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Sunday Soapcase: Cupcake Bath Bombs!

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Foam + Fizzle = Awesome

SUDSERS! It’s Sunday and rainy in the PNW. No surprise there; our fall doesn’t exactly consist of crunching leaves and chilly weather up here. The rains return and we retreat into our shells to prepare for several months of dreary gray weather. I grew up in Colorado, and winters were super cold but also filled with sunshine and therefore people were less likely to stay indoors. Up here, it feels like our population quadruples on a sunny day because everyone emerges from their hidey holes.

I’m ready to hit my hidey hole today (I have a video game and a crackling fire calling my name), but before I do that I will definitely be taking a bath. The cool thing about fall is that whether it’s rainy or snowy where you live, it’s definitely bath season. For those of you experiencing sunshine and warmth year round, I don’t know how to talk to you.  Sometimes I hate deciding between a bath bomb and a bubble bath, so on those days I turn to the cupcake bath bombs, which do both! Since I will be enjoying a cupcake bath bomb this afternoon, I thought it was a good day to discuss these little fizzy beauties, their many iterations, and why I love them so very hard.

Cupcake Bath Bombs

I’m pretty obsessed with food. Baked goods. Pretty little delights that smell and taste amazing. Two problems with this obsession: I don’t know how to bake, and if I ate every beautiful little pastry that I saw throughout my day I would die. It’s mostly the baking thing that’s the problem, though; you should see the awful creations I’ve made for my kids. I can make soap and soap related products, though, so this is where I really get to scratch my pretty food stuff itch.

sweetheart

Valentine’s Day Kits…two years ago?

When I first started making the cupcake bath bombs, they had a bath bomb bottom and a mostly decorative top. Sure it dissolved in water and softened the skin, but it was really just for looks.

Christmas of 2016??

Next I tried a whipped soap top. The whipped soap cleanses and floats, which is cool. It’s a bit tough to make and pipe, though, which made me drag my feet like you would not believe when it was time to restock. I still use the whipped soap now and then (check the basic bitch bath bomb post on Instagram), but I really wanted to do something other than soap for a bath bomb. Because I make a lot of soap.

So I started playing with bubble bath options as the whipped top. Those have gone through a few iterations as well, because piping something that hardens almost completely is a little tricky and took a lot of time to get the recipe right. After a bunch of tweaks, I am finally happy with the volume of bubbles and ease of piping.

Just kidding. I’m never happy.

 

cupcake bath bombs

We settled on six scent options for the 2018 line –  Raspberry Pie, Bamboo Grapefruit, Green Tea, Coconut Cream, Melon, and Sugared Lemon. I don’t think there’s a bad one in the bunch, although the raspberry and coconut have easily been the best sellers in the line.

If you haven’t tried a cupcake bath bomb recently, you’re in luck because I’m giving you one for free! If you have tried them this year and love them, you’re also in luck because you get a cupcake too. Use coupon code THECAKEISREAL to score a bath bomb on me.*

That’s it for me today, Sudsers! Have a great afternoon!

Happy Sudsing!

*Coupon code expires 9/22/2018

Sunday Soapcase: Beer Soaps!

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Benefits of Beer Soap.

Happy Sunday, Sudsers! How’s your weekend been? Mine has been filled with making soap. Obvs. But this weekend was a bit different as I am replenishing back-stock of all of our standard soaps to (hopefully) get through the rest of the year. Next week the holiday production will begin and be in full swing through the end of the year, so I won’t have time to make a quick batch of Hello Gorgeous if I notice we are running low in November. This weekend I made tub-loads of beer soaps, and I thought it was a good time to showcase the awesomeness that they are in a Sunday Soapcase!

Bad for your liver, great for your skin.

benefits of beer in soapI love beer. It smells nice, it’s refreshing on a hot summer day (or on a Sunday afternoon in September after your team got annihilated on the field). I’m not actually much of a beer drinker, though – I think my liver is still recovering from my university days when life was not complete without a daily hangover. I am fascinated with the production of beer; you can put some really off the wall stuff into it! For those of you that are local to the Tacoma area, I highly recommend stopping by The Station U-Brew in Puyallup and experiencing just how off the wall you can get with beer making. You can put chilies in beer, or lavender, or citrus fruits. Walnuts and wheat, hops grown in specialty soil – there is no end to beer making options. This is a lot like soap! You can put a lot of weird stuff in soap, too. Sometimes it turns out, sometimes it’s a bad idea. Beer in soap, however? A great idea. After testing a batch of beer soaps, I was hooked. I liked using beer as the liquid in my soap recipes so much that it can be found in several other soaps, including a men’s shave puck and a rustic beard wash.

Before we get too deep, no I don’t make Soap & Clay’s beer soaps smell like beer. While I do like the smell of beer, I don’t believe that most people want to go to work smelling like a dive bar. Instead, I draw from the ingredients used to create beer for my scent inspiration. Bright and crisp citrus beers, warm and creamy oatmeal stouts, spicy and earthy chilies – these ingredients smell delightful and make excellent base notes in a beer soap. Each of the soaps in the beer line, while made from beer, have delightful scents that will not leave you smelling like you just left the bar. Which is a good thing for that whole adulting business we have to do every day.black and tan beer soap

So what are the benefits of beer soap? Lots, as it turns out. As I mentioned earlier, beer is made from botanicals that are great for the skin (think citrus, oatmeal, etc.). But beer’s primary ingredients create a bar of soap that moisturizes, detoxifies, helps acne, and softens the skin.

Take, for example, hops. Hops are chock full of amino acids, which soften the skin and soothe inflammation. Amino acids are great for skin and hair alike, so if you’ve an inclination, try any of our beer soaps as a hair bar. You’ll like it, I promise. .

Beer soaps also have an amazing lather in their own right, but when paired with the clays that are used in each and every batch of soap created by Mrs. Soap & Clay, the lather becomes something extra special. Big and bubbly with an almost effervescent feel, the lather on a beer soap is something OG Sudsers and Noobs alike will appreciate.

In addition to the lather and softening, beer soaps work hard to detoxify the skin and help combat acne. The clay in the formulations further amplifies this detoxification. Basically beer+clay=awesome. Making beer soap can be a bit tricky and yields a thicker soap batter, though, which is why Mrs. Soap & Clay chose simple designs reminiscent of a pint of beer for this line.

beer in soapSo there you have it, Sudsers! Lots of cool beer stuff in one awesome soap. Be on the lookout in the next few weeks for a beer (and wine!) soap gift set – I’m waiting on Mr. Soap & Clay to finish up some soap dishes before putting them on the site but they will be there soon! In the meantime, check out the link for more information on these soaps and use the coupon code below for a special deal!

Have a favorite beer soap? Haven’t tried one yet? Either way, use coupon code BEERME for a bar of soap from the beer line on me.*

Happy Sudsing!

*Offer valid until September 14, 2018.

Sunday Soapcase – Mud Masks!

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Rub some dirt on it.

What’s up, Sudsers? Welcome back to the blog after a yearlong brief break! I have been working on getting in the flow of running a brick and mortar and keeping up with the website, and it’s been all too easy to blow off blog updates in favor of 9000 other things on the to-do list. But I’ve realized in doing this that my E-Sudsers (whom I love and adore) are missing out on loads of awesome information that gets passed on rather organically in the shop setting. And that’s not cool – I love breaking down all of the products, answering questions, and basically being a part of this soap thing in a capacity outside of making stuff and posting pictures about the stuff. I have methods to my madness, purpose in my products, and if I’m not telling you any of it, then what’s the point? So I decided to restart the blog! Which is what you’re reading. And today we are talking about a new creation that I am crazy addicted to – mud masks!mud masks

Mud Masks

MONSTERS!!!

So we are all familiar with mud masks. These are clay based masks that are applied to the skin, allowed to dry, and rinsed off to reveal brighter, tighter, smoother skin. They’re great to use during an evening of pampering, or as a skincare routine to keep your complexion balanced and toned. It’s also fun to chase your kiddos around the house playing monster after applying – the Soap & Clay kidlets have decided that the green monster is too scary and prefer the activated charcoal version.

I decided to make the hydrated version of the clay masks after some Sudsers told me that mixing a dry blend of clays and whatnot was a massive pain in the behind. Which I get. My initial hesitation (and the reason behind the dry version of masks) in making a hydrated mask was rooted in my desire to avoid preservatives. See, whenever you make something that contains water, you open the door to bacteria, yeast, or fungus. Nobody wants to open up their mud mask, or toner spritzer, or bottle of lotion and find nasties growing inside. The problem with preservatives is that many contain parabens or are formaldehyde donors, which means they release formaldehyde throughout their shelf life. Neither have been found to be intrinsically dangerous in the quantities found in skincare, but since one of the reasons I started this business was to have skin loving products free of unnecessary ingredients and potential skin irritants, I wanted to avoid this altogether. I’m proud of the fact that my product line is 100% paraben, phthalate and detergent free – adding something with a preservative felt like a huge asterisk on the products that I have carefully developed to remain pure and awesome.

So I avoided all products that require water to make (I mean, soap needs water but does not need a preservative, but that’s for another post), until I found Optiphen. The Optiphen family is a range of preservatives that are paraben and formaldehyde free. They are broad spectrum preservatives, meaning that they protect against bacteria, fungus, and yeast formation. My favorite in the Optiphen family is Optiphen Plus, which is a bit pricier than other preservatives that I could use. But that’s the name of this skincare game – easy is generally cheap and comes with consequences, while the right way tends to cost more but allows you to sleep at night. So I stocked up on OP, tested and tweaked, and finally settled on three mud masks that I love and adore and think you will too!

The Masks

While I’ve used and loved mud masks since I was a teenager, I always disliked the rather drying nature of clay masks. After removing them, my skin would be bright and glowing but also felt tight and itchy. Not cool. So I really wanted to include an element of moisture in my mud mask line. Which can be complicated; how does a mask dry if it contains oils? Luckily I figured that out, so you don’t have to!

Each of these masks have a moisturizing oil of some sort, as well as botanical extracts to increase the awesome. Cucumber extract, for example, is incredibly hydrating and soothing while green tea extract brightens and tightens. Just a little something extra to amplify the benefits of the clays used! The essential oils I selected for these masks provide scent but also brighten, calm, or soothe the skin.

 

A Note on pH and Clay Masks

Our skin typically maintains a pH between 4.5 and 5.5, a bit on the acidic side of the spectrum. Clays have a pH of around 7 – more neutral. So it stands to reason, then, that whenever you are applying a product with a pH different than that of your skin, an adjustment period occurs. This is the tingling that you may experience when using certain products. Your acid mantle is basically working hard to balance the skin’s pH while the product in question is doing its thing. Disrupting the acid mantle is a beneficial thing to do now and then, but should never be a daily occurrence. This is one of the reasons cosmetic companies instruct you to use products like masks or exfoliating materials no more than twice a week. Therefore, I’m going to tell you the same thing – a mask is great for the skin once a week. I wouldn’t apply a mask more frequently than that, though. And if you’re experiencing tingling on a daily basis from a product that does not contain a pharmaceutical grade ingredient (Retinol, hyaluronic acid, etc), then you should probably reconsider using that product.

Now that you know a bit about the method and creation of these mud masks, are you dying to try one? I really want you to check them out, so coupon code RUBSOMEDIRTONIT will get you a Mask Pack 3 Pack on me this week.* Add it to your order and let me know how you like it!

*Offer expires 9/8/18

Happy Sudsing!

Sunday Soap Case: ‘Tis the Season of Giving!

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Soap & Clay’s Soapiversary

grad femaleWhat’s up, Sudsers? It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me. I’ve taken a bit of Soap Case hiatus following the Tacoma Dome Gift Show. Following the show (which was awesome, btw), I had to scramble to restock my inventory as well as prep and move into our new house! It’s been a busy few weeks, and I do apologize for not checking in each week, but I think you’ll forgive me following this post.

So Soap & Clay celebrated its one year anniversary last week. And what a year it has been! We’ve launched the site, shipped some soap, done some shows, opened a brick and mortar, stepped into the wholesale world, been featured in subscription boxes, done some collaboration work, and bought a new house! I don’t know how my little family has survived the craziness, but somehow we’ve managed. But here’s the thing: I would not be on this wild ride if it weren’t for you. Without my Sudsers, I would not have done 90% of the things I listed above. As a small retail business, I obviously rely on my customers to keep my doors open and my website active, and I have the best customers on the planet! Because of this, and keeping with the season of giving, I am launching a pretty kickass promo that will run through Small Business Saturday. Ready to hear about it? Of course you are. Because you’re awesome.

I have some new gift sets for the holiday season, and they are unbelievably cool. I think they’re my best ones yet; brand new products, best selling products, thoughtful packaging; I pulled out all the stops for these ones. I’m so proud of them, in fact, that I’m giving them away to my Sudsers (all of whom I am proud to know). So here’s how it’s going to work: each day from now until Saturday, November 26th, I will release a new coupon code for that day’s gift set. The first ten customers to use the code will get the set for free! Here’s what you need to do:

  1. Get your cart ready. Any items that you’ve been needing to pick up, get ’em in your cart. This coupon code is only valid for the first ten orders each day, so it won’t be active long.
  2. Watch for the link. I will post the day’s coupon code on Instagram and Facebook each day with a link to the product. Add it to your cart, punch in the coupon code, check out.
  3. Wait patiently (or impatiently, if you’re anything like me) for your order to arrive. Inside your soapy order you will find the daily gift set that you paid exactly zero dollars for. Keep it for yourself, give it to one of your favorite people, display it proudly on your mantle as a trophy for your quick-clicking skills. Your call. But if you do the last suggestion, please post a pic to Instagram so I can join in on the fun.

And that’s it! Below are some teaser pics of some of the gift sets. Some are already on the site, others will be loaded later this week. For more information on any of the products included in the gift set, feel free to contact me! There are a few rules you need to know, though.

  1. This offer is only valid for website sales. I know, it sucks. My e-customers got my soapy business off of the ground and they deserve some soapy love. There will be an in-store event on Saturday, November 26th for Small Business Saturday for my local Sudsers.
  2. This offer will not stack with other deals. I know, it sucks. I couldn’t get the coupon code to play nice with the others that are floating around out there, so it is what it is. 100% off a gift set is a pretty great deal, though, so that’s something.
  3. You can not use the coupon code more than once. I want to be able to spread the soapy deals as far as possible, so just one freebie per order, please. Because sharing the love? Doesn’t suck.

thoughtful gift ideas unique gift ideas
pokebombsetspa box gift ideas for women thoughtful gift ideas

That’s all from me this week, Sudsers – get quick-clicking fingers ready and let the festivities begin! See you tomorrow!

Sunday Soap Case: We All Wear Masks…

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Masques & Masks – A Perfect Match!

Greetings, Sudsers! I hope your weekend has been productive. Mine has been decent – this was the final weekend before Tacoma’s Holiday Food and Gift Festival at the Tacoma Dome, so I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Except not really. I signed up for Victorian Country Christmas this weekend, so the light at the end of my tunnel is an oncoming train of more holiday show prep work. I don’t know why I do this to myself. This week on the Soap Case I will be introducing you to my October Maker of the Month, as well as providing a bit more information on a new Soap & Clay product!

RavenCraft – October Maker of the Month

October Maker of the MonthWe run into all types of people in life. Some we love, others we can do without. We have acquaintances, we have friends, BFFs, and even some frenemies. But every once in a while, you stumble upon people so incredible, so bright, so captivating that you pull them into your circle and never let them go. These people become your people; they change you at the cellular level. So it was with the RavenCraft Family.

I met Josh and Yvonne and their three awesome kids at The Fairyblossom Festival in Chehalis over the summer. And I immediately fell in love. The whole family is kind, optimistic, altruistic, intelligent, artistic with my kind of sense of humor. They’re delightful, and I enjoyed spending time with them at the event. We’ve since bumped into each other a few times since, and when I opened up Soap & Clay at Freighthouse Station, I knew that I needed them for my Maker of the Month table. Here’s why:

ravencraft maker of the month soap & clay at freighthouse station

ravencraft high quality masksAmazing, right? They are so unbelievably talented, I can’t even. Their masques are all handcrafted, every piece is unique, and the entire family contributes to the design process. Family businesses are the best businesses, in my opinion. I’ll have more from RavenCraft over the next few weeks, but in the meantime be sure to check out their facebook page, give them a like, and come try on their wares at the shop!

Mask + Scrub Combo: Activated Charcoal Face Mask

I know, I know. I did an activated charcoal post last week. My very sensitive skin gets super wacky as the weather gets cooler, so I find myself turning to the healing products more often than usual. This mask is my favorite go-to these days, and because of my super sensitive skin I was super particular when I developed it. Here’s what makes it great:

activated charcoal face mask

Plate o’ Awesomeness

  • Activated charcoal purges toxins and clears skin
  • Bentonite clay reduces redness and detoxifies
  • Grapeseed oil delivers EFAs and hydrates tired skin
  • Evening Primrose softens skin and minimizes fine lines
  • Orange Valencia EO brightens skin
  • Noni Fruit Powder exfoliates and delivers antioxidants

This mask is a dry delivery system with a twist. I infuse the activated charcoal, clay, and exfoliant with high quality botanicals and essential oils, making sure that everything is uniformly mixed, before packaging. But Mrs. Soap & Clay, why do you do this? So glad you asked! While activated charcoal and bentonite clay are wonderful on their own, I was more interested in creating a skincare system comparable to a treatment at a spa. Purging pores isn’t enough; your skin needs EFAs, antioxidants, and hydration too. So with this system your pores are purged, your skin is hydrated, your debris is removed, and your face is polished and glowing. The exfoliation bit is because I really love dual purpose products; this mask pulls toxins from the skin, tightens, and then sloughs away the remaining unwanted gunk. Pretty sweet, eh?

Why the dry delivery system? Well, adding the hydrosol before packaging is problematic for a number of reasons. First, a main focus of my crazy soapy vision is delivering undiluted and pure skincare products. Water, well, waters down these beautiful botanicals, yielding a less effective product. Also, if I add water, I have to add a preservative. This is something I also avoid in my products as preservatives can cause a host of skin problems. Finally, a dry delivery system allows you, the end user, to customize the mask to fit your skin’s needs. If you’re super dry, for example, you could use a lightweight oil as your hydrosol. Skin lacking in luster? Try rosewater! Perhaps you need to feel the burn of a chemical peel-esque mask – apple cider vinegar would be your go-to. Dry delivery makes this mask extremely versatile.

So there you have it, Sudsers – the process behind creating the activated charcoal masks, the reasoning behind October’s Maker of the Month (reason: because RavenCraft is awesome), and now I must bid you adieu.

activated charcoal face mask for aging and acneJust kidding. Coupon code for you to try your very own AC Mask+Scrub on me below.

Coupon code BLACKISTHENEWBLACK for a free AC Mask+Scrub. Offer expires October 23rd, 2016. Thanks!

Happy Sudsing!

Sunday Soap Case: Activate your Girl Game!

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In and Through the Looking Glass

It’s Sunday!* This week has been BUSY! With the Holiday Food and Gift Show at the Tacoma Dome looming over me (figuratively, yes, but also literally as I can see the Dome from my soap shop in Freighthouse Station), I’ve been scrambling to keep up with inventory, online orders and being the best damn mom on the planet** while putting the finishing touches on my new offerings for the event.

I have managed to take a break or two throughout the week and check out some of the new events and shops in Freighthouse, and wow do we have some amazing merchants here! Dan Parker’s crew delivered an excellent Lego event*** this weekend, a few new businesses are starting their build-out, and one delightful little shop quietly opened its unassuming doors.

*It’s not Sunday. I’m writing this on Wednesday, because I’m trying to stay ahead of the curve. I’m mostly failing at that.

**”Best” is a relative term. I’m pretty alright. Sometimes.

***As I’m writing this ahead of time, I don’t really know how excellent the event was. I’m assuming it was awesomely so, though. Because Dan is awesome, and Legos are awesome. Winning combination right there.

looking glass clothing boutique tacoma, waStep Through the Looking Glass

pinup clothing freighthousetrendy boutique tacoma waThe Looking Glass Boutique is, in a word, lovely. With a thoughtful selection of new and pre-loved clothing, the store is Modcloth meets Pinup Girl with a splash of ThredUp. Owner/operator/buyer Jennee Leavitt has had a love of clothing and fashion since she was old enough to dress herself, and her inventory shows that in spades. And I’m not just saying that because her shop looks like an extension of my personal closet. It really does, though. The shop is so perfect that you would find it hard to believe that the business is in its infancy. This is Month Two for Jennee and Looking Glass; she’s a go big or go home kinda gal. Which of course makes me love her. She has a great eye and – perhaps my favorite thing about her – is quick to tactfully let you know when an article of clothing is unflattering to your body shape. Which of course makes me love her even more. And her prices are super reasonable – I picked up two super cute dresses and a top for $50. Which of course makes me love her for life. She has made a wonderful addition to the Freighthouse shops and I look forward to seeing great things from her!

Looking Flawless in The Looking Glass

Playing dress up is fun. Feeling absolutely beautiful in your new dress is fun. Mirror twirling brought to a screeching halt because of a new pimple on your forehead? Not so fun. Face Paste can help! Made with activated charcoal, tea tree oil, and a recipe formulation that yields a highly moisturizing, glycerin-rich soap, Face Paste is great for all skin types but is especially beneficial for those dealing with acne, dry/combination/oily skin, and the sensitive skinned among us. Here’s why:

activated charcoal face care

World. Rocker.

Activated charcoal basically rocks my world. It acts as a magnet, pulling toxins, debris and other nastiness from pores. This leaves skin smooth, clear, and glowing. Tea tree oil also rocks my world. A natural anti-fungal and anti-viral oil, tea tree stabilizes skin’s pH, attacks acne bacteria, sweeps debris from pores, and promotes cell turnover. It does all of this without drying or irritating the skin. World Rocker.

So basically, Face Paste is a disc of awesome. It’s also fun to work with – this product has a built in timer of sorts that is determined by your skin’s needs. Here’s how it goes: Face Paste has a grey and creamy lather starting out, and as you continue to massage into the skin, the activated charcoal is working hard to purge pores and detoxify. Once it has done its job, the lather becomes white and bubbly. This could take anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, depending on how many toxins your skin is harboring. activated charcoal face bar

And in customary Soap Case fashion, I’m giving away these world rockers this week! Enter coupon code ALLABOUTTHATFACE for a bar of Face Paste on me. Code is valid on all orders through October 16th, 2016. That’s it for me this week – please oh please do two things for me: 1) send me some good luck to get through the next 10 days of insanity, and 2) check out The Looking Glass Boutique and show her social media some love! Thanks!

Happy Sudsing!

Sunday Soap Case: Lego Madness!

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City Blocks Brick-or-Treat and Soapy Lego Fun!

Hey there, Sudsers! How’s your weekend treating you? Pagan Pride has been in full swing this weekend at Freighthouse Station and it has been such a treat to mingle with the local holistic community as they explore our building. As the gods and goddesses collect their treasures and head off to their next adventure, Freighthouse begins preparations for our next amazing, stupendous, too-cool-to-be-allowed event.

How’s that for buildup? You won’t be disappointed.

City Blocks Brick or Treat

city blocks brick or treat lego

Image Courtesy of City Blocks

If you are local to the Tacoma area and haven’t heard of Dan Parker and his Lego artists at City Blocks, it’s likely that you’ve been living under a rock. This place is an institution and a veritable panoply of all things Lego. They have collector’s pieces from Lego’s inception, they have new builder kits (at crazy awesome prices, btw), they have mini-figs coming out of their ears. Sometimes literally. They’re a fun bunch. But what they also have that sets them apart from your run of the mill Lego store is a group of talented builders that create these incredible structures like it’s not the most complicated thing in the world to do. It is. I tried to connect with my inner child and build something with the Soap & Clay kidlet’s Legos and successfully created…nothing. I went back to Minecraft at that point. 

dan parker city blocks brick or treat lego

Image Courtesy of City Blocks

Dan Parker travels the world, constructing massive displays for museum events, grand openings, and the occasional children’s birthday party. He’s good at what he does. So good, in fact, that he rarely has an opportunity to coordinate an event specific to his shop in Tacoma (that just so happens to be in Freighthouse Station, where all the cool kids hang out). Lucky for us, he’s organized one for next weekend and it is guaranteed to impress both the young and young at heart.

brick-or-treat city blocks lego store

Image Courtesy of City Blocks

Brick-or-Treat will run October 7th-9th in Foss Hall at Freighthouse Station. City Blocks has teamed up with Pierce County Asylum (not an actual asylum, but probably more terrifying) for a weekend of physics-defying Lego builds, games, toys, Lego dealers, and even master instructors (namely, the one and only Dan Parker) on site to provide a few tips and tricks of the trade. So if you’re looking for something amazing to do next weekend, this is it.

Lego My Soap, You

legoNot to be outdone by Dan and his awesomeness (except that I am completely outdone by Dan and his awesomeness), I’ve got a super awesome Lego creation, too. Of the soap variety. Obvs. Lego My Soap, Yo has been a fun addition to the Soap & Clay Kids line and really showcases my Lego skills. Of which I have none, really. But the soap is great – tons of bubbles, super bright scents and colors, and moisturizing super cleansers go into these children’s glycerin soaps. The Soap & Clay Kidlets have a stack of these in the shower and at the sink and have declared them to be their absolute favorites. Today. They would like to see the soaps come with some mini-figs, however – perhaps Dan the Man and I can work out a deal to make that so. And because I love you so very much, you can get a set (a whole set!!!) for free this week with coupon code LEGOMYSOAPYO. Coupon code valid on all orders until October 9th.

That’s it for me today, Sudsers – have a great week!

Happy Sudsing!

Sunday Soap Case: Catch a Pokemon…in Your Tub.

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Greetings and salutations, Sudsers! Hope your weekend was extra-special-awesome, because I have an extra-special-awesome blog post to get you ready for the week ahead.

I’d like to think that my writing skills have the ability to do that. If you disagree, click here.

Anyway, we’re kicking off the Soap Case with a final look at Karter Designs before she leaves the Maker of the Month table. It has been awesome getting to talk to customers about Katy and her business this month. She has a great product line and a refreshing approach to business development, so it’s going to be tough to see her go. After Katy, we’ll finish up with some totes adorb bath bombs that I’ve added to the line. Ready?

Karter Designs

maker of the month

Image courtesy of Karter Designs.

Katy Haymore, owner/creator/designer/financier/CEO of Karter Designs (she wears a lot of hats), is a PNW mom of two young boy-children. So she’s busy. And probably spends more time cleaning than she’d like. She shared a story with me recently about her boys that made me giggle, so I’m going to share it with you. Because giggling is fun. If you disagree, click this link.

BOYS WILL BE BOYS

“Have you ever just looked at your kid and wondered, “How? Just how in the hell did you get into a mess like that?” Well I say that to myself pretty much every day. I am a #boymom through and through, with two littles who always keep me on my toes! My big kid is 2 ½ and let me tell you, the “terrible two’s” are no joke! Although I’ve heard it gets nothing but worse from where were at (#fml). And my 8 month old? He is so wild he literally makes monkeys in the zoo look like relatives. All day long he’s up, he’s crawling into different rooms, he’s climbing, and he’s into something every time I turn around. How do they have all that energy!??

karter designs

So yesterday my big kid asks for a snack and he chooses the little Nutella ready-to-go packs (whoever invented this is AMAZING, btw). Being an awesome mom that cares about balancing nutrition, I ask him to sit on the couch with his snack while I grab him a sippy cup of milk. When I return, he’s not there. Recap: I was gone maybe 10 seconds; just long enough to fill a sippy. I walk into his room, not there. I look in the bathroom, not there. I walk into my bedroom, and THERE. HE IS. Hands covered in Nutella. Face covered in Nutella. How is there this much Nutella in that little to-go pack??? And the piece de resistance? My pillow and comforter (my pillow, btw. Not dad’s), covered in Nutella. W.T.F.”

With rambunctious boys like that, I don’t know how she manages to crank out new designs at a record pace! But she does; she’s a machine. It has been such an honor to work with her this month and I look forward to more business adventures together in the very near future. And while she is leaving our maker table for now (sad face), her pieces are always available at her shop! Check it out!

If you decide to pick up a little something from Karter Designs, send me a screenshot of the confirmation and I will send YOU a coupon code for an additional 20% off of Soap & Clay’s site. Because double deals are cool. If you disagree, click here.

Poke-bombs FTW!

pokebombs bath bomb pokemon collectible insideSo I’m a little late to the party with this post. I actually started making these poke-bombs several months ago and have been selling them at booth events and at the shop in Freighthouse Station. I haven’t put them on the website, though, because I have had a hard time keeping them in stock.  I know, I know – I suck. If you disagree, click the link.

poke-bombs

There are hundreds of Pokemon; no two bombs are the same!

Anyway, Poke-bombs are pretty self explanatory. They’re bath bombs themed around six different Poke Balls from the Pokemon world. They are the same size as the old version of my Mondo Bath Bombs – smaller than the new and improved giant bath bombs but bigger than the kid’s bombs. Lots of fizzy bath time fun.

But wait, there’s more! Tucked inside each Poke-bomb is a collectible Pokemon character! Cool, yeah? I think I’ve finally finished the back orders for these bath bombs, but I still don’t have them on the site. Because I suck. See above. BUT…I have no problem giving them away as a thank you for putting up with my suckiness!

Enter POKEBOMBSFTW in the notes of your next order and I will send you a Poke-bomb on the house! Remember, put it in the order notes; this is not a coupon code. My super helpful web designer informed me that I can’t create a coupon code for something that doesn’t exist, so if I want to use codes I have to stop sucking and catch up with my site maintenance. Noted. I’ll work on it. Maybe.

Happy Sudsing!

Sunday Soap Case: Soaps and Gear for Football Fans.

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Football is HERE!!!

The chill in the air and the leaves on the ground can only mean one thing: football season has officially begun! Fall is the absolute best for a number of reasons, but football is definitely in the top five. This week’s Sunday Soap Case features items from a PNW local fan shop, as well as information on a Soap & Clay bar that’s perfect for men and women alike this season.

I’d like to preface this post with the following: this one hurt to type. As you may know, I’m a bit of a Broncos fan. As a Colorado native, I kinda have to be. Broncos 101 is a requirement before being admitted into kindergarten. Not really. But almost.

Anyway, as a Broncos fan living in the 12th Man’s backyard, football season is…interesting. I moved to Washington shortly after the Seahawks annihilated the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII and expected a not insignificant amount of ridicule from die hard Hawks fans. Surprisingly, I did not get much. Seahawks fans are actually a delightful bunch of people. Though football season in the PNW is not without a fair amount of teasing from the 12th Man, it’s all been in good fun and I appreciate that. So as a thank you for not keying my Broncos-stickered car, today’s post features a Seahawks fan shop located in Freighthouse Square.

Noble Trove

This shop has some of the most unique fan items I’ve ever seen. Sure, there are typical t-shirts, jerseys, and hats. But there are also handmade fingerless gloves, blingy adult tutus, and chainmail…bras? I don’t quite know what they are. But they look cool. Check out their facebook page and show them some love! Or better yet, if you’re out and about and looking for things to do in Tacoma, stop by Freighthouse Station and say hi in person!

nfl football fans need fingerless gloves. For your beer.

CUTE!! I ordered a pair in orange and blue.

things to do in Tacoma

A chainmail bikini, perhaps? Hope the wearer is a strong swimmer.

noble trove soap and clay freighthouse station freighthouse square

Stylish way to rep your team at the gym!

 

Karter Designs does Football too!!

karter designs custom orderKarter Designs is basically great at everything she does. I enjoy checking out all of her creations (that she produces at a dizzying rate) on Instagram and Facebook. When I saw this one on my feed the other day, however, I did the world’s geekiest coolest happy dance. Because, BRONCOS!!!

So it turns out, my Maker of the Month not only makes some amazing signs, she just so happens to LOVE custom orders to meet all of your drinkware needs. Like this one. If you haven’t followed her yet, please do so. And pick up a Broncos mug. Because they’re awesome. She’ll probably make you a Seahawks one too, if you’re into that sort of thing. I believe she charges double for Raiders gear, though.

Triple, probably.

A Soap & Clay Bar for Football Fans

best soap shop in tacomaIt’s not exactly for football fans. It’s for fans of all things awesome (if you consider being clean awesome, which of course you do). But it does (accidentally) have a color scheme that looks an awful lot like Seattle’s (and I still totally see a Seahawk in the design). It’s a spearmint and eucalyptus blend with a bubbly champagne kick and a jojoba bead exfoliant. It’s called The Bro Code, and it’s loved by men and women alike.

This bar was my first attempt at what is called a butterfly swirl, and as it so often happens in the world of soapmaking, it morphed into a pretty unique creation that doesn’t exactly resemble my original vision. Which is good, really, as the Bro Code is a men’s bar, and I don’t know a lot of guy that are terribly into butterflies.

Unless you’re this guy.

Bro CodeI would go into further detail about the production process and what goes into making The Bro Code, but football is on and I’m only partially paying attention (free bar goes to the first person to email me with a list of spelling errors I need to correct) to what I type. So I’m going to be lame and just leave you with a coupon code for a free bar. Which isn’t really lame, I guess. Because, FREE!!!

Not exactly free. Because you have to read. But reading is the coolest, so you’re still winning.

Anyway, enter coupon code FOOTBALLISLIFE for a bar of The Bro Code on me! Code is valid through Sunday, September 18th 2016. Cheers to a great season!

Sunday Soap Case: Maker of the Month

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Makers Gonna Make

whipped sugar soap minisIt’s Sunday, and time for another edition of Sunday Soap Case. This week is a bit different, though. Let’s call it special. A super special spotlight. Involving Soap & Clay (obvs), news from Freighthouse Station (obvs), and a brand new program we’ve rolled out this month: Maker of the Month!

What is a maker?

Chances are, you’re a maker. If you’ve ever made a cake for a kidlet’s birthday instead of ordering from the grocery store, you’re a maker. Spent countless hours designing, measuring, and sewing a Halloween costume instead of heading down to the costume shop? Maker. Painted a sign, reupholstered a chair, refinished a dresser: maker. The maker spirit is alive in most all of us; the excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes from making something out of nothing is a better high than any drug in existence.

The Maker Movement

Some of us crazy people take it a step farther. We don’t want to make a sign; we want to make all the signs. We aren’t content with a batch of basic soap that will keep our family clean for a year; we want to try every soap technique and experiment with every possible oil combination. We aren’t satisfied with the perfectly designed quilt on our guest bed; we want to work with every damn piece of fabric that has ever been wrapped around a bolt. For some of us, making is not a hobby, it’s a full-on obsession.

So we start businesses. We’ve worked our booties off designing and formulating, building an inventory and setting up our shops because we believe that we have something special, unique, and useful that will provide value to others. We promote our business, harass our friends and family to do the same, stay active on our social media pages, spend countless hours continuing to develop our craft and research new and better ways to create our masterpieces. We eat, breathe, and dream our craft. We work hard.

The one thing I don’t see enough of in the maker world, however, is promoting, championing, and helping other makers. We’re so hyper focused on achieving our goals that we race right past another maker trying to achieve theirs. And as the absolute hardest thing to do when building a start-up is reach a larger audience, it’s just silly that we don’t focus more on cross promoting. So when I opened Soap & Clay’s storefront, I never saw it as just a place to showcase all my brightly colored wares. I wanted to be able to provide a space for the talented makers I’ve met along the way (of which I’ve met hundreds; I collect talented people much like other women collect shoes) to display their items, perhaps reaching a larger audience in the process.

Enter Maker of the Month

maker of the month

Sign: Mama’s Chalk Shop
Inventory: Karter Designs

I’ve set aside a space in my shop for this purpose. Each month, a new, talented, and all-around awesome maker will be showcased. My criteria for Maker of the Month are as follows:

-a kickass personality 
-a unique and fresh perspective within their craft 
-superior products, stellar customer service, and reasonable prices 
-a focus on growing their business, a passion for their craft, and boatloads of positivity
So really, the makers showcased aren’t just any makers – they are extraordinary human beings with extraordinary talents!
maker of the month

Image courtesy of Karter Designs.

Karter Designs

maker of the month at soap & clay freighthouse

Image courtesy of Karter Designs.

Kicking off the Maker of the Month is Katy Haymore of Karter Designs. Katy is a hard working, fast moving, mover and maker mom of two boy-children. Her down to earth personality, love of her family, and smart ass sense of humor really comes through in her products. Which are great, by the way. Karter Designs specializes in painted wood signs and drinkware and has something for every occasion. Need something custom? She’s got you covered. How about something to commemorate your child’s birth story? She’s got that covered, too.

karter designs

Image courtesy of Karter Designs.

Karter Designs can be found on Instagram and Facebook, as well as at her website. Go give her a like!
Seriously on the like thing, though. Normally I showcase a product in my line each Sunday and offer a coupon code for my faithful readers that manage to make it through to the end. I’m still doing a coupon code this week, but it’s not going to be for a specific item from my shop.
Coupon code LOVEMESOMEKD gets you $10 off your order this week, but here’s what you need to do to use the code.
Go to one (or all!) of Karter Designs’ pages. Like or follow (or both!). If you’re in the market for/fall in love with something, buy it! Interact with Karter Designs in some way and then come back here to get $10 off of your order. If you found your way to Soap Case today through Karter Designs, do the same for me. I appreciate likes too!
How will I know if you’ve done this? I won’t. This is the honor system, people – we’re all awesome grown-ups that care about our fellow human and find joy in helping others succeed. I trust you and stuff. That’s it from me this week – catch you on the…soapy side…?

Happy Sudsing!

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Soap and Clay, Inc.
2712 6th Ave
Tacoma, WA 98406

206-549-2885