Thank you, California, for a warm welcome to the California Gift Show!  I was in the LA Mart/Beckman's West division and the response was wonderful!  So many retailers are switching from synthetic fragrance and petroleum based candles.....it is wonderful!  Not only am I excited that business is booming, but I am so glad that more non-renewable resources are being saved and less toxins will be filling the air!  A great big thanks to my new clients!  You can now find my 100% natural soy candles (for real 100%, not 100% soy and then added toxic fragrance like most candles!) at these fine locations:

Splendid Things ( Paso Robles, CA)

Urban Farmhouse (Salinas, CA)

Topanga Home Grown (Topanga, CA)

Vintage Cousins (Whittier, CA)

Designer's Furniture (Glendale, CA)

The Washburne Cafe' (Springfield, OR)

Roxie's Charity Boutique and Gallery (Phoenix, AZ)

Etcetera (Portland, OR)

Designscape (Hanalei, Hawaii)

MADE art boutique (Phoenix, AZ)

Chris Hart Studio ( Grants Pass, OR)

and in the spring....Mono Lake Committee...Mono Lake, CA (Yosemite)

Hope you are near one! 

They're back!  Customers were going nuts awaiting the return of my massage candles and I am happy to say, they are back!  I had decided to remove them until I had labels that were worthy of the candle.  Vintage Paper Boutique has designed just that and I am proud to introduce my amazing, natural, nourishing, perfectly warm massage candle with its new, apothecary vintage style label.  As always, there are NO SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES, PHALATES or Foreign Materials in The Perfect Massage Candle.  Enjoy!

 

How exciting it is to see my candles on other websites, in catalogs  and in stores!  Even more exciting is the fact that people are converting to sustainable, petroleum free, foreign material free, synthetic fragrance free candles!  I want the world to be healthy for a very long time.  Just thinking about the here and now doesn't work for me, especially since I have children so everyday I am reminded of what the future may bring.  I know that candles are just a little start, but how wonderful it would be if everything were sustainable and not petroleum based and full of toxins?!  Here are some amazing businesses, run by amazing people, that are devoted to selling only healthy, eco-friendly products.  They sell my candles and two

 

 

 

Being a candle maker, I am often checking out competition and one thing really drives me bonkers (well, not bonkers, but it bothers me!).  That is the majority of candles that claim to be "aromatherapy" or "made with soy" or

"all natural".   In order to be aromatherapy, a candle needs to actual have the true aroma (in other words, essential oils or essences) in the candle.  I am amazed at how many candles have absolutely no real oil in them!  Only synthetic fragrance derived from petroleum that is labeled TOXIC by the FDA (but candles and body products do not have to label it as so , they just have to put fragrance).  The FDA has said that due to the low percentage of the synthetic fragrance, it does not have to be labeled.  You will find synthetic, toxic, cancer causing fragrance in ORGANIC body products, Natural Soy Candles, Aromatherapy Candles/Body Products& Natural Home Products.  This minuscule amount of fragrance can kill me!  Or at least send me to the E.R.!   What kind of "aromatherapy" is that?!  Customers are becoming more aware of the dangers of burning paraffin candles but are still learning that most products still contain petroleum & phalates in the form of fragrance.  All it takes is for us to get the word out!  We like to trust our manufactures and the labels on items.  Just like you read the ingredient list on foods, I highly recommend reading the ingredients on candles.  If it doesn't say made of: 100% soy, Essential oils (or plant essences/botanicals), and a cleaner burning and sustainable cotton wick.......stay clear!  Your lungs are at stake!

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.

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!