (after long, hot drives across South Dakota, a stop at Wall Drug for a strawberry shake or some local sassparilla is just the ticket. Add the essential oils of spruce, pine, and sage from the forests and you've got an amazing scentsation!) Each state comes with a more descriptive story and some interesting facts or recipes from/about the state. Some fun tidbits- Our American Scent Trip candles have been featured on USA Love List and are one of the founder's favorite items of all time! The cast of the t.v. show, GRIMM, adore my AST-Oregon candles and wrote a special note to Vance Family Soy Candles to let us know! The first lady of Oregon is a fan of our AST-Oregon candles! I hope you, too, enjoy our new candle line and they transport you on a trip throughout the beautiful country of America! - Amy
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Amy: Posted on Saturday, May 28, 2011 8:37 AM
OH, you are going to flip for my new, handcrafted, pottery containers! Raine or Shine Pottery (yes, it is spelled correctly) of Woodland, WA, has handcrafted and designed the perfect little pots for my candles. They are slightly curved in for maximum burn time and glazed in a cream colored glaze to enhance any home decor. Three slightly different sizes will be available, or you can buy the set of 3. When your candles have burned out, you have wonderful pottery to keep (or, if you live local, bring them to me at JUST THE GOOD STUFF and I can refill them!). Thank you Raine or Shine Pottery!!!
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Amy: Posted on Thursday, May 05, 2011 9:54 PM
Don't forget! Tomorrow is First Friday @ Milepost 5!! Come enjoy the festivities as artists throughout the complex open up their studios and let strangers in. Everyone is welcome and the retail shops (including mine, JUST THE GOOD STUFF), will often have sales and workshops, while the artists throughout the complex dull out treats and love to talk about their work. E.A.T. will most likely have a band playing on their stage and will, ofcourse, be serving their out-of-this-world food. See you there? Milepost 5 is really easy to get to. Just take I-205 to the Glisan exit and go west. Turn right on NE 82nd Ave.. Go one block and turn left on Oregon St.. Find a place to park.
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Amy: Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2011 10:59 AM
Wanted to let everyone know to check back soon for my new WICKLESS massage candles and Aromatherapy Candles. You just place the elegant, wickless, soy candle on a warming plate and as it heats up, the organic aroma wafts throughout the rooms. The massage candle is then at the ready for impromptu massages rather than having to light it and wait for the "wax" pool to develop. You can keep your "candle" going throughout the day with no flame. Cool huh?
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Posted on Friday, March 04, 2011 8:07 AM
Every once in a while, I forget how truly allergic I am to synthetic fragrance. After living for so many years not being able to be around fragrance and now, with my essential oils and organic, plant derived,natural fragances, being constantly surrounded by wonderful fragrance, I forget the affects synthetics have on me. And then I enter a building with a synthetic candle burning. Or perfume. Or try a lotion. I instantly can tell if the fragrance is synthetic or not. My throat starts to clam and tighten up, my breathing becomes labored, my head hurts and I feel sick. How many people have this same affect? I hope that my business grows expenentially. Not because I want $$ (although I surely don't mind) but because I want the air we breath to be fresh and healthy. I don't think most people understand what they are burning and putting in their air. After all, if a lotion says natural or a candle says natural, doesn't that mean it IS ALL NATURAL? Sadly, NO. The FDA has decided that fragrance does not count. If the rest of the product is natural than the produce of the product only has to put fragrance on their list of ingrediants. If you see this and it doesn't say Organic fragrance, Natural fragrance or Essential Oil, it is SYNTHETIC. Made from petroleum, petro-chemicals, phalates and other chemical labeled as TOXIC by the FDA. So why are they not labeled toxic when added to other products? I'm just not sure and I'm going to find out. I'll be back!
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Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011 9:07 PM
Well, I've changed up my labels 6 times this year and this time I think I finally got it right! I am very happy with these. They are elegant, recyled, down to earth, slightly whimsical, branded and are just paper that is wrapped around and taped so the buyer can take it off and have a plain candle if they would like. I am also making tags for my coffee candles and other funky sizes.  What do you think? I will still keep my recycled white labels for any hard-core fans but otherwise, I really like the recycled brown. Speaking of new......Handmade Local Market opened this weekend! If you haven't had a chance to check it out, please do! For the month of February you can buy one of my healing shea,soy and essential oil massage candles for only $5! This Saturday, ALL CUSTOMERS GET FREE LIPBALM while supplies last. One per customer. Plus, I have a shelf of OOPS! candles with the wrong wicks, discontinued fragrances, discontinued jars, etc. that are only $5! Hope to see you there!
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Posted on Monday, January 31, 2011 11:04 PM
Crazy busy getting ready for the Seattle Gift Show! Greatly looking forward to it! Hope to see you there!
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amy: Posted on Sunday, January 09, 2011 4:44 PM
So, I've done it. Enough people have said they want a shop in Clark County and I found a good starter location that I can afford. It's not going to be called Vance Family Soy Candles but rather Handmade Local Market. It will have dozens of vendor's wares, from art to artichoke cheese. Creating a Market makes it much less risky for me and creates great opportunities for all those involved AND fills a void in the shopping marketplace. I know that we are all going to have a great experience and I look forward to a CRAZY year. See you there!
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