Farm House Goat Milk Soap
I received an email from a much appreciated customer. She had been surfing sites that sell handcrafted soap, specifically goat milk soap, and wanted to tell me that she was glad I was not into all of the crazy colors, additives, and other things that deterred away from good-for-your-skin goat milk soap.
I feel soaping is artwork.
A soap maker has numerous options at their disposal when creating a bar of soap. If the notion hits, they can swirl color in. If they feel like being different, they can make a multi-colored bar of soap. Fragrance is at a soaper’s whimsey. I even read an article recently about soap painting, beautiful.
I pretty much have followed my heart with soaping. I do not sway much in any direction with my basic recipe, but I do occasionally move from color to color, or design. I lean on a rustic cut of soap. I do keep the weight as uniform as possible, by the electronic scale. If you see a wave to the top of the soap, it usually occurs naturally. Or, occasionally I scrape the soap pot and dribble the fresh remnants onto the soap in the mold. I love that look.
I enjoy looking at soaps that others make too, just like my customer said she did. Personally, my skin is sensitive enough, even with skin safe colorants and fragrances, that I cannot use soap for extended periods of time that isn’t basic (with no colorants, and only natural oils). But I truly give a “high-five” to the creative soaping artists out there! Seriously…there are a lot of fantastic talented soapmakers!
Me, I started with a dream of farm-house soap, and that is where I pretty much remain grounded. Farm house goat milk soap…similar to my love of primitive and plaid.
How about you?
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
Mary,
I agree. As a soapmaker I prefer to keep it as natural as possible. I don’t use fragrances or synthetic colorants. However I do believe there is something out there for everyone. I am in awe when I see soapmakers get so creative with their colors and swirls. I think it is a work of art. I also purchase soaps from others because I believe in supporting fellow soapmakers but also so I can try their soap (as I am a lover of your soap!)
Soapmaking opens up a world of possibilites for everyone!
It is definitely a work of art, even when it is simple soap. I love what you said, “Soapmaking opens up a world of possibilities for everyone!”
Mary, we are on the same page here! We decided at the outset not to color our soap. We have the ‘natural and fresh’ idea for our products, and color doesn’t fit into that for us.
The bars do vary according to the oils and scent, of course, which is nice. Our cutting, too, is ‘rustic’ – I think our customers expect that from a ‘natural’ product!
I like the look of the swirled and artistically molded soaps, but they are definitely not for us.
I love how your soaps reflect your own olive oil, Ann. Again, natural because that is what you intended (like Melissa w/Naturally Good Soaps).
I do venture to the fragrances and colorants from time to time. I have to add something a bit more interesting from time to time, outside of the box. But, back to the basics I go, and quickly. It is what I want to promote.
I like and do both, Mary, as you may already know. I like playing with swirls of color in some of my soaps. I like fragrancing some of my soaps with vanilla and other heavenly sending fragrances. My cuts are all by hand and rustic with valleys and waves from the natural pour. I think, as you all say, people expect and, I think, want it to look handmade. And, I offer strictly herbal and, even, unscented soaps. I just made a new one the other day with calendula petals and honey – yum. Nice writing, Mary. Thank you.
Thanks, Kathleen! The funny thing with my own experience is that at one point I thought my soaps were too imperfect. I fretted over the slightly “off” cutting that occurs from time to time, for example. But, I then reminded myself of the days when I bought handcrafted soap for my own use. It did not matter to me that it was not perfect, in fact, it became a part of the abiance. Your calendula and honey soap does sound yum!
I like all kinds of soaps and am amazed at just how varied a “simple” bar of soap can be. All that goes into your soaps Mary seems to be done with a lot of thought and to read your words about your soap shows your love and passion for what you have chosen to do!
Re: your previous post, I have often be-moaned how much time I sometimes have to spend on the phone ( it it is working) just to keep basic phone, computer & T.V. problem free. Sometimes more than half a day sees me stuck by the phone waiting for return tech calls. Which reminds me, I have noticed my WordPress friends and relatives blogs frequently do not seem to come up on my google reader when they are updated.
Kathy, my signal problems seem to be behind me, at least for now. I know it won’t last forever, it never can with electronics. We are in the middle of thunderstorms with a strong signal signal. A blessing, amazing. And a laptop that can be ran from a battery is also quite the help.
I agree with you there, the updates from blog posts between WordPress/Blogger sometimes do not update on Google Reader and Blog Roll. I do not know about you, but I depend upon Google Reader. It is quite the helpful tool.
I do love what I do, Kathy. Like anyone does, I have my ups and downs. Normally the downs turn into something creative, after a period a patience. I am sure you encounter the same thing with your beautiful woven products!!
Love that display!
I am a pretty down to earth kind of person myself. I like the simple things in life. And am only beginning to find more things that are basic. Like goat milk soap.
We didn’t do all those crazy colors either when my Mom & I used to make goat milk soap.
Amy
“love of primitive and plaid” speaks to my heart. simple, lovely and necessary. 🙂
Sort of peaceful, isn’t it?
yeah, it is. i just connect to that style… and have for years. used to have a house full of it.. then moved and went through a phase and sold it — all but a couple pieces. my rear-end is still sore from kicking myself.
did i tell you i just bought a spinning wheel? i have an antique one, but it isn’t ready to roll. this new one is in pieces waiting for me to put it together. can’t wait! i’ll be looking for a loom next.
A spinning wheel? That sounds excellent. And a loom. Kathy, of Spot on Cedar Pond, would be a good one to offer advice if you ever need it. I love her wool krafts that she has created from her own sheep fleece.