Mother's Day Challenge & Giveaway

The SAFEteam asked our fellow Etsy artists to get creative and pamper Mom. Mom deserves to be recognized and pampered all through the year. But we are giving her special love this week to tell her how very much we love and appreciate all she does. Whether your mom is a stay at home, work at home, working for a living or anywhere in between, we know she'll love these items created just for her.

Our Challenge Sponsors

and now the contestants:

by Waterwaif

I was inspired by Thai Coconut Shampoo That Rocks by GetLathered. Pineapple and coconut are awesome scents and together, they're magic! I think my earrings capture the tropical, spring-time feel of GetLathered's shampoo and every mom deserves a pretty piece of jewelry to pamper herself and to feel special!

by Emburr

What dissolves stress better that a hot bath with some delicious soap and beautiful handmade items. Pamper Mom with a beautiful spring soap dish by Emburr and soothing scents of handmade soap. Two shops that stood out to me was Thistle Delight and Life Soap Simple. I thought the Sea Island Breeze soap matches well with this soap dish.

Now we'd like you to cast your vote. The winner of this SAFEteam challenge will win gift certificates to 2 shops of their choice.

Which item best pamper's Mom?

Vote by commenting below (be sure to leave us a way to contact you). Voting ends May 1, 2011. All entries will be tallied and the winners announced May 2, 2011.

• By voting you will be entered to win this lovely gift basket from SAFEteam sponsors, perfect for pampering you or the Mom in your life.

Earn additional entries by:

• Following this blog (comment below) = 1 additional vote
  
• Liking our team on Facebook (let us know who you are following us as) = 1 additional vote
  

Please make separate comments for each entry.
** International winner will have a $20 shipping allotment. You may be responsible for additional shipping fees. Thanks for understanding.

Our Challenge Sponsors:
use code SAFEMOM in the following Challenge Sponsor Shops to receive various discounts on bath and body products April 11, 2011- May 1, 2011



Thistle Delight Soapworks
15% off


Life Soap Simple
20% off


Aunt Nancy's Handmade Soap
10% off


Concord Soap Company
15% off


Soaperie Main deNature
10% off


Anhoki's Place
15% off
(EXCLUDES: soap molds, cutters, and stamps)

Amelia's Soap Co.
15% off

Pacific Paradise Soap
10% off

Get Lathered
10% off

The Skin You're In

15% off

Meet The Team

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m lucky because there’s a bit of both the north and the south of our wonderful country in me. Raised in Illinois as a child, I always said “you all” because my mom was from a little town in Kentucky and that’s how she spoke. The other kids would tease me but that was okay.

I now live on an island off the coast of Georgia. One has to cross four rivers on a causeway to get here. The oak trees drip with Spanish moss and there is history here going back to pre-revolutionary times! By the way, when we were considering this location, I asked several people about hurricanes …. everyone said, “Oh! We don’t get those!” …. Hum ……..

How did you get started?

I got started making soap 8 or 9 years ago. My mom loved fragrances and taught me the importance of taking care of one’s skin. She said by age 30, people should be regularly using a moisturizer. Did I mention she’s the first “Amelia” …. and that’s my middle name?

What is your purpose in making bath and body products?

I am passionate about what I do. It’s important to me that I make great products, ones that are the best quality they can be. In products that stay on one’s skin, I am fussy (fanatic?) about keeping them all natural whenever possible. I love to know about the many oils and butters that Mother Earth gives us! In soaps, I enjoy using a high percentage of shea butter as it makes the bars harder and more emollient. When something I make helps someone, it truly makes my day!

Why did you choose to be on a team?

The people on SAFEteam care deeply about doing things correctly and that is important to me too. So it seemed like the perfect fit. We also care about and help each other. I love all my friends here and would enjoy getting together with them in person!!

What is your inspiration?

My parents and family! My dad always worked hard and had me working with him when I was 14 years old, part-time of course and in the summers. My husband works hard also and so do our children.

My mom was an inspiration too --- she was very hard of hearing when I was born. Her sisters always told her the babies were so good because she couldn’t hear them cry! She read lips so well that most people didn’t realize she had a problem. From them, I learned my work ethic and my values! It’s a fortunate person who has positive role models.

MEET THE TEAM

This week we meet Sue of The Skin You're In.
Grab a cup of coffee and get to know her!

Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Sue Dixon, my husband, Mark and I live in Van Nuys, CA which is fairly close to Los Angeles. Together we have three kids from ages 16 to 29, 3 grandsons and a cat named Nikki.


How did you get started?
I got started making bath and body products when I met my husband, sold my house and moved to Van Nuys. My skin did not like this new environment and became very dry with serious eczema. Someone suggested handmade products and maybe that would help. I bought some products and knew immediately I could do this myself. I bought a soap rebatch kit on Ebay, joined some yahoo soapmaking groups and was instantly hooked. The rebatching kit did not quench my thirst and decided to make my own from scratch. Lotions came next and then branched out to other bath products as well. I had been making products for over a year and a half when my family told me I should start selling it and here I am.


Where did you get your name?
I was making a list of names that seemed to fit where I wanted to take this endeavor and since skin is really what it's all about, I decided to start there. I used to do a lot of driving back and forth to Long Beach to see my daughter and her family and the name came to me while driving home one day. I immediately filed the Fictitious Business name, and searched Ebay for graphic designers to make me a logo. Four years ago I took things to the next level and filed for a trademark on the name and the logo.

Are you involved in any other Etsy teams?
Right now, other than SAFE Team, I belong to California Crafters Club of Etsy, Wild, Wise and Witty Grandmamas of Etsy and my newest group is called Etsy Talent Hunt.


What is your best advice for someone just starting out in the soaping/B&B field?
My best advice for someone wanting to learn how to make soap and other B&B products is to join at least one Etsy team of other soapers and a few Yahoo soaping groups as these groups can all be a wealth of information. Read, research, test, test, test, research, read and then test some more. You will find your niche, what inspires you, what gets under your skin and keeps you motivated.

Mother's Day Challenge - A Call To Artists

Who needs spoiled and pampered more than Mom? The SAFEteam (many of us mom’s) are taking a break from our regularly scheduled challenge to celebrate Mom-dom and are asking the talented artists of Etsy to help by creating any non-soap item that would beautify Mom’s world for Mother’s Day.

photography by JLMPHOTOGRAPHS (used with permission) on Etsy


Requirements:

1. Your item must be for Moms, Grandmoms, Moms-to-be (you get the idea)
2. Use one of our participating member’s items for inspiration (see list at bottom of post)
3. Be for the body (no soap please) or home—the sky is the limit
4. Have item listed in your Etsy shop by Sunday, April 24, 2011
   
5. Entry description sent to the team email by due date (Sunday, April 24, 2011) –no exceptions

With the following information included:

1. Your name and contact information (email)
2. A photo of your item
   
3. Your Etsy shop link and a link to your item
4. Tell us which item from the participating members you are using for inspiration and a two sentence statement on how your item pampers Mom.
   
5. And from which two shops you would like to earn a prize
6. Mail entries to: team.safeblog@gmail.com

What you win:

1. Full feature on our team blog
2. Promotion on our Team Facebook page and twitter
3. $30 Value Store Credit to two ($15 each shop) of our participating member shop

• shipping fees may apply

Everyone’s a winner:

All entrants will be featured in at least one treasury during the week of voting.

Now, go create!! (and tell all your friends so they can vote and win something too!)

Our Challenge Sponsors:

use code SAFEMOM in the following Challenge Sponsor Shops to receive various discounts on bath and body products April 11, 2011- May 1, 2011



Thistle Delight Soapworks
15% off


Life Soap Simple
20% off


Aunt Nancy's Handmade Soap
10% off


Concord Soap Company
15% off


Soaperie Main deNature
10% off


Anhoki's Place
15% off
(EXCLUDES: soap molds, cutters, and stamps)

Amelia's Soap Co.
15% off

Pacific Paradise Soap
10% off

Get Lathered
10% off

The Skin You're In
15% off