TheBayBelle

What began as a solo hobby in 2008 has evolved into a luscious smelling studio production partnership. Our small business is evolving and growing!

Sophia - The first time I walked into a trendy Oakland boutique with a dazzling display of handmade fragrant soap I was enchanted. I bought a dozen different bars and I loved using every one of them.

I immediately went to the library to learn how to make my own. I've always loved creating, especially if what I create has a practical function and I enjoy using it. As a kid I was always making books and artwork and trying to sell them to my family and friends. Everyone loved when I laminated four leaf clovers from a "mutant patch" in our lawn when I was in the 4th grade. I love sharing things that make people smile!

After several books I decided to make soap from scratch using my own choice of ingredients. I was nervous about working with lye but I couldn't get the idea of making soap off my mind. I had so many ideas and goals. I was constantly talking to friends about soap and cutting off slices of the boutique soap to share with them.

Black Rock City 2008. My Portland friend tells me he's made tons of soap and would send me links to resources he'd used. He said I would love making soap. It was his encouragement that gave me the final nudge to go for it and overcome my fear of lye.

A couple days after returning home I quit my second job, made a trip to a thrift shop and magically found nearly every piece of equipment I would need, bought some simple oils, and I. made. soap. And then I made some more. And more. I was hooked.

On the first friday of October, 2010, despite a fire consuming most of the house I had been living in, I accomplished one of my goals. I created enough fine soap to set up a table at the Oakland Art Murmur. Making soap fulfills themes of creativity, connecting to others, and enterprise that I've played out over and over my whole life. There's something deeply rewarding about watching people's eyes light up when they're holding a bar of our soap up to their nose.