Links Page for The Nova Studio

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Links & Suppliers Page

Recommended Supplier Affiliates

Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com Location: Eugene, OR
Excellent high quality organic ingredients for making your own natural products. When placing your orders, please enter the site through either or the links on this page so they know I sent you! I also get a small referral discount.

Essential Wholesale www.essentialwholesale.com ~NEW~ Location: Clackamas, OR
A huge selection of pre-made bases to formulate with ease, testing services (for lotions/creams, etc.) and really good information on their website telling about their products. They carry just about every product one would need to make their own natural products. Great company - great customer service. If you enter their site through my link above when ordering and enter code NOVA05 in the coupon/discount code field at checkout; you'll save 5% off your entire on-line order and i'll get a small referral discount. So, please use the links on this page when placing all orders.

Nature's Flavors www.naturesflavors.com Location: Orange, CA
This company offers only natural ingredients (many organic) that can be used to scent & color your natural bath & body products, like natural food colors, natural flavor oils, natural flavor extracts & more!

Soap Equipment www.soapequipment.com Location: Hagerstown, IN
This company serves our handcrafted industry to over 90 countries and 1,600 cities since 1996. Get professional quality soap and candle making equipment, tools and accessories here. If you enter their site through our link below when ordering and enter code NovaStudio in the coupon/discount code field at checkout; you'll save 5% off your first on-line order. Note: The Code: "NovaStudio" is case sensitive and must be entered exactly as written.

From Nature with Love www.fromnaturewithlove.com Location: Hawleyville, CT
FNWL offers a large selection of 1,750+ natural ingredients used in soap making, skin care, hair care, toiletries, aromatherapy, spa products and also offers packaging supplies, bath accessories, etc. If you enter the site through my link above when ordering and enter code NOVA0503 in the discount code field at checkout, you'll save 5% off your entire on-line order and i'll get a small referral discount. So, please use the link above when placing all orders.

Online Labels www.onlinelabels.com Location: Longwood, FL
I've been doing my own labels for years and purchasing the blank label stock from this company. Great customer service, excellent selection & very fair prices. Please use the link above when ordering.

Recommended Supplier Websites

Juniper Tree www.junipertreesupplies.com Location: Berkeley, CA
This is our local soap and candle supplier here in the bay area. It's a one-stop shop where you can purchase almost all the raw materials used in my classes. I used to teach classes for Juniper Tree and my first studio (The Lavender Room) was located across the street from the store. The retail store is a treat for the eyes and the senses. The website went on-line in Jan. '06 and although they don't take on-line orders, you can get their contact info and browse their products. Get a discount card good for 10% off your next supply order with every bath/body related class you take at The Nova Studio.

Lotioncrafter www.lotioncrafter.com Location: Olga, WA
Lotioncrafter is a supplier of ingredients, packaging and equipment for making lotions/creams. They feature fine cosmetic ingredients, actives and cosmeceuticals, preservatives, silicones, and formulating equipment. Visit Lotioncrafter's on-site Reference Room for accurate information on ingredients, formulating, regulations and more. Students of The Nova Studio will receive a special discount code for a 5% discount on their online orders. If you are a former student and need the new code (effective: 8/25/08) please contact us.

Mission Peak Soap www.missionpeaksoap.com Location: Fremont, CA
Owner and soapmaking expert David Critchfield teaches the Big Batch finale of the 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp here at The Nova Studio. I buy supplies from him because he's local (bay area), reasonably priced, and an all-around great guy. I highly recommend his wooden soap mold/cutter (for 4 lb. batches), soap beveller, and also buy large quantities (35-50 lbs) of coconut & palm oil, ROE antioxidant, lotion making supplies and anything else that I use that he carries.

New Directions Aromatics www.newdirectionsaromatics.com Location: Chektowaga, NY
They carry all types of products, but I especially love the powdered fruit extracts & the 3% dilutions of normally very expensive essential oils & absolutes. It takes a while to get here from NY, but I've had very good customer service.

TKB Trading www.wholesalecolors.com Location: Oakland, CA
Owner Kaila Westerman taught the original class on Making Mineral Makeup here at The Nova Studio. She also wrote the book I recommend for Melt & Pour Soap Crafting. Her company sells raw materials (all types of colors, mineral makeup supplies, and much more) through their website. I use her liquid 3x oxides & ultramarines in my cold process soap. They don't have a retail walk-in location, but you can purchase on-line and pick-up of your order.

San Francisco Bath Salt Company www.sfbsc.com Location: Hayward, CA
If you live on the West Coast and are looking for bulk salt, this is the place to go! Their prices are very reasonable and when you factor in the cost of shipping their prices almost can't be beat. They offer many different types of bulk salt like dead sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, dendritic, epsom, and a bunch of others. When ordering, use the special code NOVA in the discount code field at checkout, you'll save 5% off your entire on-line order!

Recommended Trade Organizations

Product Maker Web Sites

A Wicked Scent www.awickedscent.com Contact: Daryl Cullen
Hand-made, hand-poured candles including pillars, votives, travel tins, containers and more including a line of bath and body products and accessories.

Afterglow Cosmetics www.afterglowcosmetics.com Contact: Kristin Adams
Afterglow offers 100% all natural mineral cosmetics - a full range of loose mineral foundation, loose mineral blush, loose mineral eye shadow, eye liner, loose mineral powder eyeliner, pencil eyeliner, lipstick, lip gloss and lip liner without the harmful chemicals found in most commercial cosmetics.

Essence of O www.essenceofo.com Contact: Conny & Dennis Olarte
Handmade natural glycerin soaps, gift baskets and soap of the month club. Cold process soaps and melt & pour using the finest scents and colors. Wake up your senses with the Essence of O.

Ganache for Lips www.ganacheforlips.com Contact: Patricia West
Delicious lip balm with real Sharffen Berger chocolate! It's difficult to decide which one is best - I love them all!

mi SPA www.mi-spa.com Contact: Mimie Wong
With mi™, creating harmony and enhancing natural beauty begins with a transformation of the body and its surrounding. Continuing with the Asian tradition of tending to the body, make mi™ your daily ritual for body and mind rejuvenation. Treat yourself to a rewarding regimen of extravagant spa-like pampering for some well-earned “mi” time.

Other Web Sites (Non-Related to Soap/Bath/Body/Candle)

Illustrator: Victoria Saxe www.victoria-saxe.com

Rubber Stamp Artist & Teacher: Sonia Schimke www.freewebs.com/stampinsonia/

Web Design: Lisa Berman www.bermandesign.com

Teacher Web Sites

Angela Silva www.angelasilva.com
Angela is a mixed-media collage artist and the official authority on image transfer techniques. Her very informative and organized classes are frequented by "artist" types who learn the transfer techniques and then apply the transfers to their art medium of choice. Angela's classes have a cult-like following - students can't seem to get enough.

David Critchfield www.missionpeaksoap.com
David sells supplies to soapmakers via the internet. He also teaches several soap making classes including the big batch soap making portion of our popular 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp at The Nova Studio - a must take for those thinking of going into the soap business on a larger scale (100 bar batches). Sign-up for his class and then go to his website and buy your supplies!

Patrik Kusek www.patriksstudio.com
Patrik Kusek, our newest teacher, is a seasoned PMC (Precious Metal Clay) artist, Certified PMC Instructor and member of the PMC Guild. Patrik has that magic combination that I look for in a teacher: skill in his craft, natural teaching ability, and passion for what he does (not to mention a willingness to share it with others). His website beautifully showcases his one-of-a-kind art, which is sold directly to individuals and through several retail locations.

Ruth Esteves www.sironasprings.com
Ruth sells her cold process soap online through her company, Sirona Springs. Named for the ancient Celtic goddess of healing, Sirona Springs is a women-owned company dedicated to making beautiful soap by blending ancient methods with modern, high-quality ingredients.

Debbie Chialtas www.soapylove.com
Come to Soapylove, home of the Soapsicle and Let's get Soapy - the only eZine for glycerine soap crafting! You'll love our beautiful handmade soap pops and our gorgeous eZines packed full of fun and creative tutorials. Stop by and see what tickles your fancy!

Friends of The Nova Studio

Julia Alpers www.bullnosetiledesign.com
My talented friend Julia has been an artist all her life. In 1999, she began to focus her energy on large scale public murals. It wasn’t long before Julia realized if you want the art to last, tile is the only way to go. A desire to pursue her artistic goals on her own terms led Julia to go out on her own and start her own business in 2006. Today, Julia’s work can be experienced in private and public spaces throughout the SF Bay Area.

K. Ruby Blume www.sparkybeegirl.com
Ruby Blume has started The Institute of Urban Homesteading which offers classes in gardening, beekeeping, winemaking, canning, cheesemaking, herbal medicines and more! The Urban Homestead classroom is a gathering place to research, ferment and learn together. They feature small class sizes and experiential learning.

Diane Bouchard www.alteredbookstudio.blogspot.com
Diane was the very first teacher to join me years ago (my studio at that time was called "The Lavender Room") and she offered card making classes. Once she discovered the world of Altered Books, she never looked back. Her website is a place to learn about the basics of altered books and see samples of Diane's beautiful work.

Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls www.may-belle.com
Without a doubt, the most creative person I know. She tolerated my input and extreme attention to detail while we worked together on my 6 page wedding invitation booklet and favor CD. One of these days I hope to persuade her to teach a class at The Nova Studio. If you are in need of some style, hire her, you won't be sorry.

Deanna Sauter www.vitalitysoap.com
Deanna's company, Vitality Soap, sells soap and an array of delicious, earth-friendly, aromatherapy-inspired bath and body products for the promotion of happy, healthy skin. Deanna Sauter began making melt & pour soap in 2002. Years of diligence, some good advice from seasoned soap makers and a switch to using only all-natural, earth-friendly, vegetable-based products and essential oils paid off and in 2005, Vitality Soap was born.

Joan Morais www.joanmorais.com
Joan is an aromatherapist & teaches classes on making natural skin, bath and body care products. Her herbal studies led her to make products with natural ingredients that promote vibrant skin, enhance wellness and are environmentally friendly. Her passion is to teach others how to make creative and fantastic products and create a successful product making business.

Stumasa www.stumasa.com
Located in Cole Valley, Stumasa offers a range of affordable solid-wood home furnishings, from bookcases to dressers, and tables. Husband (Greg) does the building and wife (Maybelle) does the styling and is the buyer for everything else in the store. They also offer custom built pieces and a wide array of hand-picked treasures to decorate your home. The nifty jar shelves in the back-right corner of the studio are from Stumasa and originally designed for CDs.

Jane, Inc. www.jane-inc.com Contact: Jane Diokas
Founded is 1994, this large scale professional bath & body wholesale company is located right here in Point Richmond. You see Jane's magnificent products for sale at very high end companies all over the country. Her luxurious eye pillows and signature bath fizzys are all you need to feel like a queen or a king for a day.

Youngdahl Music Studios www.pureinspirationprod.com/ymusic Contact: Jennifer Youngdahl
Youngdahl Music Studios offers private & group voice instruction developing singers of all ages. They also offer workshops that prepare teens/adults for singing in a recording studio and weekend workshop retreats designed to inspire and promote full creative expression.

Point Richmond Specific Links

The Hotel Mac www.hotelmac.net
Charming historic hotel/restaurant - closest & best overnight accommodations to The Nova Studio (just a few minutes walking). THE only recommended place to stay if you are coming to take classes and staying overnight.

Point Richmond Website www.pointrichmond.com
The official website for Point Richmond, a quaint historic neighborhood in the city of Richmond, CA. A great resource for all things Point Richmond. Check it out!

Helpful Business Related Sites

VISTA PRINT DISCOUNT www.vistaprint.com/referral
As some of you know, I get my business cards printed at vistaprint.com. They are a full service on-line print shop that is easy to order from and I've always been happy with the end result. They recently gave me a referral link to pass on a discount to you (and I earn a little credit if you do order). You must use the link above to get the discount and it's for first time customers only.

Bookmark this page and check back frequently - more links & resources coming soon!