interview Archives - Page 2 of 7

Chatting with Carmen of Earths Raw Beauty

March 28, 2016 Filed Under: Business Musings

Carmen of Earths Raw Beauty has been soaping for less than a year, but you would never know it by the number of techniques she has mastered. I first stumbled on her colorful soap on the #SoapShare tag on Instagram, and was in awe of her abilities. Each soapy design showcases a different technique, whether it be her precise layers, perfect rainbow hues or skillful swirls. If there is one consistent factor in Carmen’s soap of Earths Raw Beauty, it is that each each bar is completely distinct. Read on to find out more about Carmen, including how she got started soaping and her unique method of using goat milk. -A.M.

Carmen’s beautiful Spectrum Bits Cold Process Soap, scented with bergamot and white tea.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for 7 months now. To be more precise it’s been 7 months and 2 weeks and I’m looking forward to many, many more. Every time I get asked this question I answer “Texas did it to me!” and it’s true! I was in Texas for a week at the end of July last year and I swear, there was something in the air. I actually started off by making skin care products in March of last year. Soap was never on my mind. While in Texas, during my very first day, I found myself watching soap making videos. Don’t ask me how I started watching them because I seriously have no idea. I just remember being fascinated by the action of a stick blender going through the melted oils and lye solution. Even now I could watch someone stick blend soap for 10-15 minutes.

Most soap makers started because they wanted a natural solution, or they wanted to give homemade gifts. I started because I was fascinated by a stick blender in action. Little did I know that the stick blender was only the beginning of the magic. I spent that entire week in the hotel room reading and watching videos about soap making. I watched all the Soaping101 and Soap Queen TV videos, and I read as much as I could. Then I ordered a silicone mold and lye from Amazon because I wanted to make sure I had them in my mail box when I got home. I got home on July 31st (yes, I remember because it’s the first day I ever made soap) at 7 p.m., and as soon as I got home I made my very first batch of soap. It was all it took for me to fall in love with soap, especially after I cut the first slice. I’ve been hooked since.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
When it comes to business I can’t really give any advice, I have a lot to learn in that department. It’s been less than 8 months since I made my first batch, therefore I didn’t start selling until 2 months ago. For now I sell on Etsy, and of course to my friend’s friends and their friends, the word of mouth spreads really fast.

Left to right: Rainbow Cold Process Soap, Balanced Energy Natural Soap

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Now this is a very easy question. I make all kinds of skin care products: salves, butters, balms, creams, lotions, scrubs, bath bombs (my worst enemy), etc. By far, cold process soap is my favorite product to make.

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From Singing on ‘The Voice’ to Soaping

February 22, 2016 Filed Under: Business Musings

Preston and Tyler of Sudz by Studz create and sell gorgeous cold process soap, lotion and balms in Sacramento, California. I met Preston at the Central Soapers Workshop last year, where he gave an engaging talk on Instagram and business. I was impressed and inspired by his passion for the industry. Tyler and Preston recently started a clever monthly subscription box called “Soap of the Month,” where customers can receive a bar of limited edition cold process soap. Read the interview with Preston and Tyler below to learn more about their soaping journey and tips for those just starting out. -A.M.

Sudz by Studz’s beautiful Gingerlee soap.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
As of this month, we’ve been soaping for three years. Our journey as soapmakers started shortly after we took a course on cold process soap making. At the time, Stud Preston was getting ready to graduate with a degree in philosophy and Stud Tyler had just moved back to Sacramento after having been on NBC’s The Voice and living in LA. We found that making soap was an enigmatic process; it combined art and chemistry in the most cathartic way, so we knew it had to become a mainstay in our lives. Consequently, we ordered $200 worth of supplies to start and became super addicted. Our newfound hobby was overrunning our lives, and outgrowing our studio apartment, so we decided to turn it in to a business.

Preston and Tyler work together to create their beautiful products.

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Interview with Auntie Clara’s Handcrafted Cosmetics

January 25, 2016 Filed Under: Business Musings

Soapmaking is the perfect combination of science and art. It requires a keen eye for design, and understanding of the chemical process. One soaper who consistently shows mastery in both the artistic and technical sides of soaping is Clara Lindberg of Auntie Clara’s Handcrafted Cosmetics. Clara’s soap is consistently stunning. In particular, Clara is known for her lace soaps (shown below). Clara is incredibly generous with her techniques, and shares many of them on her blog. You can find the tutorial for her silicone lace mats here, which inspired the Jasmine Lace Cold Process Tutorial. Read my interview with Clara below to learn more about her creative process, and advice for beginning soapers. -A.M.

Auntie Clara’s stunning Mexican Lace Soap, fragranced with a Black Raspberry Vanilla Fragrance Oil blend.

How long have you been soaping for, and how did you get started?
I started soaping in 2011. That’s only five years ago, but it’s also countless batches ago. I had been making creams and lotions mainly for myself for a few years before that, and in the process I had researched oils, essential oils, etc., quite extensively. In my research I often came across discussions on soaping forums, but I didn’t have any urge to start soaping until one day I was killing time in a bookstore in Helsinki. On a table of discounted books I found a book on handmade soap. Having time to spare, I leafed through the pages and decided that this looked like too much fun not to try at least once. I bought the book and walked to a coffee shop to see a friend. I showed her the book and told her; “Here’s what I’m going to be doing next.”

Over the following week I spent quite a bit of time reading up on soaping properties of oils and practicing how to calculate lye and lye discount (pen, paper, SAP chart, and calculator method), and once I felt I was on top of that I made my first batch. It was a soap I had formulated myself; it was a rush with a great sense of empowerment and I loved that first soap almost as much as I loved my newborn children. I’ve made some decent soap since, but no other soap have I been as proud of as that first one.

Left to right, clockwise: Black Block Facial Soap, three gorgeous loaves of cold process soap (Buttermilk Baby Soap, Avocado & Lemongrass Soap and Black Lace Soap), Princess Alice Soap

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
Do your research well – and don’t make assumptions. In-depth knowledge of materials, processes, production, suppliers and the ins and outs of your market is invaluable. Of course, you will learn as you go, but when I hear people say “I can’t afford to experiment,” and “I don’t have time to read up and research,” I always wonder how you can afford NOT to experiment and research. Knowledge is a great asset and a small experiment gone south is always going to be less costly than a big commitment that doesn’t work out.

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Talking with Shana of Bathvs

December 14, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

A few weeks ago, we received a kind message on Facebook from Shana of Bathvs (pronounced Bath-us). Shana was the winner of our Facebook Photo of the Week in June of 2014, and explained to us how the win encouraged her to push forward with her business. Nearly a year and a half later, Shana has turned her business into a full-time job. It’s easy to see why Shana has had so much success; her products are stunning, her photography is gorgeous and her branding is instantly recognizable. Read this interview to learn more about Shana and her soaping journey below! -A.M.

These gorgeous Obsidian bars are the soaps that led Shana to win Facebook Photo of the Week in 2014.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
My first experiences with soap making were when I was around 11 or 12 years old. At that time I was limited to only doing melt and pour soaps, since other methods were not accessible to me. I was absolutely obsessed, and had even done a market or two with success. Since I was still just a kid, I moved away from it and had to focus on other aspects of growing up, like friends and school. Over the years I periodically would research cold process soap making and dream about all the cool soaps I could make. After I graduated from college in 2013, I had a 6-month grace period before loan repayment, so I decided to get back into touch with some of the things I had enjoyed years before. That was the summer I had placed my first Bramble Berry order and jumped into the world of cold process soap making, not quite knowing at the time where I would end up going with it.

On the top, Shana is soaping up a storm! On the bottom are a variety of gorgeous cold process bars. I love the mica painting.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
Making goals is so important. I keep multiple notebooks just for my goals. They can be simple to-do lists, as well as lists of shops and companies to contact in the future about selling my products, etc. I also find it helpful to write down goals that seem far away; you’ll find that as you complete the easier goals, you will become that much closer to the more difficult ones.

Also, stay tough. Some people will try to take advantage of you along the way; just remember that you are calling the shots and get to dictate the direction of your business. Being a 25 year old woman that looks 16, I have come across people who have thought that they could take advantage of me. Don’t be afraid to say “NO.”

Shana’s Lychee Tea bars, made with a soft pink swirl and topped with poppy seeds.

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Chatting with Melissa of Hallowell Soap Works

November 16, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

Melissa of Hallowell Soap Works has built a name for herself in the soaping community with her gorgeous products. Melissa creates a wide range of stunning items, including cold process soap, lip balms, bath bombs and more. In particular, Hallowell Soap Works is known for their signature “strong arm swirl.” The swirl features a pronounced wave-like swirl that resembles a flexing arm. It’s absolutely beautiful! Learn more about Melissa and her soapy business in the interview below. -A.M.

Melissa’s beautiful and unique “strong arm swirl” in the Tall, Dark & Handsome cold process soap.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I started making soap less than a year ago, and fell in love instantly with the process. I couldn’t stop watching YouTube videos, reading Soap Queen blog posts, or purchasing everything I needed to make (what seemed) like every type of soap possible. Despite my business education, I am a creative person at heart. The process of choosing fragrances, colors, and oils felt like the perfect balance of science and art. Initially it became very overwhelming, and so I had to set limitations on what I could expect of myself.

A collection of Hallowell Soap Works’ gorgeous cold process soap. This photo was also a #SoapShare winner!

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Interview with Lauren of Single Barrel Soaps

October 26, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

I have been a longtime fan of Single Barrel Soaps. Made by Lauren, Single Barrel Soaps are instantly recognizable from the cute barrel stamp in the center of each bar. This clever marketing technique really helps set Lauren’s amazing soaps apart! In addition, Single Barrel Soaps’ work is full of different techniques and eye-catching designs. Keep reading to learn more about Lauren’s branding, creative process and how she started soaping. -A.M.

Single Barrel Soaps’ Shea & Cocoa Butter Soap, scented with Energy Fragrance Oil.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
Bubble baths and handcrafted soaps have always been my area to splurge on. After having two kids, I figured a great way to save money would be to try to make my own bath fizzes and soap, and since then I have been hooked! I did tons of research online, bought books, read blogs (SoapQueen.com), watched videos and started making bath products and melt and pour soap. At first I was really intimidated by cold process soap and the ever scary lye! But I quickly got over that fear and I haven’t looked back since!

Last Christmas I made tons of soaps, bath truffles and candles as presents for my family and friends. There was such an amazingly positive reaction from them that I had enough confidence and support to start Single Barrel Soaps, LLC in the beginning of this year.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
This can be a really hard business to start, and be successful in, since we have to make our products so far ahead of time and pay for our supplies upfront. So, take a good look at where you want your business to go and take the time to write a business plan. For all the creative people out there this can be a very hard thing to do (speaking from personal experience). However, in the long run, it really gives you a blueprint to work from and be successful. Also, keep really good records of all of your expenses because they can add up very quickly!

I truly believe if you love and are enthusiastic about what you do, it will show in your overall business and people will be drawn to your products.

Top left, clockwise: Lavender and Cedar Soap, Bonsai Soap, Tobacco & Bourbon Soap, Baseball Blend Soap

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How Leaning on Books Improves Product Photography

September 21, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

Linda O’Sullivan (also known as Mimi and Boo) creates stunning cold process soap and bath fizzies in the UK. I first came across her soaps on Instagram, via the hashtag #SoapShare. I quickly found myself scrolling through her dreamy Instagram feed, feeling incredibly inspired. All of Linda’s creations are elegant and sophisticated. I love how each look so creamy and decadent! Read more about Linda, her creative process and photography tips in the interview below! -A.M.

Linda’s beautiful peppermint cold process soap.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I came across a soap making book back in 2000 and decided to give it a go. So I made my first batch and I’ve basically never stopped. It was very much a hobby at first and I gave away my soaps to friends and family as gifts. When my son started school in 2009, I realized that I wanted to be at home for him. I wanted to be at the school gates, I wanted to be there when he did his homework… I worked in broadcasting at the time, with a long commute and some traveling to faraway places. So I gave up my job and set about starting my own business making and selling handmade soaps. It turned out to be the best decision for me and my family.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
Well, what works for me is that I love what I do. Even when I work long hours it never feels like work and that keeps me going. To those starting their businesses I would say: Believe in what you do and go for it. You will make mistakes along the way. We all do but we can learn from them. And try to find the balance between being artistic and being consistent. When you’re running a business it is important be able to recreate the exact same product time and time again. I have many repeat customers who keep coming back to buy the same soap. This means keeping meticulous notes all the time.

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Interview with Marcela of Majestic Bliss Soaps

August 12, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

Marcela of Majestic Bliss Soaps creates gorgeous cold process soap with lots of color and intense swirls. Marcela’s soaps are not only beautiful, they also make a difference around the world. Every month a portion of the proceeds from Majestic Bliss Soaps are donated to world-recognized charity organizations. In addition to beautiful soap for people, Majestic Bliss Soaps also creates FUR PAWS, a line of soap created for canines. Read on to learn more about Majestic Bliss Soaps, including Marcela’s tips for selling wholesale and giving back to charity. -A.M.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I’ve been happily soaping since April of 2014. Majestic Bliss Soaps was created to help my clients extend their bliss beyond a therapeutic session. As a bonus, we saw the opportunity to extend assistance to organizations that help humans and animals thrive.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
Research all legal requirements in your area for establishing a business—whether it’s home-based or brick and mortar. Also, research and invest in good accounting software. These two steps will save you a lot of time, money and headaches down the line. And above all, don’t be afraid to experiment with ingredients. As is often said, “The greatest invention started out as the biggest mistakes.” Also, inform yourself on FDA labeling. Personally, we used and resort to Marie Gale’s book titled “Soap and Cosmetics Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English.”

From top to bottom: Guru Rinpoche, Soul Centered, Buddha’s Nature, Arhat Soap

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Interview with Siennalily Soaps

July 6, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

One of the best things about social media is being able to connect with fellow crafters from around the world. I started the hashtag #SoapShare to help connect soapers, and of course to browse through all the beautiful photos. While looking through photos tagged with #SoapShare on Instagram, I stumbled upon Carolyn of Siennalily Soaps. I was blown away by the gorgeous designs created by Carolyn, who lives in Spain. Read my interview with Carolyn below to learn more about this talented soaper! – A.M.

Siennalily Soaps’ show stopping Rio Cold Process Soap. The drop swirl looks amazing!

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I started about 7 months ago. I decided I wanted to try something different and wanted to make something special for my 4 daughters as a little stocking filler that meant something to us all for Christmas. I looked into soap making and got a little anxious when I read about the lye solution, but I didn’t let it stop me. Next thing was finding supplies! I live in Spain, and the only thing I could buy here were my oils and sodium hydroxide, no fragrance and no colours. So, I hit the internet to find everything.

While I was waiting and itching to get started, I found YouTube videos about soap making and watched them in every spare minute I had. All the lovely soap makers around the world helped me immensely, especially Anne-Marie (The Soap Queen). I loved watching all of the videos to gain knowledge before I started. I was intrigued by all of the intricate swirling and pouring techniques and thought to myself, “I will never be able to do that in a million years!” It took about 10 days for my supplies to start arriving. My first soap was pink, green and white and fragranced with an apple scent. It is ugly and smells awful but I was overjoyed with that soap. Everyone got the photo sent to them. With my first soap under my belt I gained confidence and on 11th October 2014, Siennalily Soaps was born.

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Interview with Margaret of Sweet Soft Skin Handmade Soaps

June 1, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

Margaret of Sweet Soft Skin Handmade Soaps creates gorgeous soap that is full of color and personality. Her signature style are bars with plenty of layers, soap frosting, embeds and glitter. The result is showstopping! Read on to learn more about Margaret, including what inspires her color palettes and her number one soaping tip! -A.M.

Margaret’s adorable berry soap cupcakes. Margaret is known for her use of embeds, glitter and lots of color.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I started soaping two and a half years ago. I was gifted some nice soap from my brother-in-law for my birthday and looked up how soap was made. It sounded like a cool process and something that would be fun to do with my homeschooled children to illustrate the usefulness and marvels of chemistry. We all made a batch as a family (my husband helped too) and I was hooked!

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I think the most important thing when you are starting to turn your soaping into a business is to be patient and set small goals for yourself. I already had some experience with a (failed) etsy store before, so I was under no illusions that it would be easy. My first goal was just to get some of the soap out of my house so that I would have room to make more! The Soap Queen blog helped me think about further goals and motivated me to keep taking small steps towards turning my interest in making soap into a little business. Each time you meet a goal is a good opportunity to chart where you want to go next.

Beautiful Sunshine and Rainbows Cold Process Soap. I love the sparkle on top!

What is your favorite type of product to make?
Cold Process soap is my one true love! I’ve made bubble bars, lip balms, and even bath bombs as well; but nothing beats the satisfaction of pouring a loaf of cold process soap. I make lip balms because it is really simple and why not make it when it is something you need, but everything else while neat to try seems like work and soaping is like play.

Margaret’s Lemon Verbena Soap Bars. Her stamp looks phenomenal!

What inspires you to create?
My sister-in-law Rosie is my inspiration. She taught me to quilt, she made costumes for my daughters so they could be whatever they wanted every Halloween, and she was the first fan of my soap. I had made soaps to be Christmas presents for family when I first started making soap. When it became clear that the cancer we thought she was beating was going to claim her before then she got her soap early and how much she loved it really meant a lot to me. I think of her every time I do anything creative. She was a sparkling, happy, creative person who is my inspiration in all things handmade. The peacock in my logo is for her. The peacock is a symbol of the resurrection.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
Oh gosh, names are the worst! I’ve always liked to write and compose stories to myself in my head, but any time I put pen to paper I always get stuck on the names. My mind totally blanks and nothing sounds right. It’s total agony. I bounced many ideas around in my head (and wrote them out) for days. I wanted something that rolled off the tongue but was not too goofy. Sweet Soft Skin was the first thing I came up with that didn’t make me unhappy so I chose it and stuck with it glad to have the naming challenge behind me.

Top Row: Strawberries and Champagne, Black Raspberry Vanilla Bars
Bottom Row: Colors Before Night Soap Bars, Licorice Soap Bars

You have such vibrant and colorful soaps. Where do you find inspiration for your color palettes?
Back when I was first married I really like quilting. Going into a fabric store and seeing all the colors, choosing a bunch and coming home and making something bright and cheerful so I could feel surrounded by beauty really made me happy. A quilt takes many hours of work to make, however, and after a few years my linen cupboards where full and there was not as much time available to me. I missed all the vibrance of those colors and when I found soaping it all came back to me. I can whip together a gorgeous soap in 1 to 2 hours and in addition to gorgeous colors I get aromatherapy from working with various scents and get to keep and use something that is beautiful and useful afterwards. What is not to love?

The top of your soap often features fun frosting, embeds and sparkle. What’s your favorite soapy topping?
My favorite embeds are the seasonal shapes like snowflakes, pumpkins, butterflies, and seashells. It is really fun to get psyched for the upcoming season and bringing to mind all the things you love about it. I am also inspired by the pastry arts. My mom would let us play with frosting as kids. She’d give us a piping bag and cookie sheets and let us try out making different shapes and designs. Blending these different things together is just fun and I love them all!

Sweet Soft Skin Handmade Soap’s beautiful Berry Mango Cold Process Soap.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
Do I have to pick just one? There are so many! Your Cherry Almond Fragrance is a bestseller for me. The Champagne Fragrance Oil is my favorite blender. It goes with anything and really brightens it up. I love your 5 lb mold and liners, your spatulas, so many things! You guys offer a great variety of wonderful items and then there is also the Soap Queen blog which is such a source of support and inspiration.

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I have red hair and freckles, but I am one quarter Mexican. I speak fluent Spanish because I grew up in Puerto Rico and my schooling from pre K through High School was all in that language. I always get a kick out of the reactions I get when I speak to people and they are shocked by that. I grew up in a Hispanic culture and really feel like a part of it even though I don’t look it at all.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I am an avid reader. I read all kinds of books and get through 5-8 in a month unless I get caught up in something like “Brother’s Karamazov.” I also like to make beeswax candles for myself and family members, quilting, and baking.

Top Row: Gummi Bear Soap Bars, Patriotic Pie Berry Soap
Bottom Row: Lavender Martini Soap Bars, Goody Goody Gumdrops Soap Bars

What is your number one soaping tip?
Start out with small batches so that you can make lots of soap without it taking up all your space! This way you can try those new techniques and fragrances you just have to try without all the guilt. A good scale is very important when working with smaller batches though, so make sure you have one. A big part of learning your art is to practice, and you don’t want to sell soap until you have a real grasp on how it all works, so small batches let you practice, practice, practice.

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t experience a soapy fail at one time or another. I find that for me it usually happens when I am feeling confident, but rushed. When I think I can handle and accelerating fragrance, or don’t look up a new fragrance because I think I remember how the reviewers said it behaves, that is when my small carelessness causes problems. The important thing is to stay calm! Small disasters like soap on a stick or acceleration that means your design won’t happen are distressing, but if you don’t panic you can improvise and even plop and glop soaps are perfectly useable even if they don’t embody your original vision.

Margaret’s beautiful Beachcomber cupcakes.

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love that you end up with beautiful, great smelling, and extremely useful things at the end of the process. The combination of use and beauty delights me. Getting to use beautiful things is so pampering, a small every day luxury that is accessible to anyone! Plus they are so fun to create.

Find Sweet Soft Skin Handmade Soaps
On Etsy
On Facebook
On Pinterest

Chatting with Sarah of Spicy Pinecone

May 4, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

Sarah of Spicy Pinecone creates gorgeous cold process soap that demonstrate a wide range of techniques, colors and design elements. Her passion for bath and beauty is evident in each creation, which are beautifully presented and photographed. Sarah shares her soaping making on her YouTube channel, which has more than 80 fun and informative videos. Read on to learn more about Sarah, including how she came up with the name of her business, and tips for making YouTube videos. -A.M.

Left to right: Sarah’s beautiful Eucalyptus and Spearmint cold process soap, and the stunning Coconut Lime Verbena cold process soap.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for a little over three years now. It started off as a stroll through a craft supply store where I spotted some melt and pour soap base and fragrances. I’m always excited to learn about new hobbies, but I had no clue what kind of door I was opening when I took my purchase home that night. As soon as I got home, I made my very first batch of soap. Popping it out of the mold several hours later, I was hooked. Not just a little hooked, but 100% enamored.

As I often do, I dove in headfirst. I lived on Google for a few days, purchased several books on soaping and a ton of soapy supplies. My very first supply box was from Bramble Berry! I loved the thought of making cold process soap, especially since my kids suffered from skin issues; however, at first, the process (especially the lye) terrified me. When I geared up for my first batch, I looked like I was suiting up for war. My very first soap barely filled the mold halfway (lesson 1 was learned, though: learn to calculate mold volume), but I loved those short, squat little bars.

Top left, clockwise: Purple Hooters coconut milk soap, Victorian Rose coconut milk soap, Caffeinated Coffee Soap and Sweet Thang soap.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
My best advice is to “research first, make after.” Read as much as you possibly can. Buy books, join groups, watch videos, make Google your best friend. Always be open to learning, no matter how young (or old) your business is. No one knows everything, but a little bit of knowledge can really expand your ability to create.

That is your favorite type of product to make?
My favorite items to make are definitely cold process soaps and bath bombs. There are endless ways to customize cold process soap batches, and to express yourself creatively through design and ingredient use. You can make the same batch twice and still get slightly different variances, keeping things interesting and fresh. Bath bombs are fulfilling because, to me, there’s nothing quite like unmolding a perfect sphere and setting it out to dry. With every bath bomb, there’s a little thrill of, “Yup, I made that.”

Sarah’s bath bombs look amazing! Click here to shop her bath bombs on Etsy.

What inspires you to create?
I find inspiration anywhere and everywhere. Music, my children, nature, even something like a silly comment that makes me laugh. I’m always taking pictures with my phone and jotting down notes with ideas for a later project.

How did you come up with the name for your business?
My husband and I were at the Commissary a few years ago, when my middle son picked up a pinecone that had fallen in the parking lot. He held throughout the entire shopping trip, petting it, and holding it out to others while yelling enthusiastically, “LOOK AT MY SPICY PINECONE!” (He could not pronounce “spiky” for the longest time, so “spicy” it was.) The other shoppers would nod politely and nervously smile, then book it in the other direction. For months, he was obsessed with pinecones. We’d go hunting them in the woods and he’d talk about his “spicy pinecone”… even my daughter and my oldest son picked up on his pinecone devotion. We had baskets of pinecones on the front porch and in all of my planters. I joked with my husband that “Spicy Pinecone” would be a great name for a band, but instead, I picked it for my business because it still makes me smile.

Summer Lovin’ cold process soap fragranced with a blend of floral and musk.

You have such cute and creative names for your products. How do you come up with them?
Sometimes the name of the fragrance oil is inspiration, other times it’s just random stuff that pops into my head. My husband once asked me to make him a “manly-man” soap… so I told him I would make the most “mantastic” of all soaps in existence… thus, “Mantastic” was born. I like to joke and play, and try to bring that lighthearted, fun feeling into my products. If it makes me smile, I like to try and pass it on.

Spicy Pinecone’s stunning “Claire’s Garden”cold process soap made with heavy cream, calendula and chamomile infused oil.

What’s your favorite thing about making YouTube videos?
The absolutely BEST feeling is when someone messages or comments that my video was able to help them in some way. A lot of the time, it’s hard to know if what you’re doing is making a difference or not. When someone posts a “thank you,” it truly does make the time and effort spent well worth it.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to upload a video on YouTube?
There are a few things to take into consideration when you’re thinking of uploading to YouTube. First, decide what you want your channel to focus on and try to stick to that as much as possible. (People who subscribe to soaping channels expect to see soap-related videos). Next, do not let naysayers get you down. You can’t please everyone, and if you try, you’ll end up sorely disappointed and frustrated. Do what YOU do and do not try to fit into a mold of what you think others want you to be.

Lastly, have fun! Making a video is a way to express yourself and share your creativity. If you find that you’re not having fun, don’t force yourself to do it just because you THINK you should.

Top left, clockwise: Pink Berry Mimosa soap, Free Spirit Bubble Bath Bars and Raspberry Lemon Cookie Bar soap.

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
Only one?! Oh my goodness, that’s a tough one. I would have to say the fragrance oils, just because I am an absolute fragrance oil nut. The Buttercream and Snickerdoodle, Baby Powder, Marrakesh, and Energy fragrance oils are at the top of my list. Though I do also have to say that the Small 9-Ball Silicone Mold is invaluable as well.

Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I’ve always been told that I’m “different” from other people, but I view that as a positive thing. If everyone were the same, the world would be such a ho-hum place. I speak Mandarin Chinese, used to breed geckos, and can (poorly) sing the entire “Batty Rap Song” from “Fern Gully.” An odd collection of talents, but life is all about learning new things and it keeps the kids entertained.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
Bath and body products are my life, but I also sew, sculpt, paint, crochet, woodwork, blow glass and bake. My husband doesn’t even bat an eye anymore when I announce that I’ve decided to build/create x,y, or z. He’s always been very supportive, even when I had to use his work shirt to stomp out a fire. (Sorry, my love.)

Gorgeous Rainbow Swirly Soap made with cocoa and mango butters.

What is your number one soaping tip?
Print all of your recipes/notes and file them where you can find them. I used to trust my computer to keep my files safe until it crashed and I hadn’t backed it up. I’ve since moved to a “paper and accordion file” system that has worked like a charm!

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
I think my most epic fail was my “meat soap.” I didn’t test a purple colorant’s performance before using it and had to rebatch the soap because of its awful color. The soap went from bad to worse, and essentially, looked like ground hamburger but smelled like plumeria. It was the most disturbing thing I’ve ever created and even my husband (who is usually very supportive) could not wrap his head around a flower-smelling meat soap.

Top left, clockwise: Sarah’s Activated Charcoal soap, Mermaid Lagoon soap, Shave and a Haircut soap and Sweet Magnolia and Orange Blossom soap.

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love when a customer uses a product I’ve made and tells me how much they enjoyed it or how it helped with a certain issue or concern. It gives me a huge sense of satisfaction and purpose. It’s a truly incredible feeling. 🙂

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Interview with Kangaroo Apple Soap Studio

March 30, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

Kangaroo Apple Soap Studio creates colorful cold process soaps that showcase what an artform soapmaking is. Several months ago, the talented proprieter Lisa won the Facebook Photo of the Week contest with an intricate swirl cold process soap. After looking at her soap, I immediately wanted to know more. Lisa’s passion for soap shines with a masterful use of color and swirls. Read on to learn more about Kangaroo Apple Soap Studio, including how she came up with her unique business name and where she finds color inspiration. -A.M.

Lisa’s Misty Rainbow Soap created for the in-the-pot swirl Great Cakes Soap Challenge.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I have been making soap for about 4 years. I have always had an artistic streak but few opportunities to put it into practice, and I was feeling a bit rebellious one year about the Christmas retail ‘machine,’ so I decided to do my own thing. As I was browsing online bookstores for candle-making guides, there was a suggestion that I may also like ‘The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Making Natural Soaps’ by Sally Trew and Zonella Gould. Well, I bought the book, and I was promptly so enamoured with making soap that the candle idea went on the back-burner for quite a while (no pun intended).
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Interview with Kevin of Devinely Designed

March 3, 2015 Filed Under: Business Musings

Kevin of Devinely Designed creates beautiful soap and shares his creations via his YouTube channel, Devinely Designed. With over 100 videos, Kevin has made a name for himself in the community for providing creative and educational soap making videos. From a Dandelion Zebra Swirl Tutorial to his first experience making liquid soap, Kevin’s videos are fun and thoughtful. Read on to learn more about Kevin and his soapy business, along with his tips for creating YouTube videos. -A.M.

A collection of Kevin’s cold process soap.

How long have you been soaping for, and how did you get started?
I’ve only been soaping for a little over two years. I was just surfing the net one day and somehow landed on watching a YouTube video of making homemade soap…and I was completely hooked from that moment on.

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
I think I would give two pieces of advice: One, be clear about your goals – are you a hobbyist who wants to sell a little to support your soapy addiction (like me), or are you planning to make this a second or even a primary income? Those are very different things and need different kinds of approaches. Included with that one is deciding if you really want a business at all. If turning the hobby you love into a business makes you hate it, then think long and hard before you make that leap.

Second, I would say be prepared to work hard and probably not see big (if any) returns for at least a year or two. Even a small business can be a lot of work, and there’s so much to learn. You can’t just open a web store an expect tons of orders. In addition to learning how to source all of your materials and organizing your work space, planning packaging and shipping, figuring out profits and losses, learning tax rules you’ll need to learn to market yourself and your product. You have to be diligent if you want to achieve those goals.
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Jabbering with Jodi of Lakehurst Farms

December 8, 2014 Filed Under: Business Musings

Jodi from Lakehurst Farms creates both melt and pour and cold process soap that is full of color, creative embeds and beautiful swirls. Just one look at Jodi’s soap, and you can see Jodi has a keen eye for design. Jodi’s sister Renee also creates soap, specializing in melt and pour. Together, they are quite the dynamic soaping duo! Read on to hear Jodi’s great soaping advice, along with what inspires her to create such show-stopping soap.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
I’ve been soaping for almost two years. One day while perusing a goat supply catalogue I happened past the soaping section. I took one look at the molds and the bottles of FO and it was love at first sight.
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