We have some new products in the Etsy shop, courtesy of Bun. She has spent the day making the most beautiful earrings, using stone beads, glass beads, and metal charms. They are really lovely, and they're available now!


Goddess Knot with Sodalite


Crescent Moon and Greek Key

And many more at the Dreaming Priestess shop!

Wanting to go out to the lake for Solstice, but the 103 degree Texas heat is giving me pause. A morning run to Home Depot was enough to leave me in a melted puddle, so I'm wrestling with this one. I really want to go and experience some community and Spirit, but  I also know my body well enough to know that the chances I'll end up puking on the bathroom floor from heat exhaustion are better than fair. Hrm.

Doing my Phoenix grading. It's been a challenging week there, and I'm not feeling it.

I'm amazed at how fast my paycheck goes once I pay bills. This whole "getting paid once every nine weeks" bit from UoP means that we end up running our household supplies down to nothing and needing to do a massive Costco and grocery run to replenish. Plus you pay all the bills and all the other stuff you've deprived yourself of, and that big chunk o cash doesn't go very far after all. Bleh.

Bun's made some lovely earrings to put on the Etsy site. They'll be up later today or sometime tomorrow. I'm also putting together some "kits": a bar of soap, a facecloth, and a bag of salts to be sold as a bundle. Keep an eye out for those.

Thanks to everyone who sent along feedback on the site and the products yesterday. We're making some changes so keep an eye on the space. We'll be adding some Ebay auctions as well. Currently we have one up for one of our personal travel altars but I'll be putting some soap kits or spa baskets up as soon as I get some built. 

Thanks to popular request, we are now offering a Soap Sampler Pack at our Etsy shop!

Choose 5 scents to try! We'll send you small slices of each of your choices -- enough for several handwashings or a couple of showers. A a great way to try our products without committing to a whole bar! Especially great for those with allergies or sensitivities -- you'll know which Dreaming Priestess products work best for you!

$5.00 each Pack (5 soap slices), free shipping!

Also remember that with any purchase of $5 or more, you get a free hand-knitted facecloth.

I know several of you here have your own craft business through Etsy, Ebay, etc. I'm wondering what advice you have to offer.

We're getting a lot of views at our Etsy site but not a lot of sales. I know part of this is the economy itself -- people don't have a lot of money to spend on luxuries. I also know that scented products are harder to sell in a venue where people can't, you know, sniff them. But I'm still looking for ideas about how to increase my sales. If you'd be willing to take a look at the site and give me feedback (either here or at dakotawitch at gmail dot com) about what you like and what you'd change, I'd appreciate it.

I have my first Ebay auction up here. I'm a newbie to selling on Ebay, so any tips you can provide are welcomed. (I know that entry itself could be drastically improved -- it was a sort of "throw it at the wall and see if it sticks" type thing.) Those you who have done a lot of Ebay selling of your own crafts and products, what advice do you have? What pitfalls are there?

I'm looking for other ways to advertise the shop as well. I'll be buying some ads on the local hippie/pagan/eclectic listserv later this week. I'm also participating in a "trunk show" here in DFW later in July, which should hopefully bring me some foot traffic and sales. What other venues do you find useful for getting exposure to your sites or listings?

I'm finding this work incredibly grounding, even as busymaking as it sometimes is, and really want to see it soar. I will have a website of my own up soon -- just waiting on fundage and design time -- which will likely help sales, but I still need to know how to get people to actually visit the site.

Further, if there are products you wish I carried but don't, let me know. We have a number of new things coming -- whole herb incenses, Tarot bags, Sabbat-themed soaps, chakra-themed soaps, salt and sugar scrubs, and more in our spa line, to name a few -- but we are always looking for suggestions.

New products on my Etsy site!

We've reduced the prices on our personal altar boxes to $15.00

Also, with any purchase of $5.00 or more, you get a free hand-knitted facecloth! Take a look at the colors we have available, and specify in your order which color you'd like.

More new products coming in the next week.

Now available: Sinus Clearing Soak!

This is a pungent and sinus-clearing blend of rosemary, eucalyptus, and peppermint. Take a relaxing soak in a warm tub with a tablespoon or so of this salt.  Take a few deep breaths and feel your nasal passages open!

Available as bath salts and soap.

Bath salts are $5 for a bag that will make about 8 baths, or $3 for a bag that will make 4 baths. Shower uses can enjoy our bath salts either by packing their shower head with the salts, or simply spreading them on a damp washcloth and scrubbing under hot water!

Soap is $5 for a 4oz bar.

I'll be putting some up on our Etsy site shortly, but if you want to get "dibs" you can comment here!

For those who asked...

I do indeed have the material for a lovely Sinus Clearing Soak. (As in a bath salt; do not put this in your neti pot!) It is a blend of eucalyptus, lemongrass, and peppermint. Available now, at $5 for a small bag (about 8 baths depending on how generous you are with the salts).

This blend should also help with any muscle aches associated with sinus pain or allergies. I'm working on an athletic recovery soak for muscles that are suffering the after-effects of workouts and other physical activity.

x-posted to dp_soaps 

Spring is here, and that means that flowers and fresh scents are in bloom at Dreaming Priestess. We'll be putting items up at our Etsy shop in the next few days, but we wanted to give a sneak peek (and first dibs) to those who follow us in the blogosphere.

We'll ship anywhere; add $1.00 per item for shipping. If you buy several items, let me know and I'll see about a discounted bulk shipping rate. If you're out of the US, comment and I'll give you a shipping quote. If you are in the DFW area, we can work out a delivery.

On to the goodies! Pictures to follow in a later post when the Camera Gnome finishes downloading them!

Spring and Summer Florals Bath Salts: $4/bag (one bag does about 8 baths)
Rose
Jasmine
Plumeria
Honeysuckle

Spring and Summer Treats Bath Salts: $5/bag (one bag does about 8 baths)
Also available as glycerin soaps for $5/bar
Apple martini (a new scent -- very playful and summery)
Summer citrus (a blend of lemon and orange)
Lemon meriengue pie (a blend of lemon and sweet vanilla cream)
Apple pie a la mode (a blend of apple, spice, and sweet vanilla cream)
Dreamscicle (a blend of orange and sweet vanilla cream)
Cherry pie (a blend of cherry, almond, and sweet cream)

Other available scents:
Nag Champa (perfect for mediation)
Leather
Stress relief (lemongrass and ylang ylang)

Also available are our 100% cotton hand-knitted facecloths in many colors. Measurements vary a bit due to the nature of handmade items, but they are roughly 8"x6". Each is made of sugar and cream yarn in a variety of tri-color and marled patterns.

We can custom build you a gift basket for that special someone, or for that private spa day for yourself!

Comment with questions or orders, or email us at dakotawitch @ gmail dot com

PayPal preferred.

On my Etsy site:

Hot Apple Cider: The warm scents of apple and spice are enveloped in our honey soap base. Cast in our Celtic Triangle mold. Contains honey, so this one's not vegan-friendly.

Solstice Snow: Fresh, clean as a winter morning. Cast in our shea butter base, in our Yule Tree mold.

There will also be more Holiday Cookie.

Look for bath salts and some knitted facecloths by the weekend!

xposted to dp_soaps 

I'll be getting these up on the Etsy site as soon as my supplies come in, but I wanted to give everyone a headsup about what's coming to Dreaming Priestess for the Yule/Hannukah/Christmas season. In addition to our regular scents, you'll find...

Holiday Cookie: A warm blend of vanilla, cream, and cinnamon, cast in shea butter soap base. Also available as as simmering oil.

Gifts of the Magi: Frankincense and myrrh cast in golden-toned glycerin with a little glitter for sparkle. Also available in bath salts.

Yule Tree: Pine, frankincense, myrrh, clove, and cinnamon cast in clear gylcerin and dyed evergreen. Rich, woodsy, and perfect for Solstice rituals or simply washing up after Christmas dinner. Also available as bath salts.

Hot Apple Cider: Apple and spices in honey soap. (Contains animal products) 

Mulled Wine: Rich berry wine blends with cinnamon, clove, and ginger to evoke the scent of hot spiced wine. Cast in clear glycerin. Also available a a simmering oil.

Winter Solstice: Orange, lemon, frankicense, and spice come together in an invigorating blend to welcome back the sun. Cast in clear glycerin.

More to come in the following days. If you'd like to preorder, contact me here and we'll work it out. We'll also have knitted face cloths, bath salts, simmering oils, and other goodies. Keep an eye on our Etsy site

I know, I know, it's only October, but those winter holidays will be on us before you know it!

In the next few weeks, I will be adding a number of new products to my Etsy site

This is my official call for special requests. What would you like to see for the winter holiday season?

New product updates to come in a day or two.

Hey all, I've put an update on the Dreaming Priestess LJ community. You can see it here 

New stuff is going up all the time, so please surf by the site and take a look!

Lots of new product at the site! Stop by and take a peek! 

I've added three more bars of my Deep Forest soap to my Etsy site. 

As with all handmade products, the color of the bars you receive may differ slightly from the picture.

Here's a preview:

Deep Forest Soap

 Take the woodland path deep into the forest. Fragrant pine, rich frankincense, and clean cedarwood evoke the Spirits of the Green. Cast in shea butter base and dyed delicate green, this soap is cast in our Leaf Spirit mold. 3oz.

Vegan friendly.

Free shipping!!

 I've created a community where I'll post updates about new products and other developments at Dreaming Priestess (aka my Etsy site and other aspects of my craft business).

Pop over and join me here

It'll be low-traffic. But I figured for those who want to keep up on the  new products and whatnot, this is  more efficient than you having to wade through everything else in my blog. I'll be cross-posting to this blog as well.

I've added two more bars of the Holiday Cookie soap to my Etsy site.

I also currently have on the counter, waiting to harden, cure for a day or two, and then be photographed:

Claritea: Clear your mind. Sweet orange, spicy clove, heady ginger, and peppermint blend with Stash's Crepe Faire tea, making for the perfect morning pick me up. Cast in clear glycerin base and dyed a deep forest green. Celtic oval mold. Contains whole tea leaves. Vegan friendly.

Blackberry Bramble: The smell of ripe berries in summer sunshine. Clear glycerin base provides a perfect canvas for Blackberry Wine fragrance, with notes of Heather and Lemongrass,  and Republic of Tea's Flowering Garden tea. Contains whole tea and herbs. Dyed deep purple and cast in our Forest Spirit mold.

Cranberry Muffin: Sit back and enjoy this calorie-free treat! Cranberry and Vanilla Cream fragrances come together in this sweet, warm bar. Whole dried cranberries are an added surprise. Cast in clear glycerin base and dyed an earthy berry shade, this is cast in our Celtic star mold.

 Solar Citrus Blend: Orange, clove, and lemongrass awaken the senses. Whole orange peel adds texture to this clear glycerin soap, dyed sunny orange and cast in our Eye of Horus mold.

Rose Forest:  Take a walk down a floral forest path. Rose, cedarwood, and jasmine evoke shadowy sprintime forests. Cast in our Celtic oval with a whole Amazon rose embedded in the center, this clear glycerin soap is a treat fit for any woodland nymph.

Spring Walk: Honeysuckle, rose, jasmine, and heather take you on a stroll through a sundrenched springtime afternoon. Cast in our shea butter base, this is one of our most luxurious blends.

Awakening: Wake up with an blend of lavender, peppermint, lemongrass, and heather. Cast in clear glycerin and dyed deep purple in our Celtic Triangle mold, this is a perfect way to start your day, or anytime you need a little lift.

I'll also be posting single notes of Heather, Rose, and Lavender.

Food type blends including vanilla mint, hot apple spice, and biscotti are coming as well (as soon as more shea butter base appears).

Watch this space for more!

 My Etsy shop is up! You should be able to find it here or by searching for my username (dakotawitch) from the Etsy homepage.

Not a lot up there yet, but I've got a bit. We've got more product waiting to be photographed, so keep an eye on the shop, or watch this space for updates!

ambient_indigo, your Heather soap will be up as soon as I get the photographs done!

I got some lovely Heather fragrance...gonna pour some soap....:)