Each year, we select makers from our community to showcase each month. The goal is to uplift the creators and small businesses that support us, and to inspire beginning makers.
Meet our 2023 Makers! Each interview contains information about how they got started in soap making, what inspires them, and their plans for the future.
January: Three of Cups Soapery
Laura Hubner-Diaz is a full-time mom and geophysicist by day, and soapmaker by night! She takes inspiration from celestial bodies, especially the moon and stars. She describes herself as an eternal optimist and an extrovert.
“Don't give up! Soap making can be tricky and not all designs turn out as you see them in your head but in the end, it's still fabulous soap.”
February: The Body Cove
Brittany from The Body Cove started making soap during a tumultuous time, and was intimidated by the soap making process at first. She took the leap into cold process soap making in 2017 and started selling her own products a year later.
“I absolutely love the recipe formulation process. There is unlimited creative freedom and expression that you can tap into and utilize.”
March: Loam & Lather
Jena from Loam and Lather started making soap after winning some butters that she didn’t know what to do with. Now, she loves the creative outlet that soap making offers. She’s fine tuning her skills in preparation for kicking the business into high gear.
“Do not let what other soap makers share discourage you to create your own! Even the most skilled soap makers were beginners. Everyone brings something unique to the soap making table!”
April: Soap Avenue Co.
While working in a stressful career, Elizabeth from Soap Avenue Co. knew she needed a creative outlet. She thought she wasn’t artistic, but when she started making soap, she was hooked. Now, 7 years later, soap making is her full time career.
“When I started making soap, my father told me his grandparents used to make soap using ash and animal fats, so knowing I have a family history of soap making really gave me the confidence and inspiration I needed.”
May: Dear Botanicals
Emily from Dear Botanicals was just taking a break from her career as a television producer when she stumbled upon soap making. Now she’s growing her own soap making business, finding inspiration in her own Taiwanese heritage.
“There is something just so satisfying about creating a tangible object that is both beautiful and inherently useful.”
June: Sleepy Hollow Handmade
Tim left a job with a soap company, and found that soap making satisfied a creative urge that other artistic pursuits hadn’t. His husband, Joey, encouraged him to make it into a business, and now they own Sleepy Hollow Handmade together.
“Soap making truly seemed like the perfect creative outlet and hobby for me, and it’s definitely an obsession that has only deepened over time.”
July: Coastside Creations
Kimberly learned about soap making from Soap Queen, and was immediately hooked by the creative possibilities. She loves creating things that are beautiful and also good for you. Now, 3 years later, she’s crafting and selling her own bath and body products.
“My biggest inspiration comes from my desire to bring others joy! There is something extra special about knowing that something you make has put a smile on someone else’s face and that they view your items as self care.”
August: Humblebee and Me
Marie started off with making soap, and moved into the world of skincare and hair care with a single batch of lip balm. As she progressed, she started a blog and a YouTube channel to teach other makers how to make their own skincare and hair care products.
“I love researching and experimenting to solve problems in new and enjoyable ways, and then sharing my creations and learnings with others so they can solve some problems, too.”
September: Acryla Creative Studio
Jany did a lot of research before starting her soap making journey, and now she’s making some of the cutest soaps around. She’s also a painter and a sculptor, and she blends her artistic passion and training into soap making to create some really beautiful and unique soap.
“When I’m creating I don’t think of anything else, it’s just me and the process. Being able to incorporate my art into my products is my favorite part!”
October: Amber and Oak
Dani has been a proponent of aromatherapy for a long time, so when the pandemic began she started making scented candles. She is most inspired by simpler times, and using fragrance to evoke stories and memories in the minds of her customers. She started Amber and Oak in 2020, and has been selling handcrafted candles ever since.
“I really enjoy the act of evoking feelings and memories with aromas, and creating a little escape from reality for people.”
November: Sweet Home Soaps
Mandy started with bath bombs, and then made her first batch of cold process soap using her own recipe and our Lye Calculator. She gave some of her soap to friends and family, and they encouraged her to start her own business. Now she loves matching scents with designs in her handmade soap.
“My favorite thing about making soap is matching colors and designs with the fragrance. I can smell a new fragrance and usually see colors in my head.”
If you’re a maker with a small business, tag photos of your work with #BrambleOn for a chance to be featured next year!
