In the Spotlight » Creative Soap Week

Batty’s Bath

Aug 032010

So, what’s your story?
Well, let’s see… My name is Jamie and I live in London, Ontario, Canada. I live with my fiancé (we’re getting married Oct 16, 2011), 3 rescued dogs, and a turtle named Murtle. We’re currently city slickers but would love to be country folk with lots of room to grow our own food, and get lots in the fields. I’m currently finishing a degree in psychology (only 3 more classes to go!) via part-time studies. I’ve also graduated from college with an animal care degree and worked for the Ontario SPCA for many years (thus all the rescue dogs!). Now I’m a stay-at-home doggie-mommy and business gal who’s full time job is Batty’s Bath.

What inspired you to want to start up your own business?
I’ve always been an artsy go-getter, so working for myself was something that really appealed to me. After getting in sync with the handmade movement I realized there was a lot of potential to do something I enjoy while working for myself. I turned my creative time into time that can also be considered “work time” and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.

I participated in a number of craft shows with my other business, “She’s Batty Designs”, and always picked up lots of handmade bath and body products to hold me over before the next show. After my fiance had a bad reaction to a bar of soap I set out to make a bar of soap that wouldn’t irritate his sensitive skin. Well that endeavor spiraled into an obsession with making skin loving, pampering products! It didn’t take long for me to realize that this obsession was having me make far more goodies than we could ever use in our life time and Batty’s Bath was born.

How is it balancing this business with everything else?
It’s a bit crazy but this is the way I’ve always been – busy! A typical day for me is never very typical because I never know how I’m going to be feeling due to Ankylosing Spondylitis. If I’m in a flare up, my day consists of working from home as much as I can, soaking my bones in the tub and getting lots of rest. If I’m not in a flare up, I go to my classes on campus, put in a few hours at my part-time job, and I tend to “business stuff” on my breaks throughout the day (such as answer emails, listing new items online, marketing, etc). I’m back home by 5 or 6pm (except when I have a night class), I have supper with my fiance, cuddle our 3 rescue dogs, and then it’s back to work. I try to get my homework out of the way first because when I go into the studio, I usually loose track of time! During my studio time, I make any custom orders that have come in, pack up all offline and online orders, restock any bath products I’m low on, order supplies if needed, and if there’s some time left I made and test out new formulas and combinations.

There’s always something left at the end of the day that I wish I would have had time for but I don’t let it get to me. Tomorrow is another day and all those “things” will be there waiting after I get some rest. I also make sure that when I’m starting to feel overwhelmed I take a step back and just relax by spending time with my fiancé and our fur babies.

Where does your inspiration come from?
A few different things inspire me. When it comes to picking scents, I love anything fruit or inspired by my favorite foods – sweets! When deciding what ingredients and products to carry, providing practical, ethical, eco-friendly, nourishing and totally pampering goods inspires me. Hearing that my products have helped someone in some way totally makes my day, whether it be nourishing dry hands, conditioning damaged hair, polishing their skin to perfection, or just making them smell super yummy!

You can find Jamie at BattysBath.com or on Facebook, Twitter and Etsy. You can read her blog at battysbath.blogspot.com

All photos courtesy of Batty’s Bath.

Magic Senses

In the Spotlight

Jul 162010

My name is Betty Miller and I am the Founder of Magic Senses. Please bear with me as I am not very good at telling stories, especially mine.

Seven years ago I met my husband online and we fell in love. Two years later, we got married and I moved to California from Europe. With a B.A. in English and French, I found it a little boring to practice my Translator profession, so I wanted to do something fun… that’s how I became an entrepreneur!

On one of our trips to Nevada, we saw this absolutely amazing soap! It was love at first smell! I wanted to buy a bar in every fragrance! They smelt soooo goooood! But they seemed a little bit expensive (and now I know why!) so I ended up buying just three bars. I had one of them on my desk for the whole summer of 2005.

After some thinking, my husband and I decided it would be fun for me to start a soap business. That was it. I’ve been busy ever since! It’s been a long journey, many times frustrating, many times rewarding and we’ve learnt a lot… but I wouldn’t change a thing! Okay, maybe the food coloring experience!

Here, at Magic Senses, we believe life is too short not to have fun! So we make fun soap! As fun and unique as our customers!

During the past five years, I was asked many questions by my customers and media; here are just a few of them:

Do you make it yourself?
Yes!

What’s your favorite fragrance?
Favorite? There is no such thing! They are all my favorites! That’s probably why we have over 60 designs in our Collections. It’s easier to say which one is not my top favorite: Patchouli. However, I have to admit that I started to like it…

How did you learn to make the design?
A lot of trial and error! The design you see in our soap has been perfected over time. We are very picky. If it’s not fabulous, it’s not good enough!

What is the best advice I would give to my customers?
Keep the soap in a dish that drains and if the bar is too big for your hand, cut it in half! It will last twice as long.

Which design are you the most fond of?
Well, they are all my “babies” so it is hard to choose… but I absolutely love “Cool Rhythm” and “Two to Tango“.

Are you afraid of competition?
Competition is healthy. It makes us want to be better. Plus, there is a type of customer for every business. I think there is room for everybody! That’s probably why we started Creative Soap Week! To share the love and celebrate with all the talented soap designers out there!

Magic Senses was built mainly on referrals and word of mouth. We have been blessed with loyal and supportive friends and customers and I want to take advantage of this occasion to thank you all for your wonderful support through the years! We love you!

This designer soap has changed our lives. It has given us a lot of opportunities to meet and help people and to put a smile on their faces through every single bar we make. If, five years ago, you had told me that my business would one day help raise funds for kids to learn how to dance, I would have laughed! But now, it is reality!

Thank you, all!

If you want to find out more about Magic Senses, here are some links:

Visit Magic Senses store!
Visit Magic Senses store on Etsy!
Visit Magic Senses Blog
Join Magic Senses Fan page on Facebook!
Follow Magic Senses on Twitter

EnJabonArte Guatemala

In the Spotlight

Jul 152010

Mint Vanilla soap. photo courtesy of EnJabonArte

Today’s guest is Natalia Cruz, the soap designer behind “EnJabonArte” – Guatemala. Here is her story:

“I began soapmaking about a year ago. Needing money, after I had quit my job, I had to do something with my life. In October 2009, I decided to become a full time soapmaker. The beginning wasn’t easy, in fact it still is tough, but I´m happy to say I am still reaching for my dream of having my own business.

I love glycerin soap because I can express my art easily on it. And I love how glycerin is on the skin. I can add almost any oil, extract, herb, etc to it just like with the Cold Process soap, with one benefit though: I can use it immediately.

Blue and Blue soap. photo courtesy of EnJabonArte

Thank God, people love my soaps, and in December 2009 people started asking me to teach them, so I give basic classes of glycerin soap making, too.

I am a Sworn Translator and Marketer, but I am sure that making glycerin soap is my thing!”

How to reach her:

You can visit Natalia’s Shop at http://www.enjabonartegt.com/.
For Twitter friends: you can follow her @enjabonartegt.
You can also see her pictures on Flickr or read her Blog.

photo courtesy of EnJabonArte

Sunbasilgarden Soaps

In the Spotlight

Jul 132010

Eggs and Bacon Soap. photo courtesy of Sunbasilgarden

Today I am delighted to feature Lauren Miller and her company, Sunbasilgarden Soap. Here is a short interview:

1. How did it all start?

I made my first melt and pour glycerin soap just two years ago, and like most soapers I was hooked at first pour. I’ve always been a big fan of bath and beauty products but after having two little messy boys I needed a fun way to keep them clean and keep my sanity. And that was the start to Sunbasilgarden Soap. “Because life is too messy not to use Happy Soap!”

2. If you were to start all over again, what would you do differently?

I don’t think I would do very much differently if I had to start over. Any mistakes I have made while learning about soap have actually only challenged me more. I do wish I had learned earlier though about the need for stabilizer when using vanilla based fragrance oils. That was not a fun lesson to learn in the middle of a busy Holiday season.

3. Why the name Sunbasilgarden?

Before turning most of my time over to soap, I used to be an avid gardener and the name was a collection of my favorites. I still play in the garden a bit but now my hands get dirty more in the soap garden.

Cookies and Milk Soap. photo courtesy of Sunbasilgarden

4. What advice would you give to a person who wants to start making soap tomorrow?

Best advice for someone starting to make soap tomorrow is jump in! Any mistake can still be used. One of the best parts of working with a medium like soap is everyone uses it. Don’t wait for all systems to be go. Just try.

5. What inspires you?

What inspires me? When making soaps, I normally get these flashes of ideas in my head inspired by a fragrance and how I can make that into a soap. I love the concept of using tools or supplies I already have and the challenge that it brings. When inspiration strikes, I journal my ideas until I have time to get back to the studio and soap.

photo courtesy of sunbasilgarden

6. Do you still consider your soapmaking a hobby or is it a full time business already?

My first and full time job is a Stay at Home Mom. There is alot to that job and I am so grateful for it. However my soap making is a full time business.
We just recently purchased a new house and I was lucky enough to get a designated soap studio.
I started in a tiny kitchen but this designated space allows me to really focus and spread out.

7. How would you describe your style?

My style is clean, simple, modern and happy.

###

I hope today’s post has inspired you to be creative. You don’t make soap? No problem! There are lots of outstanding soapmakers out there who would love to make it for you! Or who already have fabulous Soap Collections! Sunbasilgarden and Magic Senses are just two of them! Stay tuned for more!

I want to thank Lauren for allowing me to interview her! It’s been a real pleasure! You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, Blog and Etsy Shop.

Caramel Apple Soap. photo courtesy of Sunbasilgarden

Soapylove

In the Spotlight

Jul 132010

photo courtesy of Soapylove

Today’s guest is Debbie Chialtas from Soapylove. You have probably already heard about her awesome soap design… Here is her story:

###

“My name is Debbie Chialtas and I live in San Diego with my husband and two kids. I started making soap when I was pregnant with my first child, Sequoia. I wanted to save a few dollars by making my own cocoa butter cream for my growing tummy and took a class about handmade beauty products. Although the class didn’t teach me how to make lotion, I glanced at the teacher’s Soapmaking books and was instantly obsessed! I started out with rebatch but then gave glycerin soap a try. The possibilities of color and designs made melt and pour a great choice for me, since I come from a fashion and art background.

Over the next few months I made soap constantly. I already had a popsicle mold at home and tried it out with soap. I loved the results and the Soapy Pop eventually became my signature item! In February of 2006 I launched my eShop – soapylove.com, and in March of 2006 I opened my shop on Etsy which brought me lots of great exposure and wholesale inquiries. Over the next 2 years my business grew and so did my family. After I had my 2^nd child I quit my corporate job and made Soapylove my new career.

In addition to making and selling soaps, I enjoy writing and teaching. My book, “Soapylove: Squeaky Clean Projects Using Melt and Pour Soap” was a huge achievement, and I also pour a lot of love into “Let’s Get Soapy”, my self-published eZine. Designing soap projects is a lot of fun, and there’s no end to the possibilities using glycerin soap!

photo courtesy of Soapylove

Bramble Berry, a great soap supply company, and I have collaborated on a line of Soapmaking supplies under the Soapylove brand, which feature my signature bright colors and fun styles. There are molds, soap bases, colors, and fragrances!

My latest project is my 2^nd book called The Art of Soap. It will feature the work of 24 amazing soapmakers from around the world including their inspiring stories. Look for it online this September!”

###

We hope this story has inspired you to make beautiful soap! The sky is the limit! Stay tuned for more stories from successful soap designers around the world! And, if you want, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.