Soap University

I had the good fortune to work with Marla Bosworth from Boston, Amanda Griffin from Texas and Holly Port of Colorado at Soap University in NYC. We did 3 full days of soap making classes from beginner classes to advanced. It's always an amazing experience to network with other soap makers and immerse myself in an entire weekend of soap.  But I think my favorite part is watching the friendships develop between all of us. 

Marla teaching an introduction class

Chatting with the students 

Holly and Amanda

Some of the students advanced soap work from Amanda's class

Soap bon bons from Holly's cupcake class

Here I am, scooping out some oils

Amanda, me, Holly and Marla

What a blessing to see my old soaping friends from past classes and conferences, and to meet new friends. Thank you all!

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela

Gratitude List 3.26.13

Here I am mixing oils for a batch of soap at Soap University in NYC

1-My dad's fifth uneventful chemo treatment, one more to go!!
2-A great weekend at Soap University in NYC seeing some old friends.
3-A great weekend at Soap University in NYC meeting some new friends.
4-The first cardinal of the season feeding from my bird feeder.
5-My husband's safe return from a business trip.

My soap studio

I thought you might like a look into my soap studio. I enjoy showing it off!

This is the awesome stainless steel table I bought off Craig's List where I make my soap, and the stove my niece gave to me when she remodeled her kitchen.

This is where the soap sits for 24-48 hours in the molds after I first make it. Sorry, no soap there now!

Here are the drying racks my dad made for me. (He made all my soap molds too! Thank you Dad!)  The soap sits here for 4 weeks so water can evaporate and the soap can continue to cure.

Once it has finished curing, I label and wrap my soaps here. For those of you who noticed the Everclear on the shelf, no, it is not for drinking.  It's for perfume making!

My soaps that are finished and waiting to be sold.

More drying racks and the shelves where I keep the orders that going out.

A shelving unit where I keep my supplies, molds, and batches ready to be made. My husband helps me pour the organic olive oil into cleaned and dried orange juice containers so I can pour it easily. Those oils are Heavy!

My desk area for computer work, and the dreaded Quickbooks.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Yours in Gratitude,
 Angela

Gratitude List 3.19.13

Our picture from Marie and Ricky's wedding

1-My iPod and the music on it, especially the songs by Pistol Annies.
2-My dad's uneventful 4th chemo treatment.
3-A great picture (and a great time) at Marie and Ricky's wedding.
4-My daughter singing "Happy Birthday" to my husband on the answering machine...now I can play it back and hear her sing anytime I want to!
5-All the new friends I met at the "Be the Example" event Sunday.

Gratitude List 3.12.13

My Gratitude List this week is all about my family. 

Celebrating my moms birthday

1-My daughter's visit from DC this past weekend.
2-My son's visit from Connecticut this past weekend. (I had both my babies home!)
3-Dinner Saturday night to celebrate my mom's birthday.
4-My dad's 3rd and uneventful chemo treatment.
5-Both of my children's safe returns to their respective homes.

What are you grateful for this week?

Yours in gratitude,
Angela

Victoria's science project

Victoria is a student at Holy Trinity High School.  She told me she had a science project and she wasn't sure what to do for it. I suggested she do a project on the different properties of oils in soap making. She decided to focus on lather. We made two batches of soap, one was a pure olive oil soap and the other was a blend of olive, coconut and palm.  Victoria gave samples of each soap to friends and family to wash with, and compiled data by giving them all a questionnaire to answer. She found out that the soap make with the coconut, palm and olive oil produced more bubbles than the soap made only with olive oil.

Victoria and her science project

You can see the picture of the 2 different soaps

The bar graph showing her results

And here is the close-up of the two of us, after we finished making both soaps

I think Victoria enjoyed this science project and I know I enjoyed working with her. Victoria I see amazing things for you in your future! You rock!

Yours in Gratitude,
Angela

Gratitude List 3.4.13

Gratitude List 3.4.13

My NYC Indie friends

1-My dad's uneventful 2nd chemo treatment.
2-A sunny Friday morning
3-A fragrant Friday night spent assisting Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume in her NYC perfume class.
4-Lunch Saturday with the Long Island Indies, and Lunch Sunday with the NYC Indies.
5-Sunday night's dinner, cooked by my husband.

What are you grateful for this week?

Your in Gratitude,
Angela

March Customer of the Month

Meet Emy, Alegna Soap's March Customer of the Month. 

Emy

My name is Emily.  I am currently retired after working for 23 years in the child welfare field.  My husband and I have been married for 27 years (second marriages) and raised 4 sons together.  We have 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. 

I've been using Alegna soaps for at least 2 years and it is the only soap I use.

I really like to travel. Cruising is my travel of choice although my husband and I have been taking short bus trips. I also make candles in my spare time and spend time with my grand kids. 

My husband and I are loyal Steelers fans.  We have attended games in Pittsburgh which have been great fun  Football is our favorite sport.

We have a miniature Dachshund called Hildegarde.

I loved the Rocky movies, Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.  Also enjoy the Twilight movies.   My favorite though is Field of Dreams. 

The last movie I saw was The Avengers. 

My favorite actor is Brad Pitt.

I would run a marathon if I could without failing..

I am an A type, perfectionist, slightly compulsive and outgoing person.

I need coffee in the morning to get me going, and definitely I do my best work then  (morning person).

My perfect day would be sailing on a catamaran, snorkeling and lounging on the beach in the Caribbean.

I am inspired by people who unselfishly give of themselves to others, of which the greatest would be Jesus.



Yours in Gratitude,
Angela