Marie Gale is not only HSMG’s awesome President but an author of a very helpful book and we will have her here for you at the next Forum Experts Panel. The master of multitasking, Marie has cleared her schedule for Tuesday, March 24th from 10 am – 2 pm pacific time to discuss your questions regarding her book subject of soap and … Read More
Virtual Soap Symposium!
Soap Artisan Friends of Etsy (SAFE) Team is a group of soapmaker and bath and body makers committed to the very best manufacturing practices. However, even the “old pros” have a hard time wading through FDA labeling regulations. The SAFE Team has invited the expert to Etsy’s first-ever Virtual Soap Symposium. Our very own, Marie Gale, will kick off this … Read More
Volunteer Spotlight: Goddess Blends
A Canadian member, Betty Jane Ware is an herbalist, soapmaker, and owner of Goddess Blends. Starting with melt and pour, then on to find Hot Process, she has been making soap for a number of years. Her journey into soapmaking began from a rather different perspective than most of us: she is a practicing witch. One of the things a … Read More
A Top 10 Resort Spa in North America & Caribbean
As you may know, The Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild is celebrating our 12th Annual Conference in Palm Springs, California on May 12 – 14, 2009! It will be at the extraordinary and beautiful destination, Miramonte Resort and Spa . Here are more details about the Miramonte to help you get even more excited.
Retail and E-Commerce Sales UP in January
The Department of Commerce recently released the January sales figures and reported that retail sales were up 1.1%. Also reporting for January was comScore, which reports E-Commerce statistics, who that online sales grew 2% in January. These are the first monthly increases in 6 months – despite dire predictions of lowered sales because of economic woes. comScore did state that … Read More
Member Spotlight: Simmons Natural Bodycare
Simmons Soap Shop Part of the 60’s back-to-the-land movement, Dottie Simmons simmonsnaturals.com relocated to rural Northern California due to allergy/sensitivity problems aggravated by the San Francisco Bay Area atmosphere. In 1968, she started “homesteading”, raising goats, poultry, other livestock, and gardening. Here she met her husband, Dennis, raised three children and, in 1977, they purchased their own property. In 1979, … Read More
More CPSIA – Toys in Soap
If you make soap for children with embedded toys, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) may apply to your products. If the toy is intended for use by the child after the soap is used, then the toy would fall under the CPSIA regulations. At this point, implementation of the regulations is still being worked out and there are … Read More
The HSMG Soapmaking Journal
…for Non-Members and Soapmaking Teachers The HSMG mission: To promote the handcrafted soap industry To act as a center of communication among soapmakers To circulate information beneficial to soapmakers Interested in a free Journal full of great information on soapmaking and then some? Vendor discounts, passionate stories and great ideas are included in our Journal. Believe me, a lot is … Read More
Children’s Products – CPSIA
For those who don’t know, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is a bill that was designed to protect children from unsafe products. It was passed into law last year, effective February 10, 2009. Amongst other things, it required testing on all products to be sold to children. It has received a great deal of attention and outrage and … Read More
Soapmaking – Making a Difference
Melinda Coss, soapmaker and teacher from France (www.makesoap.biz) has been involved in a project teaching soapmaking in South Africa. I just had to share this video! Marie Gale, President, HSMG