She’d been salivating over it for months (years, maybe?) and finally, it was here. No more odd-sized bars cut from shoe box molds. No more fighting with freezer paper or struggling to precisely line makeshift molds. She dove into the newly delivered box and unwrapped a brand-new silicone lined mold. Admiring its fine, shiny, perfectly …
Welcome to September. The days are slowly shortening, summer’s gradually winding down, and school is back in session, which makes this a perfect time to ponder continuing your education. You don’t have to stop learning just because your formal schooling has ended. In fact, many soapmakers don’t discover their passion until well after primary and …
If you live in the US and have been crafting soap for any length of time, chances are you’ve heard of Bramble Berry. Bramble Berry, based out of the western US city of Bellingham, Washington, has been a vendor member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild for six years. “HSMG helps to further soapmakers in all …
Coffee has a venerable history in the soapmaking world. In another edition of nearly wordless Wednesday, we’re bringing you some of our members’ coffee-inspired soaps. Settle in with a cup of joe (or your favorite non-coffee beverage) and check out these beauties: Customers love Green Cow Studio’s kitchen soap so much, they introduced Bar o’ …
Donate Your Soap August 17, 2010 Do you have left over inventory or products that aren’t moving and are collecting valuable shelf space? Here’s your chance to donate some of that inventory to a worthy cause before year’s end. The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild has collaborated with this worthy cause in upstate New York. On September …
David Fisher had been making soap for about 5 years when he started a family and had some major surgery in 2004. Re-evaluating life, he decided he would change some things and follow his dream of being a writer. Simultaneosly, About.com awarded him the contract to write about soapmaking and candlemaking. There are 750 guides …
Here is your opportunity to tell the public about the marvelous benefits of handcrafted soap! The HSMG is launching our first ever video contest. To participate in the contest, just submit a video that finishes the sentence *”Handcrafted soap is the best soap because ….”*. Winners will be announced at the 2010 Annual Conference in …
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The American Dairy Goat Association held as part of their 2009 National Conference a Goat Milk Bath and Body Care Products Competition. Entries were judged for two days by our own HSMG President, Leigh O’Donnell and Vice President, Maria Gelnett. Competition was open to all soapmakers, commercially manufactured and handmade both bar and liquid soaps. …
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Bonnie Bartley, Soapsmith, The Allegheny Hearth, conducted a year long experiment using the additives recommended by HSMG Conference Speaker, Dr. Kevin Dunn, Caveman chemistry, for the prevention of DOS. Here are Bonnie’s results: One year ago, July 2008, I began an unscientific test using Dr. Dunn’s recommended additives for the prevention of DOS. On the …
Continue reading ‘MEMBER SPOTLIGHT–BONNIE BARTLEY, SOAPSMITH, THE ALLEGHENY HEARTH’ »
Melinda Coss, soapmaker and teacher from France (www.makesoap.biz) has been involved in a project teaching soapmaking in South Africa. I just had to share this video! Marie Gale, President, HSMG
Soap Guild Member Forum Information forum for Soap Guild Members A new section has been added to the HSMG Forum under Art of Soapmaking called Safety. It is ready to populate it with knowledge, bloopers and blunders that would be helpful to all Members. I know I have a few. http://soapguild.org/forum/ Maria Gelnett P&S Chair
At our HSMG Members’ request for an Experts Panel forum in Marketing, I’ve arranged for Brambleberry’s www.brambleberry.com Anne-Marie Faiola to answer all your toughest questions. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, January 27 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm PST. Yes, that’s right! The Soap Queen Blog: www.soapqueen.com will be with us for a Marketing Day at the Forum. I am …
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1. The new DOUBLE issue of The Journal will be in the mail in the next week. Look for the feature article “Soapmaking in a Shooting Gallery” (featuring a soapmaker in Afghanistan). 2. February membership drive receive DOUBLE golden soap bubbles, the member that refers the most new member will receive an expenses paid trip …
A hot topic in the meeting planner world is the push for more green meetings. This was one of the most talked about issues at the National Meetings Industry Day Workshop on April 19, 2008. The desire to make good choices for the environment was obvious but most divisions of the industry are unsure how …
Cooler weather brings time to catch up on your reading. Find lots of educational information and ideas in our listing of industry recommended books. http://www.soapguild.org/industry/books.php I like Ann Bramson’s book, Soap – Making It, Enjoying It for beginners. If you know of any good updates to the list, please post. Maria Gelnett Chair, P&S Committee