Cutting Soap Logs in the Studio

Getting back into YouTube.... Hope you enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmJxIOys9xI

 

xo Jen

Soap Stamps

I just got a new soap stamp and I am really pleased.  I have worked with several different types of soap stamps – my very first one was from Anhoki, through ETSY, which I got several years ago and have loved and used it almost as much as my wonderful soap moulds… 

(Note toothbrush a very important cleaning tool for soap stamps.)

 

For some time, my husband has been bugging me to get another one done just in case.  Unfortunately Anhoki is no longer making soap stamps.  

At one point I got a wooden one done for a client who wanted their personalized logo stamped into some soaps I was making for them. 

Very good price, Spanish made, great customer service, but the person who made it had warned me against intricate lines.  The client insisted on the fine border around their logo, which actually came off. 

I also worked with another acrylic one which the customer themselves had made.  Very intricate lines, wonderful impression, but it just needed a handle.  It was just a flat stamp and hard to get off, once stuck into the soap.

(Sorry, I didn't get a photo of the stamp itself.)

 

So I discovered  http://lasercutz.co.uk/shop/soap_making.  I had to get another stamp made for a local retreat who will be using our personalized soaps (yippee!) so I had one made for myself at the same time.

 

 

 I AM THRILLED.   And stamping with this stamp is quite different.  Normally with my other stamps, I laid the stamp down on the soap in position, then gave it a wack! Or several wacks with a hammer.  With this one, I just press it in.   Much easier.  I use my wrist more so I am hoping not to get and issues with my wrist… but what a wonderful impression and so very easy to work with and clean. 

As you can see the impression is slightly different, slightly bigger, the border a bit thicker, the leaves more solid….  Well, I like it. 

 

Customer service, price and delivery times were awesome!  I will definitely be using Lasercuts again.

So... sorry my little Anhoki soap stamp... you have served me well, thank you for all you have contributed to my soaping... my beloved and first soap stamp is being retired. Of course she will be safely stored as we may need to use her again at some point.

 

Happy Stamping everyone!

Jen

(I may be posting a little less and using facebook a little more as I am settling into facebook… whereas blogging is such a wonderful connection with other soapers, facebook seems to be both a business tool, a local connection as well as connection with other soapers so if you like, come on over and join me over there. For now, my Jenora Soap blog remains where I post about soap making and experimenting.)

pH Testing - Handmade Soap

  Getting set up with Health and Safety here in Spain has not been easy.  One of the requirements is that each and every batch that is to be sold has to be tested by a lab for certain parameters… two of those parameters are free lye and pH.  Ever had your soap tested officially by a lab?  I bet you would be surprised by the results.  The tonge test is not very accurate…

So the pharmacist that I work with (another health and safety requirement here) is doing some pH experimenting with me.  We are noticing that the pH definitely comes down with time.

We are working with the paper testers and phenolphthalein.  The phenalphthalein basically tells us if the pH is under or over 8.  Under 8 and it comes clear.  Over 8 and it begins to get pink, bright pink still being up there around 10.   But under 8 and over 10 cannot be detected easily with phenalphthalein.  The paper strips do not seem to be very accurate as they are telling me the pH in the photos looks to be around 7 or 8, and the Phen. Tells me it is up near 10!

I have decided to get a more accurate pH (probably a digital one) tester very soon!

I would be interested in hearing your experiences with pH, what pH level is your handmade soap usually at and if you do anything to attempt to bring it down.

Happy soaping!!

Xo

Jen

My Dream Job

  Recently, I needed to set and answer some questions for one of my on-line program passwords…. You know, for if I forget it – what was the name of your first pet, what is your sister’s name, WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB?

Wow... That was when I realized that I have my dream job.  I am doing it!!   I have done a lot of jobs, working at least part time since I was 12 years old when I started babysitting.  Looking back on some of them… camp councellor, waitressing at cafés, a golf course, restaurants, bars, working at Canada’s Wonderland (similar to Disney World), ski instructing, kite sewing, nanny/au pair, ski guide, English teaching, secretary, receptionist at an Insurance Brokerage, maintenance/ gardener at a summer camp, teaching Spanish, typist, assisant to a psychologist, translating, Sales Service Manager at a Security Printing company, Assistant to Consul at an Embassy, Legal assistant, Homeowner services coordinator, Property Manager, Community Administrator...  Some of the jobs I liked more than others...

And now - Artisan Soap and Skincare Maker & Studio and Shop Owner. And all that entails.  I have never enjoyed a job so much in my life.  I have maybe never worked as hard in my life before as well… but it feels more rewarding than I ever could have imagined because I adore what I do.  I have never yet felt the “dread” that I have felt in some of my previous jobs, when I had to get to work... Even at 7 o´clock in the morning when I am loading up for a market, I still get those excited butterflies in my stomach.  I LOVE WHAT I DO!!!

Yesterday was the beginning of a new opportunity for me... Giving a demo at a local private resort... Again on my way there, rehearsing what I was going to say in my head, I was full of those excited butterflies… and I felt so fortunate to be right here, exactly where I am, doing exactly what I am doing…. Making a living doing what I love most.

(Setting up the Demo area at the resort)

 

What is “making a living”?  Probably means different things to different people.  I used to earn more money, live in a bigger house, we had 2 cars and more vacations.  Now, we live in a little house near the beach, share a vehicle (my studio and shop is less than a 2 minute walk from home) and we take “stay”cations here.

 

But the quality of my life at this moment feels like the richest it has ever been.

I wish you all a wonderful day full of gratitude.

Happy Soaping!!

Xo

Jen

Naturalmente Mediterraneo Facebook

Please come on over to the Naturalmente Mediterraneo Facebook site and "like" us!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Naturalmente-Mediterráneo/238777456199661

 

Happy Soaping, Blogging and Facebooking!!

 

xo

Jen

Reflection 2012

 

What a wonderful year it has been.  So full.  So adventurous. I really can’t believe how much we have done in 1 year.  I took my business to a different level and got a studio – a dedicated space for production, as a health and safety requirement here – and shop.  Opened the doors in July.  Learned a ton.  Worked what feels like a zillion Markets. Met so many people. Worked very hard.  Got closer to my husband with his dedication to the business as well. Moved house. Travelled to different areas of Spain. Hosted visits.   When it comes to the business, what are the top 5 things I learned from my experiences in 2012?

 
1.       Owning and running my own business is hard work and extremely rewarding, probably the 2^nd most rewarding thing I have done in my life, the 1^st being raising my daughter.

2.       Having a web-site and a shop are one thing, bringing people to them are another thing entirely.  It is rare they just stumble upon us.  Most of the people that come to either the web-site or shop are either from our personal networking at markets, or from word of mouth from other people.  Sitting back and waiting for people to come, does not work. Bringing them in is CONSTANT work.

3.       My clients are not that interested in colours or prettiness of a soap.  They are usually looking for a remedy for something, or fall in love with a scent.   What sells the first soap or product to a new client is either our recommendation for a remedy or a scent.  What sells the next product to a return client is performance of the product.

4.       Doing what I believe in with my heart and soul, feels amazing, and reminding myself to stick with it.  An example - I could have purchased thousands of premade canvas soap bags from China for pennies… but I don’t know if they were made in a sweat shop, under horrible conditions… so, a for a little more money, I have gathered together materials and labour from here, supporting my local economy, providing local work and….. I just never thought I would be so proud of a bag in my life.  I adore those little bags.  I believe in only natural ingredients the healing magic from the natural things offered in this very area where I live. I believe in supporting small local businesses.  I feel best when I stick to these values, when my choices are based on these values rather than simply cost, and I believe most of my clients value this as well.

5.       Building a business is a slow process; it takes dedication, patience, a positive outlook, strength, a lot of energy, a full belief in myself and my product and commitment to my values.  The months when sales have been slower, I need to do extra work to keep myself positive.  But things do come around and sales do pick up.  It is up and down and slowly building.

I hope some of this can help others out there. I love reading personal experiences from others out there, doing similar things.

5 things I have learned in my soap making over the past year?

1.       Environment (temperature & humidity) greatly affects soap making.

2.       Cinnamon Leaf Oil is NOT the same or even remotely similar to Cinnamon Bark Oil.  Cinnamon leaf is like clove, Cinnamon Bark is Cinnamon.

3.       Pure 100% freshly pressed Argan Oil stinks, but it is wonderful.  (My jojoba supplier is bringing in argan nuts from Morrocco and making the oil)

4.       Having a spacious area for soap making is marvelous, it has made the process even more enjoyable for me.

5.       Making liquid soap is very enjoyable as well, just requires a lot more babysitting and time.

Next year for the business? I will get into that in my other blog…  this blog is more personal… so personally? 1) Exercise more, get back into my daily morning walk routine  2) Get to Yoga-Pilates more frequently  3) Spend more time with my daughter 4)  Take a vacation with my family  and I can’t think of much else I would change in my personal life right now.  It’s all pretty good.

I hope you all had a fabulous holiday and are as excited as I am about the adventures to come in 2013.

Happy Soaping everyone!

Xoxoxo

Jen

 

Goat Milk Soap Colours

Same batch, just a different mould!  Incredible eh?

The darker colour soap was poured into my large wooden mould, which I cut into 48 bars.

The lighter colour soap was what I had left over when I was pouring, so I grabbed the first “left-over” mould I could - a small, thin silicone mould.

You can see the creamy, buttery colour of the soap that was in the silicone mould. It is that colour all the way through.

So clearly, as it would not heat as much in the silicone mould, here is visible evidence of how temperature during insulation affects goat milk soap colour!

Happy Holidays everyone.  Big soapy hugs.

Xo

Jen

New Soap Packaging - Naturalmente Mediterraneo

  

 Some photos of my new soap packaging for you...

If you want the full story about how this new packaging came about, come on over to:

http://naturalmentemediterraneo.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/new-soap-packaging-nuevo-epaquetaje.html

 

Happy Holidays and Happy Soaping!!!!

xoxoxoox Jen

 

Simplifying

My new wine soap is turning out really well.

 

I find myself needing to simplify things and struggling on-line to keep up with 2 blogs, 3 email addresses, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook, my web-site and mail chimp…  as well as all the non-on-line stuff like making and developing products (my favourite part of all of this), the studio and shop, markets, trade-fairs, packaging, ordering, admin etc etc.   Doing the one-woman-show is challenging but so rewarding.

I also know that to bring in more on-line sales, I need to direct people to my website instead of Jenora Soaps…

So, I will be focusing more on my Naturalmente Mediterraneo blog.  Hope you can all come visit me over there…   http://naturalmentemediterraneo.blogspot.com.es/

my latest post there has more details about my developing wine soap.

Thank you to all the wonderful and loyal followers.  I so enjoy your lovely comments.

Xoxoxoxo

Jen

More Soaping Surprises – Alkanet / Ratanjot

I continue to experiment with alkanet/ ratanjot… in the elusive search for that beautiful purple I had achieved in a non-olive-oil but short-shelf-life lavender soap.

Here is my latest experiment with honey lavender.  Wow.  Aside from the colour surprise, I was fully expecting a super-quick trace as has been happening with all of my other batches lately, but this one took forever to get to trace!  Could it be the organic Jojoba oil I used in this batch? It ended up so sweetly smooth...

I wish the photos really showed the robin’s egg blue that is on the outside of the soap.

Cut

Stamped

Two days later…

Up next – my latest wine soap experiments.

 

Happy Soaping!

xoxoxoxo Jen