My First Craft Fair

One week ago today, I was a vendor at a craft fair.  I had never sold anything at any type of market or fair before.  So, to say I was nervous would be an understatement. Besides being nervous, I was also really excited.  Excited to meet people who are interested in handmade soaps. Excited to have the experience and know what it's like to sell at a craft fair.  Excited to discover what people look at, what people buy, what sells the best, etc.. And I was really excited to get our name out there.

I had thought about selling at this craft fair for many months.

For some context, let me backup a little...

This month marks the anniversary of the first time that I made soap... my "soapiversary", if you will.  Since I started, I gifted friends and family with some of my soap to try.  I also sold some to friends and family after I was confident that I got the recipe right.  I got pretty good at making soap.  I loved to post pictures of my soap creations on Facebook, and I would often get requests to sell my soap, but I wasn't ready.  I had more learning to do.  I decided to follow the best advice that I received about selling soaps, which was to "wait a year".

So I did.

I waited a year.

In that year, I made a lot of soaps, and a lot of mistakes.  I learned from those mistakes, and developed several recipes that I am proud of.  I observed how my soap felt, how long it lasted, the texture, how it bubbled and lathered, and how my skin felt after using it.  I learned how different ingredients behave in soap.  I learned how natural colorants and essential oils react in soap and how long they last.

I experienced a lot in that time!  I know what it's like to have a soap seize up on me (meaning it is impossible to pour the soap batter into a mold because it hardens immediately).  I know that certain essential oils cause soap to accelerate and seize up. I know certain essential oils don't stick in soap.  I also know that adding clays can help anchor the scent of essential oils. I know what it's like to have soap partially gel (a reaction where the soap heats up from the inside out but cools as it gets to the edges and, as a result, leaves a dark circle in the center). I also know how to fix a partial gel. I know what it's like to have to work fast when making a soap with alcohol, or a 100% coconut oil soap. I know that it's impossible to cut a loaf of coconut oil soap if I wait too long for it to set up.  I know that if I don't wait until the lye-water and oils are at a cool temperature, the soap can overheat and crack in the mold. I also know how to "re-batch" a failed soap (chop up the soap into tiny pieces, melt it down, and cook it in a crock-pot), which is essentially a hot-process method.