We're here... in Epcot

Hello everyone!

Wow, what a crazy and wild ride this has been!  I just wanted to check in to let you know that everything is going magically... would you expect anything less from Epcot!?!?

The days are a bit long (9 am - 9 pm) every single day, so needless to say, I'm a bit tired.

I'm really taking this first week to settle into my spaces (one on stage & one off stage), getting a work flow down & making sure I have enough inventory.  After that, I'll be able to chronicle my journey better.  Images are coming I promise.

But for now. good night.

Back to the Workshop

Just wanted to say hello, and that we made it back from Chicago safely.

We had an amazing time at the Chicago Renegade Craft Show.  A full report & pictures are coming soon.

Now off to the workshop to:

1. create some sparkly goodness which we will be launching at Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival later this month.
2. ship our website orders
3. ship a few wholesale orders
4. unpack from this weekend's festivities
   
5. make product that we're out of or nearly out of
   
6. try to do it all over again by applying for the Chicago Holiday Renegade Craft Show
   

Rinse - a Featured Vendor @ Epcot's Food & Wine Festival

Yes, your heard me right!  Rinse Bath & Body is going to be a featured vendor at the 2009 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

You may ask yourself:
"Soap.  Food.  Wine.  I don't get it?!?"

Well here's your answer:
With the exception of a synthetic fragrance (which we use in only a handful of our products) you eat just about EVERYTHING that goes into them everyday.  Ironically enough, most of the ingredients in our products are found in very fine chocolates (yum!)

We feel that you shouldn't put anything on your skin that you wouldn't eat.

We also let food inspire us all the time.  From the packaging to the names (truffles, candy...) to the look and even some of the scents (Cioccolato, Nectar...)  We are foodies and we aren't afraid to share it with the world!

I love food. Ok, so that doesn't have anything to do with it, but it sure will be convenient for my tummy!

We are so excited to be a part of such an anticipated event (and are launching a handful of exclusive magical products at the event.)  The line-up of top chefs & winerys is unreal.  The entertainment is going to be top-notch.  And Rinse, will be in the thick of it!

Our little space in the world of Epcot will be in the Festival's Welcome Center.  Our products will be available from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM every day of the week from September 25 - November 8. 

And yes, I'll be there (in Orlando and probably at our space) the entire time.  Stay tuned here because I hope to blog my journey from pre F&W through the whole thing.

The UPS man can't come quick enough

So I've been on a bit of a shopping rampage as of late. Unfortunately it's not all for me. Well, maybe it is, but not in the way the usual person would shop.

I've got Rinse stuff... supplies to restock of course but then we've got a few things that we're going to pull out of our sleeves in the next few weeks. We are super-excited with a new niche & are just waiting, (some what impatiently I'll add) for our packaging to come.

Then I've got me stuff... which really does translate over to Rinse. My most favorite paper/creative store in the world, Paper Source, is shipping me a box of goodness.

I've got what I hope will be the perfect planner (and for those of you who know my planner habits know this is a tall order.) I'm using this planner now, but it's just not quite perfect. I wished it would be a little smaller as to be more purse friendly - and waalaa... ask and you shall receive!  And the funnies thing is that I never officially asked, that is unless Paper Source can now read deep down into my thoughts...hmmm.  Well in case this one doesn't work out, I've always got another planner in the wings cuz that's just the kind of girl that I am.

In the same box as my planner goodness will be the prettiest, most sparkley fun ever.  Stickles!!!  For those non-crafty types, Stickles is glittler glue.  Only the best glitter glue known to man available in a plethera of fun and fancy colors.  Now I can't tell you quite yet what I'm doing with the Stickles, but it will be marvelous I promise!  Stay tuned.

Guaranteed not to rain this weekend

Well at least let's hope the trend continues. I bought a rain coat. It has been years since I've had a coat specifically for when it rains. My last one was probably a yellow rubbery one my mom bought for me and made me wear in the 4th grade or something.

But anyhow, I figured the time was right and my dad isn't conveniently here every time it rains for me to steal his rain coat and REI was having a sale. So here it is, my guarantee that it won't rain this weekend - because for once, I'll be prepared.

Chicago... Here we come - again!

I am so excited to be heading back to the windy city for hopefully a not so soggy Renegade Craft Fair.

If you remember, last year we had the honor to experience the most rainfall Chicago had in the entire recorded history. [I wonder if the fire the cow did or did not allegedly set off destroyed the records of what was the rainiest day ever in Chicago.] So sorry for digressing, anyhow... We loved the show. The girls sported the cutest galoshes & matching umbrellas we had ever seen (so inspiring that we were also sporting galoshes on the Sunday of the event thanks to Target.)

The Chicago show, even in all its rainy glory, was so much fun & showed so much potential that we applied & attended the Brooklyn Renegade show in June 2009 which also rocked the house.

Now fast forward to September 12 & 13, 2009. We are coming back and we are more excited than ever! Our craft peeps, Freshie & Zero (and Greg too) are right behind us, so you know there will be some laughs will be had throughout the days. The weather report (yes, I'm already looking at the extended forecast - I need to know if I need to find some new galoshes) says there is a 40% chance of showers on Saturday, but sunny on Sunday.

So Come One, Come All to my favorite (and only show... for now) in Chicago. I will be doing some damage myself shopping & hope Damyn can hold down the fort on his own for a while. If time permits, I'll post some pre-shopping notes.

Hardly a Master... part II

Since I am no master, but am pretty handy when it comes to making a log or two of soap it's always exciting to find new & better ways to do it - especially after you've been doing it for over 7 years!

Today was one of those days. Since we've upped our production getting ready for the craziness that is about to ensue I've been able to streamline quite a bit of the production.

My amazing father built quad molds (they hold 4 logs of soap) so my dear husband had to build a log splitter (splits one big slab of soap into individual logs.) Now that I've gone quad I don't ever want to go back.

Scheduling the production & creating a production chart have help tremendously too. Less dishes to wash because I'm planning what we're making, how much we're making & when we're making it. Out of 34 logs of soap, only 4 pots were left to wash. And let me tell you, washing dishes after soapmaking is just as fun as it is after making dinner.

Now if only I could find a way to add a few extra hours to each day... hmmm...