Bramble Berry Soap Making Supplies | Soap Making Success Stories

Soap Making Success Stories

Soap Queen Projects on Facebook
8/30/2010 I am always so thrilled when I see soaps that were inspired by a Soap Queen tutorial (melts my heart). Here are some projects that were posted on the Bramble Berry Facebook page! Become a fan and show off your soaps. Until then, enjoy some soapy inspiration:

Tammy Wall-Brodbeck posted her pinwheels via Facebook.

Handmade Soaps posted Swirled M&P via Facebook

Cassandra J. J, Resudek Posted her Plaid Soaps

Holly Port shared her Sugar Cubes

Christne Gaudinier shared her Citrus Slices

Check out these tutorials by clicking on the links below and give these projects a try:
Pinwheels, Melt and Pour Swirls, Plaid Soap, Sugar Scrub Cubes and Citrus Slices.
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Summer's Not Over Yet!
8/3/2010
I just got back from Washington DC and after a full 8 hours of traveling already, my brain is ready to zone out with some beautiful soapy inspiration. I'm also wishing for a vacation so perhaps that's why I gravitated towards these inspired soapy beach finds on Etsy.

Row one
Beach Bum Soap from Bean Street Market,
Soap Sea Shells from Satin&Birch
Green Sand Beach from Beacon Creations

Row two
Life Is Beachy from Anhoki
Crusty The Crab Soap from The Soap Seduction
Beach Soap with Shell from Joan's Gardens

Row three
Seahorse Felted Soap from SoFino
Sea Glass Soap from Enchanted Path
Sailor Soap from Soapopotamus
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Persnickety Pelican...Dream in Whimsy
7/7/2010
I have a treat for you today: a quick interview with mother-daughter craft team, Pam and Tara from Persnickety Pelican. I bought one of their felted soaps and was blown away by the detail. I'm so glad they agreed to participate in a quick-fire Soap Queen interview. Thanks Gals!

Soap Queen: Tell me about the chemistry of the mother-daughter craft team.
Tara and Pam: We both have whimsical ideas and work off of each other. What one doesn't think of the other does.

SQ: What’s your favorite product to make?
T&P: We each love to make our different favorite soaps. Tara likes to do owl scenes and Pam likes to do the dachshunds. We input on each other's soaps too.

This is the soap that's sitting on my desk right now. It's too cute!

SQ: Where do you get your whimsical inspiration?
T&P: Our whimsical inspiration just seems to be there at all times. We have 2 mini doxes and they are so sweet and energetic that we try to capture them in our designs. We don't sketch anything out, just sit in front of a soap we have needle felted with wool roving, and looking at all the marvelous colors of wool, come up with our designs. The more whimsical the better. We create what we like to see in our shop, and hope that our customers love it as much as we do.

SQ: I was so impressed with the detail in the felted soap that I purchased. How long does it take you to felt your persnickety soaps?
T&P: Our felted soaps can take anywhere from an hour to two hours to completely felt. We can't keep too many in stock on our shop, but try to get new ones on when we can. We also do custom orders and love to come up with new ideas. We use the dry needle felting process. The needle is a special one with barbs on the end, (very sharp) and when poked through the wool roving onto the soap meshes together to create the design. This allows the design to remain on the soap and just shrinks up as the soap is used. A felted soap will last a lot longer than a naked one.
SQ: What’s the best business advice you can give our readers who want to start their own business?
T&P: The best advice we can give someone who wants to start their own business is to do something you love. Be prepared to work really hard, and put in long hours. You've got to come up with fresh ideas to keep the public interested.

SQ: Final thoughts to share with the Soap Queen readers?
T&P: We take pride in making quality products; ones that we would want to buy for ourselves, hence our name Persnickety Pelican.

Be sure to take a whimsical break in your day and check out the Persnickety Pelican Etsy shop. You won't regret it!

The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Happy 4th of July!
7/4/2010
I hope everyone is enjoying their long holiday weekend like I am with friends, family, food and um, liquid sunshine! Here's some soapy eye candy (from Etsy) for you to "snack on" in celebration of the Declaration of Independence. Enjoy!

Row one from left to right
Caramel Candy Apple Soap by Sunbasilgarden,
Hand Painted Primitive Americana Flag Soap by a stroke of jeanne-ius
Stars and Stripes Acai Berry Soap by A Slice of Delight

Row two from left to right
Patriotic Cupcake Vegan Soap by Sunday Morning Soaps
Stars and Stripes Peppermint Soap by KBShimmer
Bath Blaster Soapy Pop by Soapylove

Row three from left to right
American Flag Soap by Pure Heart Soap
Cocoa Butter American Patriot Soap by Swan Mountain Soaps
Patriotic Gift Basket by Kittredge Candles of New England
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Congratulations Naiad Soap Arts!
5/18/2010 I want to give a soapy shout out to Erin Pikor, from Naiad Soap Arts, for winning Best Soap at the Handcrafted Soapmaker's Guild Conference. Her Tea Room Soap took the cake and I couldn't be more proud. I knew she was a great soap artist but the vote of all the soapers at the conference just proved it!

Erin is a guest blogger for the Soap Queen Blog and always comes up with the cutest projects like Solid Sugar Cubes and Cold Process Cupcakes.

Erin will also be a teacher at this years Soap Weekend Intensive making Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Soap and Ambrosia Salad Soap. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to meet Erin! Sign up for Soap Weekend Intensive 2010 HERE And, congratulations Erin. We're so excited for you and your award.
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Colorful Spring Inspiration from Etsy
5/16/2010 Once again I was distracted on Etsy (big shocker) looking for colorful soaps that scream SPRING! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous here (in Bellingham, WA) so I was on the hunt for bright colors and happy flowers everywhere, including nature. I even got to go on a beautiful hike to Clayton Beach with my parents this weekend so I definitely celebrated the happy weather this weekend. Back to Etsy, here's what caught my eye this evening.

Flower Market Soap Collection from Satin and Birch
Hibiscus Passion Vegan Soap from Blushi
So Happy Together from Goddess in a Lather

Meringue Hand Soap Set from Mojo Spa Style
Mango Tango Confetti from A Slice of Delight
Blue Hawaii Shea and Cocoa Butter from KBShimmer

Watermelon Flower Shea Butter Soap from So Stinking Sweet
Bubblegum-Neon-Rainbow from Bubble Bones
Pink Heart with Swallow from So Fino
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Gorgeous Ways to Package Your Creations
5/12/2010
So much time is spent planning and executing your soap recipe. Don't you want your packaging to reflect that? Your answer should be YES! Lisa Johnson, from Poppy Paperie, shows us some creative and inspiring examples of charming soap packaging over on her blog.

Soaps were made with the Slim Square Mold, and Ice Cream Toy.
Learn how to embed toys HERE on SoapQueen.TV.

Soap was made with the Slim Square Mold with Hungarian Lavender and the rubber stamping technique. Learn how to Rubber Stamp your soap HERE on SoapQueen.TV.

Made with the Soapylove IceCream Cone Mold and Mint Chocolate Chip Fragrance Oil. See Soapylove's IceCream tutorial HERE.

Gasp! I'm so impressed with Lisa's soapmaking and packaging talent. Check out Lisa's Blog for a full tutorial on how to package your soaps like a rock star (Click HERE)! Make sure that you read all the way to the end of the Poppy Paperie blog post, you could have a chance to win a Bramble Berry gift certificate for $25! Good luck!

Check the other Bramble Berry resources on soapmaking...
Watch: SoapQueen.TV
Learn: Teach Soap
Join: Bramble Berry on Facebook
Connect: Bramble Berry on Twitter
Belong: Teach Soap Forum
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Pure Illumination and Inspiration
5/11/2010 Bramble Berry customer service received super inspirational email the other day from Miranda Coggins, the owner of The Lano Company, where she sells the booming LED Lip Gloss Line. The coolest part is that she's a Bramble Berry Customer. We're so proud! Check out the press release below and thanks for letting us share this, Miranda!
Stay-At-Moms and Recently Unemployed Help Support Local Business
Pride in Their Resident Entrepreneur Spreads Teamwork

Raymore, MO – The Lano Company experienced such an explosion of business after their Fall launch of the Pure Illumination LED lip gloss line, they had to get creative. Once a business that owner Miranda Coggins developed from her stovetop and ran from a home office, now has grown to exciting levels!

"This winter when gloss orders were pouring in, I had to figure out how to fill over 10,000 glosses by the end of the week!" Owner Miranda Coggins states. The days of filling 300 glosses in an afternoon with her girlfriends, had quickly come to an end. As exciting as the need to fill thousands of glosses, Miranda also found it quite daunting! Her team got creative and started recruiting stay-at-home Moms and both recently unemployed men and women from their local community.

The first day was trial and error, but by the end of the month, and 40,000 glosses later, the system was nearly perfected! Instead of three girlfriends around the small kitchen counter, the crew was now moved to the basement bar-top with a crew of close to 20! "Initially we thought finding that many people available to work in the middle of the day would be difficult!" said Miranda. She soon learned, there were many in her community that enjoyed the opportunity. They recruited a few close friends, and soon the news spread! People came together to not only work, but to support Miranda and their love of the product she had developed.

Miranda's production team hard at work.

Raymore, Missouri is a small community where some might say, “everyone knows everyone!” In this instance that’s been a positive thing! Miranda and Layne, her husband and business partner, have lived in Raymore for over 20 years. When the success of The Lano product line spread, everyone knew of Miranda and she was soon affectionately coined, “The Lip Gloss Lady.”

“I think the combination of Miranda's outgoing personality and devotion to her gloss definitely helped her recruit us to be a part of the excitement!” Carrie McGrew, family friend and lip gloss filler said . Curiosity of how lip gloss is made, poured and packaged intrigued many to give it a try as well.

"I worked the first day basically because I loved the product and wanted to help, but now it's nice to feel like I'm a part of something exciting!" Said Ashley Lorenc, a repeat gloss filler. The community has a sense of ownership and pride when it comes to their Pure Illumination lip gloss. Walk into the local “pub” and ask about light up lip gloss and more than one person can tell you about Miranda and they probably have a Pure Illumination gloss in their purse!

The Lano Company has also become involved in community Fund Raising, working with the Missouri PTA, several salon distribution companies and of course their nationwide vendors.

To find out more about Miranda Coggins, The Lano Company and her Pure Illumination Line, contact her at (816) 809-9453 as well as by email MirandaCoggins(at)Comcast(dot)net. The website has extensive information and several other products at www.TheLanoCompany.com

# # #

Be sure to check out the The Lano Company Blog, too!
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Soapy Cupcakes by Riverlea Soap
4/14/2010 Odette Handly is the owner of Riverlea Soap and makes these realistic and adorable cupcake soaps. I love 'em to pieces!

Three quick fire questions for Odette:

Anne-Marie: How long have you been making soap?
Odette: I am self taught but have only been making for about 3 years. I studied Fashion design and worked as a fashion buyer and then worked for myself making wedding dresses and ball gowns. But I broke my vertebra in my lower back and was told by the surgeon that I would be unable to sit for long periods of time. The recovery time for a back operation is LONG. This is a problem if you sew. I then needed a backup plan to make money after the operation. Something I could do standing up - I found a book that my sister had bought me on making soap and that was the beginning. I have not looked back. Every day brings something new with exciting ideas.

Anne-Marie: Your cupcake soap is incredible! What’s your top selling flavor of cupcake soap?
Odette: Pink floral outsells anything else by far with Lavender a close second.

Anne-Marie: What is your number one business goal for the remainder of 2010?
Odette: To improve sales/exposure in Johannesburg and Cape Town - the two biggest cities in South Africa. I have just recently started selling there and I need to concentrate more on those areas.

Anne-Marie: Thanks Odette and keep up the good work!

Check out Odette's blog HERE and buy some of her Soaps HERE.
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Working Overtime: Christy Rose of KBShimmer
4/6/2010 I recently finished filming 2 advanced cold process episodes of Soap Queen TV with special guest, Christy Rose of KBShimmer (see blog post here). These video tutorials are going to be amazing! She is such a talented soap artist and was a joy to work with. We had a blast on set. I'm so thrilled that Christy was recently interviewed for the Etsy blog. It's a must read article if you're in the mood for a little inspiration. Christy can do it all!

Christy Rose

Working Overtime: Christy Rose of KBShimmer
"Sometimes you'd like to quit your day job, but life gets in the way. We asked Christy of KBShimmer to share her story about her struggle to carve out creative time despite the realities of everyday. Christy is a member of three Teams on Etsy (SAFE Team, Crafting In Color Team and the IN Crowd Team) and says that the support of Teammates has been one of the reasons why she enjoys selling on Etsy. Currently working in real estate, below is the story of why she has chosen to balance both a full-time job outside the home, and running her company, KBShimmer.

I think deep down, most artists would like to quit their day job. Thoughts of leaving the daily grind behind and working for no one but yourself dance among dreams of the next painting, the next photo, the next batch of soap. Nonstop sales, steady earnings, supporting yourself on nothing but income from your art is positive proof that the world appreciates your skills and values your art.

I know those thoughts have danced in my head. Sometimes though, those dreams do have to wait.

KBShimmer began even before I realized it. When returning from a trip, my mother gave me a simple bar of soap. I loved the way it felt — creamy bubbles, soft scent, and when it was gone, I wanted more. Poring over books, I found a recipe, located supplies and made my first batch. Years later, long after that soap was gone and that batch forgotten, I walked into a bath and body store, and again fell in love. "You can make that," said my husband, and I knew he was right. I could, and this time, I knew that it was more then a passing fancy, this was a passion; a passion I knew I wanted to turn into a business..."

Read the entire interview on Etsy HERE

This is one of the soap batches Christy made on the set of Soap Queen TV.
Although this episode won't be ready until this summer, check in this Thursday for our first installment in our in-depth Cold Process Soapmaking Series.

Beautiful KBShimmer Soap piled high!
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Lessons from the Mall - Guest Blog
2/26/2010
Guest Blog by Funlayo Alabi of Shea Radiance
(Anne-Marie note: When I saw Funlayo's story at the Indie Beauty Network site, I was impressed with the business lessons she imparted and hope that her story will help many Soap Queen readers when they are planning for the upcoming 2010 Holiday Season. Thinking about renting a mall kiosk? Read this first for practical real-world experience and advice).
Like most Indie businesses, I am always looking for ways promote my brand and get our products into more hands. In a quest to achieve this goal we decided lease a booth during the holiday season at Columbia Mall. Columbia Mall is about 10 minutes from my house and I know the Mall demographics fit perfectly within our target market.
As you can imagine, mall rents are ridiculously high especially during the holiday. We estimated our revenues based on how much we did at farmers markets, festivals and other shows and thought we would make a pretty decent profit being in a mall 7 days a week, 10 hours a day.
We signed the dotted line and loaded up our kiosk with product, banners and sales material. We hired 2 wonderful young ladies to work during the hours I couldn't be there. We were ready for business. The first day, we made $75.00, the next day $50.00 and on the third day we made no sales at all.
All I could see were dollars slowly draining out of my account for rent and wages and no commensurate revenues coming in. What did we miss in the course of our decision making process and how could we turn things around quickly.
We learned some quick lessons that I believe helped turn our failing venture around.
Lessons # 1 You have to put yourself out there and hussle
There is no way around this in the mall. You are competing with several other vendors and shoppers who do not want to be bothered. Unless you are an established brand, you cannot survive the mall without standing up and inviting people to try your products. The mall shopper has a very different shopping mindset from the shopper who purchases from Green Festivals and Farmers Market type outlets. The typical mall shopper is in the Mall for with a particular store in mind and is trying to get in and out very quickly.
What we did.
Years of doing markets gave us the confidence to know that once a customer sampled our shea butter product, they would be inclined to buy it, if not immediately then later. We came up with several ways to get the busy and distracted shoppers to stop and take notice of our kiosk by doing the following:
- Big vivid signage that told part of our unique story
- Audio visuals showing the shea butter making process in Africa
- Free product samples
- Smile, greet and invite people into the kiosk without being pushy and overbearing.
Managing the Costs
There are costs associated with selling in a Mall kiosk that go beyond the kiosk rental.
1. Payroll - you may have to use a payroll service to ensure that tax and other withholdings are done correctly
2. Liability Insurance - The Mall required that we carry higher liability limits than what we had.
3. Workman's Compensation Insurance is required by my State
4. Other State Licensing and Registration fees required to sell in the mall.
5. Cost of Product Samples
6. Equipment such as a Credit Card Machine and Cash Register
In addition to this Mall hours are long especially during the holidays. Plan for additional staffing costs to keep booth open for 12 hours when needed.
What we Gained
There were lots of wonderful benefits we gained from having a kiosk at the Mall this past holiday
- Increased sales revenues - As we did demos and handed out samples we got a loyal following that came back to buy gifts during the holidays. The repeat business increased our confidence. Customers were now coming to the mall looking for us.
- Increased exposure - We got featured in the Specialty Retail Report - Carts Across America which has led to more interest in our company. Another magazine editor based in the Baltimore area contacted us to do a feature on our products
- Contacts from local businesses in my area wanting to network with us
Some final thoughts on the Mall.
The two months we spent at the mall were very valuable, they were also very tough. The hours are grueling, and when an associates call out sick or doesn't show up you can end up working some real long hours. We manufacture our own products, so we stayed pretty busy between the mall and production. The cost of kiosk rental and wages really ate into our bottom line.
It was a great experience, but I don't recommend it for everyone. If you are thinking about it, please feel free to talk to someone who has done it in order to fully understand all the potential pitfalls.
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Valentine Eye Candy
2/9/2010
Ahhh...Love is in the air. I'm off to Seattle today for business meetings and continuing education but I couldn't leave without sharing these adorable expressions of bubbly love. Check out these super cute Valentine's Day Soaps (all available from Etsy).

Black Metal Love Conversation Hearts by Vanessa Elise

Strawberry Tart Vegan Soap from Ohxcrap

Valentines Day Honey Rain from Terra Secrets

Sealed with A Kiss Vegan Soap by The Sugarthooth Dragon

She Drive Me Crazy Valentine Soap by So Stinking Sweet

Felted Soap for your Valentine by Bogate Designs

Sweet Heart Soap by Naked Garden

My Heart dark Chocolate Raspberry by KB Shimmer

The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
I Love Milk and Cookeez - Two Scoops
11/18/2009 We're baaaaack! Grab your afternoon snack (milk and cookies of course) and enjoy the rest of the Milk and Cookeez interview! See the first half of the interview here!

Milk and Cookeez Website
Ice Cream and Clean Bath Shoppe Website

After the Bath Blog
Milk and Cookeez on Twitter

Anne-Marie: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you like to do when you’re not creating for Milk and Cookeez?

Tammy: When I am not creating I spend time with the fam. I have 3 children, a 10 year old daughter, who I might add is my biggest fan, and 6 year old and 2 year old boys. They keep me grounded and focused. I enjoy volunteering my time with my daughter’s Cheerleading Squad and gardening.

Anne-Marie: What is your favorite thing about running your own business?

Tammy: I love making people smile. I also love knowing that I am giving them a high quality bath and body product that doesn’t just look fun it is really good for you. I also enjoy knowing that I make the decisions on what products I use and what I can neglect to offer, it goes along with the Type A thing.

Anne-Marie: What’s the best advice you can give to someone who wants to start their own business?

Tammy: Research everything! Ask lots of questions, there are many wonderful people that are more than willing to help you. I joined the Indie Business Network to receive my insurance, but I would be remiss not to mention all of the amazing support that the IBN has offered.

Anne-Marie: What’s your favorite product to make?

Tammy: Right now it is Melt and Pour Soaps. I change every few months, last month it was Scoopz. I am so into manipulating the soap to make not only a molded soap, but a whole new product.

Anne-Marie: What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?

Tammy: I have 2, is that ok? I adore your Holiday Candy Fragrance Oil. This is the fragrance that has become our signature Sweeteez fragrance. It is the perfect combination of sweet and yummy, just like Milk and Cookeez. I also love your Like-Cold-Process Melt and Pour soap. I love the way that it does not sweat and has no detergents in it. I won’t use a detergent based M&P.

Anne-Marie: Final thoughts? Anything you want Soap Queen readers to know about Milk and Cookeez?

Tammy: Milk and Cookeez make great gifts and favors that not only look sweet, but are good for you too. I love working with customers and making products that make people smile. Who doesn’t smile when they see a cupcake or an ice cream cone? I know that I sure do.

Milk and Cookeez Website
Ice Cream and Clean Bath Shoppe Website
After the Bath Blog
Milk and Cookeez on Twitter

Anne-Marie: Thanks, Tammy, for letting me pick your brain! Good luck with the new Ice Cream and Clean Shoppe and keep us updated with your favorite new products!
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
I love Milk and Cookeez
11/17/2009 A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon the cutest website called Milk and Cookeez. I was so enamored with the cuteness factor that I bought some goodies that (thankfully!) came in the mail shortly after my splurge for practically instant gratification. I was so enamored with my purchases that I contacted Tammy (the owner) and she graciously agreed to a Soap Queen Interview. Yesssss!

Milk and Cookeez Website
Ice Cream and Clean Bath Shoppe Website

After the Bath Blog
Milk and Cookeez on Twitter
Anne-Marie: Is this a full time or part business (or just a fun hobby)?

Tammy: I would have to say, it’s a full time job with part time pay. Having 2 websites, a blog, and keeping up with social media definitely takes time. Then adding in production, designing, and product sourcing- it takes at least 40 hours a week. I love every minute of it though and wouldn’t change a thing.

Anne-Marie: I love your website! Do you have any other outlets?

Tammy: Right now we are mainly focused on the website. In a few weeks I will be doing my first ever Holiday Boutique. I am anxiously awaiting my first real step at working in a shop. I also sell my products wholesale across the USA. Right now I sell my cupcakez in a local cupcake shop, a few different products in a All Girl Spa in NJ, a Gift shop in Laguna Beach, CA, and a pet spa in WI (it’s a people line).

Anne-Marie: Your bath cupcakez, cookeez and soaps are so detailed! How do you have time for it all? What type of things do you outsource?

Tammy: Thank you for the compliment. I adore details. To me details make or break products, whether they are bath and body, home décor, or fashion. Details are necessary. I must say that as I have grown and become more comfortable with what I do and learned a lot more, I have really added to my products.

As far as outsourcing, I don’t. It’s a bit of a “Type A” thing. I like control. Right now I am working with a wonderful Cold Process Soap Artist, Kristy from Kristy’s Lovely Lathers. She has designed and made my newest line, Sweeteez. Sweeteez is Milk and Cookeez self proclaimed, Signature fragrance. I make the “coordinating products” while Kristy makes the most luscious and beautiful, Sweeteez, Cold Processed Goats Milk Soap.

Anne-Marie: I loved your tub taffy and cookeez! How long did it take you to perfect these recipes and the look you were going for? I used the tub taffy the other night and felt super moisturized when I got out of the tub.

Tammy: Thank you again. Cookeez took awhile. As I mentioned before, I’m not a baker, so I had a few "not so good" batches before I perfected the recipes for all of the cookeez. I love the tub taffy. While it is a very monotonous task to make it, I love what it does for skin. Olive butter is a fantastic butter and I don’t ever see myself changing this recipe. It works so well and is so good for dry skin.

The look that I like is a bit of vintage, with a fun, whimsical feeling. I like to think back to things that I liked as a kid and bring them out in my work. The cookeez are packaged just like a bag of cookeez. I even buy my bags from a local Cake and Candy shop. The tub taffy is reminiscent of a day at the boardwalk in Atlantic City. I have fond memories of watching the taffy puller make all of the luscious salt water taffy then making a small bag of my favorite kinds (my favorite being Neapolitan).

Anne-Marie: Tell us about your new Ice Cream and Clean Bath Shoppe!

Tammy: Ice Cream and Clean is a “Cool division of Milk and Cookeez”. All of the products that are sold at Ice Cream and Clean are of a “cool” nature. We sell our beloved Scoopz and have now added a Scoopz on a Cone option. You can choose from 3 different soap cone fragrances to enhance your tub soak. They are a true bath experience; you can get “Ice Cream and Clean”. We also carry a wide variety of Soapylove’s Soapy Pops and our own Soapopz, which are our take on Soap pops. Finally, we offer Icy Slushy Scrubs, a combination of organic cane sugar, Mango & Shea Butter, and Melt and Pour Soap. They are individual sized mini Ice cubes that clean, scrub, and moisturize all in one. Ice Cream and Clean follows the same ideals as Milk and Cookeez: Yummy fun for you and your tub.
Milk and Cookeez Website
Ice Cream & Clean Bath Shoppe Website
After the Bath Blog
Milk and Cookeez on Twitter

Check back in tomorrow for more Milk and Cookeez fun!! Tammy and I have a lot more to talk about!
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Shop Nostalgia {Organic Soaps & Toiletries}
10/20/2009 Back to the Nostalgia life. If you missed the first part of this interview get caught up HERE. Now, if you don't mind, Elea and I are going to pick up where we left off...
Anne-Marie: Your packaging is adorable! How long did it take to perfect the look you were going for?

Elea: A long time! It took me well over two years to finish all the designs on the fabrics and papers that house the soap. From concept to completion, it generally takes about 2 months for me to design the packaging for each product. I have drawers full of sample bottles, jars, boxes, papers and just about every type of packaging you can think of – that I experiment with until I finally decided on the direction to take. But, I love designing and drawing and sketching out new ideas for the fabrics and prints – so that part never really feels like work. But, I’m my own worst critic so it does take me quite a long time. I also carefully consider packaging for its recycled or recyclable content or try to offer packaging that can be repurposed after the product is gone. So, it’s a slow, nail-biting process, but seeing the joy on people’s faces when they touch the little bows and giggle at the bluebirds – makes it all worthwhile.

Anne-Marie: Where do you find your inspiration?

Elea: I draw inspiration from a lot of different sources, but most of it comes from my childhood and grandmother. I love the purity and wonder of childhood. And, somehow, for me, that directly correlates to offering wholesome, natural products. However, my grandmother is definitely the biggest source of my inspiration. She was just a really special lady that took time to consider even the tiniest detail – if she thought it would put a smile one someone’s face. For example, she would hand-embroider flowers and birds and things on my pillowcases because she knew I loved it. So in her spirit, I try to add happy little details like that in my collection. I’m also inspired by the color palettes and imagery from of my grandmother’s day.

Anne-Marie: Tell us a little bit about yourself on a personal level. What do you like to do when you’re not making soap?

Elea: I love spending time with my family and discovering new things with my 2-year-old son. We have our daily outings together that I really cherish. We walk to the park, journey to the zoo or play silly games like hide and seek. I also love traveling, watching a good movie or trying new restaurants with my husband. If I’m not doing any of that – I’m probably crafting something.

Anne-Marie: What’s your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?

Elea: Bramble Berry has so many wonderful products – that’s a tough choice. But, I love their awesome selection of organic essential oils and botanical extracts.

Anne-Marie: Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Elea! Good luck with your business and keep us updated! We want to know the latest and greatest with Nostalgia!

If the packaging isn't cute enough as is, the wrapper that comes around the soap is a set of instructions on how to reuse the bag. The instructions on my Sweet Orange Soap teaches me how to turn my cute bag into chicken shaped egg cozy. I haven't attempted yet but I'll let you know how it goes!

Nostalgia Bl og
Nostalgia Website
Wholesale Information
Nostalgialife on Twitter

The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Shop Nostalgia {Organic Soaps & Toiletries}
10/19/2009 "Nostalgia Life: The simple, natural pleasures. Taking time to laugh with our children, nurture friendships and watch a butterfly’s erratic flight. Enjoy a warm cup of honey tea and give thanks to all the beautiful things around us."

Elea Lutz is the founder of one very cool soap company, Nostalgia (yes, that's her adorable baby picture below). There are so many things that I absolutely LOVE about her company. Elea takes pride in using natural ingredients, a portion of her profits are donated and her designs are off the charts cute! So sit back, relax, and let's get to know Elea...

Anne-Marie: I always have to know... how did you get started making soap and balms?

Elea: I started experimenting with handmade soaps and balms about 9 years ago – purely out of curiosity. I enjoyed mixing and testing ingredients and learning how they all worked together. I had a particular interest in natural essential oils and herbs and the benefits they provided so I also started taking classes and reading a lot of books on the subject. I worked full time in the corporate world until a few years ago when my son was born. So my ‘experiments’ were just a fun way to feed my creativity and interests. However, during my pregnancy, I started creating my own products, such as belly balm and aromatherapy spray for morning sickness, because I couldn’t find similar products or 100% natural versions in stores. Developing those products, paired with my love of design, really planted the seed for my future business.

Anne-Marie: Is Nostalgia Organics a full time or part time job?

Elea: Full time.

Anne-Marie: What’s your favorite product to make?

Elea: If I had to choose – hmm…I’d say the aromatherapy balms. I get to bring out some of my favorite essential oils, like ylang-ylang and neroli, to blend. The studio smells heavenly!

Anne-Marie: Do you have any other outlets (farmer’s market, retail shop)?

Elea: I have an online retail shop at www.nostalgiaorganics.com. I also recently started offering my collection at wholesale to other retailers and am excited to now have products in several boutiques and spas. I’ll also be participating in some upcoming local holiday shows.

Anne-Marie: What’s the best thing about running your own business?

Elea: Freedom and creativity are the first words that come to mind. I love the freedom to set my own schedule and work around time with my son and husband. It’s not unusual to find me checking emails or tweeting something (grin) at 3am when the house is quiet. I’m also very creative and enjoy developing a business that is design focused – from the fabrics and prints down to every tiny detail – I design everything and love the creative outlet.

Anne-Marie: You're very philanthropic; how did you get get started with the Beautiful Survivor program?

Elea: The Beautiful Survivor is a grass-roots effort I began developing alongside Nostalgia Organics. Beautiful Survivor was inspired by my own loss of a grandmother to ovarian cancer and dear friend to leukemia. I volunteer and partner with non-profit programs and contribute a portion of my profits towards nurturing women and girls with cancer. For the past several years, I’ve participated with our local Light the Night Walk (lightthenight.org) to help raise funds towards battling blood cancers. This year I also began contributing to Face in the Mirror (faceinthemirror.org), a Phoenix-based outreach program that provides chemical-free skin care products, hand massages and wigs or scarves to women in local hospitals. The Beautiful Survivor program has always been paired with my vision for Nostalgia Organics. I wanted to create a business that gave back to its community when and where it could through some type of outreach – and this cause was a natural choice for me.

Anne-Marie: Giving back is so important and admirable! On that positive note, let's take a little intermission. Same place, same time. See you tomorrow!

The photos in this blog post are all part of the fabulous order that had all the girls (and me!) in customer service squealing with excitement.

Nostalgia Blog
Nostalgia Website
Wholesale Information
Nostalgialife on Twitter

The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Little Bitty Soap Company Interview
10/13/2009
Gillian DeConto is the owner of the Little Bitty Soap Company out of British Columbia. She's also the only Certified Soapmaker in all of British Columbia and one of two in the entire nation of Canada (pretty cool). Oh, and did I mention she won 'Best Soap' at the Handmade Soap Guild Annual Conference this year? She is one talented soapmaker! Check out her bio here and the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild here. I purchased some soap from her a couple of weeks ago and I just LOVE them. They were large, hard bars with fabulous lather, fragrance and design. I split them up with the girls in customer service and the reviews were smashing! Gillian was so sweet and agreed to share some of her secrets on the Soap Queen Blog. Here's what I found out about Gillian...

Anne-Marie: How did you get started making soap?

Gillian: I was visiting my sister and was having a shower. She had the most marvelous soap in the shower, it was a peppermint goats milk soap. Well, I instantly fell in love with it's creamy, bubbly, minty goodness. It was made by her friend, so I figured if her friend could make it, then certainly I could too. So, a trip to the library and the grocery was next, then I measured, melted and mixed. Woohoo, magic in the soap pot. That was it, instant addiction, he he he. That was over 10 year ago.

Anne-Marie: I know what you mean about instant addiction, ha ha. Do you have any other outlets other than your website?

Gillian: Yes, I love the local farmer's market and go every Friday. It is my favourite place to sell soaps. I also do several craft and Christmas shows in the fall and, of course, my website.

Anne-Marie: What inspires your soapy designs?

Gillian: Inspiration is all around us. I get ideas from all different sources from art work, to spring napkins to wall paper. When I see something visually appealing, my mind automatically starts to think in terms of soap...Can I make a design like that? Could I combine those colours? what would that look like? How could I make that effect in soap? I can't help it. It’s where my brain goes.

Anne-Marie: I can relate to that too! Do you ever follow trends or customer requests?

Gillian: This is a standing joke around our house, because I like to buck trends, and what other soapmakers are making. For example: swirling. I like a pretty swirl, but I think there is so much more out there that can be done with swirls and so many other cool designs other than swirls. I do take special requests and also design custom soap bars, but my designs are mostly my own whims.

Anne-Marie: How long do you spend on your more intricate soaps?

Gillian: When I am playing with a new idea or concept, I may make several batches as I learn what works and how I want to change it, or new colour combination I want to try. Sometimes, it takes a couple of tries to figure out how to create a certain look. I have been known to spend several hours on a single batch, but generally, it takes only an hour or two for most of my designs.

Anne-Marie: What are your interests and hobbies when you are not soapmaking?

Gillian: I am a busy mother of 4 and also run a small ranch. I love my animals, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, cats, dogs, ducks and guinea fowl. I also have a large garden that I enjoy and keeps me busy. I have quite a few hobbies that keep me busy, knitting, baking, cooking, hunting, fishing, reading, 4-H, and I am working very hard this year as a board member of the HSMG.

Anne-Marie: Do you have any advice for those wanting to start their own business?

Gillian: 1. Pay someone to do the jobs that you are not good at and/or detest. For example, I am a horrible procrastinator when it comes to book work. I really despise it. So, I pay someone a modest amount monthly to do my books. I am so much happier and it is money well spent.
2. This industry, soap and candle making, is very artistic and creative.
Remember to think outside the box and go ahead and create those fun new products and designs.
3. Join a professional Trade organization. The support, information, education etc. is invaluable to small businesses.

Anne-Marie: Thank you so much for the insight into your "little bitty" business. Keep us updated on your latest and greatest soapy designs!

This soap won the Best CP/HP Appearance "picture"
in the 2009 HMSG Soapers Showcase. Congrats Gillian!

These are the fabulous soaps that I ordered from Gillian.
Do you want to learn how to make cold process soap? Get started with our Cold Process Kit or Cold Process DVD.
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Watermelon, Soap Stones & Vegan
9/19/2009
Watermelon Soap by Sweet Body

Unique Sea Sponge Soap by Soft Shell Body Shop

Men's Shaving Soap & Stand by Red Leaf

Chinese Inspirational Soap Stones by Spotted Cow Soaps

Essential Lavender Soap by Swan Mountain Soaps

Kiss Me and Make it Good Lip Balm by Funktional Spa

Honey Almond Soap by Southern Vermont Soap

Dazed and Confused Vegan Soap by Yummy Suds

Blue Chamomile Soap by Swan Mountain Soaps
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Soapy Halloween Finds
9/13/2009
Last night I was completely distracted on Etsy (I know, you must be shocked). Here are the cute Halloween soaps that gave me googly eyes. (Halloween, you ask? Yes, Halloween is less than 48 days away and the perfect soap takes time to concoct!)

Sweet Pumpkin Spice Paradise Body Shop

Batty Bubbles Halloween Soap by AJ Sweet Soap

Eye Soap by Bunny Bubbles

Candy Corn Soap Smokey Mountain Scents

Sparkly Skull Soap by Rose Valley Soaps

Bats and Moon Hand Painted Soap by Palm Breezes

Ghost Soap by Carvel County Soapworks

Spinning Spider Felted Soap Persnickety Pelican

I hope you got some Sunday Inspiration from this post for your own ghoulish soapy creations.
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Unique Uses for Mica
9/8/2009 Steve Satushek is a Bellingham resident that has traveled all over the world to find inspiration for his photography. He recently started painting. He visits our retail store, Otion, to purchase mica for his artwork. Big thanks to Kat over at Otion for alerting me to this super cool use of micas. I was blown away when I saw Steve's work and I hope you're equally inspired.

"Macre 2" is made of opalescent mica for a shell look.

"Planet C" is made of metallic and glittery mica.

I was so inspired by his artwork that I emailed Steve to ask if we could blog about him. Luckily he agreed. Here's what I asked and his answers...

Anne-Marie: How long have you been practicing your craft? How did you get started?

Steve Satushek: I have been working with resin (several kinds of polyurethanes and epoxies) for the last 3 years but I only do this in the warm part of the year. I have a big workshop with giant doors that I open so I am almost working outside. I use a very good mask as the fumes can be nasty. I do my photography compositing work at my computer in the cold months with my nice heated floor under my feet. Professional photography has been my career for more than 20 years.

Anne-Marie: How did you stumble upon micas and oxides for your artwork?

Steve Satushek: Over the last several years my wife and family and I have been doing many outdoor art projects at our place outside of Bellingham. One of my missions is to bring artwork to our outdoor sanctuary in ways not usually done. We have many 3'x4' weather-proof photos hanging on the side of our house (printed at Appplied D igital Imaging). On my website you may have found the spot called "installations" that shows some of these prints. I also wanted to make paintings, that could be outdoors, hence, the resins. The clear medium is used on big trucks and airliners so it should last a long time outside. UV rays will eventually take their toll, but part of my quest is to find out firsthand what the longevity will be- so far so good.

I started out using liquid acid stains on white cement and I love the look but there are limited colors. I used some powdered pigments on our cements columns that we made in our Mediterranean entryway. I had no idea how to apply the color so I painted on a sticky, milky, medium let it get tacky and then applied the pigment with a dry brush with a plastic bag to catch most of the powder. I had no idea if it would stay on, but it has held up very well for the last 5 years. It was just a progression of trying everything I could get my hands on from there. I am somewhat of a mad scientist always using products in ways they were never intended for. So when I call up the tech reps at some industrial company they probably are chuckling at my ideas while they are trying to figure out what I am doing.
Anne-Marie: I can relate to that, Steve. I'm always trying new things with soap and sometimes that means asking the weird questions. Thanks for letting us blog about you and good luck with all of your projects! You're an inspiration!

Check out his Artist's Statement and visit his website here. You can purchase some of his stock photos here and here. And, if you're lucky enough to live in my neck of the woods, hopefully Steve will do a gallery show soon. When I hear of one, I'll let you know!
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
So Quick, So Perfect - Marbled Soap
9/6/2009
How incredible do these soaps from the Marbled Soap Tutorial look? They're not mine! But, they are perfection in a bar. Congrats to Mosaic Soaps for doing such a great job with her soaps. They look just like the original tutorial - talk about following directions to a T! You can follow her on TwitPic here, Twitter here, Facebook here (how's that for being engaged in a cohesive social media strategy?) Be sure to view her entire product line and buy her soaps here. I heart her swirled soaps - they're colorful, classy and appealing.
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
"Leaves" from Whidbey Island
9/2/2009
This cute little Etsy shop is run out of my neck of the woods, the beautiful Whidbey Island. Tabetha, the owner, started making soap just for fun. But when she was joined by her two teen daughters, Emma and Kaylee, the family business was up and running.

The packaging of the soap leaves really stands out. It's sophisticated and classy. The soap leaves are nice one-time-use soap leaves that look gorgeous in a soap dish or can be taken on a backpacking trip.

I ordered Spring, Winter and Summer Soap Leaves, the Strawberry Bundt Cake, the Whimsical Watermelon and the Herbal Infusion bar soap. Everything was fabulous but the Watermelon Soap and Spring Soap leaves were the fan favorites in the Bramble Berry office. In fact, Holly in Customer Service loved the Watermelon Soap so much that I gave her the bar to take home.

Follow Essence Aromatics on Twitter and visit Essence Atomatics on Etsy
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Kristy's Lovely Lathers Part Deux
8/26/2009
If you missed the first interview from Kristy's Lovely Lathers, catch up here. Now, back to Kristy and her fabulous soaps!

Anne-Marie: What’s your favorite soap to make?

Kristy: I would say it would be the floral musk that will be coming up on Etsy soon. It looks like a birthday cake, lol.

Anne-Marie: What type of things do you outsource? Or is it a one woman operation?

Kristy: I’m a one woman show.

Anne-Marie: What is the best advice you can give to someone who dreams about starting their own business?

Kristy: Test, test, test. People can get hurt if you don’t test your soaps long enough or do enough research on it before selling. Also, don’t expect people to handout everything to you, you learn more by doing things yourself. I made a lot of soap before I got it right. I had a lot of wonderful people on the forums help me with questions, but I had to learn things on my own too. Start out slow, not gung ho. You can go overboard and buy too many things you will end up selling later because you didn’t use it. Then you lose money.

Anne-Marie: What's your favorite Bramble Berry product?

Kristy: I would say my favorite product is the Lavender Chamomile Huggies Fragrance Oil, which I wish were in smaller batches. I also love the Oatmeal, Milk and Honey and Cherry Almond fragrance oils. They are the best! Omg, and the Chocolate Espresso! I love making tarts with this.

Anne-Marie: Anything we missed? Is there anything else you want Soap Queen reader’s to know about you?

Kristy: I always like to try to make something once. It might take me a while to get it right but once I do, I’m happy. I like to make liquid soap for our personal use and family members. I like to make transparent soap too. I have a tutorial on Miller’s Soap website for transparent soap if anyone wants to try it. It’s very rewarding to make soap you can actually see through. Don’t’ let the alcohol scare you. I also make lotion, lotion bars, and lip balms.

Anne-Marie: Thanks for chatting with us, Kristy!

Be sure to check out Kristy's Lovely Lathers and see the cuteness factor for yourself.

Lemon Lavender Goat's Milk Soap

Ocean Waves Goat's Milk Soap
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
Kristy's Lovely Lathers
8/25/2009
Kristy is the owner of Kristy's Lovely Lathers, a "One Woman Show" soap company out of Ohio. I stumbled upon her Etsy shop one morning and instantly fell in love with her soaps. They were too cute not to buy. So (naturally) I bought 4 fabulous bars! Once I received my soaps I had to contact Kristy to rant and rave. I'm so happy she agreed to participate in a Soap Queen interview. SCORE!
Anne-Marie: How did you get started in Soapmaking? How long have you been making soap?

Kristy: I have been making soap for almost 3 ½ years. I started making soap after visiting my husband’s cousin’s wife, Bonnie, in Atlanta, GA. We went to stay for a week and I walked up to the bar in her kitchen and noticed these bars of something on a plate. I asked Bonnie what they were and she said “Oh those are soaps I made.” I asked “You made these?!” She explained the process to me and I went home surfing the net, bought a soap book and as soon as I got my supplies I made a batch. I was hooked!

Anne-Marie: Is this a full time job or a part time job? A hobby?

Kristy: It started out as a hobby then turned into a part time job. I had so many requests for my soap; I had to make it to sell. I still love it even though it’s a part time job.

Anne-Marie: What's the best part about being self-employed? The worst part?

Kristy: The best part is being able to stay home and do what you want and have fun doing it. The worst part is the marketing. I’m not good at it. I leave that up to my husband. He is always the one to open his mouth and say “Hey my wife makes handmade soaps, do you think you would like to carry them in your shop?” LOL.

Anne-Marie: Do you have any other outlets? Farmer’s market? Craft shows?

Kristy: No, I haven’t had the time to venture out and do that yet. I would love to though.

Anne-Marie: What’s your soapy inspiration?

Kristy: Actually, I get my inspiration from colors of nature or items I see in stores. I was in church one Sunday in the front row and there sat a bouquet of flowers under the pulpit. It had bright yellow lilies and plum colored carnations. I sat there the whole time thinking of a soap to make with those colors. I know I am so bad!

I also lay in bed for hours thinking up different soaps to make after buying new fragrance oil. I start with the name first, for instance Mandarin Bamboo. I think of green and orange, and then I go from there. Instead of sugar plums dancing in my head, I have soap bars dancing in my head! It drives me so crazy sometimes that I can’t sleep until I make the soap the next day. Then I can rest. LOL.

Anne-Marie: How long did it take to perfect the Love Note Soaps? We adore them!

Kristy: LOL, I tried this the first time and it worked perfectly, I haven’t been able to make them the same way since.

Anne-Marie: Tell us a little bit about yourselves on a personal level. What do you like to do when you are not working? Do you have any hobbies outside of soap? Do tell! =)

Kristy: I have a hobby greenhouse and like to start my own flower seeds indoors in the winter then move them in the greenhouse after transplanting. I have a garden going at the moment that is producing tons of corn, melons, tomatoes and cucumbers. I love bird watching also. I tried making candles and I’m not good at it. It’s just too difficult. I love making tarts.I also enjoy sitting on my deck every morning, eating my breakfast and watching the deer in my backyard. I currently have a mother and two fawns with spots that hop around and play in the backyard.

This is one of the fabulous soaps that I purchased.
Love Note Goat's Milk Soap. It smells fresh and fruity.

Marti Gras Goat's Milk Soap

Check back in tomorrow for round two. Kristy and I will be back with more fun and inspiring details from Kristy's Lovely Lathers. See you tomorrow!
The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.
5 Quickfire Questions
8/11/2009
Melissa Hutcheson is the owner and and founder of the Joy of Soap out of Hayward, California. They take pride in making their bath products from organic, natural and sustainably grown ingredients. The fabulous Melissa was kind enough to send us two bars of her handmade creations; Rosy Cheeks Rosemary and Ginger Snap! They are both quality bars of soap with lovely lathers.

Alright, gang, hold on to your seats! It's time for 5 quickfire questions for Melissa. Here we go...

Anne-Marie: How did you get started making soap?

Melissa: I have always enjoyed arts and crafts and making things. I also used to travel quite a bit for work and realized that bath products in the hotels were not so nice for my skin. Once I started researching ingredients and their impact on skin and complexion I understood that I needed to make some changes. I found a great business nearby, The Nova Studio, where I could take a class on how to make soap. Lori Nova, the founder and owner of The Nova Studio is a great teacher and I admire the way she has developed her own niche and business to help others learn new skills. From there I started making soaps from scratch in my kitchen, storing them in the garage and packing them in the dining room. Several months later we built a website and sales started coming in slowly and have been growing steadily over the past year.

Anne-Marie: What’s your favorite part about what you do?

Melissa: The creativity involved. The opportunity to dream big, and to learn (by doing) how to turn the dream into a viable business. There is so much to learn, and so many people out there who want to help small businesses succeed if you just ask for guidance.

Anne-Marie: What’s your favorite Bramble Berry product?

Melissa: The Synergy Blend Essential Oils. These are great essential oil blends that take the guess work out of discovering the right blend of oils. I also like the website layout. It is easy to navigate and provides clear details on all products – thank you!

Anne-Marie: What inspires your recipes?

Melissa: I am inspired by images and scenery; images in nature and in publications. I can easily spend hours exploring gardens, and when I travel I try to visit gardens to learn more about a region’s flora and how they are used in making local beauty products. Ideas come to me when researching ingredients, and from friends, family and people I interact with in all types of settings. Our Shaving Soap was inspired by my acupuncturist based on her knowledge of herbs and personal experience, and my husband inspired our Manly Man Soap which is now our most popular bar.

Anne-Marie: What’s the best advice you can give someone wanting to start their own business?

Melissa: Be patient. Be clear on your goals and set a realistic time line for achieving both small and big goals based on your time and financial resources. You may need to change course along the way in order to achieve a goal, and you may also discover a different focus as well. This is OK, and will ultimately produce a more successful business. Be open to asking and receiving help; it is OK to delegate tasks to people who have experience in areas where you do not. You will save so much energy and worry less if you realize that you do not have to do everything yourself. If you are not having fun anymore it’s time evaluate why and what you need to adjust, change, stop doing, delegate, etc. Stay inspired.

Anne-Marie: Thank you so much, Melissa, for the inspiration and advice. We can't wait to see what's next for the Joy of Soap!

Learn more about the Joy of Soap here:
Joy of Soap is Practicing Green
Joy of Soap Blog
Wholesale Information
Follow Melissa on Twitter

The best soap supplies on the internet are found at Bramble Berry. Click here to browse Bramble Berry.