Featured artist: Skin Candy

A few posts ago, I wrote about November's Out of the Box sampler and also posted about samples from Skin Candy that were included in the sampler box. I must tell you that after I tried these samples, I fell in love with all of the products. I tried an amazing foot scrub and the body butter is to die for! I highly recommend these products! I'm sure you will love them just as much as I did!
Q. Tell me a little about yourself:

Well, my name is Melissa. I’m originally from Minnesota but now live in Pennsylvania. I’ve been married 8 years to a man named Steven. We met on the internet believe it or not. I am a mom to one dog named Scout (he’s a yellow lab). No 2 footed children though. I just turned the big 40 but there are days I feel like I’m 60! No one ever tells you about getting old (the achy joints, the really dry skin, the smelly ear flaps…I could go on and on). My husband and I own a dog daycare in Allentown Pa (www.woofworldpa.com) one piece of advice ladies….never open a business with your significant other! Lol.

Q. When did you first start making skin care products?

I can’t say it better than I did on my my website so I’ll just repeat it here. This is a funny, but true story. I'm a HUGE reader and one day my husband said to me, "you need a real hobby". Yes, he really said that (men)! Well, as any good wife would do when their husband says something like that.........I ignored him. Went about my life with the dogs and my books.
I work with dogs...I can't wear make-up because it's licked off by 9am. I can't wear jewelry because I'm afraid to poke a dog's eye out with my rings. I can't wear nice clothes because hey....I work with dogs (and if I’m truthful about it…I was never a clothes horse…I was more the shop at Wal-Mart type anyway)...but dammit, I CAN smell pretty (it’s the only way I can show my “girly” side)!
So one day, after spending over $100 at Bath & Body Works (the great semi-annual sale no less) and not caring for the way it moisturized my skin (you can just call me alligator legs…seriously) I started thinking, "I wonder if I can do this better?" .... and then the husband's words of "you need a real hobby" came to me and I was OFF!!!!
I started off just making stuff for myself and gave away lots of product and people started asking where they could buy this yummy stuff soooo, I started Skin Candy. My husband just shakes his head when an order comes in and I rush off to make it-all giddy. He says; “I said to get a hobby…not a second business!”
Q. Please describe your craft in detail. What's one of your favorite items to make?

I don’t have any one product I love to make. What I love is smelling all the different combinations of things that people can come up with (my main “selling” point is that I will custom blend up to 3 scent choices for any product). When I see an order I always “ohhhh, & ahhhh” at the fantastic combinations people make. I can’t wait to see how some of them will smell.
Q. How has your work evolved from your earlier work?

Skin Candy is still fairly new (under 1 year old) so there haven’t been many changes. I have added lots of new products (lip balm and shower gel just today). But I don’t think there will be many product changes (besides additions) because I won’t sell anything I won’t use myself, that works, and that I LOVE.

Q. Where do you get your inspiration?

If you take a look at my scent list you will notice that there is a LOT of foodie scents. I am a food hound. This let’s me make yummy smelling stuff without all the calories.
Q. Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

I have a stand inside a craft store in Allentown. Sales representatives that sell via at home parties and online parties. The online parties are exciting. It gives people a chance, anywhere in the country, to earn free product for themselves! I also sell through my own website.
Q. What advice can you give other crafters when selling their items?

Don’t settle for “good” products. If you have a product you really love, it will sell itself.

Q. Describe yourself in three words:

Old, dry, and broke. But my husband says; “impatient, stubborn, & mine.”
Q. Is there is anything else you'd like to share with us?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about me and Skin Candy.