Interview with Shayna of Milkmade Soap Co.
After making cheese, yogurt, and ice cream with the milk from her goats, Shayna with Milkmade Soap Co. (formerly Bearfoot Gypsy Soap Co.) decided it was time to try soap. She makes beautiful bars with natural ingredients like clays and essential oils. Learn more about how Shayna got started, what inspires her, and her soap making tips.
How long have
you been making soap and how did you get started?
I have a small herd of goats and soap making was always on my
“to-do” list of uses for their milk. I originally bought goats
because my youngest son was highly allergic to cow’s milk and I wanted to
give him a good alternative. I made him yogurts, cheeses, and ice cream with the
milk, and my family and I drink it as well. I made my first batch of soap in April
2017, so about a year and a few months ago. I remember because I wanted to make
something special for my dad for Father’s Day. It was a batch of
Sandalwood (goats milk) soap with an in-the-pot swirl made from cacao powder and
walnut shell. I didn’t realize until much later that learning to
make soap with milk instead of water was not the norm. Once I made my first
batch of soap, I was hooked. I wanted to try every soaping technique. I was
mesmerized by soaping tutorials from experienced soapers. I tried recipe
after recipe until I felt confident in creating my own. I guess I just kept creating
and never looked back.
Lavender and Rose Geranium Soap
What advice
would you give to those soap makers just starting their
businesses?
I have always found it hard to find a
balance between the desire to create and good business planning. This
is something I am still working on. But it is so important to set a clear
plan for your business. While I feel that the most important part of being a
handmade artisan is enjoying what you do; you need to set goals and have a written
plan for your business to run smoothly. Sit down, pour a cup of coffee, and figure
out your pricing, your product line, where you want to sell, etc. Once you figure
out what you would like to achieve, go for it! We all do this because it is
something we love! Let that show, pour your heart into your products, give it your
all. Your customers will see the love and care you put in and they will appreciate
your products even more because of
it.
What is your favorite type of product
to make?
Cold process soap! While I enjoy making bath
bombs, candles, and lotions, my love for soap making is what keeps me going. I am
always dreaming up new patterns, color combinations, and scents. I love creating a
usable piece of art that someone will enjoy. I’m still excited every time
I get to cut into a loaf of soap.
What
inspires you to create?
I am inspired by so many
things, it could be a memory, the colors in a garden, a pattern on a dress, a scent,
or even a loved one. My mind is always buzzing with a million ideas. I think I have
always been that way actually. But I get my best ideas when I am not even thinking
about it. When I am relaxed and in a quiet area where my head can clear. Which,
unfortunately, is usually while I’m trying to sleep. Most days
I’m up at 2 a.m., writing down ideas and drawing sketches of soap. But, I
wouldn’t have it any other way. I love every part of the creative
process.
How did you come up with the name
for your business?
The name of my business is
actually based on my childhood. The first part, “Bear,” is based
on Baby Bear. When I was about 4 years old, my favorite book was Goldilocks and the
Three Bears. I made my dad read it to me every night (several times). He read it to
me so much that he started calling me Baby Bear and to this day he still does. It
was one of those nicknames that stuck, even my friends called me BB for
short.
I was a very free-spirited wild child. I hated to brush my hair, and preferred running around in the nude; much to my parents’ dismay. I grew up on a farm and spent most of my days running barefoot through the woods, catching frogs and climbing trees. I wouldn’t come home until I could hear my mother calling me for dinner. Even now you can rarely catch me wearing shoes, unless of course I’m out in public. And, don’t worry – the nude thing was only a phase. I am fully clothed nowadays. So when it came time to pick a name for my business, I didn’t really have to think about it, it is just what best describes me. Barefoot, free spirited, and still a little wild.
What is your
favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
That would
have to be the natural colorants. I have used clays available from other soap making
suppliers but, Bramble Berry by far has the best quality. I especially love
the purple Brazilian clay and the indigo powder. I love
all of the plant-based colorants Bramble Berry offers. I just love the earthy
natural colors they give. It’s hard to find such a nice variety and
quality anywhere else.
What are some of
your other hobbies and interests?
When I’m
not making soap I enjoy painting, redoing old furniture, and baking. I love working
around my small farm and caring for my goats. I’ve just started growing a
small orchard, I have a veggie garden and a small herb garden as well. I work from
home and am a mom to two amazing little boys. Watching them learn and grow is by far
my favorite thing to do.
Tell
us something unusual or unique about yourself.
I was
homeschooled until high school and I just started homeschooling my kids this last
year. We’ve only just started, next year my eldest will be in 1st grade.
At times it’s hard to balance being a mom, being a teacher, and running a
small business from home. But I feel so blessed to be able to stay home
with them and watch their little minds grow. I have so many wonderful memories of
learning from my mother. From poetry to science, from baking to math, she taught me
so much and I hope that my children will one day look back and remember me
the same way I do my mother.
Wild Rose Soap
What is your number one
soap making tip?
Patience, something that took me a
while to learn. From planning out your soap, taking the time to make an intricate
design, waiting to cut the soap, and then the curing time. It all takes a ton of
patience! But, the more you learn to be patient, the better you will be as a
soaper.
Have you ever experienced a soapy
fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Yes, plenty of times! Usually the culprit is a misbehaving essential oil
or fragrance. More than a few times, all was going well with a batch of soap, I add
the scent in and bam! Soap on a stick. The best way I’ve found to avoid
this is soaping at a cooler temperature and whisking in your essential oil instead
of stick blending. I also like to add a well-behaved essential oil in with one I
know will move fast to give me some extra time to work. It can definitely be
frustrating when a batch of soap doesn’t turn out the way you planned. But
with every failure there is knowledge to be gained. Take some notes and try
again.
If you were to
give one of your products to a stranger, what would you choose and
why?
That’s a hard one but, it would have
to be one of my Salt Bars. Most people I meet have never tried salt soap,
which is a shame because it feels so amazing to use. The best way I can describe it
is that it feels like a bubbly exfoliating stone. If I could pick one more, it would
be the Bee Magic bar. It is so soothing, the shea butter and
raw honey give it such a nice creamy lather. It is one of my top choices for anyone
with sensitive or dry skin.
What do you
love most about creating bath and body products?
I
love experimenting and trying new soaping techniques. When I first started making
soap, with each batch I tried a new technique. I love to challenge myself and try
new things.
Soap making has given me a wonderful creative outlet. There are so many possibilities, I don’t think I will ever get tired of it.
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