17th Annual DeLand Craft Show

This weekend was the 17th annual DeLand Craft Show in downtown DeLand. If you live in town you may have noticed that they shut down Woodland from New York Ave all the way down past Rich Ave. This was because the street was full of vendors and visitors taking in all the local handcrafted items. Read on to find out about a few of these vendors and how to buy their products.

I have a slight obsession with homemade soaps, especially ones that smells absolutely amazing and I happened to stop at Heart Song Naturals booth to find that she has some of the best smelling, all natural soaps that I've been able to find. Not only does she sell soap, but she also sells bath bombs, lip balms, and a delightfully smelling assortment of Sea Salt Scrubs. Now don't think she only sells hygiene products, as you can also purchase soy candles, essential oils for aromatherapy, herbal teas, and cleaners. You can order from her online at her website and you can find her on Facebook. If you're local, take a trip on out to her store in Lake Helen, just a mile down from the Cassadaga Hotel, where you can find herbal teas, local raw honey, artisan jewelry and art.

Another booth that I stopped at was Tutu-Me where you can find custom designed Tutu dresses and the accessories to match. The dresses are made to be easily hand washed and line dried, so if you have a little girl in your life who happens to love playing in the sand at the beach just as much as she loves to wear her dresses, then these are for you. You can find her adorable designs on her etsy shop and her website. Check out some of the dresses she had today at the craft show!

Wonder Woman Tutu

Frozen Tutu's (accessories are Elsa hair bows)

Perfect for a birthday party!

Pink and Blue Tutu

Tutu's galore!

Plenty of cute hair accessories to match!

One of the first booths that I visited caught my eye fairly quickly as I'm not a Florida native (New England girl born and raised) but I chose to live my adult life here in Florida. And this booth is definitely for those who love to live a Florida life (and even those who just enjoy Florida life during vacation). Florida Life sells t-shirts, tank tops, decals, and koozies.

Florida Life clothing

Florida Life decal on the side of the houseboat.

They also run the Wolfe's Gallery in downtown DeLand if you're interested in handmade treasures ranging from jewelry to paintings and pottery.

Check back later for more from the craft show which is happening again tomorrow from 10 am until 4 pm!

Redneck Candles and More...

If there's one thing I love having in my home, it's candles and wax melts. Nothing makes my day go smoother than the sweet scent of the beach sweeping through my living room, or the smell of sweet wine and roses on a warm summer night. But what about those scents you just can't seem to bottle up and take home with you? Things like the sweet smell of an open field, the leather of your saddle, or a tasty cobbler? Well now you can, because I'm here to introduce you to one of my favorite vendors at the Artisan Alley Farmer's Market.

I asked Nancy (owner of Redneck Candles and More, LLC) a few questions to get a better insight to her and her company, and she was kind enough to answer all of them. So here's a little inside look at my favorite local candle company.

Q: How did you come up with the idea to make soy candles?
A: I started making candles a little over 3 years ago. At the time, I was saving baby food jars from my youngest and figured I'd eventually come up with something to do with them. Finally, the light bulb in my head went off and candles seemed like the best fit for the jars, and because I love candles.

For about 3 months, I researched products, found an online "candle making school" through a candle product vendor, and began experimenting with wax and fragrances.

At first, I used a high-quality paraffin wax, so that I could be as similar to the "Northern Candle Company". But, I quickly found that most farmer's markets and festivals preferred soy wax; therefore, I made a transition within a few months of being in business.

Q: What is the process like for creating the candles and wax melts?

A: Now that I feel I am a more "seasoned" candle maker, the process is much easier. But, during the first few months of getting started, I did a lot of experimenting with colors, fragrances, temperatures to melt the wax to for adding color, fragrance, and even when to pour so that the candle would work properly. Also, wick size comes into play, as well as a little teeny glue dot that goes on the bottom of the wick to keep it centered.

The process that I explain to most people is a short one. Soy wax comes in flake form. My melting pots hold approximately 2 pounds of wax. So, I measure out the wax (by weight), put it in a pot of water with a trivet in the bottom of it (to prevent it from getting direct heat), and melt it down. I have to have it on a specific setting on my stove in order for the wax to not go above a certain temperature. Once it hits the desired temperature, I remove it, add fragrance, then color, and then pour. All is done at different temperature intervals, and the fragrance is my favorite part. I love playing mad scientist with many of my fragrances (cakes and pies mostly), and I love the research to find something new for a customer that may have a quirky request (dirt, leather, bacon, for example). If the product doesn't have great reviews, I don't purchase it. If it does, I may purchase a sample for testing, and then decide whether or not it smells like what it says it is supposed to be.

Q: How did you come up with the idea to expand from candles to household cleaners and hygiene products?

A: Once I started needing more baby food jars, people were giving me larger ones as well. So, I decided to make household cleaners (laundry soap, dryer sheets, citrus cleaner and dishwasher soap). My niece actually gave me the idea to expand to bath and body products, and helped me with that department (we now have body scrubs, soaps, lip balms, face cream, sunscreen and lotion bars).

Q: Did you start off with selling these online or did you head straight to the Farmer's Markets, and what was the process like?

A: To begin with, I created a website in hopes I'd do better online. To date, sales online have been minimal. However, only a short time after creating my website, I began to look into festivals and farmer's markets. My first festival was very small, and I only sold a few of my products. Then, I geared up for an event that I heard was great, only to do absolutely terrible. But, I didn't give up. I started a few farmer's markets, and kept signing up for festivals, and although I still don't make a lot of money, I enjoy working at home with my boys, and getting out to markets and festivals to show off our products.

Q: How many Farmer's Markets do you go to each week?

A: Currently, I attend 3 farmer's markets a week (of course, depending on sick or cranky boys), and I gladly deliver locally. I also spend a lot of time researching festivals and attending ones that have been beneficial in the past for me, as well as adding on 1 or 2 new ones when I hear they are successful for fellow vendors

Q: What is your favorite scent that you currently sell?

A:  Three years ago, I would have told you a clean linen smell or maybe a sugar cookie at Christmas time. Now, I have no favorite. I'm in love with different aspects of most of my candles (yes, bacon is not a favorite of mine). Knowing I made a customer happy by creating leather, tomato leaves, or finding a sweet tea with lemon fragrance (which is one of my many favorites) is the fun part of it all.

Q: What seems to be the most popular scent that you sell?

A: Country Livin', my very happy accident of a candle, is a really popular candle among our customers. A little over a year ago, I was making Snickerdoodle Cookie, and added the wrong fragrance oil (I blame it on having toddlers around), and it became an instant success. It is the smell of cinnamon, pound cake and fall leaves, and smells almost like an apple pie. I sell it year round! We have several favorites though, because everyone's "sniffer" is different!

Q: What is your favorite part of selling your homemade products locally?

A: As of today, I am constantly learning about products that work for us, as well as what to eliminate. For instance, I am trying to work on a candle that needs to be a specific color, but the additive to make it correct doesn't seem to work with my wicks and soy wax that I've been using for the past year. And, I'm on a deadline, but I try not to stress, and know that it will work out, or I will have to try something else. It's all about learning and growing!

So there you have it folks! If you're interested in buying online you can visit her etsy shop here, or on the Square market here. If you're interested in donating jars to her, head out to the Artisan Alley Farmer's Market on Friday anytime between 6 and 9, or feel free to check out her Facebook to find out which Farmer's Market or event she'll be heading to next! I really hope you enjoy her candles as much as I do, and if you stop by to see her, let her know that Megan sent you from Around Town!

Earl Brown Park and Playground

Earl Brown Park and Playground is located at 750 South Alabama Avenue in DeLand, and consists of a playground, basketball courts, restrooms, picnic pavilions, an enclosed cooking shelter, and a one mile, paved fitness trail.

If you are the kind of family who likes to get out and play, then this is the park for you. It has a covered picnic pavilion with at least a dozen tables, and did I mention it's covered? This is great because if you live in Florida, you know just how unpredictable the weather can be, and that the rain mostly lasts only a few minutes.

The one mile, paved fitness trail is great for those who enjoy walking, jogging, biking, and skating. It circles the entire park, including the half fenced retention pond where you can find ducks, anhinga's, and white ibis. While you will find other people out on the trail, it is never crowded, and it is well maintained.

The basketball courts, which there are two of, are next to the playground, well maintained, and equipped with a water fountain. The water fountain is great to have, unless you're thirsty anytime after 1pm as the heat of the sun has started to get to it. Much like a hose left out in Florida sunshine, the water from the fountain gets pretty warm once it's been in the sun for too long, so I would recommend bringing a small cooler with a couple of cold drinks if you plan on staying for longer than an hour. There are trash cans throughout the park, so do remember to toss your trash when you're finished.

The playground is where I spend a great majority of my time as I have two young boys who love to run around, and this is a great playground to do so. When you first get to the playground you will notice that one of the entries leads directly to a couple of bench seats and a slide. This is great for the parents to have somewhere to sit, and still have a view of the entire playground to keep an eye on their kids. I love this playground, and so do my kids. But don't take my word for it, let the pictures speak for themselves!

Covered area with seating for parents

Swings, seated merry-go-round, balance beam, climbing ropes

Swings, climbable statues, my children

Picnic area within playground area

Tire swing, climbable statue

Dragonfly see-saw, drums, basketball courts in background

Stairs to the large slide

I hope you enjoy visiting Earl Brown Park and Playground as much as I do, and keep an eye out for more places and events in the coming weeks such as the circus, Freedom Playground (closing September 12th for demolition before the rebuild begins), and the farmer's markets!

Welcome to Around Town

As a new resident of DeLand, Florida and someone who enjoys taking their family out, I've decided to share my experiences with other residents and those who plan on visiting. If you're looking for a great place to go for date night, have family in town and need a great place to eat, or if you want to take the family out, this is the place to find honest reviews of everything from parks and playgrounds, restaurants and bars, arcades and fun spots, to weekly, monthly, and annual events.

If you are looking to move to Deland, I plan on occasionally posting my experiences with my son's school, Edith I Starke Elementary, so keep an eye out for those as well! Koala Pride!

I hope you enjoy reading about my experiences and welcome to Around Town!