It started with an angel. Long story short… Boy meets girl. Girl needs angel for her Christmas tree. Boy suggests this shop at the beach (not knowing that Girl LOVES this shop). They go to the shop, buy an angel, start a flotilla tradition. At one point, Girl sees people watching the flotilla from large balconies of an inn while sipping wine or hot chocolate – and not grappling for space on the boardwalk. Girl thinks, That sure would be nice. Over time, that becomes a reality, a part of the tradition.
That inn – an interesting hybrid between a bed & breakfast and a hotel – offers lovely, well-appointed rooms, great views, convenient location, and quite nice toiletries, one of which is lemon verbena soap. We’re talking real soap like what we make, not mass-produced syndet bars that leave the skin dry and itchy. One sniff, and I was hooked. The scent was lightly sweet and sharply lemony at the same time with beautiful green notes and just a tinge herbaceous.
It took me forever to find a similar lemon verbena scent. I found what was marketed as a lemon verbena essential oil, which was pretty nice, only to find out later it was a blend of synthetic and natural ingredients. L’Occitane‘s Lemon Verbena is fabulous, but too strongly lemon for what I was seeking. Imagine how excited I was when I found both a duplication of L’Occitane’s Lemon Verbena and another lemon verbena fragrance at one of my suppliers’ online stores! The L’Occitane is still too lemony, and the other fragrance is a bit too floral. But when I put them together in just a certain way… Whoa!!! It’s perfect! Lemony, green, floral, herbaceous.
Lemon Verbena Soap – Sunshine in the Shower!
I found my lemony love in this Lemon Verbena soap. it’s like sunshine in the shower, perfect for cold days, grey days… Shoot! It’s perfect for any day that you need your eyes opened. Yes, I’ll admit, I did have to steal a bar for my shower, but there are still several bars of this dream soap left for you to fall in love with.
The discussion came up with a customer: The question was, “Why is this soap so much more expensive than this other soap?”
That’s a fair question, certainly. Soap A (the less expensive one) requires a one-time pour with mica accents finger-brushed on top. Soap B (the soap in question) COULD just take a one-time pour of a single color of soap, but this customer was expecting it to be colorful, and “colorful” meant several individual pours of different colored soap. This took time, and since I’m a professional, time = money. And I had to craft each soap individually.
Pelican soap – This is it resting on its mould
And as I make slabs of soaps, the types I can whip up in one glorious pour, I think of what it takes to make various soaps. I’ve made soaps before that are a simple scent and no color, or a scent and just one color. Those are quick and simple to make. Then there are the soaps with elaborate swirls and multiple colors, or soaps that contain interesting botanicals and custom created fragrance blends. Truth is, I could whip out batch after batch of no-color scented soap, but that would be so boring! We LOVE color! And design and fun, unique fragrances, and everything else we bring to our soaps! But creativity, again, takes time, and time is money, even when you enjoy what you do.
I tripped across this great video today that takes a look at the relationship between time and creativity.
Sure, creativity takes more time to achieve, but we are infinitely more pleased with our results. We’ll continue to take the time to be creative, because it’s just so much more fun.
I thought that I would change up my blog. I was thinking of one of my friends at the time I was writing this and decided that I would act as if I was talking to her and came up with questions she might ask. Hope this answers some of your questions!
Friend: What does the soap look like?
Me: The soap is pink with a fun amount of sparkles and a mango sorbet fragrance. With it being my first soap I would add a hint of blue to the pink color in the future. Mom says that I should start with one color, but I added sparkles to get close to the desired effect.
Friend: What good qualities does your soap have that will make people want it?
Me: It will be a small bar which will be easy for kids (and adults) to hold. Its fun fragrance will (ahem, should) make kids look forward to showering without bubblegum (take it from a young spurt, bubblegum can smell icky or get tiring). The soap has sparkles which gleam in the light some. It is very moisturizing, lather is a definite, and it is hard. I was rinsing off my cutting board after cutting it and I had a great lather. I love the soap (I kept a bar for myself).
Friend: If you were to sell it, what would you call it?
Me: Pink Paradise* or Pink Paradise Falls**. I’m leaning towards PPF, though if I do PP then I can do a series with Blue Paradise, Green, Orange, Purple, etc. I think that I’ll make another PP next year for sale, then every other month another color. I will be doing another soap (for sale) this year with the same recipe, and it will be Christmas-y. That will be sold online and at the Triangle area EPA show in November. I also do a show here called the Pender County Spring Fest.
Friend: How did you think the soap would turn out compared to how it turned out?
Me: I thought it would turn out sharper, more vivid, pinker. The top looks pretty and if the whole soap were that color, then the soap would look beautiful. The top is a powdery pink that, in my opinion, looks like pixie dust. The bottom is a sort of magenta, but not that dark, mixed with sparkles that add a welcoming touch. I really thought that the sparkles would come out more, that it would be darker or lighter.
Friend: What were some of your feelings as you made this soap?
Me, mixing up the lye.
Me: I was feeling exhilarated, happy, worried, slightly panicked, joyful, and free. I can make whatever I want (within reason) on any soap, swirl, etc. I was also very happy that Mom said I could. Truth be told, I don’t like Melt & Pour as much. They take up time freezing them and you have to monitor it. You can make a CP and leave it alone.
Me stirring the lye mixture into the warm oils. Making magic happen!
Friend: Give us some brief how-to’s.
Me: First, gather your supplies. Since I’m doing small batches then everything can be done in a 4 Cup measuring cup. Bigger batches are done in buckets.
4 cup measuring cup (4 cupper) Small container (yogurt container sort)
Spatula Wooden spoon
Big container (such as the containers you get when you order a quart of Chinese soup)
Oils, Lye, etc.
Stick blender
Goggles, Gloves, etc.
Soap rag (old baby diapers, washcloths)
Not all of your oils are going to be liquid. Put on your goggles, gloves, etc. and get the smaller container. Measure out your lye. In the big container, measure out your water (or ice). With the wooden spoon stir lye and water together but be sure to hold your breath; otherwise the fumes can hurt your throat. Once dissolved, set aside. You can take the protective gear off. Now measure out your solid oils. Mine were coconut, palm, and cocoa butter. Melt them in the microwave until liquid. Now you add your liquid oils. Mine were olive and avocado. Mix all your oils together and set them aside. Take another small container and scoop some of the oil mixture into it. Add your color to it and stir until smooth. Set your color aside. Measure out your fragrance and set aside.
Put your protective gear back on. Dump lye mixture into the oils. Take the stick blender and bring the mixture to a trace. It will be mixed together but thick. If you’re making tomato soup and it’s just out of the can, that’s about how thick it should be. Add the fragrance. Now you have one of two options. The soap will be a creamy white. You can add the color mixture now and stir the fragrance and color in, OR, you can stir in fragrance then add color. If you do option #2 then you have the option of not stirring the color in all the way and getting a swirl. Either way, when you get done, put it in a silicone mould, scrape it out (this is where the spatula comes in), and cover it with a box lined with cling wrap. Insulate your soap by covering it with towels and let rest for at least 24 hours before unmoulding. Take the soap rag and wipe your equipment before rinsing under warm water. “Make” it in a soap program and it should tell you how many days it has to cure (you can use it after it cures, usually about a month).
Pinterest can be my worst enemy. Pictures of lovely architecture, House Beautiful-worthy living rooms free of clutter and toys. Clever organizational tools put together from thrift store finds. And all this from home educating moms of seven kids who seem to be able to do it all. Seriously, Pinterest is not the website for the insecure.
Our living room is cluttered – painfully cluttered. The girls don’t seem to understand the basic concept of “pick up after yourself when you’re done.” It gets cleaned about three times a year. Other than that, though, I think we are doing well. I never really expected to be doing anything like homesteading. but over the weekend, I was told that I am enviable. OK. That’s pretty nice, though I never expected to be.
We had another weekend of glorious productivity. It started with restocking these beer soaps. On the left (the greyish green) is all natural basil and lime. Essential oils of Thai basil and lime blend together in this delightful blend with notes of licorice, pepper, and lime. The tan soap is Sweet Cinnamon & Clove. This was the first beer soap I ever made, and these bars go quickly.
This weekend’s soaps – Basil & Lime and Sweet Cinnamon & Clove
These are just a few of the cucumbers that came out of our garden. We ended up harvesting about twelve pounds of cucumbers, all of which became delicious bread & butter and dill pickles.
Cucumbers fresh from the gardenBread & Butter pickles
After the cucumber harvest, my youngest daughter and I harvested the first batch of basil for homemade pesto. This was so fabulous on chicken and pasta, topped with home-grown tomatoes!
Homemade Pesto
A friend of ours hooked us up with a lime basil plant. I thought, What in the world am I going to do with this? I was looking up basil recipes online and saw one for strawberry basil popsicles. A local indie popsicle business makes something similar, and I thought the lime take on the basil would be delightful with the strawberry. I blended in a bit of vanilla yogurt, and wow!!! It’s like a virgin strawberry daiquiri on a stick!
Strawberry Lime Basil popsicle
And no weekend would be complete without a visit to the kittens. Momma Cat is doing great, and my kitty co-parent/friend and I were both surprised to discover that she tested negative for FIV, Feline Leukemia, and worms, which is quite miraculous, considering that she was a completely outdoor cat until three weeks ago. The girls and I placed a few kittens on the bed to give the tiniest one of the litter a chance to nurse without “the chubbies” pushing her out of the way.
Worn out kitten. I love her little face!My sweet girl. She stays in motion, which is why the picture is blurry
I don’t consider myself as that enviable. I am simply a woman who enjoys playing in the kitchen when I’m not making soap or enjoying kittens. Cooking, like soapmaking, is sweet alchemy – taking a variety of different ingredients and putting them together in fun, creative ways to make something new. It’s even more enjoyable when I can make something completely new to me, stretching my skills.
The next post will contain suggestions for making DIY easier and doable. I’m not selfish with my recipes, as most of them come from outside sources. Comment if there’s one you’d like.
I don’t know what’s growing in your yard right now, but down here in the South, magnolias are showing off their milky white blooms and their deep emerald leaves. These make an incredible backdrop to bright orange lilies, purple and pink snapdragons, and the plethora of other beautiful flowers that are springing up all over the place.
Summer-sweet Magnolia in Bloom
We’ve captured the scent of a yard in summer in this lovely soap. Magnolia, soft rose and tangy-sweet verbena dance and blend together in this delicately scented soap. The scent is strong, but not cloying or potent; I’m not much into floral scents, and I am quite pleased with this one.
This is a special edition soap with limited availability at this time, so when they’re gone, they’re gone. Get yours before next Wednesday and enjoy our special birthday shipping offer.
As many of my customers know, I have two daughters, both of whom like helping me with my business. My older daughter, Mary, is COO of the Girly Arts line, and my younger daughter, Hannah, is learning the craft and beginning to help mix colorants and make soap. Hannah has one objective: Earn money for her pink fishing boat. Early versions of this boat look something like this:
Eventually she’ll earn enough money fishing both to finance her college education and to upgrade to a bigger boat, something along the size of the Disney Dream. No dreams are too big for her.
Hannah is determined to pay for her boat outright – all cash, no credit – and is already working hard to earn the money to buy her boat. Not too long ago, she told me she likes helping me make soap. I asked her what she likes about it, and she said, “I get to make money for my boat. I’m in it for the money.” Nevermind that she’s eleven years away from even being able to get her pilot’s license; she’s ready for it now.
As part of her endeavors to earn the money for her boat, Hannah has created and crafted these charming Steampunk butterflies. Silver, bronze, and pearlescent white come together in a gorgeous, funky-cool soap unlike anything we’ve offered before.
Steampunked Butterfly
Lovely, isn’t it? Quantities are very limited on these beautiful special edition soaps, so get yours quickly. Just click the picture above to get your hands on one of these sweet little gems.
Everyone has a dream. What’s your dream? What are you doing to achieve it?
You know, Valentine’s Day is coming around the corner. It means sweets, love, hearts and goodies are coming, too; and I have some hearts for you. They look elegant which makes kids feel a lot better about having to wash. They are absolutely beautiful which girls love.
Lovely heart soaps
They smell good, too. The wonderful scents are a wee bit sweet but not overly so – lightly girly and floral. The light sparkly mica work looks radiant and adds joy to girls’ faces. These soaps are perfect for Valentine’s Day, because these hearts are filled with love. The soaps are a limited edition through Valentine’s Day, so they aren’t here for long. That’s all for now. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Sometimes, life is feast or famine. A couple of months of ease have given way to a week of total insanity, as a wholesale order, a private label order, and a major show have all come together at one time. Mary has had to make a bunch of Reindeer Poo soaps and bags for the wholesale order and the event, and she’s feeling the stress. On
Reindeer Poo soap
top of that, she needs to make a couple of more gift sets. And do school. And her chores. Yes, my sweet 11-year-old girl is in agony right now!
Well, guess what? I’m stressed, too. Can you imagine how awful and unproductive it’d be if both of us were stressed at the same time? So, I’ve decided to create teachable moments from the stressful moments. I can’t take the stress away from her. Oh, if only I could! The best I can do is give her tools to manage her stress.
As I type this, we’re both benefiting from one of my favorite ways to ease stress: We’re listening to classical music. She has heard me say dozens of times that I prefer classical when I’m strung, and this morning, Mary actually asked me to play classical today. This is the same child who cries, “Oh, no! Not classical again!” every time we’re in the car. It’s working; she told me not long ago that she’s feeling much less stressed this afternoon.
This morning she asked me why I’m don’t seem very stressed. I started to tell her, “I formulated a plan that I’m using to guide me,” but that just led to eye-rolling. So I said, “You’re already stressed. We can’t both be stressed. That’d just be disastrous, so I’m going to be zen.” My youngest piped up and said, “And if you get stressed, then I’ll be zen! And if I’m not zen, then Daddy can be zen. And if Daddy isn’t zen, then Grandpa can be. And if Grandpa…” I cut her off there with a smile and said, “Your Grandpa is always zen.”
Today, like every day this week, we’ve planned and executed. The trite but true response to “How will we get this all done?” is simply, “We just do it.” As we entered the last of the wrapping/labeling phase this morning, we have been able to see the fruits of our labors coming together as soaps have stacked up on the table to be transferred to bins for transporting or boxes for shipping. Just that – seeing all this work moving from the production stage into the pre-selling stage – has been more motivating than anything else so far this week.
Earlier in the week, Mary was making bags for the Reindeer Poo soaps using my sewing machine when it started to make this really unpleasant noise. We figured it was just struggling from lack of use. But then, the next afternoon, the noise got louder, and the machine stopped working altogether. Whee! Let’s shoot that stress level up another notch or two or twelve! Mary dug out her sewing machine, and as it fired up, a collective sigh of relief blew through the house – until that night, when it was being temperamental. She was in tears of fatigue and frustration. “It’ll be OK,” I told her. “Go to bed, and we’ll attack it fresh in the morning.” Sure enough, her sewing machine worked great the next day.
Along with all this, my youngest has been feeling left out. She’s used to having more attention from Mommy and big sister through the day than she’s been getting this week. There are some things she can do, but not many. This morning, she admitted that she has been misbehaving more to get more attention. I’ve had to be more attuned to her needsand wants, even when I’m labeling lip balms and wrapping soap and bottling Tahiti Kiss all at the same time. Today at nap time, she said, “I’ve tried to behave better.” She has.
While I’m used to this level of work and having to meet deadlines, Mary isn’t, so this has been a tremendous learning experience for her. She’s had to learn time management, stress management, and the importance of working smarter instead of harder. Those are all great lessons which will serve her well in life and business.
As I continue to poke around through my fragrance remnants and rejects, I tripped across a duplicate of Pink Sugar. So many of my fellow soapmakers have used it and love it, talking about what a great seller it is for them. I took one whiff, and deemed it way too sweet for my personal taste, but I don’t love everything I make, and neither do my customers. Everyone has their own preferences, so, with that in mind, I went ahead and soaped it.
Sweet and pink, Pretty in Pink emerged as the ultimate feminine treat. Perfectly suitable for both big and little girls alike, the scent is a blend of cotton candy, lemon drops, caramel, and raspberries with base notes of warm musk. What a lovely combination! Tart and sweet, cool and warm, light and heavy. It all comes together in a beautifully blended whole.
Pretty In Pink soap is all feminine bathing enjoyment
Don’t you just LOVE that? I expected this soap to turn chocolate brown where it wasn’t pink or white, and instead it stayed a creamy tan. The pink swirls are bright and sparkly from mica, and the top is a blend of my own liquid soap and melt & pour base, whipped with mica and topped with Himalayan pink salt. The soap itself is a total skin treat containing rich coconut milk for a creamy, silky lather that will leave your skin feeling soft and supple, never tight and dry. (I pilfered a bar for my own shower, so I know first-hand just how awesome this soap is.) While this fragrance will likely never become a personal favorite of mine, I do enjoy how the scent mellowed and warmed in the soapmaking process; the musk came out more. You can pick up your own bar of this special edition soap by clicking here, but quantities are very limited.
What sorts of scents do you like to use? Would you use something so feminine, or do you prefer a different genre of fragrance?
Back in June, I received an email from my business mentor, Donna Maria, asking if I would sell her some flip flop soaps at wholesale. It was a large order, so I agreed. These flip flop soaps were part of a 90-bar production series the girls and I tackled in a mere 3 weeks. Oh my gosh, was that a lot of work, and did we get sick of pouring these soaps! It was too much of a good thing.
Those soaps were for the premiere My Maker Box, a fabulous box loaded with at least $150.00 worth of products, which shipped out in August. My Maker Box is made by makers, for makers. You can hear dM herself tell you all about the August box here. You can see my soap at around the 3:40 mark.
To celebrate the end of summer and the fact it’s still flip flop weather here, these flip flop soaps will be 40% off all week.
Don’t those treats look like so much fun?! I’m personally lovin’ that earcuff. Which of these treats would you love to have?
