Today I spoke to a friend and told the story of my dream that I've so conveniently tucked away in the "not happening anytime soon" brain file. So many years ago, I had a vision for us soapers/crafters..... a dream to find an old mansion and restore it over time. This place would be my home, and it would have 12 or more bedrooms and two kitchens. I want to create a
Soaper's Retreat.
Every person would come, be able to soap at will (all supplies provided), and there would be a small stipend for the supplies and running costs of that portion of the house. Overwhelmed people could just escape from their daily grind to vacation, soap, relax and socialize. They could either stay and use the gardens, lounge under the shady oak tree and soap! There would be a badminton course, tether ball, playing cards, backgammon and board games. When people would stay the night, we'd hire a chef for every dinner and supply fine wine. Or whip up dinner together.
The Soap Bar Blog has grown over the years and part of it was to introduce handmade soap and their makers to the world and to create a community between soap makers which didn't really exist online. I am still looking around for new ways to connect with all of you and have you connect with each other, but there just isn't the physical proximity and hands-on sharing that I long for. I know I am not alone. The Soapmaker's Guild Conference that occurs every year is one way to connect and learn, and I haven't been to one yet, but it is organized and scheduled which isn't the vision I have for the Retreat. This is a photo of an abandoned house.... looks so perfect.
Here is an old post about this very idea that I do hope can come to fruition after I become wealthy ;). Hey, ya never know! (
re-posted from April 2009):
Soapmaker's Dream Getaway
My big fat brain has been thinking about a soapmaker's retreat location
for well over a year now. Way back when, I had hoped that I could
arrange a soapmakers get away here in Florida sometime during the Winter
months and get a boat load of soapers together in one place. Who
knows? From all around the world maybe?? I think many of us have made
friends and acquaintances through this blog and through the soap
community in general.
My dream consisted of a large 10-15 room
mansion with a huge living room and dining room where we could all
gather and get to know each other and relax and cook for each other. I
also envision a commercial kitchen (?) where we could make a few batches
of soap ..... a workshop or two planned for one day and the next,
treated as a retreat poolside or beach side or whatever.
Or just a retreat. The cost would be airfare, room and board and cost of the workshop. Or no workshop. I like to dream.
Reasons:
a) I'd love to meet so many of you. I think so many of you also want to meet each other!
b) Not all of us can afford the Soapmaker's Guild Conference.
c) The Winter is brutal in so many places, Florida is heaven in January.
h e a v e n
...not so much in the Summer, though. Then one (me. everyone.) melts.
You could fry an egg on the hood of my car. Easily.
d) If you have children, maybe this is a wonderful reason to take time just for you.
I'm
not pitching this, ya'see, because I don't have a mansion on the beach,
and I don't know anyone who does. Tiger Woods is building his estate
on Jupiter Island, but I don't think we'd be invited, and I don't think
we'd find each other in that house anyway, not even in his 10,000 ft.
small guesthouse. Also, Celine Dion lives there...they might be
neighbors, I don't know... but I know she wouldn't have us there. We
would be too rowdy!! (Jupiter Island and Tiger Woods house is about
4000 ft away if I flew from my house to his, according to Mapquest ariel
view).
So even though I live just feet from some of the richest
people in THE WORLD (!!!), it doesn't mean that there square footage has
rubbed off on my house. (dumb house)
Too bad it's not contagious.
So I continue to dream. If anyone has a mansion they'd like to donate, I would take it by the tail and run with it and make the best damn soap connection ever.
So dream. It feels good. :)
xo Jo
(ps: I know a ton of you are members of the FB Group of ours, but please comment HERE, as there are plenty of people who read this blog that would love your input. Me too.
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