The day started with a hilarious comedy of errors involving a miscommunication about the time that helpers were to arrive resulting in Bramble Berry Chief Marketing Officer Amber and Social Media Manager Kristen catching me practicing piano in my pajamas. After a good laugh and the arrival of a few other helpers, I was grateful to be able to slip away for a quick shower and a moment with Jamisen to say good-bye before he and daddy slipped away for a fun day of parks and truck-spotting.

In lieu of gifts, guests were asked to bring a bottle of champagne for the mimosa station. Choices to accompany champagne (or sparkling water) included assorted fruit and juices, Italian aperitif Aperol, and I even whipped up a delicious lavender syrup from scratch (!).

The food was amazing – the peppered cheddar + broccoli and bleu cheese + onion + leek quiches were a big hit, as were the strawberry scones, mountains of fresh berries, and the assorted cupcakes from my favorite local bakery.

After perusing Pinterest I happened upon a few tutorials for painting the insides of vases, which worked out perfectly with the pink and aqua color scheme and paired wonderfully with some seasonal flowers.

There was even an advice station where guests could write down sentiments on cards and tuck them into sweet little envelopes contained in a hand-made book.

After food and chatting, guests participated in a very special wrist binding ceremony, based on Navajo tradition, that called upon the wisdom of our mothers and grandmothers to bless the birth and bless the baby. It was very sweet as everyone shared their mothers’ and grandmothers’ names, and spoke a blessing for our upcoming day of birth and life with Miss Lily Leah.

It was a lovely day, filled with a lot of laughter and great advice. It was so nice that the Washington weather cooperated (not at all a sure bet in May) and the new house did a fantastic job entertaining. The inside-outside space flowed seamlessly and we were so happy that the home’s debut went off smoothly (thanks to many helping hands).

Those crafty details really gave the sprinkle that extra sparkle (snort) so to start off, Bramble Berry is offering a free kit of downloadable PDFs that will make any shower or sprinkle really shine. Included in the kit are small and large tags, half sheet note cards, and a customizable banner! Click here for your free kit, and check back on Soap Queen for more fun sprinkle action.

Bummed about not being able to attend this year’s conference? Not to worry. We’re keeping everyone in the loop by offering you the option to purchase the a super-sized version of the kit we included in the goodie bags through Brambleberry.com in a full size handy cold process kit. And we’re offering a PDF download of Kat’s amazing Cold Process Colorant Master Class and Powerpoint presentation so you can feel like you were right there with her. While it’s not quite the same as being there, it’s a close second.

Pictured above are three (yes, three!) different soaps that you can make with your Soap Guild Goodie Bag kit. And that’s not all – scroll down to the end of this post to read about how you can win your very own Soap Guild Goodie Bag Kit Sample!

You can click here to purchase the Super Sized Soap Guild Goodie Bag Kit and save over $15. The individual items are:

33 oz Swirl Quick Mix Oil

0.2 oz Purple Brazilian Clay

0.2 oz Red Brazilian Clay

0.2 oz Activated Charcoal

0.2 oz Annatto Seed

2 oz Lavender 40/42

2 oz Cranberry Chutney

4 inch Silicone loaf Mold

Tiny 9 ball Sphere mold

Tutorial #1: Embedded Spheres

PART ONE: Make the embeds

Recipe:

1.3 oz Swirl Quick Mix

0.2 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

0.4 oz Distilled Water

9 Ball Sphere Mold

SAFETY: Suit up for safe handling practices! Long sleeves, gloves, and eye protection are necessary when making cold process soap. Eye glasses are not sufficient protection. Be sure that kids, pets, and other tripping/distraction hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

ONE: Melt the entire bag of Quick Mix oils. Give the bag a good shake and measure out 1.3 ounces by weight.

TWO: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and stir until clear. Set aside to cool.

THREE: When the lye water and the oils have reached 120 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), carefully pour the lye water into the oils. Pulse the stick blender at first, then keep a steady mix until the lye water and oils are emulsified and the mixture reaches medium trace.

FOUR: Pour the soap into the Small 9 Ball Sphere mold. Gently tamp the mold on the table to remove air bubbles and use a soap cutter or other non-reactive straight edge to clean the top of the mold of any dribbles.

FIVE: Cover and insulate for 24 hours. Unmold after 3-4 days.

PART TWO: Make the loaf soap

Recipe:

9.7 oz Swirl Quick Mix

1.3 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

3.2 oz Distilled Water

0.75 oz Lavender Essential Oil

Activated Charcoal

Small Silicone Loaf Mold

SAFETY: Suit up for safe handling practices! Long sleeves, gloves, and eye protection are necessary when making cold process soap. Eye glasses are not sufficient protection. Be sure that kids, pets, and other tripping/distraction hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

ONE: Melt the entire bag of Quick Mix oils and measure out 9.7 ounces by weight.

TWO: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and stir until clear. Set aside to cool.

THREE: When the lye water and the oils have reached 120 degrees or below, carefully pour the lye water into the oils. Pulse the stick blender at first, then keep a steady mix until the lye water and oils are emulsified and the mixture reaches light trace.

FOUR: Add Lavender Essential oil to the soap batter and mix in using a whisk.

FIVE: Add 1 level teaspoon Activated Charcoal and stick blend until the mixture reaches medium-thick trace.

SIX: Pour the charcoal colored soap into the mold, filling about 1/4 full. Gently place 3 embeds randomly in the soap. Cover with another 1/4 of the soap, and place another three embeds in the soap. Repeat with one more layer of soap and embeds, and cover with one last layer of soap so that the embeds are completely hidden.

SEVEN: Spray entire surface with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and cover and insulate for 24 hours. Unmold after 3-4 days.

Tutorial #2: Cute as a Button

PART ONE: Make the embeds

Recipe:

1.3 oz Swirl Quick Mix

0.2 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

0.4 oz Distilled Water

9 Ball Sphere Mold

SAFETY: Suit up for safe handling practices! Long sleeves, gloves, and eye protection are necessary when making cold process soap. Eye glasses are not sufficient protection. Be sure that kids, pets, and other tripping/distraction hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

ONE: Melt the entire bag of Quick Mix oils. Give the bag a good shake and measure out 1.3 ounces by weight.

TWO: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and stir until clear. Set aside to cool.

THREE: When the lye water and the oils have reached 120 degrees or below (and are ideally within 10 degrees of each other), carefully pour the lye water into the oils. Pulse the stick blender at first, then keep a steady mix until the lye water and oils are emulsified and the mixture reaches medium trace.

FOUR: Pour the soap into the Small 9 Ball Sphere mold. Gently tamp the mold on the table to remove air bubbles and use a soap cutter or other non-reactive straight edge to clean the top of the mold of any dribbles.

FIVE: Cover and insulate for 24 hours. Unmold after 3-4 days.

PART TWO: Make the soap

Recipe:

9.7 oz Swirl Quick Mix

1.3 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

3.2 oz Distilled Water

0.75 oz Lavender Essential Oil

Activated Charcoal

Purple Brazilian Clay, dispersed (see below)

.75 oz Lavender Essential Oil

Small Silicone Loaf Mold

DISPERSE CLAY: Mix 2 teaspoons Purple Brazilian Clay in 2 teaspoons water.

SAFETY: Suit up for safe handling practices! Long sleeves, gloves, and eye protection are necessary when making cold process soap. Eye glasses are not sufficient protection. Be sure that kids, pets, and other tripping/distraction hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

ONE: Melt the entire bag of Quick Mix oils and measure out 9.7 ounces by weight.

TWO: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and stir until clear. Set aside to cool.

THREE: When the lye water and the oils have reached 120 degrees or below, carefully pour the lye water into the oils. Pulse the stick blender at first, then keep a steady mix until the lye water and oils are emulsified and the mixture reaches light trace.

FOUR: Add Lavender Essential oil to the soap batter and mix in using a whisk.

FIVE: Split the batch into two equal parts.To one batch, add a level 1/8 teaspoon Activated Charcoal and to the second batch add 1 3/4 teaspoons dispersed Purple Brazilian Clay. Stick blend each batch to medium-thick trace.

SIX: Pour the charcoal colored soap into the mold. Tamp the mold on the table to flatten out the layer.

SEVEN:  Pour the purple colored soap over the charcoal colored soap, using a spatula to pour over to prevent breakthrough in layers.

EIGHT: Use a spatula or spoon to build a peak down the center of the thick-traced purple soap. Place four embeds in the center of the peak.

NINE: Spray entire surface with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and cover and insulate for 24 hours. Unmold after 3-4 days.

Tutorial #3: In-The-Pot Swirl

Recipe:

11 oz Swirl Quick Mix oil

1.5 oz Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)

3.6 oz Distilled Water

0.75 oz Cranberry Chutney Fragrance Oil

Annatto Seed Infusion (see below)

Red Brazilian Clay, dispersed (see below)

Small Silicone Loaf Mold

INFUSE: 0.2 oz (about 1/2 Tablespoon) Annatto Seed in 1.25 oz (by weight) Sunflower Oil or other lightweight liquid oil.

DISPERSE CLAY: Mix 1/2 teaspoon Red Brazilian Clay in 1 teaspoon water.

SAFETY: Suit up for safe handling practices! Long sleeves, gloves, and eye protection are necessary when making cold process soap. Eye glasses are not sufficient protection. Be sure that kids, pets, and other tripping/distraction hazards are out of the house or don’t have access to your soaping space. Always soap in a well-ventilated area.

ONE: Melt the entire bag of Quick Mix oils and measure out 11 ounces by weight.

TWO: Slowly and carefully add the lye to the water and stir until clear. Set aside to cool.

THREE: When the lye water and the oils have reached 120 degrees or below, carefully pour the lye water into the oils. Pulse the stick blender at first, then keep a steady mix until the lye water and oils are emulsified and the mixture reaches light trace.

FOUR: Add Cranberry Chutney fragrance oil to the soap batter and stick blend until the mixture reaches medium trace.

FIVE: Split the batches into three equal parts. To one part, add 2 teaspoons Annatto Seed infusion. To the second part, add all of the dispersed clay. Leave the third part uncolored. Mix in the colorants with a whisk so as not to accelerate trace.

SIX: From a high vantage point, pour the Annatto Seed colored soap batch into the uncolored batch in three spots: 12:00, 4:00 and 8:00, then one in the center. Reserve about 2 Tablespoons of soap for the swirled top. Repeat with the Red Brazilian clay colored batch, again reserving about 2 Tablespoons of soap.

SEVEN: Using a chopstick or skewer, drag through each of the entry points and including the center. Only drag the skewer through the soap once. Be careful not to overmix – you want to swirl, not blend!

EIGHT: Pour the soap into the mold. As you pour, the soap will continue to mix slightly and enhance the swirl you started with the chopstick!

NINE: Using the reserved Annatto colored soap, pour in an “s” curve parallel to the longer edge of the mold. Follow the “s” created with the Annatto soap with a second “s” using the Red Brazilian clay colored soap. Drag a skewer or chopstick inserted into the top 1/4” of the soap in another “s” curve that is perpendicular to the one created by the soap.

TEN: Spray entire surface with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol and cover and insulate for 24 hours. Unmold after 3-4 days.

Now that you’re totally inspired, here’s how to win a the same mini sample kit that is in all of the Soap Guild goody bags for yourself! Simply leave a comment below and tell us what tutorials and other fun posts you’d like to see here on the Soap Queen blog this summer and fall. We’ll choose winners sometime next week, so be sure that you enter your email address below your name in the email email field when you add a comment so we can contact you (we’re the only ones that can see that email addy). Don’t leave your email address in your public comment (well, unless you like getting notices that you’ve won $10million from a deposed Nigerian leader or that your best friend is stranded in England and needs money ASAP). And stay tuned to Soap Queen to get the conference low-down from our traveling trio.

Soap Queen: What got you interested in soap making?

I have always had a love for arts and crafts; however, soap making had never crossed my mind until I was ten years old. I was reading through a family magazine, when an article caught my eye. It was titled “Hand-milled Soap Surprise”. Immediately, it sparked my interest, I began experimenting, and re-creating commercial soap bars into soap (rocks) balls. After experimenting with numerous additives (some of which were from my Mom’s kitchen pantry—should have asked first about that-oops!), and using up nearly every bar of soap in the house, my parents thought it would be a good idea to invest in some quality soap-making ingredients (as well as some gloves and safety goggles!).  Having read about soap from scratch, I thought it would be a good idea to start there. After making my first successful batch of cold process soap, I could not bring myself to stop! My sister and I began giving some of it away as gifts to our friends and neighbors.  Word started to spread that I made handmade soap, and from there, the business began.

Soap Queen: How does the ocean inspire your products?

Since we live so near the ocean, it seemed only natural to name our business after it. The ocean is also a theme for many of our scents and color schemes as well as our photo backdrops, Facebook page, online store and blog.

Soap Queen: What is your favorite soaping technique?

My favorite technique is definitely funnel pour pattern in cold process soap because of its beauty and simplicity.

Soap Queen: What is your favorite BB product?

Everything that I’ve gotten from Bramble Berry has been wonderful, but my favorite product so far is Apple Jack Peel Fragrance Oil, it smells so yummy and crisp!

Soap Queen:What is the most important soaping lesson you’ve learned in business? Do you have any advice for beginners in business?

The best lessons in business so far have been:

1) Have good customer service
2) Get connected socially (make the most of Facebook, Twitter, Blog, etc.)
3) Keep your followers updated.
4) Spread the word to friends.
5) Keep professionalism and friendliness well-balanced.
6) Make it a point to get to know what your customers enjoy.
7) Tuck a business card, or flyer with your contact information in the bag (or package). Write on it a brief, personal note thanking them for their business. It is a great way to further the service that customers have received from you. It also invites them to come back and look at your products again.
8) Make friends with the Soap Queen : )

Soap Queen: What other bath and body products do you like to make?

I have really enjoyed making bath bombs, perfume, lip balms, sugar scrubs, and lotions in the past, but I’m still working on perfecting their recipes before I add them to our store.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Emily! I loved hearing about how you got started on soaping and can’t wait to see where the future take you and your soapy business. For more inspiration, check out Emily’s Facebook page, Online Store and Blog.

What You’ll Need:

Heavy Duty Column Mold

50 oz. White Melt & Pour Base

Hydrated Chrome Green Color Block

Fizzy Lemonade Color Block

Ultramarine Blue Color Block

.75 oz. Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil

Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

MOLD PREP: Insert the flat plastic divider into the column mold. Run your finger down the seam until you hear the “snap”, ensuring that you have a smooth, even seam that won’t show up on your soap. Attached the end cap and you’re all set!

ONE: Begin by cutting the White Melt & Pour Base into small chunks and measuring out about 16 oz. each into three separate containers. Be sure the containers are microwave safe! Melt the containers one by one in the microwave in short, 30 second bursts.

TWO: Now shave off portions of the colors blocks and add one color per container. Color blocks are WYSIWYGs (what you see is what you get), so add more color block for a darker color and less color block for a more pastel color. In order to keep crisp lines in the soap, make sure whatever colors you choose to use are non bleeding. Want a list of our colors that are non-bleeding? Here’s a blog post on just that. 

THREE: Next it’s time for fragrance. Pour .25 oz. of Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil per container. Remember to choose a fragrance that is not going to discolor your soap brown.

FOUR: Start getting your set up ready. You’ll want to find something to prop up under the mold so when you pour, each layer can dry smoothly. In my set up, I propped the mold on a small dish and put the scale behind the mold to keep it from sliding backward. If you’re worried about the soap leaking, wrap the bottom of the mold with saran wrap and use a rubber band to secure the saran wrap; then, put your end cap on. Extra insurance is a good thing.

FIVE: By now your soap may have solidified a bit. Reheat the soap in short bursts of 30 seconds or less, taking time to stir the soap between each heating. It extremely important that the soap doesn’t get hotter than 160 degrees and burn because it will make it much harder to pour a smooth, even layer into the mold. Pouring your second layer too hot also will melt the first layer. Pouring the soap at 130 degrees or less is ideal.

SIX: Once your soap has cooled, gently pour it into the mold. As it pools in the back, slowly lower the mold as you pour until it is resting on your bowl (or whatever you choose to use). The soap may not come all the way up to mouth of the mold, but that’s okay! The other colors will fill in the space, and you can always cut off the end of the soap when you unmold it. 

SEVEN: It’s very important to not rotate the mold until the soap is solid. Otherwise, you could risk breaking through the top skin and spilling soap around the inside of the mold. Wait at least two hours for the soap to harden, and then using a temperature gun, take the temperature of the soap in the back of the mold. I waited until my first layer was around 82 degrees at the soap’s deepest point just to be sure.

EIGHT: Gently rotate the mold and pour the second layer. You may not be able to pour the full 16 oz. of soap, so keep your container ready to catch any run-off.

NINE: For the third and final layer, tip the mold up and rest it on its end. Check the temperature of the poured soap to make sure it’s dry enough to tip, and then gently pour in the remaining soap.

Let me the soap sit overnight before unmolding. Enjoy your new geometry-friendly soap!

Soap Queen: I love your cute little gift boxes that you send your soap in! As a bonus, they keep your products safe in transit. Where does your packaging inspiration come from?

Ever since I was a young girl, my mother always told me, ‘If you are going to do something, there are two ways to do it. The good way or the bad way. You have to decide which one. Never do something fast, just to have be done quickly. Choose the right way, and always take your time.’  I have been soaping all of my life and I try to best I can (thanks mom). My packaging inspiration comes from the determination to makes things right and imagining the look on my customers faces when they open up their packages!

Soap Queen: You have a very unique way of making melt and pour soap. What made you decide to go with Melt & Pour over Cold Process?

I have been making crafts my entire life, and I always like to keep creating things that more unique and different. With melt and pour, I can make thousands of designs and not have to worry about the batch going bad. You can cut it so many different ways and you can always remelt it if it doesn’t turn out how you were expecting, and I really enjoy the freedom and fun that comes from making melt & pour soaps.

Soap Queen:I adore your 3D soaps and their exquisite detail; where did the idea for that come from?

This idea actually came from someone who works at Bramble Berry (thanks Becky). One day I bought a 3D mold on a whim and went and posted on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page about it.  I was told that I would just love these molds, and boy were they was right. When it arrived, I looked at and began to brainstorm about all the new, fun and crazy things that I could do with.  At first, I thought about making soap on a rope, but then realized everyone was already doing that. I then realized I loved fabric and trimmings and realized that these things could be used in soap to create a beautiful piece of art. Ever since then, I’ve been ordering the 3D molds from Bramble Berry. My favorite so far are the pear, rectangle, and oval ones. This eventually lead to me creating my Latin Collection line which has been such a big success for. In fact, the most recent Latin Collection order I have filled is for over 300 soaps to be sent overseas, all made with Bramble Berry’s 3D Molds.

Soap Queen:What is your favorite Bramble Berry product?

This is such a difficult question and you can’t imagine how many hours I spend looking at your website. I love everything on there (even the products I haven’t used yet). If I had to pick one to be my favorite it would have to be the 25 lbs. of M&P Premium Soap Bases. I adore those big blocks because it challenges me to think about all the different types of soaps that I could make with just one block.

Soap Queen:You have so many incredible designs and ideas for your soaps, which one is your current favorite?

My 3D mold collection has to be my new favorite and I love using Bramble Berry’s 3D molds because I am  able to create so many different designs with them.

Soap Queen: If you could share anything with other M&P soapers, what would it be?

Everything! I’m always sharing everything that I know with my customers. When they ask me where I get my molds and bases, I tell them (I love Bramble Berry). I always try to give them instructions and share with them how I’ve made my soap. I do this because I remember when I first started and I had someone known as the Soap Queen help me out taught me to grow as a soaper.  If you want to know how I make my soaps (or how others do), don’t hesitate to ask, many of us are willing to share what we are doing because we remember what it was like to be a beginning soaper.

Thanks for chatting with us, Maria! Be sure to check out Maria’s Etsy shop and stop by her Pinterest page for some super soapy inspiration.

“Sometimes the laughter in mothering is the recognition of the ironies and absurdities. Sometimes, though, it’s just pure, unthinking delight.” -Barbara Schapiro

Let me pause to allow that to sink in: she left the gym rather than change her plans on the workout she was going to do.

There’s a lot of things that went through my head but the things that really struck me were that she wasn’t very committed to her workout if she was willing to leave with a minor setback and she wasn’t very flexible and able to roll with the punches. Being adaptable is an essential skill to have in life and in business.

Think how many times things haven’t gone your way just today (or don’t, it might just depress you).  I’m willing to bet you’ve had to compromise or change your plans at least 15 times today. Anything from what you were going to wear (whoops, that shirt’s in the laundry) to who was fixing your kids’ breakfast (what? You have an 8 a.m. meeting you forgot to tell me about?) to a co-worker interaction (huh? You thought I was doing that?! I thought YOU were taking care of it!?).

The only way to grow your business and get more done in a day is to delegate essential, important tasks. If you haven’t learned to roll with the punches, to be flexible and able to adapt on the fly, your business will suffer as it grows. Adaptability is a skill you can learn. Start small and build up. Three ways to ease into flexibility are:

(1) Come up with your mantra. When something doesn’t go my way, or, it’s different than what I envisioned, I say to myself (or often aloud to whomever I’m with), “It is neither good, nor bad; it simply is.”* This reminds me not to judge the situation but instead, attach no value to the circumstances, trusting that something will work out.

(2) Evaluate the options. There are always more than just two options. Train yourself to come up with 3 solutions to every course change or correction. This will train your brain to see the gray and not just look at the easy “Yes, No” or worse, “Win, Lose” paths.

(3) Take action and reevaluate. After you try one of your new options, reevaluate. How did it work out? What were the positives that came out of the initial plan not working? This will help you see that not everything needs to end the way you initially planned it in order to be a success.

By taking these three simple steps every time you are thrown for a loop, it will soon become automatic. You won’t think about it anymore but you will find yourself not grimacing when change happens. You will find your heart rate remains normal when you experience setbacks, you quickly and seamlessly adapt and you will be able to see the genius in the longer detour and journey.

* This phrase or idea comes from the Taoist (or Zen Buddhist) story, summarized here:

A Taoist farmer loses his horse. The townspeople are extremely upset for him. He says “Who knows? We shall see.” Days later, the horse comes back, leading twelve, new, younger horses. The villages are very joyful for the farmer. He says, “Who knows? We shall see.” The next morning, the farmer’s son tries to train the new horses, and falls off and breaks his leg. The villagers expect the farmer to be extremely sad over this misfortune. He says, “Who knows? We shall see.” Days later, war breaks out and all able bodied young men are conscripted into the Army. The farmer’s son cannot go with the army. Again, the farmer attaches no meaning to these events, stating “Who knows? We shall see,” as he shambles off to work his fields alone. As time goes by, the son heals but with a limp. The townspeople cluck their condolences, “Oh what bad luck for you!” The farmer shrugs his shoulders, “Who knows? We shall see.” Time passes and word comes back that all the village boys have died in the fighting. The old farmer and his son were the only able bodied men left in the village, capable of working all the village farms. They become wealthy and generous to the village. The townspeople heap praise, “We are so fortune. We are so lucky to have you.” The farmer, as always replies, “Who knows? We shall see.”

This week we also worked on a fruity Strawberries & Cream soap using fresh strawberry puree and real cream. Keep your eyes peeled for a tutorial =)

Can’t get enough of the Vines? Here are 3 more: Dreamcatcher 1, Dreamcatcher 2 & Veggie Puree.

My favorite pins feature a ton of fun crafts (and one very delicious dessert).

(Top left) Jamisen would love this fun activity – it’s something he could put together himself! Who knew that kids could have so much with a water bottle, some colored ribbon and a few glittery pom poms?

(Center) I think the sock monkey has become the new teddy bear.

(Top right)  I just love these black raspberry brie bites. What a great little treat to bring to a barbecue or dinner party =)

(Bottom) No spring cleaning is complete without fresh flowers, and flowers need bright, fun vases. Plus, this is a great way to re purpose old glass bottles. Look for how we used this idea in the Bramble Berry Sprinkle party.

We can’t forget my favorite tweets too! These were some of my favorite things in 140 characters or less:

• Every customer can teach you something, even the unhappy ones.
• We’ve been doing a bit of rearranging in the Bramble Berry offices and for those of us who are spatially challenged (ahem), the MagicPlan app is great.
• Think twice about recycling baby food jars. These four projects would make for wonderful gifts.

Have a great weekend!

This week’s super cute photo comes to us from Rachel at The Daily Scrub. She told us that these were her Lavender Oatmeal Cupcake Soaps and she just adored the scent. I thought they were very well-done, with clean photography. Rachel has a very unique style of soaping that works well for her brand that really makes it stand out.  I love the colors and designs that she uses in her soaps and can’t wait to hear what you think. Thank you so much for being a great part of our fun soapmaking community, Rachel, and I can’t wait to see more from you. Expect a happy little package coming your way in the next few days!

Rachel’s Facebook: The Daily Scrub

Rachel’s Blog: The Dirt Diva

In the proposed budget submitted earlier this month by the President to the Congress, the Administration, just as they did last year, called for the establishment of new fees to be imposed on the cosmetics industry in order to stand up a more rigorous regulatory regime. It’s important to note that this is just a proposal at this point and has been introduced for the purposes of discussion. We are still a ways off from any new policies being seriously considered by the Congress, let alone enacted into law.

As you know, I, and other stakeholders from a wide spectrum of the cosmetics industry have been meeting with members of Congress and their staffs as well as the FDA to discuss any potential changes to the regulations impacting the industry and to make sure that the small businesses that make up our industry are protected as best they can be from potentially burdensome new rules and costs. While we’ve made a lot of progress, there is still work to do.

The President’s FY14 Budget proposes 21% increase over recently enacted levels to take care of all of the Food, Drug, Medical Device and Cosmetic industry. Of all of proposed new user fees, $19 million would come from a new mandatory and annual cosmetics user fee, to be to be paid by domestic and international cosmetics manufacturers. This is the second consecutive year FDA has proposed a cosmetics user fee. Congress took no action on the proposal last year. Any bill that affects the cosmetics industry should include small business exemptions from fees. That has been our message from the start and remains our clear and consistent message.

Currently, there is one bill in draft form that has not made it out of committee that would affect the cosmetics industry. It does contain small business exemptions. You can read the full draft of the bill here. This bill is still in committee. I will keep you posted if anything changes with the status of the proposed bill.

I know this is a lot of information, but I thought it was better to share more with you about what’s going on rather than have you not hear about it or not get the full story. Again, there’s a big distance between where we are now and any potential changes to regulations going into effect, but as you can see, the discussion is still open and it’s important that we remain vigilant to send the message that small business can and should be protected against any fees or burdensome regulatory paperwork requirements.