It's 2016!

Dear Osmosis Customers,

It's been a looong time since I've updated this blog.  It took me a couple tries to get the password right!

Looking back at my old posts, it appears I first posted in 2009.  At that time I had been perfecting my formulas over a year and was getting ready for my first Craft Show.  Seven years have gone by and I haven't missed the annual Mayo Clinic Employees Craft Show for six of them... even though I came close a couple times!  Remember the year my supplies came the afternoon before the show and I pulled an all-nighter?  Remember the time(s) I forgot to register for my table and had to wait on the stand-by list? And last year.  Last year, I didn't have as many choices for you because we were in the middle of moving.

This year.  This year, I just can't.  I have to say no.  We are in the middle of renovating our new house and the kitchen is gutted.  And life.  I have two teenage boys who have kept me busy since school started.  I had hoped for a reprieve at the beginning of November, but it didn't happen.  I thought I could take my supplies to someone else's kitchen and make it there.  I just can't.  There isn't time.  It took me until just today to concede.  I won't be at the Craft Show.

I'm sorry.

I know there are some customers that look for me each year at the Craft Show.  If you need your Osmosis, please reach out to me by email.  I do have a small stash left over from last year.  I will work out a deal with you if I can!

I will keep my eye out for a good Craft Show in the Spring and see what I can do to get some product together by then.  I'm praying this kitchen reno will be done by Christmas!

You can reach me at osmosis4lips@gmail.com

With Warm Regards,
Sara

What's New Fall 2012?

There are a few changes I've made this year to what I'm offering at the craft fairs.  Here's the run down:

• The ingredients list has been revised to comply with INCI 2nd edition guidelines.  This mostly impacts the name used for Vitamin E (tocopheryl acetate) and the names used for colorants.
• I've created a new vegan formula and have changed Relief to this formula and also added Lavenilla.  Both of these use essential oils.  You'll know they're different by their green caps.
• Spring has been changed by using a different colorant.  It is now a almost nude, sheer pink with no sparkle.
• Summer has been removed from the line temporarily to be redesigned.
• Shimmer has been added to the line.  Shimmer just adds sparkle, but no color.  It works great over other colors of any lip product you use.  For this reason, it is unscented.
• Pink Poppy has been replaced by Cupcake.  Cupcake is sheerer and more pink than coral, but has lots of sparkle.  It has a frosting flavor.
• Stellar Bronze has been added to the line.  It is a sheer chocolate brown with lots of sparkle.  It has a hazelnut latte flavor.
• Sweetener (stevia) has been removed from all of the colored glosses.
• The new limited edition flavor this year is:  Pina Colada!!

If you've recently bought Osmosis lip balms or glosses and have questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail at osmosis4lips@gmail.com

Update & Thank You

I know, I know, it's been a while since I've posted on the goings on here at Osmosis.

When I last posted, I was wavering on where I wanted Osmosis to go.

I had a lot of fear and anxiety.

I had made a commitment to do the winter craft shows.  I wanted to see if anyone came back for more.

My table at the Redeemer Holiday Bazaar November 13, 2010

I had 2 craft fairs in November.  The first was the Mayo Clinic Craft Fair on November 6, 2010.  This was my second year selling at this fair.  You can see how last year went here.  I had a prime spot for my table...  one table away from the entrance.  I had people coming and going.  I'm sure this affected my sales and feel blessed by my location.  I sold a whole lot more than last year!  Last year I sold about 50 tubes and this year I sold 113!  I had at least 5 people come specifically looking for me... I felt so honored!  It was a great day.

The second craft fair was a Holiday Bazaar held at Redeemer Lutheran Church.  I like to have a small show after the Mayo Craft Fair because I anticipate having plenty left over and hope that I can sell my stock at the second show.  What I didn't anticipate was actually running out of certain flavors at the first fair!  I needed to RE-stock the Honey Butter, Florida, Cookie Dough, Agave Sugar, and Winter.  I sold about 50 tubes at the Holiday Bazaar in addition to taking a few orders.  Again, there were return customers!

For the holidays, I again offered the limited time fragrances of Fall Spice and Cherry Soda.  Cherry Soda did very well, but Fall Spice didn't.  I may not bring Fall Spice back again next year.

I introduced a few new items at this year's shows.  There is a new flavor called Relief.  Relief is the only lip balm I make with essential oils.  Relief has rosemary essential oil along with a cherry flavor.  It reminds me of Carmex.  Rosemary essential oil has a medicinal scent to it which reminds some of Vick's Vapor Rub.  You can read more about Rosemary essential oil here.

Pink Poppy and Barely Blush Colored Glosses

Barely Blush and Pink Poppy were two new colored glosses I introduced.  These colors are more sheer than the original "Seasons" colored glosses.  Barely Blush is just that... barely a blush of glossy color.  It is flavored with vanilla.  Pink Poppy is sheer coral gloss inspired by my dear friend Josie Blaine.  It is flavored with cherry.  Barely Blush was a hit at the shows!

Glosses have clear domed caps.

Also new this year was my labels.  I decided to drop the No.1 and No.2 I had used previously to distinguish the balms from the glosses.  I now have my Osmosis logo on each tube.  I have transitioned to full size labels on the balm which have room to include the required FDA warning on them.  I plan to transition to full size clear labels on the colored glosses by next year's craft fairs.

Again, I am committing myself to participate in winter craft shows.  I got discouraged last year when I did not have customers seeking me during the course of the year.  I now know that some people just hadn't run out yet!  I also understand that it is much easier to pick up some Blistex while in the check out at Walmart.  My prayer is that I will continue to have return customers.  Of course, anyone can order, any time of year, through my Artfire shop using PayPal.  And don't forget that Osmosis is a great gift for your friends, family, teachers, etc.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in this small business endeavor.  I am so thankful for a husband and sons who support me by corralling themselves downstairs when I'm in the "lab" and for running for all of the things I ran out of, or forgot, when I was at the fairs.  I want to thank my mother-in-law, Joyce, and my sister, Holly, for helping me at the Mayo craft fair (for the much needed potty breaks and supplying me with food).  I want to thank my friends for stopping by my table to cheer me on.  I want to thank the customers that have returned because they love Osmosis.  You are the reason this small business still exists.

Success at the Fairs

Last Friday, the 13th, I spent the day getting ready for my first craft fair. I had my table set up in time for dinner. I don't remember what I ate for dinner though... I was in a fog that day.... too many butterflies!

Thank the Lord that my sister, Holly, came to help keep an eye on my kids and, more importantly, an eye on me. She came up with the idea to use bed sheets for table covers. (She watches a lot of Create T.V.) She's generally more artistic than me too, so it was nice that she was there to approve my set up (and fix my Christmas tree). Thanks, Holly!

Saturday morning I was off to the civic center at 7:10am with my product and way too much change. The morning started off pretty slow and I did feel a little discouraged now and then. Eventually, the traffic picked up, yet the customers were not walking around with many bags. I hate to blame it on the economy because everything gets blamed on that...

My husband, mother-in-law, and sister came to relieve me with food and a much needed potty break. My mother-in-law, Joyce, is an excellent sales rep for Osmosis. She loves to chat with people and my table was always busiest when she was there. Thanks, Joyce!

All in all, it was a good day. I got my name out there and I've already had a few orders come in from those who bought that day or friends of people who bought that day. Hopefully, Osmosis will continue to grow from word of mouth. I did sell 50 tubes and 2 Season Packs that day.

I also had a winner for the drawing for the Osmosis bag and a Season Pack. Joan Bauer was so excited to win and she was an actual customer, too. Her daughter, Pat, picked up the prize for her yesterday. I hope you enjoy it, Joan!

As tired as I was at the end of Saturday, I knew I needed to prepare for my Sunday expo in Pine Island. (Not to mention getting ready to teach Sunday School in the morning.) My sister and I wound down by watching "The Proposal" and then I was off to bed.

Sunday's expo was much smaller and only a half day. It wasn't advertised extensively and it was the first time they had done it. It was a bargain for the table and I couldn't really pass it up. I had plenty of product to sell, too. I did manage to sell 10 tubes and 2 Season Packs at that expo. Plus, other "expo people" know who I am now and I get invitations to other expos. I have not decided if I want to continue with the expos yet. I'm ready for a little break from that.

Now, remember that I made over 250 tubes of Osmosis for these fairs! Don't worry about those! I had some orders waiting for me to fill after the fairs (one for 20 tubes, thanks Deanna!) Some people out there will be getting some pretty sweet stocking stuffers and Secret Santa gifts. I'll be sending out some surprise treats to some friends of Libbie's, too. Thanks, Libbie!

Let me know if you need anything for Christmas! I can always make more, but I have plenty in stock, too.

Thank you to every fan for spreading the word about Osmosis - God bless you all!

A Tisket, A Tasket, a Green & Balm-Filled Basket!

I have been working hard to prepare for my first Craft Show. I have made more than 250 tubes of Osmosis to bring with me on Saturday, November 14 to the Mayo Civic Center. It's the Mayo Clinic Employee Craft Fair. It's free to the public and there are tons and tons of handmade items to buy!

I will have all 5 of my basic flavors available in both balms and glosses. I will have all four of the Seasons colored glosses. Plus, I will have two special flavors just for the season: Fall Spice and Cherry Soda.

Fall Spice, smells like, well, spices found in traditionally fall things like pies, mmm

Cherry Soda, smells like Big Red pop, mmmm

These two flavors will be available as balms at the craft fair, but you can order them as a gloss if you wish. They will be around until Christmas. Don't miss your chance to get them!

Oh, and here is a sneak peek into my lab-or-a-tory ;)

I just have some displays to work on for my table and I've got to get sewing on the Osmosis bag for the drawing... I'll be sure to post pictures of my table and how I'll have it set up!