Spotlight On....

Dedra Harvin of The Ivory Magnolia!

Dee is one of our Team Leaders! She is dedicated and talented member of Artists of Color, making many things happen behind the scenes. There are many fantastically scented items in her shop! The Ivory Magnolia brings paradise to the body with natural, high quality, 100% handmade bath and body products. Her products do not contain harsh detergents that cause skin irritations, but are loaded with natural ingredients guaranteed to soften, nourish, and recondition the skin. Luxurious products made fresh and delivered to your front door. Here's your chance to learn about the woman behind the fabulous smells.

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
My name is Dedra, but online I prefer to be called Dee. I'm a pastor's wife and stay-at-home-mother of 3 beautiful children. I’m a former tax auditor with 10+ years of experience in fashion merchandising, management, and consulting.

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are you doing currently?
Being creative is my life. In addition to my bath & body business, I make floral arrangements, gifts baskets, t-shirts, paper goods, pillows, and handbags.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
I make all kinds of bath & body treats including body lotions, creams, sugar scrubs, soaps, and sprays.

4. Where do you create?
I have a butler’s serving pantry that I have turned into a laboratory. It’s a small area but it works for now. Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford a butler.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Being a southern gal, I am inspired by food and nature. I’ve often thought about making “grits and grass” soaps and “bacon & fried chicken” body creams.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
It all started out of on my own curiosities and I began experimenting with items in my kitchen. My first creation: a sugar scrub made with olive oil, sugar, and green tea leaves from a tea bag! It smelled horrible, but worked great! Not only did my skin look and feel better...but I felt better! I began to research and experiment with other natural oils from a local fresh market. I soon connected with a local bath & body supplier, who shared with me a wealth of knowledge on formulating and preservation. I’ve been doing this for almost 2 years, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

7. How do you promote your wares?
Word-of-mouth, giving samples to strangers, freebies to family & friends, and handing out business cards everywhere.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
Organization is a must.

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Take clear, sharp pictures, print your own labels, get free/low cost promo material from vistaprint.com, and provide quality customer service.

10.Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here? PixelbyPixel.etsy.com is an awesome artist in Costa Rica who makes professional products to help you promote your shop. TheDreamGiraffe.etsy.com is a fellow South Carolinian whose artwork I adore.

website: http://theivorymagnolia.com
shop: http://theivorymagnolia.etsy.com
myspace: http://myspace.com/theivorymagnolia