A Time For Change...

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I will be closing my little soap shop for a time. At this juncture, I’m really unsure whether it will be a “closing of the doors” or a “putting on the shelf for a while” , but what I do know is that after trying to make it fit into my busy life as a wife and mom to three, that it simply does not. I have attempted to shrink down, cut back, hire help, etc…but at the end of the day, the fact of the matter is that there was just too much. From invention, to production, to packaging, to marketing, to selling and distributing…there simply is not enough of me there for the kind of business I want Madeline Bea Soap Co. to be.


I am always stressing the need to live your most authentic life. And my most authentic life most certainly involves my family coming first. With an active baby, an inquisitive preschooler, and an involved Kindergartner, our lives just keep getting busier and my kids are needing more and more of me. And I refuse to put my husband on the back burner while I spend our free nights and weekends working. I will always be a creative person and I will continue to foster my creativity in ways outside of coloring with my kiddos…but they will have to happen in less time consuming, all encompassing ways.

Yes, I have poured a lot of me into this business over the last three plus years and I have gotten so much from it. The experience I’ve received with regards to starting and growing a business has been invaluable and I’m positive that I will always be a business owner in some sense. I have learned so much about business, yes, but also about myself. I’ve learned that anything is a possibility and I’ve learned what is important to me, and what is not. Will I miss this? Absolutely! I loved this job and this business so very much. But I will also miss you, my customers, and our regular interactions. I’ve enjoyed meeting you and working with you over the past few years.

So, as I begin to wrap up business and tie loose ends, I’ve marked down every single item in the store…

Soaps…$3.50

8 oz. Scrubs…$6.50

4 oz. Scrubs…$4.00

Salves…$8.00

Facial Cleanser & Toner…$9.00

Facial Serum…$10.00

Lip Balm…Buy One, Get One Free!

Yes, prices will eventually get lower as an effort to move my entire inventory. However, stock is limited in almost every item. So if you have your eye on something, snag it up! I will not be making more. I will also be putting some packaging items in the shop as well such as ribbon, tulle, and organza bags so if you are planning any sort of showers or parties, you can snag up some great supplies at near wholesale costs!

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and patronage over the years. This was an incredibly hard decision to finally come to, but I'm 100% sure that it is the right one for me right now. I will, however, continue to blog about my life and my creative journeys here at Life Set To Words!

Body Scrub Winner...

So, the official winners of the Poppies Handmade Award will be announced on Friday. But if you ask me, I have already won. {not actually, because another shop had almost 400 votes, but...} I feel so overwhelmed by the huge show of support and enthusiasm that I received for this nomination. I thank you all so very very much from the bottom of my heart for thinking enough of my little soap shop to hope over and vote and show me so very much support! Just look at this bowl full of entries for the Spiced Pomegranate Body Scrub...

Yes, I am a winner indeed!

Layla was kind enough to help me choose just one winner...you see she only had time to pick one because Sesame Street was calling her from the other room.

She picked Maegan from A Little Twig Birdhouse. Maegan is a blog friend that I met through a gift swap. We were not swap partners but I simply had to meet the only other girl in the world to spell her name exactly like mine! She just had a beautiful baby boy so you should pop over and wish her well. {Maegan, please excuse my poor handwriting...}

So congrats to Maegan...so sorry to the rest of you. Maya and I wanted to keep picking names but we realized we would not be happy until we could give something to each and every person. So, we decided to offer you 30% off your very own 8 oz. body scrub in the little soap shop. You may choose any scent you wish. Just type the word "poppy" into the message to seller portion of the Etsy checkout process and I'll refund $3.00 through PayPal.

Thank you, everyone! So very, very much! xoxoxo

Pretty Please...

Hi Y'all! My little soap shop {Madeline Bea Soap Co.} has been nominated for a Poppy Handmade Award over at the popular blog Poppytalk! {yeah...super exciting} Please stop over and vote for me now through January 27th!

Thanks so much!!!!
I'm totally not above bribery...
If you vote, come back and leave me a comment saying so and I'll enter you in a drawing for a Spiced Pomegranate Body Scrub {US addresses only, please! These suckers are heavy!}

got to keep on movin'...

I keep singing this song and finally I had to play it for the girls. They are getting the biggest kick out of the go-go dancers! They keep asking me to re-play it...but it's getting me in the groove so I'm going with it!




And here's some more peeks...

Hello September...

...it's so nice to see you again!

I cannot believe that I was actually ready for September to begin. All August long, I felt for sure that I would be hanging onto summer with absolute assiduousness. Life can surprise you...along with your own strength and character, sometimes.

September has also meant the re-opening of the soap shop!!!! To be truthful, this nice long month that I "took off" was the first time in many years that I have taken a vacation and did not think about work much at all. Yes, I made soap and did a few various other work-related tasks...but anyone who owns their own business knows that the fun parts constitute only a fraction of the work.

Anyway, I thought that I would have trouble getting back into the work swing. But if felt good to open up the shutters and dust the cobwebs off the old shop this morning. I'm getting excited about the upcoming season and impending events. Also, I've missed my customers: missed our interactions, missed our tiny conversations, missed our shared visions for perfect gifts, etc.

So, what have we learned from our month of August {that was truly all about growth and learning for me}? We learned that change can be good...when the timing is right. We learned that letting go is hard, but essential for growth. We learned that taking time off is essential and refreshing. We learned that being gentle with ourselves is one of the most valuable tools in helping us be our best, most authentic selves. And we learned that, while being lazy is super fun, getting back to work feels good too! There is a time and a season for everything.

Please stop by the shop, say hello, and join me in welcoming September!