Customers are usually curious about the people behind the products they use. People often ask me:
- When did you become interested in making homemade soap?
- How did you learn to make natural soap?
- What inspires your natural soap fragrances & colors?
- Why the name Heirloom Soapworks?
- How do you test your new natural soap formulas?
- What does your Hubby think about a house full of homemade soap?
For those inquiring minds who wish to know, here is our story in a nutshell:
- My “Grandma Bill”
In 2002 I used a bar of homemade soap that irritated my skin. As a result, I began to wonder about becoming a soap maker myself. My “Grandma Bill” had talked about making natural soap in the old days, so the concept wasn’t completely foreign to me. I read several soap making books and gave it a try. I was hooked on the process from the very first batch!
The name Heirloom is fitting, I believe. Mirriam Webster defines the word ‘heirloom’ this way:
heir·loom noun \ˈer-ˌlüm: something of special value handed on from one generation to another
Because I first learned about natural soap from my Grandma, and because I believe that soapmaking itself is an art that we should pass on to future generations -I believe both natural soap and the process of making homemade soap are truly heirlooms. 
The motivation behind Heirloom Soapworks products is helping people have soft, smooth, healthy skin.
Customer testimonials and enthusiasm for our natural homemade soap are very motivating! The inspiration for new soap color & ingredient combinations often comes from the beautiful Southern Illinois countryside.
Family and friends serve as my soap testers, their feedback helps me tweak new recipes and scent combinations.
Me & Brian circa 2000
I am extremely blessed to have the support of my husband Brian.He’s an avid outdoorsman, duck-boat-building dude, husband and father who listens patiently to lots of “soap talk” (just ask him!) Brian encourages me and enables me to do this “soap thing” that I enjoy so much.
Without Brian and his support, Heirloom Soapworks wouldn’t exist!
In addition to making homemade soap, I enjoy reading, scratching around in my flower beds, bass fishing and shooting hoops with Brian and our son; and playing with our Labrador Retriever.
