In the field… er… mountains: Product Testing!
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail report, finishing a thru-hike and product testing.
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail report, finishing a thru-hike and product testing.
First off, this is my opinion based on my own experience. I believe buying locally crafted goods supports the economy tremendously and transparency in communication facilitates informed shopping choices. I think ongoing awareness is especially important to consider when the item is something one puts on or in their body on a daily basis, as it can affect overall health. I encourage everyone to make the opportunity to talk to a person who grew or made the products that provide their sustenance.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave any comments here or on my social media pages where you may have found this link. And share if you like.
Occassionally, I’ll get some feedback from a customer that really stands out. My product spoke to them in a meaningful way. This is fascinating to me as my process engages both creative and analytical methods, many of which are not apparent in the commercial side of my industry. It is my only hope that the aromatherapy blends I choose trigger deeper thought and lend themselves to continuous learning for the user.
From a fellow cyclist and coach – and professional medical doctor – this feedback was posted about a custom salve I made for bumps, bruises and broken bones from athletic pursuits to my facebook page:
Erin your Pittsburgh Roubaix Joint & Muscle Salve is amazing!!! Thank you so much, it’s really helping me move today and be a better person…because without it I was like an angry Betty White when I woke up today. wink emoticon
Posted by Suzanne Atkinson on Thursday, August 20, 2015
As of late, I’ve been REALLY enjoying my time in the woods, visiting 2-3 times a day in some cases. In addition to my regular trips mountain biking and performing trail maintenance, I’ve also been detailing my hikes by foraging for mushrooms with new friends from the West PA Mushroom Club and advancing my herbal identification skills with Rosemary Gladstar’s Science and Art of Herbalism class paired with a local herbalist for hands-on identification in our native region. I can’t recommend looking outside yourself for new perspective, enough!
On a recent trip with my partner in crime to California (which you might remember from photos posted to my facebook or instagram pages), I found this lovely little herbal book at Bart’s books in Ojai, CA. One of the things it helped me to appreciate is how different each herbalist takes their relationship with the plants around us – myself included.
As an aromatherapy student, I’ve come up with a blend of essential oils formulated to help a woman find balance in the roller coaster of life. The popularity of the Luna Love Bath Salt and Sprays led me to source some rose clay and Rose Centifolia petals to make a really beautiful, luxurious and ultra-lathery bar to complete the package. You can find many of these items in my #Etsy shop now, or in person at I Made It! Market’s Valentine’s day event in the Southside Works, Pittsburgh on February 7th!
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Do you constantly make #lists? Is your #NewYearsResolution an opportunity to link your tasks and goals together, for long range planning?
For me, I have tons of daily tasks that include research, sourcing ingredients, making products, creating labels, packaging, listing, marketing and sales. It’s actually a ton of work and I was surprised to find myself working many 12 hour days this year. It paid off by the numbers, but in 2015 I’d like to find more balance and consistency.
Efficiency and satisfaction is hard to gauge with numbers. So, my pursuit will balance #Sustainability for my business, environment and consumer. I’ll be scoring myself and how my time ranks towards these goals. Eventually, I hope I may be in a position to provide meaningful work for others, own my own retail store and advocate for sustainable practices in the outdoor retail industry. How’s that for ambitious?
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Happy NEW YEAR! We have reopened for business, payment options are active and local pickups (Tues/Thurs 4-6pm) will resume at our Point Breeze production studio. Dismiss