I'd like to introduce everyone to my friend Dianne. I know you'll recognize her from pictures I've posted of her at
The Hitching Post.
Dianne is the smiling woman behind the fudge counter. I guess I have her to blame for my fudge addiction! Whenever I'm at the lake I always make a special trip to Aurora so I can visit with the girls at The Hitching Post and stock up on fudge, soda pop and coffee.
The store is usually bustling with activity, so I stand around and wait for a break in the action so Dianne and I can chatter away like 2 magpies on a fence. We always have so much to talk about.
And we're always laughing hysterically at something....
Last spring I happened to run into their bathroom, which is about the cutest, most country looking bathroom you'll ever see. Sitting on the sink was a soap dish and when I washed my hands I couldn't help but linger over the soap - it was so smooth and silky, and it had such a heavenly scent. I walked back out by Dianne and asked her what kind of soap they had in the bathroom. She just smiled from ear to ear and shyly admitted that she had made that soap herself.
Once we started talking about it, I found out that she makes a variety of soaps and sells them at the store. Let me show you a couple of my favorites. Aren't the colors wonderful?
The apple moonshine smells like heaven! I almost want to eat it.
The citrus blend is my favorite one to use in the shower and it has nice scrubbing ingredients on the end. So nice for my dry skin....
I asked Dianne if she'd like to do an interview about her soap making process and share her passion with us and she happily agreed. So please keep reading:
How did you get started making
soap?
A few years ago I met a young
lady who made her own soap, I quickly became a customer. I loved the soap so
much that I decided to research the
process of soap making. After many hours of reading books, blogs, online
material and watching endless hours of YouTube videos
I decided to give it a go. I then started to acquire the necessary safety
equipment, supplies and tools of the trade.
How often do you make it?
At present time, because of my
full time seasonal job, I'm making soap about once a month. However, when I was
building my inventory a few months back, I
was making soap a couple of times a week. I enjoy it so much that I'd love to
make it weekly, maybe one day I'll have the clientele
to allow me to do so.
What types of oils do you
use?
I use a variety of oils and
butters, which is what attracted me to the process. The combinations seem
endless but here's some of what I have used.
Olive Oil-A great base oil,
wonderful for use in a mild or baby soap.
Coconut Oil-Makes soap lather
beautifully, even in hard water.
Castor Oil-Used to attract and
hold moisture in the skin.
Palm Oil-Makes for a great hard
bar of soap (long lasting) and has great cleansing properties.
Lard-Makes a nice lathery, white
bar.
Safflower Oil-Wonderful
moisturizing properties.
Cocoa Butter-Excellent skin
softener, holds moisture to the skin.
Shea Butter-Nourishing to the
skin.
There are many more, but I think
you're getting the idea of the endless possibilities.
What is it about the soap making
process that initially appealed to you?
Great question Kim. I didn't
take anything more than a basic chemistry class in school, however, chemistry is
a big part of making soap. It's so cool that you can
take both hard and soft oils (using proper amounts and temperature) and your lye
mixture (also using proper amounts and temperature) and create a bar of soap
that you can scent or color any way you want. You can create one that is
gentle enough for babies, one that will help relieve itchy dry skin, one that
will help with oily acne prone skin, one that will clean those
hands after a day in the garden or working on the car. And you know what is in
the product that you are using and that it'll be kind to
your skin.
What’s your favorite part of the
process?
The moment that your soap
reaches "trace." That's when the soap mixture reaches a thin pudding-like stage
and you know that everything has come together and
you're on your way to another great bar of soap. For those who like to can,
here's a comparison for you. The clink, clink, you
hear when the lids on your jars have sealed....that very same feeling.
How many different scents or
varieties are you currently making?
I have made just shy of 30
different soaps, using about a dozen different recipe combinations. Some are
naturally scented, some are scented with Essential oils
others with Fragrance oils. I also make soap using Aloe Vera, Goat milk, Coconut
milk and will continue to explore even more
ingredients.
What’s your favorite bar for
personal use?
Honestly, I thought I'd have
"favorites", however I have found that whichever bar I am currently showering
with is my favorite! I know, I know that sounds a bit arrogant. Please believe
me when I say I do not mean it that way. I give all the glory to the ingredients
that are used. There are no harsh chemicals and no drying detergents. So it
makes sense that they would all make you feel great. I have a friend who loves the Goats Milk soap
for shaving her legs. I have a relative who's favorite is the Sandal Wood, she
loves the scent. And another customer who's Son enjoys my Pine Tar soap. I never
imagined that I'd make so many different soaps when I first started. I thought
I'd keep it simple. Well that didn't exactly happen, too many wonderful oils,
butters, natural additives and fragrances calling out to be experimented with!
I also sell at The Hodge Podge
Gifts & More in Benton, KY.
How long have you worked at The old Hitching Post?
I have been working for Miss Su for 6 years now. The store is a historical site with customers from not only our United States but from other countries such as Seoul Korea, Australia, Germany, The United Kingdom.....it makes for some very interesting conversations. I have met some very nice people and have come to find out how very much the same we all are.
How can people contact you if
they want to direct purchase some of your soaps?
You can currently email me at free2stargaze@hotmail.com and I will be happy to send
you photos and prices. I am currently researching website possibilities, but for
now this is working for me.
Do you make anything else
besides soap?
Yes I do Kim, I knit, Can, and
make blankets using a technique called Swedish Weaving......but I won't get
started on that right now :)
What’s your favorite thing about
living in Kentucky?
The beautiful scenery and the
laid back atmosphere. Of course we can find beauty wherever we call home.
EXTRA EXTRA!!! For a limited time Dianne is offering a special especially for my readers.
If any of you would like to receive a free sample of her handmade soap, please
email her at free2stargaze@hotmail.com and leave her your
mailing address. Dianne said she would love for you to feel it for yourself. There are no
colorants or fragrance in the one she will be sending out. Thank you Dianne for your generous offer - I know anyone who tries your soaps will love them as much as I do.
Many thanks to Dianne for coming by and sharing her love of soap making. It's a fascinating process and she's so enthusiastic about it. With the holidays looming on the horizon, keep her in mind when you're looking for a special gift for someone on your list. And Dianne, I'll see you the next time I'm down at the lake!
Hey everyone, don't forget about my Nocciolatta give-away. Hit the link here to go leave a comment on the original post so you can be entered! Do not miss out on this great opportunity.
