Oddie, I'm game, would love to be on your craft show!! I think we could all do as good as job as the guests Carol had - I especially loved that crazy one who does the embossed velvet, can't remember her name but she was always so funny. I can't remember what Carol actually did in the way of crafts but she was a great hostess. Oddie, I don't know all the abreviations for computer talk yet, either. I am a perfectionist and after years of typing at my job, I naturally type out the whole word. I was never sure if LOL meant laughing out loud or lots of laughs. I even had to ask my grandson what OMG meant.

Generally, I couldn't tell you how long one item takes me, because I don't watch the clock when I craft and I try to streamline (production line) when I work. For example, I am sewing and I run about 20 items through, first the side seam, then the other seam (my mom worked in a sewing factory for a few years). It's not mass producing, just being efficient. I can get more done that way. Anyway, I have never figured in my time in the price, I generally use the rule of thumb or 3-5 times the cost, but then think how much I would be willing to pay also and what I have seen at other shows that are similar and what they are pricing at. I know there are a few crafters that are very particular about their "formula" and making profits, but I feel that most of us are doing this for the love of crafting and the money we make just helps to support that addiction. The biggest problem with formula's is that they don't apply equally to all crafts. I have one that I make for the kids (candymen), and I can make over 100 in the evening (3 hrs at most). And the cost is relatively cheap, so if I used the formula's I would be charging maybe .25 each, but that doesn't seem worth the time and effort. I sell them for $1.00 each and have for years. So you just have to find the price range that you are comfortable with. And most of all, enjoy what you are doing. Laura

I sew, mosaic, and paint/distress small vintage wood items for the house (shelves, foot stools, cabinets, etc). To be more specific, my theme is cottage, and or shabby, whichever you prefer. Lately, I have been into pillows. I buy vintage Wilendur tablecloths in rose patterns and strawberries as well. I have scraps left over that are still good enough to make more pillows, but had them up on Craigslist, hoping to trade for pieces of vintage chenille. No bites yet. Would love to trade them if I could find chenille. I love vintage fabrics. I also make curtains out of feedsacks, and chair covers, and more pillow cases. LOL As for Mosaics, I have over 3 dozen items I have made over a period of 3+ years, using fine china. As for painting and distressing. I just love finding old items to re-purpose. I also crochet. Mango Princess

Susan, First, I was intimidated by CP at first because I was afraid i would not know what trace looked like. Well, it is very easy to see. Once you add the lye water to the oils and start stirring you will see the mixture start thickening, as you stir you will see track marks in the soap, you can actually drizzle some of the soap over the mixture and you will see "traces", with the recipe I am going to give you this will happen in about 4 minutes if you use a stick mixer, (if mixing by hand could take hours). I recommend the stick mixer, I did by hand the 1st time but got very disconcerned with the stirring. This recipe is not organic but you can probably purchase the items organically. Here is a very easy and mild CP recipe: 38 oz veg. shortening 24 oz Olive Oil 24 oz Coconut Oil 12 oz lye 32 oz distilled water 3-4 oz EO or 2 oz FO 1/4 oz herbs (optional) Items needed: 2 plastic pitchers 2 candy thermometers 1 stainless steel pot mold freezer paper Goggles rubber gloves 2 wooden spoons scale that weighs in ounces and pounds old blanket piece of cardboard that fits into mold so lay on soap as not to create soda ash Wearing goggles and rubber gloves weigh out 12 oz of lye into a plastic pitcher, in another plastic pitcher weigh out 32 oz of distilled water. Slowly pour the lye into the water stirring as you add. The mixture will be very hot, stick a thermometer in and start on the oil phase. In a stainless pot add weighed veg shortening and coconut oil, let melt, as soon a mixture melts remove from heat, add olive oil. Add a 2nd thermometer to the oil mixture, let both (lye and oil) mixtures cool to between 90 - 100 degrees. While waiting for mixtures to cool you can prepare your mold by greasing and lining with freezer paper. Also get your additives ready. Both mixtures will need to be at exactly same temp before incorporating. If one cools faster than the other put the warmer on in a cold water bath until it reaches the correct temp. Once both are at the same temp slowly pour the lye water into the oil. If using a stick blender you will see the mix thicken and then you will see "tracks" or "trace" in the soap, this is when you will add you FO, EO, additives or color. You can also superfat with 2 oz of Shea butter or Avacodo butter at this time. Use your stick blender to stir again until trace then pour in prepared molds. You can lay a piece of freezer paper directly on soap then place the card board or a lid on the container. Wrap in a blanket, leave in blankets for 18 hours, then uncover and let sit another 12 hours. After 12 hours remove soap from mold and cut into bars. This makes (1) 4LB block or (2) 2LBS loafs, I get 20 bars from this recipe (you can get 24 depending on your mold. ***Clean up tip: I let the mixture in the pot and blender sit and begin to set up so it is more of a soap mixture when I clean than oily.** ~~If you are nervous about making just make sure you have everything ready before you begin and read the directions several times before attempting. I have to say as nervous as I was all of my soaps have turned out great, not one messed up batch~~ Good Luck Elle By the way Susan, ordered the Coffee FO today for the Kitchen Soap