Seminar Speakers
Keynote Speaker - Donna Maria Coles Johnson
Social Media in One Happy Hour a Week: The phrase “social media” might just send you scurrying for cover under the nearest fallout shelter. But if you are a business owner, you don’t want to be caught trying to move your venture into the digital age without also bringing along your best social skills and a computer to put them to work for the benefit of your bottom line. In this fun, enlightening presentation, Donna Maria will share how you can be both efficient and effective using new media outlets, even to the point where you can get your branded, systematic outreach down to one happy hour a week. This presentation is mainly for beginners, but seasoned social networking enthusiasts will enjoy it as well.
Pursuing Your Passions in an Era of New Regulations: This is not your mother’s cold cream! That’s right, if you make soaps and cosmetics today, you can have fun and make a good profit, but you must first understand the legislative framework within which you are operating. The Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act is in for an overhaul, and Congress is considering changes as we speak. In this fact-filled overview, Donna Maria shares the historical framework for how cosmetics are regulated in this country, as well as current laws and how Congressional action is expected to change them. Not only will this presentation put current and future laws in context, it will also empower you to make the best product development choices for the coming years.
Donna Maria Coles Johnson is an attorney, award-winning home-based business advocate, and the host and producer of Indie Business Radio and Indie Business TV. She is a popular presenter and keynote speaker at small business and women’s conferences nationwide. Donna Maria is the author of “Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions” and the founder and CEO of the Indie Beauty Network. She hosts #BeautyChat on Twitter and blogs at http://www.indiebusinessblog.com. Her signature “The Media Is You” program is fast becoming a trusted training resource for small business owners who want to launch branded media outlets that create relationships and expand their sphere of influence. A native of Washington, DC, Donna Maria lives temporarily in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and their young children. For more on Donna Maria's story, click here.
Elin Criswell
The Joy of Soapmaking - There are many things in life that give us joy. As soapmakers, we get alot of enjoyment from all the creativity involved, in making the products that we create. In this presentation, Elin will explore the different aspects of why this is a such a great time to be a soapmaker.
Elin is a 4th-generation Williamson County Texas soapmaker of Swedish descent. Her Mom's old-fashioned lye soap was a fixture in their household when she was growing up and she still cherishes her Mom's old washboard. Elin first experimented with soapmaking in the early 1990's, lost interest, only to regain it again after buying handcrafted soap at a July 4th, 2000, Arts & Craft show. She's been making soap ever since. Like so many other soapmakers, she reached the point where it wasn't enough just to make soap for family and friends. So in 2003 she launched her soap business, The Country Soaper. She now sells her soap through wholesale accounts that sell throughout the state of Texas. She loves to talk soap to all and any who will listen.
Joy Douglas
Basic Soap Making Class - Cold Process soapmaking will be explained and demonstrated in this class, as Joy makes a basic three-oil soap recipe. A broad range of soapmaking issues will be covered, including colorants, fragrances, safety, soap molds, superfatting and water discount.
While her background is in Automotive Design and Computer Technology, Joy has had a love of soap making since that fateful day in chemistry class when she made her first batch of soap. There was no internet at the time, so hours were spent searching for information on oils and their saponification values. Little information was available on the properties of oils. She enjoys all types of soap making, colored, plain, scented or not but swirls are always a treat and a surprise. She currently divides her time between Oklahoma and Texas. She enjoys the North Texas Soapers and their monthly dinners as well as all of the people she has met through soap and candle making.
Chris King
Whipping Up Soap - Whipped Soap gives every Cold Process/Hot Process soapmaker the opportunity to expand their artisan side. Because whipped soap is made at room temperature, with chilled lye-water solution, and a recipe of 60-70% hard oil and 30-40% soft oils; you have time to create works of art. In addition to using a hand mixer instead of a stick blender; your end product will float. Yes, the soap actually floats like Ivory Soap. Now CP-HP soap makers can enjoy the thrill of artisan soaps that seem to be an exclusive of melt and pour soapers.
Chris King is a 40-something-year-old woman who has two lovely kids and three beautiful grandkids. She loves to stimulate her mind through education and life experiences. She has experienced many career opportunities from office manager, to CEO of a multi-million dollar company. She has also served on several community boards. At the age of 40, Chris returned back to school and obtained her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. Chris has opened three Bar and Grills and one Popeye’s Franchise in small airports in Texas. Unfortunately 9-1-1 and contracts, gave her the learning experience of a lifetime. In 2007, she started Pampered Sisters with her mom. They make and sell natural handcrafted soaps, soy candles and bath products. Chris says she feels very blessed because she knows her journey is designed for her by her Heavenly Father.
David Fisher
Saponification, Superfatting and Synergy... What really happens when all those oils get together in your soap pot! - We all know that oils and lye mixed together make soap. We may even know what sorts of oils contribute what qualities to our soaps. But what really happens when all those oils react with the lye and transform into soap? In this brief, but understandable, discussion of the saponification process, you'll learn more about what's really going on chemically, and understand more about superfatting, the qualities of soapmaking oils, ash, and more.
David Fisher has been making soap for nearly 10 years and has always been fascinated between soapmaking's combination of science, creativity, cooking, frugal living and health. He has been About.com's online Guide to Candle and Soapmaking since 2005. The articles and how-to projects on the site are read by over 50,000 soap and candle makers a month.
Margie Lemons
Swirling Cold Process Soap - Margie will make and color a batch of soap from start to finish as you watch. She will show you the common kitchen utensils she uses to achieve her masterpieces. In real time you will pick up tips on everything from temperatures, timing and technique as the soap is actually made, colored and marbled.
Her demonstration will emphasize: ***How to get your color distributed throughout the entire bar, as well as achieving crisp and defined patterns on the top and bottom. ***Colorants 101 - Crash Course ... Micas, Dyes, Pigments, Clays, Herbs Selection, how to prepare, amount to use, outcome to expect and what to avoid.
Margie aims to inspire you to whip out your swirling wand and stir some color magic into your personal soap batches!
Margie Lemons, soapmaker and master swirler, has been making soap for about 9 years. She attributes her artistic soaping style to techniques learned watching videos by her mentor, Irene Linauer. Her focus is on color, design, and texture, and all these elements come together in her hands to create truly beautiful soaps. You can see Margie’s complete product line at Under One Roof next time you are in Wimberley. The store is an artists'co-op that she operates with partners, including four potters, two painters and a jewelry designer. Under One Roof, On the Square, Wimberley Texas -- just look for our bright red door. You can also see Margie's products on her website, www.HillCountryHaiku.com.
Kris Hockey
Soap Painting - This class will be a hands-on demo. Not only will you see how it's done... you will be able to try it for yourself! We will be painting with mica's. Supplies are limited to the first 50 people. So get there early if you would like to try your hand at mica soap painting.
Kris Hockey is a hobbyist soapmaker who has been making soap since 2000. She first started with melt & pour. Made soap using this process for several years and still enjoys M & P today. She learned to make crockpot soap and hot process in the oven, but when she learned how to make cold process, she was truly hooked! Kris loves the challenge of making soap with different colors and scents. Using essential oils and micas are her favorites. She enjoys a wide range of hobbys and firmly believes you are never too old to learn something new. Her other hobbys include making bath products, cooking, gardening, hydrosols, making liqueurs/cordials, but her first love is woodworking. Woodworking has so many avenues and outlets that it is hard to list all that she enjoys with this craft. Suffice it to say, she enjoys working with her hands.