Soap Guild Conference 2010 Report

Greetings from chilly Colorado. I am here with 302 other soapmakers from across the world to join our collective forces for community collaboration, learning, laughing and further our businesses. It is such a joy to see faces I recognize from previous gatherings and I love meeting new faces I haven't seen in person but am dear friends with from Twitter, Facebook, Teach Soap and this blog.

Donna Maria, Me, Lela & Kayla

We got in late last night after a bit of a fiasco with Dollar Rental Cars (more on that later; I learned a lot about customer service from that one horrifically bad interaction - there are lessons to share). It was great to share a hug from everyone and start the soap party.

We continued the soap party at 6 a.m. this morning with a Fitness Walk led by Donna Maria from Indie Business Network. We are all super happy campers to be up that early to take care of our health. I was able to share my 'Cupcake Workout strategy. It's pretty simple - I think of workouts in terms of cupcakes. "If I work out for X, I can caloricly afford X amount of cupcake." It's highly motivating.

Today was incredible - the Soaper's Showcase (above), Josh from Pangea Organics, Ambassador Carolyln Mosley Braun. I promise to update tomorrow with more - including a soap panel of my favorite cold process soaps from the Soaper's Showcase 'Best Of' entries. For now, I have emails to answer, Facebook inquiries to chat about and Tweets from today to catch up on. Oh, and a 3-year-wedding anniversary to celebrate - today is our wedding anniversary and my sweet husband is here in Denver with me. What a great guy, eh?

My TwitPic Photo stream to follow photos from Soap Conference 2010 as I tweet them is here and the Soap Conference Tweet Stream from EVERYONE here that is tweeting is here.

Until tomorrow, happy soaping!

How to Make Cold Process Soap, Episode 2

Learn what terms like DOS, Saponification, Superfat, and Trace mean in the second episode of my Cold Process Soapmaking series. In this episode, I show examples and carefully explain the mysterious world of CP soap with a live demonstration of trace and a visual explanaition of saponification and superfat. Cold Process Soap making is both a science and an art; learn about it all with my in-depth Cold Process Soapmaking Series.


How to Make Cold Process Soap: Basic Terms, Episode 2 from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

In future episodes I will explain how to use fragrances and colorants. After watching the first 4 episodes of my 'How to Make Cold Process' series you will be prepared to make your first successful and safe batch of soap! Can't wait? Check out the Cold Process DVD I made here.

Headed to the Soap Guild Conference!

I'm headed to the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference tomorrow! I'm so excited to catch up with everyone, make new friends and learn from some of the best minds in the our industry. I'm teaching a 2 hour class on how to make Liquid Soap from scratch.

Here's me hamming it up for the camera while I get into my safety gear.

Can't make it to the Conference this year? Don't worry you can still learn to make Liquid Soap from me. I wrote an E-book with full color photos and step-by-step instructions showing everything I'll be demonstrating at the Soap Guild Conference this year. It's only $7.95 and you can get it right here.

PS - I can't wait to meet some Soap Queen readers and Bramble Berry customers so if you're a customer, reader, friend or fan, please introduce yourself. I should be recognizable because I'll be in the I (heart) Soap Queen schwag. 

Mom's Pretty in Pink - a Make-Up Trifecta

Mother's day is less than 2 weeks away. Ack! Are you ready? Here's an easy mineral makeup gift ensemble for Mom. I created these new recipes based on my Mom's taste. She's a pink and plum type of gal (do you remember the pink paint posts here and here? Well, her house is pretty in pink). So, naturally, I went with a light plum eye shadow, light pink blush and glossy pink lip shine. I know she'll love it. What Mom doesn't adore handmade gifts on Mother's Day?



Plumtastic Eye Shadow
("scoop" = .15 CC mini scoops)
1 heaping scoop Sericite
1 heaping scoop Rose Pearl Mica
1 heaping scoop Red Blue Mica
1 level scoop Cappuccino Mica
1 Classy Clear Pot

Tickle Me Pink Blush
("scoop" = .15 CC mini scoops)
1 heaping scoop Sericite
1 level Dry Flow
2 heaping scoops Rose Pearl Mica
3 heaping scoops Soft Beige Mica
2 heaping scoops Red Mica
1 heaping scoop Apricot Blush
1 Classy Clear Pots

Glossy Pink Lip Shine
("scoop" = .15 CC mini scoops)
1 oz Lip Balm Base
.2 oz Castor Oil
1 ml Flavor Oil
4 heaping mini scoops Red Mica
4 Classy Clear Pots



Not sure how to mix Mineral Make Up? I have you covered! Eye Shadow mixing tutorial here, video on Eye Shadow mixing here, Foiling tutorial here, another eye shadow blending tutorial here, and lip stick tutorial here, here and here. If you want to do this yourself at home, you can! It's easy (I swear). Buy the book here. Check out the Starter Foundation Kit here or the DIY Eye Shadow Kits here and have yourself a DIY Mineral MakeUp party.

Keep Fit Be Happy

Keep Fit Be Happy, originally uploaded by kevindooley.

I love to work out. If you follow me on Twitter or on Facebook, you know that I generally squeeze in a workout daily. I lead an intentionally busy, very scheduled life and still take 60 to 90 minutes from my day, every day, to give myself a mental health break and keep my body and heart fit.

Why do I do I work out?

1. I am better able to deal with stress when I work out. Believe it or not, running Bramble Berry is not all puppy dogs and fun batches of soap. There can be times of intense stress. Physically moving my body and forcing myself to take a break improves my ability to handle stress.Want more information on how excercise reduces stress? There's a comprehensive article about it here. 

2. When I keep promises to myself, I am better able to keep promises to others. Each and every time I keep my promises to myself, I increase my willpower muscle. Did you know that willpower is a muscle? It strengthens and weakens with use or disuse. You can increase your self-regulatory muscle by working at it. Wouldn't you like to be able to resist that chocolate cupcake? You can do it more easily if you've worked out your self-discipline muscle by working out consistently. Want more information about willpower? Here are two articles about it - one - two. 

3. Exercise will help me live a longer life with better quality. A study showed that frequent exercise allowed you to live 12.7 extra healthy years of life (study here). I will be able to easy chase after grandchildren when I'm 70 if I keep up my exercise routine and God-willing, live disability free until I'm 80ish. While the idea of 80 is far off for me, I always begin everything with the end in mind (a la Covey) and my goal is to design my life *now* to live, disability-free, to 80 and beyond. More information on living to 80 and beyond and the link to exercise here.

4. Exercise increases energy. It's a proven fact. My days and weeks are hectic feats of herculean balancing acts and frequently last 12 hours or longer for active thinking and work. If I work out daily, I am able to more easily handle the long days and knock it out of the park on shorter days. More information on exercise and how it fights fatigue here. 

5. Exercise helps me fit into clothes I like. Eating a healthy diet helps with that too but on average, I can eat an extra 300 to 400 calories per day because I work out. That, my friends, is one cupcake or two glasses of wine. Or, if you're trying to lose weight, that, my friends, is 1 pound every 10 days if you keep within your calorie guidelines. 

Do you work out? Why do you work out? I'd love to hear what you do for fun workouts. I'm planning to do another blog post this week on how to stay motivated for the daily effort it takes to fit workouts in. 

But, I Can't Do That!

Greetings happy SoapQueen team - I hope you're having a great weekend. I know I am. It's a rare weekend in Bellingham without a billion things scheduled. I've had the luxury of a great 90 minute 'flow' Power Vinyasa Yoga - Level II class (which was the opposite of relaxing), Farmer's Market cupcakes (spiced apple with caramel buttercream frosting), lunch with a friend (at the incredible Old World Deli in Bellingham) and I made great progress on my book club book, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. All in all, an excellent first day in a fantastic weekend.

As I was going about my incredibly luxurious day yesterday, I kept thinking about a lesson I learned at the Jack Canfield event last month. Jack asked us to partner up and then tell our partner about all the things that we can't seem to get done in our lives. 

"I can't find enough time to get 8 hours of sleep"

"I can't seem to devote time for my hobbies."

"I can't quit speeding on the freeway."

Each partner had a minute to describe all of their 'can'ts'. And then Jack said, "Now, put 'won't' in place of can't and repeat all those to your partner."

"I WON'T find enough time to get 8 hours of sleep"

"I WON'T devote time for my hobbies."

"I WON'T quit speeding on the freeway."

Ouch.

Just changing that simple word gave each and every person in my group a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach. Because, who controls the outcome of your situation? You do. If you're not fully taking 100% responsibility for your situation, where you are at in life, how your life ebbs and flows around you, it's true... you WON'T make the changes you need to. It's not a 'can't' anymore; it's a 'won't.'

That lesson stuck with me. Now, every time I catch myself saying "I can't," I ask myself, "Is this a can't or a won't". It has forced me to get more honest with myself and the areas in my life where I tend to cop out and not hold myself accountable. 

Try exchanging those two words in your life; you'll be surprised at what comes up.

Business Advice from Twitter?

Yes, it really is possible to get great business advice ... from Twitter. When I tell people that I am very active on Twitter and invest at least 30 minutes per day writing Tweets, reading Tweets and responding to other people's Tweets, they are shocked that I would invest that much time into Twitter.

Twitter is perceived by many as just noise. I often hear "Why do I care what you ate for breakfast?" or "I don't have anything to say". I disagree. Everyone has something to share with the world - whether it's your passion to your hobby to your job - you have a message. And Twitter is one way to get that out.

For example, Erin Baker tweets what she eats. (Recent Tweet: Another 6am flight today, I was prepared w/thermal of tea & had a banana & Morning Glory Breakfast Cookie. Preparation is key! YOU? GO!) Her goal is to help eradicate childhood obesity. Educating people about appropriate nutrition (by using herself as the guinea pig) helps in this cause. My passion is soap, helping small business, fun consumer products and fitness. So, if you read my Tweets, they read a bit like Business 101 + Rockin' Cool Soap & Craft Projects + fun product finds + "I worked out today" reminders.

If you're not following me on Twitter, you can follow me here. These are the business-related tweets I've sent in the last week:

10 lessons learned from starting a business in a recession (Re: being cheap - I'm 'frugal' even in good times!) http://ow.ly/1Amr8

3 Ways to help re-vamp your About Us page: http://ow.ly/1Amn7

How to encourage innovation - I really like the 24-hour-project day idea: http://ow.ly/1BSWV

Should you join a business group? Peer to peer networking + support = greater chance for success http://nyti.ms/cQGiuH

Communication tips from Warren Buffett: http://ow.ly/1Ama6

Before starting a new venture, consider a feasibility study:http://ow.ly/1Almn

Tips for helping to remember names: http://ow.ly/1BmJN

Yikes - commercial wire transfer fraud on the rise (and biz owners aren't protected). A scare-your-pants-off story: http://ow.ly/1Bku8

Success is a choice - make the right ones, today (A+ observation about #5): http://ow.ly/1Bkli

"Trend is short, style is forever." Branding & business tips from the founder of FUBU: for us, by us. http://ow.ly/1A3LA

How to use social media to enhance customer engagement (totally agree about the CEO & frequent posting opinion):http://ow.ly/1AW5m

You've got a great idea, you invest in it and then a huge competitor shows up with a similar one. What to do? Eek: http://ow.ly/1A3Jg

This year, the IRS has entrepreneurs in their sights this year:http://ow.ly/1AtvN

How can you create more, with less? http://ow.ly/1A3HV

It's like Mastermind, Lite. How to start a supper club:http://ow.ly/1A3GY

Easy things you can do to help build rapport: http://ow.ly/1zKPG

Hints for doing business overseas (including: you must have someone on the ground): http://ow.ly/1ySnV

Tips to improve relationships in every area of your life (including "Fake it 'til you make it is so '80s"): http://ow.ly/1ySWL

Thinking of buying products for your biz from China? Some thoughts: http://ow.ly/1yzUx

Why do women's businesses make less money and/or have less assets? http://ow.ly/1yzT4

How to help avoid that 'Ping Pong' syndrome when you're a business owner: http://ow.ly/1xCYJ

Spent his son's college money starting a company ... and! it pays off. Supposedly, they're coming to #Bellingham too! http://ow.ly/1xDOT

7 steps to outperform your competitors: http://ow.ly/1xE1R

5 Keys for running productive meetings: http://ow.ly/1xDZf

How the media is using social media to enhance their stories, their ability to find 'news' and better interact: http://ow.ly/1xuah

IRS auditing small business more than the big ones:http://ow.ly/1xsII

Young women starting their one businesses in droves for the money but also for social entrepreneurship http://ow.ly/1xsF7

Happy Earth Day - One Planet, Many Soaps

Celebrate this Earth Day with Eco-Chic Soap (with one easy kit)! This kit is designed to be as eco friendly as possible. Reuse your own yogurt, tofu or cleaned out food containers to make an earth friendly soap that is made with 100% organic vegetable oils and essential oils. In keeping with the eco friendliness, no paper instructions will be included with this kit so grab your step by step paper-free instructions HERE.

Each Eco-Chic Kit Contains:

2 lbs Organic Melt and Pour Base

1 oz. Spirulina

1 oz. Cranberry Seeds

0.5 oz Orange Essential Oil

0.5 oz Lavender Essential Oil

You can provide additives like coffee grounds, oatmeal, clays or food-grade charcoal (just make sure that it's skin safe). You'll also provide a recycled "soap mold" like a  yogurt container, tofu container, soy milk container, coffee cup, etc. You're not limited to anything here (well, except glass containers which don't release soap very easily) so feel free to get creative!

Bramble Berry also offers a variety of natural and organic products like natural soap bases, organic essential oils and so much more. Click HERE for more information. If you're a Cold Process soapmaker, not to fear, you are not left out - try clays, herbs, other exfolliants and essential oils to stay naturally clean and planet-friendly. Remember, natural homemade soap is biodegradable.We're just one Planet with many, many soaps to make. 

Take 100% Responsibility

I recently attended a 1 day Jack Canfield seminar. Jack Canfield is the author of countless books (including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series) but my favorite book he has written is 'The Success Principles'. Reading and doing all the exercises from that book is like a crash course MBA. When he came to Seattle, my entire Mastermind Business Group signed up for a table and spent a full day learning from Jack. He is an excellent speaker - humble, enigmatic and thought-provoking all in one - so spending from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in a hotel conference room was not a hardship.

Erin Baker from Baker's Breakfast Cookies with Jack 

The first lesson he drilled into our heads was that we must take 100% responsibility for our lives. This means that when something goes wrong, instead of immediately blaming ("It's Mary's fault! If she had just finished writing up the description for Monkey Love on Friday, we could have had that fragrance up in time for the weekend!"), we should stop, take a deep breath and ask "What was my part in this? How could I have changed things?"


Jack taught us the following formula:

E + R = O

where E is Event, R is Response and O is Outcome. 

Event + Response = Outcome

Simply put, every outcome we have in our life can be controlled by our response to the initial event. 


Event: You present your products to a store, only to be turned down.
Response: You say "Thanks" and walk away.
Outcome: You have no wholesale account.
Event: You present your products to a store, only to be turned down.
Response: You say "Thank you. Under what circumstances would you consider adding my line?"
Outcome: The manager tells you "Well, you don't have any fragrances I like. If you had fragrances I liked, I'd add the line." You rework your fragrances and add an account.

Quoting directly from Jack Canfield:

The truth is...when confronted with a negative event, successful people look for ways to transform that negative into an opportunity for achievement and greater success.

They simply respond differently.

Think about almost every negative thing in your life. What is your part in the situation? How can you change your internal dialog to constantly say "I accept responsibility for this situation. What action steps can I take now to prevent this same outcome in the future?" After all, don't we all want to lead lives of distinction with boundless joy, unbridled optimism and endless resources? Taking responsibility and recognizing that we can change each and every situation is the first step.

Must Try Fragrances, Molds and More!

It was Christmas morning here at Bramble Berry. We just got in three new fragrances that are must haves. I'm excited to introduce Zanzibar Spice, Mint Chocolate Chip and Monkey Love (a.k.a. 'Banana'). We also just received our 18 Bar Baltic Birch Molds (a.k.a. 'The Greatest Mold in the World'). They're on the site and ready to order. And last but not least, our new soap stamps are here. Phew. It's been a great (busy busy busy) day at Bramble Berry!

Zanzibar Spice: This fragrance is a hint on the masculine side but women will love using it too. You’re nose will first pick up on the Mandarin Leaf, Agave Nectar and African Lotis; then you’ll notice they’re perfectly paired with spices like cardamom, Nutmeg and Black Peppercorn. The dry base notes of Safari Sandalwood, Patchouli and Tonka Bean hold it all together for the perfect combination of “sugar and spice and everything nice”. This fragrance will discolor to a beige/brown. This fragrance has not yet been tested in cold process. We'll keep you updated with the results.

Mint Chocolate Chip: Dish yourself up a bowl of Chocolate Chip Mint Ice cream and relax. Enjoy the scent of Pure Cane Sugar, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Truffle, Crème de Menthe, Peppermint Candy and Vanilla Brulee. It’s all rounded out with Tonka Bean, Musk and a hint of Butterscotch. Close your eyes and enjoy the sweet chocolate and energizing mint! This fragrance will discolor to a beige/ brown and has not yet been tested in cold process. We'll keep you updated with our results.

Monkey Love: You’ll go “bananas” over our new banana fragrance oil. It smells just like banana candy (think banana Runts). This is by far the best banana fragrance that we’ve come across out of the bottle. You won’t be able to resist Ripe Banana notes combined with Brown Sugar, Churned Butter, Sugar Cane and Whipped Cream. Chopped Walnuts, ground Cinnamon and Clove Bud add the perfect addition to the monkey business. This fragrance will discolor to a beige/brown and has not yet been tested in Cold Process. We'll keep you updated with the results.

18 Bar Baltic Birch Molds: Bramble Berry adoringly calls this "The Best Soap Mold in the World!" This 18 bar mold is made out of top grade Russian Birch Plywood and Mahogany and holds approximately 6 lbs of soap. Each mold is custom made and locally hand crafted here in Bellingham, Washington. All of the joints are glued and screwed together for excellent durability and the finish is a sanding sealer with several coats of lacquer on top giving it that beautiful glossed look.

Celebration Stamp Set: Celebrate every holiday of the year with our clear stamp set. These rubber backed stamps are a great way to make reusable seasonal soap designs out of plain soap molds- allowing you to change your designs with out purchasing new molds. Learn how to stamp your melt and pour soap with Soap Queen TV: Holiday Soap Stamp Video OR see the Soap Queen Blog tutorial: Rubber Stamping for Martha.  

The Athlete's Palate - Or, Vegan Treats!

I have an incredible team at Bramble Berry - I'm super lucky. And once a year, when different anniversaries of hiring dates roll around, I bake something for the lucky Brambleberrian and make sure to tell them extra well how appreciated they are. I try to tell them more than once a year but it's nice to have one day just for you, ya' know?

Today, it was our 'Team Captain' from Customer Service 2-year-Brambleversary and I made her Chocolate, Fig and Almond Bites. Courtney eats mostly vegan (no dairy at all) so finding a perfect sweet treat for her was a little nerve-wracking; luckily, she totally loved them. I'm not sure how the rest of the office felt about such a healthy snack (but for what it's worth, I loved it too!). Here's the recipe from my latest edition of Runners World. Let me know what you think if you try it!

Ingredients

3 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (I used 72% chocolate from Trader Joes)

1/2 cup honey (I used organic honey from Trader Joes)

1/3 cup hottest possible tap water

Grated Zest 1 lemon

1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt (I used Himalayan Pink Sea Salt)

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

8 ounces dried figs, steps removed (finely choped)

8 ounces unbleached almonds, toasted and coarsely ground

Small or large muffin liners

In a small saucepan, combine the chocolate, honey, and tap water. Heat the mixture over moderate heat just until the chocolate melts. Stir to combine. Remove from the heat. 

Stir in the zest, salt, cinnamon, figs and almonds. Mix together.

Arrange the paper cases side by side on a baking sheet. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases, filling about three quarters full (about two teaspoons each). Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up before serving. Makes about 72 pieces if you're using small cupcake liners or about 22 if you're using large ones. I know they look a little eh hem, unappetizing, but I promise you, delicious AND healthy. 

Happy Brambleversary Courtney!

From Sierra Leone, with Love

One of my favorite parts of being in charge of Bramble Berry 'SoapNation' is the one-on-one instruction opportunities at Otion. From time to time, soapers and toiletry makers come to Otion for private instruction on how to make everything and anything that their heart desires. The days (and weekends) are all custom designed to meet  the interests of our students. Selena came to us from Africa by way of London. And poor dear, because of the Icelandic volcanic eruptions, she is in Bellingham for a bit longer than she intended.

We designed a jam packed two days for Selena. Cold Process soap - swirled with the Bramble Berry 'World's Best Divider Molds' and a couple double layer loaves (with a sprinkled mica vein in the middle of each layer, above). The above soap is the dark color because of the honey. It gets hot and burns in the soap, causing it to turn brown.

Most of our cold process soaps included a generous serving (up to 10%) Sierra Leone honey, fresh off the plane (and brought in at some trouble for poor Selena who was stopped by customs so long that she missed her flight to Bellingham!).

We made four different types of scrubs. The two pictured below are both emulsified scrubs (similar to the ones I teach in this video here).

We made many types of whipped body butters.

And sadly, we had a bit of a mishap with the Honey soap. 

It superheated up, the honey crystallized and created a heat tunnel and all of the honey leaked out. Whoops.

Not to worry though - we hot processed the entire batch out and made some luscious soap (above) despite the initial horrifying leaky honey results. And then we redesigned the batch - less honey, lower temperatures, no insulation and presto! successful batch.

It was a joy to spend two days with Selena. She's headed back to Africa with three massive boxes bulging with goodies. I'm excited to watch her company progress in the next few years. Thanks for spending the day with me Selena!

Fashionable Soapmaking Gloves

Happy weekend everyone! I'm spending part of the weekend with Selena who flew over to Bellingham from London to take private classes at Otion (Kat did a great write up on the classes she taught Selena here). We're going to hit the farmer's market today (hellooooo, cupcakes!) and engage in some retail therapy locally. If you'd like to engage in some retail therapy with us virtually, I may have found the thing just for you - the latest and greatest, fashion forward gloves for you cold process soapmakers out there. He he. Are these a must have or what? Gotta love The Spoon Sisters!

"Now you can look chic and sophisticated while...washing the dishes (Soap Queen Insert: Or making soap)! Yes, these decorative rubber gloves allow you to turn a simple household chore, into a fashion statement. A fabulous hostess gift. Hand-embellished with faux jewels and faux leopard cuffs." 

Get your designer gloves here at The Spoon Sisters or at Fancy Pants (much larger selection) here.

Mother's Day Bath Tea

Mother's Day is coming up (and coming up quick!). This is an easy project for you to make with kids too (eh hem, Dads...). Let mom relax this mother's day with herbal infused bath time. I have two fabulous recipes to pick from that are both relaxing and moisturizing. Your mom deserves it (I know my mom does)!

RECIPE ONE: Healing Orange Bath Tea

1/4 cup Chamomile Herb

1/4 cup Calendula Herb

8 mini scoops of Orange Peel Powder

3 ml Vitamin E Oil

6 ml Orange Valencia Essential Oil

1 Large Sealable Tea Bag

Small mixing bowl

Droppers

Mini Scoops

Iron

ONE: In your small mixing bowl, combine the Chamomile, Calendula, Orange Peel Powder, Vitamin E Oil and Orange Valencia Essential Oil.

TWO: Mix ingredients together so the oil is evenly distributed. Use your fingers to fill the tea bag with the herbs.

THREE: Seal the open ends of the tea bag with a hot iron.

RECIPE TWO: Relaxing Rose and Lavender Bath Tea

1/4 cup Lavender Grade One

1/4 cup Pink Moroccan Rosebuds

4 ml Hungarian Lavender Essential Oil

2 ml Vitamin E Oil

Large Sealable Tea Bag

Small mixing bowl

Droppers

Mini Scoop

Iron

ONE: In  your small mixing bowl, combine the Lavender, Rose Petals, Vitamin E Oil and Hungarian Lavender Essential oil.

TWO: Mix ingredients together and fill the tea bag with the herbs.

THREE: Seal the open ends of the tea bag with a hot iron.

*Note: It's normal for the oil to soak through the tea bag just a little. It's the price we must pay for a fabulously scented and moisturizing bath. Leave the oil out of the recipe if you do not want the oil marks on the tea bag. 

Soapy Cupcakes by Riverlea Soap

Odette Handly is the owner of Riverlea Soap and makes these realistic and adorable cupcake soaps. I love 'em to pieces!

Three quick fire questions for Odette:

Anne-Marie: How long have you been making soap? 
Odette: I am self taught but have only been making for about 3 years. I studied Fashion design and worked as a fashion buyer and then worked for myself making wedding dresses and ball gowns. But I broke my vertebra in my lower back and was told by the surgeon that I would be unable to sit for long periods of time. The recovery time for a back operation is LONG. This is a problem if you sew. I then needed a backup plan to make money after the operation. Something I could do standing up - I found a book that my sister had bought me on making soap and that was the beginning. I have not looked back. Every day brings something new with exciting ideas. 

Anne-Marie: Your cupcake soap is incredible! What’s your top selling flavor of cupcake soap? 
Odette: Pink floral outsells anything else by far with Lavender a close second.

Anne-Marie: What is your number one business goal for the remainder of 2010?
Odette: To improve sales/exposure in Johannesburg and Cape Town - the two biggest cities in South Africa. I have just recently started selling there and I need to concentrate more on those areas.

Anne-Marie: Thanks Odette and keep up the good work! 

Check out Odette's blog HERE and buy some of her Soaps HERE.

Puppy Time at Bramble Berry

Meet Toby, my new nephew puppy! 

He's a Boston Terrier that enjoys long naps with his checkered blanket, wrestling with his hedgehog stuffed animal and looking cute (he's obviously really good at that).

See Sammy (niece dog #1) and Toby bonding over dinner on my brother Erik's blog, The Soap King. They're going to be best friends!