The Handmade Beauty Connection
September 12, 2005

Alexander's Alchemy | Lucia Welbourne | North Carolina
* retailer and wholesaler of aromatherapy, toiletry, cosmetic, and perfumery products

Natures Garden | Deborah Ward | Ohio
* over 370 concentrated fragrance oils, candle and soap making classes, experienced technical support

New Directions Australia | Armin Nehzat | Australia
* essential oils, aromatherapy, forum, recipes, skin care, certified organic products and more

Old Mill Handcrafted Soaps and Sundries | Michelle Ward | California
* premium soaps, body lotions, liquid soaps, body butters, salves, balms and more

HBN Members On The Move!!

HBN member Shari Schindel of Montana Country Spa is pleased to announce the grand opening of her new website.

HBN member Chris Richter of Carrot Tree Soaps was featured on the Larry Meiller Show today, through Wisconsin Public Radio. Chris shared about soap making history and took live calls! Click the link to listen in!

New Organic Certification Expert added!

If you're still looking for a fun way to grow your business this week, we've got the answer for you! HBN has teamed up with longtime member Essential Wholesale to host the Handmade Beauty Banquet to provide a delicious dinner, unique networking opportunities and information to help your beauty business grow -- plus a chance to help disaster victims with a donation of 5% of the profits from the evening!

Why Else You Should Come!!

• You'll get the 4-1-1- on Kayla Fioravanti's Expo East trade show experiences and tips on using base products to complement your handmade lines, and esthetician Laura Craig will share her secrets of using essential oils in winter skincare products.
  
• You'll enjoy learning about the booming organics industry from an insider! Gay Timmons, organic certification expert will share the latest news in the organic trade.
  
• Get HBN Founder & President dM's tricks for creating a standout personality to go along with your products.
  
• You'll enjoy delicious dinner, form new business relationships and have fun with fellow handmade beauty enthusiasts! Our buffet menu includes a delicious meal of Lemon Chicken Chardonnay, Pacific Rim Pasta, Red Beans & Rice, Sautéed Green Beans and Red Peppers, your choice of beverage, a decadent "Bath By Chocolate" desert and more!

To get more details and register, click here!

For those of who do not know, a Lifestyle CEO is a person who owns and manages a business, not solely for financial gain, but also to enjoy the benefits of entrepreneurship, independence, flexibility and fun! HBN members are Lifestyle CEOs of course, and so are many of you who subscribe to this newsletter! The focus of the first Lifestyle CEO Radio Show will be balancing home management and business ownership -- without compromising either -- and a few special HBN member guests will join us!!

The Lifestyle CEO show has the potential to reach hundreds if not thousands of people, and anyone can listen live on the Internet when the show airs. You'll even be able to call your questions live so tell all your friends who want to start their own businesses to call with their questions. The Lifestyle Show will be sponsored by the Handmade Beauty Network! Mark your calendars! More information and call-in details will be announced in the September 19 issue of this newsletter!

ß --> Shelley said: It's a sad state when the finger pointing starts and the fingers are pointing in the wrong direction. The press and the public are blaming the federal government for a slow response time, causing more lives to be lost and more devastation to occur. It was the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana who had the responsibility of making sure the first responders were in place and ready to move. It was the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana who dropped the ball.

ß --> Robin said: While I can empathize with you on everything you stated and feel great sorrow and compassion for those people affected by Katrina, I disagree with your perception of it being a racial issue. The scope of the tragedy was so immense that no one was able to comprehend the enormous undertaking the rescue effort alone would be. New Orleans in particular has a large population of black people. So unfortunately, a large number of black people were devastated and left homeless because of Katrina.

ß --> Laure said: Beautifully said, thank you. I think the government overestimated the nation's racism. They didn't think we'd care any more than they did, but they sure were wrong, weren't they? But how do we explain this to our children?

ß --> Nora said: Thank you so much for your efforts and your words in aid of the Katrina disaster victims. Finally, we can no longer dispute that we are a racist country. It's no longer "our" dirty little secret, but it's available for the world at large to see each night on the news. Finally! It's about d-mn time.

ß --> Beth said: People were warned to evacuate and many did not because "wolf" had been cried so many times in the past and they thought they could just wait it out (thus, your reference to "mindset"). I'm sorry, but I can't feel sympathy for those who chose that route when help was offered. Am I now supposed to feel guilty and pay for all those people to get resettled who won't help themselves and never have? I resent that this was sent to me and don't care to subscribe to anything that takes the "racial" slant to the event. Please remove me from your mailing.

ß --> Lisa said: As the wife of an African American husband, I have had more experience than I like to admit of coming to terms with my own internalized racism and witnessing up close how racism affects members of my family on a daily basis -- something that most white people just do not "get" or "believe" is real. Thank you for what you wrote -- for taking a stand -- for speaking the truth.

I am always amazed at the stories I hear of HBN members who are able to find ways to complement traditional medical treatments with alternative methods that they make themselves. Here's an inspirational story of handmade hope and healing, as told by HBN member Debbie Quinn of Blue Moon Herbals.

I first met Debbie when I moderated a panel of natural products experts at Ex*Tracts in 2000. Debbie was a new HBN member (HBN was new too!) and she introduced herself to me after the panel discussion. I'll never forget the bright smile and welcoming energy I enjoyed. From the moment I met her -- and until today -- Debbie has displayed a warm energy from deep within. Hearing how she turned tragedy into triumph will give you some idea of Debbie's unique glow. Here is her story of handmade beauty healing.

dM: How would you describe your life before your handmade healing journey?

Debbie: Basically like everyone's I think. Too busy with work, family and friends to take time out for me. Then, I was diagnosed with third stage breast cancer and everything changed. I went into shock. Life as I knew it ended on that day. I wondered, "How could this happen to me?" I realized that I had nowhere to turn for help. Back in 1988 when I was diagnosed, there were no self help breast cancer groups. In fact, the only people I knew of at that time who had breast cancer were Betty Ford and Betty Rollins!

dM: That must have been scary. What did you do?

Debbie: Not knowing any better, I went the "traditional" route and ended up taking chemotherapy for 2-1/2 years with 10 months of radiation. It was too much. I quit chemo in 1991 and never looked back. I quit because I knew that had to be a better way to handle my illness. I began researching everything I could, using most anything natural that I could get my hands on to simulate my immune system. I tried magnets, macrobiotics, raw foods, salts, oxygen therapy, crystals and so SO much more. I began blending herbs and oils for myself at this time, and gradually began sharing certain items with others. I began speaking openly with other women with cancer and started creating blends for them. Though not yet official, this was the beginning of Blue Moon Herbals.

dM: What did your physicians think of your newfound confidence in all things natural?

Debbie: Of course they thought I was nuts. When I quit chemotherapy, I was told on on uncertain terms that I would die. I did discontinue seeing my first doctors and eventually found a traditional physician who also worked with alternatives. I began seeing an acupuncturist, a naturopath and I practice Reiki as well. I have a massage once a week, colonics every 2 months and I eat a modified macrobiotic diet. I have had 2 reoccurrences of the disease but with my natural regime, have managed to take everything in stride.

dM: What other kinds of life changes have you made?

Debbie: I actually had 2 new types of cancer, one related to the breast are and the other uterine in nature. With the exception of a hysterectomy, I have chosen mostly alternative treatments. In terms of life changes, well, after the little pity party I throw for myself now and then, I just decide to move forward. I have never liked the idea of fighting cancer. Instead, I have embraced it.

dM: That sounds heroic. How do you embrace something like cancer?

Debbie: Well, I just decided I could look at it as a "gift" that I can learn something from. I take life slowly and care for myself. My immune system reminds me when I don't do that. I have part time help with Blue Moon but I always make all of the products myself. My children are grown and I have two adorable grandchildren. They are all so important to me, but I have finally learned to say "NO" and it has helped me care for myself better. My sons have been great blessings and have helped me heal. I handle everything one day at a time and if I can't do something, I either let it go or outsource it.

dM: Tell me more about how you discovered that using gemstones, herbs and aromas together had a positive effect where your cancer was concerned.

Debbie: I have always loved gemstones. I started using them mainly in traditional ways. Amethyst for its calming effects for example. I also used to garden quite a bit and I always had quarts in my garden to boost growth. There is a fine line between the mineral and plant worlds. One day I realized that the earth has given us all the tools we need to live our lives. The healing plants and minerals are here to help us. Once I started blending essential oils with flower and gem essences and gemstones, I began to realize their collective positive effect. Essences release the emotional patterns that are already a part of our energetic systems. They work at the root level. Each one has its own pattern -- a sort of DNA is the best way to describe it. Like an essential knows where to "go" to help and heal, gemstones do the same.

dM: That sounds powerful -- to think that something as inanimate as a rock can have a positive effect on our bodies. What advice would you give to anyone who might be experiencing a cancer diagnosis to help them keep perspective and enjoy life despite the challenges?

Debbie: After any diagnosis like cancer, first, sit back and just breath. Don't make any immediate decisions. Let your thoughts focus and clear, and then start gathering as much information on the disease and its treatments as you can. Once your healing program is in place, do not forget to take the time to do things for yourself. Try to find a support program in your area. If you can, try to put the disease in a position of non-importance. Cancer is a word. I give it no more power than that.

dM: That bears repeating, Debbie. "Cancer is a word. Give it no more power than that." Thank you for your candor and transparency. I hope and pray that your courage and fortitude will help others to be brave in the face of whatever "word" may be afflicting them.

That is power right there, I think. We can all substitute whatever ailments we may have for the word cancer:

• Depression is a word. I will give it no more power than that.
• Lupus is a word. I will give it no more power than that.
• Diabetes is a word. I will give it no more power than that.