Cold Process Soap Making Class; Memorable & Clean Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day weekend for most people means barbeques, outdoor parties and parades. But for seven students who came from all parts of Massachusetts - including Nantucket - it meant learning how to make cold process soap.

After introducing themselves and their aspirations for wanting to learn to make soap (for some a new hobby, for others a new business), we discussed the nitty gritty of precautions and procedures. This particular class was full of questions, which kept me on my toes!

We discussed soap making for the first hour, then spent the next three hours making soap. Students measured oils, water and lye. Then they combined lye and water, then melted the oils (we used palm oil, coconut oil and olive oil). When the temperatures were just right, we slowly poured the lye/water solution into the oils and made two 13 lb. batches of lemongrass essential oil/ground oatmeal and Bulgarian lavender essential oil soap.

Soap was divided among the new soapmakers and everyone took home two molds which held at least five bars. After 24 hours students sliced up their soaps at home and put them in a safe spot to cure. Now comes the hardest part - waiting 4-6 weeks for a complete cure!

Want to learn how to make soap? Join me for the next Cold Process Soap Making Class on June 27. Or take Advanced Cold Process Soap Making on June 13. Or check out all my classes here.
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Record Number of Entrepreneurs Signing Up for Private Soap Making Classes & Consulting

Despite the economy, I've had a record number of entrepreneurs signing up for private soap making classes and consulting. Their stories range from finding their passion to supplementing their current income. The top two segments to date have been: nurses looking to sell to colleagues and create a small, part-time businesses; and goat farmers interested in starting their own goats milk soap companies.

This reflects the growing trend to think and act locally - one of the results of the economic situation in the U.S. It isn't a bad side effect. It's interesting how it is coaxing us back to our roots to emulate generations before us.

This trend prompts me to predict that this year is going to be a strong year for local farmer's markets. As long as farmer's can keep their produce and products reasonably competitive with store brands, they should have a stellar season.

If you are interested in learning to make soap from scratch in a group environment, sign up for the April 18 cold process soap making class. Or, if you are ready to take an exciting step to launching your bath and body business, email me for more information on private classes and consulting. There are several programs to choose from, and I will tailor it to fit your needs. If you live out of state you can arrange for a teleclass.

Workshops are held in my Duxbury, Massachusetts studio. Back Porch Soap Company is located just 30 minutes south of Boston.

Visiting from out of state? I will gladly assist you with travel plans, including accommodations and local areas of interest. With Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation only 20 minutes away, this is a perfect family destination!

Do you or your group want to learn how to make soap, bath and body products or how to launch your own bath and body business? I am currently booking into June 2009. Available for travel in U.S., Canada, Carribean and Europe. Minimum 10 students.
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Local Vendor Day at Whole Foods, Hingham, Massachusetts This Saturday!

Join Back Porch Soap Company as we celebrate another Local Vendor Day with Whole Foods on Saturday, March 28th! Whole Foods carries our organic soaps, organic shea butters and all-natural gift sets.

We'll be handing out organic soap goodies and samples of our moisturizing 100% organic shea butter in the Hingham, Massachusetts store.

Our celebration takes place on Taste Local Day, which celebrates local vendors throughout Massachusetts. There will be free goodies from us from noon-3 p.m., so get there early, as the freebies go quickly.

Come meet me, Marla Bosworth, founder and owner of Back Porch Soap Co. I'm in my 12th year of making soap and bath and body products on the South Shore of Boston. Looking to become an entrepreneur? Come visit with me and I'll share tips on how you can build your dream into a business.

In addition to trying some terrific, wholesome products, I'll be handing out information on my soap making classes in Boston and around New England as well as online. Email me at marla@backporchsoap.com for more information.

Hope to see you there!

New! Cold Process Soap Making Class Added For April 18. Register Now!

Want to learn how to make soap from scratch? Curious about the cold process process? Then this is the perfect class for you!

You will learn safety guidelines and reach a level of comfort so that you can finally make soap by hand at home! We'll discuss how to properly use and store lye, mixing lye and water, oils for soap making, fragrance oils, essential oils, superfatting, additives and exfoliants, coloring, molding and curing. Students will receive soap recipes and a list of my favorite places to buy soap making supplies and equipment.

We will make two batches of soap as a class. Each student will take home 10 handmade bars of soap.

Saturday, April 18: 9 a.m.- noon

Course: $65 + $20 materials fee

Class is held in my Duxbury, Massachusetts studio.
Back Porch Soap Company is located just 30 minutes south of Boston.

Students must prepay to register. Sign up now!

Check out my other classes while you're there. Can't make it to this class? Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter.

Travelling from out of state? Simply email me at marla@backporchsoap.com and I will gladly assist you with travel plans, including accommodations and local areas of interest. With Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation only 20 minutes away, this is a perfect family destination!

Do you or your group want to learn how to make soap, bath and body products and how to launch your own bath and body business? I am currently booking into June 2009. Available for travel in U.S., Canada, Carribean and Europe.

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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

All-Day Soap Making Bootcamp on March 21; Meet New Friends & Aspiring Soapmakers!

Our monthly, full-day soap making class has been a huge hit the past two years, and March is no exception! Join me for a day of making beautiful, glycerin soaps.

This month, soap making bootcamp is Saturday, March 21 from 9-4 in my Duxbury, Massachusetts studio. We are located 30 minutes south of Boston.

Class is completely hands-on; students will learn how to measure their own batches, color, scent and pour the soap into molds.

(The photo on the top is of Sandy and her top three favorite soaps from February Bootcamp. She is from Harvard Business School and ranks at the top as one of my favorite students: fearless, creative, and fun! Here she is showing her ocean sea glass embedded soap, two-layer creamsicle soap, and orange starfish with coconut soap!)

Go at your own pace, I'll be there to assist you throughout the day. We'll learn the basics: adding various exfoliants, herbs, herbal and oil fusions, superfatting with shea butter and other moisturizing oils.

(These are just some of the additives you'll use in class!)

Then we'll move on to techniques, including embedding, swirling, layering, simultaneous double-pours, and other special effects.

Some students take this class with a friend, and then swap creations at the end of the day. This soap making class is completely hands-on, which means you won't be standing around watching an instructor for the day. You'll have your own workstation. (See picture on left.)

This is the perfect class to jump in and learn everything you wanted to know about soap making in one day. It is also a great class to take if you are making wedding favors or stocking up on gifts to give.

A bit about your instructor for the day. My name is Marla Bosworth, and I'm the founder and owner of Back Porch Soap Company. I've been making soaps and teaching soapmaking for 12 years. My wholesale clients include Whole Foods and upscale boutiques around the world. I teach classes because I love sharing my passion for soap making.

Price for the full-day class is $325. Lunch is included in the fee, as are all supplies. Plan to make approximately 10 individual batches and take home around 50 bars (which retail at $6.00 each).

(The photo to the right isn't lunch, it's some of the early morning pastries that I pick up for you from world famous French Memories of Duxbury.)

Students must prepay to register. Sign up now! Check out my other classes while you're there.

Can't make it to this class? Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter.

Travelling from out of state? Simply email me at marla@backporchsoap.com and I will gladly assist you with travel plans, including accommodations and local areas of interest. With Plymouth Rock and Plimoth Plantation only 20 minutes away, this is a perfect family destination!
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Ideal for those looking for Maine Soap Making Classes, New Hampshire Soap Making Classes, Vermont Soap Making Classes, Rhode Island Soap Making Classes, Connecticut Soap Making Classes, New York Soap Making Classes, New York City Soap Making Classes

Join Us for Our Two-Year Anniversary Celebration with Whole Foods!

Join Back Porch Soap Company as we celebrate another fabulous year with Whole Foods on Saturday, February 28th! Whole Foods carries our organic soaps, organic shea butters and all-natural gift sets.

We'll be handing out organic soap goodies and samples of our moisturizing 100% organic shea butter in the Hingham, Massachusetts store.

Our celebration takes place on Taste Local Day, which celebrates local vendors throughout Massachusetts. There will be free goodies from us from noon-3 p.m., so get there early, as the freebies go quickly.

Come meet me, Marla Bosworth, founder and owner of Back Porch Soap Co. I'm in my 12th year of making soap and bath and body products on the South Shore of Boston. Looking to become an entrepreneur? Come visit with me and I'll share tips on how you can build your dream into a business.

In addition to trying some terrific, wholesome products, I'll be handing out information on my soap making classes in Boston and around New England as well as online. Email me at marla@backporchsoap.com for more information.

Hope to see you there!

A Crafty Gift: Boston Soapmaking Classes, Gift Certificates and More

Haven't finished your holiday shopping yet? Or have you resigned to the fact that this year your gift may be a little late? And what about those December and January birthdays?

How about sending a gift certificate for great sea-inspired bath and body products, fun kids toy soaps, organic bodycare, or soapmaking and business classes!



Short on time and need a gift sent directly to a friend or family member? We'll tie it up all pretty and include a personalized note from you - all for free!

Hurry! Visit Back Porch Soap's website now to get it that special gift on its way!

Also, check out our upcoming Boston soap making classes:
January 11, 2009
Totally Green Organic Bodycare

January 17, 2009
Soapmaking Bootcamp

January 24, 2009
Glycerin Soapmaking

Or join in a class from the comfort of your own home.
Teleseminar Class:
January 11, 2009
Launching Your Dream Business Bootcamp

Why Would a Bath & Body Company Teach Soapmaking Classes? Good Question!

One of my followers on Twitter asked me a great question yesterday. She wanted to know why I teach soapmaking classes when my primary business at Back Porch Soap Company is making bath and body products. It made me pause and think about my reply.

I'll digress for a bit for those of you who don't know much about Twitter. Twitter is a social marketing site with a bit of a twist: you can only post 140 characters at one time. This makes communicating challenging at times. So responding to my follower's question in only 140 characters made me think of a condensed response. But there was so much more I wanted to say!

So here are my thoughts on teaching soapmaking classes and what it does for everyone involved: my students, me and my business.

First, teaching soapmaking and entrepreneurial classes gives me the chance to work one-on-one with great students. Just as soapmaking is therapeutic for me on days when I'm cranking out hundreds of bars, it is also therapeutic for my students in more ways than one. They leave proud, with a smile on their face, having been creative for the day and with bars of soap in tow.

Second, it builds my brand. Sure, I help my students make their own soap and their creations are a result of their masterminds. That is why it results in great marketing. Most of the soaps that leave my class become gifts. And with those gifts come bragging rights. "I made that soap," will inevitably come proudly out of the giver's mouth. "You did? Where?" will most surely be the response from the recipient. Are you getting the picture? Even if gift recipient doesn't take a soapmaking class, they will probably at the very least peruse my website and very possibly become my NEXT best customer!

Lastly, it's true what is said about teaching. Sometimes the teacher can learn more than the students. Even though I consider myself to be an expert soapmaker, I enjoy seeing soapmaking through someone else's eyes. I don't have classes to "steal" my student's ideas. Far from it. Instead, watching fearless students mixing fragrances I would never consider makes me realize over and over again how important it is to experiment and not get too comfortable in the way we are doing, making, and selling.

So thank you, Twitter friend, for asking me why I teach soapmaking.

If you're in New England sign up for one of Back Porch Soap Company's Soapmaking, Natural Skincare, and Entrepreneur classes held in the Boston, Massachusetts area.