Search Results for: in-the-pot swirl

A Palm Free In-The-Pot Swirl

September 6, 2012 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Despite our recent weeks of summer fun, fall is definitely in the air in the Pacific Northwest. I’m ready to leap into fall with this seasonal color palette and in-the-pot swirl soap. Check this out if you’ve been on the hunt for a great palm-free recipe, and check out another palm free recipe here and here. This recipe turns out super hard and the bubbles are medium in size with an easy rinse-off.

20.0 oz Coconut Oil

40.0 oz Rice Bran Oil

8.3 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

19.8 oz Distilled Water

3.5 oz Earl Grey Lemon Fragrance Oil

3 teaspoons Merlot Mica

2 teaspoons Super Pearly White

1 teaspoon Cellini Blue Mica

1 teaspoon Cellini Yellow Mica

1 teaspoon Cappuccino Mica

2 tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil

5 Pound Wood Mold with Sliding Bottom

5 Pound Wood Log Mold Liner

Buy everything you need for this project with the click of a button!

For more tactile learners, this tutorial is available in our Etsy shop! Get your hands on printed instructions and a bar of soap and learn to make this palm-free soap here. [Read more…]

In-the-Pot Swirling (Cold Process)

October 5, 2011 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Advanced Swirling Part 4: In The Pot Swirling

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

Welcome back! This is part four of Kat’s advanced swirling tutorials. Please make sure to check out parts 1 (Understanding Color Theory Terminology) , 2 (Getting Brave with Color) and 3 (Soap Design and Color Matching) if you haven’t already. In this section, the secrets to successful swirling are revealed!

Must have materials:

Before beginning, make sure to have all safety equipment and supplies at hand. Have your colors picked and prepared and your fragrance oil weighed, line your wooden mold and have divider inserts set up on the side. Snug fitting rubber gloves are ideal for maximum dexterity (Tip! Pick up some hair-dying gloves from the local beauty supply store). A rubber spatula is your best friend for swirling! This tool manipulates the swirl pattern and pulls it through the entire bar. Use a bamboo skewer for creating finer details and surface swirls. You will also need extra smaller heat resistant pitchers for dividing the soap into sections to color.

[Read more…]

Swirled Rose Soap Tutorial

March 30, 2018 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials, Cold Process Soap

This Swirled Rose Soap is a blend of old and new – it has a classic design and a modern scent. The subtle swirl is created with a technique known as an in-the-pot swirl. It’s easy to do and every bar looks different.

Once the soap is in the mold, pink rose petals are sprinkled on top. To cut, lay the soap on its side to prevent drag marks. The rose petals will turn brown when they come in contact with water, but they look so pretty that most don’t mind.

All of the ingredients for this project can be found in the Modern Floral Soap Kit. It also includes printed instructions and labels. All you need to provide is distilled water and tools.

What You Need:
*All items included in the Modern Floral Cold Process Kit
10″ Silicone Loaf Mold
33 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
4.7 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
10.9 oz. Distilled Water
2 tsp. Sodium Lactate
2 oz. Wild Rose Fragrance Oil
1/2 tsp. Rose Pearl Mica
Pink Rose Petals

5.0 from 2 reviews

Swirled Rose Soap Tutorial

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour

This recipe is a fun blend of old and new.

Author: Soap Queen

Recipe type: Cold Process Soap

Serves: 3 pounds of soap

Ingredients

10" Silicone Loaf Mold
33 oz. Lots of Lather Quick Mix
4.7 oz. Sodium Hydroxide Lye
10.9 oz. Distilled Water
2 tsp. Sodium Lactate
2 oz. Wild Rose Fragrance Oil
½ tsp. Rose Pearl Mica
Pink Rose Petals

Instructions

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safety to prep lye. Wear long sleeves, pants, and closed-toe shoes. Put on safety goggles and gloves.

PREP THE LYE: Set up a scale and make sure it is set to ounces. In a large glass measuring cup, weigh out 10.9 oz. room-temperature distilled water. In a separate large glass measuring cup, weigh out 4.7 oz. sodium hydroxide lye flakes. Slowly add the lye to the water and gently stir until the lye has fully dissolved. Place in a safe space to cool until about 110-130 ° F. Add 2 tsp. of sodium lactate to the lye water and gently stir in.

PREP OILS: Fully melt the entire bag of Lots of Lather Quick Mix in the microwave (leave cap on) until there are no chunks or cloudiness and give the bag a good shake. Weigh out 33 oz. into a large glass bowl. Set aside until it reaches 110-130 ° F.

PREP FRAGRANCE OIL: In a small glass cup, weigh 2 ounces of Wild Rose Fragrance Oil.

PREP COLORANT: Place ½ tsp. of Rose Pearl Mica into a small glass cup. Add ½ Tbsp. of the melted Lots of Lather Quick Mix oils and stir together until smooth. Dispersing the mica colorant in oil helps it mix into the soap batter more easily.

Slowly add the lye solution to the bowl of Lots of Lather Quick Mix. Pulse the blender on and off to mix. Continue to pulse and stir for about 1 minute. The soap will become the texture of thin pudding.
Pour about half of the soap into a separate container (it's okay to eyeball it). To one container of soap, add all of the dispersed Rose Pearl Mica. Use a whisk to mix in the color thoroughly.
Add the Wild Rose Fragrance Oil proportionally into each container of soap (it’s okay to eyeball it) and use a whisk to thoroughly mix in the fragrance.
Pour dollops of white soap into the pink soap in different areas and various heights. Use a spoon to stir the soap 2-3 times to create more swirls in the batter. Be careful to not overmix.
Pour the batter into the mold and tap it firmly on the counter to release bubbles. Use a spoon to create texture on the top of the soap. If the soap is not holding its shape, allow it to sit in the mold for 2-3 minutes, then try again.
Sprinkle pink rose petals on the top of the soap. Place the soap in a warm room-temperature area where it will not be disturbed. Let soap harden in the mold for 2-3 days.
Pull two sides of the mold away from the soap. If it isn’t sticking, pull the other two sides away and gently press the soap out from the bottom. If the sides of the mold do not easily release, let it harden for another day.
Carefully remove the soap and place on a cutting board. Using a sharp, non-serrated knife, cut the soap into bars. Lay the soap on its side for a cleaner cut.
Allow the bars to cure on a well-ventilated shelf for 4-6 weeks to create a firm, long-lasting bar. Enjoy.

Swirled Orchid Cold Process Soap Tutorial

January 18, 2018 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials, Cold Process Soap

The sophistication of orchids and jasmine flowers inspired this cold process soap. It’s scented with new Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil, which has notes of tuberose, balsam, and musk. The scent blend is alluring and complex. To complement the scent, the soap is colored a regal purple and topped with elegant jasmine flowers.

The Blushing Orchid Fragrance Oil and jasmine flowers are part of our new Modern Floral Collection, which includes four new scents, extracts, dried botanicals, and more. Click here to see all the new products.

The design in these bars is referred to as an In-The-Pot Swirl. Once the soap is split into separate containers and color is added, it’s poured back into one pot and swirled together before being poured into the mold. It’s a technique that’s great for beginners and results in a completely different swirl each time. Just be careful to not over swirl the soap or the colors can muddle.

[Read more…]

5 Tips for Swirling Cold Process Soap

April 27, 2016 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

The ability to manipulate the texture of cold process soap allows for a wide variety of techniques. For example, thick textured soap mimics the look of cupcake frosting in the Sparkling Champagne Soap Cupcakes. On the flip side, fluid soap batter is used to create complex swirls in the Clover & Aloe Spin Swirl Soap. Swirling cold process soap takes a little practice, but is well worth it. There is something about swirling soap that is satisfying and relaxing. And the final product is beautiful!

From spin swirls and drop swirls to hanger swirls and in-the-pot swirls, there are many different swirling techniques. While each technique involves a slightly different process, there are steps you can take to ensure your soap is successful. Below are five tips for creating gorgeous swirls in cold process soap.

[Read more…]

Emerald Swirl Cold Process Tutorial

September 17, 2015 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials, Cold Process Soap

I love the rich green color and sophistication emeralds exude. My birthstone is an emerald, so it is no surprise it’s one of my favorite gemstones. For this Emerald Swirl Cold Process Soap, melt and pour embeds and mica painting create an eye-catching, emerald inspired top. The “emeralds” in the center of each bar are created with LCP Clear Melt and Pour Base and Shamrock Green Mica. Once hardened, the soap is cut into a gem-like shape and placed in the center of each bar. Gold Sparkle Mica painting adds sparkle and shine; click here to learn more about mica painting.

This project is scented with the fresh and crisp Green Fig Fragrance Oil. This non-discoloring fragrance is easy to work with and gives you plenty of time to create the in-the-pot swirl. This recipe contains plenty of soft liquid oils to aid in swirling, and to create a gentle feel on the skin. To help the soap harden in the mold a little bit faster, I used a water discount of 10%. This is completely optional, it just helps cut down on the cure and drying time =)

[Read more…]

Back to Basics: Crisp Cotton Swirl Cold Process

July 30, 2015 Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials, Cold Process Soap

Today the Back to Basics series wraps up with the final tutorial, this Crisp Cotton Swirl Cold Process Soap. Swirls in cold process soap require a thin trace, so it’s important to not over stick blend the batter. It helps to have a recipe with a large percentage of slow moving oils, like olive or canola. If you missed the previous three Back to Basic tutorials, be sure to check them out! The tutorials are accompanied by the Back to Basic Soapmaking Kit, which includes all the ingredients (except lye) you need to make the four projects. Now, let’s get swirling!

Creating swirls in cold process soap takes a little bit of practice. Swirls require a good understanding of trace; it’s crucial that the soap does not become too thick or the soap will not swirl together. On the flip side, the soap cannot be too thin or the colors may muddle together. Learn more about trace here. The key is a recipe that contains plenty of slow moving oils, like canola or olive oil. It’s also important to choose a fragrance oil that behaves well in cold process soap, and does not cause the soap to accelerate. This recipe contains 30% olive oil and 25% canola oil to make sure you have plenty of time to work. It also uses Crisp Cotton Fragrance Oil, which does not accelerate trace.

The type of swirl used in this bar is referred to as a “drop swirl.” This means the colors are poured, or “dropped,” into the mold from varying heights. As the soap is poured, it will begin to swirl inside the mold. For this project, we also used the Hanger Swirl Tool to give the soap extra movement. This project is colored with Titanium Dioxide and Ultramarine Blue pigments. These colorants do not bleed into each other, which is the key to crisp and clean swirls. If you have never prepped colorants for cold process soap before, check out this Soap Queen TV video to learn how.

[Read more…]

Sea Clay Swirl Cold Process

January 15, 2015 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Created with sea clay, kaolin clay and pink sea salt, this soap conjures images of crystal clear waters and white-sanded beaches. In cold process soap, sea clay results in a natural grey hue, but when combined with Hydrated Chrome Green, it transforms into a soft minty green.

To achieve the wispy swirl, the white and green soap are swirled in one pot, then poured into the mold. This technique is referred to as an “in the pot swirl,” and is a great swirling method for beginner to intermediate soapers. To see the in the pot swirl in action, check out this Soap Queen TV video!

[Read more…]

In the Pot Swirl Cold Process on Soap Queen TV

January 8, 2015 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

In this throwback Thursday episode of Soap Queen TV, I’m joined by Christy from KB Shimmer to create a brightly-colored in-the-pot swirl cold process project. This stunning technique produces beautiful results, and every bar looks unique. Made with vibrant LabColors and scented with Energy Fragrance Oil, this soap screams of a tropical vacation!

[Read more…]

Soap Challenge: Elemental Swirl

June 27, 2013 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

When Amy of Great Cakes Soapworks announced her Elemental Swirl Soap Challenge, we couldn’t wait to jump on board. This particular soap utilizes several soaping skills, including two in-the-pot-swirls, a mica vein and a psychedelic top swirl. All of these techniques combine to create a textured-looking soap with one-of-a-kind ruptured, uneven layers.

Recipe:

33 oz. Swirl Quick Mix

4.5 oz. Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

11 oz. Distilled Water

Tangerine Wow! colorant

Burgundy Pigment

Green Chrome Oxide

Fizzy Lemonade Pigment

Cappuccino Mica

Ultramarine Violet

Ultramarine Pink

1 oz. Pink Grapefruit Fragrance Oil

.5 oz Lime Fragrance Oil

.5 oz. Kumquat Fragrance Oil

10″ Silicone Loaf Mold

Optional:

Sodium Lactate

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

Don’t want to buy the Swirl Mix or want to make a recipe up from scratch? I’d recommend at least 60% liquid oils and no more than 40% (total) of solid oils and butters to give yourself a long time to work with this intricate design.

If you have never made cold process soap before, I highly recommend you get a couple of basic recipes under your belt. Check out this (free!) 4-part series on cold process soap making, especially the episode on lye safety. Bramble Berry carries quite a few books on the topic as well, including this downloadable book on making cold process soap.

COLOR PREP: Disperse 1 teaspoon of each pigment into 1 tablespoon of Sunflower Seed Oil. Prepping your colors in the beginning will allow you to work quickly and give you more time to work with your soap. Use the mini mixer to get all those clumps worked out smoothly.

FRAGRANCE OIL BLEND: In a glass container, measure 1 oz. of Pink Grapefruit Fragrance oil. This will fragrance the bottom orange and green swirl layer. In a second glass container, blend .5 oz. Lime Fragrance Oil and .5 oz. Kumquat Fragrance oil. This will fragrance the top purple and pink swirl layer.

SAFETY FIRST: Suit up for safe handling practices! That means goggles, gloves and long sleeves. Make sure kids, pets, and other distractions and tripping hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

ONE: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water, and stir until clear. Set aside to cool. If you’d like a harder bar of soap that lasts longer in the shower, you can add Sodium Lactate to the cooled lye water. Use 1 teaspoon of Sodium Lactate per pound of oils in the recipe.

TWO: Melt the entire bag of Swirl Quick Mix and portion out 33 oz. in a large glass container. Once the lye water and the oils have cooled to 130 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), add the lye water to the oils and stick blend until thin trace. You can use any standard recipe with this design if you don’t have the Swirl Mix on hand but keep in mind that you need a lot of working time with multiple techniques.

TWO: Split the soap into 4 separate containers, pouring about 1.5 cups into each container.

THREE: Color each of the split batches. In one container, add 3 teaspoons of dispersed Tangerine Wow! and 1/2 teaspoon dispersed Burgundy Oxide. In another container, add 1 teaspoon of dispersed Ultramarine Pink. In the third container, add 1 teaspoon of dispersed Ultramarine Violet. In the fourth container, add 1/2 teaspoon of dispersed Green Oxide and 3/4 teaspoon of dispersed Fizzy Lemonade pigment. Using a whisk or spatula, blend the mixtures until the colorants have been fully dispersed. Mixing the colorants in starting with the lightest color and going to the darkest will allow you to use the same whisk for all four portions, resulting in less dishes to clean!

FOUR: Add half of the Pink Grapefruit Fragrance oil to the orange soap and half to the green soap and mix using a whisk or a spatula. Avoid using a stick blender as it could accelerate trace.

FIVE: For the first in-the-pot swirl, start by pouring the lime green colored soap into the orange colored soap in 4 places: 12:00 o’clock, 4:00 o’clock, 8:00 o’clock, and center. Pour from a high point so that the soap penetrates the entire depth of the soap in the pot, which will create a swirl throughout the mixture. Using a spatula, chopstick or dowel, swirl the soap by running the tool through each of the entry points once. It is important to swirl only once because you do not want the colors to completely blend together.

SIX: Pour the freshly swirled soap into the silicone mold. Tamp the mold on the table after you are finished pouring to ensure even coverage and disperse bubbles, but be careful to not overmix the swirl.

SEVEN: To create the mica vein, use a powder duster to sprinkle a thin layer of Cappuccino Mica over the freshly poured orange and lime swirl soap. Sprinkling too much mica can cause your layers to separate so take extra care to achieve just a light dusting of mica. Then, still wearing your goggles, close your eyes and gently blow on the mica to lightly press it into the soap. Because mica is so fine, this part can get messy. Be sure to have paper towels and isopropyl alcohol on hand to clean up any mica that sticks to the mold or your work surface.

EIGHT: Add half of the Lime and Kumquat fragrance oil blend to the purple soap and half to the pink soap, mixing in thoroughly with a whisk. When the fragrance oils have been fully incorporated into the batter, create your second In-The-Pot-Swirl using the same technique as before.

Pour the Ultramarine Purple colored soap into the Ultramarine Pink colored soap in 4 places: 12:00 o’clock, 4:00 o’clock, 8:00 o’clock, and center. Pour from a high point so that the soap penetrates the entire depth of the soap in the pot, which will create a swirl throughout the mixture. Using a spatula, chopstick or dowel, swirl the soap by running the tool through each of the entry points once. It is important to swirl only once because you do not want the colors to completely blend together.

NINE: From a high point, pour the purple and pink soap into the center of the silicone mold. Pouring from high up will create the ruptured and uneven layers you see in the final soap.

TEN: Drizzle any remaining soap in a zig-zag pattern across the top to enhance the final design.

ELEVEN: Drag a chopstick or dowel inserted into the top 1/4″ of the soap down the length of the mold, making a series of short s-curves that are perpendicular to the lines created by the poured soap. Once you’ve gone from one end of the soap to the other, make small loops back down the length of the mold. When you reach the end of the mold, create one big loop that carries you into the next row, and do a reverse loop back across the mold again. Continue this pattern until all of the soap is swirled.

TWELVE: Spray the entire top with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to reduce soda ash. Cover and insulate for 24 hours and unmold after 3-4 days. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks and enjoy!

4 Color In~The~Pot Swirl Soap Tutorial

April 2, 2013 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

This recipe is the second of two that come with the quick start guide in Bramble Berry’s brand new Business in a Box kit, and the second of many that are possible when you purchase the full kit. Along with this unique In-The-Pot Swirl recipe, in the quick start guide you’ll also receive the Sunset Ombre Soap tutorial. The Business in a Box quick start guide is a handy, downloadable PDF that contains beginning soapmaking tips, some helpful forms for business, two advanced recipes tailored just for the kit, and tips for getting your business started. The kit also contains full ingredients, equipment, 7 books and more. We’ve updated the Business in a Box kit based on your feedback from when we first launched it and it’ s better than ever. Like all businesses, it will take hard work, perseverance, and has a learning curve but this kit will save a lot on the testing, experimenting and give you a library of my favorite books to learn from.

[Read more…]

Linear Swirling (Cold Process)

October 6, 2011 Filed Under: Cold Process Soap

Advanced Swirling Part 5: Linear Swirling

Guest post by Kat from Otion (Bramble Berry’s retail store)

This is the grand finale of my advanced swirling tutorials. Today is linear swirling! Make sure that you check out parts 1 (Understanding Color Theory Terminology) , 2 (Getting Brave with Color), 3 (Soap Design and Color Matching) and part 4(In-the-Pot swirling) if you haven’t already. Learn the secret to a fabulous linear swirl!

Before you get started, check out my must have materials for swirling!

Step 1: At a light trace, separate half of the batch into two smaller containers; one for each color, add scent by hand before pouring.

Step 2: Linear swirling is about building layers. Create a pattern using the two colors first so there is something on the bottom of the bars.

Step 3: Pour about ½ to ¾ of the white on top for the mid section which your lines will form into.

[Read more…]

Palm Oil Alternatives in Cold Process Soap

August 29, 2018 Filed Under: Tips & Tricks

Palm oil adds a unique feeling to cold process soap. It helps harden the bars and it creates lather when paired with coconut oil. While ours is from a vendor that supports sustainable production, some makers choose not to use it. Learn more about palm oil production here.

One of the best things about handmade soap is that you get to decide what goes in your recipe. Learn more about palm oil and how to substitute it below.

Bramble Berry palm oil options
Palm oil – This one is refined, so it has a neutral color and smell. It’s solid at room temperature. In cold process soap, the oil can be used up to 33%. Don’t forget to fully melt and mix the palm oil before use, that way the fatty acids will distribute evenly. Our supplier is member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil – learn more about the organization here.

Palm kernel flakes – This is a mixture of partially-hydrogenated palm kernel oil and soy lecithin, and it comes in flake form. It also has a neutral color and smell. We only recommend it up to 15% in cold process soap – a higher percentage can make the bars too hard. It will speed up trace, so be prepared to work fast. These flakes are also from an RSPO supplier.

Red palm oil – This oil has a gorgeous natural color that turns soap orange. Like palm oil, it’s solid at room temperature and it can be used in soap up to 33%, although you may want to start with a smaller amount because it can stain molds and skin. This oil is also from an RSPO supplier.

Palm oil alternatives
The closest substitute for palm oil is babassu oil, which comes from a native Brazilian palm tree. It adds the same firming and moisturizing properties as coconut and palm. However, the babassu does have a lighter feeling on the skin and it absorbs quickly. You can replace some or all of the palm with babassu. Just remember to run your recipe through the Lye Calculator after any substitutions.

You can also use tallow or lard in place of palm. They add similar hardening properties in cold process soap. This post talks about how to work with tallow, and this one has a laundry soap recipe. The Lard and Loofah Bars are palm free and made with natural ingredients like carrot puree and bergamot essential oil.

Lard and Loofah Bars

Another option is to increase the coconut oil up to 33%. A higher amount of coconut oil can be drying, so you can increase the superfat or add moisturizing oils like avocado and sweet almond.

Add hard butters like mango, cocoa, and shea up to 15% in the recipe. This will make harder bars and also add moisturizing properties your skin will love. Learn more about working with butters in this post.

We also recommend sodium lactate for palm-free recipes. It’s a liquid salt that helps harden the soap so you can unmold it more quickly. It’s easy to use, just add 1 teaspoon of sodium lactate per pound of oils to your cooled lye water. A water discount helps the soap harden and unmold more quickly as well – a good place to start is about 5-10%.

Palm-free recipes
Busy Beeswax Soap
100% Coconut Oil and Annatto Soap
Brine and Rose Clay Soap
Buttermilk Bastille Baby Bar
Queen of Hearts Soap
Gentle Oatmeal Baby Soap
Lard and Loofah Soap
Luck of the Irish Soap
Palm-Free Vertical Twist Soap
Palm-Free In-The-Pot Swirl Soap
Layered Lilac Loofah Soap
Simple Castile Soap

Bramble Berry CEO and Founder Anne-Marie’s book, Pure Soapmaking, is another good resource. Half of the recipes are palm free.

Interview with Shayna of Bearfoot Gypsy Soap Co.

July 20, 2018 Filed Under: Business Musings

After making cheese, yogurt, and ice cream with the milk from her goats, Shayna with Bearfoot Gypsy Soap Co. decided it was time to try soap. She makes beautiful bars with natural ingredients like clays and essential oils. Learn more about how Shayna got started, what inspires her, and her soapmaking tips.

Rugged Soap

How long have you been making soap and how did you get started?
I have a small herd of goats and soapmaking was always on my “to-do” list of uses for their milk. I originally bought goats because my youngest son was highly allergic to cow’s milk and I wanted to give him a good alternative. I made him yogurts, cheeses, and ice cream with the milk, and my family and I drink it as well. I made my first batch of soap in April 2017, so about a year and a few months ago. I remember because I wanted to make something special for my dad for Father’s Day. It was a batch of Sandalwood (goats milk) soap with an in-the-pot swirl made from cacao powder and walnut shell. I didn’t realize until much later that learning to make soap with milk instead of water was not the norm. Once I made my first batch of soap, I was hooked. I wanted to try every soaping technique. I was mesmerized by soaping tutorials from experienced soapers. I tried recipe after recipe until I felt confident in creating my own. I guess I just kept creating and never looked back.

Lavender and Rose Geranium Soap

What advice would you give to those soapmakers just starting their businesses?
I have always found it hard to find a balance between the desire to create and good business planning. This is something I am still working on. But it is so important to set a clear plan for your business. While I feel that the most important part of being a handmade artisan is enjoying what you do; you need to set goals and have a written plan for your business to run smoothly. Sit down, pour a cup of coffee, and figure out your pricing, your product line, where you want to sell, etc. Once you figure out what you would like to achieve, go for it! We all do this because it is something we love! Let that show, pour your heart into your products, give it your all. Your customers will see the love and care you put in and they will appreciate your products even more because of it.

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Cold process soap! While I enjoy making bath bombs, candles, and lotions, my love for soapmaking is what keeps me going. I am always dreaming up new patterns, color combinations, and scents. I love creating a usable piece of art that someone will enjoy. I’m still excited every time I get to cut into a loaf of soap.

Midnight Waters Soap

What inspires you to create?
I am inspired by so many things, it could be a memory, the colors in a garden, a pattern on a dress, a scent, or even a loved one. My mind is always buzzing with a million ideas. I think I have always been that way actually. But I get my best ideas when I am not even thinking about it. When I am relaxed and in a quiet area where my head can clear. Which, unfortunately, is usually while I’m trying to sleep. Most days I’m up at 2 a.m., writing down ideas and drawing sketches of soap. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love every part of the creative process.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
The name of my business is actually based on my childhood. The first part, “Bear,” is based on Baby Bear. When I was about 4 years old, my favorite book was Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I made my dad read it to me every night (several times). He read it to me so much that he started calling me Baby Bear and to this day he still does. It was one of those nicknames that stuck, even my friends called me BB for short.

I was a very free-spirited wild child. I hated to brush my hair, and preferred running around in the nude; much to my parents’ dismay. I grew up on a farm and spent most of my days running barefoot through the woods, catching frogs and climbing trees. I wouldn’t come home until I could hear my mother calling me for dinner. Even now you can rarely catch me wearing shoes, unless of course I’m out in public. And, don’t worry – the nude thing was only a phase. I am fully clothed nowadays. So when it came time to pick a name for my business, I didn’t really have to think about it, it is just what best describes me. Barefoot, free spirited, and still a little wild.

Aromatherapy Bath Bombs

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
That would have to be the natural colorants. I have used clays available from other soapmaking suppliers but, Bramble Berry by far has the best quality. I especially love the Brazilian purple clay and the indigo powder. I love all of the plant-based colorants Bramble Berry offers. I just love the earthy natural colors they give. It’s hard to find such a nice variety and quality anywhere else.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
When I’m not making soap I enjoy painting, redoing old furniture, and baking. I love working around my small farm and caring for my goats. I’ve just started growing a small orchard, I have a veggie garden and a small herb garden as well. I work from home and am a mom to two amazing little boys. Watching them learn and grow is by far my favorite thing to do.

Shayna’s goats

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself.
I was homeschooled until high school and I just started homeschooling my kids this last year. We’ve only just started, next year my eldest will be in 1st grade. At times it’s hard to balance being a mom, being a teacher, and running a small business from home. But I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with them and watch their little minds grow. I have so many wonderful memories of learning from my mother. From poetry to science, from baking to math, she taught me so much and I hope that my children will one day look back and remember me the same way I do my mother.

Wild Rose Soap

What is your number one soapmaking tip?
Patience, something that took me a while to learn. From planning out your soap, taking the time to make an intricate design, waiting to cut the soap, and then the curing time. It all takes a ton of patience! But, the more you learn to be patient, the better you will be as a soaper.

Have you ever experienced a soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Yes, plenty of times! Usually the culprit is a misbehaving essential oil or fragrance. More than a few times, all was going well with a batch of soap, I add the scent in and bam! Soap on a stick. The best way I’ve found to avoid this is soaping at a cooler temperature and whisking in your essential oil instead of stick blending. I also like to add a well-behaved essential oil in with one I know will move fast to give me some extra time to work. It can definitely be frustrating when a batch of soap doesn’t turn out the way you planned. But with every failure there is knowledge to be gained. Take some notes and try again.

Floral and Stripes Soap

If you were to give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
That’s a hard one but, it would have to be one of my Salt Bars. Most people I meet have never tried salt soap, which is a shame because it feels so amazing to use. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like a bubbly exfoliating stone. If I could pick one more, it would be the Bee Magic bar. It is so soothing, the shea butter and raw honey give it such a nice creamy lather. It is one of my top choices for anyone with sensitive or dry skin.

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love experimenting and trying new soaping techniques. When I first started making soap, with each batch I tried a new technique. I love to challenge myself and try new things.

Soapmaking has given me a wonderful creative outlet. There are so many possibilities, I don’t think I will ever get tired of it.

Sunflower Soap

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