10 Reasons for Shopping for Handmade/Handcrafted Products

1. Unique one-of-a-kind items
2. Products created using natural ingredients
3. Like supporting small business owners.
4. Better customer service than a large company that only offers automated service.
5. Meeting the artisan/crafter that created the product.
6. High quality & excellent craftsmanship of the item/product
7. Made with love and pride in the product
8. Helps small entrepreneurs live their dream
9. Shopping local farmers markets, craft malls, etc. helps build the economy in your area
10. Skill & craftsmanship put into the product/item.

I’m sure you can think of many other reasons for buying handmade/handcrafted. Please feel free to share those reasons with us. Personally, I support small business for the simple fact that our country started out with businesses such as these and I like handcrafted products. I have met many interesting people buying or shopping handcrafted and I've found some fantastic products. The customer service is tops!

Many artisans depend upon your patronage to keep their businesses afloat. Some crafters run a business to supplement their other income, as a hobby, or as a full-time job. If you are looking for quality, one-of-a-kind products remember to shop for handmade/handcrafted products. There are many websites that offer products that are fully created and crafted by a real live person. You may find handcrafted items on sites such as Etsy and Artfire to name a couple of places. There are many other places to buy handcrafted, including individual business websites. If you look around you may find some places that support handcrafted such as Indie Public, Handmade Highway, Snowberry Creek, and many other blogs. Look around….you may be pleasantly surprised by the quality of products out there. We have many talented e-tailers in our sample box….be sure to check them out while you’re out browsing around.

Don’t Forget – Father’s Day, June 20th

Where in the world did this year get off to? Seems only yesterday that it was January, now it's June! Father's Day is just around the corner don't forget to pamper your Dad on his special day. Ye Olde Chandler has a new line of soaps that any Dad would love to have.

Father's Day is June 20th so get your dad something special this year! Ye Olde Chandler's Four Elements Soap Collection is both Dad and Husband approved! All four have scents that men enjoy as we have found out from using them in our own homes! Also try coordinating candles in Tiger Eyes, Stormy Day, Black Magic and Asian Sandalwood.

This poem is a tribute to the man many of us call Dad. Anyone can be a biological father, but a Dad is a special person.

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
Author Unknown

Pamper your Dad, spend time with him....enjoy him. Those memories will last a lifetime.

The Pampered Bride Box Giveaway by Mrs. Sterlings

Getting married? Beginning to feel the stress of planning your wedding, making sure every detail is just as you want? You could probably use a little relaxation and pampering at this point – take some time for yourself, Mrs. Sterlings is giving away the Pampered Bride Gift Box this month.

The Pampered Bride Gift Box includes a Champagne Sugar Bath Bomb, Amber Romance Body Lotion and Evening Primrose Cuticle Butter and a Champagne Lip Balm. All of these items are nestled in a clear gift box tied with a satin ribbon.

The drawing will be June 20th - follow this link to enter http://www.mrssterlings.com/pampered_bride_giveaway.htm.

You may be interested in pampering your attendants or some of your special guests. That’s a great idea! Everyone loves to be made feel that they are special. Your guests will appreciate and remember a gift of bath and body.

Mrs. Sterlings is offering a special right now – The Pampered Bride Gift Box FREE – you pay shipping only of $6.95 and you can still enter to win the free Giveaway Box. This link will take you directly to the special offer http://www.mrssterlings.com/pampered_bride_gift_box_special_offer.htm or you may get to the special offer by going to enter for the giveaway and scrolling to the bottom of the page - click on special offer.

No purchase is necessary, but you must enter for a chance to win The Pampered Bride Gift Box. This link http://www.mrssterlings.com/pampered_bride_giveaway.htm will take right to the page with the form for the necessary information to enter you into the giveaway. Remember the drawing will be June 20th.

Let Mrs. Sterlings create that special thank you for guests and attendants. From wedding favors, bridal shower favors, bridal attendant gifts to welcome gift bags -we can help you create that perfect gift.
Quantity discounts are available. They can be customized to match wedding or bridal shower colors along with fragrance choice. You may email us for details at mrssterlings@netscape.net.

Place an order at Mrs. Sterlings and receive a Complimentary Pampered Bride gift box with your order.

Ye Olde Chandler's Votive Candles

Looking for a good votive candle? Look no farther – Ye Olde Chandler offers some of the best! These great smelling handcrafted votives burn 12-15 hours. Ye Olde Chandler offers some tips for getting the most out of your votive candles. Votives, as with all candles, should be burned out of drafts. Since soy votives are softer than paraffin, it is important that they be burned in a tight fitting votive cup. They will just turn into a puddle, if burned on a saucer, etc. Their votives fit perfectly in the flowerpot style votive cups.

Ye Olde Chandler offers over 80 scents – something for everyone! The following scents are available: amaretto, angel wings, asian sandalwood, baby powder, bayberry, bird of paradise, birthday cake, black magic, blueberry muffin, café au lait, candle shop, candy corn, cappuccino, cherry berry, chocolate cake, chocolate covered berries, cinnamon apple, cinnamon bun, cool citrus basil, creamsicle, crème brulee, crushed ginger, cucumber melon, dogwood, dragon’s blood, endless love, eucalyptus, evergreen, fleur de lis, flower shop, frankincense & myrrh, fresh linen, gardenia, georgia peach, ginger bergamont, ginger tea, hazelnut, high maintenance type, honeysuckle, hot apple strudel, jasmine, lavender, lemon pucker, lilac, macintosh apple, magnolia, mango papaya, orange mango, peach mango, peppermint, pineapple cilantro, plumeria, pomegranate, pumpkin spice, rain garden, rose bouquet, sinus relief, sleigh bells, spiced cranberry, stargazer lily, stormy day, strawberries & cream, sugar cookie, sweet dreams, sweet pea, tiger eyes, tropical romance, twigs ‘n berries, vanilla spice, vanilla velvet, verbena berry, violet musk, white tea & ginger, wild watermelon, wine & roses, and woodland cabin.

I have smelled many of their scents as they have included many of them in the sample box. I have purchased some and I can tell you that they smell wonderful burning. Your friends will think you have the best smelling house around!

Memorial Day - Remember our Troops

Take time for reflection this holiday weekend. Please remember the brave men & women who have defended & those who defend today - our country so that we may enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers, fireworks, etc. While we are immersed in festivities with our families, they are many miles from home in less than ideal conditions so that we may enjoy our liberties. A heartfelt Thank You to the ones who choose to serve our country!


Lee Greenwood's song below expresses how I feel to be an American. Most Americans know this song, but I thought I'd include it in this post to pay tribute to our troops! God bless them and keep them safe.

Artist: Lee Greenwood
Song: Proud To Be An American

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

Mrs. Sterling's Bath & Boutique Giveaway

Introducing two new fragrances

Raspberry Cream Cupcake

Champagne Sugar

As part of our introduction of our newest fragrances we're giving away two gifts sets! We will be giving away one gift set of each fragrance.

Each gift set will include a Bath Bomb, our new Body Lotion with Evening Primrose and a little added surprise sample.

No purchase is necessary but you must enter for a chance to win.
You may enter to win both fragrances.
Winners of the gift sets will be chosen on May 30.
Enter the giveaways at Mrs. Sterlings.

Fragrance descriptions:

Raspberry Cream Cupcake - A wonderful fragrance that begins with top notes of fresh raspberries, pear and apple; followed by middle notes of Madagascar vanilla, blonde sugar cane, butter and maple; well rounded with a dry base note of vanilla.


Champagne Sugar - Sugary fruits of lemon, bergamot, mandarin, orange, apple, banana, dew fruit and pineapple with hints of jasmine, rose, plum, muget, peony, heliotrope, amber sandalwood and musk. Wonderful fragrance!

Candles and Woodcrafts Memorial Day Celebration Sale

The Memorial Day Celebration Sale is now in full swing at Candles and Woodcrafts!


I would like to invite everyone to come on over to Candles and Woodcrafts and browse around.

http://www.candlesandwoodcrafts.com

All customers, past and present and new, have the opportunity to save big on every item on our website during this sale.

Enjoy 12% off on all items on the website, and have a chance to win your choice of a 4 lb wooden soap mold or towel holder of your choice! All customers will be entered in a drawing and if chosen will get to choose which item they would like to receive.


The sale begins May 22nd and runs through May 31st.

Orders will be processed and shipped in the order in which they are received.
Shopping cart will calculate the discount.

We also have a new promotion on the website. Every customer who places an order in any month will have their name placed in a drawing for a free item at the end of that month. The customer's name will placed in the drawing once for each order that is placed during any given month.


We offer supplies for the home crafter as well as finished decorative items.

Wooden soap molds, a large variety of sizes, loaf / log molds and slab molds. We are introducing our Totally Collapsible Soap Molds! We also have double, triple and quad cell soap molds. Our soap molds can be used for cold process soap making and melt and pour soaping. The molds can be unfinished or stained.


Wooden displays for your candles, soaps, bath and body items, spices and so much more, unfinished or stained. Wooden soap dishes and crates. Everyday items such as paper towel and plate holders.

For the soap, bath and body items crafters we offer soaping oils, powders, clays and botanicals.

Holiday items....don't forget those, most holidays are pretty much taken care of now, but it is never too early to get what you need for the holidays. Gingerbread men, Santa’s, snowmen, witches, turkeys, rabbits and more!

Let’s not forget soap! We offer many different fragrances of cold processed soaps on our website as well. Soon you will see the launch of many, many new fragrances of cold process soaps offered, with even more coming in June.


This sale ends Tuesday morning, June 1st, so shop as soon as you can!

Julie ~ Candles and Woodcrafts
http://www.candlesandwoodcrafts.com

Mrs. Sterling's Bath & Body Boutique Newsletter

May 2010 Newsletter

Two New Fragrances















Raspberry Cream Cupcake













Champagne Sugar



Our Gift Set Giveaway was such a success last month introducing our new fragrances, we are doing it again this month.


You must enter to win.
No purchase is necessary.
You may enter to win both fragrances.

Each Gift Set will contain a Bath Bomb and Body Lotion.


How to enter: Visit our site

Click on: Enter to win Gift Set


Congratulations to the winners of our Gift Set Giveaway last month.


May Specials


Free shipping on orders of $35.00 or more.

Buy one Lip Balm receive one Free!


Visit us:
http://mrssterlings.com/


Lip Balm Flavor of the month

Champagne


Coming Soon!

Fizzie Bath Cupcakes

Aroma Buds



Contact Us
www.mrssterlings.com

352-989-2931

Email: mrssterlings@netscape.net

We Have A Winner!

Congratulations, Christina C. of Knoxville, TN you were selected as the winner of the SBS Teas "Teapot Candle" giveaway! Your candle will ship out tomorrow via US Postal Service. Hope you enjoy it and remember you can put a small candle inside the pot for burning after you burn the one out that comes in it.

Visit SBS Teas for all of your Tea, Coffee, Cocoa needs. They have many accessories. The finest teas, coffees and cocoas available.

SBS Teas Giveaway - Enter Now!

SBS Teas has sent us a Silver Teapot Candle to giveaway to one lucky person. The silver-plated teapot candle measures (approx.) 5" x 4". You will be able to keep enjoying your teapot candle even after the candle has burned down. You may replace it with a small candle that is 2-1/4" (height) x 1-1/2" (diameter). Anyone would love to receive the teapot candle as a gift or token of your appreciation, if you can bear to part with it.

The giveaway will begin today, May 8th and ends May 17th. Anyone leaving a comment about teas or coffees (what you like or dislike), SBS Teas, their products and anyone purchasing a sample box will be entered. Good luck to all!




















The candle may be purchased in SBS Teas store for $7.50.


SBS Teas is the home of some fantastic teas and coffees. If you're looking for gourmet, custom-blended, high quality loose-leaf teas, specialty coffees, hot cocoas, iced-teas, gourmet Chai teas, or accessories for your teas and coffees - be sure visit their store at SBS Teas. You will also find tea-based bath products and spa teas for a little self-pampering.

SBS Teas offers quality products with a large variety. Their customer service is excellent. Be sure to check their sales section for some great savings!