Okay, maybe my dog didn't actually tell me to start making vegan soaps, but I know that he and our other pets are grateful for the effort made to keep animal products out of our line of handcrafted soaps.

Born in early August, on a sultry day that had my mother up to her elbows in cooking for a threshing crew (Google it) at our farm, I've lived in the rolling hills of Wisconsin all my life - with a brief hiatus that involved Bolivia and then Arizona.

My grandma, a woman who always brought us bananas and home-sewn doll clothes, also used to make soaps at home, but things have come a long way in the decades since. I think she made soap bars for laundry use exclusively. They were simply utilitarian in a time when things were pretty tough financially. I wanted to make soaps too, but ones that smell wonderful and make our skin feel soft and silky, rather than dry and irritated.

Our family has allergies, all the way from food allergies to environmental allergies. I'm accustomed to looking at the ingredient list when I purchase anything. I wanted the soaps I made to have as few ingredients as possible and still provide the customer with a luxurious, natural bar of soap they'll love.

One day a friend held a soapmaking class for five of us. That was all it took. I was totally hooked. I've been trying and adjusting and creating recipes ever since, and love sharing the best final product with you.