It's a Soap Frenzy!

This month really is a soap frenzy! We have so many soap classes, I had to create a new Soap Summary Page to keep it all straight!

As I prepare this message to let you know about all the great soap classes we have coming up, I'm also working on final preparation for the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild Annual Conference in Burlington, Vermont.

As you might have already heard, the last 2 years I won "Best in Show" for my swirled soaps (click here to see all the Soaper's Showcase winners for 2006 & 2007). It's basically a beauty contest for soap. Unfortunately they've banned me from the competition this year (they didn't think it was fair for me to keep entering), but they will have a special "honorable mention" display with my soaps on it - which is cool with me. Even better, they asked me to teach my "award-winning" swirling method in Vermont - so that's what I'll be demonstrating this year (last year I did Hot Process Crock Pot Soap Making in St. Louis).

I leave in just a few days and I still have to put the finishing touches on my handouts and also come up with a label and packaging for 200 lavender swirled soap samples that I plan on giving out at my presentation(s). See picture to the right of the samples drying on trays. These were cut from the bars above in the header picture. This is the same soap I will be demonstrating at the conference - a classic lavender with purple & white swirls - similar to one of the soaps that won me the award last year (see pic above left).

As long as I make it to the plane on-time with my handouts completed and my samples packaged, I get to enjoy the first 2 days of the conference as a student. The third day is a definite working day. It starts at 8:30am when I'm on the soap making "Experts Panel," then my first presentation on CP swirling from 11am-12noon, and my second from 1:30-2:30pm. It might not sound like much, but since I only have an hour to show the whole process, the lye solution and oils have to be all measured out and cooled down at the start of the hour. Not quite sure how I'll do that since there is only 1/2 hour in between the end of the experts panel and the beginning of my first presentation, but I'm sure I'll figure it out (no doubt with the help of my trusty friend & superstar TA Sherry, who will also be attending the conference and helping during my demonstrations). Here's a picture of Sherry (to the right) pointing to one of her first swirled batches.

OK - enough about the conference.
What's going on at The Nova Studio?

I'm really excited to tell you about our line up of soap classes over the next quarter. We've always offered soap classes, but never before has one calendar had such a variety of soap classes to choose from - for all levels of soapers.

Those brand new to soap making can enter this fun hobby with Cold Process Soapmaking 101 where students gain a thorough understanding of the basics (and more).

If you've taken a soap class here (or elsewhere) but have yet to make your first batch, YOU'RE IN LUCK. We are debuting our brand new HANDS-ON CP Soap Lab. If you've been itching to make soap, but are still a little nervous about doing it alone, this soap lab is the answer to your prayers! You will get expert advice and coaching from soap making power team David Critchfield and Lori Nova.

For those who already have some experience making CP Soap, and don't need the hand-holding offered in the hands-on lab, how about Cold Process 201: Swirls & Layers where you will learn intermediate design techniques like swirling colors and creating multiple layers in soap. This is very similar to what I will be teaching at the conference (if I ever get my handouts done!).

For those of you who live farther away or prefer to take as many classes as you can while here, we have two great options for you.

Our popular weekend Soap Making Boot Camps - will give you more than you can absorb in two very full days. We have two dates with openings currently - in July & September 2008.

Last but not least, the last day in May and the first day of June, we are proud to announce the return of Alicia Grosso, author of The Everything Soap Making Book, who is making a special studio appearance to teach two different "Pushing the Envelope" soap classes. Her CP Soap: Pushing the Envelope covers advanced techniques that involve energy exchange principles & water discounting. It's perfect for those who want to veer outside the lines of the "recommended" levels of soap making safely and effectively.

The second day is for you instant gratification folks. Melt & Pour Soap: Pushing the Envelope is appropriate for all levels of soap makers (no pre-req) and covers loaves, geodes, citrus replicas & gemstones. Look at this picture of the lemon soap to the left. I had to do a double take of her lemon look-alike melt & pour soap - I've never seen anything like that - I really thought it was an actual lemon!!

Once again, you can find information about all upcoming soap classes at on our new Soap Summary Page.

Oh, and last but not least, for those of you who are closer to the North-West part of the US, check out the weekend of soapmaking classes offered by Otion Soap in Bellingham. Alicia will be teaching there as well, with Anne-Marie Faiola of Otion Soap, Debbie Chialtas of Soapy Love and Paula Kates from PJ Soaps. I wish I could take more time off - it sounds like a ton of fun!