With holidays behind me and work starting tomorrow, I am feeling a sense of excitement along with fear as I move my business into the new year.
My company has been undergoing changes that I am happy with, but I am not finished with the changes and I have many hurdles to jump before I can get to where I must go. What I want most right now and to start the new year is to focus on soap. What it is for me, how it touches me to my very bones and the need to create tiny masterpieces that will ring true for me and for others. Hope I am not just serenading myself into a fantasy of soap-love-lust, but I am still all tied up and smitten with it.
Today, I sat with a hot cup of coffee and a book that was sent to me from Debbie Chialtas of Soapy Love. The book is her second published full color soap book that I have so generously been given. The book is a compilation of mini stories of 24 soap makers from around the world accompanied by colorful photographs of their soap. The soap maker's short story along with the close up photography of their soap brought me to tears a couple of times. The stories were powerful and a few were quite unique.
The photography was stunning and all photo credits go to Erin Pikor of Naiad Soap Arts, who is a wildly talented soap maker and now a published photographer as well!
I felt honored to be a part of the soap world when I finished the book... although I wished I had 24 more artisan soap makers to read about and see more photography of their art form.
My anxiety and excitement build up confuses me because I know what will meet me down the road. My friend and long lost soul: The art of soap making. When I have let the making part go for any length of time, I fear the worst and wonder if it will taunt me and hate me when I return. I know, you think I am crazy to think soaping takes on a being, but when I love something so so much, there is always a fear it might just disappear as quickly as it came.
I hope this book does a little heart string pulling for you as well. It just solidified the fact that no matter who we are or why we do it, soap is something we make and love, and until that is gone, we will be forever engaged.
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The Art Of Soap
by Debbie Chialtas of Soapy Love
Photos by Erin Pikor of Naiad Soap Arts
12 comments:
Lovely review; I can't wait to read this book. I hope the road to your desired goal is smooth and filled with happy serendipity!
I know EXACTLY how you feel. As a passionate soapmaker myself, I have LOVED browsing the gorgeous photos. Inspiring
Your blog brought tears to my eyes. Such passion for what you do is AWESOME (using that word the way it should be used).
Keep doing what you love-because I LOVE using what you do!
For some soapmakers the journey will never end, hang on and enjoy the ride.
It does take on a being and it's a matter of who's the boss. For me once learned, once seen and it's never forgotten. It will only disappear if I let it or want it to.
Just remembering some predictions I made quite a few years ago about soapmaking. :-)
Your sentiments make me smile. hugs
You are just amazing! Thank you for the lovely review of the book. You put beautifully into words the mixed relationship I think all of us soapmakers have with our craft.
I think all of use soap makers that are in business start a new year with the same feelings of excitement and terror. The book is definetly something on my must read list, I'll just have to save my pennies.
Happy New Year Jo!
A lovely review of a wonderful book, and I couldn't agree more. I also found Debbie's book inspiring and I look forward to getting back to more exploring and experimenting with the art, too.
Your expression of soap making goes right to the heart. Sometimes it just takes over and the creativity and passion makes it so worth while. I feel the exact same way! I am about to venture into something big with soap making this New Year and I hope the business part of it doesn't dampen the joy of creating it...Joan
I just ordered this book. I can't wait to get it. I loooove looking at beautiful soap.
I guess I wore my heart on my sleeve...
Bianca, it won't disappoint....
Nice post, Jo :) The way you feel about making soap..anxiety and all, I feel about making art. Alas I am painter through and through. Painter, writer, and somewhere further along the line..dabbler in soaps and such. Best of inspiration to you for 2011!
Thank you for the great review. I have to have this book. It's so inspiring!
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