Kristy’s Lovely Lathers

Kristy: I have been making soap for almost 3 ½ years. I started making soap after visiting my husband’s cousin’s wife, Bonnie, in Atlanta, GA. We went to stay for a week and I walked up to the bar in her kitchen and noticed these bars of something on a plate. I asked Bonnie what they were and she said “Oh those are soaps I made.” I asked “You made these?!” She explained the process to me and I went home surfing the net, bought a soap book and as soon as I got my supplies I made a batch. I was hooked!

Kristy: It started out as a hobby then turned into a part time job. I had so many requests for my soap; I had to make it to sell. I still love it even though it’s a part time job.

Anne-Marie: What’s the best part about being self-employed? The worst part?

Kristy: The best part is being able to stay home and do what you want and have fun doing it. The worst part is the marketing. I’m not good at it. I leave that up to my husband. He is always the one to open his mouth and say “Hey my wife makes handmade soaps, do you think you would like to carry them in your shop?” LOL.

Anne-Marie: Do you have any other outlets? Farmer’s market? Craft shows?

Kristy: No, I haven’t had the time to venture out and do that yet. I would love to though.

Anne-Marie: What’s your soapy inspiration?

Kristy: Actually, I get my inspiration from colors of nature or items I see in stores. I was in church one Sunday in the front row and there sat a bouquet of flowers under the pulpit. It had bright yellow lilies and plum colored carnations. I sat there the whole time thinking of a soap to make with those colors. I know I am so bad!

I also lay in bed for hours thinking up different soaps to make after buying new fragrance oil. I start with the name first, for instance Mandarin Bamboo. I think of green and orange, and then I go from there. Instead of sugar plums dancing in my head, I have soap bars dancing in my head! It drives me so crazy sometimes that I can’t sleep until I make the soap the next day. Then I can rest. LOL.

Anne-Marie: How long did it take to perfect the Love Note Soaps? We adore them!

Kristy: LOL, I tried this the first time and it worked perfectly, I haven’t been able to make them the same way since.

Anne-Marie: Tell us a little bit about yourselves on a personal level. What do you like to do when you are not working? Do you have any hobbies outside of soap? Do tell! =)

Kristy: I have a hobby greenhouse and like to start my own flower seeds indoors in the winter then move them in the greenhouse after transplanting. I have a garden going at the moment that is producing tons of corn, melons, tomatoes and cucumbers. I love bird watching also. I tried making candles and I’m not good at it. It’s just too difficult. I love making tarts.I also enjoy sitting on my deck every morning, eating my breakfast and watching the deer in my backyard. I currently have a mother and two fawns with spots that hop around and play in the backyard.