Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Thank You

Some Christmas Orders


Since opening my shop this summer, I am blown away by the support I have gotten from friends, family, and new customers too. It was so exciting to meet new people, and work with customers to make one of a kind custom orders. I did a craft show which was CRAZY but fun.

 I just wanted to convey my gratitude to everyone. Starting something like this has been very humbling and has not been without challenges and hiccups. I am not a business minded individual, my strengths have always been in creating. Many times I wanted to give up because doing anything beyond making of things feels like, well....WORK! :)

 As for me, I do not plan on getting big, or taking over the world. Doing many craft shows is not possible for me right now, although I am considering renting a table at a local farm market next summer. My family is first and foremost my focus, and joy. Making soap and other curious creations is a hobby which allows me to be creative, and in selling these creations it blesses our family, and gives me those moments that all parents need to recharge.

I also write, knit, sew, paint, garden, cook and wood work in my free time, and let's be honest my free time is not very often!! Being able to pursue various passions is key to my well being, but the minute I feel the scale tipping too much in one direction I have to scale back and find balance.

I took a small break this month from making soap to focus on celebrating the holiday with my family, which was wonderful. This week I dust off my soaping corner, and will begin to make some fun Valentine's Day soaps which will be listed in the shop in late January. I am about to start on some custom orders as well.

Having rambled a lot, I just want to say THANK YOU again to all of those who supported my shop in 2015! May 2016 be a wonderful year for you. Please use the coupon code THANKS20 for free shipping on all orders for $20 or more.

In gratitude,

Katie


Monday, November 9, 2015

New Soap!

I am resisting the urge to unmold too early. I tried a new swirl with this one and I can't wait to see how it turns out! I made a citrus-ginger essential oil blend. My workshop smelled heavenly this morning when I went out to check on it. Yes, I check on my soap A LOT!


Some outdoor shots to get a better sense of the color. I used a variety of colorants: clays and micas. I dusted the top with King's Gold mica. 

This soap has my lemongrass/lavender essential oil blend, but I used clay, titanium dioxide, and activated charcoal in this one. 

Here is my traditional look for Peaceful & Bright (lavender and lemongrass) soap.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

My favorite soap...for now




This is my Peaceful and Bright bar. I switched up the recipe a bit, adding mango butter to this one. I can't believe what a difference it makes in the lather as well as how soft it makes my skin feel. Oh and the scent, organic lemongrass and lavender together are amazing. I am doing my first craft show a week from this Saturday! The Potion Company is seriously busy getting ready (aka: me) and I will reopen my shop once the show is over! Have a wonderful week!

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Update: Shop opening on September 19th




In all the excitement to open The Potion Company, I forgot a small detail. We will be away for two weeks, right when all the soaps are ready to ship. So I will be opening the shop at 9:00 am, on September 19th.  I will be offering a coupon code to anyone that likes my Facebook page that will be good for all orders made in September so stay tuned for that on my page!

In the meantime, I am developing new recipes & designing my labels. Fun stuff :) I got a message from a friend asking what my favorite soap is, and I have to say that the Baby Buttermilk soap is my favorite right now, the lather is so creamy and moisturizing. Which is a winner in my book! Scent wise I am in love with everything pumpkin as we get closer to autumn. My above pictures Pumpkin Cream and Spice soap smells just like autumn to me.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

The Shop Goes Live in Two Weeks!



Local friends, as I gear up to open The Potion Company in 2 weeks, I was hoping for some honest feedback on my soaps! 

How it works:

  1. Leave me a comment in this post with your name and email address.
  2. I will email a few of you to get your contact information & if there is a specific type soap you are interested in trying.
  3. I will mail or hand deliver to local friends a bar for you to sample.
  4. You agree to give me feedback on my products
  5. Lastly, once I receive your feedback you get a 15% of coupon code to use at The Potion Company!



French green clay herbal bar soap

Buttermilk carrot gentle baby soap




Sunday, August 2, 2015

Preamble

pre·am·ble
ˈprēˌambəl/
noun
  1. a preliminary or preparatory statement; an introduction.
    "what she said was by way of a preamble"

Introductions cause me to come down with a case of writer's block. This is a blog dedicated to my little soap shop, The Potion Company. 

Lovely Lavender soap 


I don't remember a time where I didn't enjoy creating things. My debut into diy was early one morning at the age of 2 when I surprised my parents with a feast, made on the floor using the contents of our refrigerator. This culinary mishap was inspired by one of my favorite books, read to me countless times by my beloved maternal grandpa. Old Man Rabbit's Dinner Party is still read to this day, but now I read it to my children. My grandfather gave me the well worn book for Christmas in the late 90's, and remains to this day my most cherished (non-human) possessions. 

A scene from my favorite childhood book.

From that unappetizing disaster, I went on to crochet, sew, draw, write, knit, make candles, garden, and many other forays into creative diy-ing. 

 The first time I encountered handmade soap was at a farm market, I was instantly drawn to everything about it. I loved the colors, smells, and the idea that you are buying something handmade from the actual person who crafted it. I went to this soap booth every Saturday that summer, always coming home with a different kind, I was amazed at how well it worked, how great it felt on my skin, and how it didn't contain a cocktail of chemicals I was unable to pronounce. 


Mint chocolate swirl soap


 As many other people who are in the handmade world, I began to make my own bath and beauty products, as well as buy them from other 'makers of things' when I became a mama. I wanted to only use 'organic' products on my kids, but often times when I would look at the label it seemed that while they might contain organic ingredients, they still had a lot of stuff in them I didn't want to put on my babies. Once I tried soap making I couldn't stop, and before I knew it, we had a house overflowing with soaps. 

I am a big believer in doing what you love, and when you do it will never feel like work. For me, that happened when I tried using my first bar of cured soap. All I could think was: I want to do this ALL the time. The rest is history!