My 100th Friday Feature! Soapomoke River Bath Co.

I'm delighted to announce that this week's interview is my 100th Friday Feature here at Mama's Magic! Wow! I was especially glad to see that the next interview in line to post was with one of my recently discovered favorite shops: Soapomoke River Bath Co. To celebrate my 100th post and to share a little Etsy love, I am combining this week's interview with a giveaway! See the end of this post for details.

I discovered the wonderful bath and body products at Soapomoke River as I was searching Etsy for an unscented liquid hand soap. We'd been using cheap liquid soap from the grocery store (mostly the ironically named "Softsoap") and we do a lot of hand washing around here. I was fed up with my palms feeling like sandpaper, and BJ's hands were constantly red and chapped. I got the notion that a handmade product might be better, but strong scents are often a problem for me (and BJ's skin is very sensitive so unscented is usually preferable). Etsy is full of delectable handmade soap, but it turned out to be surprisingly difficult to find liquid hand soap, especially unscented.

So when I found the Liquid Castile Soap made by Soapomoke River, I decided to give it a try. It's made a huge difference! My hands are soft again and BJ's have healed up. Yay! This shop is full of all sorts of bath and body delights, and having just put in my second order (which was taken care of with the usual wonderful customer service!) I know I'm going to be a regular customer. I think with my next order, I'll try the Lavender Bath Fairy Dust!

Enjoy the interview! And be sure to enter the giveaway by following the rules at the end of this post!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I make luxury bath products, like bar soap, Bath Melts, lip balm, Aromatherapy To-Go sticks, and much, much more. My soap is categorized as luxury because of the type and quality of oils and butters I use in each batch. I got into soap making when I went to a craft fair and bought some delicious smelling handmade soap. When I used it, I was hooked! My skin felt soft and smooth and looked healthy and hydrated. I'm the type of person who sees something and thinks I can do that! So I got a ton of books and immersed myself in the soap world. When I felt I understood the process, I tried my hand at it—and I've never looked back!


When I decide to make a new batch of soap, I usually have a general idea in mind of the kind of soap I want to create. Recently, I wanted to make a coffee soap. I researched (I'm a big researcher!) how coffee reacts in soap and what kind of properties it lends to the final product and learned that coffee is a great deodorizer! So this batch is perfect for getting food smells off your hands in the kitchen or washing that outside smell off your dog. It's called Rinse and Shine.

When naming a soap, I look outside for inspiration. I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, so I have a lot of beautiful and interesting things around me, like the Pocomoke Cypress Swamp (the soap named after this is Cypress Swamp and smells just like dirt!), Ocean City (there are many soaps names for things in Ocean City, like Barefoot Bohemian, In the Funhouse, and Scopers), and local nature (Osprey Eggshell, Loblolly Pine, and River Otter). I have over forty different kinds of soaps so far and they're so fun to create, I find myself constantly thinking of new recipes to try out.
2. How did you get involved with Etsy?

I got involved with Etsy after my co-worker introduced me to the site a few years ago. I love the unique and interesting things offered on Etsy, and I prefer to buy from an Etsy seller rather than the national bargain store down the street if I can find what I need from Etsy—and I usually can! When I started selling on Etsy, I knew it was going to be a bumpy road simply because of the amount of bath products found on Etsy, but I have been blessed with a lot of success so far.

3. What inspires your creations?

My creations are inspired by many different things. Often, friends and family will tell me they're looking for this or that and I should make it—and so I do! Recently I made a pre-shave oil and an aftershave for my husband who hates traditional stinging aftershaves. Also, when something strikes me as particularly Eastern Shore, or reminds me of the area, I try to think of a soap recipe to go along with it—that's how I came up with soaps like Waterman and Smith Island Cake. Farmers markets are big here, so I plan to introduce a tomato leaf scent in the spring. I like to include a little blurb about how the scent relates to the Eastern Shore and I put these on my Etsy listings and on product labels.


4. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

My biggest challenge related to my Etsy shop is the type of product I offer. It's difficult to buy bath products over the internet without smelling them first. I try to be as descriptive as possible to help customers decide, but nothing can take the place of a nose! Many people are surprised at the different types of scents they're attracted to when they sniff soap in person. I am, too, sometimes!


5. What is your favorite item in your shop? Why is it your favorite?

My favorite item in my shop is the In the Buff Bath Melt. I always say if I'm ever forced to stop making bath products by some strange unimaginable circumstance, I'll find a way to sneak off and make Bath Melts! They're used at the end of a shower or bath to hydrate and smooth skin and because there's so much cocoa butter in them, they have a wonderful chocolate-y smell. I've always hated the feeling of putting on cold, slimy lotion after a bath, and these solve the problem perfectly!



6. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

Persevere and don't take things too personally. There will be periods of time where nothing is sold, but things will pick up again! Also, remember what it was like to be starting out with your shop and support other Etsy sellers, especially if their shop has few sales.



7. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

I was raised as a military child, so I've lived in six different states across the country.

I have a bachelor's in anthropology and a master's in history.

I'm a classically trained coloratura soprano.

I relax by spinning yarn on my wheel.

8. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

I have a website, http://www.soapomokeriver.com/ and a Facebook fan page.

9 Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your shop or your work?

Since making my own bath products, I've become very aware of the low quality of store-bought products, even many of those that are expensive and marketed as high-end. I'm disappointed that many people seem to think that it's normal for soap to be drying and to make your skin feel like it's over-stretched and about to crack open! This isn't normal and you should never have to use soap that makes you feel less than wonderful. Try some handmade soap. You'll be pleasantly surprised!




ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

Mama's Magic Studio will be treating one lucky winner to a gift certificate at Soapomoke River Bath Company! The value of the gift certificate will not exceed $15.00 (U.S. funds). Enter to win by leaving one or more comments on this post. See details below.

Please be sure each entry includes a valid email address so that I can contact you if you win! If you like you may spell it out, such as myemail at address dot com, to avoid spam, but entries without a valid email address will not be considered.

One Entry: Visit Soapomoke River Bath Company and choose which item is your favorite. Leave a comment on this post telling me which you like best.

One Entry: Become a follower here at Mama's Magic. (Use the Follow box on the right sidebar or click here.) Leave a comment on this post telling me you've done so.

One Entry: Become a Facebook fan of Mama's Magic Studio. Leave a comment on this post telling me you've done so. Be sure to include your Facebook name for verification!

One Entry: Become a Facebook fan of Soapomoke River Bath Company. Leave a comment on this post including your Facebook name.

One Entry: Post on your Facebook wall about this giveaway, including a link to this post. Leave a comment on this post telling me you've done so.

One Entry: Visit Mama's Magic Studio on Etsy and take a look around. Leave a comment on this post telling me which item you like best.

One Entry: Follow Mama's Magic on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway, including a link to this post. Include #mamasmagicgiveaway in your tweet and comment here on this post to let me know.

Three Entries: Blog about this giveaway on your own blog, including a link to this post. Leave a comment on this post telling me you've done so.

FINE PRINT: The giveaway ends at midnight (PST) on Thursday April 1st (no foolin!) and the winner will be chosen by random number. Winner will be contacted on Friday April 2nd. Winner must reply within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Participants may enter as many times as they like up to 10 entries, using one each of the entry possibilities outlined above. Comment entries without a valid email address will not be considered. Void where prohibited. Entries open to everywhere that Soapomoke River will ship. $15 gift certificate valid only for a single order at Soapomoke River Company. If winner's order is less than $15, the remainder of the gift certificate is forfeit. If winner's order exceeds $15, winner pays the additional costs.

Good luck!!!