Photo Tents for Christmas

One massive issue for us as a start up has been photography.  Editors, Websites, Internet shops etc., all require high quality images.  There are two sorts, editorials and hero shots.  The hero shots almost always have to be on white backgrounds, of high resolution and crisp.

I say here and now - "I FAIL!"

Despite Carla's great photography my limited technical ability and impatience editing has turned fantastic photographs into a great big blob of blurry mess.   Despite great tools on the web such as PicMonkey for collages and Fotofuze for better definition or even the ever popular photobucket which allows me to write text and special effects - I've have usually come up no better in my photography than this:

Now this little shot may look adequate when only a small image but increase the size and you can rapidly see that the image is of poor quality, poor definition and the fact that I shake like a pneumatic drill hasn't helped the blurring of the bristles.  I've used photofuze to brighten the image but it lacks so much that is necessary for a good internet image.

Answer to these problems?  Well, there are many.  First and foremost - we need good lighting.  In Northern Ireland that in itself proves to be a major difficulty.  Not helped by the fact that we live in an old and typically dark fisherman's cottage.  Still on the right day, with a clear sky and some sun you can get good quality photos.  Secondly, A good camera is essential and we tend to be struggling with a little digital camera bought for Tobin's birth a couple of years ago.  The 3rd problem however was that of a clean white background.

So, without further ado - let me introduce you to one of Carla's Christmas presents.

The tent, with a clean white background and some tripod lights gives a much brighter feel to a drib and dab day as seen outside the window.  The photo of the "S" is as it is photographed in the tent without any touch-up.  (you can see the corner of the tent getting in the way a little on the right hand side.

Now, I am learning how to use photoshop and Gimp etc for photo editing and cropping but to demonstrate the difference the tent in itself makes to a photo I wanted to show you these - editing done in the same way as the apple - a little fotofuze.

How much better do they look.  They are crisp, clear and gorgeous!  How much better will a little photo editing help?

And... Breathe!

It's been a long time since we notified the launch of the social enterprise.  I think it was the 2nd Oct in fact. My how time flies!  My absence from blogging is simple - we have been up to our eyes in work.  Good work, fabulous work in fact!  We have been busier than than a bee in an ocean of nectar.

The moment we launched we saw orders start coming in over the internet.  It could be the social slant or the move into organic skin-care but beyond a shadow of doubt it is certainly to do with favour because within just weeks of launching the new product lines we also received a letter from Consumer Safety to inform us that we are permitted to continue selling our fruit soaps.

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS NEWS and was received with an somewhat embarrassing leap for joy and yelp of relief  (photo of Evan Rock on his travel blog)  We were free to trade.  It may have been 6 months of waiting and it may have left us in a mad dash in the run up to Christmas - but the news was in.  We could continue to sell and it leaves 2014 wide open to sell to retail internationally which we have been unable to commit to for much of this year. Infact, within just days of this news we had four wholesale orders.

Some of the fruit soaps being made now that we can sell again.

To top the year of a tumultuous business year - there was no greater feeling than being able to give our first donations to the four different organisations we support at the beginning of December just 6 weeks after we launched.  Finally ScENT felt purposeful.  We were making a difference and whilst perhaps still being a long way off from being profitable and earning a living wage, we were definitely on the road to being able to live generously again and that for us is life-giving.

One-to-One Workshop Residentials

Our one-to-one residential workshops at Hunter's Lodge have seen a real spike of interest of late.  We even have interest at the minute from Nigeria and Saudi Arabia - such is Carla's international stardom!

So just what is in store for you on a one-to-one workshop.

Really, it is up to you.  We cater to your needs whether it be Melt & Pour, Cold Process, body products, cosmetics legislation, bath products etc.  Residentials can range from 1 day workshops to 4 day workshops depending on your requirements.

Here is one in action:  Thank you Noreen for permission to use the photos!

As for the finished products - well here are a few tasters of items that were made at a residential along with some of the finer aspects of Hunter's Lodge.

Want to find out more?  Why not check out our site at www.scentcosmetics.com or www.hunters-lodge.net  Oh, and whilst we are at it - we are offering a special five course meal at Balloo house fine dining restaurant for just £25.00 between now and the end of September 2013

A one night workshop is around £225 depending on requirements. 

Chocolate Festivals & Craft Stalls

Can I confess something?

Craft Fayers - Not sure they are worth the effort.

On the upside - it is a way for your craft business to support a charity as often we get asked to set up a stall for really good organisations such as Cancer charities, Children's charities or Church funds.  You get to meet great people and spend an afternoon out of the house.

On the down-side - a fee for a table is anywhere from £10-40 - which if you only make £100 is actually quite a dent in our profits.  Take into consideration the money required for petrol to get to the event and for food at the event and you are already beginning to wonder if it will pay for itself.  At £100 you might just be lucky enough to break even - which means you get nothing for making the products and nothing for the day you have just spent working at the stall.

Saturday tends to be a family day and generally there is very little on at a craft fair for a 1 year old and a 3 year old to catch their attention for a full day.  For that reason - we tend to do very few of them.

Killyleagh recently launched a chocolate festival within the grounds of the castle and we were asked if we could support a retailer that sells for us by coming along to the event.

We went one better - we made some chocolate soap luxuries.  Call it our own personal indulgence.

And these were the results.

Scrummy!