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My Blog

Blog

American Scent Trip candles!

Posted on 18 May, 2013 at 18:27 Comments comments ()
 
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

Handcrafted pottery containers coming soon!

Posted on 28 May, 2011 at 11:37 Comments comments ()
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!!!

First Friday Art Walk

Posted on 6 May, 2011 at 0:54 Comments comments ()
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.

Adding wickless massage candles

Posted on 20 March, 2011 at 13:59 Comments comments ()
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?

Cleaner Air, One Candle at a time

Posted on 4 March, 2011 at 10:07 Comments comments ()
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!

New Labels! New Store!

Posted on 16 February, 2011 at 23:07 Comments comments ()
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! 
Vance Family Soy CandlesCustom Organic Coffee Candlesmarket bagsSweet with Heat Caramel Corn
For the Love of KnitLijah Hanley PhotographyUpcycled Bird FeedersVintage Cards
Heat PacksCloth Diapers and Baby GearOne of a Kind JewelryStuffed knit animals
Essatto Handmade Leather ShoesTaylor's Pottery FacesOil cloth market bagsCardtagious
Handpainted wine and champagne glassesHand dug, hand shined, igneous element jewelryGoat soap!Up cycled bird feeders
Handmade wooden airplane from salvaged wood and new teak and cedarPhoto on CanvasCeramic cupcake boxesLeather Dog Collars
Hand Roasted Nuts and Handmade CandiesVance Family Soy Candles new labelsGardener's Hand Salve

Seattle Gift Show Coming Soon!

Posted on 1 February, 2011 at 1:04 Comments comments ()
Crazy busy getting ready for the Seattle Gift Show!  Greatly looking forward to it!  Hope to see you there!

I'm Opening ANOTHER shop in Battle Ground!

Posted on 9 January, 2011 at 18:44 Comments comments ()
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!