The internet is buzzing about The Art of Soap!

It has been almost 3 months since The Art of Soap came out, and it has been wonderful seeing readers' reactions!  The book features the stunning work and stories of 24 soapmakers, including cold process, hot process, and glycerin methods.

Soap makers and enthusiasts all agree this book is inspiring and beautiful.  Don't take my word for it, here are some links to several online reviews:

The Soap Bar - "The soap maker's short story along with the close up photography of their soap brought me to tears a couple of times. The stories were powerful and a few were quite unique."

The Natural Beauty Workshop - "The Art of Soap is an inspirational treat for both soap makers and soap lovers.  The beautiful imagery and intriguing stories that accompany them make for a very enjoyable read."

The Sirona Springs Blog -  "I had never seen [a book] that really celebrated the creative possibilities of soapmaking. The book is filled with gorgeous full-color photographs of soap that is inspiring and sometimes just downright unbelievable (soap that looks like buttered toast with jam? Really!)."

Also, you can now find The Art of Soap at some of your favorite online book stores such as:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Soap Session (France)


Thank you so much everyone, and please support the featured artisans.  Their work is even more amazing "in person!"

The Art of Soap - now shipping!

The Art of Soap is now in stock!  Every book is shipped with 2 beautiful photo postcards so you can tell a friend!  You can purchase a copy here on this site or you can go to the Soapylove Book Shop where the Soapylove melt and pour projects book is also available. 

In the next week I will also be adding a gift wrapped option.  You can have a book shipped directly to a friend, anywhere in the world! 

Thanks so much for all of the wonderful support I have gotten for the book already.  I added a fun map at the bottom of this blog to show where The Art of Soap is being sent.  If you have received a copy, please come here and leave a post telling others what you think.  We would love to hear!  :)

The Art of Soap is in the publishing phase!

After months of anticipation, The Art of Soap has been sent to the publisher!  I am self publishing this book so it's more like a printer with some heavy connections, but nevertheless, 108 pages of beautiful soap photography and great soap makers' stories are getting ready for the next step - my first proof.  Hopefully next week I will receive the first printed copy to give the final blessing to.

Once that has been done (and you can bet I will post about that proof!) then I will be able to start selling the book.  I have set up a new page here where you will be able to pick up a copy.  Stay tuned!

Featured Artist: Elea Lutz of Nostalgia

When you get soaps from Elea Lutz of Nostalgia, featured in The Art of Soap, you can feel the love she puts into every one.  All of the papers and fabrics have prints designed by her, and the wrappers on the Soap Sacks even open up to reveal patterns you can use with the cotton bags.  They exude charm and sweetness that is hard to describe!

Elea says, in her own words:

At the end of the day, my artistic and company goals are one and the same: to create from the heart and offer joyful gifts that are memorable and meaningful. These are the most important ideas inspired by my grandmother. The result, I hope, is a genuine collection of tenderness and originality that blends essences of yesteryear into wondrous pleasures in the washroom and beyond.

Don't miss this month's desktop wallpaper, featuring Elea's soaps.  Just sign up for the newsletter to receive it automatically!  And stay tuned over the next few weeks for the book's publication announcement.  It's coming!  :)

Great Sponsorship Announcement

 

Earlier this year I attended the HSMG Soap Conference in Denver, Colorado. Last year was the first time I went, which was in Palm Springs.  I wasn't a member yet but by the time I left I had signed up.  The Soap Guild is an incredible non-profit organization whose mission is to:

promote the handcrafted soap industry; 

to act as a center of communication among soapmakers; 

and to circulate information beneficial to soapmakers.

It is the largest soap guild in the United States and they take their role very seriously.  The Conferences provide the most incredible workshops all relating to the specific needs of soap makers.  From marketing to soap chemistry to cosmetics regulations, every day is packed with invaluable learning. 

For those that can't attend the conferences, The Soap Guild website offers many resources available all year long including product and general liability insurance, an online forum, and now they have created a Legislative Advocacy Group to give all American soap makers a voice in the pending legislation effecting us.  Please click over to their blog to read about the latest events offered by The Soap Guild.

I am very pleased to announce that The Soap Guild is now a sponsor of The Art of Soap.  Thank you so much to the Board, which supports my effort to promote soap making as an art and very important craft. 

Come see an excerpt from The Art of Soap, featuring SV Soaps!

The book is coming along very nicely, each feature looks so bright and beautiful.  Since explaining a book is never as good as seeing it for yourself, I have uploaded an actual feature!  Here is an excerpt from the "Technique" chapter, showcasing the amazing work by Silvia Victory of SV Soaps.  You can flip through it right here on the blog by clicking on the grey page edges, or click on the page center to see it full sized.

Open publication - Free publishing - More soap

There are 23 other incredible artisans as well, each with a very distinctive style and point of view.  The Art of Soap is still on track to be published next month, so don't forget to sign up for the newsletter and be the first to know when it's ready!

Chapter 1: Philosophy

Last week I completed chapter one: "Philosophy."  As I read through all of the soap makers' essays for the book, I found that many people are driven to make soap because of their values and beliefs.  If you saw my earlier post about Brown Rice Family, they try to have a natural and healthy life, and their soaps are made with organic ingredients.  Yiuchi even travels to Japan to visit the farmers that supply green tea for his soaps.

The cover page for this chapter features Maggie Wang's beautiful soaps (shown above).  In her write-up she explains:

I began making soaps when my husband's co-worker lost his wife to cancer. That's when I realized how many harmful chemicals go into our daily cleaning products. I then began my ever-evolving quest for the all-natural soaps: I'm always hunting for natural ingredients, natural scents, and natural colorants.

She also focuses on using animal fats in her recipes.  Her designs are modern and striking. 

I am almost finished with the second chapter and will post a preview of that one as well.  In the meantime, you can get another preview of a featured artist by signing up for the newsletter (click here).  You'll receive a desktop wallpaper featuring A*Kang (also part of the Philosophy chapter) and an excerpt of her write-up.

I look forward to sharing more of the book with you.  It's coming out beautifully, thanks to the incredible work of the soap makers and Erin Pikor's photography.  I know you will love it!