Soap Queen

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

It’s that time again…another week almost over! Every time I write a weekly roundup, it makes me realize just how quickly time flies. Speaking of time moving at the speed of light, I stumbled on this photo of Lily below and can’t believe how grown up she looks. The baby of the family is no longer a baby, she is a full fledged “kid.” In the photo below we are hanging out at the doctors office (nothing serious, just a check-up) and even during mundane trips she is all smiles.

lily

Next week, look out for a holiday project and a new Soap Queen TV video. I’m also working on a business post about trademarks and business licenses. Not the most riveting subject, but I know how confusing that can be for new business owners. If you need some links to fuel your internet surfing, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams below.

Pinterest:
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Left to right, clockwise:

Instagram:
How amazing is this soaping studio? It belongs to Jill who is participating in my nutritional challenge for Best Day Ever. It’s so incredibly organized and clean! It makes me want to overhaul just about every room in my home.

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The Chamomile & Coconut Oil Body Balm Tutorial was designed to be easy to make and multipurpose. The coconut oil is infused with chamomile herb, and the balm does not contain any fragrance oil so it can also be used for the lips.

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In need of a little sparkle? Whip up some Sparkling Bath Crystals! They are really easy to make, and can also be used as potpourri if you fragrance them heavily. I think the pink might be my favorite, which is yours?

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Twitter: 

To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, YouTube and Snapchat.  I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making! 

Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy weekend! For the next few days, I’m spending time in Minneapolis with my mastermind group. What’s a mastermind group you ask? In short, it’s a support group. I recently wrote about my love of mastermind groups and how to start your own on my other blog (yep, I have another blog). You can also find more information about mastermind groups in this post, all the way from 2008. Clearly, they work for me! =) I always feel so inspired and motivated after meeting with my group.

29593803495_6af39d32f5_oMake everyday the best day ever with your own Best Day Ever mug!

We all need a little “treat yo’ self” day every now and then, right? Next week on the blog, be on the lookout for a series of projects for a home spa day! Recipes will include bath bombs, salt scrub, lotion bars and more. In the meantime, check out my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the week.

Pinterest:
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Left to right, clockwise:

Instagram:
In need of a home spa day? Next week, look for a series of projects made with calming cucumber and lavender scents. The bath bombs below are scented with a unique blend of Cucumber Melon Fragrance Oil and Lavender 40/42 Essential Oil.

14374196_655977024559947_8121866633720365056_nDid you catch the newest Soap Queen TV video? In the video, I show you how to make Orange and Poppy Seed Salt Scrub with my friend Courtney. It’s easy to make and smells amazing!

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Twitter:

To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, YouTube and Snapchat.  I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare so I can see what you’re making! 

Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy weekend! The past few weeks have been incredibly full. Last week, I attended the Entrepreneur of the Year Gala in Seattle. I had the honor of being nominated alongside many incredible entrepreneurs in the Northwest. While I did not win the award, it was an honor to be nominated. I know that’s a little cliche, but it truly was amazing to be recognized. Below, Chris and I enjoy the night. It was wonderful to have him by my side and enjoy a date night!

GalaPhoto

Today, I’m enjoying the sun with the kiddos. The weather has been hit or miss lately, but today is turning out to be a lovely. If you’re looking for a little crafting inspiration, below are some of my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the past week.

Pinterest:

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Left to right, clockwise:

  • This trick for cutting watermelon is genius. Why didn’t I think of this?
  • These Red, White & Blue Pretzel Rods would be really fun for a 4th of July gathering.
  • This DIY for Crazy Straws tutorial has a potential Pinterest-fail written all over it, but they are so stickin’ cute! Who knows, maybe it’s easier than it sounds?
  • Soapinsuz_  made my Blueberry Embed Round Bars from my book, Pure Soapmaking, and they turned out perfectly. Awesome job!

Facebook:
I have been doing a lot of Facebook live videos recently. It’s such a fun way to connect with you all! Below, I made the Aloe Vera Hanger Swirl project from Pure Soapmaking.

Instagram:
Below is the Energizing Orange Soap, created with the new Natural Soap Kit for Beginners. The kit includes everything you need to make the soap, including printed instructions, labels and free shipping to the lower 48 United States. It’s a great kit for experienced soap makers too!

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Did you hear about the #SoaptheRainbow series on the blog and Instagram? From now until August, each week represents a color, starting with red. Post a photo on Instagram with the tag#SoaptheRainbow for a chance to win Bramble Berry gift certificates! Click here to get all the details and learn about the grand prize. Believe me, you want to enter for the grand prize…it’s a good one! =)

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Twitter:

I hope you’re having an awesome weekend so far. To keep up with soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, YouTube and Snapchat.  I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat. Don’t forget to tag your soapy projects on Instagram with the hashtag #SoapShare and #PureSoapmaking so I can see what you’re making! =)

Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Happy weekend everybody! Here in Bellingham we are soaking up the last of the summer sun. Today is 68 degrees with a light breeze…it’s perfect. =) This weekend my folks are up to help out with the kids while Chris is away on business. We’re doing the Sustainable Connections Farm Tour today and the kids are super excited to see cows, chickens and, how mushrooms grow (yay manure!). Then tonight, we have Baby Alise (my brother’s baby girl) for the night so it will be a sleepover! Once Chris gets back, it’s my turn to take a little work trip. I’m heading up to Vancouver for a few days for a marketing conference. If you’d like to see peeks into my trip, follow me on Snapchat! My username is Bramble-Berry. You can also see what the team is up to back at the office on Snapchat while I’m gone.

Speaking of upcoming projects, be on the lookout for a series of projects featuring metallic micas. This series features everything from candles to cold process, so there is something for everybody. =) What is your favorite way to use micas in bath and body products? Click here to learn more about these sparkly colorants.

Pinterest:

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Instagram:

Next week, we will be sharing a series of projects featuring metallic micas. Below is a cold process soap made with a King’s Gold, Gold Sparkle Mica and Copper Sparkle mica painting. Can’t wait to share these projects!
11849890_1660659437508065_1146328507_nThis past week was full of pumpkin inspired projects, including these Pumpkin Pie Melt and Pour Soap bars (left). On the right is a beautiful sunset over Bellingham Bay…I feel so lucky to live here. =)

collageTwitter:

I hope you all have an amazing weekend! To keep up with the latest soapy social media throughout the week, you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and YouTube and Snapchat. To watch my ‘stories’, which include sneak peeks into future projects, add me. I’m Bramble-Berry on Snapchat.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Welcome to the weekend, everyone! The weather in Bellingham has been just gorgeous lately, and that means I’ve been spending plenty of time outdoors. We even took Jamisen fishing for the first time! Don’t worry, no fish were harmed in the process.

Meanwhile at Bramble Berry, we’ve been working on a series of projects to treat your toes. Be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you’ll be in the know about the tutorials, as well as special deals (yes, deals!)

I’m off to enjoy the sunshine, but before I do here is a roundup of my favorite pins, tweets and ‘grams from the past two weeks.

Pins:

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Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Welcome to a very special edition of our Soapy Social Media Roundup. Why is it special? It’s Friday the 13th! Hopefully you haven’t crossed paths with any black cats or broken any mirrors today. This superstitious day has gotten me thinking about Halloween and the quickly approaching holiday season, and we’ve been busy planning plenty of seasonal tutorials (and dreaming of Pumpkin Spice Lattes)! While I’m excited for fall, I’ve also been trying to soak up the last of summer fun. Chris and I went on a fantastic hike over Labor Day, and we’ve been working to totally overhaul our garden. The hard work is paying off — look at the size of these potatoes!

I’ve got lots of goodies for you this week, including sneak peaks of two new soaping projects. Take a look!

Pins:

Clockwise from top left:

  • Okay, so how gourmet does this sound: Grilled Vanilla Bean Marscapone Peaches with Salted Bourbon Caramel… just let that sink in for a minute! It sounds perfect to bring to a sophisticated fall celebration.
  • I love the simple elegance of these crepe-paper flowers. The best part is they won’t wilt and die like real flowers so you could keep them up year-round.
  • You can’t have a conversation about fall without having a conversation about roasted pumpkin seeds. They’re the quintessential fall treat, and while they’re obviously good for eating, they’re good in bath and body products as well (like this Pumpkin Seed Exfoliating Mask, for example). I can’t wait to try this recipe for cinnamon sugar roasted pumpkin seeds.
  • One of the many snapshots taken at the Soap Crafting book release party two weeks ago. Lily was the little life of the party, and I was thrilled to meet so many of my fellow soapers!
  • So these Marcia Moran earrings are definitely on my wishlist. The champagne-colored gems are just gorgeous.
  • A quote to live by! Practice excellence to make it a habit =)

Instagram Videos:

We went on a rainbow kick this week (consider it a final sendoff to summer). The one below is our Super Squirty Rainbow Swirls, and we scented it with our brand new Amazon Lily & Rain Fragrance Oil.

This one is the Swirled Rainbow Layers. Two colors were swirled within each of the three layers — I can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s cut!

Tweets:

  • Once Instagram introduced the ability to shoot video, we jumped right on board (obviously, see above!). These are some great tips for creating stellar Instagram videos, and it’s incredible how much thought and consideration goes into a quick, 15 second video clip. I love the idea of doing more with stop motion videos.
  • Gift-giving season is almost upon us, and these are some excellent tips if you plan on setting up a booth at your local holiday market or craft fair. Making a great first impression is totally the key to maximizing your sales this holiday season.
  • This is a fascinating look at the new Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer. I love her personal proverb, ‘It’s not what you know, it’s how you think.’ Knowing how to ask the right questions and make the right observations will make you an innovator in any field.
  • Kids + fruit = always adorable!

I hope you all have a wonderful (and lucky?) Friday the 13th!

Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Bramble Berry News

Welcome to the end of August, everyone! Although I am sad to see summer go, and I’m getting excited for fall and all the great things we have planned. Thursday was our Soap Crafting book release party at Village Books in Fairhaven (and the launch of the Soap Crafting Club). I was beyond thrilled to see so many of my fellow soapers in attendance. It’s always a pleasure to chat with the folks who have helped Bramble Berry become what it is — we wouldn’t be here without all of you!

In baby news, Lily is growing more and more everyday, and I can really tell that she is actively trying to explore the world around her. We took a trip to the zoo last Saturday with my Entrepreneur’s Organization Group and she was fascinated by all the animals. Jamisen had a wonderful time too, and fell in love with not the exotic lions or tigers or bears — but a group of baby ducks! Needless to say, it was adorable.

And now, the latest and greatest from Planet Social Media!

Pins:

Top left: If you’re like me, you somehow seem to be a magnet for stuff. Sometimes my junk drawer seems like it’s becoming more of a junk room! To tame the junk problem, I decided to try my hand at making these cute and easy fabric bins using just a cardboard box, some scissors and a bit of glue. I hope they’ll help me stay organized and look good while doing it!

Center: So to be totally honest, I’m not sure how practical this is, but I could not get over how cute these tiny books are. I love the idea of building a mini library that you can hold in your hand! There’s a tutorial at the link but I’m not sure I have the patience or dexterity to try it.

Top right: It’s impossible for me to not highlight a delicious dessert whenever I collect my favorite pins, and this week’s dessert is truly delightful: it’s a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan Brownie Pudding Cake. It sounds so decadent and rich while still containing lots of healthy ingredients. Might be something to try out this weekend =)

Bottom: Gemstone soaps seem to be trending this week! On the blog, we borrowed a fabulous tutorial from Otion on how to make geode soap, and then I came across this awesome handcut gemstone soap tutorial from soaping duo Jean and Oliver Pelle. These soaps are so simple and yet so pretty.

Instagrams:

We made many, many Peacock Swirls this week (not an exaggeration, we made at least six!)  in order to get the perfect batch to release on camera as we shot Soap Queen TV today.  With each batch, I was mesmerized by the In-The-Pot swirl technique that we used to form the base. Check it out below!


This is a two-for-one: this video demonstrates how to unmold soap in our 2 lb. Wood Loaf Mold and it also reveals our very spooky eyeball-inspired soap.


Tweets:

  • So Jamisen needs to wait a few years before trying to hold Lily…
  • These are four excellent things to keep in mind if you’re trying to build a great workplace. On the flip side, they are also great things to consider if you’re experiencing struggle in your own workplace — chances are, the struggle is happening because of one (or more) of those four factors.
  • This is a great quote. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!
  • The holiday season is upon us (okay, so maybe it’s not… it is still August after all) and I can’t stop thinking about all the baking I have planned. These chocolate chip cookies are definitely going to be a staple in the gift baskets I give to family and friends this year.

We are so thrilled that two of our customers (and friends! I’ve met both of these talented soapers in person) are in on the Martha Stewart American Made contest. You can vote for Etta + Billie and Bathhouse Soapery here and here.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Labor Day weekend. Please keep in mind, the warehouse and our customer service department will be closed on Monday, so we won’t be shipping orders out and we may be a bit slower to return your calls and emails. However, we will work hard to catch up on Tuesday and as always, you can always ask us questions on our Facebook page. Enjoy the holiday!

Find me on Twitter here, Pinterest here and Instagram here.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

It’s still baby mania around here! I’ve been trying to get back into my normal routine (with Lily always in tow, of course), and I’ve been making it into the office for at least a few hours every day. Lily is the unofficial Bramble Berry mascot these days. She loves being walked around the warehouse. We also received some exciting news this week. Team Bramble Berry was the top referrer of new members to the Handcrafted Soap and Cosmetic Guild for 2013! I can’t say ‘Thank you’ enough to the HSCG board and volunteers. Their conference is an event I look forward to each year (curious about our coverage of this year’s conference? Check our archives here!). As a gift for referring more than 30 new members, they even sent me a fantastic cheese basket! They know the way to my heart; if I had to live on only three things in life, they would be cheese, bread and cupcakes.

Baby Lily Works

In the social media world, everyone is abuzz because you can now use hashtags on Facebook! The tags work the same way they do on Twitter or Instagram. The reason to use them is that they give you a quick and easy way to search and find groups of posts. We’re going to start using hashtags such as #brambleberry, #soapqueen and #soapcrafting, and we’d love for you to do the same when you post relevant content on your Facebook business pages.

Use the hashtags when you add a photo, comment on our Facebook page, or use a Bramble Berry product. My hope is that you’ll be able to search the tags and be rewarded with a wealth of information and awesome photos from your fellow soapers =)

This week was fun in social media. Here are my favorite Pins, Tweets and Vines of the week:

Pins.

Top left: How cute is this Bentley Ruched Short Dress? I love the bright fuchsia color! And, it looks figure flattering for post-baby.
Top right: Rain is something we’re used to in Washington State (they didn’t coin the term ‘Juneuary’ for nothing!) and this is an inspiring quote no matter where you are.
Bottom left: I’m such a fan of foodie themed soaps, and these cupcakes from Jennifer’s Handmade Soaps are some of the best I’ve seen. Bright, fun colors and excellent attention to detail make these really stand out. Want to see more of Jennifer’s work? We interviewed her earlier this week!
Bottom right: It’s been hard to find a spare minute to get back into the kitchen, but I am just dying to try these Southwest quinoa stuff peppers. Quinoa is a great source of protein and fiber, and I eat it at least once a week if not more. The rest of the family hardly notices when I slip it into random things, like pancakes, cookies and burgers.

Vines:
With dreams of a summer vacation on my mind (and no, with a newborn and a 2 year old, that will not be happening this year!), I made a Hawaiian shirt-esque cold process soap yesterday. Keep your eyes peeled for a full tutorial coming to this blog. We scented the soap with our brand new Shave and a Haircut Fragrance Oil, which was one of the winning scents chosen by our 2013 S.O.A.P. Panel. It performed admirably, giving me plenty of time to get a perfect design in the soap below.

Here is the final photo from the Instagram feed here.

Tweets:

  • These are some excellent tips on raising girls to take charge and become leaders.  I especially like numbers 3 and 5. Good things to keep in mind as Lily grows!
  • With so much going on around here lately, reading about these 8 things I can cut out of my day to make it more productive was particularly insightful. Habits like multitasking during a meeting or checking my phone every few minutes and seeing one million new notifications are doing more harm than good.
  • Do you make and sell your own soapy products? Consider this article about how important color is in determining customer purchases. Color is 85% of the reason a customer is interested (and purchases) a particular product.
  • If you have little ones too, you know how important it is to stay active and engaged in their lives. These 5 tips are just little things you can do to stay connected. I especially like number 3 — and want to incorporate nightly dinners more into our routine.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Chris is doing his first triathlon tomorrow (!!) and Lily, Jamisen and I will be there to cheer him on at the finish. What projects do you all have in the works? If you’re looking for some inspiration, try your hand at our newest Make It Challenge. This one has a patriotic theme, and I’d love to see what you all come up with on our Facebook page.

Soapy Social Media Roundup

Filed Under: Personal Ramblings

These past two weeks have been a blur with taking care of a tiny, beautiful baby girl (who eats nearly every hour!) and watching as Jamisen adjusts to not being an only child (which he is doing surprisingly well). I still (barely) found the time to round up some favorite Pins, Vines and Tweets for you all to enjoy.

Pins of the Week:

(Beginning in the top left corner):  Craving a little chocolate? Not only do these fudgesicles look delicious, they’re dairy and soy free too! Yummm.

Emily from Suds by the Sea is part of the next generation of soapers. She has been making her own cold process soap for the past 5 years (she’s only 15!) and uses the ocean shores near her North Carolina home as the inspiration for her small business. Way to go, Emily!

 Good ethics are a cornerstone of good business. Treat employees ethically, source products ethically and always act with integrity!

These soap roses were too cute not to share! Best of all, they’re super easy to make.

I love the colors in this face & body soap. Reminds me of a relaxing day at the beach!

Never underestimate the power of a reliable messenger bag. The thing I love about this Molly bag is that it would look just as good carrying around gym clothes as it would during a trip to the grocery store. Versatility is key! Best of all, the making of this bag gives jobs to women who are otherwise unable to work. Do good and look good!

Vines of the Week:
This beautiful Peacock Swirl technique is for Soap Challenge Club held by our friend Amy over at Great Cakes Soapworks. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite coloring techniques. We also used this opportunity to test a new soaping tool we’re developing — keep your eyes peeled for more info!

I was super excited to see how this looked once it was cut, and I love how it turned out! I had a very special guest help me with this one =)

 

Tweets of the Week:

  • It’s common for babies in Finland to sleep in a cardboard box given to mothers by the Finnish government. Read a little further though and you’ll find that the maternity box (coupled with a few other factors), has actually helped lower infant mortality rates since the program began!
  • Think twice before eating that McDonalds breakfast. High fat, high carb fast food meals can harm those friendly little microbes in our bellies, which may be more important than we think.
  • If you’re thinking of selling your handmade goodies at a craft show, check out this very helpful blog post.

It’s finally starting to feel like summer around here, so it might be time for Lily’s first trip to the beach.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!