Meet 'Mary'

I have been busy preparing for my first craft fair/festival, which is very exciting, but between that and children in school, a full-time job, etc., I have been lax in adding to this blog, so let me make it up to you!
Next soap that is due an introduction is 'Mary'. Mary is named for my wonderful mother-in-law, who is so supportive of my endeavors into soap-making and is an incredible help and inspiration!
A little background: My in-laws were married for over 40 years, and until Julius' passing, they were inseparable. They were the couple you always wanted to be a part of, not just because their romance was a sweeping epic of true love, but because it was so real and genuine. Mary and Julius were just meant to be together. They met and fell in love almost immediately, but they faced trials and tribulations just like the rest of us. However, there could never be doubt in any one's mind that they loved each other deeply.
It has been a tragic loss for all of us with Julius' passing, but no one has been affected more so than Mary. Who could possibly understand a loss like that? I am so glad that life has given us opportunity to be with her (we moved literally right next door), to allow us to be her strength where she has been ours for so many years. Mary is a strong woman, and I am better for knowing her. She keeps us in line, puts things into perspective, provides a safe haven, nurtures us, reprimands us, and quite frankly, I am rather jealous of her energy and skills!
Like this soap's namesake, 'Mary' is a powerful blend of essential oils that is both energizing and comforting. Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs in the garden and in the kitchen, and you will probably find Mary herself in one of those two places on any given day. Mint is both refreshing and stimulating as well. I chose Spearmint over the more common Peppermint, as Mary told me that she was actually sensitive to Peppermint, and so far, she has absolutely loved the combination.
'Mary' is made with an in-the-pot swirl of natural soap color and Purple Brazilian Clay, with a swirl of Titanium Dioxide white on top for a beautiful contrast. This soap is vegan-friendly, and since I have only used essential oils in this soap, it is also 100% natural!
When I made Mary's soap, I decided to look into making scrubs and lotions as well, so there is a complete set of 'Mary' products available via my Southern Hedgewitch Etsy page.

Meet 'Julius'

I thought I would take some time to explain how I named my soaps. I wanted my soaps to be unique, not just a simple description of the ingredients or fragrance... I wanted them to have personality! So why not give them names?

When I started to make soap, the first batch I made successfully was a variation on a Castile Soap, using only an Orange Valencia Essential Oil for fragrance. I was striving for a simple, gentle formula, particularly because my intended recipient was my father-in-law, Julius. 

He and I had always been kindred spirits in some ways, and he was one of the most amazing people I have ever had the fortune to meet. He was kind, gentle, curious about how things worked, and he loved his family more than anything else. When I talked about learning to make soap, he was all ears. Picture a long-haired old hippie, experimenting in his shop with everything from solar and wind power solutions to moonshine. Julius was a tinkerer; he had a gift with small engines, he could craft bonsai from any cutting, he knew a little bit about just about everything. We shared a love of Mother Earth News, and he would listen to me go on about self-sustainability and crazy gardening plans when everyone else would just politely smile and nod. He was a wonderful grandpa to our three boys, and we all loved him very much.

Just as I was about to embark on my soap-making adventure, Julius was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He would be starting an aggressive treatment plan of both chemotherapy and radiation, and as we learned about all the possible side-effects of his treatments, one major one was skin issues. Julius was a man who had worked outside all of his life, he already had skin issues from long-term sun exposure, with thin, dry skin which was easily damaged. 

One of Julius' greatest pleasures all his life was taking a bath. Always a bath guy, not the shower. So I decided to make a soap that might help his skin. I researched what type of soap might be most beneficial for him to use, and came across a recipe for a Castile Soap, made from 100% Olive Oil.

Well, my first attempt was a disaster. I used a rosemary/lemongrass essential oil blend, with rosemary and marigold petals mixed into the batch. The soap looked gorgeous in the mold, and smelled magnificent. I still don't know exactly what happened, it all went according to plan until I went to cut the soap. It was hard as a brick, and crumbled so badly it was completely unusable. I read up on what might have happened; maybe I made it too lye-heavy? I tried to rescue the batch by remelting and adding oil in the crockpot, to no avail. I probably could have used the botched mess as laundry soap, but my husband, who also has sensitive skin, said no way, just to throw it out. So I asked Julius what he thought, and he said to try again, maybe a different recipe, something less complicated? I asked him what scent he thought I should use; I had a yummy smelling orange, would he like that? Sure thing, he said. So spirits lifted, I decided not to give up, and I went back to the drawing board. I found a proper lye calculator, and I came up with a new recipe that left less room for error. I decide to leave out colors and botanicals for now, so I kept it simple as Julius suggested.

Voila! When I unmolded the soap, it was perfect! Consistent color and scent, it cut like soft cheese like it was supposed to, and I could not be more excited! I started counting down the days until it had cured enough to test.

By now, Julius was feeling the effects of his treatment pretty badly. He had shaved his head and developed a bad case of cradle-cap. We had a bad scare at Christmas time, and Julius was hospitalized. He had to have brain surgery to remove a large mass, and he had some memory issues. As soon as he was feeling better, I gave him my soap to use. I also had made and tested some bath fizzies, which I thought he might enjoy. I felt like these were the smallest possible gestures when he was going through so much, but he was genuinely delighted. So I made another soap, to give him something new to look forward to.

My new batch of soap was ready at Easter, and though Julius was feeling terrible. He had decided to discontinue treatment, and we didn't know how much time he would have left. I gave him my soap, not knowing if he would even be able to use it. Throughout that day, he kept picking it up to smell it and telling me how much he loved it.

Sadly, we lost Julius that Wednesday. My mother-in-law has told me numerous times how much Julius loved my soap, and would be excited to see me taking this venture to the next level. When I thought about how to go about branding/labeling my soaps, I knew that I would always make the first soap that he loved so much, simple and unassuming, yet gentle and uplifting, just like Julius. Funny that it was an orange scent, but I would probably get sued if I called it 'Orange Julius', so why not just name it after him? And all the other soaps I have made since after other people or names that inspired me? Even after his passing, Julius has kept me motivated to try new things and remain persistent in my pursuits.

I hope anyone who picks up one of my 'Julius' products experiences the same lift in spirits that he always gave me, and that his story inspires others to be creative as well. 'Julius' is available as a bar soap, salt scrub, or solid lotion bar via my Southern Hedgewitch Etsy page.

What's in a Name?

I was trying to think of a good way to introduce myself, and by extension, the company I am trying to build. I have been practicing my craft so that I can provide a good product. I have been researching the business side of things, and am beginning to set myself up for success in the marketplace. In addition, particularly in today's time, a presence in social media is a requirement as well. That is why this blog exists, as an extension of my company's identity, and a way to connect with potential customers, or other soap enthusiasts, you name it. But where do you start?
So I thought I would start by explaining how I came up with the name 'Southern Hedgewitch'.
The 'Southern' part is easy. I live in South Carolina, and being 'southern' is a defining characteristic. I was not born and raised here, so in some circles I am still somewhat an outsider. However, I have lived in the South for so long, from the Lowcountry in Charleston to here in the Upstate in Anderson it feels like I belong anyway. I have always been enchanted by the history and charm of the South, (at least since I first read 'Gone With the Wind' in 7th grade) and I cannot imagine another place to call home. There is an air of romance and mystery that surrounds all things 'Southern' and by incorporating that into my name, I hope to enchant others with my products!

Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, in front of the Hollywood version of the quintessential Southern Home, Tara.

My decision to start a soap business stems from my interest in natural alternatives to household products, and a desire to live a more self-sustainable lifestyle. Originally, it was simply the thought that I might be able to make some things myself for my family to use that led me to making soap. As I researched the process, I found a whole world of craftspeople and artisans dedicated to soaping, and at first I was overwhelmed, and then I was excited at the prospect that I might be able to do something at home that might actually generate an income!

Becoming self-sustainable is now something of an obsession for me. There are a boatload of reasons for this, everything from economics (Have you noticed the cost of fresh produce or meat lately?), a love of the outdoors (As a child, I never wore shoes, and I could ride a horse before I could ride a bike.), a desire to keep my family healthy (My husband has sensitive skin, and I want us all to eat and live a healthier lifestyle rather than be surrounded by fast food and video games all the time.) and probably most importantly, a love and respect for history and traditions that are quickly becoming lost. 

I will wax poetic about history later, for now let's focus on how my obsessions developed into a workable business name. What could possibly set me apart, emphasize my love of nature and natural products, yet not put me so far out of the box that I would be unrelatable? When I think about who I am, from my own family history, and my natural inclinations, I am definitely that slightly weird lady who likes to putter about her garden, talk to her animals, cook up interesting concoctions in the kitchen, and tries to leave the world a little better in the process. If it were a few hundred years ago, I would be the lady who lives at the edge of town, selling an elixir or herbal or two... oh my goodness, I'm a witch!?

Ok, I will admit to a bit of curiosity about the pagan arts, though I am not actually a practitioner, by any means. I do think that the power of faith can take many forms, and paganism is absolutely one of those. My interest stemmed originally from my family history. My family is Irish on my mother's side, Scots-Irish and Italian on my father's side, and I heard a rumor that there might be some Native American in there as well. All of those heritages are steeped in rich traditions of paganism and shamanism. My mom's family is obsessed with everything Irish, and I admit to a teensy (ok, a lot) of interest in all things Celtic as well. It is high on my bucket list to take a trip to Ireland and see the same sights my grandparents did years ago.

Irish Cottage, photo credit: Graham Hall Images
(I could totally envision myself living in a cottage like this in a former life!)

I also will admit to an interest in natural healing: aromatherapy, herbalism, homeopathic medicine. I mean, what on earth did we as humans do before health insurance and advanced medicine? Granted, for one, we had shorter life-spans in general, but we figured a lot of things out, and I see no reason why ancient remedies for simple ailments can't work as well as anything you could buy over the counter at the drugstore, and if you really investigate, we're talking about the same ingredients anyway! For example, aspirin was derived from willow bark in 1763, a well-known herbal remedy for generations.

I also think that many would agree that our senses are very important to our state of well-being. Things like color, scent, and texture all contribute to how we feel. We wear perfume and colognes that make us feel attractive, or perk up our mood, or we hope it might have an effect on the people around us. (There's quite a market in pheromones these days...) Well, gee, soap encompasses all of those things! We pick soaps because they appeal to us in some way, either the scent is intoxicating, or the colors are interesting, or the ingredients may have desired effects for our skin... the combinations are endless!

So I dug into my interests, my heritage, my product, and I finally landed on a perfect way to describe who I am... a HEDGEWITCH!

But what exactly is a hedgewitch? I think the best description can be found here: Hedgewitch Forest

A Google Search will turn up similar results, and they all pretty much sum up who I am, or at least, who I would like to be. I am still learning and honing my craft, and I hope this blog will help to serve as a chronicle of my journey on my chosen path. I hope as well that anyone reading this will join me in support of this endeavor, and maybe even buy some soap! 

Hedgewitch: aka Green Witch