The 16th HSCG conference is over; we’ve packed our crates, boxes, and bags and traveled back home, but the sights and smells of the Soapers’ Showcase linger on. Every year, we hold a contest known as Soapers’ Showcase. Conference attendees are invited to enter up to 3 soaps in various categories. Attendees vote on their favorites, with winners and a special ‘Best in Show’ awarded at the final evening’s award dinner.
This year, we had 175 entries from soapmakers in 12 countries. Attendees sniffed, sniffed, and sniffed some more (and then realized they had finally exited the ‘best scent’ category and tried not to sniff any more soaps). It was a fierce battle to see which soaps would reign victorious.
Win or lose, at the end of the day, showcase entrants donated their creations to local charity Women’s Center of Wake County. Along with the Soapers’ Showcase entries, conference attendees brought soaps to donate. At conference end, we donated over 400 pounds of soap to the Women’s Center! Next year, we’re aiming to donate 500 pounds of soap and toiletries. With your enthusiastic early registrations for the 2014 conference at the lovely Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, we’re sure to blow that goal out of the water!
Without futher ado, here are this year’s winners:
Best Appearance, Melt and Pour: Pam Leis of by the SEA soap
Best Appearance, Cold Process/Hot Process: Joan Broughton of Joan’s Garden
Best Scent, Melt and Pour: Michelle Harps of Summer Kitchen Soaps
Best Scent, Cold Process/Hot Process: Cindy Heinemann of Misty Mountain Soap Co.
Best Packaging: Yuli Guo of Yulimade
Something Different: Misty Fields of Masterpiece Bath & Candle
And finally, the category you were all waiting for, our Best in Show. Drumroll, please…..
Our 2013 Best of Show: Joan Broughton of Joan’s Garden
Thank you to all of our fabulous entries and judges. We hear a few of you are already preparing for next year’s competition in Tucson (hint: it’s never too early).
Did you pick any of the winners? (Or are you busy plotting your winning entry for 2014?)
3 Comments on “2013 Winners Circle”
Wow! They are ALL awesome!
and Joan Broughton of Joan’s Garden ROCKS!!!! One day I hope to be able to make a soap that looks like that….WOW!
I was in awe of all the soap in the competition this year. I don’t think I’ve seen so many entries in the years that I’ve been attending the conference!! Congratulations to the winners! And congratulations to ALL those who submitted their soap – you are ALL winners!
Those entries are sensational– Congrats to all!!