Ojai Trails, Topa Topa, and Pink Moment soap

How long have you been making soap and how did you get started?
I’m 21 now, but I started soapmaking almost six years ago, when I was only 15 years old! Actually, years before that, I was already studying herbalism and was interested in natural health and beauty. I was homeschooled for most of my childhood, so I was able to explore my interests and learn unique things at a very young age. I remember my mom was really into essential oils. We would have fun blending them and I loved the way they smelled and how I felt when using them. One thing led to another and I started learning how to make herbal balms, lotions and stuff. I remember staying up one night ’til midnight in the kitchen, creating a new body butter recipe. Everyone else was asleep, but there I was with an electric mixer, whipping up copious amounts of shea butter and coconut oil. I’m so blessed that my family was so supportive of my creative endeavors!

Years later, when I was 15, a friend told me that I’d probably enjoy making soap. She invited me to her studio and gave me my first lesson in soapmaking. I was so fascinated! We did a few more soapmaking lessons and she guided me toward some online resources. I remember spending every free minute reading the Soap Queen blog and watching Soap Queen TV!

I made my first solo batch of soap using a Bramble Berry Beginner’s Soapmaking Kit. From then on, I was pretty much hooked! I spent a lot of time testing out recipes and then worked on creating my own unique formulations and designs. At first, I made soaps just for fun, for friends and family. Everyone kept telling me how much they loved my soaps and how they thought I should start selling them. I started out very small, selling locally via word of mouth. It felt so wonderful to be able to share my creations and bring happiness to others through my soaps. I’m still a very small business, trying to keep up with growing demand. It gets really busy sometimes, but it’s so worth it to be able to pursue my dreams!

Green Tea Mint soap

What advice would you give to makers just starting their businesses?
Follow your passion and trust your intuition! For me, this has been the most important thing to remember all these years. It can be discouraging sometimes when you’re just starting, but always remember what drove you to begin your journey. When you maintain that sense of passion and integrity and stay true to yourself, people will be drawn to you and your products. Surround yourself with supportive people! I’ve had such incredible support from friends and family. Take time to create recipes that are uniquely yours, and be sure to test them thoroughly. Once you have a product that you’ve tested and are confident in selling, take the necessary steps to become a real business. It may not be the most fun, but taking care of business matters like insurance, business license, etc., ahead of time will give you peace of mind and allow you to focus on what you’re really passionate about!

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Definitely cold process soap! There’s something about the magical process of oils and lye mixing together that really appeals to the alchemist in me. I also love the freedom to create beautiful designs and scents. I especially enjoy swirling soap; no two bars have the same design!

Icelandic black sand bars

What inspires you to create?
I’m the type of person who is constantly in creative mode, so I find inspiration in everything. I’m especially inspired by nature! I’ve created lots of soaps with locally-grown ingredients and designs inspired by our local mountains, trails, meadows, flowers, night skies, herbs, and trees.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
Ojai (pronounced like “Oh, hi!”) is the name of the little town where I was born and raised. It’s tucked away in a valley, not too far from Los Angeles, CA. It’s such a special place; the energy here is so beautiful and unique. It’s known for being a very artsy town and is home to lots of super-talented people. Since Ojai has been such a big part of my life and inspiration for my brand, I wanted to honor it in my business name. Ojai is also the local Chumash Indian word for moon! I’m really drawn to the moon, so it seemed like the perfect fit. The name “Ojai Botanika” pays homage to my beautiful home and the natural botanicals that I use in my creations.

Cozy Sweater soap

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I have been using Bramble Berry products since my friend first taught me about soapmaking! I remember when she gave me a Bramble Berry gift card for my birthday; I was so excited! I got to try all kinds of wonderful new ingredients. Some of my favorite products are the natural clays. They add a lovely slip and beautiful colors to my natural soaps. Rose clay is my absolute favorite! I use it in one of my most popular soaps, “Ojai Rose,” to create the beautiful pink swirls. I’m also a huge fan of the indigo powder. It gives such a lovely, natural denim-blue tone in soap.

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I’m actually a very introverted person. I was hesitant when I first started my business because I thought I would have to be “on” all the time. But, being able to share my passion with such a supportive community really helped me to break out of my shell and become more comfortable and confident.

Beautiful soap tops

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
Reading is one of my absolute favorite things to do. I would happily read for the rest of my life. I also love listening to music! I always have music playing while I work in my soap studio! It really helps keep me upbeat and productive. I’m also an avid baker! I love making super-yummy, healthy baked goods. One of my biggest passions, besides soapmaking, is makeup. When I was little, I would love sitting next to my grandma, watching her apply her makeup. It was so fascinating to me! Once I started, I never got tired of the process of applying makeup, and I love wearing it. It feels like art to me. Fun fact: before I fell in love with soapmaking, I was seriously considering becoming a professional makeup artist. I guess it makes sense that I would end up creating products in the beauty industry!

What is your number one soapmaking tip?
Soaping at room temperature! Ever since I learned about that, it has really changed my soaping game. I used to have such a hard time with my soaps getting too hot and accelerating, since I’m not the most patient person. Now, I just prep my oils and lye one day and the next day I’m able to make loads of soap pretty easily.

If you were to give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
I would probably choose a bar of my crescent moon soap! I feel like that’s my signature design and I love seeing the looks of awe and joy when people see that soap for the first time. Being able to brighten someone’s day is a such a wonderful feeling!

Nightfall soap

Have you ever experienced a soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Yes… Speaking of patience, I recently had a batch of soap accelerate really badly on me. I was in a hurry, making a new scent and design, and I ended up soaping at too high temps. When I went to pour the swirl, the batter thickened up so fast, I nearly had soap on a stick! But, I kept calm and did a very fast design change. I was able to pour the soap into two layers with a clay line in between them. That night, I kept worrying that the soap would be a failure and I wouldn’t be able to use it. The next day, when I went to cut it, I was pleasantly surprised and ended up loving the new design. It turned out to be a happy accident! In fact, that soap ended up being the first one to sell out at a recent event! I learned my lesson (again) about patience, but also learned not to give up and to be open to new ideas and designs.

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love the entire process of making soap, but I especially love that soapmaking allows self-expression. It’s a wonderful art form to me, like painting, sculpting, or glass art. I love creating beautiful, natural products full of quality, organic, and natural ingredients to help people live healthier and happier lives. Most of all, I love being able to communicate with people all over the world and share my passion with them. My heart feels so full when I hear from people who have enjoyed using my soaps or who have been inspired by them. To me, that is the most fulfilling part of what I do!

Oat Milk Latte soap

Find Ojai Botanika
Online
Instagram
Facebook

The post Interview with Malina of Ojai Botanika appeared first on Soap Queen.

Bridal shower favors

How long have you been making soap and how did you get started?
I have been soaping for just over two years. My mom, who is a china painter and quilter, turned her talents to making cold process soap. As she became more experienced, she not only offered to teach me, but also lent me the needed supplies. After my first solo batch, I was completely hooked! You know how they say that when you find your passion in life, the work is actually fun – that’s how soaping is for me! I quickly delved into learning the art by studying every tutorial on Soap Queen. Afterwards, I wanted to explore more about the design aspect of soaping so I purchased Anne-Marie’s soaping books and experimented with new, elaborate creations. I was delighted with the way my soaps turned out! The Soap Queen video tutorials, informative articles, and blog could not have been more helpful in satisfying my desire to learn more and helping me gain the necessary skills.

Wildflower Honey Soap

What advice would you give to those soapermakers just starting their businesses?
Give yourself time to explore the technique and science of soaping. It is so important to get some good experience under your belt. Soaping as a hobby and soaping as a business are two very different things. Educate yourself on the business aspect by understanding the laws and regulations in your area before diving in. Give yourself time to perfect your recipes. When you are ready, go for it and surround yourself with positive people who lift and encourage you!

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Cold process soap, hands down! I love how cold process soap is 100% customizable from the choice of oils and butters used, to the color, design, and fragrances. I love the artistry of soaping. I truly believe soap is a consumable art form. Making soap is magical to me and truly my happy place. My family can walk in the door and tell I’ve made soap just by the smile on my face and, of course, how wonderful the house smells.

Berries and Vanilla Soap

What inspires you to create?
My family and friends inspire me to create. I love creating a visual representation of a fragrance. It is very rewarding to create soap that becomes a simple pleasure and an added luxury in someone’s life. Soap makes such beautiful gifts. Everyone needs and uses soap!

How did you come up with the name for your business?
Choosing a name was really difficult! It felt like such a commitment! My last name is Potter, so I thought PotterMade, like homemade, would describe my products beautifully.

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself.
I just completed my first half marathon! I had never run more than a few miles at a time and that was way back in high school. My husband inspired me to try after he trained and completed his first marathon a year ago. It was amazing to set a goal to do something I had never dreamt of attempting. I was filled with a huge sense of accomplishment and gratitude when I crossed that finish line. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Swirl soap

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
My husband and children are my whole heart! I have been married for 18 years and I have four children ages 15 to 6. I love being a wife and mother and I love every minute I can spend with my family. I also love to bake, read, run, and nap.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
Oh I have so many that I love! I love using Bramble Berry’s micas to create a range of vibrant colors in my soaps. Also, Bramble Berry’s activated charcoal is my favorite of any charcoal I have purchased. It creates a beautifully smooth charcoal bar of soap.

Charcoal soap

Have you ever experienced a soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Oh yes indeed! Last Christmas I was making soap to give as Christmas gifts to my friends and neighbors. I was attempting my biggest batch to date – 12 lbs. in one container. I didn’t realize that my stick blender could not reach to the bottom of the container. I poured these beautiful bars with intricate green swirls, with a gold-dusted textured top, that smelled of fresh Christmas trees. The tops were stunning and I couldn’t wait to cut it to see the swirls inside! I noticed the top had a wetness to it I was not used to, but hoped everything would fully soak in and saponify overnight.

The next evening, with my first cut, I noticed tiny lye pockets oozing from the bars. I was devastated! The bars looked beautiful, but the only way to save them was to rebatch them. I may have stomped my foot and shed a little tear, but then I figuratively rolled up my sleeves, grated up each bar then and there, and rebatched them that night. My beautifully-swirled bars were now very rustic green soaps with a rough textured top that resembled tree bark. Thankfully the rustic nature of the bars coordinated with their beautiful pine tree scent. Many people commented how they loved that the bars looked like wood and I never told them it was all because of a careless mistake. I learned how important it is to be able to roll with unexpected results and that even our mistakes can create beautiful soaps that can be enjoyed.

Black and white soap

If you were to give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and why?
I would give them one of my Honey & Oats bars. It is a very gentle bar of soap with a cheerful sweet scent everyone loves. I stamp each bar with a dusted gold bee stamp and so many customers comment how much joy that little bee brings to them. I love creating products that not only benefit our skin, but also add a touch of happiness to everyday life.

What is your number one soapmaking tip?
Respect the lye. Always wear protective gloves and eyewear. Oh – and clean up right after you finish making soap. I always breathe a sigh of contentment after washing that last bowl or spatula.

Island Escape Soap

Find PotterMade Soap
Online
Instagram
Facebook

The post Interview with Ruth of PotterMade Soap appeared first on Soap Queen.

We asked members of the soapmaking community to share some of their memorable mistakes and how to fix them. Find their answers below.

Karen, Mooka Made This
I’ve always had a problem with overmixing and working with fluid soap batter. I finally thought I poured a perfect Zebra Swirl and was doing a happy dance when I dropped my spoon right in the middle of my freshly-poured soap! I was so heartbroken I almost dumped out the whole thing. I’m happy I decided to wait it out and was quite surprised when I cut it – the best part was where I dropped the spoon into the batter.

Sometimes soap magic happens in spite of those little mishaps, and it pays to be patient.

It was such a nice soap I recently tried to recreate the same mishap!

The soap on the left is the original spoon design, the soap on the right is Karen’s recreation.

Mo and Jules, Lather & Co.
Soaping disasters?! There are near misses every day! We actually had one at our studio this week. Let’s talk about CASTOR OIL!!! It’s thick, viscous and slow to pour from the 35 lb. cube’s spigot. Impatiently waiting for my bucket to fill, I got sidetracked and… walked away. I came back to my station to find our floors gleaming with thick syrupy oil. It was EVERYWHERE!! It must have been at least 20 minutes of slow overspill.

At first I wanted to cry, but then I remembered my grandmother’s trick – baking soda!!! Luckily, we have plenty on hand, so I dumped it on the spill and using towels, rubbed it into the oil. The baking soda worked like a charm!! It absorbed the oil to the point that I was actually able to sweep it up! It was amazing. Moving forward, I will be setting a timer!!

Beautiful Kumquat Soap by Lather & Co.

Danielle, Borden Acres
One time, in the beginning of my soaping days, I was in a hurry and completely forgot to add my lye mixture!!! I was standing there with my stick blender forever, completely perplexed as to why I couldn’t reach a medium trace! It was a recipe I’ve made before, so I just couldn’t figure it out. And kept stick blending away with steam practically coming out of my ears.

That’s when I saw the lye mixture sitting on the top shelf. Hahaha! I had originally put it away in a safe place to cool. Out of sight, out of mind I guess.

Thankfully, this was a simple mistake with a simple fix. But it taught me to slow down and make sure I’m checking everything off my list. Because I was in a hurry, it ended up taking me more time in the long run. “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast,” right?

A collection of lovely goat milk soap by Borden Acres.

Kim, Freshwater Studio
There’s a lot of trial and error that goes into learning to make soap. It’s fun to test different ingredients and additives, change batch sizes and experiment with designs. And no matter the planning you do before you start to soap, sometimes you can’t account for a bit of forgetfulness or good-old human error. Thankfully I have yet to forget any really crucial ingredients for a batch (though I’m sure that will happen some day…), but I did recently finish up a lovely batch of soap only to realize my fragrance oil was still sitting on the countertop. It never made it into the soap! And by that time it was too late to do anything about it. I was so, so frustrated with myself – that fragrance was so good!

After beating myself up for a while and thinking I’d wasted my time, I realized the best way to fix this particular mistake was just to change my mindset about it. There was no way to change what had happened, and I still had a perfectly good, albeit unscented, soap. And unscented soaps are actually great! In fact, some people prefer their soaps unscented for numerous reasons.

So, instead of being hard on myself for not making the perfect soap I had envisioned, I learned to pat myself on the back for making a soap that still turned out beautifully and that I could now offer to a broader range of customers, some of whom might not have bought my other (scented) soaps otherwise. Plus, it turned out to be just another opportunity for me to practice and perfect this particular soap recipe. And given the countless creative possibilities of cold process soapmaking, any opportunity to practice is a good one – whether or not you end up with the exact soap you had originally planned.

Freshwater Studio’s gorgeous unscented Indigo soap.

The post Memorable Mistakes and How to Fix Them appeared first on Soap Queen.

Liz, Soaps & Sunflowers
The biggest help when I’m getting ready for a market is using Microsoft Excel (so boring, I know). I make numerous spreadsheets that organize the hundreds of thoughts swarming around in my head. It’s easier to plan for and then execute your ordering, production, setup, etc. when all of the details are visually laid out in front of you. The biggest thing to tackle (in my opinion) when getting ready for a market is the product quantity. You need to figure out how many products you’re going to bring, what materials you need for each product, and then how much of each material you’ll need to make that quantity of product. You can create a spreadsheet that will help you determine those amounts, plus any others. So don’t do math! Let Excel do it for you. Then you can focus more of your time on your business!

Soaps & Sunflowers’ beautiful collection of gemstone soaps.

Jessica, Carolina Islands Soap Works
One essential item that I think people don’t think about bringing to markets is a floor mat. Customer service is extremely important when you are selling your products, which means you need to be standing and engaging with people who approach your booth. The problem with that is it can be tiring on your back. So a nice long floor mat where you walk frequently helps more than anything! Personally, we use a thick yoga mat. It’s long, cushioned and very portable!

Another thing I cannot do a market without is my credit card reader – 70% of sales come from credit cards. My biggest sales 90% of the time come from people asking if I take cards because they want to be able to spend a lot. A must-have!

Kathy, Milked Artisan Soaps
Bring a well thought out setup, including a gorgeous sign and a few props. If your setup is organized and has a cohesive theme, it is more likely to attract more buyers. Tip: do a mock setup before you attend the event and take a picture – this significantly reduces the set-up time.

An item you may not think to bring is a power bank! If you are attending a fair that is being held outdoors, or you happen to be assigned a space that is in the middle of a room without access to a power outlet, you can find yourself in a predicament where you aren’t able to use your devices to accept payments. I learned the hard way my first event, and now I have two fully-charged power banks with me at every event.

A tip for new sellers – it is imperative to do some research on the market(s) you are attending. I’ve been to only a few selective fairs, as I needed to make sure that my investment (the vendor fee) is something that I can recoup. And how did I do that? I read tons of reviews. You will be pleasantly surprised at the amount of information that is out there, especially if you are looking to attend an already established fair.

Stunning soap tops by Milked Artisan Soaps.

Liz and Ryan, Wandering Blooms Botanics
When we are preparing for markets we like to make sure we have a nice, clean, eye-catching setup with a nice variety of products. One thing that we like to make sure we always have plenty of is samples! Giving small samples of creams and soaps is always a big hit with customers! We like to label the samples with our name and product info to make it easy for customers to find us again. Most importantly, even if it rains, our tent blows over and we forgot our samples, we try to always have a great day and meet a lot of awesome people.

Anna-Kate, Ole Tradition Soap Co.
When packing for markets, I always make sure to bring plenty of business cards! Even if someone doesn’t buy something right away, they’ll take your business card and find your online store later. Just make sure you have plenty of information about where to find you! Your cards don’t have to be anything fancy – just your company’s name, logo, and where you can be found online. I print mine right at home to keep costs low.

Ole Tradition Soap Co.’s sample packs.

Brittany, Baabbly Soap

1. Pay attention to the direction of the sun. If you have products that melt you want to make sure they aren’t in direct sunlight. Typically the set-up time at a farmers market is before the sun is fully up. Once the sun is up you are busy with customers. If you think about this early on then you won’t have to rearrange your booth mid show if you have products that are light and heat sensitive.
2. Make sure you get a tent that is easy to assemble. Don’t mess around with separate poles. You want a tent that can hold its own in the wind and not crumple under water weight. Speaking of weight – get some heavy weights so your tent doesn’t blow away. Yes, it will storm at a market – it happens to everyone. Get a can of water repellent spray and put a good couple of coats on the fabric. Make sure to put plenty along the seams and touch points where the canopy meets the frame.
3. For a sunny day it is nice to have walls up on your tent but it can get pretty hot in there without ventilation. You can pick up some pretty inexpensive sheer curtains from the home store that will provide some shade and still let the breeze through. You will want some side walls for those rainy markets though. You will want to get something easy to whip up if there is a sudden rain storm. I got some pretty economical side walls off of Amazon that had Velcro straps for easy and quick set up.
4. I recommend you get a hand cart and totes. The hand cart is a back saver and the totes will provide a sturdy, waterproof place to pack your product. You want bins that are the same size so stacking on the cart is easy. It is tempting to save some money and use cardboard boxes or canvas bags, but they can get wet and your product could get damaged and they aren’t as easy to transport on a cart. My top tip for using your cart is to make sure you strap your product down! I have experienced packing all of my totes on the cart and wheeling that cart down the sidewalk where I, inevitably, hit a crack in the sidewalk that I wasn’t prepared for and all my stuff flies off the cart! It didn’t just happen to me. I have seen this too many times to count. I went to the hardware store and got some cinch straps to tie down my totes and I haven’t spilled a cart of my product since!
5. Height is nice for your display. I use two-tiered fruit stands that I got from TJ Maxx for my bath bombs and a nice tiered shelf for my soaps and scrubs that we made from wood at home. Having product closer to eye level is a bonus for your customers. They will be able to see the product and read the labels without having to pick everything up.
6. Think about where you will be vending when planning your shoes for the day. One of my first markets was on grass and I didn’t think about how dewy the grass was going to be until I was traipsing around on it and felt how wet my socks were. Sandals are nice because your feet will dry out, but standing all day can be hard without support. I invested in some nice waterproof shoes that were made for hiking. They kept my feet dry and had a decent amount of cushion that was great for standing for hours.

Baabbly Soaps’ lovely market display.

Candice, Sunny Crab
I think one important thing to take to a show that you might not think about is a cell phone power bank. You might not have anywhere to plug in a regular charger, and all those credit card sales will drain your phone! I also recommend being prepared for wind if it’s an outdoor show. I learned this lesson the hard way when all of my signs started blowing away at one show I did. Don’t forget water! I always get so dehydrated at shows from talking so much, and not all shows have available water. My last tip is to enjoy! It really is fun to sell products that you made!

Ashlee, Affinity Soapery
I’ve found the following to be super important for me when preparing for a farmers market:

1. Count inventory that you’re bringing and create a spreadsheet with quantities of each item. When someone buys something, make a tally next to that item on your sheet. A clipboard and pencil hidden behind your table works great for this. This helps you to know in the moment what you’ve got left, and you can reconcile that at the end of the day to make sure nothing went missing.
2. Create a checklist for essential items and physically mark off the items as you load them into your car. You don’t want to drive halfway to the farmers market 30 miles away at 5 a.m. and realize you don’t have your Square reader. Ask me how I know!
3. Bring a helper; someone who can speak a bit about your product, if possible. If you need a potty break, you need the helper to watch your booth. Also, the helper can handle cash and give change while you talk up the customer, thank them for their purchase and package their items.
4. Bring water and snacks (and sunscreen). A lot of water! You’re going to be chatting all day long and your throat will get dry. If the people turn out, you won’t have time to walk away and grab lunch, so snacks are never a bad idea.
5. Put some effort into your setup. Get a sign made, or make one if you’re crafty. Practice your setup at home before the market. Also, make sure your items don’t look over-handled, dirty or otherwise dingy. This can be challenging if you load and unload a lot, so work that into your packaging if you’re planning on doing a lot of markets.

Glacier soap by Affinity Soapery.

The post Farmers Market Tips from the Community appeared first on Soap Queen.

Happy Valentine’s Day! There are so many ways to show people you care and they don’t have to be big and expensive. Sometimes the most meaningful gestures are small and handmade. We asked members of the soapmaking community how they show their love. Find their answers below.

Kristina, Happy Penguin Soap
I love celebrating Love! While a dozen roses, jewelry, and chocolates are wonderful, I find the most delight in sweet and simple. When my husband and I first started dating we would leave handwritten notes for the other to find. I would leave a Post-it on his computer screen letting him know that I was proud of his hard work or he would tuck an index card under my car’s windshield wipers saying “Have a great day, my love!” I think putting pen to paper has become a rarity in the age of text messaging and social media, so taking a moment to physically write down a few sweet and thoughtful words really speaks volumes to my heart, whether it’s a scribble on the back of a napkin or a four page love letter professing one’s devotion. I also really love that I have a physical keepsake to reminisce over whenever I’m feeling nostalgic. And yes, I have an entire box filled with 5 years worth of handwritten love notes from my dearest. 

Kristina’s beautiful heart bars scented with Red Apple Fragrance Oil.

Carolina, Mountain Ridge Farm
My family and I enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day, but without all the expensive commercial gifts. I personally choose to see Valentine’s Day as a day to really celebrate love and the blessing of our family. I have very young kids so I cannot really do fancy crafts with them, instead I print their hands on a Valentine card for their grandparents and relatives. I make a heart or a flower bouquet with their hand prints and it looks really cute.

I usually bake a cake to celebrate that day. Nothing better than a sweet to enjoy this sweet day, right? For close friends and relatives I put together boxes with my soaps, lotions, and lip balms. Most of them live in PA so they really appreciate the lotion and lip balms at this freezing time of the year!

Belinda, Love Your Suds
Making homemade treats is my favourite approach to gift giving. Creating something special that is tailored to a person’s likes or taste adds an extra layer of meaningfulness to the gesture. For Valentine’s Day, self-care and/or culinary treats make great gifts – something that people enjoy, but don’t always do or prepare for themselves. Creating homemade gifts need not be a costly undertaking either. Just use your imagination, and set aside the time – that’s what makes it so special.

• Simple Pleasures: What is your partner’s favourite morning ritual? Make a point of getting up early and surprising them with fresh tea/coffee/juice and/or breakfast in bed. Tip: grind coffee and do any other preparations in secret the night before to make your endeavours quicker and quieter the next morning.
• Sweet Treats: Chocolate dipped strawberries are so simple, yet so delicious. Pair them with home baked cookies or tiger butter (or better yet, both!) For Valentine’s Day, use a heart-shaped cutter to shape your cookies and to slice your tiger butter.
• Bath Fizzies: What I love about bath fizzies is that most (if not all) of the base ingredients can be found in your pantry. Adding a floral scent to the mix is the perfect touch for Valentine’s Day. You can even use some dried lavender buds or rose petals for some added colour, texture and romance.
• Personalized Gem Soaps: Cold process soap is where my heart is, but let’s face it, not everyone plans 4 to 6 weeks ahead to allow for the required cure time. When time is of the essence, melt and pour soap is the way to go; it is easy to use and your gifts are ready almost immediately after you pop them out of the mold. For Valentine’s Day start with the recipient’s favourite scent and choose a gem to match, or vice versa (e.g. lavender/amethyst/purple, rose/rose quartz/pink, peppermint/emerald/green, and so on). Another nice thing about melt and pour soap is that you can work with smaller batches, or make just one soap if you choose. The Rose Quartz Melt & Pour Tutorial is a great resource to get you started.

Beautiful gem soaps by Belinda.

Tanya, Rough Cut Soap Co.
My sweet nothing is ‘love’ notes. They’re fun to give and receive! Nothing extraordinary… simply just sweet words left on a sticky note in obvious places will do (extra points if you add a hand drawn heart). Left in the lunch box, dashboard or coffee pot; it’s a sweet and surprising way to tell your loved ones that you’re thinking about them! Discovering a love note is a surprise in itself! A feel good moment. A kind word in the middle of the day can do wonders sometimes. 

Vicki, The Soap Mine
I love to bake nearly as much as I love making soap, and making cakes and other treats for my family is a totally love-filled process. It’s also nice to surprise others with something delicious – for example I gave Viennese Fingers to my children’s teachers at the end of the Christmas term, as a little thank you for all their hard work.

Vicki’s delicious baked goods.

Sue, Cranberry Station
Sometimes, small, unexpected gifts are the most meaningful and make wonderful memories that last forever. When I started making soap to help my husband, I didn’t realize what an amazing and inexpensive gift handmade soap could be. We often have customers stop by the shop on their way home from work to surprise someone they love with a little something. A nice soap and matching bath bomb tucked in a pretty box is always a fabulous gift.

After talking with my customers, these are a few of the things they do for their special someone:

• One couple tries to have lunch every day together. Even if it is only for 30 minutes, it gives them time to reconnect during the day.
• One gentleman comes in every week to buy his love bath bombs. It’s her “me time” and it makes her happy.
• A mom comes in once a month and treats her daughter, who is away at college, with her favorite soap. It’s something she loves and it reminds her of home.
• Every day, after I open my shop, my husband usually pops in with a coffee for me. This is just my favorite thing and makes me super happy.

A small gesture that tells someone you are thinking about them doesn’t need to wait for a special occasion, a big holiday or be expensive. Pick out something they love and make an ordinary day an extra special day.

Sue’s adorable Soapy Valentine’s Cupcakes.

The post Valentine’s Day with the Soapmaking Community appeared first on Soap Queen.

Kelly, Madalmy Soap Company
When I’m making holiday orders, I like to make a special batch just for myself in a favorite scent, or a new one. Some of my current favorites are a Kentucky Bourbon sugar scrub or a cocoa butter Cocoa Cashmere soap. And when they turn out well, you also have a few extra special gifts for the other people who need a little pampering in your life. Finding little “feel good” moments throughout the day helps me to feel relaxed overall.

Curtis, Haus of Hygiene
I love to indulge in a lovely bath made from my own products or from other small businesses! Throw in a bath melt, a bubble bar, or even a bath bomb and relax with some candles and soothing music! As small business owners we constantly want others to be pampered and for them to treat themselves but need to remember that we need to treat ourselves as well!

Also I feel like taking a relaxing bath/shower full of amazing products helps me become re-inspired and a lot of new ideas come to me while I’m relaxing and not trying to force creativity!

Haus of Hygiene’s beautiful bath bomb.

Julie, Ophelia’s Soapery
It seems that no matter how much we prepare, we’re never ready. I try to pace myself and not get overwhelmed. When that does happen (and it usually does) my family steps in and helps me. Another thing I think helps is I’ll set a time to stop for the day. 5 pm rolls around, I’m clockin’ out. It’s not going anywhere, everything will be there the next day.

Meagan, Avery Grey Soapery
For me, I have to sneak in my self care. My husband works away from home for two weeks every month, and being a work at home mom with two young kids, things get pretty hectic. I love face masks because you can put one on while you’re doing other things like cooking dinner, or helping with homework. And if everyone gets to bed on time (which isn’t a common occurrence lol), I like to treat myself to a soak with a bath bomb or bath salts and one of my favorite soaps! A soak is also the perfect time to catch up on a book you haven’t had time for. There’s nothing like relaxing your mind and body at the same time!

Kerry, Nature Saponified
My favourite way to relax is to reconnect with nature in a real way. I especially enjoy taking walks beside the ocean where I live or in the local woods and switching on all my senses to absorb the scents, sounds and energy of the life all around me. I find it’s the best way to reboot!

Nature Saponified’s collection of soaps by the ocean.

Zahida, Handmade in Florida
I got a little chuckle when I read this…self-care and relaxation during the holidays?!? Then I realized that there ARE some things I enjoy doing during the holidays that fall under these categories:

#1 Movies! Going to the movies has always been a fun escape for me, I especially love all the feature films that are released over the holidays. It’s also a great way to squeeze in 90 min. of rest and relaxation with friends and/or family.

#2 Audio Books. I love reading, but don’t always get the chance to sit down, undisturbed, and enjoy a good book (especially around the holidays!) Audio books help fill that gap.

#3 Travel. While it isn’t always feasible to just get up and go, particularly during busy seasons, it is one of my most favorite ways to relax, recharge, and enjoy life. We try to explore as much as possible, even if it’s just a weekend road trip. Truth be known though, one of my fondest Christmas memories was sailing the Western Caribbean with my family. We left after wrapping up our holiday restock…it was smooth sailing from there!

Linda, Mimi and Boo
My idea of relaxing involves doing something other than work (soap!) Relaxing falls into 2 categories for me: things I do by myself and things I do with my husband and son. This summer I decided to teach myself to draw and paint watercolours, so this is what I’ll be doing in my downtime. I read lots too. I try to fit in a walk every day (40 mins. to 1 hour) so that gives me some head space. We live in the countryside so walking as a family is a regular activity and that’s quite relaxing. We have lots of footpaths that go through/by fields, woods, hills, the river… We joke that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes and off we go, lol! So I’m not sure if I have any real tips but I’d say that for me it’s a mixture of doing something that stills my mind & doing things we enjoy as a family!

Jackie, Erie Soap Company
I’d say definitely scheduling “me time.” For me, that’s a bubble bath with a good book. For others, maybe baking, crafting (ok, that’s me, too ????), dinner with friends, etc. And making sure it actually happens! It’s easy to let the business of the holiday time overwhelm you, so schedule that “me time” and enjoy it, guilt free!

Erie Soap Company’s Bubble Bath Scoops.

Margaret, Sweet Soft Skin Handmade Soaps
If your hobby is cold process soap, you can’t make more for the holidays past a certain date as they won’t cure in time. I like that because it helps me kick back and enjoy the time. You only have packaging and handling orders to deal with, so take extra time to do holiday things and if you can’t live without soaping, make stuff that is just for fun! It is also a good time to teach kids how to make things that fall within their ability level for them to give as gifts. They love making and giving! Make gifts and memories together. Also have a done by date and make sure to take time off to enjoy things after that day.

Cornelia, Flora & Pomona
So I thought a lot about this, and my first response was “why, I have a bath of course!” Because these days in my life baths are a real luxury and what else can a soapmaker say? But if I think about it, the real thing I do for myself during the holidays, or any time when the demands are higher, is to cut myself some slack in the guilt department. As women, and perhaps mothers especially, we spend a lot of our time feeling guilty for what we don’t or can’t do. During the holidays I think we all feel a certain amount of pressure to create that holiday cheer by decking the halls so to speak. But meanwhile daily life still goes on, and maybe the business as well, and if you do one thing well, another thing suffers. It’s unavoidable in the end. So what I do is I get into all of things I love the most – gingerbread, Christmas movies, glogg, and spending time with the people I love – and I don’t – or try not to – worry about the rest. And maybe, if I have the time, have a nice long bath.

Simi, Muddy Mint Handmade Soap
In the winter months, the sun goes down early and I naturally retreat indoors. This, combined with the craziness of retail during the holidays, leaves me feeling a little down and stressed out. I’ve found that fire is a fantastic alternative to the sunshine I’m lacking in the winter. You can find me keeping warm and crocheting by the fire nearly every winter evening. Since installing our wood stove a few years ago, I even find myself looking forward to the coldest days! Of course, you don’t need a fancy wood stove. A simple candle with dinner (or even breakfast!) can really boost your mood. With the dry Colorado air, winter wreaks havoc on my already dry skin. I drink a lot of water and use thick moisturizing body butters all winter long. I’m loving the combination of peppermint and lavender this season, as the lavender makes me feel calm, while the tingly peppermint is invigorating. It’s a great mix for the holiday season when you want to be both relaxed and energized!

Simi with Muddy Mint Handmade Soap relaxing by the fire.

Jolene, Scent and Sensibility Inc.
I like to start the day by setting aside 10 to 15 min. to think about the day I have before me. I like to do this in the morning before I turn on my phone or/and check my emails. This 10 to 15 minutes helps ground me. As I inhale in the scent of my favourite beverage in the morning – coffee! Writing it down helps to organize my thoughts and prioritize the to do list. Taking a bath and giving yourself some me time helps too! In the afternoon… I like to drink a cup of tea, especially if my day is hectic. Tea contains lot of antioxidants and drinking it helps with our immune system, especially when we are overwhelmed.

Nora, Nora’s Soap Shoppe
As the holiday season is approaching, and as busy soap makers we are during this time, we have to remember to take some time out for ourselves. I love to take time each day to reflect on myself and revitalize. It may be a brisk walk I’m after or a warm bath with some of my favorite handmade pampering bath products. This helps me focus on what’s most important in my day to day life.

The post Self-Care Tips from the Community appeared first on Soap Queen.

Soap supplies tend to add up fast. A few fragrances here, a few molds there – all of a sudden your kitchen is completely taken over. Storage is limited for many soapers, especially those just starting out. Luckily, the soapmaking community has fantastic advice for soaping in small spaces. We asked people to share their tips in a recent Facebook post and there were so many great responses. Check out some of the tips below.

Stack the supplies up, not out
Don’t I know this only too well! I try to go as vertical as possible in terms of shelving to store supplies and curing soap. -Vanessa 

The counter/vanity/sink area in my master bathroom is my soaping area. Very small space, but I’m utilizing the high ceiling by installing wire shelving, wall mounted spice racks for EO/FOs and rolling Rubbermaid drawer sets for storage under the counter. It’ll do for a beginner! -Sarah

Soaping has totally taken over my former dining room. I have a six foot tall shelf where I keep most of my soaping things. To make better use of vertical space, I’ve added a pair of shoe racks (perforated bottoms so the soap can cure), and three small baker’s cooling racks. -Robin

Utilize all available space in your home
I soap in my kitchen, wrap, box, and pack up orders in my living room. -Donna

Luckily, I have a very handy hubby and he made some shelves on the wall in our laundry room…I would love a bakers rack to store all the soaps curing…right now, they are on every possible counter and table top available… -Colleen

Colleen with The Old Cypress House stores her supplies on custom shelves.

Utilize as much space as possible! I used to cure my soaps on top of my closet and keep my ingredients (that didn’t have a strong smell) and molds in big boxes under the bed. Each time a new item got into my home, I would make a spot for it, so that I always had somewhere to put it away once I was done using it – Marte 

I craft downstairs and store everything upstairs in my office area! -Jessica

I have a folding table and 2 shelving units in our small spare bedroom. I also use stackable soap molds and drying racks. The drying racks are on rollers. -Kristy

I soap in a corner of my kitchen, slowly taking over my dining area lol. Storage is in a closet built in my room, bins, boxes etc. -Amorcito Crafts

I have a couple places in my home. The cabinet is from my grandma and I love the pull out drawers. This has cut down on my stuff taking over the kitchen. -Angie

Angie with Sunshine Soaps uses several spaces in her home for supplies.

Get creative with your storage supplies
I live in an apartment & don’t have room for drying trays. So I just put regular items to use. The broiler pan with the open slots, the bottom oven rack pulled out of the oven & sitting on top of an open BB box, and cardboard with slots cut out using a box cutter all serve as my curing racks. Not pretty, but functional. -Maggie

My husband and I turned a TV cabinet into a craft cabinet. I need a new one as this is filled, or a shop….lol. -Martha

I’ve just moved from melt & pour to cold process soaps. Found myself cleaning out the top of my closet so I can put racks up there for soap to cure. I have the added challenge of pets, so I have to make sure fur doesn’t end up all over everything. I was also motivated to start clearing out my spare room. Every bin storage box that gets donated to Goodwill gets filled with soaping supplies. But I actually have fun organizing and rearranging when I’m not busy reading blog posts on soaping. #soapingisadditictive -Melanie

If I had a tip or two to offer, it’s stackable shelving units and cube shelves and storage bins, those have been a lifesaver! -Lane

I get those produce boxes that have tabs and stack to cure my soap in, but I am still hard pressed to find space considering I make over 70 types of soap. -Kathee

I haven’t been soaping for long but hubby made me this curing shelf that fits perfect behind the door. Even though the shelves aren’t deep they are perfect for bars of soap and save space! It’s VERY shallow so only 1 bar of soap will fit but its awesome as it literally takes up zero space! The door is fully functioning. The only thing I would do differently next time (he will be doing this in my teenage daughter’s room for her “girl stuff” make up, hair clips and the like) is make sure to leave space for the door knob. I have a habit of swinging doors too quickly and dented 2 bars of soap before I left an empty space where the door knob is.  You can actually see one of the dented soaps in the pic LOL – 8th row down, rose clay soap second from the end. Door knob smacked it. If making the shelf, stay away from white if at all possible. I have a few dye stains and though so far they have all come out, its a pain to have to do so! I am thinking next time a wood stain will work better as the colorants won’t show up as much as they do on white. -Brook

Brook with Brook’s Common Scents stores her soap in shelving behind a door. 

My soaping station is always a mess, but I store everything in a large, old dresser and one of those wire grid shelving units, but I’m outgrowing my space! I keep all my cured soaps and bath bombs in a little cabinet. -Rachel

Shelf stackers, stacking boxes, and baskets in my extra closet. It is not ideal, but I can store like with like. -Dawn

I cut boxes in half so they fit under my bed and label them with things like essential oils/fragrance oils, botanicals, lye, tools ect. and cure soaps in an old desk/cabinet. -Amanda

Do the best with the space you have
I choose dinner or soap. “There can be only one” in my apt. Soap it is! -Mac

Thanks to everybody for sharing such awesome tips! We loved seeing your creative storage solutions. 

The post Tips for Soaping in Small Spaces appeared first on Soap Queen.

Last week I made this gluten-free bread recipe. After pouring it in the pan, I immediately tapped it on the counter to get rid of air bubbles. I had to laugh because that is such a “soaper” thing to do. Knowing other crafters have similar experiences, I asked how others know they’re a soaper on the Bramble Berry Facebook page. There are so many hilarious responses. The team and I had such a fun time reading through them all. You can see all the responses here, and check out some of our favorites below.

• You try to type “soup” but it keeps autocorrecting to “soap.” -Betsy D.
• You are making pancakes and stop stirring because it starts to hit trace. – Tracy W.
• When your soap volcanoes and you run to get the camera to share on FB. -Cindy L.

Cindy L. knows she’s a soaper because her recipe volcanoed and she grabbed her camera to snap a picture! Learn the cause of soap volcanoes and how to prevent them in this post.

• You’d rather watch soaping videos on YouTube than the latest Netflix series. -Rachel W.
• …When you make excuses to take extra showers just so you can try out all the fun new soaps you’ve made. – A.c. T.
• You have a whole array of kitchen utensils that you never use for food. -Hexen E.
• You find yourself haunting thrift stores and yard sales looking for items you can repurpose into interesting soap molds! -Patti P.
• When you can pick up that 5 qt. glass bowl filled with soap with one hand…such as A-M is doing in the picture. -Sarah P.

Working out my soaping muscles making the Palm Free Vertical Twist Soap!

• When you stay awake at night thinking of new recipes and variations. -Connie A.
• When you carry a handbag large enough to hold the soap samples strategically labeled with your contact info for whatever networking you may run into that day! -Andrea E.
• You have made enough soap to last till the year 2020. -Tonya T.
• You dream about making soap and design soap in your sleep! -Sandra D.
• When you can’t look at pudding the same way again. -Alison M.
• Everyone in your family mistakes real cupcakes for soap cupcakes!! -Lori W.

We recommend a “Do Not Eat” sign for these Sparkling Champagne Soap Cupcakes.

• All your cabinets are filled with soap molds and fragrance oils rather than food! -Jacquelyn P.
• You go to work with soap chunks in your hair and stuck to your sleeves!!! -Ellie T.
• When you make your babies muffins and instinctively reach out for the RA (rubbing alcohol). -Toyin F.
• When your daughter tells you, “mom, this ice cream tastes bad,” and you realize that what she actually ate was the coconut oil that you had stored in an ice cream container! -Marina P.
• When you practice textured tops while making your kids PBJ. -Susan L.

Fresh soap does look a bit like peanut butter…so creamy!

• You always ask yourself, “can I soap with this?” -Dawn F.
• Every time you see a print blouse you think, “those colors would make an awesome soap.” -Sherry F.
• You “force” soap on your friends so you can make a new batch. -Kenzie N.
• When you have more bars of soap than drawers to keep them in. -Patricia S.
• You get excited when you have sodium hydroxide coming in the mail. -Kristie B.
• You look like a mad scientist. -Sharla W.

It’s totally normal to see a soaper in goggles and gloves!

And finally, “When you read EVERY COMMENT in this thread and laugh til you cry!!  Thanks y’all, this has been fun!” -Stacie K.

Thanks so much for all the hilarious comments, they were so fun to read! How do you know when you’re a soaper?

The post You Know You’re a Soaper When… appeared first on Soap Queen.

Did you know that Bramble Berry supports worthy non-profits every year? I’m thrilled that Bramble Berry has been able to support this healthy program by helping to bring a garden to Sunnyland Elementary school, located just blocks away from the Bramble Berry warehouse. Recently I got the chance to visit the garden alongside the director of Common Threads, Laura. It was wonderful to watch the kids dig in the dirt and cater to the plants!

In addition to getting children off the couch, gardening teaches children where fruits and vegetables come from. When kids know the source of produce, they may become more attracted to eating them. Recently, Washington has become one of four states allowing school grown produce to be served through district nutrition services meal programs.
Chives were one of the many variety of plants in the mini gardens. The children had a lot of fun taking turns smelling the chives and touching the leaves. They were so sweet as they tried to eat the chives and get a taste for what they were growing.
Below, Laura and I visit the newly planted greens. The large garden area gives the students a chance to dig deeper into the land, and plant larger and sturdier shrubs, herbs and plants. According to a recent study by the Journal of Pediatrics, time spent outdoors was positively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. It was a lot of fun to watch the kids spend time outside while gardening.
In addition to school gardens, Common Threads Farms offers after school programs and summer programs designed to interest children in healthy eating. One of the fun summer programs includes Camp Pizza, a four day curriculum which covers everything from dough to cheese, to garden-made sauce and toppings! Jamisen did their farm camp last year and loved it! Alongside chives, mint plants were also a big hit! After smelling the leaves, the students couldn’t help but smell their now minty hands.
The efforts to curb growing child waistlines may be paying off. In a recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, the occurrence of abdominal obesity among children has leveled in recent years. It’s great to see communities coming together to address the issue of childhood obesity.
It was so nice to take a break from the office, and spend time in the garden with Sunnyland Elementary. I hope the students find the gardens to be fun and educational, and enjoy the veggies and herbs they help produce.

The post Sunnyland Elementary Garden Field Trip appeared first on Soap Queen.