• Crafts
  • Events
  • Featured Crafters
  • Giveaways
  • Graphic Arts
  • Handmade
  • Holidays
  • Tutorials

Handmade Jewlery, Bags, Clothing, Art, Crafts, Craft Ideas, Crafting Blog

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Get Featured
  • Advertise
  • Archives
  • Badges

My Appalachian Heritage Through Soaps

in Body Products, Featured Crafters, Handmade on 07/11/11

I blog about my unique business model. Currently I’m working on a series about all the uses of lye soap that customers have shared with me. I also write about Appalachian culture, language, native plants, folk remedies, music, and my Appalachian ancestors. Oh, I also write about my soap, too!

Beth Ann Weber

Random Facts About You?

1. I'm a mother to 5, and wife to 1. I'm not sure which requires more of me...
2. Poverty is the mother of creativity.
3. Relaxation equals the beach or the mountains.
4. Besides soapmaking, I sew, crochet, knit, and solve most problems with cardboard and/or duct tape.
5. The best thing about soapmaking is that my house smells good; therefore, I don't need to bother with housecleaning. I'm trying to convince others of my theory.



What got you started crafting?

I've crafted since I can remember. My mother started me on embroidery at 4 1/2 years. I took sewing in 4-H until I gradated from high school. Crochet and knitting were self-taught through Woolworths' booklets. It was only a matter of time till I tried soapmaking. It's been about 9 years know since I made my first batch of soap. It was not a pretty time in my life. We were jobless in my parent's basement. I tried soapmaking as an alternative to a therapist. We made it thought, so I guess it worked pretty well.



What is your source of inspiration?

I use my Appalachian culture and family heritage as inspiration for the types of soaps and salves I make. Each soap is named after an ancestor of mine. I use a story from their life for the label which also bears their picture. For example, my Warm Apple Soap is named after my Aunt Gladys. She was the first person in our family to ever go to college. After graduating she came back home and taught in a one room schoolhouse. Her income was the only cash money that the large family had. My salves are based on folk remedies and native medicinal plants in my region.



What have you made recently?

I recently made Mother Lydia's Oat & Milk Soap, a gentle color free and scent free goat milk soap. I purchase my goat's milk from the Fagan Farm in Lower Salem, Ohio. After freezing the milk twice, I use it for the liquid in my lye solution. I use a blend of 5 oils to mix with the lye. At trace, which is like pudding, I add ground oats, melted cocoa butter, and evening primrose oil. I pour into long log molds which I then freeze so that the soap doesn't turn brown. Goat milk likes to caramelize. After about 48 hours I cut the bars and let them cure further before wrapping.





Where do you sell your crafts presently?

I sell my soaps and salves at two local farmer's markets, historical festivals, and online at ArtFire.



Why are handmade crafts important to you?

Handmade for me means there are layers of meaning to the product. There's a story behind who made an item, why they made it, and why it connects with me. Handmade means I can meet the artist who created. With this knowledge I can better appreciate what I have and use. There's greater personal satisfaction in that knowledge and use. Economically, I prefer to support handmade artists. I feel the money is better invested through that local artist and the return of dollars to their local economy.



Find Me

Location
Southern Ohio

Email Address
Beth Ann Weber

Personal Website
http://www.appalachianheritagesoaps.com

Store Website
http://www.artfire.com/users/appalachianheritagesoaps

Coupon Code for Store
GET3FOR11
Twitter
@appalachiansoap

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/appalachiansoaps

  • Comments 1 Comment
  • Categories Body Products, Featured Crafters, Handmade
  • Tags appalachian, apple, body, clean, soap
  • Author Mandie Shaner

Other Crafters You May Also Like

No related posts.

« Quirky, Illustrated Handmade Cards and Gifts
Old Vintage Recycled Made New! »

Follow Heart Handmade

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

MONTHLY GIVEAWAY

Submit your email address to participate in our exclusive monthly craft giveaways.

Recent Things

  • Everyday Treasures – Unique, Simple, Creative
  • Community-Arts Design Giants
  • Simple & Clean
  • Unique Wire Wrapped Jewelry
  • Decor and Handmade Lights
  • Boho. On Trend, Earthy and Fresh
  • Unique Handmade Home Decor Accessories
  • Romantic. Chic. Whimsical
  • Handmade Colombian Quilling Crafts
  • Nature vs Industrial

Crafts from the Past

  • Crafts (17)
  • Events (4)
  • Featured Crafters (722)
  • Giveaways (11)
  • Graphic Arts (74)
    • Decorating (5)
    • Drawing (3)
    • Illustration (39)
    • Painting (18)
    • Photography (13)
    • Prints (12)
  • Handmade (698)
    • Accessories (139)
    • Bags (33)
    • Blown Glass (3)
    • Body Products (13)
    • Books (4)
    • Bottles (3)
    • Candles (5)
    • Cards (33)
    • Ceramics (6)
    • Christmas (2)
    • Clothing (42)
    • Crocheting (33)
    • Felt (16)
    • Flowers (7)
    • Furniture (1)
    • Glass (10)
    • Halloween (1)
    • Home (53)
    • Jewelry (253)
    • Journals (5)
    • Kids (36)
    • Knitting (23)
    • Magnets (2)
    • Maps (1)
    • Paper (9)
    • Pets (2)
    • Porcelain (1)
    • Pottery (11)
    • Quilling (3)
    • Quilts (8)
    • Sewing (26)
    • Silkscreening (2)
    • Soap (9)
    • Toys (12)
    • Upcycled (30)
    • Wedding (10)
    • Woodworking (13)
  • Holidays (17)
  • Homemade (13)
    • Food (9)
    • Pies (2)
  • Tutorials (4)

Copyright © 2023 · glam theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Heart Handmade Blog on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

MENU
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Get Featured
  • Advertise
  • Archives
  • Badges
  • Crafts
  • Events
  • Featured Crafters
  • Giveaways
  • Graphic Arts
  • Handmade
  • Holidays
  • Tutorials

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Handmade Jewlery, Bags, Clothing, Art, Crafts, Craft Ideas, Crafting Blog
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Read the Privacy Policy

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.