I'm back on my feet.

Hello my friends.  As you may or may not know, I recently had surgery and am recovering nicely.  I am starting to get back into the swing of things and what better way to do that than with several inquiries into my cutie pie wedding favors for some upcoming autumn weddings.

A big congratulations to Allison B., a lovely lady who recently got engaged and has multiple bulk Sudstress purchases under her belt.  She'll be getting married this September and I'm super excited to get back on the horse, starting with her wedding favor project! 

On the topic of weddings, I'd like to give a shout out to a very talented photographer Kelley Klein of Kelley Klein Photography in Atlanta, GA.  Not only have we been friends for a decade, but she puts out supremely beautiful work.  If you're in the market for a wedding photographer (or just a photographer for whatever reason) you can find her here:

http://www.kelleyklein.com/

That's all for now.  Short and sweet.  I have a batch of soap with the working title of Choco-nilla that is probably ready for sale that I will list soon and will be churning out more as I continue to heal.  No matter what happens in life, I always come back to soap.  That's true love.

You can learn more about my experience with Graves' Disease and my Total Thyroidectomy here:

http://alumpinmythroat.wordpress.com/ 

Until next time, thanks for sticking with me!  As a token of my thanks, I'd like to leave you with a few happy pictures of springtime around here:

Wedding Favor Samples ...duh, can't believe I didn't think of it sooner.

I know wedding season doesn't start until May, but I make stuff that has to be thought of ahead of time.  I got a late jump on the Christmas season, so I'm getting an early one on the wedding planning season.  If all those radio ads are true, there will be a bunch of ladies walking around with some new jewelry, ready to make one of the biggest promises of their lives. 

The result of this, weddings!  The result of weddings...   wedding favors!

I feel like such a dummy for not offering this publicly before.  Anytime someone has contacted me regarding wedding favors, I describe them to the best of my ability, but I know they sound small to some people.  Granted they're favors and are supposed to be small, but it's also soap and people think twice about tiny soap.  That's when I offer to send a sample so they can actually see what they're giving their guests.  I've never had a future bride not sign on as a client once they hold it in their hands.  So, I've set up a listing on etsy - my commerce site - for ordering a sample.  Easy peasy.  No email necessary, no long description, just a sample in your hand. 

The sample costs $0.20 because that is the minimum listing value on the site.  Just pay shipping and it's all set.  I can't guarantee the color / scent combination since they are previously made, but that won't really matter too much.  Each sample will come packaged to give you the total effect.  Here are a few examples:  You can order one by clicking here.

Babies and weddings and boyfriends, oh my!

This has been a good month for Sudstress.  A few weeks ago, I got an email from a woman who was looking for 40 baby shower favors and had been referred to me by the lovely Joanna of The Soap Bar and Product Body.  (Thanks Jo!)  Her shower is this weekend and all has been delivered and signed for.  She was so kind to still work with me even though I couldn't do custom without more time; we figured out a way to make what I had in stock, custom for her.  I hope they're a hit.  We went with exotic berry, stamped 'Baby M' with some pearlescent purple mica.

Then I got an email about a week ago for 60 wedding favors.  All was confirmed a few days ago, and I made them Tuesday morning.  Her wedding is in September.  I've already ordered the gift tags - my best design yet, thanks to istockphoto and their amazing vector artists.  One in particular whose style I LOVE.  A month seems like plenty of time, unless you're talking making soap, cutting it into 60 little pieces, stamping 60 little pieces, assembling 60 boxes, filling them with shred, packing the soap in them, tying a ribbon and gift tag around each one, packing them and shipping them....  whew! 

They will look similar to this:

Today I received confirmation from Allison, who bought a custom order of Gravel Road Grunt - a novelty scented soap with pumice in it that I made for gift bags given away at the Fool's Gold 50/100 mountain bike race a few years ago.  Apparently he really liked it because he kept the label all this time and this is the second custom bulk order for it!  I'll be making the batch this Sunday for local delivery in a handful of weeks.

Sorry for the poor quality on that last picture.  I sort of took it last minute before moving it to the curing shelves.  I wanted a record of it, but who needs it when it looks so poorly lit and on paper towel...  clearly not staged properly, but you get the idea.

Finally, I blog about soap...

I've been extremely busy the last few months.  I've worked hard to find balance in my life and include time for my relationships, my soap, meditation and exercise on top of full-time work and school.  I haven't had as much time to soap as I would like, but I still was chosen to create some wonderful gifts for the guests and wedding party of a few brides to be who have a wonderful appreciation for unique, handmade gifts.

Eric & Tangela ~ married August 19, 2010

"Words can't express my gratitude enough!  These favors bring my wedding full circle.  I had a vision in the very beginning and you made the vision a reality!  I also got my extra gift, thank you so much.  I was going to take a favor from a guest for a souvenir, but you prevented that by being so gracious.  I am going to tell all my friends who may be getting married where to go!  Thanks again!"  

~ Tangela P., New Jersey

Ahmad & Andrea ~ to be married sometime in 2010

Maggie & Joey ~ to be wed March 5, 2011

"I just wanted to tell you THANK YOU SO MUCH for the wonderful favors, cake slices and cutie pies!  They are ADORABLE in person!  When I brought them home Joe carried the box in and remarked how they smelled just like chocolate.  He loves them and thinks they are so neat.  He said the cutie pies look like he could take a bite out of them.

They are delightful and I think they will be a big hit at the wedding.   

Everything exceeded our expectations and the colors match the linens I have been looking at for the tables - woot!  Again, thank you."

~ Marguerite D., Atlanta 

 

 

 

 

Lisa & Josh ~ to be married September 22, 2010 

two of three, which is now four (sweet!)

A little over a month ago, I wrote this blog post talking about some exciting possibilities that have come my way recently. Well, since then, a fourth press opportunity has popped up, but I'm not going to blab that one either! However, I am now ready to tell you about number two! (hee hee, number two...) *ahem* sorry.

I was approached a while back by the Atlanta editor of Daily Candy about my soap cakes. She originally asked me about the large soap cakes and floating cupcakes which are cool and beautiful, but out of production with good reason. So, I told her about my cutie pies which are an evolution of the soap cake, but with a more specific purpose; wedding favors. Of course I've sold them since as...

baby shower favors

bridal shower hostess gifts

li'l gift sets

After a couple of weeks without a yes showing up in my inbox, I thought maybe they had decided not to use me (yet, hopefully). But today I received word that they'd like to use my cutie pie favors in their wedding guide. Woo! I'm not exactly sure when it comes out, but past 'issues' have come out in the end of October.

Untied forever in love.

This past weekend, I traveled to Nebraska for my cousin Jen's wedding.  I made 180 favors for the wedding, which went over really well.  I had to do the labeling and ribbon tying last minute in Omaha the night before since I couldn't fit them all into my suitcase and the ribbon I ordered did not arrive until Thursday (my flight was Friday, very early).  I was so scared that I would get there and the labels  "Jen & Christy - United forever in love - January 12, 2008" would read Jen & Christy were "Untied forever in love".  Fortunately, it all went off without a hitch; except for Jen and Christy that is.  

It was a big project and of course I started stressing out at the last minute, which I do for every big project or event.  It's like the night before a final exam.  No matter how well prepared you are, you still could've done better but there's no time to do so.  In the end, the work you put in shows and worrying didn't help you earn a better grade.  This philosophy is one I am trying to incorporate into my daily life.  Worrying is pointless.  So, I may not have conquered it yet, but it's a work in progress.  Check out the fruits of my labor: