Artistic Chatter

Mix It Up

2009-01-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in order to stay relevant you have to mix things up. Change is not always a bad thing. In this new year, the year 2009, I propose to shake things up!! What about you??
Now, more than ever, you need to get noticed in your small business. The economy sucks, financial worries burden us. Why not use this time to try some new things? See what works.
For me with my business, I started to really focus on Scent of the Month, where each month I will focus on a specific scent. With in the 1st month I did get good feedback on this.
Try something new, try to do something different, or that thing you have always been thinking about. You never know where it may get you!
Get motivated and mix things up!!

Good Luck,
Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Email Selection

2008-12-14T15:58:00.000-08:00

When choosing a form of communication it is important to remain professional. This also applies to emails. It has become one of the most rapidly popular ways to communicate. But, there are come guidelines to follow.
Have your email address be professional. A professional email address supplied through your website will ensure your emails remain just as professional as you are. Having an email address from a free email service provider may be economical, but it could also set the impression that your company is not very successful if you cannot afford a professional email address from your website.
When emailing clients and anyone affiliated with your business, keep the content professional as well. Do not use the slang and abbreviations we have come to know when texting and emailing people we know on a personal level. Even using "lol" may be viewed as unprofessional and immature.
Be careful and proof read what you have typed before hitting the send button. Using spell check is a great tool, but does not always work to what YOU are trying to say. Reviewing content carefully may save you from an embarrassing email later.
In summary, choose a professional email address based off your website and keep content professional, to the point, and grammatically correct.

Good Luck!

Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Economy In Crisis

2008-11-30T11:39:00.000-08:00

The economy is effecting us all, but especially as a small business owner. For me, I am not booking as many fairs or shows. The crowds have been less than appealing. I am trying to focus more on my Internet sales with very little overhead and getting my website optimized.
Please tell us what you are doing differently this year as a result of the economy. Any tips for small business owners is also welcome! Post in the comments section!

Thanks!
Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Printed Materials

2008-11-16T19:55:00.000-08:00

If you run a business then you know that business cards, flyers, brochures etc. If you have a printer you love then please stay with them! If your starting out, want to save money, or want to try something different I totally suggest using Vista Print! They have great sales & offers. Especially FREE items!!
Check out their site:
VistaPrint - Business Cards - Full Color Printing - Digital Printing Company VistaPrint

Enjoy!

Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie,Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Contests

2008-11-09T19:07:00.000-08:00

Having a contest is a great way to promote your business. This tactic is a way to get your name out there, people interested in the prize, and wanting to contact you.
You must take into consideration a few factors before starting a contest. 1st- what will the contest be? 2ND- how will you use this contest to promote your business? 3rd- what will the prize be?
Many people who have websites will have a scavenger hunt on their site as a contest. 1st person to locate all items wins. This also gets people to navigate through the site. Others will hold a contest that will evoke thought, creativity, and lets the winner be part of the company. A contest I did like this was to have people enter in their own scent for a candle. They had to come up with the "ingredients" and a name of the scent. The winner would then get a sample votive or their scent and forever be listed on our scent selection.
People at fairs, shows, & in their own stores may host a give away, tivia contest, etc. Making the activity fun is also a good idea.
What if you offer a service, not a product? What kind of prize could you offer? You can go about this a few ways. One way is to offer a discount of some kind. Another is to win something that is completely off base of your company, but has popular interest. It will get people interested and your company will get noticed. So say, for example, you own a cleaning company. You can have a give away for a gift certificate to the movies or a restaurant. People who sign up should receive info on your company as well.
Using your imagination when creating contests and promoting your business is key. Being individual and creative will set you apart from the rest! Be memorable and people will come back.

Good Luck!
Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Press Releases

2008-11-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

Writing a press release is a great way to promote your business. But it can be a bit tricky. A Press Release is not meant to be a blatant advertisement. It is a way to announce something about your company, depict any charitable acts, etc. The press release is a fantastic way to get your name out there! Many say its the best form of "advertising".
If you follow these tips, you will be on the right track:

Must be newsworthy (think the facts, not sales)
Must reach your target audience
The first sentence must connect with the reader. It is the most crucial part of the release.
Do not use fancy language
Provide all your contact information, especially your website link
Write in the third person
Keep it short. 500 words max
Give a good headline
Proof read, even have others proof read for you
Keep the format simple
Submit to the local papers, etc.

Good luck,

Marie Ilardi

Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner

http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Accepting Payment

2008-10-27T21:14:00.000-07:00

The methods of accepting payment relies mostly on the business owner's preferences. You can accept cash, personal check, money orders, credit card, paypal, etc.

Each method of payment has its good and bad points. Figuring out what works for you is the key.

Cash is a sure thing. Once you have it in your hand its there!

Personal Checks are a bit tricky. Checks can bounce. If accepting a check be sure to jot down the customer's drivers license ID number and address in case you need to get in touch with them.

Bank Checks are more reliable. The money of the bank hold behind their check.

Money orders are convenient but not always liked by business owners. Scam artists are well known for using money orders as payment and of course these payments never "go through". If accepting a money order do so with caution and wait until the money clears before sending out orders.

Credit cards are popular and in demand. But there are terminal fees and transaction fees. This adds to an expensive proposition.

There are a few online methods that let you accept credit cards with out the hassles of having your own terminal. The most popular of these are PayPal and Pro Pay:

Sign Up for a PayPal Account - PayPal

ProPay: Accept Credit Cards - Simple, Safe, & Affordable

These allow you to accept credit cards, or the user may use money through their own checking account to cover the costs.

Another company that is up and coming and above all charges NO FEES for their service is Revolution MoneyExchange.
Revolution MoneyExchange

Good luck in making your choice for payment methods!

Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Save Money While Working At Craft Fairs

2008-10-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

In today's economy, every penny counts! Don't get caught in the trap of waisting money at an event that you are attending in order to MAKE money!
Here are some tips to keep you on track:

Pack food- that includes any meals you may be at the fair for, snacks, and drinks
Get the directions to the event before hand- you will loose money in gas when getting lost when trying to reach a new venue
Don't shop- it may be tempting, but don't buy from your fellow vendors! At least not until you made a profit for the day & you are buying with purpose (like for the holidays or a birthday)
Be cautious with your merchandise- this goes for yourself and customers. Breaking items are someone mishandling products will put you in the hole more, so be careful!
Keep the kids home- they will want to get food, go on the rides, get their faces painted or do sand art (believe me, I know!)
Dress for the weather- if its going to be cold BRING A JACKET or dress in layers. You don't want to have to buy a sweater from the knitted merchandise booth.
Watch the change- double check to be sure your giving out correct change. You may be surprised how short your box is at the end of the day if your not careful.

If you have any more money saving tips, please add them to the comment section!

Thank you!

Marie Ilardi

Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner

http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Keep Those Receipts

2008-10-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has gone through a whole year of business will tell you- KEEP THOSE RECEIPTS! You will need them come tax time!! And we mean each and every receipt- from deliveries at the post office to picking up post-its at Staples. You need a record, proof, and documentation of these purchases.
So, how do you keep these receipts together in some kind of order? I'm sure there are many ways of doing this. The answer is based majorly on preference. I can tell you how I organize them though. I bought an expandable file folder, you know those ones that open like an accordion with different sections. I label each section with a category- such as delivery fees, material, orders, advertising, office supplies, gas, etc. You must decide what categories make sense to you.
If you have other ideas and tips on organizing your receipts please state them in the comments section.

Thanks!
Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Get Noticed

2008-10-05T21:37:00.000-07:00

We all need ways to get our companies noticed. Besides your normal promotional items, websites, & advertisements during business hours; how else can a business get noticed? Try to focus on your everyday life and figure out ways to use those times to get your business noticed.
Say your going out grocery shopping. How about wearing a t-shirt that has your business logo & information on it. Your driving to school to pick the kids up. How about putting up those magnetic signs on the car doors.
Also try helping others with your services. It promotes your business and does some good in the community.
Here is a list of ideas to try out:

Wear t-shirts, jackets, etc. with your business logo, name, number, & website on them. Give these items to friends & family so they can wear as well.
Put magnetic signs or window decals on your car(s).
Leave your card where ever you can- up on bulletin boards, community boards, etc.
Donate for raffle baskets with all business info included.
Put a business card in all your bills when you mail them out.
Become involved in civic associations.
Volunteer to speak at or help at non for profit organizations, schools, colleges, etc. to show your area of expertise.
Write a press release about any volunteering done.
Make "cold calls" to people or business you would like to do business with.
Write up sales letters, information, & fliers all printed up and ready to go. Then case out business or people you would like to work with and give your informational material to them.

If you have other tips to add to this list, please do so in the comments section.

Thank you,

Marie Ilardi

Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner

http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

SEO Optimization Classes

2008-09-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

If you have a website for your business you know the importance of ranking high in the search engines. The best way to do that is to optimize your site, page by page. It is a lot of work, but well worth it. Once you do this you will see your rankings increase (1st page is always preferable) and target traffic on your site. Its targeted traffic that you want entering your site because this is the kind of traffic that will most likely buy from you. They are looking for what YOU offer.
I suggest having either your webmaster or web designer optimize your site, or do what I did and optimize it yourself. I found the perfect way to do this- taking FREE SEO Classes. See link:
SEO_Techniques : SEO Techniques - SEO Techniques Class
Cricket, the woman that runs the classes, helps many many people in our position with these classes. She shared her wealth of information in these online classes. They are designed to allow you to work at your own pace, ask questions, & have the opportunity to join other very valuable classes all FREE.
You will not regret taking these classes!! Sign up now!

Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Have You Thought About Consignments?

2008-09-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

For fellow crafters, know that craft fairs are not the only way to sell your merchandise. You can set up consignments at local shops.
A consignment is a way some stores can sell your product. The store gets a percentage of the sale. The percentage must be agreed upon before you release your product to the store. You may do this by way of forming a consignment agreement which both you and the store sign. This agreement must protect both parties involved.
Before going out there be sure you know how you will be displaying your items. A self contained display? A counter display perhaps? Maybe even a throw bin or floor rack? This must also be planned in advance.
Also, have a notebook to jot down anything important, like how many products each store wants.
With consignment agreement in hand, go scout out potential stores you would like your merchandise sold in. Make sure your product compliments the store nicely. Then go in w/ samples and speak with the owner or manager. Be confident in yourself and in your product. Also be sure to dress the part. Being professional may help you seal the deal.

Good Luck,
Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Do You Need Support?

2008-09-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

Feel like you need support? Want to ask questions but don't know where to ask? I have been there. I finally found the perfect place for me to ask those questions and get the support I need. Join the MomPack! It is a wonderful Yahoo group that is dedicated to helping work at home moms with their businesses.
There are many divisions of the MomPack. They have MomPack Ads where you can advertise for your business, MomPack Fillers where you can send and receive fillers for making packs of advertising materials for others in MomPack. MomPack auctions is their site where you can sell your items or services and list it for FREE! MomPack wishes is a place where you can either get rid of or find things you have been looking for, kind of like a garage sale!
I recommend you check MomPack out. I never regretted joining. They are filled with useful information, ideas, and friends!
The Mom Pack: Moms Promoting Moms through creating Mom Packs = FREE Advertising For Moms & Wahms

Enjoy!
Marie Ilardi
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Tag Lines

2008-08-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

Tag lines are also known as slogans that "speaks" to your target market. Make sure they do the following:

Must be memorable
Must be personable, not too "official"
Follows your image you want to convey
Not sarcastic
Presents the benefits to the customer
Fits in your strategy
Seperates you from your competition
Unique
Gives off positive vibes

If you use a tag line, if MUST be an official element of your "brand". Here are some uses:

Use as part of logo
Insist your tag line is printed w/ your logo when having professional printing done
Tag lines may stand alone in e-mails
You may occasionally change your tag line if it helps your marketing

Until Next Time,

Marie Ilardi

Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- Owner

http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Organize Your Time

2008-08-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Stay on task by scheduling your time. Make an appointment to do everything, even taking lunch.
This will help you break down tasks, stay up on deadlines, not miss meetings, & not run behind. Keeping your time organized also helps you feel more organized and in control of your business. You know where your day is going & there are little surprises. Sure, things happen to make us run behind, but its easier getting back on track when you see what still needs to get done & how much time you need or lost to get it done.
I suggest using the Google calender feature. It lets you set up the day in 1/2 hour interval, 1 hour intervals, etc. It is pretty easy to use and pretty easy to personalize.
So, if you have never considered organizing your time, give it a try & see how it works for you. I know for me it makes me feel more in control of my day, & gives me a focus. Keeps me on track.

Good luck!
Marie Ilardi- Owner
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Do Some Good With Your Business.

2008-08-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

Do you want your name to get out there? Do you want respect and only positive images when people speak of your name? Well, one of the best ways to do that is to do some good with your business.
What does this mean?
Doing some good with your business means volunteering and donating your time and products. There are many organizations, charities, events, etc that could all use your help. It does not need to be related to your business, but as long as your helping in some way or form will gain you an positive standing in your community.
What can you do?
Donate your time. Maybe a local animal shelter needs some help with an event. How about a soup kitchen? Local church? Hospital? Car wash? There are many things you can do for these organizations to help them and help yourself. While donating your time make sure you wear a t-shirt that has your logo, phone number, & website on it. This will help spread the word about your companies good deeds. Also, ask if the organization will be publishing a press release. If so, ask to have your name & company info included.
Donate your products. Is there a Charity event happening in your area? Even a PTA dinner? Donate a gift basket for a raffle, or for the use of a non profit organization. This will help by getting people to use your products, get to know your name, and see your an upstanding citizen and people respect that. Just make sure if you donate something all your business information is included so people who use it will know where it came from & how to get more.
So, go out today and do some good with your business!!

Marie Ilardi- Owner
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

How To Find Craft Fairs

2008-08-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

For all you crafters out there, here are some tips for finding craft fairs in your area!

Visit Craftlister.com . This site will show you events with in a certain mile limit from your location.
Look at Craigslist.com under events. You will be surprised to see how many will list vendors needed listings on Craigslist!
Look for events in your area by doing an Internet search. I found Click here: Long Island Events - Long Island New York events, entertainment and things to by doing an Internet search. Most of my event findings come from here.
Look at the papers, especially the really local ones like the pennysaver & heralds.
Look at church bulletins. They will give your ample warning as to when they will be holding a fair.
Also check local religious websites. They will list church fairs that are looking for vendors. Especially around holiday time there are many listings here for my area: TELECARE TV - The Best in Catholic Television!
Keep your eyes peeled!! There will be signs & flyers around while you are out! If you see a sign or banner write down the info & call right away!! Don't wait till last minute!

If you have more tips please list them in the comment section!!

Happy Hunting!

Marie Ilardi

Owner- Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.

http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Good Reads- Small Business Marketing

2008-08-11T19:32:00.001-07:00

If you read 1 book for your business I suggest you read Small Business Marketing for Dummies. This book explains what exactly marketing is, what you should be doing for your business, and many useful tips and ideas.
Any edition of the book will be helpful. You can buy online new or used.

Happy Reading!!

Marie Ilardi
Owner-Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Network!!

2008-08-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

Network Network Network!!
Yes, networking is important! It helps you get your name out there as well as make friends who may become potential customers (or lead those customers to you).
You can network online by joining networking groups & sites. Myspace, facebook, bebo are all networking sites. Yahoo groups are wonderful networking groups. But please, do not spam (sending commercial email or messages to promote your business) as a way to network. People will ask if they want your services. Spamming will only get you in trouble.
You can network in the real world too. Join associations that pertain to small business and what you sell. Your local Chamber of Commerce is always a good start.
You can conduct online searches to find the best networking groups, sites, & associations for you.

Good luck,

Marie Ilardi
Owner
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Before You Sell...

2008-07-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Before you sell get yourself a tax ID number!! You must charge sales tax on your items when someone within your state is purchasing your product. As of right now, those who purchase out of state do not get charged sales tax.
How do you get a tax ID number? Well, I can tell you how I got mine- I had my accountant handle it all for me. She helped me file all the paper work, etc. Your CPA can help you with obtaining tax ID numbers, licenses you may need, & filing for corporations.
So, before the holiday shopping frenzy sets in, get a tax ID number!!

Thanks for reading,

Marie Ilardi
Owner- Artistic Candles by Marie
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

I need a new laptop!

2008-07-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

As you know, I work alot on my laptop. I use it to build my website, communicate with associates & customers, etc.
Well, my poor laptop is now starting to burn out. The LCD display starts to freeze into all these lines & stuff. If I hit the screen it goes away. Now I have to keep my hand on it or it will freeze up @@.
Well, since we all know technology is so important in a business, I wanted to take a poll. Not only for the benefit of others, but for the benefit of me too, lol!!
So, if you could answer the poll & explain your answer that would be great!
What kind of laptop do you recommend?

Until Next time,
Marie Ilardi
Owner- Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Building A Website

2008-07-21T20:10:00.000-07:00

So, have you thought about taking the plunge and building your own website? If your like me, I did not have the means to pay for someone to do it for me, so I created my own. Its my ever changing masterpiece. Building a website is an ongoing learning experience & it changes as you learn more.
But, in the beginning I just needed a host to help me with the site. I had no idea how to build a web site, so I started to look for hosts that had web builders in them. After some consideration I found the place that was for me. I set up a free account and the 1st version of my site was born. It has changed a few times since then in efforts to improve sales, but that 1st version will always be my baby! I was so proud of my masterpiece!
If you are looking for a place to build a site & do it for FREE, then I suggest freewebs (http://www.freewebs.com/ ). They are great. They have so many options to choose from that you can really create a site that appeals to you. The only downfall to having a website hosted for free is that you don't get your own domain name. It will look like this: www.freewebs.com/yoursite/ . I did keep my site without my own domain name for the 1st year, but just recently I upgraded to my own domain.
If you would like to take a peek at my own site to see what I was able to build through freewebs go right ahead. My site is http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com/
Blog to you soon!!

Marie Ilardi
Owner- Artistic Candles by Marie
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Follow Your Dreams & Explore Life

2008-07-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

We all have one life to live, so why not live it to the fullest?! I'm sure one of your dreams was to open the home based business that your are running, or to fulfill your passion of the arts, or to have a family. Life is full of dreams, possibilities and wonder! Sometimes you just have to grab life by the horns & ride it! Enjoy the ride!

Lately my motto has been WHY NOT! Do you want to go to that resort you always dreamed of going to? Sure, WHY NOT! You are ready to open your own store front and you see the perfect space to do it in! Should you do it? Of course! WHY NOT! When opportunity knocks on your door please answer it! You never know what may come of it!

I had opportunity/experience that fell into all the categories of opportunities, living out my dreams, and living life doing something I really wanted to do but normally wouldn't. I had the opportunity to go to the Guitar Hero Aerosmith unveiling party in New York City. I am an avid Aerosmith fan. Steven Tyler (lead singer) is an idol of mine. Knowing that he would be there made me so excited & nervous. But I decided, you only live once so WHY NOT! Lets go! And I was so glad I did!

Not only did I get to meet some members of the band, be at a great party, meet other wonderful fans, I also had the opportunity to give Steven one of my candles!! I always wanted to make something for him. Creating things is just such a part of me & his music drives my creativity. So, why not give him something that he inspired to be?!

At first I was only able to give him the gift bad that contained the candle. He was walking with the rest of the band to the back room for a meet & greet with the press. But, when they came back out I was able to speak to him. As he came close I yelled his name. He spun around & came right to me. I asked him if he liked the candle & he said yes, & that it was beautiful. He said it was going to be burning in his hotel room that night. I made sure he knew I made it & that I made it just for him.

WOW! A dream of mine came true! Meeting an idol of mine, someone who inspires me! Getting to give him one of my candles was so awesome! I'm not looking for a business opportunity, but if it presented itself that would be very cool too.

My main reason for this post is for inspiration. Follow your dreams, explore opportunities, & live life to the fullest. Do this in all aspects of your life- your personal life & your business life. You will be happy once you do!

Marie Ilardi

Owner- Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.- http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Online Parties

2008-07-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Its summer & its a HOT one at that! I decided to stop doing craft shows during the summer months back in June. It was getting so hot & humid that my poor candles were melting before my eyes!! Now I know not all of you sell items that may melt in the sun, but maybe you hate the heat, or you just want a new avenue to sell your product. Well, I have a suggestion for you!!

ONLINE PARTIES! Some of you may be familiar with them already, but for those of you who are not, online parties are just like your run of the mill Tupperware party or lingerie party, but its online!! Now you can sell your product and buy from other companies in the comfort of your own home (or where ever you decide to be). With this you have a captive audience who are there to listen, browse, & buy. Even if you don't get any sales its OK, you are getting people aware of your company & products.

Last night I had an online party. I was not expecting much more than showing a few people my products so the awareness of my company began to grow. WELL, to my surprise I had 4 orders! And a few more may be on they way! Time slots are usually 1/2 an hour, you book in advance and reserve a date and time that is good for you. Prices range from $1.25 to $3.00 per slot depending on what party group you are signing up with. During that time slot you show your stuff! Show off your website, share any sales and specials you may have, and some groups ask you to donate a prize either for a game you will play during your time slot or for a grand prize that is a collaboration of items for one winner.

I would like to recommend a party group for you! In my opinion it is absolutely fabulous!! If you do one thing after reading this blog, it should be to join parties-at-the-junction : Parties-At-The-Junction . Joni owns the group and she is such a wonderful, intelligent, and nice person. They have parties every Thursday and Sunday during summer months from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm central time. She has many options for people who join such as being exclusive. If you are an exclusive member than no one else can represent your company (something I don't think I have to worry about until I decide to bring my company into direct sales). You get a bio page as well! She does everything she possibly can to help you become successful! This really is an excellent group, so join NOW!!!!

I will be going back to doing craft fairs in September and will most likely only do craft fairs from Spetember to December every year there after. For my customers that may be missing me, order from me online!! You can still get your Artistic Candles!!
Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc. Candles made the way YOU want!

Until Next Time .....

Marie Ilardi
Owner- Artistic Candles by Marie, Inc.
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com

Welcome To Artistic Chatter!

2008-07-09T13:09:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Artistic Chatter!
My name is Marie and I own my own candle business.
This blog is dedicated to all the crafters, work at home moms & dads, and anyone with a home based business. Even if you do not fit into one of these categories this blog is still for you.
I hope you visit & comment often. I want this to be a place were you can get & share information, a place to share stories, & a place to learn.
I'm looking forward to developing Artistic Chatter into a wonderful resource that may be helpful to many people!
Stay tuned...

Marie Ilardi
Owner- Artistic Candles by Marie
http://www.artisticcandlesbymarie.com