I know, you haven’t heard from me since I started making cannabis products. No, I didn’t fall into a stupor! Though, the ones that are ready, did come out very well. My butter is a little ‘earthy’ but that’s ok, especially if you top it with a little of my honey, which, BTW, is pretty damn awesome, if I do say so myself. I’m still shake-shake-shakin’ those oils and tinctures every day.
You haven’t heard from me because, over my vacation, inspiration struck hard. I mean really hard. Like undeniably hard. Yes, Halloween was very good to me. The Gods and my Ancestors are pulling me away from where I am and forward to where I used to be, where I should be. I’ve done my part at my job. It’s going to fall apart quickly from this point forward…don’t get me wrong, I don’t wish that on them…it’s simply nearly inevitable. When it does all fall down I need to have a plan for myself and my future because I still have one because I still want one.
So, to the end. A Business Plan bubbled and brewed in my head until it fully formed. This is new for me, as some of you already know, I tend to just jump in and do all the rest of it as I go or…later…or never. I am the Nike commercial…I Just Do It.
This really came together in my head and I was able to put it together into practical working theory. Another first! Yeah…go me!
As some of you know I’ve been fiddling around with this candles and salts idea for a few weeks since then. I’ve looked at domain names–some dick actually claimed the ones I’m after and isn’t using them. Just a hedge-your-bets kinda person I guess. I looked at a few more and found some I like. The hard part is finding web space. It’s sooooo freakin’ expensive to run a site that sells stuff. It’s crazy. I may go with Etsy to start although they charge .20 per item with a hefty fee on each sale. Then they charge 15% should the seller make a sale off an ad Etsy ran on their behalf that the seller had no say in. Sounds a bit ‘ify’ but so does $25.00/month for a basic e-commerce site.
All my life I’ve been asking the same question; How does the ‘little guy’ survive?
Still searching for the answer…if you’ve got one, please let me know.
Anyway, I’ve forged ahead on some items. Yes, as you will see, I’m fiddling around with the photography.
I have a nice batch of Goddess Salt that’s ready to be Charged in two weeks.
It is 100% organic. The rosemary comes from my own garden…or should I say, it comes from Onya’s Garden? Yes, that candle is made by me too. Come the Full Moon, I’ll Charge it properly and the rest of the goods I’ve already made or, as in the case of the big night coming up tomorrow, will make on the New Moon.
Got a short story here that anyone who is local will really appreciate.
Friday I went to WalMart in Groton, CT. Locals…picture that in your head please.
I needed; plain Epsom salts, pink Himalayan salt, kosher salt, and sea salt. Not all of that is for what you see above because I made bath salts too. I wandered around WalMart and that one really sucks for food items it’s more like a large convenance store when it comes to that. All I could find for pink and sea salts were these little McCormick grinders. I stood there staring at them, cursing WalMart for their lack of variety (they didn’t even have any honey!) and bemoaning the fact that I really did not want to have to stop at ShopRite or….go all the way out to Waterford to go to Stop & Shop. I mean I stood there so long people probably thought I was a bit looney, which I am but that’s beside the point. Grinding my teeth and kicking my feet, I bought two of each; pink and sea salts. I figured; screw it, it’s probably enough to get started.
I took my packages to the check out.
I put my stuff in the car.
I pulled out into the parking lot and just as I made the left to make the connection to I-95 it hit me.
(Ok, local I hear you laughing!)
For the rest of you, in Groton, CT, Stop & Shop shares a parking lot easement with WalMart.
That dawned about a half a second too late to take that easement. I actually jumped onto to the connector only to make very quick right hand turn back into the same parking lot.
I know. I know.
Anyway, I got into Stop & Shop and was able to purchase two, or was it four?, larger grinders of pink and Mediterranean sea salts. I gotta find this stuff online because these sizes will never do in the long run.
Suffice it to say, I did get it all home. LOL
I made the Goddess Salt and it came out really well. I’m very happy with it.
Then it was time to make the bath salts. No problem. Except….I bought all of those grinders. Do you know those tops don’t like to come off? Had to YouTube it for the McCormick ones but the Stop & Shop ones did not cooperate. Hubby had to pry out the plastic grinders so I could pour the salts.
Yep, definitely need to shop online.
Anyway, in the end, I did manage two batches of bath salts out of what I had been able to purchase.
Here we have honeysuckle which smells divine. Speaking of Divine, I kept being pushed into ‘marketing’ this as….Eros. My Companions are bucking to have scents named after them. Oh yes they are! I thought His Majesty would speak up first so this one surprised me. BUT…honeysuckle is associated with spring, love, happiness, and all those good things Eros represents so……
Here we have honey/almond or….Aphrodite. Yes, she claimed it and, honestly, I can’t wait to take a bath in this stuff it is awesome.
Tomorrow is the Big Pour. I’ll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime….as I said…I’ve been screwin’ around with finding web space. I took a Free Trial of a site (that costs an arm and a leg) but it has this terribly wonderful thing called ‘AI’ which I have railed against until I used it. Check it out….I didn’t write a word of this, I just plugged in ‘keywords’.
Onya takes pride in creating her handcrafted small-batch and single-pour candles that are more than just ordinary objects. A carefully chosen crystal is sequestered within the wax of each candle infusing it with a touch of magick as it brings a delightful surprise. These crystals, sourced from all over the world via Fair Trade resources, bring their unique energy and properties to enhance the ambiance and experience of our candles. Onya brings deeper magick to her candles as each one is poured on the New Moon and then Charged by the shimmering light of the Full Moon to harness the power of new beginnings, growth, change, and prosperity.
We believe in sustainability, which is why we use 100% organic soy wax sourced in the USA and using only 100% natural essential oils and fragrances helps to ensure a clean and eco-friendly burn. All of our packaging is kept to a minimum and is reusable, our candle holders with lids becomes elegant jars for your herbs or magickal items, those without lids become drinking glasses, even our bath salts come in eco-friendly and reusable linen pouches.
These thoughtful details make our candles more than just a delightful scent; they become vessels of intention and positive energy, enhancing any space they illuminate.
It gets better when I got to the About The Company section!
Onya is a natural Kitchen Witch who has honed her craft for over 25 years, proudly carrying on the sacred tradition. With skill and precision, she transforms simple ingredients into powerful tools of magic and healing. Each jar and pillar candle she handcrafts is infused with intention, drawing upon the deep well of healing and creative energy within herself and the vast expanse of the Universe. As she melts, mixes, and pours, Onya channels her expertise, carefully intertwining her knowledge of herbs, oils, and crystals to create potent enchantments. Her creations are not merely decorative, but conduits of spiritual energy that bring harmony and transformation into the lives of those who embrace them. Onya’s commitment to her craft and her profound respect for the forces of nature make her a respected and sought-after practitioner in the realm of Kitchen Witchery.
Hell, if I act quickly, maybe I get this thing to write my book summaries/blurbs! Yeah, I can see, it’s definitely time to get out of the writing business.
Seriously…I only typed in a very few words and ALL that came out.
Crazy!
I guess you can see I’ve done my best to hit all the appropriate marketing boxes and they’re not hard to stick to. In fact, I’ve been really lucky. I hit upon a Fair Trade site for stones and they are dirt cheap…and beautiful.
I know, crystals in candles is not a new idea. I looked. I checked. I researched.
I didn’t like what I saw. Honestly, I didn’t. Most of those candle makers have just stuck crystals in the top of the wax. They look messy. Almost like a child put them together. Mine will be more elegant. The single tumbled stone or crystal will be revealed as the candle burns it will not just rest on top. I know, that will take a bit of timing on my part as the candles cool but I’ll get it.
Oh yes, look, look at my jars!
See? Drinking glass. I’m lovin’ the Dollar Store. BUT that pink one…she’s no cheap date. She’s beautiful!
Hard to get good shot of all the artwork on them but I’ll keep trying. Although they’re smaller than the plain holders these pink ones, for now, will be the ‘high ticket’ item. I’m still looking for a Show Stopper candle mold that will represent Onya well. I found few but I’m so not paying $240.00 for them.
Other than the sloppiness of the placement of the crystals, another thing that bothered me about the candles being marketed as “Charged” is not one of those sellers said HOW they were Charged. Not one. They had some fancy packaging, some of them, I don’t really want to get into that. I don’t want to be seen as gimmicky which is why I don’t make cannabis candles. All my research said that, for the most part, it’s crap. Don’t bother. CDB oil may be ok but…eh…not really.
I want to be seen as authentic, honest, elegant, and simple.
For the moment, my goals are, between now and early January, to make enough product to be able to open my little online shop…somewhere. I can only work a few days a month on the candles. The other things don’t have to be Charged in the same way. I suppose I should offer things that are not Charged so those with a less magickal bend don’t feel strange about purchasing from me.
Once I have some inventory I want to reach out to local shops like Mystical Horizons, Pandora’s Box, maybe Studio 33, to see if they’d like to carry some products. First round is on me, if you sell them, you keep the cash, all of it. If you want more….let’s talk, I’m easy to deal with.
My Big Goal is to make enough money off my little line that, come spring, I cannot only leave my place of my employment (should it still be open) but I can buy a nice little She Shed for my yard where I can do my stuff. Put a nice little sign on it; Onya’s Apothecary Open…Whenever Onya Likes…Please Order Online.
LOL
I’ve even got it’s spot picked out, nestled right between three of my gardens. It’s red. It has a barn door.
Come spring. It will be mine.
But first….The Big Pour. I have 18 candles to make after work tomorrow. Each set, melted, mixed, and poured singly. No idea how long that will take but I’m looking very forward to it.
Lisa Beth Darling 