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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Featured Artist of the Week Wednesday!

by: Brittany Ponvelle at BabyDeary

  
Read our interview with Emily to learn more about her!

Introduction- Tell us a bit about yourself.
 Hi, I'm Emily, a soapmaker from New Orleans.

How did you get started making handmade items?
   
I have been making soap since I was a little girl in my Grandma's kitchen. Once I was old enough, my parents let me make the family soap in the shed until it quickly became a monthly chore. Every year for the dreaded school science fair, I would do a soap making demonstration because it always got an A and remains to be all of the science I know. This hobby went to college with me and never failed as Christmas presents when I was broke, which was always. And then one day in 2007, I was sitting in a pile of hundreds of beer soaps that needed to be labeled and packed for a friends upcoming wedding/crawfish boil and how on earth was I going to fit my full-time work schedule in and still have time to make my outta-this-world potato salad? Before pulling out every hair on my head, it occurred to me that I should just quit my job and become a full-time soapmaker, so with no regrets, that's what I did.

What does a typical day look like for you?
Crazy, hectic, totally out of control- just the way I like it!

If you could tell someone anything about Louisiana, what would you tell them?
You would have to duct tape, staple gun, glue, sew, and weld my mouth closed just to shut-me-up about all things I want the world to know about Louisiana. But even then, I have very expressive eyes and am skilled at talking with my hands.
 



What is your favorite item to make?
My recipes are very special to me and reminders of the people, places, and things that I love. Each soap has it's own musical soundtrack and set of memories and I could never sort out any one as a favorite. Let's just say, If I didn't LOVE making it, I'm not making it again.

Places to visit Sweet Olive Soap Works:

Emily would like to donate a $15.00 gift certificate that can be redeemed in her etsy store. In order to win, visit her shop & let us know your favorite item by commenting below. Please leave your email address to be contacted if your name is chosen to win!
Winner will be chosen by random.org & will be announced on next week's featured artist post. This giveaway is only for followers of Handmade Louisiana so if you aren't a follower, you can follow, then comment.



55 comments:

  1. Muddy Mississippi looks like it smells sooo good! But I love the description (and the idea) of the red beans and rice soap.. very unique!
    Tamberine317 (at) gmail (dot) com

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  2. The Zulu coconut soap sounds heavenly to me. I would love to try some with the gift certificate! Thanks for the chance to win!
    Zoe0825@verizon.net

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  3. I would love to use for her Ponchatoula Strawberry Soap. Thanks so much for the giveaway
    tanyainjville at yahoo dot com

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  4. The C'est Levee Soap looks wonderful. I love the use of lemongrass
    bmrottman@gmail.com

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  5. I'd like to try the Ponchatoula Strawberry soap.

    allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. I love strawberry so my favorite is the Ponchatoula Strawberry Soap

    stanech at gmail dot com

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  7. I like the Madame LaLune Voodoo Brew Soap
    kristenlaudick at yahoo dot com

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  8. The Whistling Dixie Beer Soap looks amazing!

    marija.majerle at gmial dot com

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  9. Would love to try

    Muddy Mississippi - Decadent Dark Chocolate Soap with Chunks of French Roast Coffee and Oatmeal

    HarajukuGirl92@gmail.com

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  10. My fave is the Storyville Jass - Luxurious Jasmine Bloom Soap With A Tainted Past because I like the scent of jasmine and also because of the saucy back-story in the soap description :)

    sswpss at yahoo dot com

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  11. ms(dot)verymarried(at)gmail(dot)com

    This is my favorite:

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/61538025/bon-temps-poulet-all-natural-egg-soap

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ooh! The All Souls Sage Soap sounds wonderful!

    hrfarley at gmail dot com

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  13. I'd like to try the New Orleans Restoration Beer Soap.

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  14. ooo- all souls sage sounds YUMMY!

    thanks for donating for this giveaway!


    nick0166 (at) yahoo dot com

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  15. Great Artist Feature! I've been wanting to try her soaps for a long time so maybe this is my cue! I'd love to try her Muddy Mississippi Decadent Chocolate soap! Sounds heavenly....and it's probably hard not to nibble on it! LOL!!!
    http://www.etsy.com/listing/63038821/muddy-mississippi-decadent-dark

    wildlifer78@yahoo.com

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  16. Congratulations! Love your shop! I 'd love to try your House of The Rising Sun with Calendula Infused Olive Oil, Jojoba, and Vitamin E.

    et.co@hotmail.com

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  17. I think these are my favorite:
    http://www.etsy.com/listing/63278341/louisiana-sweet-olive-blossom-infused

    whitsend@live.com

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  18. Great interview! I'd like to try her praline and cream soap!

    thedarkside.angel@gmail.com

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  19. The Louisiana Sweet Olive Blossom Infused Olive Oil Soap sounds awesome!!

    siilentii27(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. The Zulu soap sounds divine!

    snaugle81@gmail.com

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  21. The:
    .All Souls- Sage Infused Soap With Activated Charcoal for a Spiritual Cleansing
    or:
    .C'est Levee - Lemon Grass Infused Olive Oil and Aloe Vera with Sweet Grass Fragrance

    Would be MINE and ONLY mine for my nighttime tubby time (AFTER all 5 kids go to bed!)
    volleysoft@gmail.com

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  22. i'd like to try House of the Rising Sun!

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  23. i would love to try the whistling dixie beer soap!

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  24. iw ant to try the ponchatoula strawberry soap! jmmccarr@gmail.com

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  25. Emily's personality really shines through in your interview--makes me want to meet her!

    Her photos and writeups on Etsy are fantastic. I'd probably go with Sweet Tea, but I've favorited her store for later chances to try others.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    --Liza

    ejm6x (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  26. My favorite is Beaucoup - I just love lavender. Thanks so much!

    Ang
    ang_vaughan at yahoo dot com

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  27. She won me over with the Sweet Tea Cold Process Soap. I am a sucker for sweet tea.

    Thanks,
    D
    dbyrne1[at]gmail[dot]com

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  28. Who could resist the New Orleans Restoration Beer Soap?! Thanks for the giveaway!

    sandy(dot)hardman(at)gmail(dot(com)

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  29. My favorite item would be the Good Children Soap, although they all look amazing!
    I am a follower of this blog.
    beadsidemyself at gmail dot com

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  30. Oh man, the Pralines and Cream Soap sounds like heaven! ambrerose at(aol) dot(com)

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  31. I like the Rose Water and Goat Milk Soap with French Rose Clay

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  32. I liked House of The Rising Sun with Calendula Infused Olive Oil, Jojoba, and Vitamin E!
    annatiffany at yahoo.com

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  33. Definitely the Muddy Mississippi - Decadent Dark Chocolate Soap with Chunks of French Roast Coffe and Oatmeal. It sounds heavenly!

    photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

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  34. I love her descriptions of each soap! I'd love to try the Ponchatoula Strawberry Soap...sounds so nice! tylerpants(at)gmail.com

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  35. The Louisiana Sweet Olive Blossom Infused Olive Oil soap sounds lovely! peanut[at]nyc.rr.com

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  36. So hard to choose. Perhaps this! Zulu coconut soap
    Thanks!
    lovewantvintage at gmail dot com

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  37. I'd like the
    Louisiana Honey Bee- Farm Fresh Beeswax and Honey Soap from Hammond Louisiana with Sweet Almond Oil

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

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  38. Love, LOVE the Slice of Queen cake soap! So clever and looks amazing. Really enjoyed reading about how Emily got her start and find it inspiring to see someone turn their love of craft into their living. Living in the cold north, I'm also hopeful that a little piece of the south may help warm things up a bit around here ;).

    Thanks!

    Renee
    renee.piquette@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Really like the sound of Whistling Dixie Beer Soap Lol

    lindsayfields at live dot com

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  40. I would love to try the All Natural Absinthe Soap especially, but they all sound heavenly.

    amysweeps at gmail dot com

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  41. I bet the Muddy Mississippi smells wonderful! (well the soap anyway, not the real thing...!)
    jeanette at splendidthings.etsy.com

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  42. hmcnaron at gmail . com

    i like the Whistling Dixie Beer Soap !!!!!!

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  43. I like her Satsuma Dead Sea Body Polish 6 oz. with Shea Butter and Jojoba. Nice!

    AlexDean03(at)yahoo.com

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  44. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  45. Try again-- Muddy Missippi looks like it would be a fun thing to try.

    pral47 at aol [dot] com

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  46. I would love to try the Queen Cake Soap!

    sugarush7z@aim.com

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  47. I love the New Orleans section and the Sweet Tea Cold Process Soap with Sweet Almond Oil! Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  48. Super tough decision but I have to go with the Mississippi Mud soap! Dark chocolate and French roast coffee are two of my favorite addictions!

    mhouston6@hotmail.com

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  49. I'd say a tie between Red Beans and Rice or Creole Tomato eyreka90@gmail.com

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  50. every soap looks incredible. i would LOVE to try the ponchatoula strawberry soap. I have sensitive skin and really try to use natural soaps, these look amazing!!!!

    keeping fingers crossed!!

    Cerena Leigh
    Luckycldh(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I LOVE LOVE LOVE homemade soap. I would love to try the Pralaines and cream soap.

    clarksrfun at gmail dot com

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  52. I would love to try the Ponchatoula Strawberry Soap suelee1998 @ gmail.com

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  53. What a gorgeous store. My fave is the 8.4 Ounce Slice of Queen Cake Soap... so elegant and luxurious.

    Yvonne
    russelljy AT bigpond DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  54. My favorite is the Zulu Coconut Soap with Activated Charcoal, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter and Coconut Lime Verbena Fragrance.

    kiddomsg at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

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