Greetings from the amazing and fabulous Miramonte Resort in Palm Springs, California. I’m here for the Soap Guild Annual Conference and so excited to see all the familiar faces.
Me, Kayla and the fabulous Marie (President of the Soap Guild)After a lovely reception for sponsors and speakers, I snuck off to check in all the boxes for the Advanced Lotionmaking Classes. In the classes, we’ll be making five different recipes with five completely different emulsification systems (from plain emulsifying wax to a beeswax/borax combo to soy lecithin and xantham gum). Did I mention the class is only one hour? With that short of a timeline, all the products need to be present and accounted for lest we have a disaster like the National Goatsmilk Show two years ago.
My shameful little secret was that earlier I had snuck a little bit of cheese back to my room from the reception, knowing that I had a full day of emails to catch up on and of course, sharing to do with you from the event. See my little cheese plate? Isn’t it cute?
When I got back into my room around 9:30 after checking in all my boxes, what was waiting for me but the mother of all cheese plates? Four kinds of cheeses, flatbread Parmesan crackers, and copious amounts of fresh fruit and nuts along with a gracious note from President Marie Gale and Conference Organizer Leigh O’Donnell, thanking Bramble Berry for its sponsorship of the event. It put my (stolen) cheese plate to shame!
My shameful little secret was that earlier I had snuck a little bit of cheese back to my room from the reception, knowing that I had a full day of emails to catch up on and of course, sharing to do with you from the event. See my little cheese plate? Isn’t it cute?When I got back into my room around 9:30 after checking in all my boxes, what was waiting for me but the mother of all cheese plates? Four kinds of cheeses, flatbread Parmesan crackers, and copious amounts of fresh fruit and nuts along with a gracious note from President Marie Gale and Conference Organizer Leigh O’Donnell, thanking Bramble Berry for its sponsorship of the event. It put my (stolen) cheese plate to shame!
I am embarrassed to admit how much cheese I ate. There was some left and it is shoved into my mini-fridge in the room for tomorrow’s midnight snack.
Tomorrow is a big day with a keynote by Erin Brokovich, a media presentation by Donna Maria Coles Johnson and a variety of breakout classes, including Melt and Pour by Lisa from Feto Soaps and yours truly for Lotions. I can’t wait to share the details with you.
![CP[1]](https://www.soapqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/CP1-120x120.jpg)
i wish i could have gone this year. maybe next year.
I wish I could be there!! Hopefully next year’s conference will be closer by!
Megan, So glad you made it to Otion and three cheers that you liked it. Yippeeee!
And Soap Scent-sations, this group is the nicest group of people you will ever meet. It is such an inspirational meet up. I hope you can make it next year.
what a wonderful group to be amongst! and the food looks divine!
We’re so glad you’re here Anne-Marie, it’s always a pleasure to see you!
Leigh O’Donnell
HSMG Conference Coordinator
Well I love cheese, so that looks like an awesome snack! And I hope you continue to have an excellent time.
I forgot to tell you, I finally made it to Otion (I’m from So Cal), I dragged my old roommate from Issaquah to Bellingham just to make soap. And she loved it! You have a wonderful shop and I loved making soap there!
Wow!
Sounds like it’s all good where you are.
What an inspiration you are x
look at all those pretty boxes!
i so hope you can somehow teach those of us who could not go…..
have a great time!
meanwhile, some of us are working on summer baskets, trouble-shooting bleeding vs. non-bleeding. it is a whole new universe and i must say it is challenging! 🙂
Sounds like so much fun, enjoy!
Have a wonderful time Anne Marie….come hell or high water, I’m coming to the next Annual Conference…I hope!!!
Sounds like you all are going to have a blast over the next few days. I can’t wait unti it’s close enough for me to travel to.
Wow, looks great Anne Marie! Wish I was in Palm Springs with you all! Be sure to say hi to all my fellow soap crafters!
I am there in spirit with you all!
Have a great time!
Looks yummy! Sounds like you are having a good time already. :o)