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Amy: Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2011 10:39 PM
I am very pleased to say that I now have pillar votives available! They are so much fun to make and, since they don't come in a container, you can use your own favorite containers for these natural soy, essential oil & essence candles. You do need containers for these or else they will melt all over. I have been experimenting with large pillar candles and tapers and wow, I have a whole new respect for those who succeed at this art form! My large pillars aren't so hard to make, it's once I burn them that the fun begins! They create a huge show of wax waterfalls and configurations. My husband and children love them and get very excited to see what will happen next! However, I don't know how well they will go over in the retail world? So, these Pictures are in backwards order, but I'll type forwards... #1 it started out nice, #2 Sixty Hours later....#3 only 10 hours later. Entertaining, but not very practical. soy candles very soon! |
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Posted on Monday, September 12, 2011 11:28 AM
Sandalwood essential oil soy candles are now available! I have had so many requests for sandalwood (which I had shunned away from due to the $100 an ounce price tag!) that I decided to see if possibly, sandalwood is so strong that I don't need much. And I was very pleasantly surprised! I have no desire to sell candles for $100 each. After all, I really want people to stop depending upon petroleum based products and to stop using synthetic fragrance. That isn't going to happen if a candle costs over $100!!! Turns out, just a few drops of the highly fragrant essential oil is all I need for a 6 oz. candle. YEAH!!! Of course, that still means that each drop costs about $1.00, but, at least it keeps it attainable! The smell is amazing! Musky, earthy, exotic, sexy, very romantic if I do say so myself! I also have combined sandalwood, frankensince, patchoulli and a few other organic oils, in an organic coconut oil base, to make a wonderful Musk. Some more exciting news! I am in the process of making pillar candles! I adore pillar candles and often come across beautiful pillar holders which I cannot use because my candles are all jar candles. The soy I use is not solid enough to be made into pillars. Once lit, the pillars would melt and create a a big mess! However, the American company that makes my GMO free soy "wax", has made a GMO free, soy "wax" for pillar candles! It is extra hard and I can't wait to see how it works! If it works out well, you'll being seeing them on the website soon! Ironically, our wonderful ice cream man brought me a box of pillar candle making supplies that he had found at a yard sale. I was touched that he thought of me and told him how thankful I was. However, at the time, I couldn't make pillar candles so I have just been storing the box. I am so happy to be able to use it! How did he know? |
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Amy: Posted on Wednesday, August 03, 2011 1:40 PM
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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 Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9:39 AM
So, at my store's Grand Opening the Mayor, Sam Adams, came in and said, "This is the best smelling store in Portland!". Well, he is right about that one! The Grand Opening of JUST THE GOOD STUFF @ Milepost 5 (NE 82nd, just N. of Glisan) was a lot of fun. Many wonderful people came in, browsed, oohed and aahhed & bought organic fragrance for their home & body. If you have the chance to stop by, I also have a collection of upcycled home & garden art (tiki torches, hummingbird feeders, garden art), handmade chocolates, hand painted glassware, fused glass, jewelry, pottery faces made by my son, greeting cards and whimsies. I hope to see you there! |
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Amy: Posted on Sunday, March 13, 2011 2:07 PM
I am jazzed! Now you can buy my highly sought after candles at my little boutique in Milepost 5. Located just N. of Glisan on NE 82nd Ave., and across from the community center park, Milepost 5 is a live/work community with a fab restaurant E.A.T. (eat, art, theater), a gallery, free community activities and concerts, and various shops. My shop, JUST THE GOOD STUFF, located next to the restrooms in the hallway by the restaurant, will be loaded with my candles, melts, and body products, as well as upcycled items for the home and garden and necessary treats (caramel corn and chocolates for starters). Official opening will be March 18th, with the Grand Opening Ceremony April 8th. The complex grand opening extends throughout the weekend with free activities, music, a ribbon cutting ceremony by the mayor, and much more. I will be giving out FREE samples of sweet w/ heat caramel corn and lip balm. Hope to see you there! |
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Amy: Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 3:28 PM
Now you can find my organic fragrance candles at Aster & Bee in Portland, OR! Plus, don't forget to check out my Grand Opening of JUST THE GOOD STUFF at Milepost 5 in Portland, OR April 8th and 9th. www.justthegoodstuff.net |
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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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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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As far as tapers go, wow, they are hard to make look even! My first batch was received with glee by my sons because they said they looked like Shrek candles! EEK! Ear Wax candles was not exactly the look I was going for! I'm working on it though and I am still hopeful that I will be announcing a new line of pillar and taper
