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A Publication of The Handmade Beauty Network
ISSN 1530-9630 | Volume 7, Issue 4
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-- Sponsor --

1. HBN Member Update: Welcome New & Renewing HBN Members!
2. Handmade Beauty Business Magazine: 1Q 2006 Issue!
3. Lifestyle CEO Report: The Intellectual Property Show!
4. Get Fit In 2006 With the HBN BIO Challenge!
5. Handmade Beauty Trivia Question: win something wonderful!
6. Handmade Beauty Product Review: Lemongrass Sage Vegan Soap
7. Feature Article: Following The Dream, Wherever It May Lead
8. The Nominations Are In! Cast Your Vote Today!
9. Products Liability Insurance Update: Read Our Letter To RLI

The 1Q 2006 issue of the Handmade Beauty Business Magazine is underway! There will be several exciting features, among them: (1) an update on the products liability insurance issue; (2) a feature on members with physical retail or spa locations (if you have one and wish to be included, email me right away!); (3) a feature on men's grooming products (if you have some, let me know!); (4) an interview with a member who is using handmade beauty to take "doing well by doing good to a whole new level" and more!

"We have received copy of the magazine and love it. What a classy publication -- it's the Bible for the handmade products industry." Remah and Omileye Joseph, ISLANDTHERAPY, United Kingdom"

If you are a member of HBN, your subscription is included in your annual dues! Join HBN and get your subscription included with your membership! Or subscribe today!

Please support our magazine sponsors! To learn how you can associate your brand with the first and only full color print magazine representing our growing industry, click here to request our Media Kit! And don't forget to tell me what you'd like to see in the magazine -- that way, I can put it in there!

\Life.Style CEO\n. A person who owns and manages a business, not solely for financial gain, but also to enjoy the personal rewards of entrepreneurship, independence, flexibility and fun.

What else is in store at Lifestyle CEO:

• Conference - Lisa Price of HBN member Carol's Daughter (recently featured in Vogue and Celebrity Living magazines) has been confirmed as a speaker at the first Lifestyle CEO Conference on January 28, 2006 in Washington, DC. Register today! Licensed child care is available! Email me if you'd like a personal "Suggestion" sent to someone who loves you to give you the Conference as the ultimate holiday gift to support your business endeavors! Spaces are filling up -- reserve yours today!
• Blog - Come blog with me about everything from business to life and everything in between! New blogs include an inspirational message to encourage you to dream big and move toward your dreams!
• Book - Set for publication next month, and featuring the revolutionary new "Lifestyle CEO Business Action Model (BAM!!) Copies can be reserved for shipping next month!
• Meet other HBN members at the Conference! They're coming from all over -- New Jersey, Texas, New York and in between!

Please read the contest rules here before submitting your entry. Put "TRIVIA CONTEST ANSWER" in the subject line or your answer will not be considered. While time does not permit me to respond personally to all entrants, the winner's name will be announced in the next newsletter!

Lemongrass Sage Vegan Soap
5 oz. | $5.99

Everyone is familiar with soap. There's guest soap, family soap, log soap, rope soap, big soap, little soap, "naked soap," swirled soap, natural soap, evil soap. You know the drill. There's a soap for everyone, no matter what your tastes.

In my house, we are partial to handmade soap. If I don't make it myself, it's made by a member of HBN of course! And on the rare occasion when we run out, my husband looks at me as if to say, "How could you let us run out?!" Well, this month, I made sure we didn't run out, in part because I was trolling through HBN's Online Directory and stumbled across a line of soaps that I had not heard of before. I immediately got busy checking them out and lo and behold, they had lemongrass -- my husband's favorite!

Lemongrass Sage Vegan Soap is made with -- well, it seems like everything. In addition to the traditional oils of olive, palm kernel and coconut, there's also a host of other skin loving oils: mango butter, shea butter, cocoa butter, babassu, grapeseed and even more. The aroma of this soap is lemony with an earthy twist added by the sage essential oil. And lest you think that Lemongrass Sage Vegan Soap covers it for the folks at Bloom, I'm happy to tell you that they have tons of other soaps and body care product -- even candles -- to enhance your entire bathing experience. Choose from "purely natural herbal" or "fragranced seasonal" varieties.

We also tried the Gypsy Spice With Moor Mud Vegan Soap. Actually, I tried that one, and once I did, I set it aside for my baths only. Beautifully swirled with Moor mud and one of my favorite essential oils: frankincense. I love the brown and cream swirls and the scent is spicy and earthy. The clay adds a bit of texture and makes the lather feel wonderful.

There's soap and then there's soap made by people who make so much soap that you'd think they couldn't possible do anything else. I stopped counting the soaps at Bloom Works when I got up to 77. Yes, that was right, seventy seven varieties and counting. I had to stop counting so I could look at the facial serums, creams and toners. Oh, did I mention their candles? This is one line of products not to be missed! Check them out today at BloomWorks.

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The Oil Lady Cometh!

Candace Newman, also known as “The Oil Lady,” is the founder of the Good Medicine Tin, Oil Lady Aromatherapy and Touch with Oils. She holds a masters degree in teaching and her aromatherapy training and certificates are from Purdue University and leading aromatherapists in several countries. She has also received training from the American Holistic Nurses’ Association and is a nationally certified and Florida state-licensed massage therapist.

In addition to teaching, Candace is a writer. She is one of the authors of “The World of Aromatherapy,” a compilation of articles by renowned aromatherapy experts and has contributed many articles to national and international publications. She has also produced two educational videos, “Integrate Aromatherapy Into Your Life With The Good Medicine Tin” and “Touch with Oils Hand Massage.” 

Out of Sickness, And Into Health

Candace evolved into “The Oil Lady” during the 1980s when failing health forced her to leave a lucrative position as executive vice president of a real estate company in Naples, Florida. She experienced years of physical discomfort caused by a cyst that eventually ruptured internally, nerve pain from spinal misalignment, and incapacitating head and shoulder aches. "The unbearable pain and stress caused sleepless nights and zapped my energy,” says Candace. “After 15 doctors, numerous health retreats and two operations, I began the search for a way to get back my life and spirit.”

At the same time, she faced challenges that included the end of a 23 year marriage, helping her mother care for her dad who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, coping with his death, her own health problems and the demands of starting a cottage industry by herself. Her journey took her through many of the therapies now referred to as alternative, complementary or integrative in nature. “When a therapist from England used essential oils on me, a light bulb went on that forever changed my life,” she says. “The aromas gave instant relief and comfort to the emotional stress, anxiety and exhaustion, while the oils soothed the physical aches and pains. I was curious about why the aromas not only didn’t bother me since I had always been sensitive to commercial perfumes and fragrances, but also brought me needed relief,” she says. That curiosity led her to worldwide studies and in 1993 the sole proprietorship of Oil Lady Aromatherapy was formed and Candace began to move confidently toward health and happiness.

Now That's Good Medicine!

Candace and her current husband John met over the mists from an essential oil, literally! She and her mother were traveling cross country on an airplane and they used the mists and oils from the “Tin” to calm their travel nerves and stay healthy. “John was seated on the other side of my mother and he leaned in towards us to sniff the aromatic oils,” says Candace. “That moment started it all and our airborne conservation continued through months of long distance calls.”

When they met, John was in the Texas petrochemical industry and had been offered a two year assignment in Saudi Arabia managing training teams. Before he left the country, he stopped to see Candace in Florida and she later visited him in Saudi Arabia. They married while he was still overseas and she joined him there managing her business by daily emails and some visits to Florida to replenish the supply of formulas in the shop. “For me, being in Saudi Arabia served as a type of sabbatical after the years of running by business. Going to the desert brought life back into me,” she says.

“My husband John retired from his profession after the first year of our marriage and he is now a full partner in the business, now a limited liability company," says Candace. “Partnering with your husband," Candace says "is definitely a challenge. At the same time, she says they acknowledge the challenges. “It helps knowing each of us has very different roles and gifts,” she adds. “I am a therapist, teacher and writer with very limited computer skills while John has excellent computer skills and knows how to make things happen," she says. "We appreciate each other and express our gratitude for all that the other does. We work each step together with the intent of creating the business, and our life is a way that brings us peace of mind and heart,” she says.

Joys and Challenges

“The greatest joy of my business has been receiving feedback from customers about the profound effects our oils have had on their people’s lives,” says Candace. “They thank me for being here and for providing these products and education.” Like anything else though, success in business is not without its side effects. Candace says it is physically draining to be present at the retail store. “Having the responsibility and overhead of a retail store with the set hours that have to be covered and having the staff skilled to cover it has been very draining on my energy and very confining for me,” she adds.

No More Bricks and Mortar

Candace and John are moving from Florida to Colorado this spring and the retail store will close its doors after nine joyful and successful years. She feels at the moment that she won’t open a retail store again. “Wholesale to other stores and retail mail order is where we believe we are going,” she says. Candace says, “Some people prefer and need a shop out of their home, while others of us work better from our home without all the talking and contact that happens with a shop. It is important for each of us to recognize which way is better for our life situation and for who we are as a person,” she adds. For herself, Candace says, I thrive on more quiet time and I know this.”

Business Advice From The Oil Lady

“Start small with a few products that you really believe in,” says Candace. She also encourages others just starting out to keep the overhead as low as possible. She also recommends making a contact list of people to send education and information to regularly so they don’t forget you or the products you offer. “I believe you also need to set up a little team of supportive people around you to help with the business and marketing part,” she says. Additionally, "belonging to HBN, gives me the opportunity to benefit from dM's business and attorney knowledge,” says Candace. “Seeing what other members are doing, and getting ideas for supplies broadens the scope of things for me.”

Dream Catching, The Oil Lady Way!

"Essential oils have many uses, including helping us transition and hold onto dreams," Candace says. “When we face changes in life, we feel stress. When we feel stress, there is a call for transition,” she continues. “Whether they are small transitions like waking up and going to sleep, or large life and death issues, life is about to change., and these times of change require tools of good medicine to guide us and our sense of smell is a great tool to help us shift the way we feel,” she says. “From the beginning of time people have known that pure essential oils have the ability to instantly relieve stress and ease the pains of change and transition.

Frankincense is a good oil to use for transition. “Keep a little bottle of frankincense with you,” says Candace. “Use it and you’ll feel it go through your system establishing peace and balance in your transition.” To use essential oils to hold onto your dreams, Candace says select a mist using an essential oil. Before spraying, she says to take a few quiet moments reflecting on the state of well-being you would like to create and imagine how you would feel in that state as you breathe in the aromas that speak to your heart. Breathe in your heart’s desires and enjoy this sense of well being.”

Aromatherapy As An Extension Of Self

“Our hands are an extension of the feelings in our hearts,” says Candace. “We offer what we have to give with our hands. We all know the power of the gentle touch on the arm or shoulder and the silent comfort of holding hands. Our hands are incredible tools that work for us all day long,” she adds. Candace, a licensed massage therapist, believes that oils and hands are meant to go together, and it is this belief which lead to the development of her signature "Touch with Oils" hand massage. It began with her retreat and hospice work where a full body massage was not appropriate. “It moved to another level when I used it on my father who had Alzheimer’s, on people who were unconscious and on people whose language I could not speak,” she says. “I found that I was communicating in a way that went beyond words. Words would actually have diminished and limited the experience.” Candace's Touch With Oils technique amounts to a language without words, and it transcends all manmade boundaries to touch a each human in his very soul.

"With Every Ending, A Beginning -- And New Life ..."

“Every ending is also a beginning. There is no beginning without an ending,” says Candace. For her and John, a chapter is ending with the close of the retail store in Florida, while and the move to Colorado is the beginning of a new chapter, complete with a home on 17 acres of forest outside Pagosa Springs from which the couple will work their website and mail order business.

Not only that, Candace recently welcomed a new member to the family -- "Knowsy The Moose," the Good Medicine Tin mascot. Knowsy is a soft, cuddly six inch bean bag representing a quiet place of truth and wisdom," says Candace. Knowsy comes with a small bottle of lavender essential oil. "Just put a drop of lavender on Knowsy's nose and tuck him into your pillow for sweet dreams," says Candace.

Because she moved from having a business in her home for six years to running a retail store for nine years, it may seem Candace is moving backwards by moving her business back into her home, but she doesn’t see it that way.
“I am going backwards, which is forwards in terms of creating a life that suits our dreams and vision for home and work, and going back to doing it all from our home, a real adventure!” she says. “It is my spiritual strength that guides me and I cherish this,” says Candace. “Doing what I feel guided to do gives my heart peace. We are all doing our 'good works' the best we know how.

When following a dream wherever it leads does not come without risks and a certain amount of unexpected twists and turns, Candace has shown that when it's done from a pure place and a good heart, there's no such thing as an ending -- only new beginnings, over and over again.

You can experience Candace's videos, Knowsy and other products at the Good Medicine Tin.

Help HBN Celebrate 6 Years of Serving the Handmade Beauty Industry!! 

Judges are Alison Deyette of Style Bakery, Anissa Mook of Indie Shopping and Tanya Sharma of CiCySuds.

To find out more and nominate your choice for the 2006 winners, click here.

Thanks to all of you who sent in your signatures to be added to the letter to RLI. The letter will be sent this week due to the fact that signatures are still coming in! I expect to report that the letter has gone out next week. There is power in our numbers! While our letter may not change RLI's mind, it will also be sent to the insurance commissioners' of all 50 states, including yours. It is therefore the first step in an advocacy strategy that I expect to extend throughout 2006 and beyond.

I will continue to add updates to our Task Force web page. 

Best & Success!!
Donna Maria
Editor, The Handmade Beauty Connection
The Handmade Beauty Network | www.handmadebeauty.com