I decided to skip the regular Product Monday post. I see a lot of soaps on the curing rack that I could spotlight, such as: Honey Oatmeal Almond, Cedarwood Rose, Lavender Patchouli, and Geranium Rose Ylang Ylang. I find it fitting, instead, to talk about what has been happening in the soap studio itself.
As you know, we are working on moving a farm. Relocating a working farm, with animals, two businesses, a home, and pets, isn’t a simple chore. We started this adventure while we still were still wearing shorts and t-shirts. Illnesses (not ours), delays (weather and people that didn’t want to work), slowed us down a bit. All is good…our target move date is (no later than) 3/13/2011.
We had a tremendous holiday season. Many nights my beloved husband and I stood in the soap studio, laughing out of sheer tiredness, giddy, packaging soaps and lotions.
Soon afterwards I saw a lot of empty, and nearly-empty, soap boxes. Along with that came blazing thoughts, what felt like very little time to remake a single batch. The key words here are “what felt like.” After forging forward, I found the solid footing once again. Making soap. Behind closed doors. Peace. Tranquility. Yes, from soap-making. I said this once before, I always think about who is going to use the soap, what they will like, if they will enjoy it as much as I make it. All of which are satisfying thoughts.
Our soap inventory is beginning to recover. Yes! We are also making headway with our 2011 list of soaps…which to keep, and a few to discontinue (Sweet Pea type, Plumeria, and a few others). Much to our happiness, 99% of our soaps are again geared towards natural – containing essential oils and blends that reflect the green and healthy business that we are.
Milk – nourishment from the inside out, or the outside in!
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
You are busy, but it sounds like you are BLESSEDLY busy, the best kind of busy. Working with your husband to achieve your dream goals, soon to be more than dreams because of all the hard work you do with joy
I am still enjoying and loving the soap I bought from you, it lasts a long time even with frequent use. Thank-you.
My best friend is just that, someone that supports me in most everything that I pursue (if not everything).
God bless, Kathy.
I need to get busy blogging, not just reading…commenting!!! I miss you!
I always look forward to your posts. Keep on keeping on, Mary.
Sounds like you had a wonderful season, enjoyed a bit of well deserved rest and are gearing up for the upcoming year.
You’re my hero. 🙂
I can only keep on keeping on, Pat!!
Writing comes in spurts…glad you enjoy reading what comes out!
Love them beautiful babies for me!
You are one busy woman!
Amy
http://goatpod2.wordpress.com
From time to time it feels too busy, but then I remember that it is a gift from God. I am happy. Thanks, Amy.
You’re welcome! It does from time to time feels too busy but we’ll get to relax some while in Georgia and Florida in 3 weeks!
Amy
http://goatpod2.wordpress.com
Hi Amy,
Congratulations on gaining back your soap inventory. We can relate to that momentum toward Christmas and making sure our clients and others have the soaps they need for the holidays. There is a lot of excitement and energy, and then you need a really recover!
I can also relate to having a spouse–or, in my case, working with your spouse in this soap-making business, can be so helpful. Sharing and supporting one another and learning on each other when the work becomes so crazy busy. I’m sure you understand that:)
You clearly have a love for making soaps, as my wife Leslie does. We also think about the customer/client perspective when we make and distribute the soaps. It’s clear you really care about the quality and integrity of your soaps.
a quick question for you. Regarding the commitment–which is great, to having 99% of your soaps being geared towards natural – containing essential oils and blends, how do you go about that? We use very high quality fragrance oils and essential oils, including Castor Oil, Safflower Oil, Coconut Oil, along with Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter and Mango Butter. What is your approach to ensuring your soaps are as natural as possible but still emit those very nice scents?
Take care and I hope the farm relocation goes well.
Thanks Amy!
Hello Michael.
We respect each soaper’s methods. All soapers that are focused on quality handle their formulas, methods, and fragrance blends in different ways. Soap-making is an art in that respect!
To answer your question, we started this business as an all-natural soap company. Over the years we have moved further away from all natural. In an effort to regain the ground that we want to set foot back on, we are weeding out many of our soaps that contain fragrance oils. Personally, I feel fragrance oils (when purchased from suppliers that ensure they also purchase/produce quality and safe products) are fine for skin-care products…but we choose to move away from them for many reasons (including the overwhelming problems that people have with skin allergies). My education (essential oil studies), combined with purchasing quality oils that are not tainted with fragrance (and most are certified 100% pure), and by the use of many test strips (to test our blends before we include them in soaps), helps us to achieve the nearly-natural goal. It is an ongoing effort.
Thank you for your compliments regarding our blends…it is appreciated.
Mary (not Amy :))
I finally got my internet up and running again this morning on my netbook. We were without power from Tuesday and it finally came back on for the 2nd time at about 9PM.
Amy
http://goatpod2.wordpress.com
Wow, Amy, glad you were back, and safe. Do you have a generator? We are thinking of investing in a whole house generator after we get past the intitial expenses of the move and out-building construction(s).
Haha, this is Mary’s blog not mine. I don’t have a spouse since I still live with my parent’s but I do raise goats and I used to make soap with my Mom.
Amy
Amy, I have been called a lot of things, especially Annie. It is all good.
I have mixed up several names myself recently – especially with the contractors. One is Mick, one is Mark, I switch them constantly.
Have a beautiful day!
LOL! I understand Mary, I got called Annie all the time while growing up since that is my sister’s name even by my Mom and I always reminded her that M comes before N which I am 2 years older than my sister right now. When I answer the phone I used to get called by my Mom’s name. It gets confusing here since we have 5 “A” names in our family now, it used to have been 6 “A” names before my brother’s divorce. Then add to the mix we have 2 Keith’s in my family now (my nephew is Keith which he’s named after my Mom’s brother, Keith but we often call my nephew KeiWe) and his Indian relatives call him Keshavan (his Tamil name which is his middle name to us) and when they talk to our family, he’s Keith or KeiWe. My brother looks like my Uncle Keith too. I was called Hailey (which is my Uncle Keith’s step daughter but I don’t look anything like her), that’s what my Grandma called me for awhile when she was switching back and forth between us and my Uncle before being put in the Assisted Living. She asked if she could be my Grandma at Thanksgiving and I told her she was my Grandma-this is my Mom’s Mom.
So I know how it is being called different names as well.
Amy
http://goatpod2.wordpress.com