Welcome to January 2021!

Welcome to the world of tomorrow! It’s mostly like the world of yesterday except it has a “1” at the end, but it’s still cause for celebration when the celestial odometer rolls over, eh? Welcome to the first day of the first month of the year that we’ll best this horrible virus and be allowed to be free range again, roaming around doing things we never quite appreciated, like having lunch in a restaurant indoors with someone not from y9ur household or enjoying a super awkward hug with an almost random stranger. We won’t need to figure out our “safe six” or who’s in our “bubble”. And when that happens, there’ll be classes and conferences and non-virtual things that we can attend and stand near other people to enjoy. And there’ll be live music again! Yay! I really miss concerts. I’m definitely throwing myself into the mosh pit the next one I can attend!

Yes, I know some of you are enjoying these things now – maybe not the awkward hug part – I’m looking at you Australia and New Zealand, but I’m too jealous and happy for you to speak of it here. 

What’s going on this month? 

I have a “State of the blog address” coming tomorrow, and there’ll be more about what you might expect for the first few months this year, so this might seem like a bit more of the same…

We’re starting up the Newbie Tuesday and Formulating Friday lotion making series/course on January 12th and 15th, respectively.

I’m starting Zoom workshops again! The first will be on Sunday, January 17th at 11:00 AM PST (Vancouver time). I’d really like to talk about mixers and show you all the wonderful equipment I have now, from my new smaller mixers to my Dynamic Minipro immersion blender with optional homogenizer, my Bamix immersion blender, and my homogenizer. I thought we’d make a project or two so you can see what they’re like. A few days before the meeting, I’ll have a handout ready so you can follow along, and there’ll be loads of times for questions too. Woo hoo!

I’m working on a series on esters now that we’re done the combining emollients series, and I think we’ll work with a new one each week. And there’s a series on silicones that’s been waiting to be shared for a long long time.

I will be starting up the Why the heck did I buy this and what can I do with it posts on Wednesdays to share all kinds of wonderful ingredients with you, which is so exciting!

I have some duplications that have been waiting for new ingredients, so I hope the Postal Service Fairies are winging their way to me with parcels in hand so I can share those soon.

As we do every month…

If you’re in need of supplies, $10 subscribers to the month will have three discount coupons this monthfor Lotioncrafter, Voyageur Soap & Candle, and Windy Point Soap Making Supplies. Thank you for this lovely gift out of the goodness of your hearts, lovely suppliers! (Some haven’t been updated for January yet as it’s been so busy over the holidays.)

As we do every month, if you’re a $3 subscriber or higher, click here to see the duplication request post! And don’t forget that you have access to the formula directory!

If you’re a $5 subscriber or higher, click here to see the month’s Q&A post! (I’ve continued from last month’s post as there were some great questions I needed to look at again!)

And don’t forget about the monthly Super happy fun member-to-member post for January 2021! It’s more important than ever that we connect with other people during this awful time, so please feel free to share your thoughts on this post or others on the blog!

If you’re a $10 subscriber or higher, you’ll get the e-zine for the month – which is generally issued on the 27th or later. I’m not sure what the topic will be yet, but there are – as always – a few different ones on the go. If you missed one for a month during which you were a subscriber, please click here to see those coupon codes. (Please download them as soon as you can as these links can expire after a year or two.)

Last month, you would have received My favourite formulas of 2020 as part of your $10 membership!

I hope you’re all doing well as the clock rolls over to a new year. We still have miles to go before we reach herd immunity through vaccinations, but we will meet again in person, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day! Welcome 2021! Happy New Year!