My Soapy Kitchen
Super soapy soap-maker Maxine from 'My Soapy Kitchen' makes the most inventive and delightful soap creations that look almost too good to use (I bet her kitchen is sparkly clean). Maxine's creations are so detailed you will be amazed what she makes (but don't try to eat the 'cheese' and 'cakes'). These would make a perfect gift for a loved one or just as a special treat for yourself. Look out for fairy doors, slices of cake and other sweet treats, a chunk of cheese (complete with the mouse), beach huts and many other amazing creations.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/My-Soapy-Kitchen-107116468312530/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mysoapykitchen/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/My-Soapy-Kitchen-107116468312530/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mysoapykitchen/
Interview With A Maker
Name/Business
Maxine Bohanan / My Soapy Kitchen
I named my soap craft ‘My soapy kitchen’ as that’s what my kitchen is most days along with most cupboards & drawers.
Describe your art/craft?
I enjoy growing & collecting flowers in my garden to infused them in oils to make gentle fragrance free soaps like calendula, rose hips & chamomile all good for sensitive skin, acne & eczema. I make some lovely fragranced bath bars but most of all I love making decorative soaps from fairy doors to beach huts.
How long have you been creating? How did you learn your craft or were you self-taught?
I haven’t been making soap for very long but as soon as I started making it I knew it was the hobby for me, I do a little bit of stain glass making, crocheting, I enjoy sewing & gardening (a lot) but soap has taken over my life & my house, everything I look at I wonder if I can create it in soap, I really do dream of soap.
What are your favourite art/craft 'tools of the trade'?
Where is your creative space?
I would love someone to build me a lovely soapy workshop but for now all my soap is made in my kitchen & all the embellishments are added at my dining table that I take over most days
What do you watch or listen to when you're creating?
I love listening to a good play on the radio, I’m an archers addict & find count Arthur strong hilarious (we are going to see him on stage soon) or I chat to my daughter & grandson on zoom/messenger or whatever it’s called.
What's your best selling product?
My best selling product depends on where I am & what time of year it is, surprisingly to me lavender fragrance soaps sell very well, fairy door soaps is always a great gift & my snowmen soaps were a great seller at Christmas, especially as a teachers gift (I bet they were hoping for wine) I did a little mouse on some soapy Suffolk cheese & that got a few giggles & was sold very quickly
Favourite thing you've ever created? Do you still have it, or did you sell/gift it?
I have lots of soaps I love for one reason or another but I made 3 bars of pic-nic soap, when I sold the last one I was quite sad, I think it was because I loved playing with plasticine as a child making fruit bowls full of fruit & foods for a pretend pic- nic with my beloved sindy dolls, those were the days!
Internet Pah!
More than 3 TV channels Pah!
Random fact about yourself?
I am a beekeeper & yes I get stung a lot! I like to add our own honey into my gentle soaps.
I have two ferrets, dizzy & Meg along with an African grey parrot that whistles my dog in from the garden & then shouts ‘get out!’ as he comes in, poor confused old dog
What new craft would you love to try?
I would love to try pottery but I wouldn’t have the room for such a messy craft & I really hate dirty hands, soap making keeps my hands very clean!
Where can customers buy your products?
You can find me on Facebook at My Soapy Kitchen www.facebook.com/My-Soapy-Kitchen-107116468312530 , I can post soaps or they can be collected from our honesty box just outside of Badingham where we sell our honey. I keep my Facebook page updated as to where I will be each weekend & we really do enjoy meeting new people along with our regular customers, it’s great to start recognising our regulars now & (so far) getting great feedback.
Give a shout-out to a fellow artist or crafter you admire!
I had never done or ever had the intention to do craft markets or anything like that but was coaxed into having a go by Christine Biggs at sizewell craft fair, I loved it & was hooked from day one! I will always have a soft spot for sizewell.
This year I have about 35 bookings already! so keep an eye out for a craft market near you
psssssst………. I don’t have to hide soap from the Mr anymore
Hope to see you all soon Maxine & the Mr.
Name/Business
Maxine Bohanan / My Soapy Kitchen
I named my soap craft ‘My soapy kitchen’ as that’s what my kitchen is most days along with most cupboards & drawers.
Describe your art/craft?
I enjoy growing & collecting flowers in my garden to infused them in oils to make gentle fragrance free soaps like calendula, rose hips & chamomile all good for sensitive skin, acne & eczema. I make some lovely fragranced bath bars but most of all I love making decorative soaps from fairy doors to beach huts.
How long have you been creating? How did you learn your craft or were you self-taught?
I haven’t been making soap for very long but as soon as I started making it I knew it was the hobby for me, I do a little bit of stain glass making, crocheting, I enjoy sewing & gardening (a lot) but soap has taken over my life & my house, everything I look at I wonder if I can create it in soap, I really do dream of soap.
What are your favourite art/craft 'tools of the trade'?
Where is your creative space?
I would love someone to build me a lovely soapy workshop but for now all my soap is made in my kitchen & all the embellishments are added at my dining table that I take over most days
What do you watch or listen to when you're creating?
I love listening to a good play on the radio, I’m an archers addict & find count Arthur strong hilarious (we are going to see him on stage soon) or I chat to my daughter & grandson on zoom/messenger or whatever it’s called.
What's your best selling product?
My best selling product depends on where I am & what time of year it is, surprisingly to me lavender fragrance soaps sell very well, fairy door soaps is always a great gift & my snowmen soaps were a great seller at Christmas, especially as a teachers gift (I bet they were hoping for wine) I did a little mouse on some soapy Suffolk cheese & that got a few giggles & was sold very quickly
Favourite thing you've ever created? Do you still have it, or did you sell/gift it?
I have lots of soaps I love for one reason or another but I made 3 bars of pic-nic soap, when I sold the last one I was quite sad, I think it was because I loved playing with plasticine as a child making fruit bowls full of fruit & foods for a pretend pic- nic with my beloved sindy dolls, those were the days!
Internet Pah!
More than 3 TV channels Pah!
Random fact about yourself?
I am a beekeeper & yes I get stung a lot! I like to add our own honey into my gentle soaps.
I have two ferrets, dizzy & Meg along with an African grey parrot that whistles my dog in from the garden & then shouts ‘get out!’ as he comes in, poor confused old dog
What new craft would you love to try?
I would love to try pottery but I wouldn’t have the room for such a messy craft & I really hate dirty hands, soap making keeps my hands very clean!
Where can customers buy your products?
You can find me on Facebook at My Soapy Kitchen www.facebook.com/My-Soapy-Kitchen-107116468312530 , I can post soaps or they can be collected from our honesty box just outside of Badingham where we sell our honey. I keep my Facebook page updated as to where I will be each weekend & we really do enjoy meeting new people along with our regular customers, it’s great to start recognising our regulars now & (so far) getting great feedback.
Give a shout-out to a fellow artist or crafter you admire!
I had never done or ever had the intention to do craft markets or anything like that but was coaxed into having a go by Christine Biggs at sizewell craft fair, I loved it & was hooked from day one! I will always have a soft spot for sizewell.
This year I have about 35 bookings already! so keep an eye out for a craft market near you
psssssst………. I don’t have to hide soap from the Mr anymore
Hope to see you all soon Maxine & the Mr.
