Teach Soap

Nice story Bruce. I liked the comment about the lavender purple soap and watching the men run. If you ever open that micro-brewery we may have to stop in for one!

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Well I broke all the soaper rules and came into it strictly in an effort to make some money - my husband had just told his boss exactly where he could park his equipment, came home and told me not to worry he was going to start collecting and selling scrap metal. I do have a good job, but I also have a herd of goats who don't always support themselves in the style to which they'd like to be accustomed. I looked at my area, looked at my personal resources (time, space, start-up money etc) and decided to see if I liked making soap. God bless BrambleBerry, I am having a blast...I"m keeping my products fairly basic, using my friends and family as lab rats rather than my customers, and trying to look at the long haul rather than the flash in the pan. I know I'm not the artist some of the soapers on the forums are, but niether were they once upon a time. I've got my nose in someone's forum or soap blog every chance I get trying to learn more, and I'm trying to be very careful, following labeling rules etc carefully, and not claiming my products can cure anything other than dirty hands. And I am really, really enjoying it.

I started making soap because I didn't like the unhealthy ingredients in the soaps that I find in the store. I wanted to make sure I was using something pure that I felt good about using on my skin. Then I got really into it because I liked how creative I could be. I'm still learning and definitely not an expert, but I love discovering new ingredients and how they work together.

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Essential oils are a vital part of smart .

I began making mp soap in 2003, mostly because I was tired of paying a lot of money at the *ahem* mall stores for lotions and soaps whose scents I loved, only be utterly disillusioned by the quality. Sure, the lotion smelled great, but it was runny and didn't really moisturize, or the bath gel left my skin itchy and dry. And then, to add insult to injury, just when I decided I'd deal with it, they'd discontinue it!

I haven't purchased commercial soap or shower gel since I got Brambleberry's goat's milk mp base in 2003. I've recently begun making bath fizzies, salt and sugar scrubs, and lotions. If my chemistry classes in high school and college had resulted in a usable product like soap or lotion, I'd be a chemist by now! When I'm in the zone, I'm dancing around to my Ipod, making things people love to use. I feel happy, useful and more than a little clever. It's all the joy of baking, but without all the weight gain! And now I find out I can make money at it? Well, jackpot!

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Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
Hans Christian Andersen
www.etsy.com/shop/AngieLady
Sunshine Bath & Body

I started making soap and stuff because of my daughter's sensitive skin. She has a lot of allergies so it was always hard to find anything beyond water that she could wash with. Also, since I'm allergic to aloe, it's always been hard to find lotions and other things that I can use.
But since taking up soap making and learning so much from that, I've taken up knitting, sewing and we've adjusted the things in our lives to help us live a little more green.
This spring we're going to plant our first vegetable garden I'm not good with plants but hopefully I'll be able to keep them all alive.

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Please visit my blog

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

My love of LUSH products got me into soapmaking. And years later..... soon to be opening my first brick and mortal store.

I love gardening too, fed my family of 4 this summer, just from my garden. There is nothing better than picking fresh vegetables and serving them the same day.

Margo you are so correct! My favorite thing is to pick a ripe tomato and eat it right then. YUM! I also can or freeze all my extra produce for the winter. So much better than store bought.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

Thanks so much for the offer ljm1180. I may take you up on it. My MIL who's got an incredibly green thumb said she'd help, too. I hope she doesn't regret it after all my questions LOL

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Please visit my blog

I've been lurking in the shadows of this forum for a while, gleening as much information as I can --I love this place! I started making soap a year or so ago. My MIL (in her late 80's diabetic, dementia) moved in with us about 4 years ago. Shortly afterwards I quit my job (my income, my insurance, did I mention my income?) to become her full time care giver. We love her and couldn't stand the thought of a nursing home--I am (was) a nurse myself. Her skin is fragile..I mean really really fragile. We spent a small fortune on "mild" soaps and creams, didn't seem to help. After months of trial and error, I started to investigate the situation and thought a homemade soap just might help. After another few months experimenting, I found a goatsmilk recipe, made it, tried it out on family and friends. After getting great feedback, I tried it on Dear MIL. Within two weeks I saw and she felt a huge difference in a good way. No more dry flaky itchy. I was sold and by that time I was hooked big time. I love making soap. Didn't mean to write a book, thanks to everyone for the great information, and the smiles I get when I read your posts. This is a very friendly place to be.

We're glad to have you!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I have been reading this forum for about 3 years now, but just signed up to make comments, so hello all! My name is Tammy.
In 1998 I was a single Mother, living in the country, working in the city (as a RN), caring for animals and a large garden with a large herbal bed, and selling crafts and jewelry at craft shows most weekends. Having believed in holistic, long before holistic became a catch phrase, I should say that I began making soap and stuff just because of that, but I really had too much on my plate already and wasn't looking for another "thing" to make or do.
AT any rate, one morning I was wondering what I could do with my over-abundance of lavender (only so much pot pourri and sachets can be made!), and later that day, as my Nurses were complaining about their dry hands, the light-bulb went off. That night I began rereading every herb and healing book that I owned, then I went to the library and borrowed more. My reading and charts complete, I began formulating recipes. Had I known then that some people gave those away for free, my company probably never would have been born! At any rate, once I hit on the recipe, I thought that would be that. Little did I know. With orders coming in for more and more lotion, I was asked to find something for a diabetic patient's dry, severely cracked heels. Once again the books, charts and cook pots came out. Several days and attempts later, my Heel and Elbow Cream was born. And yes, it worked great! From then on I was hooked, and products kept getting added as more requests were made. I was already marketing my jewelry and crafts under a trademarked name, so eventually I added another name just for the bath and body products.
Now I that I have rambled on so much, you practically know my life's history! Sorry bout that!

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

LavenderLady your posts are so informative. It's really cool to learn so much about different herbs. I grow most of my herbs for cooking but I think I'll add some new ones this year to use for their other properties! Thanks for the inspiration!

Linda

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!