Sharing your ingredients is important to your customer. A well structured label is, or can be, important. If you take clues from corporations and what they get away with, (not that they are an honorable standard) you can see the chemical names which mean little when shopping.
As I read a label I want to know if the creator of the product cares, even a little bit, about what I'm reading. If they know their craft and if they want to communicate with me be sharing information that will mean something. If the label is just marketing and gobblely-gook, well... I'm not interested.
Getting paid is not the metric for quality, unless you are a corporation. And then, they make the "regulations" void of honor and integrity. If there was honor and integrity to these regulatory processes, how could they pass a product that had carcinogenic ingredients? Was this an oops, a mistake? Did some board member say, "oh that will make the baby powder better, even if it causes more harm than good, our profits will increase. Yup, let's go with that. Get the lobbyist to encourage the legislation to pass that regulation."
Would you knowingly put poisonous ingredients in your soap to make it better, even if it caused harm, if your profits were better?
If the label is all flash and no substance, that is also a sign. A humorous label will aways get my attention. I want to judge the product for myself. I try to be an invitation and not a hinderance with my labels.
It is my understanding that customers want to know the ingredients in soap in common language. This helps them make a moderately informed choice. I say moderately, because I have no idea what they are looking for, so I offer all I can to help that process.
If I wrote just this, RICINUS COMMUNIS, would you know this is castor oil?
I understand there are "regulations" on labels and meeting this level of ridiculousness is suggested. I subscribe to "do more good than harm" and that seems to work better than letting certain agencies dictate my honor. The law is the lowest form of standard. Criminals don't abide, but honorable people must.
Did you know J & J was sued for putting chemicals in their baby power that caused harm? 40,000 people sued them. Curious, they would tell me, a humble real person, how to manage my efforts. Curious their product was approved.
All I write is now considered controversial. Honor. Dignity. Integrity.
I was once brought to account for using the word "integrity" with a boss. He asked the employees to leave, closed the door and dressed me down, criticizing me for my question during a meeting. I wondered two things: maybe he didn't know the definition of the word "integrity" or maybe he was offended I implied he was taking advantage of elderly people by strong arming them to create websites and all the costs that it involved. I was just a lowly coder. What did I know? I was let go shortly after that with a strong message from the owner to stay quiet. Curious.
When I say labels are not important I mean that these are throw-away parts. Labels are not the product. When was the last time you kept a label?
When I started making products, hand made soap in this instance, spending my hard earned profits on professional labels was (and is) low on the priority list. These, are of course, my observations after years of making hand made soap.
I reinvested every earned cent back on the business. It did not turn a profit for a few years. I was not paid either. This is a myth. Most business professionals will advice to pay yourself from the beginning. This is a corporation model-thing. I'm not a corporation. I am a person. A being. There is a huge difference. Most of us got the soap making bug BECAUSE we didn't want what the corporations were offering. So why would we use them as a model for our businesses?
No one passes that toll booth to the land of dreams without an offering. There is always a trade. I spent years writing just to practice; to grow my writing chops. I wasn't paid. Should I have stopped my writing practice? Should I stop my spiritual practice? I'm not paid for that. Will I ever be paid for either practice?
If I don't gain insight or get better at my writing practice I can guarantee I won't get paid in the future. If I'm not the best soap maker I can be, will I be successful?
Most of us don't have the ability to infuse our new endeavors with cash from the beginning. So, taking a little vacation-money and trying your hand at a new idea, might be an option. A bit of a gamble, however, trying your hand at an entrepreneurial endeavor also might bring a different kind of joy. If the profit margin is low (in the beginning) and the desire great, priorities are critical.
Making the best product, become better at your craft and paying for your crafting education with work (as there is always a trade) could be a better path forward then spending the profits on a labels.
I've seen many soap makers come and go and many of them had fabulous labels.
I've begun different businesses with this philosophy: imagine the new business like a child. It requires support until it can stand on its own. My job is not to enable it to be dependent, but to guide it to becoming independent. It has to grow legs.
My suggestion to new soap makers, or new business owners, is to cut costs where you can, with a keen eye on your priority list. Your efforts are important. Being paid doesn't equal your value. If you can pay yourself, bravo! Labels can always be upgraded once the product becomes outstanding. Product development is high on the priority list, labels less-so. All efforts should be put toward making a superior product. Customers will forgive a handmade label, but they won't forgive an inferior product and will not become loyal. Would you?
We haven't chatted in awhile. I thought I'd drop you a line.
You've been quiet. Oh, don't fret, this isn't a criticism, just an observation. I've been quiet as well. The world is a bit chaotic at the moment. As you know, my dear witch, with your keen senses. I'll not bemoan the clown posse.
I've picked up my writing practice again. I keep notes on my life daily, however, this morning I'm one step closer to writing for 30 minutes each morning, before I speak.
I wrote a page. My brain dump. Nothing particularly important, and attempt to remember my dreams and get the detritus out of the way, to be a more clear being.
As you might remember, I kept writing practice for five years straight, some years ago. I wondered at this desire at the time, have since written a few books and recently discovered I sold 12,268 books. I still don't consider this a writing career, but a strong tool in my toolbox.
Now, I'm making notebooks and journals. I realized that the cover, sans words, helps me toward inspiration. I've made about 50 so far and am encouraged each day with the ideas of the meaning behind each image.
This is one of my new favorites.
"Capture the charm and authenticity of farm life with our Farm Girl and Her Chicken illustration journal. Delightful and heartwarming, this journal features an endearing illustration of a farm girl with her beloved chicken, celebrating the simple joys and genuine connections found in rural living."
This is rich with consideration and the idea of keeping notes of farm life. I would love to have chickens.
This is the one I've ordered.
"Each branch and leaf is a testament to the beauty and interconnectedness of all living things, reminding you of the infinite possibilities that exist within and around you."
I wanted something to be large enough to encourage me to finish one page and possibly achieve my brain dump for thirty minutes first thing each morning. I gained a great deal from this practice in the past.
My other consideration is the spiral aspect because I like to fold the entire journal open. I've used and do use the stitched sort, but those don't encourage me as much as a flat writing surface. So there's that.
I put a little stack of stones on the back to remember to mark my path.
So, you'll probably hear from me a bit more often. As my fingers are communicating via typing and a lovely pen onto paper. Both have their uses.
I'll leave you with this tea recipe, from my tea journal. I've been collecting tea recipes as I have my cup most evenings.
Here are some resources for creative writing and journaling.
]]>We moved 900 miles from where we were.
This wasn’t a spontaneous choice. Despite the political cartoon circus, which wasn’t what made our choice for us either, but certainly colored the timing. No matter what the flying monkeys do, it only fueled our fire to get out of the city, to continue to think for ourselves and do what honored our individual sparks.
First we tried to move “up north” from Phoenix. Northern Arizona is high altitude, cooler weather and less dense population, then the sea level desert. Also, fewer flying monkeys.
We looked for a reasonable home for a reasonable amount of money. I found it ridiculous to rent a 960 square foot house of $1,600 a month. The second I saw a home available there would be 30 contracts on it. A new level of insanity.
The market makes little sense as the market makers are not sense makers.
Taking this clue that Arizona was done with us we decided our relationship was over, entirely. No compromising would mend it. When an expiration date has come due on a relationship, both parties wish the other sincerely well and move on. We have many fond memories of our life in Arizona, and the desert holds much beauty, just no longer for us.
While sorting through belongings that no longer served, the idea of letting go of other things came to mind: behaviors, ideas, and philosophies. I looked back at my soap journey and considered those who have followed me along the way.
What to keep? What to throw away?
I remember offering my first ebook and thinking no one would want it. If someone did, it would be a non-event. What surprised me was that the traffic was so abundant my Wordpress site crashed. That was surprising.
All my books have gone through many re-writes. I take criticism well. I also know the difference between true critiques and projected emotions. The valley between these two mountains of intention is vast.
Those sincere people who have brought things to my attention receive my gratitude. I took action on those words to make each book better. I value that you took the time to set your world aside and give mine attention.
I was asked a long time ago, “Is this the best you can do?” If not, I need to try again. So, I did and do. If there is even a wiggle of “I can do better” I do it. I have a lot of try in me.
I reflected on those who read any of my books and even went on to purchase more. This effort, this very action, makes my heart swell. Those of you who did this gave me the benefit of the doubt. You saw something I didn’t see and gave me enough space to do better.
This is one reason I offer gifts in each order. It is my gratitude in action. It is my continuous effort to thank you.
Crafting is a grassroots process. One that does not include a team of professionals. All this has been me, my efforts in the beginning. Along the way, it began to include you, and then my guy. I couldn’t do all this without you, and now, without him. In the beginning I was in my stupidly small apartment scraping together every cent to put back into the soap efforts. Some days, after weeks of not selling one bar of soap, I’d question my efforts. My guy was at work and the people around me, most, didn’t believe in what I was doing, so essentially there wasn’t an outside source to confide in. Certainly no one of substance, so I talked with myself. I strengthened my internal voice and treated myself as my best friend, someone who would not give up on me, no matter what.
I had to rally, steel my mind against the doubts and mind gremlins that crept in. I relied on rational thought, stoicism, determination and hard work. My emotions were not the guiding force, but only the soup, one way to gauge the temperature of life; an indication, but not the truth of the situation. Just as words are facsimile of truth, emotion is the wind behind the words.
When anyone begins a new project, it is my belief that the newly formed idea - the dream - is as fragile as a baby chick; vulnerable, subject to many dangers and must be protected.
While sharing my intentions and desire to move, over this past year, we’ve had our share of fear-glitter. That is exactly how confusing it is when someone says, “I’m just warning you. Just being the Devil’s advocate. Just saying why it’s a bad idea… Because I care”. Yeah, that’s on par with tossing glitter on me and saying its for my good. A mixed message and void of sincere support. Guess who has to clean that up! I know support when I hear, like many other things.
If a dream were a baby chick would I trust that person to care for it? I now know that’s how to gauge whether to share a dream or not. Will that person protect the baby chick or… ? Hard lesson.
So, while throwing out material objects this past month, the one thing I did NOT throw out was the idea of those who protected the baby chick I offered. I ran across cards and gifts you sent me, and squirrel them away to preserve those memories.
The din of the circus is hardly audible now, and I haven’t spotted one monkey. Circus glitter has been swept up.
This move has taught me flying monkeys are unnecessary, a good house cleaning happens on many levels and I don’t have to live at the circus. And, my baby chick is thriving.
]]>Here are a few inexpensive ideas that will help you along the way.
Light sources are important. The best photographer can struggle with daylight. Controlled light is much more... Well, easier to control. Controlled light sources are lights proper, actual lights or aka lamps. I like lights I can count on to be consistent, whereas, sunlight does what it does, throws shadows, and is hard to move around.
One idea is to bathe the subject in light, and also eliminate shadows. Much like how water wraps around the bather in a tub.
I try to have all areas lit with a "light bath" to remove all shadows. I don't want the product floating, so a tiny shadow is fine, but I also don't want shadows to take away from the subject. Shadow elimination is caused by wrap around light. Light wraps around the subject and fills in all dark areas.
Lights that flash or shine directly onto the subject can be harsh, similar to sunlight, however, a light bath can be the thing that takes your photos from just okay to stellar.
These images were photographed a different times. Same light.
White balance adjustment is important. White balance is where whites appear white. When we pull away from the image without the knowledge of white perception (what we THINK is white) and use an adjustment we can see what true whites are and therefore how to adjust.
There are many places to read about white balance, but this is truly important to a photo that stands out verses a flat photo that will be passed over.
An image with a color cast, like blue, can dull the image unnecessarily.
This image has had white balance adjustment applied. (My website compresses images so whites are not as true as the background, which is what was created).
Read more about white balance here.
If you want to achieve great photos follow those who create great photos. I am always learning and growing with photography, a never ending education.
I love product images that don't have anything in the background but white. This helps me move images around, create composites (no need to retake photo) and utilize images for a variety of applications.
The way I achieve a white background is to shoot (photograph) on a white background with a light bath. I have purchased many light boxes, like the soft material boxes (getting the wrinkles out of the material light box is impossible), full light kits (lots of money sitting unused in my garage) and foam board. Foam board and inexpensive clip on lights have been my best allies.
I've learned less is more. I no longer will purchase promises, but make my own. I have made two light boxes. Although imperfect, they work AND didn't cost a fortune. The best part is, I use them! I use them daily and have relied on my ingenuity far more than a fold up light box that did not serve at all. Not one photo could I use from that box. It was hard to move around and worst, caused me a great deal of work in the editing area.
The light box I use for video (see large light box) could use a bit more light, but it was our first prototype light box. It cost about $80. We learned a lot about what we need for product photography and video.
Our second light box we figured out we don't want one as cumbersome to move, and simply do not need such a large area lit for still photography. This one we built 20" x 20" x 20". We also figure out we didn't need the top cross bar, because I bang my head on the video box repeatedly, however, it does light my face up a bit more than without it, so there's that.
This new light box is smaller AND we have smaller led lights this time, with an inline on/off and dimmer switch.
I have an even less expensive version here. This is where my lights from that expensive light-kit came in handy.
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The Book That Almost Wasn't
https://sorcerysoaps.com/blogs/blog/book-that-almost-wasnt
This post is for those who have read my book, An Enchanted Book of Peculiar Ideas. I rewrote this book from its first edition. I have had the same editor for all my books, AND after speaking with her, I asked her opinion about getting another editor, as she and I are dear friends. I wanted another set of eyes on it, an…
]]>I rewrote this book from its first edition. I have had the same editor for all my books, AND after speaking with her, I asked her opinion about getting another editor, as she and I are dear friends. I wanted another set of eyes on it, and it had many, many eyes on it, but I wanted a "professional".
I procured - shopped for and researched, sent many many queries out - a "professional" editor. I chose someone who was supposedly creative and had great reviews for being willing to work with her clients. After submitting my manuscript, I heard nothing. So, I sent email prompts as she didn't give me a time frame or any feedback if my book had been received. It felt like I sent it to a publisher or an agent aka black hole.
I finally received my manuscript back. It was so censored, so edited, it no longer sounded like me. It felt as if she rewrote my book in her voice. I was heart-sick, and slightly angry, because I paid hard cash (not debt) for this service. I worked with people like that in the past, they take over the work. A great editor support, guides and corrects for clarity all the while knowing their own voice and support the writer's voice. They see the difference. I learned a great deal more from my best editors even more than just about writing. I wrote a book with one. She and I had to construct a unified voice, not her's, not mine, but one that was the book's voice, the story's voice. This co-writing was great practice.
So, I could not NOT pay, even if I didn't like the quality of her work.
I went back to my friend/editor and asked her thoughts. She knew I only sought another editor (having worked with many, many editors in the past) only because I wanted another set of eyes.
She and I both agreed that soap makers were a small group and this wasn't literary work, so do the best we could and get it out there: be clear while writing, allow the ethers to speak through me, and trust the work.
I wanted to ensure my friend/editor wasn't being biased toward me, consciously or unconsciously. I wanted an evaluation from someone who didn't know me. This is how we came to be our writer/editor relationship she and I have now. Our friendship is even better, as if I thought it could be better, yet I can say it's deeper. She knows me differently, and I know her differently. She and I have been friends for almost 20 years. We are of a similar mind, we would rather have truth about outside and inside, the stimulation/matrix and self, then to live in the illusion, the maya.
I cannot imagine my life without her. She has offered such a deep level of support, a sincerity that has encouraged me and inspired me to continue with writing and soap making. She is not a soap maker, but she is a highly conscious and conscientious being. She makes editing a pleasure where I look forward to getting her corrections. That is incredibly rare.
This next book, no editor necessary, as it is hundreds of images. All my work, my visions and my work. This one is between the printer/publisher and myself. And, my friend and I have discussed it enough to add her energy to this book as well. I'm now waiting on the second proof. Because of this plan-demic many are working at a far different time frame. I'm not familiar with this aspect of matrix aka the simulacra simulation. (If you care into look this simulacra book... A curious opening into the another place.)
"...The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth—it is the truth which conceals that there is none. The simulacrum is true."
So, dear Soap Witches, I fought for that book - all - books. Stood up for it and continue to pursue my vision of writing directly to you. I wanted you to feel as if I wrote it for you.
]]>Being so connected we really don't say much or communicate clearly.
There are many fish faces now a days and it appears we showing signs of backwards evolution. Are people turning into fish?
Communicating with pictures can be deceptive. Sideways words in marketing has created a world where being a "person of your word" has taken on a pirate like meaning. How did we come off the rails so much that one can say whatever they like on social media with overtly deceptive marketing?
When I see claims made about the SORCERY any one soap can do, I want to rail yell at the computer screen, and to my canine's dismay.
Who wouldn't want a magic bar of soap to remove body fat, clear the skin to perfection and thwart aging? How many people just want to believe so strongly they purchase that soap or cleansing agent?
Afterward, what happens? Does that person see the world as untrue? Do they know this on a conscious level or simply ingest this deception and become altered in unclear attitudes?
I recently read a post about the benefits of particular beauty product and soap.
Some common claims made by the manufacturers:
For those of us who know how soap works we can see these claims are impossible. Lightening freckles or skin discolorations is possible, but not without using harsher chemicals. And not with soap.
Some chemicals used for skin lightening:
Do those ingredients survive saponification?
There is a deep response, shrouded in anger, to these statements that I cannot deny. Why would I have this response? Because it goes against my experience, knowledge and all things I understand to be true. Just because I have this response doesn't validate or invalidate this marketing, however, I don't need to be a scientist or even partially educated, to know there is no such thing as anti-aging. If the advertiser slips this little deceptive tidbit in what other slight-of-hands are they doing?
I can't see a magician's slight of hand, but when they pull something out of thin air I know I've been tricked.
I am a proponent of Occam Razor, the simplest way or answer is generally true.
William of Ockham, a Franciscan friar who studied logic in the 14th century, first made this principle well known.[1] In Latin it is sometimes called lex parsimoniae, or "the law of briefness". William of Ockham supposedly (see below) wrote it in Latin as:
This translates roughly as:
Anti-aging... Where to begin? Let's considering anti-aging for a second... This very idea goes against the universal laws.
Things age: people, plants, everything ages, transforms, changes and eventually ceases to exist. Anti means "not" or "opposed" or "against." We can be against aging in our beliefs, but that does not mean we thwart the aging process. We CAN affect our skin to APPEAR as if it is not aging. We can wear costumes. The person inside the costume is still the same age. How we perceive their age is observation relevant. This change is only a temporary appearance, and over all, we all know that we ARE aging.
I have often heard, "she/he looks great for their age." What this really means is, "my judgement of someone that age should look different."
Why strive to appear younger than you are? What would be the benefit? Why would one want to live un-true, inauthentic, out of sync with your existence?
Our age is an example of our lives - lived well or lived poorly.
Let's revisit some establish laws of our existence:
The four laws of thermodynamics are:[1][2][3][4][5]
Essentially, energy is not created or destroyed, but merely transformed.
Are skin care products changing these laws?
If someone wants to change their costume, or their body, in a caring manner or in a vain manner, is not my intention of this post to point either side out. What is my objective is to point out that misleading marketing is now common practice. That is a core reason I no longer practice esthetics. It is, in part, why I'm attracted to the hand made community. I find this community much more down-to-earth, grounded and sincere. I have found a greater level of self-responsible people willing to share their knowledge and understanding in the soap community, with people they don't know and may never meet. At the core of this behavior I have found truth seekers.
The over-all desire is just to know.
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These grotesqueries are on places where one would think protection was unnecessary. Some history notes that gargoyles are placed to keep demons out of the building.
My question is, what about the rest of the area? Do demons roam around unchecked because only gargoyles are on certain buildings? Or is it they don't want demons inside? If that's the case, gargoyles are mighty powerful. I can't seem to keep a soap gremlin out of my house. Maybe I need a gargoyle.
I find it curious that while worshipping we are meant to be open, our guard is down, we prostrate, humble ourselves. Even governments know this. Churches and temples are supposed to be off limits to bombings and heinous behaviors, particularly in wartime. This is not to say all abide by these rules of engagement, however, they are considered safe havens in or out of wartime.
Some of these ancient gargoyles are curious and so modern they give rise to more questions than answers.
This gargoyle (below) on the rebuilt Paisley Abbey in Scotland could have been the inspiration for many modern movies.
In 1307, Edward I of England had the Paisley Abbey burned down, but later in the 14th century it was rebuilt by Sir William Wallace. The movie Braveheart was based on Sir William Wallace, so he was no slouch. More to the point, this church with the alien gargoyle is hundreds of years old. What was a stonemason doing creating a gargoyle that looks like a space alien? Especially for a church? Again, more questions I cannot answer.
When I make some creature in soap, I first consult my memory. My memory did not have these gargoyles in it. It does now.
Next, I'll do a bit of research to figure out a direction. What I rarely do is ask why I'm making something. I just make it. With my gargoyle soap I have wondered at the creation, the timing of it.
And still, it's like a splinter in the mind.
When one does not know if gargoyles are considered real; or the demons they are meant to protect us from are any more-or-less real, one cannot know which way the wind blows without consulting the emperor's people. I mean really, they let him walk around naked, so there's that.
I have chosen to see past the outrage du jour. I strive for neutrality in all my endeavors. Except when it comes to gargoyles. I do and will make a gargoyle in soap. Now we'll see who's protected. ;)
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If you do know me, you might not know this story.
That's a big thing to lay at your feet, that you are reading from someone who created something, well to be clear, brought forward and catalyzed something that the world had not seen before. Soap dough has been around, as a by-product of hand made and industrial made soap.
Soap dough, in this form, with this process, had not been seen before I brought it into focus. This information has taken me years to realize and hardest to acknowledge.
In the beginning I was baffled anyone wanted to know about this stuff I was calling "soap dough", as it seemed rather obvious. Those ideas that seems obvious to one are not always obvious to others and why I'm writing this post.
In the beginning I was asked to join a group - this part is unclear, either she put a notification for a group or I was asked to join - but either way I joined the group. It was an experimental group to write a book. (I felt honored to be considered, because the woman asking was a soap celebrity. Or in my mind, anyway.) The claim was to write a book in 8 weeks.
I have been writing for many years, been in many groups, studied at university and college and participated in having my work published on many occasions. And, writing takes practice. One must read and write a lot. Some of us need more practice than others, and I'm one of the former. It had been years since I wrote a book and thought it would be good practice.
I also discovered that as I shared my soap creations many questions were asked, "how" about soap dough, even the word, was confusing. No one had coined the term as I was using it. That was a big question to answer.
During my writing and business practice I was taught to ask myself this question, "what new thing can I bring to the table?" If it wasn't a new idea, I should reconsider why I was taking the effort. This helped me clarify my "why". Once I had the why of the situation, the rest became much easier.
Along the way I did what I do and met every challenge and deadline in the group. I also had a few opportunities to speak with the woman running the group on the phone.
After the completion of this project I had a book. I quickly saw the need to create another book because I had been asked for soap dough recipes. As I had the momentum of the group, and the completion of my first soap book, I dug right in. This book turned into my recipe books. Before these books transformed into a printed version they were binders. I was so proud of them and wanted the woman who ran the writing group, now I considered my mentor, (not that she knew, but we had long conversations about honor, copyright theft, marketing, etc.) as someone who might want to see this prototype. I trusted her.
The books were expensive to make, time consuming and to make it worth my while, I would ask $65. My mentor said, no one would purchase for that amount. I continued anyway. I thought, ok, if no one wants these I'll give them as gifts. Fair enough. I'll chalk it up to product testing. If the world doesn't really need this book, I'll know.
All this was funded by my measly pay as an esthetician. I mean, measly. I held the record for doing the fastest Brazilian in the salon (cleaned and gone in 16 minutes), always took the trash out and cleaned up after the other employees. I came in on my day off, didn't complain about the mess my station was left in and took the few crumbs I was offered. It was a miserable job. My employers were about creating a franchise, not employee retention.
My customers were great, though. I talked them through the pain of hair removal and comforted them. Everyone apologies for the unnerving pain of hair removal. I'd seen it and knew it was embarrassing, although, I'll admit, entertaining from the creative cursing that went on.
In another life, I once, had a nice size company so I knew what it meant from an employer's perspective to be a good employee. I knew what I looked for in a "good employee" and strove to be that stellar employer. I valued my employees.
I wrote a handbook for my employees, so they knew what I expected. We ran our shop with absolutely clear communication. I even offered free yoga classes at my instructor's studio. As a construction employee (of which I apprenticed) it's imperative to be flexible. I offered bonuses that would benefit them, striving to be the best employer I could, doing those things I wish someone would have done for me.
I knew if they had any gumption, wouldn't stay working for me for their life, so I supported them on their journey. I didn't see it as beneficial to hold it against them if they wanted more in life. I got it. I sent them to apprenticeship school on my dime and time and asked them to contract and agree to work for 4 years after schooling was done. I would have a skilled journeyman and a committed employee for at least five years. Fair trade. They heartily agreed. I was the best deal in town, as I paid them at the top of their game. I needed NOT to keep hiring people, as that is also a cost to the company.
Just offering overtime was a bonus, as some companies in that area only made you work overtime without time and a half. What the crazy-making was that? I had that happen to me first hand for a jeweler I worked for. 60 hours I worked, and they slid that time on to the next paycheck. Yup. I'm not that person. A human's sweat equity is valuable in my book. The job quality is different, but the effort... It's the agreement that is important to me and not to be violated.
I also knew that being an esthetician was a means to an end. Not a life career. Salon politics were not for me. I just needed enough funds to get my own thing up and running. I suspect my employers knew that too, but they didn't know how to deal with it. I gave them every excuse to keep using me, but the feeling I was shining a light on the inadequacies of their other employees was glaring.
I once worked in a factory and worked hard and fast every day. After a few weeks another employee told me to slow down. I was making them look bad. I suspect my life as an aesthetician was similar. We should not strive to accommodate the lowest common denominator amongst us, but raise the bar as high as we can.
During this time of writing my first soap book I was making soap cookies. When I introduced them many puzzled over them. I offered to send samples of these cookies to the first 100 soap makers that signed up for free. I'd make them, pay to ship them and all I wanted in return was feedback about the soap quality, size and usage. I received well over 100 requests and didn't want to turn anyone away, so I sent them all 100+ off. This seemed like a fair, but costly, trade to me. I was asking for feedback and they were receiving something for absolutely no cost to them.
I did not, by the way, receive even close to 100 replies for soap cookie feedback. The upshot was, the feedback I did receive was so exceptional, I made the adjustments and carried on.
Soap cookies were not a thing. Yes, they were around, but not like they are now.
Back to the book story... During this time I also asked for feedback from a few people about my book. I was unsure, asking questions about what if I'm wrong? What if I've made a mistake in some area? What if I'm not good at... Any of it? Biggest of all, what if I'm dead right and my work isn't protected?
I am not anyone, not a big supplier, not a soap celebrity... I don't have a staff of editors, marketers, soap makers... I do all this myself. (Now, I have my partner for help, but only recently.) I had to figure out basic things from how to layout a page to what program to use, then learn that program... All of it. How to upload an ebook, print it, share it... So much. The looming question, if not me, then who?
Who has had more experience with soap dough other than me?
I learned some hard lessons in under-valuing my photography in the past, not protecting it and sending my creations out into the world.
I've been a photographer both professional (have to earn X amount in one year to claim professional) and ammeter since 2004. My photos were stolen and when I addressed it the thieves were bold enough to accuse or attack me... Publicly. So, I was leery of sharing my writing with the world.
My mentor said to me, "who cares if someone takes your work?" I had read little of her work until then, but she had (IMO) a humongous following. So, I trusted her. This, my dear soap witch reader, is my fault. Just like it's my fault for trusting that people WILL do what is right and not take what is NOT theirs.
Snakes do what snakes do. Or in this case scorpions.
Do you remember the tale of the scorpion and the frog? The scorpion asked the frog to ride on its back across the stream. The frog refused, claiming the scorpion would sting him. The scorpion denied this and said, why would I sting you? We'll both drown.
The frog thought it a fair point so agreed to transport the scorpion.
Halfway across the stream the scorpion stung the frog. The frog, in his surprise and anguish, asked, why did you sting me? The scorpion replied, because it's what I do.
I take this to mean, there is a nature to things. That nature is not in the telling, but in the overall expression of the being. When we go with that, move with it, the nature of the thing can bloom. Be that dark or light. Pleasing or not pleasing.
So, after some time of my books being around I saw that my words, my ideas, my phrasing was being lifted. My original ideas were being used and claimed as their own. Copying is an acceptable form of expression, and we all copy along our paths, but theft of an idea is something entirely different. We can feel it, sense it, and even if it only seems that way, we can watch.
The words taken and used were directly from my books. I asked my mentor about this, as she had done it. Not harboring ill will, but asking directly is only fair play. She attacked me, verbally. I begged forgiveness, as I could (and can) be mistaken, yet the intimacy of the arrangement, the coincidence of the words and ideas, seemed too on the nose to be incorrect. And yet, all I could do at that time was trust.
I still left my "I'm sorry, please forgive me" out there. That was 5 years ago. She has not replied since. I have been watching. I have bought her books. I take her newsletter and watch her behaviors. I should have known. A scorpion will always sting.
Since that time I have continued on my journey. I have created thousands of new ideas in soap. Brought light to soap dough and the possibilities of a bar of soap being so much more. I offer pre-made soap dough, had four of my books properly printed, made 100's of videos, written over 300 blog posts, interviewed many soap makers and helped to market them, sent out for free many books, soap and soap dough and continued to support other soap makers. Along with having a Facebook group that is growing daily.
Sorcery Soap (not me) has 46,000 followers on Instagram. That is meaningless.
What is meaningful is that I continue to create, support and have a great deal of creativity to offer and this number conveys how long I've been doing this work. What is also meaningful is that you, my dear soap witch sister, are reading these words. That means more... More than I can adequately express with my fingers on this keyboard. And, I'm someone who tries to express in this medium.
The shocking thing for me is this has happened over and over with people and suppliers you'd never think possible. Just because someone has half a million followers does not make them a "good" person. You'd think I know this! It makes them good at something, but not what I thought. I let myself be enamored with their "soap celebrity" status. I let myself be glamoured.
My dear soap witch sister if you have been horn-swaggled too, don't be hard on yourself. Take your lumps and keep doing your work. There are many, many people out there who don't create, don't offer anything to this world, but think they can - and will - take your creations. I am under no illusions. There are idea thieves and soul-eaters.
Of course, I have to answer myself honestly. If that answer is, yes, I continue.
Remember, there are also you and I in this world. And, we found each other.
I do not want your trust because I say something or because I have a certain number following what I do.
I would like your trust (if I have earned it) because you have watched me, seen what I'm capable of and I continue on this path despite the taunts, nastiness and mistruths. I continue, even in the face of all this, to give.
I am imperfect striving for better. I speak/write what is true for me and do not pretend otherwise, yet striving for kindness and patiences. (Much like the state of Zen. I view it as one can only strive for those states of being, if one claims they achieved it, it is lost.) I make fewer mistakes today (hopefully) and will continue to support those who are kind and do similar. I am loyal to those who have supported me especially in a dark times and retain those impressions.
My goal is to offer things you can use or might need along your journey. If I can shed light, I am truly blessed. That is a life worth living. Because, when it all comes down to it, I want to know I did my very best in all arenas, everyday. If my best helps you, mores the better.
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There are some people who quietly do their work behind the scenes. We reap those rewards when these highly creative and dedicated people choose to share. Thank the gods for these amazing people!
Carrie from Nurture Soap Supply is one of these people.
A few years ago I dug into making the perfect red soap dough. It was either too pink, too brick or something other, but not that true red I sought. That exact red that tickles the cones and rods and screams "THIS IS RED".
It was my own personal nemesis. I created a mica recipe that came dead close.
These are examples of the truest red my eye can see:
During this time Carrie from Nurture Soap was hot on the red trail. She was playing her cards close. We had a few conversations about the perfect red.
Unlike most people I was less concerned with bleeding (color spreading from one color into the adjacent color) in soap. This is topic for another day.
I understood Carrie was researching and experimenting, but didn't have a full grasp of the situation until most recently.
I bought every red mica Nurture Soap Supply offered.
I tried them all. Okay, to be fair, I tried most. I did not venture into liquids or oxides as I already knew what oxides would produce and don't generally like them to bleed onto my wash cloth. All the reds I used fell a tick short of my ideal red. Not entirely, but a bit... As I was after that ultimate holy grail red. I was seeking a true red, under any light will appear red. I relied on my mica recipe, which is solid, however, as in all recipes, when we adjust one thing and don't adjust all things in a recipe the results are not alway consistent.
A few months ago Carrie brought her secret to the foreground - Trial By Fire red mica.
I tested it and was stunned. Absolutely stunned at the results. Not only is this mica premixed to Carrie's exacting standards, but the results are dead on every time. I am so pleased that Carrie continued to pursue her love of color and utilized knowledge of her products to bring us something extraordinary. This red - Trial By Fire - mica is extraordinary and produces really red results.
Thank you, Carrie, for all your hard and dedicated work; for continuing the daily grind; for leveraging your insights and wisdom and most of all for sharing your unique self with us.
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My first suggestion while learning to make soap dough is don't! Avoid scented soap dough when you are learning what to expect from soap dough. A great quality of soap dough is smooth, pliable and soft, but firm. After all, we don't want lumps in our dough. Fragrance oils can cause the best cold process soap recipes to go sideways. When learning something that takes a bit of nuance, keep it as simple as possible. That is, until you begin to see more deeply into the this artistic craft - soap dough.
It takes a minute to learn how to make a great quality soap dough. Anyone can do anything. Anyone can make soap dough. Making good quality soap dough takes time.
How To Tell Quality?
Look at those who make extraordinary soap dough embellishments and embeds. (See: Soap Interviews.) Those who make exceptional embellishments or embeds are the standards. Those enchanting soaps that grab your attention; are neat handed and free of soap crumbs; that look so smooth it bodes a question - Are those soaps?
How to Choose
When I began studying photography, many years ago, the first thing I did was search all those I followed on Flicker. There was a section on each posted photo of "equipment used". I made a list of the images I most loved and took notes on what equipment they used. I had to make a choice, Nikon or Canon. After all, once committed to the body or a camera there are lenes to choose.
I chose Canon. Simply because the images I was most attracted to were created by Canon equipment. Do not misunderstand. I didn't, for one minute, think I could create stunning images just because I bought equipment. I wanted to emulate those I admired. I had to start somewhere. Indecision is a barrier to progress.
With soap dough, do what others (even me, who has written a few words about soap dough) do, for awhile. If you desperately need to scent your dough at least practice with soap dough a bit before you make fragranced soap dough. I've been making it for years and I find it a monster to manage.
If You Must
If you must, if you insist, on fragrancing your soap dough, at the very least choose a fragrance that is tried and true. Read the Soap Dough books. Find ways to avoid the issue.
Why Is Fragrance Oil Tricky?
I go over this in my books, AND it needs repeating... Fragrance oils are complex. They bring, not only OIL to the table, but chemicals that affect the quality of the soap dough that goes largely unnoticed. If the traditional fragranced cold process soap bar behaved it's a relief. If there wasn't acceleration, over-heating, or ricing... No one pays much attention to the soap texture. Not just the texture of the surface of the bar, but what the soap feels like inside.
Not the case with soap dough. We touch it, dig into it, and our fingers tell us information about the quality of the soap our eyes cannot from bar soap.
This topic is so important I dedicated a chapter to this subject, (Chapter 6: Page 35). I share how to avoid issues and how to add fragrance oil to soap dough.
By the way, I never scent my soap dough. I find it unnecessary. The soap embellishment is generally so small the scent of a bar of soap trumps the embellishment scent. I eliminate the as many issues as possible and share those insights with you in all my books.
I ran into many issues while untangling the soap dough issue. I share the straighter path, how to avoid problems, so you can get on the with the business of manifesting your creativity. No one wants to get hung up on a problem someone else has figured out while dreaming of a new and fantastical soap. Researching issues, finding the work-around, takes time. A lot of time. I've condensed time in the Soap Dough books, shorten the path for you.
If you'd like to add fragrance oil to your soap dough read this book.
Go forth, little soap witch, and create! Manifest your ideas into a product of great care. One bar of enchanted soap might help change things... If nothing else, the very bottom line, you will bring joy to someone else with your magical soaps.
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Dear Soap Witch, Soap Sister,
When ugliness comes your way, just know it’s your turn. It goes in cycles, just like any attention - good attention, bad attention, soap attention...
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When ugliness comes your way, just know it’s your turn. It goes in cycles, just like any attention - good attention, bad attention, soap attention.
Did you know there are people in this world who get up in the morning and ask. “What can I steal today?” It’s true, they have a dark power. These are the takers-gremlins. They take what they want without consciousness. How does one lose their consciousness? Does it fall off?
I know you protect yours. Me too.
I wanted to cheer you on to keep creating, keep drawing down ideas from ethers. The world needs your version. Even so, when your creations are taken without a care it still stings.
If being copied is so flattering why does it sting? Is it like a slap and tickle? I don’t see the tickle worth the slap.
Coping unique creations, your creations, is because, well… Muggles. Need I say more, dear sister? It’s all baffling to me, how can someone take credit for another’s creations? Isn’t that like someone going into your house and stealing something from you? You didn’t invite them, you didn’t offer and still… When those others say, “don’t share your work if you don’t want copied”. That’s like saying, don’t publish a book if you don’t want to be plagiarized. Ridiculousness! The worst is they took credit for your work! They didn’t just take your idea, but said it was theirs to begin with!
Yes, there are idea thieves and dream eaters. They suck. Takers suck like vampires, or so I’m told. It’s true, these monsters exist. We must avoid them at all costs. It is truly difficult when they have their own version of magic and can cloak themselves to look like us, behave similarly, and speak similarly. There are clues. They can be detected. Their glamour will fall away, eventually.
These idea thieves and dream eaters do not understand the ethers, nor do they understand our version of magic - creativity. Creativity is a powerful magic. If they found their own, they would have no reason to steal yours.
I have seen you ponder an idea for weeks before it comes to light, often times, clues coming from your dreams. Or so you tell me. I suspect you have a witch, long passed, who whispers in your ear. It is work to listen.
It is ideal to know the dark forces for what they are because if a muggle strives for magic, but fails and therefore copies your magic it does not mean they know. They know nothing of our type of magic.
How horrible would that be to be void of one’s creativity, one’s magic?
Your version of magic is necessary in this world. Granted, it is not circle magic, or herbal magic (not entirely) or even high level initiate magic. AND, your version of magic makes children quiet and inquisitive - muggle and witch alike. It puts such a spell on adults they cease speaking and become curious. To make an adult muggle curious is, in my opinion, high magic. Your magic is powerful! Manifest through soap.
So, dear sister, do not despair. Okay, despair a little, but don’t stop. Grab your broom, dust yourself off and get back to it.
If you continue to create, at the pace you are now, in a year or five, you will have such body of worked magic in the world… And always, alway write your soap spells down!
P.S. If you see a raven circling call her to you. I have sent you gift.
All my love in this one moment, B
]]>I start by making my bed every day. Regardless if I feel like it or not. I work everyday, regardless if I feel like it or not. The only days I allow myself to NOT work are the days when the world says we should rest - on holidays. Even then, I like to work. I like to show up, to put my efforts to use.
I stay busy. By bringing myself to the work, the ideas arrive. I meet them halfway.
I seek out new ideas. I explore music I didn't know I liked, Norse Chanting, Lithuanian singing, things I still don't understand, but speaks to a deeper part of my being. I look at images and ideas others manifest, not just in soap, fondant or clay, but in all forms of art. I strive to find harmony, spark curiosity and interest - for myself.
I ensure I am out of doors for a portion of the day. I do not take electronics with me. I make it to and from the mountain without connection, without harm. I once drove across America with only a few dollars and, other than a payphone, I had no way of connecting to others from back home. I survived perfectly.
I am self-reliant. I force myself to answer my own questions. I do my own research and ask MYSELF the question and then find the answer. Many of my questions do not have direct answer, so I must formulate an answer based on logic, predecessor information and then find a path that works to move forward. It may not be the full answer, but it is enough to keep moving in a direction.
I think. Every day, all day, I engage my mind. I don't strive to shut it off. I do the opposite. I strive to be more engaged, more conscious. I no longer forget the fragrance oil in my soaps. I mentally walk myself through each step, until it becomes precise. I become precise.
The mind is the doorway to the world of the unseen, where ideas are born before manifestation. I am the cause of the manifestation into our world. All ideas must have a doorway into our world. Without moving through the door, they are ether, without context of matter.
I wonder how some people have time to do nefarious deeds. With all these things I find important, when would one have time to commit a crime, do drugs, be horrible to others for no reason... But we become what we focus on. We ebody what we hold as a priority.
Now you know some of what I do to continue to create, to strive to manifest new ideas. I work.
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This quote is from the mind of Henry Miller. He began a writing style of "stream of consciousness". He has paragraphs pages long. That style takes the reader deep into the thoughts. With our 140 characters today we rarely allow someone to finish a full thought.
I reconsidered many things after I read the Tropic of Cancer. Namely how one writes and the letting go of ordinary in place of obsession. "... an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind." I love being preoccupied. I don't love ideas that intrude. I often wonder if someone is throwing a big thought out to the collective consciousness and I picked up on that idea. I pick up on many ideas and then later read, "I was just thinking of that..." I wonder if those ideas are out "there" for others, sensitive others, to pick up on. Some do. Some don't.
If an idea intrudes, I see it as lack of mental discipline on my part. I like to think I choose what to allow in my mind and if I think of the unseen or the possibility of magical beings... Well, I choose that. I call any intruding thoughts mind gremlins, which also come in the form of soap gremlins.
Natalie Goldberg, who wrote Writing Down The Bones, calls mind gremlins, the monkey mind from her Buddhist studies; an undisciplined mind. I agree, the mind can be like group of unruly monkeys. "Look over here! Look over here! Smell my finger." The best thing to do is observe them. They never tire, but can get bored.
Have you read Henry Miller's work? Did it make you see the world differently?
When I was an equine photographer I made a connection with a student from a horse clinic I was shooting. I as not paid for the clinic, but I could offer images afterward. This was the tail end of the traditional photographer and I did not get the memo.
This person I connected with told me she had a stallion named after a famous sorcerer. She had my attention! She invited me to photograph him the next time she turned him out to pasture. I agreed and we made a plan.
True to form he was animated and stunningly beautiful. It was a fun photo shoot. She let me know in the future if we wanted to photograph again and we parted ways.
I let her know I had one of her horse's images from the clinic was entered in a show at the Cow Palace. I was one of 100 artists invited. I flew out there for the opening. That image did not sell.
A year or so later I created a horse calendar with this image (see above) in it. It was for sale for a few months with I received a call from an attorney. He stated that his client was going to sue me for proceeds made on her horse's image. He also claimed it was her property. I let him spew his threats. Then, I clearly stated that if there were any proceeds she would not be entitled to one cent. The property, the photograph, was mine and solely mine. I could prove it and all I shared were from the clinic. There was no agreement to share proceeds. If there was a contract I would like to see it. It was her word against mine and I owned the metadata and the photograph ACTUAL. I also let him know I did not sell one calendar so I invited him to sue for proceeds.
After more phone calls I told him if he persisted I would sue him for harassment, and the calendar had been discontinued. So there you go, do what you will.
(The images used here were from the clinic, by the way, which I was free to use at will. I didn't get anything of true value from the turn-out.)
I found out (as I always do) that her thriving business had failed and she was desperate. Had she approached me in a reasonable manner we could have found a way forward that might have suited us both, to both of our prosperity. The relationship was over and my desire to sell my horse images dried up.
I have since learned many things about the photography world, but here are the bullet points:
My guidelines when using someone else's work or sharing an image.
If I can answer a resounding "no" to all of these questions, I will share.
If I share and get my hand slapped I know I was not being malicious or doing anything that could be seen will ill intent. If I made a mistake, I say.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me." Because if I made a mistake, it is my responsibility to own it. They are not my parent and cannot punish me. I simply made a mistake. I'll take my lumps and move on.
Some do, some don't forgive. Those who don't, generally, don't know me.
I have had so many people steal my photography I could write many more words and still would forget all that have taken by ill-intent from me. There is someone now selling a photograph I made with my name on Amazon. Amazon will do nothing. They say they cannot prove anything. I said, "I can prove I'm me and did not give consent to use my name." Irrelevant to Amazon.
This is why I'm in no hurry to offer my books at Amazon. Doing business with Amazon is akin to getting in bed with the devil. It might feel good for a minute, but what will I be left with?
So, be courageous in your sharing, be brave in your creations and go forth and populate the world with amazing soap creations. Always, ALWAYS, watermark your images! Even just a small indication that it belongs to you. It is your property. You took the time to photograph that image, and all the data of the original creation is on your device. Know how to find it and know it is yours. You get to say if someone shares it, but if they aren't making money on it, you might not get them to take it down.
Money is the indicator if it goes to litigation, unless it's a degradation to your reputation. That is an entirely different matter.
Use all I've written as a guideline. This helps me sleep at night. Otherwise I'd be a fearful mess. And above all, Soap Witches are not fearful. We are a brave lot.
]]>This is the question that cannot be answered, but needs to be asked.
If someone didn't teach you to wash your body, would you?
]]>Our Soap History is a curious one, as many of our soap making ancestors did not write down their soap recipes or processes. Have no doubt that our ancestors did make soap, in a variety of forms.
Cuneiform is a system of writing first developed by the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia c. 3500-3000 BCE. The first soap recipe that we have found evidence of was written in Cuneiform. It was written in a clay tablet. That is bold confidence in a soap recipe! This recipe turned into a soap slurry or paste and was used to cleanse the Priests, Priestesses and temple attendants before ritual. Also, this same soap slurry was used to clean cloth.
It is not difficult to see if one is washing clothes that their hands would also be cleaned, however, according to some historians, we have been a dirty people until large scale industrial manufactured soaps appeared. Even when the English soap tax was levied in 1712 CE and lasted 141 years, we were supposedly filthy.
From 1712-1853 CE making soap on an industrial level was a break-even endeavor, financially. They did not record their behaviors, because reporting to the government - to anyone - or going against the King would have had dire consequences. Soap was now being heavily taxed and considered a luxury item. Making soap and not giving the King his share of the proceeds was unwise.
Monkeys groom, horses groom, birds groom... To say that humans do not understand when they are dirty or when they smell foul, is a large disservice to humans and makes humans less intelligent than all other animals.
This is the question that cannot be answered, but needs to be asked.
If someone didn't teach you to wash your body, would you?
The Germans knew about soap before the Romans. The Romans beat themselves with leaves and branches and used fullers earth, because that's how you clean cloth - with fullers earth. Fullers earth is put into the cloth and then beat out.
Fulling is an important step in the production of woolen garments, and can be traced back to ancient times. Cuneiform texts from Mesopotamia mention a raw material, im-bab-bár (Akkadian: gaṣṣu: ‘gypsum, plaster’), literally “white earth”, which was delivered to fullers for the finishing of cloth.[11] There are several Biblical references to fulling (2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 7:3 and 36:2; Malachi 3:2; Mark 9:3), but the materials used to whiten the fabric are not specified. Pliny the Elder mentions several types of fuller’s earth (creta fullonia in Latin) from a variety of locations, each with different properties and therefore different uses.
I've been reading many books on the subject of our soap history. A search that has produced few results and less information about our soap Craefting history. We have been using soap in some from - a slurry, paste or bar - for thousands of years. However, if you listen to soap industry information they imply we have been dirty until the industries came to save us. Rats clean themselves, raccoons wash their food, most animals groom in some form. We are no different and know, without being told by commercials, when we're dirty. What we have done to clean ourselves is subjective, whether we've used soap slurry, paste or ashes from a fire, but to say we don't know when our skin is sticky or we stink and have to be told when to bath, like children, is ridiculous.
Being dirty is uncomfortable. We strive to find comfort. All animals do this, birds wash in water and groom their feathers. In part, for survival. If their feathers are unkempt or damaged they cannot fly.
We would have solved this issue with or without letting the King know. We, as a people, are clever, resilient and have continued - despite imposed restrictions - and at times, in the face of those restrictions.
I'm on the hunt for our true soap history.
No worries, I will find our true history, not what industrialists and google wants you to know. I just read a book printed in 1957. That author knew more about our soap history than what google and contemporary writers tell you.
I can share this: when those who figured things out, went against "common" knowledge were considered strictly alternative; outside the mainstream; not towing the company line. Our ancestors would not have used the word "alternative", but something akin to "witch". Once someone was labeled witch, it turns into another story.
As far as I can see so far, is most people who write about our history have an agenda. A less than transparent agenda. My agenda is this, to discover, based on facts and understanding, what we have done to clean ourselves. Dogmas have no place in discovering another story. And, that is exactly what some historians do, find the thread of the story, as we did not live it ourselves. It's much like looking into someone's sewing box and trying to work out what kind of clothes they made. It's possible, but not the entire story.
Uncovering our stories from the past isn't a direct truth, any more than one person has the whole tale of any event, but more akin to offing another perspective, fresh eyes on a subject.
Trust I'm on the hunt for our history and will share the story I find - all the hidden ways our An-Sisters made soap and cleaning supplies to keep their loved ones hale and hearty.
If there was a tax levied, or should I say a tax so heavy you could not make soap, would you?
How to get those embed inside a bar of soap? One way is to use a column mold. This can be tricky. Using a cold process recipe that includes enough water to keep the freshly made cold process soap liquid to pour down the column can also cause soda ash.
And then, there is wait time for full saponification.
Many of these tools, extruders and presses can be found on Amazon.
A column soap certainly can be accomplished to pour without soda ash. If you don't want to take the time to make a new batch of cold process soap for an embed, use soap dough.
To use soap dough and create the same effect as an embed made with a column mold, a clay extruder can be used.
You'll find a host of designs and ideas with interchangeable disk shapes. Here are a few I use and have found helpful to create interest inside each bar, which will last the life of the bar as they run through the entire loaf of soap.
The disks that come with a regular size extruder are small. If you want a larger embed, the extender can be used with this extruder.
I have used a cookie press with success. I grew up with Spritz cookies thinking they were Swedish. Turns out, they aren't exactly Swedish.
Google says: "Spritz cookies are traditional Christmas cookies in Scandinavian countries. They are simple butter cookies, shaped by putting the dough through a cookie press. The name comes from the German word spritzen, meaning “to squirt” because the soft dough is squirted or pushed through a cookie press to make fancy designs."
So many ways to use soap dough. Look into clay tools, cookie tools and anything you have in your cupboard. You might have something in your kitchen no one has thought of using.
Here is a video how to make and utilize embeds inside cold process soap.
]]>Inspiration seems hard to find when it becomes elusive, but all it takes is a flick of a fairy wing, a sparkle in the air at the edge of your sight to change the direction of the day.
These subtle influences, if not nurtured, can evaporate as quickly as they appeared. Next time you see one, grab it, nurture it and blow on that little spark until it flames into a roaring fire of creativity.
Here are a few ideas to get that inspiration burning bright.
If you've never tried your and at soap cookies, take a peek at all the pre-made soap dough in stock.
]]>I am Bee the Soap Witch. I brought soap dough to the foreground some years ago. When no one was posting soap dough creations, I was in my little world sharing, sharing and sharing. I was excited to have a new medium.
A "friend" said, "who's going to follow a soap instagram channel?" Nice friend. No longer a friend. AND, only about 40k people!
Some claim to have created soap dough, but well... no one created it. It can be a natural by-product of cold process soap. With that said, I was the one who brought attention to moldable soap and coined the phrase "soap dough" and "soap cookie". This isn't easy to say, as I wanted my work to stand on its own. I wanted my long history of photography to stand on its own. I wanted my writing to stand on its own. I didn't think I would ever have to say this... Yet, some are under strong misconceptions and making some large untrue claims.
Some are creating business on these very ideas. The least they could do is offer a nod to who did the work before them. Tesla and I have similar fates. I hope he haunts some people.
I think it's a big deal to bring an idea into full focus, to bring ideas from the ethers and manifest for others to have access to something that was JUST an idea before.
I wrote articles, I answered tons of questions, I shared and shared... I, also searched and searched, but couldn't find anything on the subject of soap dough, moldable soap, pliable soap... So, I experimented, explored and wrote 4 books on the topic over the years. Sharing all my soap dough explorations, what works, what doesn't and how to make ideal soap dough.
Soap dough might be a by-product of cold process, but there is a way to make smooth and ideal moldable soap dough. I have brought this process into focus. I've been in my little soap lab these past few years perfecting this process. I haven't kept it secret. When others ask, I share.
As far as I can tell I was the first to write FOUR books about moldable, pliable cold process soap aka SOAP DOUGH. I've seen many people shade the truth of this, claiming they started this soap dough "thing". I figured I'd just say my version. I was (and am) committed to sharing all the TIPS AND TRICKS of soap dough.
I have written over 300 FREE blog posts, make and share videos and have written FOUR soap dough books. This all takes a crap ton of time. Time where I was not paid. Time where all my other duties fell to the wayside. Time. This is my trade: my life force energy for the results.
My original mentor even commandeered ideas I sent her. Yup, it broke my little creative heart. I confronted her and she came out with claws, verbally attacking. I apologized. I apologized for touching it with a needle, for speaking too close to th the truth it hurt. She's never spoken to me again. I was not wrong. She copies other people, but has few - if any -original ideas. I've been watching.
I get that not all people are honorable, but some people are down right not people. They are hungry ghosts. I think a real person embodies compassion and honor.
I thought I'd clear it up. It's a cryin' shame when people take other people's ideas and claim them as their own. What's the big deal? Someone has to come up with ideas. Why not just say? Money? Power? Ego? Greed?
I do not want to live in a world void of creatives, void of those of us who feel and see the world differently. Nothing would exist without creative minds. NOTHING. These people should be treated with a modicum of respect, if not the person, then the ideas should be respected.
We live in a disposable culture. If I don't stand up for my ideas, no one will and all will be lost to history. Our disposable culture throws things out for the newsfeed. Built in obsolescence waiting for the next flashy thing to fill the space. The hungry ghost must be fed.
Those who commandeer other people's creativity, well... we have a name for that... It might start with a "C"... Corporation. LOL You thought I was going to say something else? I write to you, creative sensitive soul, because you get me. ;)
I'm sharing this video because some have asked how I make creatures out of soap dough. Here is the video, which is first of 12 on how to make Capricorn the Goat.
To you, my loyal reader and soap witch, I have created four books in print. It's because of you, you who ask sincere questions, have a curious mind and want to know the magic that is soap dough.
I hope that right after "soap dough" my name appears... some day.
And, thank you for reading this far.
]]>When ideas run dry, does it mean the well is empty?
Trust if you've done it once you can do it again. What I do is look back over old ideas. I keep drawers of leftover soap dough embellishments.
Sometimes it's more a matter of new projects feel overwhelming than ideas drying up. We remember all those details it takes to make something unusual and that feeling creates an anticipation. At least it does for me.
So, the goal is to make the idea so tantalizing no amount of work will put me off. The goal is to create excitement. If I create excitement in myself it might even translate to others.
If I find my work, my creations tedious that energy might also come across.
I look at images that are exciting. I don't lie to myself, even if a small glimmer of excitement flickers, I jump on it. Because when I'm in the gray place, the smallest of shiny object can get my attention. If I invite the raven energy I can become enchanted with anything, leaving off judgment of the object of attention for another day.
My number one job is to fill my well of creativity, like Julia Cameron writes in "The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity." My job is to never fully deplete my well of creativity, but add to it, keep it stocked up.
I add to my well of creativity by taking long hikes, allowing myself it enjoy the outside, truly enjoying flowers, colors, stories, looking at other artist's work. When I cannot get my head around things, I go outside, for hours or a moment. It makes all the difference.
]]>No more waiting on good sunlight in the window!
This is my new light box... "New" being highly subjective if the wear on the box can be noticed.
I just read this article on the subject and thought, I have some of that! The paper is baking parchment, by the way.
I love inexpensive hacks!
Sunlight is great, BUT... What to do when the weather is not behaving for your photography studio? Use equipment! Sunlight can be harsh at noon. Soft light, at sunrise can be harsh... Well, all sunlight can be harsh. Slightly cloudy days are nice for soft light, but the light might not be bright enough. How to get that perfect balance?
Tip #1 To get rid of cracks, contours, blemishes – over expose. Bring in more light than necessary and make the background as white as possible, eliminating shadows. This is called “high key." This can be done with flashes, camera settings or post editing in software.
Tip#2 To photograph details in your soap to create shadows. Shadows show contrast. There is a fine balance between harsh light and bright light, but enough light reveals the details. Contrast, dark verses light, can show details.
Tip#3 If you want to sell your soap avoid props, busy backgrounds or other distracting information. Each photo tells a story and the story you want your audience to focus on is the object in the photo. Unless the props are essential to the story, avoid props. Its distracting and takes away from your soap.
Tip #4 Using direct flash or light on your soap, unless controlled, is rarely appealing and will cause harsh shadows. A better use of light is to bounce the light at a bright surface above or around the soap. The ideal is to allow light to wrap around the object. Fluorescent and soft light is good for this wrap effect. Think about a cloudy day. The light is soft and all thing are lit but few shadows.
Tip #5 Clean up each photo. When cutting soap little crumbs can appear that our eyes cannot see, but the camera can. Any soap blemish or specks will come into focused and that will be what your viewer sees. It's a natural behavior to pattern-match and when something is out of sync the viewer will focus on that and the mind/eye will continue to move to that mis-matched pattern. To not be afraid (or lazy) to re-take the photo. We no long have to worry about film so take as many photos as you like.
Tip #6 Be mindful with whites: white areas of the soap. Strive to SEE the information in the image. Say what you see out loud. This helps to understand what is in the photo verses what one thinks is in the photo. We take so much for granted that most information is just absorbed. This is a good practice in all areas, not just soap photography. General rule of thumb: the eye will go to the first white area in the photo.
A clean soap, with minimal distractions that is well lit, is ideal.
]]>All seemingly reasonable questions for an idea that hasn't bloomed, yet.
My questions to show curiosity and responsibility for fleshing the out the idea. Because of my curiosity I have received many terse replies. Thank you. Thank you for showing your hand early.
If someone has answered me bluntly, tersely or simple annoyed I asked questions that person/company has failed to pass my first level of scrutiny. I do not enter into business arrangements lightly, ever.
There was a company I went back and forth with for over a year, sent a large shipment of example soaps, followed up, etc. (Showing I do what I say and can produce, not just in words, but in action.) Then, I was asked by the editor, to push forward. I reminded them that a phone appointment wasn't kept and that is why nothing had been done. That phone call was a crucial discussion as it involved payment.
I won't tell you who they are, but this company employed someone else to create my idea and pursued it without me. You are welcome for the idea. Apparently it was yours to take.
I do not want a long-term relationship (business or otherwise) with someone I have to treat with kid-gloves, someone who won't hold themselves responsible and own their mistakes and most of all someone who takes credit for my ideas. I also want to be paid. So, there's that.
Now I can eliminate that idea from my thought process. My thoughts are a sacred place where fairies visit and enchanted beings sprinkle inspired ideas, some of which I grab on to, some of which (once fleshed out) aren't so ideal for the material world. Even enchanted beings have to go through the fleshing out process.
Ideas are the value. Put this concept to the test: Try creating without a vision, without an idea.
Then, take that same vision from idea (ethers) to the material world. Work out the kinks, the process of turning ether into material form - a complex mysterious process we have yet to fully understand. This is also a time consuming process. So many people take this process for granted, so many people take this - photos, ideas, finished materials - they take!
The idea is the VALUE! To put a finer point on this, our world needs idea-benders, ether-hunters, alchemists. Ideas are the engine to the train. There is nothing to haul without the idea.
When deciding to collaborate with a company or a person these are some things I'm concerned with:
My relationship with Nurture Soap began before my relationship with Carrie, the owner of Nurture Soap. I began buying Nurture products, found them to be reliable and shipping to be exceptional. Unlike some suppliers who seem not to care you've ordered at all.
A few years back I posted something that got Carrie's attention and we began to talk. After years of email exchanges and some phone calls of general chatting, we conjured ideas. These ideas were ours. Both of ours. Ideas flowed between us. Images and concepts. Eventually we landed on an idea that suited both of us. Not without effort, but the process flowed smoothly.
The first idea did not come to fruition, but I was inspired by our process. It was a seed that sprouted years later.
When I wrote the book The Magic of Soap Dough eBook I did not anticipate collaborating with Carrie on this or any project. I added Carrie's micas and recipes in my ebook because I genuinely like her micas and use them. I cannot write about something I don't have experience using.
So, there you have it. How it came to be that Sorcery Soap and Nurture Soap collaborated. It didn't happen overnight and because of this I have grown to understand Nurture Soap and therefore Carrie, a bit. She's still a bit of a busy whirling dervish, but there's still time.
Because of this experience I have grown to love and admire Carrie Thornsbury from Nurture Soap. That is an ideal relationship, in business or friendship, just ideal.
The color sets Carrie and I have brought forward in hopes it inspires your to draw down from the ethers into this material world, to conjure enchanted creations too!
The more likes and followers one receives the more "feeders" there are. I wanted to bring this point forward.
I classify "feeders" as those who offer very little but want a great deal back. They claim that you get access to their following - regardless of audience content - for a small sum of $5,000. I'm not even kidding.
For a fee of $5-10K of free products (which I have to offer) I get access to their "red carpet" and celebrities. So, let me get this straight, I offer weeks worth of hard work and actual materials I have to pay for, for a "promise," for a possibility? Yeah, I'll pass. I'll take a hard pass on that.
I understand "exposure". Truly, I get it AND as far as fair trading, which I subscribe to as this: fair exchanges of energy/resources where both parties walk away feeling satisfied - this $5-10K deal doesn't sound like I get the good end of that shit stick.
Words are wind. I learn a lot from Game of Thrones.
A "feeder" is someone (person or company) who sees the work you've done, doesn't want to do that work, but wants a piece of your work, much like a parasite on a host.
I try too often to intellectualize this behavior, however, when I feel into it, when I get the sense of the situation it all becomes crystal clear. I ask myself this question, "will I walk away from this deal feeling satisfied or will I walk away feeling resentful?"
I've spent too much time working for people who are not leaders, who have taken advantage of my good work and rewarded me with nothing less than a basket full of resentment. I have been an employer and did many things to let my employees know they were vital to my company. If they weren't vital, they didn't work for me. I treat myself the same way. I reward myself, acknowledge my hard work and most of all acknowledge the very fact I created something from nothing.
When creating something from nothing the way forward is unclear. No one has yet paved the way. Yet, somehow, I continued. When I first started soap making "soap dough" was not a thing. It didn't exist. Granted, some might have been making soap dough in some way, but no one was putting it online, writing books about it or creating soaps like I have. I hope this doesn't sound like bragging, because I abhor self aggrandizement, but it is to say I keep this idea close and protect it like a sacred jewel. I keep this in my mind when companies approach me for the trade of, "work extremely hard and we PROMISE you... "
When someone brings an idea from the ethers (an idea made material that did not exist before) into this world it should be valued. It is no small task. That is why some countries are so chastised - they copy the originator's work and reproduce it. And to make money from their theft?! The hubris, the arrogance! This is such an injustice I almost cannot write about it. It certainly is a very large topic, one which I do not have answers for, but I keep moving forward. I keep an eagle eye open for the "feeders" (aka parasites) and protect my sacred jewel of creation, the ability to create. No one, not a government, not a person or company can take that ability to create away from those who can create.
This ability might not make me rich, (I do play the lotto so there is always hope) but it helps me have self-value. This ability shows me what I'm capable of... Bringing something that never before existed into the material plane, into our world - something to see and touch from an idea. For that, I am so truly grateful to the benevolent beings (Gods or otherwise) who gave me this gift, I take great care to continue to nurture it. It is a gift. I cannot claim to have created in myself. It seems I came here with it, but I can be aware of it and nurture this gift. There were many years my light was dimmed because I forgot or didn't see value in the ability to create. My soul suffered for it, too.
If you are one of these beings - a creative being - I support you! I will aways support you! You are from my tribe, my clan. We belong to each other. I hope you can feel the intention through my words. I know what it feels like to feel without a tribe, without a clan. Creatives are soul-kin.
When I see the world this way, sense when the exchange feels harmonious - be it an email exchange or economic trade - my way is clear. This is my way forward. May your way forward be YOUR way. Unclear is not always a sign that is not the way.
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The answers were amazing to me. The level of skill, talent and creativity was abundant. What else stood out was how people take refuge in our little soap group. After a busy day they look forward to enchanted creations we all share.
I had no idea the busy lives and stresses others have.
There was a story someone told me, that there was an erratic driver on the road. This dangerous behavior was infuriating to the other drivers as the erratic driver was cutting people off and a cause for serious concern.
Eventually a police officer pulled over the seemingly crazed driver. He discovered the driver was a woman. The fact that she was a woman had no bearing on the condition of her driving, but her motherhood status did. The woman had a very sick child in the back seat. The woman was frantic, with no one to help her she was trying to save her child - looking in the back seat to check on the baby and driving to the hospital - she was doing the best she could.
What I took away from this story is we never know if there is a baby in the back seat. I cannot always give the benefit of the doubt to all, but I can be patient. Some things reveal themselves with just waiting.
Some days an innocent question can reveal so much more...
I am not all seeing. I am surprised at how generous and kind some humans are. In a world where we are bombarded with how wicked people are, it's refreshing to know that there are joyous, creative and kind people in this world doing the best they can, getting along and finding joy where they can.
]]>As we approach the shortest day of the year I become reflective and quiet. Thinking of this past year, of all the great soapers and creatives in the Facebook Sorcery Creations group, all of you who have believed in Sorcery Soaps and invited my version of magic into your homes - I feel incredibly grateful. You are my friends. Maybe not stop-by-for-coffee friends, but still, friends.
When Sorcery Soap began a few people who I considered friends had surprising things to say about my soap making adventures. One told me they hated "crafts" and that she wasn't crafty. When I mentioned I started an Instagram page she said, "who's really going to follow soap?" Someone else said, "I don't use bar soap" so refused to accept my gifts. All this, as if my ideas had anything to do with them. Not one asked if I was happy making soap, peaceful, curious... In anyway, satisfied.
With great generosity in my heart and delight at my new found abilities and passion, I had gifted many of those same people soaps. Maybe not pretty, but certainly successful healthy soap. I had known these people for years. My desire for understanding, balance, seeking my truth and researching the healthiest options over the years had not impacted them at all.
The one person who has believed in me, never doubted, and endlessly encouraged me was my man, my love, my "Shekh Ma Shieraki Anni ("My Sun and Stars" in Dothraki)". He gave me a small amount of money to begin my experiments, thought I could make soap while I spent a year watching videos and asking questions, reading soap recipes and listening patiently to my endless excitement about my new passion. He watched some soap videos with me. As you can guess, he was kind, albeit, a bit bored. Not one time did he question my desire to learn, understand and research. He knew. He knows how much I like reading and investigating any subject and when I get my teeth into something I rarely let go.
Of all those people only one person who purchased my soap - my ex-husband. He didn't have to, I would have given him whatever soaps he wanted. He insisted. He said, you spent your time. He saw value in my time spent.
He and I had been married for many years, friends before and after our marriage. He wanted to support me and for the first time, purely free of ego and self-importance. It healed something between us. His purchase, (even asking for more) which was enough to encourage me. Just that. A man who had known me since I was just 23 years old (a lifetime ago) seemed to know how important this was for me.
Through soap I have met many amazing people. People who have stood for me, supported and encouraged me, overtly or simply by being kind. I have lost "friends," realized more clearly who is important and who can see me - who can see my mind's manifestations and don't shy away.
Revealing one's creativity to those close would seem safe - friends - and showing strangers new creations would seem to make one vulnerable. I found the opposite. I have made greater and deeper connections from people all over the world, revealed my truer nature and found that to be a greater gift than to show that part of myself to those who I thought knew me. It was a massive rethinking, a shift and cleaning out of the old to embrace the new.
Cheers to all the new and possible soap friends! Cheers to your holiday with those who really do know you and those who you have yet to meet. Happy Holidays!
]]>Soap dough is a great medium for mooncake press molds, as it's pliable and will conform to the Mooncake press design.
When I began researching which Mooncake press I should buy my first question was, how do I choose a size? Changing grams to ounces is a good place to start, if grams are unfamiliar. I wanted understand the approximate size before I made my purchase.
After much consideration I chose these, "5pcs 35g Cookie Stamps + 5pcs 83g Cookie Press Mooncake Mold Set, Thickness Adjustable DIY Decoration Hand Press Cutter Cake Mold" from Amazon.
The first thing I noticed were the sharp burs on the molds. These are plastic so I took a small file to remove them. No worries.
I was super excited to get started, so I jumped right in. First I washed the presses with soap and water and sprayed with 91% rubbing alcohol. You just never know where people's hands have been.
I learned a few things about how to use these molds.
I figured out quickly that not doing the following will produce soaps that are hard to remove from the detailed press cleanly. The details will be lost and the soap dough is difficult to remove from the press.
I used a combination of spraying the press with 91% rubbing alcohol and dusting with cornstarch to create a layer between the press and the soap dough enabling the soap to be removed, and still maintaining the details.
This process also avoids frustration, which is a bold invitation to soap gremlins.
After a few soaps were made, I found it a good idea to wash the detailed press off and replace with another design press. They screw off so the press itself has many changeable designs, or presses.
As with all soap dough creations, I wash my hands regularly while making embellishments. This process keeps soap crumbs from forming and adhering to the creations. It is much more difficult to remove the soap crumbs than to avoid them. If you don't believe me, take a photo of your creations and the crumbs will jump off the screen and show you exactly where they are.
The soap samples in this image are approximately 35 grams or 1.23 ounce, according to the press, but mine are slightly smaller. This weight depends on the depth set on the mold. The cards are slightly larger than a business card (to understand the scale) and what I use for soap samples in each order.
The larger Mooncake press is approximately 83 grams which translates to 2.92 ounces. Again, this depends on the depth of the mold. These make a larger soap, which I call a soap cookie.
These soap cookies make a great larger sample, which will produce many uses and are easier to use in the shower. Soap samples are good for hand use as they are small, but a slightly larger sample are great for the shower or the side board of the kitchen sink. I also use them in my kitchen and my guest bath.
The soaps in the back, or larger ones, are approximately 83 grams or 2.92 ounces.
These larger soaps, albeit smaller than a bar of soap, take less time to cure. There is still time for making these for the holidays.
I use this rule of thumb, 5 ounce bars take 5-6 weeks to cure, one ounce samples take 1-2 weeks to cure. With that said, I test the soap to ensure they are hard enough to use. Soft soap dough can be used immediately; however if you want a longer lasting bar, allow your soap dough to fully cure which will help your creations to last longer.
Hope this was helpful. If you've read to the end, leave a comment and let me know if you found this helpful or have used soap dough with a Mooncake Press.
]]>If you like all things slightly dark, but still sprinkled with fairy dust this might help you.
I thought I'd share a few things that inspire me, but before we begin, there are words you should have in your lexicon.
To name things is to conjure images. On the mundane, at least know what to google.
A few words and terms:
Lately, I didn't have to search far, as Christine McConnell and Her Curious Creations is newly on Netflix. Christine is a Dita Von Tease sister-like baker with her own macabre food show on Netflix. She could be the woman next door in her printed flounce dress, delicate apron and edible brown recluse spiders, yet once I got past the corny puppets, I learned a few tricks. The tricks I learned I transformed into soapy creations.
If I dressed up I might dress like Christine, but with a bit more velvet and elaborate corsetry, along with a pointy hat. This costume would also include black lace up boots, of course.
If you'd like to peruse drawings and tales of fairies, from a less-than Mary Poppins take, do a deep dive into Brain Froud's take on fairy.
Brain Froud's version of Fairies has inspired me beyond traditional fairies. I've even written to him. I can only hope in some realm he understands how much he's inspired me.
Push the boat out!
Create those things that YOU want. Allow your imagination to explore. If you choose to use someone else's creation for inspiration, change something. Offer your take on the concept.
Copying someone else's creation is not doing the creation or the creator of that idea justice. It's no small thing to reach into the ethers and pull an idea into this realm. It takes effort to manifest an idea into this material world and then offer it to the world. And, this very thought keeps me in check, if a witch can pull down imaginary things and make them real, touchable, what else can they do WHEN they find out I took her idea and called it my own? Because if she can see into another realm she certainly can see social media. ;)
]]>I'm not an advocate for deceit, there is a long way between these opposites, perfect truth and deceit. So how do I navigate?
This morning I got into an argument with my guy. It wasn't a big argument, as we've long worked out the big deals, but it was enough to throw me off my peaceful vibe I had prepared for my mid-day hike.
On my hike, instead of working out my next soap or pushing myself and my lazy-ass dog to climb a large pile of rocks, I was considering all the ways my argument happened. I blamed him. I blamed myself. I thought about apologizing and wonder why I would. Didn't I say my truth?
I did.
Let me just say, no one what's the brutal truth. It hurts. Some hurts are unavoidable. Some people don't want any truth. I don't always want it. I have to be ready for it. For example, after an indulgent weekend I have to get ready to step on the scale. I've had some people tell me the truth about myself, and when unprepared it just hurts. Still true, but hurts. It's not as if I didn't know I could work out more, not be so precise, weight a bit less... It's my belief we all know the deepest truth about ourselves. We do a lot to cover it up.
My guy is brave. My guy has faced my truth every day for many years. My guy has a big heart. My guy wants truth, even when it's unrefined and clumsy. I can do better.
I don't want to be that person who's whole life is spent striving to cover things up, each action being based on a negative, on hiding what the world already sees. I also don't want to walk around naked, either emotionally or physically.
I see people wanting everyone to know who they are and what they do in private. That's WAY too much truth for me. I'm cool with keeping somethings to yourself. I'm cool with having public face and private face. If I want full truth why do I wear make-up? The truth of me is what I look like when I wake up. The truth of me is when I haven't showered for a day. The truth of me is when I'm flat on my back with a cold. The truth of me is all these things and more, but that's not everyone's business. It's not even my partner's business every flipping second of the day. The truth of me is not always pretty. And, sometimes, it is.
Now, some think these truths are important to take photos of and share. To share what they do in private. I don't agree. I also don't agree with lying. How do we navigate these truth waters?
I don't have answers for everyone. I'm working it out for myself. This is a private path each person has to walk, alone. I can speak about how I handle these choppy, turbulent and some times glass-smooth waters. This is my way of NOT touching it with a needle, but comforting myself in a storm of socially choppy waters.
I want to be that person who has a refined way of speaking truth. I want to walk gently on this earth, with a level of sophistication I can't, at this time, comprehend. I will strive for this goal, even when it means I fall full on my face. I get up and keep moving forward.
When I first began making soap if someone had told me the truth about my soaps I might have quit. It was generous that some soap makers offered support. I could see each of my soaps needed work. And, I applied myself over and over.
I am doing that in my relationships, in my work and in my life. There is a long way between full on decipt and full on truth. This path takes practice to navigate. Just like soap making. If I watch diligently and apply myself, I can keep moving forward with honor, grace and dignity. Even when I fall down. Because, make no mistake, I will fall down again. Falling down is a sign I was on the path.
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The laws are what we abide by and help us behave in a civilized manner. And, not everyone follows the laws. I not only stop at stop signs, but look all ways. Not everyone does. The law does not dictate honor. Honor in my opinion, is taking such great care of the self, you therefore, take care of others.
I'm sharing, in the blog post, how I navigate and consider trademarks and copyrights. I do not suggest anyone follow what I do, but simply consider their own way of navigating these uncertain waters.
Here's the deal, as far as I understand it:
I am not an attorney of law nor is this legal advice, do as you will. It's your path. I am doing what works for me. This is advice of honor. Honor is not legislated, as far as I know. If we raise the bar to the highest level of honor, which is an individual attitude, we can raise above the lowests forms of regulations.
Not everything I create, share and discuss do I offer for sale. That is an assumption made in the question - that my only reason for making things is to sell them. I make things because they delight me. I also have friends. I gift things. I see part of my responsibility as a creative human is to share inspiration.
I am in wonder at some things I create and want to share those creations. When I created the Snoopy soap I was stunned I could communicate this idea effectively. I've striven to avoid copying other people's work because I didn't want to be a poor substitute for the original. When I created the Snoopy soap, and had not seen Snoopy rendered by hand in soap, I thought it was kinda cool. I have not sold one bar of this soap, but I have gifted a few.
Years ago, I saw soap dough as a new medium. When I was asked repeatedly, "what is soap dough?" I explained it. I wrote three books on this topic to fully explain soap dough, how it works and how to create it. That's how much I was intrigued by soap dough. I took months - years - to put words down so you can read and understand. So, why wouldn't I want to share my soap creations?
If you watch cake makers you'll see they make sugar creations regularly with trademarked ideas. I wondered about this very issue, so I wrote to one. She told me that she does not sell anything that is trademarked, but only makes videos to show what is possible.
Moreover, the issue here is about building a business around someone else's idea.
Let's say you start your business by making Fight Club soaps. Fight Club, the movie, not only has copyrights, but also trademarks.
"The Difference Between Copyright and Trademark. While both offer intellectual property protection, they protect different types of assets. Copyright is geared toward literary and artistic works, such as books and videos. A trademark protects items that help define a company brand, such as its logo." Chron
Even if you don't do any research you know this term is from the movie, Fight Club. Let's say you make money on that soap. Now, the owners of those trademarks and copyrights can ask for a part of your proceeds. Why not? They created the idea and didn't give permission for you to use their idea. This was an idea that took years to develop, test, get financial backing not to mention all the blood-sweat-and-tears that went into this project. Seems fair and right? Be this trademark or copyrights, either way, it's not for just for anyone to use. But to enjoy.
Now, what if you use an image that is not yours to promote your business? This gets tricky because you are not directly making money from the image (printing the image and selling it) but you are leveraging that image to advance your business. How many times can you do this before you are brought to heel? And you, dear reader, would never! I wouldn't either.
The best rule of thumb is to build your business on YOUR ideas. No one can make a claim on your work and you will be in safe waters, hopefully.
Remember as a kid when you were taught to do your own work and not copy? That's a great rule of thumb as an adult, too.
I built what I do so much on a new idea that I brought soap dough to the foreground. I'm not saying I invented it directly. There are lots of great soap makers with years and years of experience who cottoned on to the idea long before me. I will say, I was the one who made the biggest deal out of it. I posted images of Soap Cookies before soap cookies were a common thing. I posted creations with soap dough before it was a coined term. Quite simply, I was and am fascinated by soap dough, so I shared this fascination.
Now, people are building businesses on the idea of soap dough. People copy my work regularly. I used to mind, but I don't, now. Why, you ask, (my very intelligent reader) is because copying my work (if one doesn't build their business around my ideas) is a way of promoting soap dough as an art form. And that, for me, is ideal. Fewer questions to answer and the general soap community is getting the idea of soap dough from everywhere. This freedom leaves me open to create more things from soap dough. And, that is what I do - create.
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When I had another business, a long time ago, another business owner (who had a fairly large company) gave me some advice. He said, "stay small". I wondered about this statement for years.
My little company grew. We were contacted by a zoo for a large scale project. We were brought in as consultants at a very large conference hall. Although we had much to share, being one of few companies dealing with alternative processes and worked on alternative construction projects, we were small. We had experience that other, larger companies did not have.
It would have been a big gamble to take that project on with a high risk and low returns. We declined the project. As it turned out, it was very wise on our part. We employed managed growth. Over the years, we did grow a bit bigger, but we had a solid foundation of craftsmanship.
Having my little soapery, doing what I love every day, and having offers to grow in ways that are uncomfortable I have to ask, is this growth painful because it is new? Or is it uncomfortable because it's not the life I want?
What I have learned from my old company is that growing bigger can be a natural course of events that never asks the direct question. It is a natural course of events.
I have done a few collaborations with other soap makers and although a bit outside my comfort area, it challenged me and brought interest and excitement to work table.
Now, I to get on with the work at hand. Do the very best every day, every moment I can. Get so much better at what I do now that growing may or may not be a by-product. Here is the deal. NOTHING grows naturally forever. Nothing. Expand, contract, and start over. The beauty of the Universe shows us that.
Corporations want us to believe they are "too big to fail" and will last forever. Most of those corporations did not exist 100 years ago, and in another 100 years probably won't be around, but die off and make room for something else. There seems to be comfort in the idea we can grow larger, in ourselves and our businesses, forever.
It is my job is to steward my love of this art-form, to protect it from those who would feed off of my little form of magic at the cost of my process. I have failed in this endeavor in the past. Did I learn this lesson or not?
Humans think that cities can grow as large as they want, g o v t can grow as large as it can, businesses can grow exponentially forever... We are now 7.9 billion people on this planet, but we are not doing it correctly. We could be living more nobility... in so many ways; being a committed conservator, a committed steward of myself and my environment.
Back to the drawing board - to do ALL things nobly, all things with honor. This is my "better," striving to be noble in my endeavors, better than I was yesterday. I would rather have less and do all things better. I don't want more but better quality in all my affairs.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, please leave a comment.
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