Suds and Bubbles

Etsy Finds

An Interview/Giveaway with Dirty Laundry!

1. What inspires you to come up with new designs?

I started with only a few basic scents like lemongrass and lavender for the Dirty Laundry cupcake bath fizzies. I decided to extend the line for summer and holiday seasons. It's fun to purchase a scent like cranberry fig, white tea ginger or Moroccan mint and try to visualize what color to make it. I like experimenting with new colors and scents and seeing what my customers like.



2. How long have you been creating?

In 2007 I hopped on the indie biz handmade bandwagon and learned how to sew to sell handmade aprons. Then for holiday 2008 I added on the cupcake bath fizzies. They're such a unique and cute little gift and people loved them. So I decided to focus on making cupcake bath fizzies and put the aprons aside.



3. Where do you do your work? Do you have a dedicated area of your home, or?

I work 4 days a week as a graphic designer for Hallmark cards, This June I was fortunate enough to go part time because of going wholesale with Dirty Laundry.

I do my fizzie making in my kitchen. I sit on the sofa to put the labels on the boxes. My husband like to assist me by putting the fizzies in their boxes.

I have a bin with all of my supplies in the corner of the kitchen so I can just measure out everything and go.



4. Tell us about a goal you have for your business

I'm not sure if I'll pick up apron making again.

I'd like to extend the Dirty Laundry bath line to French macaron bath fizzies and meringue soap.



5. What is your favorite album?

Oh gosh, I hate the music question. I like to much music to pick.



6. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Oh my, in 5 years I'll be 41. That sound so far away!

I hope that I'll be in a happy, wonderful and peaceful place where I'll be rewarded for my creativity and hard work.



7. What is your favorite thing to do on a weekend?

Have coffee with my husband.



8. Tell us about a new skill you'd like to learn

I'd like to learn how to decorate my home. I wish I could have a better vision of what to do with a space besides leaving things where I put it when I moved in. I think not having time to be resourceful and the pressures as an artist to come up with something amazing has lots to do with it. I envy gals that thrift and create something personal and amazing with their home.



Here's what you Can win! (one each of the pictured bath fizzies!)



How To Enter:

1. Visit Dirty Laundry and leave a comment with the item you liked most.

Extra Entries: (Leave a new comment for each that you complete)

2. Tweet about this giveaway
3. Blog about this giveaway
4. Follow @urdirtylaundry on twitter
5. Follow @PaperCakes on twitter
6. Follow Dirty laundry Blog
7. Like PaperCakes on Facebook
8. Suggest PaperCakes on Facebook to 5 friends
9. Purchase from the featured shop (3 extra entries, leave 3 comments)
10. Follow this blog

Ending Date Nov 29th

Retail Therapy

Today's Shop - Candied.ca

Bath and Body

An interview with LoveLeeSoaps..

If you haven't seen Loveleesoaps around etsy... then you must have been living under a rock! I know there are tons and tons of soap makers on etsy, but these soaps really set themselves apart from the crowd. They come in the cutest unique shapes and colors. Ever wondered where you can buy soap shaped like french fries, robots, or even baby birds in a nest? At LoveLeeeSoaps of course! At only 19 (and still in college to boot!) Leeana has sold over 3000 pieces on etsy, and her soaps have been featured on Martha Stewart.



1. So how did you get started making soap? Was there something that inspired you,
was it by accident or by plan?

It was completely by accident! I was at our local craft store and picked up a
soap making kit and immediately feel in love with making soaps. I researched
and read books which helped me learn more and more. I made soap as often as
I could and eventually I had so much there just was not any more room for them in my shower! My mom had an Etsy shop called WildOliveKids that I helped her maintain and take
pictures for. She always pushed me to start my own and I am so glad that I did.
I cannot believe how far I have come in just a short amount of time and I am so thankful.



2. You make some of the most uniquely shaped soaps I have ever seen on the market,
do you use traditional molds?

Very few are made using traditional molds. My dad makes some molds
that are used to make the bars and I make a lot of the fun shaped molds.
I also had some custom made molds for designs that are not released yet.



3. Where do you get your inspiration from for new soap shapes and colors?

I get inspiration from so many different things. It just kind of clicks. For example
I saw a post about unicorns below and I will definitely will be making a unicorn soap now!
I love working with fun shapes and bright colors. I am especially inspired by circus
and candy themed items!



4. What is your favorite item to create?

This is a hard one! I would have to say the Blue Bird Nest Soap SetI am hoping to make some new color choices for the birds soon.





5. Tell us a bit about a new skill you would like to learn,
or a future goal (related to soap making or not)

I still have a lot of researching to do but in the future
I would love to learn how to make cold processed soaps.



See LoveLeeSoaps on Flickr and the LoveLeeSoaps Blog.