"A Day in the Life" with Marlene

        

We are beginning a new segment here called “A Day in the Life” where I will be featuring a shop owner that I’m sure you will enjoy visiting.  So grab your cup-o-joe, get comfy and let’s take a journey to:

"A Day in the Life with Marlene, owner of 

Country Soaps By Marlene"

   

Duuuuuude:  How long have you been creating soaps?

Lots of Fragrances

Marlene:  I've been making soap for almost 8 years and I've been selling for 4 years. I still clearly remember my first batch...it was horrible, it didn't even make good laundry soap. :) I'm a self taught soaper and it took me almost a year before I tried it again. My first soaps were all unscented. Until I had the recipe down I didn't want to try fragrances. Now I have a whole kitchen cabinet just for fragrance oils and essential oils. 

           

Duuuuuude:  What made you get into making homemade goats milk soap?

Marlene:  My kids...I had some daughters that took piano lessons on a farm that raised goats. They were sent home some billy goats as pets and I brought up to them about saving their money to buy a nanny or 2. Billy goats really don't do much except stink. :) So they bought 2 nanny goats....we are up to 7 right now. We tried making cheese, yogurt...anything with goats milk. The last thing on the list was soap. 
              

Duuuuuude:  Tell us a little bit about your process for creating

Marlene:  It started off with our daughters hand milking the goats twice a day. They bring it in and it gets strained through a coffee filter to remove any debris like hair and hay. Then we measure it out and freeze it. I have to start off with frozen goats milk to keep my temperature below 100 degrees for cold process soap making. Once it is froze I can then make soap. The first part of soap making is keeping the oils from the milk mixture. You add the lye to the milk and keep stirring it.

Liquid Soap

 So as the milk melts you don't scorch it. Meanwhile, I'm melting the oils. Once everything is melted you wait until it cools to put the 2 together...remember, I have to keep everything below 100 degrees. When you are to the point of mixing, I pour the lye/milk mixture into the oils and use my stick blender. It's really fun watching as the 2 become 1. 

Lemon Poppy Seed Soap

When I see that everything has come together that's when I'll add the fragrance or oatmeal depending on what kind of soap I'm making. At this point it's called trace...the soap looks like thick milk or pudding.  When everything is added and mixed you can now pour it into the mold(s), wait at least 24 hours and then I cut it into bars. 

Curing Soap Closet

Now you sit and wait for 4-6 weeks before you can sell it. What is going on through this time is the PH is slowly going down to be able to safely use. 

Duuuuuude:  Where do you typically get your supplies? (handmade, online, craft shops, etc.)

Marlene:  I buy some of my supplies on line and some from a local Amish store. My oils come in 50# pails. I watch for pre-buys and sales to get the best possible price on fragrance oils. The lye is what can cause some problems. With meth labs around the world they have really clamped down and added aluminum crystals to drain cleaners. Those are the little blue specks in your drain cleaner. I can't use drain cleaners it has to be pure sodium hydroxide (lye). Aluminum is a big no-no when making soap. I use all stainless steel pots, bowls and spoons. Yes, I accidentally used aluminum and ended up with a mess. I thought the pan was SS but quickly found out that it wasn't.
Duuuuuude:  Where do you get your ideas for your items? 

Kitchen at Christmastime

Marlene:  I get a few ideas from things around me or pictures I see but many of my ideas will come from customers. They will message me with concerns, ideas and thoughts...I take every word to heart to create for them. I know what works by how quickly it sells. I recently had a potential customer message me about unscented soaps. It made me realize the need for more or at least more of a variety. So my latest batches were unscented. 
             

Duuuuuude:  Where do you sell your items?

MarIene:  I sell on Etsy at CountrySoapsByMarlen and I sell on hyena cart at CountrySoapsByMarlene.  I'm also at our local farmers market in Waupun on Thursday afternoons. Recently I've been added to a consignment shop in Watertown, WI called Josephine's. Now until Christmas I'll be at craft shows on Saturdays. And of course, out of my home. 

Duuuuuude:  Anything else you'd like us to know?

Marlene:  I'm married to a great guy, Mark, for 27 years in December. We have 11 children, 6 of which are still at home and 1 daughter in law. We homeschool them on our southern WI dairy farm. We are the third generation raising the fourth and it will soon be a century farm. (A farm that has been in the family for 100 years) This is one of the few family farms still left, we aren't a mega farm. I enjoy canning and freezing from our garden, sewing, crocheting and knitting. The kids and I enjoy scrapbooking together and playing Wii. :) 

I hope you enjoyed getting to know Marlene a little more.  I know I did.  And don’t forget to check out her shops.  : )