Spring is springing up all over! Trees are leafing, flowers are blossoming and the weeds have overtaken everything already. It’s that happy, hopeful time of year when grey turns to green and it all feels fresh and new.

There’s no better time to head outside and take in the miracle of nature. Spending even a few minutes focused on the beauty of the world around us is the antidote to the horrors of the news on our screens. Our stressed, overwhelmed nervous systems need a break from all the noise and panic. The remedy is just outside the window, sitting right under our noses, beckoning us with gorgeous smells and lovely flowers.

Spring reminds us that we are intimately connected to nature in all its wisdom and beauty, constantly changing, always growing, imperfectly imperfect.

LAST CALL FOR SPRING SOAP

Catch the newest spring seasonal scents before they're gone! Candied Ginger, Gardenia, Honey Apricot, and Lemon Clean are all in stock waiting to add a little flower power to your April showers (and sinks and baths). Fresh and pretty, they're on the menu for just another month, fading away as we splash into summer. If one of those tickled your fancy, hoard a few now. (Also, teensy reminder that Mom's love soap! hint hint.)

LET'S START APRIL OFF WITH A SALE!

What's a fabulous shower without amazing soap?! As incentive to stock up on the loveliest handmade soap for your April showers, today I'm offering 20% off site wide - meaning every single thing on the website. It's available April 1st thru midnight Sat April 4th. You will need to type the discount code SPRINGFLING in the coupon box on the checkout page to make the adjustment in your cart. 

PUMICE SOAP IS BACK, BABY!

Big news!! Pumice Soap is back in stock! It’s been a little while since it’s been available, so if this is one you like in your rotation, now is the time to grab it.

You might think this is a “guy” soap or something not for you . . . WRONG!

It’s an amazingly soft scrubber for the kitchen (know any foodies?), for gardeners, crafters, outdoorsy folks, anybody who works with their hands (which includes guys who get grimy) and even for softening winter-boot rough heels and feet. That covers pretty much everybody.

This bar has a bucket load of pumice sand in it, which feels sandy, but not sand-papery. It definitely exfoliates but with a really soft touch. And the lather is rich and creamy - an added bonus I did not expect. It cleans better than those terrible lava or pine tar soaps without stripping your skin and causing cracks. The scent is natural and lovely too, a fresh blend of soft herbs and earthy spice. (100% natural)

FRESH BATCHES OF HEALING SALVE AND SHEA BUTTER BALM!

Fresh new batches of Healing Salve and Shea Butter Balm tins are back in stock and ready for slathering! (2 oz tins, $6 ea)

The HEALING SALVE is a concentrated moisturizer and miracle cure for working hands and dry skin spots virtually any part of your body.  I recently received a wonderful note from a woman who has been using it on her face during the dry winter months and it’s been magic, people are telling her she’s glowing.

Pure olive oil and almond oil is infused with a blend of the highest quality herbs known their healing and soothing properties, then blended with beeswax and vitamin E. It has a light, clean and pretty scent of lavender and orange essential oil.

SHEA BUTTER BALM contains 25% Nilotica Shea Butter and 25% Virgin Coconut Cream Oil, both 100% organic and super luscious.  Nilotica Shea Butter comes from Northern Uganda, rather than West Africa, and is far superior in texture, nutritive value and aroma, plus it’s creamier and softer too.  Nilotica shea butter is a highly nourishing ingredient that is remarkably effective in healing dry and cracked skin, eczema, psoriasis and sun damaged skin.  And it is a noteworthy anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling and easing muscular aches and pains.  

Virgin Coconut Cream Oil is obtained from freshly harvested coconut meat that has been grated and then expeller pressed to produce the coconut milk.  It is a light, creamy and penetrating oil, which is anti-fungal and has a high Vitamin E content too.

Sweet Almond Oil is also an ingredient, beneficial for eczema, psoriasis and itchy, dry and inflamed skin conditions, plus it’s rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and E.; and pure 100% natural, beeswax.  It’s unscented, but has a lovely, warm, buttery aroma. Bottom line:  this moisturizing balm is the perfect thing for dry skin anywhere, from lips to heels.

MOTHER'S DAY IS COMING SOON!

Plan ahead for Mom! Sunday, May 11 is Mother's Day this year, a special day of appreciation and gratitude for everything your Mom does for you. There's always brunch and flowers, of course, but maybe sneak in a small gift of something she can pamper herself with for longer than just that day. Might I humbly suggest beautiful handmade soap? I've got so many gift ideas - collections of soaps, sprays and accessories too, many of them in pretty gift bags, or boxed up with ribbons, all ready to go. I can ship directly to all the Moms in your life, with a handwritten message  on a pretty card too - just type your message on the checkout page.

SUMMER ON THE WAY

Scheduling note: the first of May is when I announce my summer seasonal line-up. I'm working on some brilliant, fresh summery soaps for warmer weather. Make a note to check your inbox for all the news at the start of next month.

Thank you for supporting small biz, handmade and heart felt!

“Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands.”

- Japanese proverb

In a world that feels heavy and unsettled, spring arrives right on time — steady, faithful, and filled with quiet miracles. Spring comes as it always has — soft, green, and full of promise. As tiny leaves unfurl, and blossoms insist on blooming, birdsong cheerily starts our mornings, and warming sunlight slowly flows back into our days.

The earth reminds us that renewal is not a theory or a fancy spa detox, but an ancient rhythm that never wavers. No matter what’s unfolding beyond our doors, nature keeps offering its gentle reassurance: life continues, beauty returns, and hope takes root alongside the flowers.

NEW - SPRING 2026 SEASONAL SOAPS 

Spring fragrances are cheerily fresh, flowery, pretty and rejuvenating. Frolicking in the new grass, dancing playfully in the garden, this season’s selections are clean and pure, soft, sweet and lovely. These seasonal scents are limited in production and available February thru April. ($ 6.00 each)

CANDIED GINGER – There was time, in the way-back machine, when Oprah was head over heels in love with a ginger souffle body cream. I’ve always adored that creamy, subtly sweet, delicately spiced candied ginger scent and tried to capture that with this new seasonal soap. Light and elegant, this calming scent feels like a tender, soothing hug, both comforting and luminous at the same time.

GARDENIA – Gardenia blossoms are pure heaven. Sultry and exotic, these velvet soft flowers unfurl with an intoxicating perfume of romance and elegance. Similar to jasmine and tuberose, gardenia is one of the most popular floral scents, used in many perfume blends and a favorite at weddings. I have a small bush just outside my office door that always stops me in my tracks when a new bud begins to open. This soap scent is true, fresh gardenia blossom, straight from the garden on a warm, lush, evening.

HONEY APRICOT – Gently sweet and deliciously fruity, this fragrance blends tart, peachy apricot, sunny citrus, and warm honey. Bright and inviting, this scent of ripe fruit dripping in golden syrup feels like early spring sunshine poking through the clouds. 

LEMON CLEAN – When I’m feeling low, there’s nothing more cheery than the smell of fresh lemon-y clean. A freshly cleaned house or newly laundered clothes – everything shiny bright, spic and span, like the world is back in order. This fragrance sparkles with notes of lemon zest and cool, breezy air. Like sunshine beaming through an open window, it’s natural lemon at its most refreshing and refined. 

LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BEYOND!
 
Who doesn’t love a little something that smells good, feels good, and they can indulge guilt-free every single day? A reminder of spring to lift their spirits? A token of affection to warm their hearts?

If you’ve got a special someone on your mind for Valentine’s Day . . . or any other spring occasion, like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, or just making it through the week – we’ve got a gift to make the celebration perfect. 

In our Gifts section, we have charming sets of soap in boxes, soaps in bags, soaps paired with sprays or accessories, and totes filled chock full of goodies, all tied up with pretty spring ribbons. Add a frilly, fresh and flowery spring scented spray of Jasmine Lemon or Lilac Garden - the perfect antidote to an end of winter slump ($7 each).

Or why not show them you love them over and over, all year long. Gift them a Sudscription, our soap of the month club. Your sweetie pies and honey bears receive 2 bars of fresh and seasonal soap at the beginning of every month – 3 months, 6 months, or a full year. It’s an everyday reminder that you want to pamper them, care for them, keep them healthy, safe, soft and lovely.

In every petal and longer day, spring whispers what we sometimes forget — hope is not gone, it’s just blooming in its own time.

Be mine.

 "You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.”  

- Pablo Neruda

Happy New Year beautiful people!

We’re about to jump into 2026! How are you feeling? Hopeful? Glum? Anxious?

Our words and what we tell ourselves about “how things are” become the basis for our own individual perspectives, which then create for each of us, how things actually are. Our media and social media has been built upon drama, clicks, catastrophe and conflict. It’s not the full picture, just the worst of the worst.

I encourage you to find other news sources (Fix the News, the Goodnewsletter, Reasons to be Cheerful, and many more) to hear more about the rest of the world and how change and progress are marching forward in new and amazing ways.

In order to protect our health, our hearts, our minds, our sanity and have the resilience to live and thrive in our demanding times, we need to balance our inputs, take a step back and rest often, make our own dreams and passions a priority and spend our time wisely.

I hope this new year unfolds with purpose, beauty, and quiet joy for all of us. All the predictions I’ve seen so far, with numerology, astrology, and intuitives seem to say that this new ‘year of the fire horse’ signifies a powerful cycle of energy, freedom, passion, and rapid transformation.

But before we can launch into any of that, the first step is a nice, hot shower. A clean, new, good-smelling YOU! Because it's hard to clear the decks and create magic in the world while lounging around in old sweats and grubby hair.

WINTER CLEARANCE SALE KICKS OFF TODAY!

As we do each year, all the remaining Fall and Winter Holiday scented soaps will be on sale this month, clearing out the studio to make room for the year ahead (regular size bars - $4 ea). Inspiration strikes and productivity churns more easily for me in an empty, organized space. Help me clear the decks and save a few bucks too!

May the coming year hold ease when you need it, and inspiration where you’re ready for change.

Cheers to another year of clean living :)

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.”

— T.S. Eliot

Soap tidings we bring! 🤶 🛁

Greetings and salutations, my friends!

December is such a fast trot through the maze of holiday fa la la - racing to the end of this year of ‘too-much-all-at-once.’ Hang on tight, we just might make it to 2026.

This month holds so much promise and magic, jam packed with extra special events, activities, happy memories, togetherness and feasting. Enjoying the moments in between the rushing is key. Looking up at the snowflakes in the night sky instead of the cracks in the sidewalk keeps our hearts open. Wonder and gratitude for what’s right in front of us keeps us moving forward. Tally ho!

ARE YOU STILL GIFT SHOPPING?

I've said this often, but it's still true - handmade soap is the quintessential, utmost, perfect gift.  It's an everyday, much-loved, consumable item, taken to a higher standard of quality or uniqueness which your sweetie pie or honey bear might not splurge on for themselves. 

And like I always do at this time of year, I'm going to share the most important links to everything you need to know about soap gifting:

1. If you've wondered if giving soap as a gift might send a different (ahem, not so pleasant) message - I explain what giving the gift of soap really means. In a nutshell:  It's not "you stink." Rather, it says "you're special and you're worth it. You enjoy the finer things in life on a daily basis. I love you and want to pamper you." All really good stuff.

2. Are you confused by which scents to choose for all your people? Click here for  how to decide which scent to choose for every Who in Whoville. There's lots of handy tips, but honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the new Winter Holiday seasonal scents. They are spicy and festive, a cheery way to start a winter morning in the shower.

3. And finally, now that you've got your pile ready and waiting for wrapping, you'll need to know how to store them to keep them at their freshest, not just this month, but beyond. Here's our cheat sheet of tips on storing soap. There's a science to this.

DO YOU NEED SOME ELVES OF YOUR OWN?

All this holiday-ing can be a LOT, and maybe you're overwhelmed and exhausted trying to come up with yet another gift. We got you. Leave the decisions, the wrapping, the prettying, even the packing, shipping and post office-ing to us. There are lots of new gift options available - from pretty little floral linen sacks for a single bar, to combos of items all wrapped up in boxes, bags and travel pouches, ready to be zipped off to your beloveds. 

All you have to do is come up with a cozy sentiment for the gift card. Then slouch over to the computer in your jammies, mug in hand, and jot off the details to us. We'll do the heavy lifting while you take a nap and have just one more cookie. (Find the full selection under the GIFTS tab on the site.)

SWEDISH DISH CLOTHS IN HOLIDAY PATTERNS

I've yammered endlessly about these super eco-friendly, super cute, AND super efficient dish and cleaning cloths many times. So I won’t repeat all that. (Tho if you haven’t heard the hoopla, click here.) Anyhoo, I have some charming winter and holiday designs this month.  Oh, did I mention they make amazing gifts? You can find them under the Body + Accessories tab. ($5 ea)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - SALES AHEAD

Good gravy, can we just put the whole “Black Friday” thing to rest? It’s been an entire month of every kind of “early” lights flashing sale, bling bling discount and once in a lifetime specials that are not in the least bit special. The consumerism and sales pushiness are pushing us all to the brink.

We’re savvy enough to spot the fake sales a mile away, like when the regular price suddenly jumps up 20% but they are shouting about their 25% off ‘can’t miss’ deal. And don’t even start with the “Cyber” sales either. I’m old enough to remember when the internet was new and this was actually a thing, but literally nobody is waiting to get back to the office on Monday to do their online shopping, lol. People are shopping on their phones all day long! Good grief.

In light of all that insanity, I’m going to do what I always do, sell my hand-crafted-with-love items at their usual fair price in December. And I will have a winter sale in January with all seasonal items left on the shelf after the holiday shopping season is over. 

Because this can't be said often enough - thank you for all of your loyal business and support all year! After all these years you are like family to me, and I wouldn't be able to do this work without you. I am sincerely grateful for each and every one of you. 

I wish you the merriest of holiday seasons, whatever you celebrate - jam packed with happy memories, abundant feasting, and lots of laughter with the ones you love . May we show up for what we believe in, practice fierce kindness, and support one another.

With heartfelt love and appreciation,

Heidi Risse

“Christmas is a togethery sort of holiday. That’s my favorite kind.”

– A. A. Milne (from Winnie the Pooh)

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas! 🎄

Hello Friends,

Winter arrives softly, a fresh blanket of snow wrapping the world in stillness. While nature takes the lengthening darkness as a cue for a long nap, humans take a short detour from the plan. Instead of slowing down, people begin revving up the holiday making, starting a string of celebrations, one after the other for the next couple of months. Cooking, baking, decorating, shopping, partying – it’s a whirlwind of activity.

And the merry-making is wonderful, a special time filled with cherished traditions and beloved memories. But we are nature’s creatures also, and after we’ve jingled our last bell, flung the final popper, and toasted till we’re toasted, we too succumb to winter’s invitation to put our feet up. 

The natural cycle of all things requires rest before renewal. Winter shimmers with its own kind of beauty — the hush of morning frost, the glow of windows twinkling in the early dusk, the glittering starlight in the deep night sky. This is the season of pause and reflection, of drawing inward and noticing that the stillness is where life gathers strength for what comes next.

WINTER HOLIDAY SEASONAL SOAPS
 
One magical snowflake dances and twirls down from the sky, gently touching your nose - a teasing kiss from Jack Frost. Winter’s special magic is the inspiration for these new seasonal soap scents. 

Making spirits bright, oh what fun to have a little stash of treats on the shelf waiting for you. Or share your favorites to indulge your special people too. ($6.00 each) 

CHRISTMAS CHEER - If you could wrap up Christmas morning in a bar of soap, this would be it – all the holly jolly in one little package. The bright red color is a nod to Santa’s suit. And the fragrance is a bright, joyful blend of zesty orange, sweet brandied pear, spicy cloves, nutmeg and juniper berries. It’s a celebration of everything that makes the season merry and bright – cozy, cheerful and festive.

FLANNEL JAMMIES – A comforting hug from your coziest jammies, this is the scent of clean, freshly laundered cotton, just pulled from the dryer. It’s a warm, snuggly blanket for your senses – simple, soothing and effortlessly cozy. Just like your favorite flannel pj’s, this soap will be dearly loved and essential every day this season.

HOT TODDY – A cold winter’s day is always better with a nip of hot toddy. A warming, comforting mug of liquid gold – lemon, cinnamon stick, a pinch of clove, with deep notes of whiskey and honeyed apples. A little toddy for the body sure brings the holiday “spirit.” It’s cheery, uplifting, and just begging for a little Frank and Bing soundtrack.

JACK FROST – Inspired by the crisp, icy touch of Jack Frost himself, this scent blends tingly peppermint with the clean freshness of woodsy fir needle. It’s the sparkle of frost on pine branches, the invigorating chill of a winter’s day and the brisk rush of air awakening your senses – refreshing and lively.

THROUGH THE WOODS – “Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go . . . “ Fresh evergreens of balsam, spruce, juniper, and fir, blends with warm, soft woods and a hint of incense, evoking cozy cabins, glowing hearths, and the quiet magic of the season. A walk through a winter forest – a beautiful reminder of the season’s peace and stillness for your morning shower.

HELPING HAND SOAPS - A GIFT THAT GIVES BACK

Our popular mini soap sets have delightful new scents for the holiday season. This season we are donating half the proceeds of these sets to World Central Kitchen. Its primary mission is to provide food relief and support to communities affected by disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. They are one of the first helpers to show up to any tragedy bringing hot meals and essential supplies - from floods and hurricanes, to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Their organization helps local communities build their own response teams and infrastructure for the future as well. WCK is more than a charity, they are the very best of humanity.

This year’s charming package is a set of 5 small square soaps (2 oz ea, stacked up and tied with bakery twine) with scents of: (top to bottom): Flannel Jammies, Jack Frost, Through The Woods, Christmas Cheer, and Gingerbread House. Cleaning up can make a world of difference, for you and for the planet too.

WINTER HOLIDAY HOME FRAGRANCE SPRAYS
 
Add a little festive spirit to your home with one of our winter holiday home fragrance sprays. Mist your house and holiday decorations just before guests arrive, or spritz inside your gift boxes, cards and stockings – your family and friends will receive a whoosh of holiday cheer when they open their presents.
 
HOLIDAY SPICE has been our own tradition around here forever. Orange zest, tart red berries and mulling spices festooned with fresh evergreen garlands for that perfect scent of holiday magic and delight.
 
WINTER FOREST - evergreen boughs of balsam, spruce, fir needles, juniper and warm woods bring the peaceful scent of a walk in the winter woods and freshly-cut Christmas tree indoors.  (4 oz bottle $7.00)

ATTENTION HOLIDAY SHOPPERS! GIFTS GALORE!
 
It’s the gift-giving season and Soapworks Studio’s small gifts of soap and scented delights tick every box. Skip the malls, the corporate branding and the tariffs. Support small businesses and handmade goods that keep our communities strong, our artists happily creating and our economy from nose-diving. Everything from my studio is handmade with care in small batches, reasonably priced, with a nice variety of gift ideas from small to grand.  You’ll find something for everyone on your list. The holiday elves have created a wide range of customizable gift packages all ready for shipping direct, or for stockpiling under your own tree. 

* Soaps in boxes and sweet little drawstring bags, single bars and collections.

* Delightful gift sets of soaps with dishes, mitts, sprays or any of our products in lovely bags and totes

* Winter and holiday patterned Swedish dish cloths 

* Soap of the month subscriptions to enjoy fresh soap all year long

* Gift certificates in small to big amounts – an instant gift

Shop handmade, support small makers, and get the very best gifts possible. Hand written holiday cards can be included too. Skip the long lines and crowded malls, and let us handle the post office while you have a peaceful night’s sleep.

Wishing you comfort and warmth where it matters most, light that lingers long after the candles fade, and peace in the pause between seasons. May there be PEACE ON EARTH and Good Will to All Beings.

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."
- Edith Sitwell

Greetings Earthlings,

Happy Spook-tober! I'm plastering the place with pumpkins and spiders as we like to do but I'm going to have to find my zombie costume this year. Everything *waves hands around* is so exhausting that zombie is the only thing that fits right now.

I adore fall and October is a magic month, bewitching in its peak leaf-peeping beauty. Getting outside for a bit before the storms roll through brings me back to life. A stroll outside in nature's most splendid season, where time is suspended and the news cycle is silenced for a bit, allows me to breathe and re-set. 

As fall settles in quietly, you'll find me huddled over the pot brewing up wickedly wonderful soaps and special deals just for you. The holidays are not far away . .

DON'T MISS OUR FALL SEASONAL MENU

The fall seasonal menu is always our shortest one, a quick "boo" between the long summer and the start of holiday shopping season. Order these cozy autumn scents while they're fresh and in stock. Or face the hair-raising scare of missing out. Grab your broomsticks and prepare for some spine-tingling delicious showers that will leave you howling with joy!

The new fall menu captures some of the best smells of the season: Autumn Leaves, Cranberry Cider, Orange Clove, and Vanilla Cardamom. Cozy, spicy, nostalgic - we could all use a warm hug in a hot shower on a brisk, nippy morning.

SUMMER SOAP CLOSE-OUT

As the sun sets on summer, I've got just a handful of summer seasonal soaps left in stock.

I've put them on sale for $5 each to make room as I start to fill my studio with fabulous holiday treats. 

WINTER HOLIDAY ON THE WAY

Once the bell tolls "October" the next few months of the calendar will whizz by.

Holiday shopping goes full tilt next month and I'll have a whole new menu of Winter Holiday soap scents and gift ideas.

Check your inbox November 1st for the Winter Holiday announcement.

Stoking the fire, stirring my bubbling cauldron, and brewing up a batch of devilishly magical potions just for you, my pretties. 

Heidi Risse, Head Soap Witch

Song of the witches
from Macbeth - William Shakespeare

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn and caldron bubble.
Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.

I think most of us still carry a bit of bittersweet nostalgia about fall from our childhood. Woven into the change of seasons is a mix of contrasting feelings – the melancholy conclusion of summer vacation with the excitement of a new year of classes, friends and activities. Endings and beginnings seem more potent in autumn.

As years have passed, the ushering in of fall’s familiar routines and indoor comforts brings a timely sense of security and solace. It’s a welcome reassurance in the midst of so much unexpected change and chaos happening around us in the last few years.

 We find ourselves craving warmth and gentleness – soft sweaters, flannel sheets, cozy blankets. As we nestle indoors, we gather in the kitchen with nourishing slow-cooked meals and sweet treats. Ultimately, fall is a homecoming, back to where we came from and where we feel most comfortable. Every golden hour is a reminder of the fleeting beauty of change and the joy of simple comforts.

AUTUMN SEASONAL SOAPS

 Autumn arrives with a quiet kind of majesty, painting the world in shades of gold and crimson while the air turns crisp and inviting. The days grow shorter, yet somehow richer—each golden sunset and cool morning a gentle reminder to pause, breathe, and savor the season’s gifts. Fall invites us to gather close, to wrap ourselves in warmth, and to find beauty in the simple rhythms of change. This year’s Autumn soaps are inspired by Nature’s splendor, fruits, spices and comforts.  ($6 ea)

AUTUMN LEAVES: Step outside into the beauty of autumn with the true scent of crisp, fallen leaves. This fragrance is earthy, natural and leafy, yet uniquely light and clean. It evokes the simple beauty of fall days—rustling branches, golden light, and the cool air of the season. The scent notes blend spices of cardamom, nutmeg, pink peppercorn with carrot seed, cedar wood, amber and moss. It’s a gorgeous marigold colored bar that will make your shower feel like a walk through the woods.

CRANBERRY CIDER: Tart cranberries and crisp autumn apples with a mellow swirl of spice, this fragrance is lively and fruity. It’s the scent of sunlit orchards, warm kitchens, and that first sip of something delicious on a chilly day. Cheerful, crisp, and uplifting, this cranberry scent has been a beloved staple of my fall menu.

 ORANGE CLOVE: Bright orange zest paired with the warming spice of clove - this fragrance is cheerful, cozy, and timeless. There is a magical history of giving pomanders - oranges studded with cloves - as good luck gifts during the holidays. They’re said to bring protection and prosperity, attracting positive energy to your home. This soft apricot colored bar calls to mind a sense of comfort and festivity, softly citrus and gently spiced, your picture-perfect autumn soap.

VANILLA CARDAMOM: First added to the menu last holiday season, this lovely soap is returning by many requests. Sweet, creamy and smooth, this blend of rich Madagascar vanilla combines with pretty, floral cardamom spice. Notes of bergamot, delicate jasmine, warm clove, and quiet sandalwood round out and deepen the soft, elegant fragrance. It’s a warm, comforting, snuggle in a cozy blanket on a frigid, blustery day.

AUTUMN AROMATIC SPRAYS

A few of our aromatic sprays are perfectly suited to the season, bringing an autumnal breath of fresh air to your home this month.  Cleaner and more flexible than potpourri or candles, these sprays can be used to add ambience to a room, refresh table linens or a quilt in a guest room, revive bathrooms or closets, festively spritz a note card or gift box - and can be used a million other ways too. ($7.00 each)

SANDALWOOD ORANGE adds the inviting fragrance of woods and citrus to your cozy hideaway. HOLIDAY SPICE is festivity in a bottle, a blend of cranberry, orange, spices and fresh greens. And WINTER FOREST brings the beautiful scent of snowy woodland evergreens indoors.

GIFT GIVING IS A BOOMERANG WHAMMY

As unbelievable as it sounds right now, the holidays are right around the corner. But the “season of gift giving” is not just a annoying budget buster - it’s also a way we take care of each other, show love, appreciation and kindness, AND comes back around with even bigger benefits for our own hearts and spirits.

Science has shown that the feeling of gratification we get when do something for someone else is the result of neurotransmitters in the brain activating and lighting up. This, in turn, releases oxytocin (the love hormone), giving us a sense of belonging and connection. The happiness and the bonds of relationship continue much longer than the few minutes it takes to rip open the wrapping.

Human beings are hard-wired to be generous and look after each other. Doing something kind, helping someone out, giving to charity, and yes, giving presents to somebody who needs a lift – these are the small acts that give us joy. Can something as simple as gifting a bar of beautiful handmade soap really make your day? Yes! If I’ve learned anything over the years from reading your notes, it’s that sharing your favorite things with family and friends is a win-win - everyone gets to feel good. And if it smells yummy and makes their skin feel great day after day – well, that’s truly the good stuff. A bottle of wine only lasts an evening, but a bar of soap lasts for weeks. Under the “Gifts” tab on the website, we have a thoughtful selection of soaps, sprays, totes and collections. You’ll find a special something for anyone there.

Here’s to the rustle of leaves underfoot, the warmth of gathering, and the gentle magic of the season ahead.

“It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!”

– Winnie the Pooh

Hello shiny, clean, fabulous-smelling friends! 

Here in my little corner of the world, we've had the mildest summer in years. Just the right amount of warm days, but hardly any of those sweltering three-digit heat dome episodes that some other places have been sweating through. I'm thanking my lucky stars while knowing only too well that we've still got a bit of summer road ahead of us. 

No matter what the weather is where you are, there's still another month and change of summer on the calendar. Squeezing in that last little bit of vacation before the back-to-busy season arrives, August is where we leave it all on the field, ticking off every box on our summer fun lists. But easy peasy though, it's a pleasure list, not a task list. Napping in the hammock all afternoon is just the ticket.

LAST CALL FOR SUMMER SEASONAL SOAPS

Which brings up the next subject - if you've fallen in love with one of our summer scents, you might want to grab the last few bars left this year. We've got just a bit of these left in stock and then it's onto something new. Beach House, Cucumber Mint, Pink Hibiscus and Summer Solstice are still available, and refreshing as can be for warm weather sudsing.

PUMICE SOAP IS BACK, JACK!

This little workhorse for hard working hands has been in and out of rotation the past few years, and is back on the menu. You've been asking for it and we're only too happy to oblige. It's one of my must-haves here in the studio too.

Pumice soap has a bucket load of pumice sand in it, which feels sandy, but not sand-papery. It definitely exfoliates but with a really soft touch. And the lather is rich and creamy - an added bonus I did not expect but feels good, and like you're truly getting CLEAN, while still having that lovely moisturizing shea butter benefit all of my soaps do. The scent is herbal fresh - a mix of herbs and earthy spice. I wanted to tempt not only handy guys, but crafters and gardeners too, and outdoorsy people who are looking for something to soften their winter-boot rough heels and feet, and even foodies in the kitchen too - so, yeah, pretty much everybody.

SUMMER FEET

Sandals, flip flops, bare feet and strolling sandy beaches or hot pavement can take a toll on your feet. If you've got dryness or rough spots, we've got the tools to help. The tried and true 3-step method for bringing them back to life:

1) Soak your feet for a bit 
2) Remove hardened areas using a pumice stone or callous remover
3) Moisturize with a rich balm or lotion

Our Dead Sea Salts are the perfect addition to your foot soak. Just a handful soaks away dead skin cells and flakiness, while the high mineral content (sun-dried from the waters of the Dead Sea in Jordan) lowers stress, relaxing muscles, aches and pains, plus detoxifies and reduces inflammation, improves circulation and moisturizes skin too. It's kind of a miracle worker. (16 oz bottle - $10)

The Healing Salve is another super hero - much more than just a simple moisturizer. It's packed with an infusion of herbs for disinfecting, killing both bacteria and fungus, skin regeneration and all around skin healing and pampering. Those rough, cracked hells don't stand a chance. (2 oz tin - $6)

AUTUMN ON THE WAY

I'm already working on my new fall soap menu, which will be revealed September 1st, just next month. I'm so excited to share my new fall soap scents with you, but they are under wraps for a few more weeks. Check your inbox (or Facebook or Instagram) at the beginning of September for my Autumn Newsletter.

Each news day feels like a week, some days even a month long. The events here and around the world are dizzying, chaotic and panicky - constantly changing and difficult to make sense of. Our minds and nervous systems can't keep up without balance, rest and perspective. Do the small things and the big things to take the very best care of yourself and your people. 

Heidi Risse

Hola soap family!

Happy birthday to the USA this week! We're throwing our annual free shipping party! Get out your sparklers - it's the free shipping event we do every year during this holiday week as a way to celebrate the foundations on which we all try to live our best lives: freedom, equality, life, liberty and the good old pursuit of happiness.

This Independence day stock up on the very best soap -  and declare yourself free from:

*Dry, itchy, flaky skin.

*Slathering layers of lotion to compensate for the all of the above.

*Expensive bars that melt in a week or smell yucky.

*Freedom from skin care that doesn’t nourish your body, mind and soul.

*Oh yeah, and pesky shipping charges too. We've got you!

GIVE ME THE DISCOUNT ALREADY!

Here's what you need to know: zero shipping charges on any orders placed on the website July 1st through 4th. But you have to type in the coupon code to get the deal: LIBERTY25.

As always, my sale has no minimums, no requirements, no fine print, just free to be, you and me. Type LIBERTY25 in the discount code box on the checkout page to zero out your shipping charges. Starts now. Ends midnight on Friday, July 4th. Don't miss this once a year offer - and stock up for summer!

COLD SHOWERS NEED COOL SOAP

Summertime means another round of heatwaves and record breaking temperatures. At the end of the day you can find me in the shower with the taps on full cold - you too? In my experience, cold showers go better with super cool soap. Refreshing, pretty-smelling soaps like the ones we just rolled out in our Summer Seasonal Menu. Lather off the sweaty stinkies with Beach House, Cucumber Mint, Pink Hibiscus, or Summer Solstice. There's a favorite on the list for everyone: beachy, minty, flowery, citrusy - and all of them clean and super fresh.

If you haven't tried something, now's a great time to get your hands on them before they sell out. Or if you fell in love with one of the seasonals, stock up before the season changes and Autumn arrives in a blink. And don't forget the tried and true - your besties. Keep the soap cupboard full and ready for guests, gifts, and extra showers!

LAST CALL FOR HELPING HAND SETS!

There's just a handful of these left in stock! If you wanted to try each of our newest seasonal scents, or grab a gift of mini-size soaps, NOW is the moment. Our next offering of these will be for the holidays, later in the year.

Helping Hand Soaps are a set of 5 small square soap bars in different scents (2 oz ea), stacked up and tied with bakery twine in a charming package. Half the proceeds of these sets are donated to World Central Kitchen, providing food relief and support to communities affected by disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. ($12 each)

The chaos and divisiveness of politics this year has created lots of charged and mixed emotions around this patriotic holiday. Yet despite all its glaring imperfections and abusive origins, at its core this country was founded on a dream - a dream of freedom and equality. There is something beautiful about that, something worth fighting for. We're all just trying to make a better future for our families, no matter where we came from. 

Cheers, Heidi

“Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the
human spirit and human dignity.”
– Herbert Hoover

Hey there sunshine!

June is when summer really heats up. Temperatures rise, heatwaves become the hot topic again, and we all could use a good, cold, shower - hopefully with really lovely soap.

This is also the month we celebrate the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. Gosh, every day feels like that lately. Everything is ramped up to eleventy-eight - I could use a couple extra pool noodles to keep my head above the waves. 

June is also Dads and grads, vacations, adventures and all the summer fun activities. So to keep this short and sweet, here's the nutshell: I've got a discount code this week so you can get Dad something he's not expecting, but will love you for. And the new summer soap scents are ahhhh-mazing. You'll want to camp out in the shower all day with these beauties. But maybe lose the tux first . . .

SUMMER SEASONAL SOAPS

This year's summer menu has a little something for everybody: Beach House, Cucumber Mint, Pink Hibiscus and Summer Solstice. Descriptions of all of these fragrances are on each product page - but we've got beautiful spa, surf's up, tingly, cool, refreshing, fruity tooty, sun-washed, citrusy and light all covered in once place.

If you’re wanting to try just a little bit of everything, grab one of the new Helping Hand mini soap sets - it’s a sampler of all our newest scents.

Sudsing up with any of these lovelies makes the chilling a lot more fun and can keep you smelling fresh as a daisy. You'll be sad, dry and scratchy if you end up showering with something drab and uninspired like grocery store soap.

FATHER'S DAY

June 15 is Father’s Day and I know it’s traditional to get them regular stuff like ties, socks, bbq tools, tech stuff and games. But why not think outside the box and get them something they wouldn’t buy for themselves?

Gift them something they might secretly love, but think they have to sneak when no one’s looking. Sexy handmade soap!! I know for a fact (trust me) that there are guys who really like to use good smelling, creamy lathering, handmade soap. They find a few of their faves and buy in bulk quantities - so they don’t run out, obviously. Stockpiling and hoarding is trending again!

You can still have that barbecue and do all the usual Dad stuff on the weekend, but maybe sneak them a few bars of top notch soap too, so they don’t have to smuggle into Mom’s stash. 

Let's make this a thing! I've added a discount code for 20% any order this week just to get the party started. Type DADSUDS in the coupon code box on the checkout page to adjust your shopping cart. Starts today through midnight Friday, 6/6. 

We keep hearing this all the time, but the antidote for stressful living is rest, vacation, happy hobbies, joyful recreating - doing whatever it is that makes your heart sing. Summer allows you every excuse plus the extra time to really live it up.

Cheers to finding your little moments of lightness-of-being this month. The road is long but the rest stops make the journey a way better adventure.

Heidi

"Summer, after all, is a time when wonderful things can happen to quiet people. For those few months, you’re not required to be who everyone thinks you are, and that cut-grass smell in the air and the chance to dive into the deep end of a pool give you a courage you don’t have the rest of the year. You can be grateful and easy, with no eyes on you, and no past. Summer just opens the door and lets you out."
— Deb Caletti

Hello there, Sunshine!

As the sun warms and stretches, the cycle of seasons turns softly from spring to summer. Unfurling slowly in the expanding daylight, summer feels like an exhale. Time slows down just enough for us to notice the shimmer of heat on the sidewalk, the golden sunbeams rustling across the waving grass, and the cherished scents of beach waves, just-mown lawn, ballparks and farmer’s markets. 

It’s the season of bare feet and open windows, of spontaneity and sun-drenched joy. Whether you’re beach-combing for seashells, road-tripping back roads, or just reading a book in the shade, summer reminds us that play is necessary and life doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s the small, sweet moments that make the very best memories.

SUMMER SEASONAL SOAPS

Summer scents are the essence of warm, sunlit days and balmy evenings outdoors. They bring a sense of joy, freedom and adventure, calling to mind all the best celebrations of the season. Vibrant, sunny citrus, tropical vibes, and cool dewy notes have a lightness and freshness to infuse your showers with a touch of sunshine and effervescense. These are only available for the next few months, made in limited production.  ($6.00 each)

BEACH HOUSE – This is one of my signature scents, joining the summer menu so regularly over the years that it begged to become an Aromatic Spray as well. It’s been on vacation for a couple of years, but the fans are clamoring, and since it’s a personal fave, I’m happy to have it back too. It’s a dreamy blend of salty ocean air with wisps of softly crushed lavender buds, cooling mint, and a sprig of sun-warmed rosemary. Beach House is unisex, elegant and effortless – like you just showered off a day of beach wandering and now you’re barefoot, wrapped in a towel, the ocean waves still whispering outside.

CUCUMBER MINT – This soap is a crisp, refreshing classic scented with tingly crushed mint leaves and dewy green cucumber slices. It’s light and clean, skin soothing and calming – exactly what you want for chilling in your summer shower when temperatures get steamy. 

PINK HIBISCUS – Fruity and sweet, this fragrance is a tropical fruit punch. Sunny orange and grapefruit citrus brighten a juicy smoothie of peach and papaya nectar, while mingling seductively with soft floral notes of rose petal and jasmine blossom. It’s a fruit forward scent with a delicate breeze of exotic flowers – gorgeously delectable.

SUMMER SOLSTICE – A couple of years ago, I made bonus soaps for the solstices and equinoxes, and this one was so good, I couldn’t resist sharing it again. Summer Solstice is an all-natural blend of essential oils – sun-kissed citrus zest and bright lemongrass, a hint of mint for freshness, and finished with warm golden spice base notes. It’s bright, energizing, and happy, a summer sunrise full of possibility and adventure.

NEW! HELPING HAND SETS ARE BACK - WITH SUMMER VIBES!
 
I’ve created a new version of the mini soap sets, which have been on hiatus for the last year. This set is a bit of a “sampler” which people have asked for. This collection includes one of each of the summer seasonal scents (described above) plus one bonus scent: Beach House, Cucumber Mint, Pink Hibiscus, Summer Solstice and Sunwashed – a radiant and refreshing bergamot citrus and verdant green blend.

Helping Hand Soaps are a set of 5 small square soap bars in different scents (2 oz ea), stacked up and tied with bakery twine in a charming package. This season we are donating half the proceeds of these sets to World Central Kitchen. Its primary mission is to provide food relief and support to communities affected by disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. Often some of the first helpers to show up to any tragedy, from floods and hurricanes to the wars in Ukraine and Israel, they bring essential hot meals and supplies. Plus they help local communities build their own response teams and infrastructure for the future. WCK is more than a charity, they are the best of humanity. ($12 each)

MOTHER’S DAY IS COMING UP! SHOWER HER WITH GOOD SMELLS! 
 
Moms are our everyday superheroes. They take care of just about everything for everybody, always there to smooth out the wrinkles. Tell the Moms in your life how much you appreciate them with a happy little gift of pretty smelling soaps and treats that she can pamper herself with. It’s way better than brunch, though nobody said you can’t do both. And it might just last all month - way longer than a bunch of flowers. We’ve got all shapes and sizes of totes, care packages, ribbon tied boxes, the works. 
 
This is the time of year for grads, Dads, birthdays, and lots more occasions for sending a small, thoughtful, handmade gift. Maybe a Soap of the Month Sudscription with 2 fancy soaps in the mail at the start of each month? If you’ve been around here a minute, you know what I say about the gift of soap – you’re not hinting ”ugh, you smell bad.” Gifting amazing handmade soap means “you're special and you're worth it.” Or “I love you and want to pamper you with the finer things in life.” All REALLY GOOD stuff.

Whatever summer looks like for you this year, I hope it brings ease, delight, and a little more room to breathe.

“Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds.”

—Regina Brett

Hello favorite people!

Have you noticed? It's cherry blossom time! And depending on where you are, maybe magnolias, crab apples, all kinds of spring flowering trees. They are bursting out all over (sorry allergy sufferers) and it's really such a lovely time of year. It just takes a little warming up, a little sunshine, mixed with a little or a lot of rain, for Mother Nature to turn the page and throw a spring party!

April is peak month for so many spring flowering somethings - tulips, wisteria, dogwood, azaleas, it's magnificent!

It's time to get outside and take in the miracles of nature. Spending even a few short minutes to focus on the beauty of the world around is the antidote to all the chaos on our screens. Our stressed out nervous systems need a break from all the noise. And the solution is just outside the window, sitting right under our noses, beckoning us with beautiful smells and pretty flowers. Spring is the perfect reminder that we are intimately connected to nature in all it's wisdom and beauty, constantly changing, always growing, imperfectly perfect.

LAST CALL FOR SPRING SOAP

Catch the newest spring seasonal scents before they're gone! Almond Satsuma, Bewitched Orchid, Honeysuckle, Pink Peony and Tulip Fields are all in stock waiting to add a little flower power to your April showers (and sinks and baths). Fresh and pretty, they're on the menu for just another month, fading away as we splash into summer. If one of those tickled your fancy, hoard a few now. (Also, reminder that Mom's love soap! hint hint)

LET'S START APRIL OFF WITH A SALE!

What's a good shower without great soap?! A little incentive to stock up on the loveliest handmade soap for your April showers, today I'm offering 20% off site wide - meaning every single thing on the website, including Clearance Sale items. It's available April 1st thru midnight April 3rd, but you need to type the discount code FLOWERPOWER in the coupon box on the checkout page to make the adjustment in your cart. 

MOTHER'S DAY IS COMING SOON!

Plan ahead for Mom! Sunday, May 11 is Mother's Day this year, a special day of appreciation and gratitude for everything your Mom does for you. There's always brunch and flowers, of course, but maybe sneak in a small gift of something she can pamper herself with for longer than just that day. Might I humbly suggest beautiful handmade soap? I've got so many gift ideas - collections of soaps, sprays and accessories too, many of them in pretty gift bags, or boxed up with ribbons, all ready to go. I can ship directly to all the Moms in your life, with a handwritten message  on a pretty card too - just type your message on the checkout page.

SUMMER ON THE WAY

Scheduling note: the first of May is when I announce my summer seasonal line-up. I'm working on some brilliant fresh summery soaps, including a new Helping Hands mini soap set back on the menu. Make a note to check your inbox for all the news at the start of next month.

I do realize that writing about spring flowers, pretty soap and carrying on as if the world isn't a dark and scary place right now seems a little tone deaf. And I wrestled with that a little. Ultimately though, I have to continue doing what I do, as best as I possibly can, and bring a bright spot of cheer to both your inbox and your showers. I'm grateful to have all of you in my boat with me as we navigate the rough seas ahead.

Heidi Risse

Hello lucky duckies!

How are you holding up? This last month has been such a fire hose of news, change and roller coaster emotions. I hope you are finding moments of peace, nature and joy in the chaos. I know that sounds cliche but when overwhelm overtakes us, it's essential to find tools to balance our hearts and minds, settle us back down, and allow our best selves to navigate what will come next. I'm taking longer walks, talking to the deer and the hawks, and watching the river flow fiercely in the nature preserve near me. 

SPRING SEASONAL SCENTS

In case you were off on some tropical paradise vacation, or burrowed under the covers in hibernation, you may have missed the announcement of the new menu of spring scents last month. All the fresh new scents are in stock and ready to blossom in your shower: Almond + Satsuma, Bewitched Orchid, Honeysuckle, Pink Peony, and Tulip Fields. Starting your day awash in the scent of beautiful flowers and clean freshness is living the good life. Your winter weary soul (and skin) will thank you.

NEW BONUS SAMPLE SOAP SCENTS FOR CHEAP CHEAP

In the way-back times I made small experiment batches when playing around with what I might add to my seasonal soap menus - and then begged family and friends to try them out. But during the past few years I’ve made bigger test batches and sold them at a discount price as “sale soaps.” And you know what? I think that makes a whole lot of sense. Because YOU get to try them and give me your feedback about what you like.

And I get a better sense of what scents you are interested. It’s now a group project, not just my own guessing game and hopefully you get more of what you love.

This month I have 4 brand new scents on the spring list and honestly these are pretty darn good. I hope you are as excited about them as I am: Botanica, Lemon Clean, Morning Spa, and Spring Whisper. 

Click over to the SOAP page to read scent descriptions and learn more. They are listed at the discount price of just $5 each and the quantities are quite limited, so don't sleep on them if you're interested in giving them a suds up. Just a gentle reminder - I'd really love to hear honest feedback, either good or not as much. And if you want to see something return in the future, I'm not the best mind reader - drop me a note!

March ever onwards. Breathe in the renewal of spring. Find happiness in the tiniest moments. Change is unavoidable, yet we can guide its progress with our commitment to each other and our hopes for a better future. Plant your gardens with the most beautiful and resilient seeds. As we water and tend the soil with passion and moral clarity, good things will come. 

Heidi Risse

 Can you feel it yet? Spring is almost here! We welcome this cheerful season of love and flowers with giddy excitement and anticipation. This beloved time of year brings the promise of new life, fresh starts and creative inspiration to a world weary of the daily news. As the sun returns inch by inch – a few minutes a day, a few degrees at a time – our spirits are lifted, our mood brightened, our hopes revived.

 Despite the drab remnants of winter out the window, nature’s deep wisdom is already making plans for a grand appearance. Buds and blooms, seedlings and grass, birds and bees too, are busily getting to work, buzzing underground and behind the scenes, coordinating the miracles that amaze us with their beauty every year, no matter how many times we’ve been round the sun.

The wheel of the year, just like the tides of the sea and the cycles of all things – are constant and eternal. These familiar patterns give us comfort as we journey through life. The unique magic of spring’s beauty renews our optimism, awakens our creativity, and opens our hearts in a way no other season can. Deep, deep breaths, our face to the sky, we are alive and well.

NEW - SPRING 2025 SEASONAL SOAPS

Spring fragrances are naturally fresh, flowery, pretty and rejuvenating. Frolicking in the new grass, dancing playfully in the blooming garden, this season’s calling card is clean and pure, soft, sweet and lovely. These new scents are limited in production and available February thru April. ($ 6.00 each)

ALMOND + SATSUMA – A perfect match for spring – freshly squeezed satsuma and sweet mandarin orange blend seamlessly with warm, cozy almond. Bright, happy citrus is a wonderful mood-lifter, made all the sweeter with a little pinch of nutty, golden almond and honey.

BEWITCHED ORCHID - This was an experimental soap that I had on sale a year ago, and it got so many requests, I'm featuring it on the seasonal menu for a few months. It's a gorgeous "dark" floral fragrance - a mix of ginger, black pepper, ylang ylang, gardenia, jasmine, orchid, and clove. The finishing notes are a blend of amber, patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla. It’s really beautiful and quite fragrant - an earthy, mysterious, moody, exotic floral that rounds out with clean white musk notes, feeling fresh and modern.

HONEYSUCKLE - I remember the sheer pleasure we had as kids, tasting that one little heavenly drop of honeyed nectar out of a gorgeous wild honeysuckle flower. We’d pick almost all the blooms off the vine to catch that tiny, sweet droplet. This soap fragrance captures honeysuckle it all its glory. Delicate floral notes reminiscent of jasmine or freesia with a touch of lemon blossom - spring personified.

PINK PEONY – This was hands-down the top selling spring soap from a few years ago, back by request. I've called this the most beautiful floral fragrance I've ever smelled, and apparently you did too. The fragrance description mentions marvelous things like sparkling cassis, bergamot, lemon, dandelion greens, white musk, honey, as well as peony petals, which means that it's carefully blended to be the most elegant version of a peony bouquet. Soft and modern, it's fresh from the garden or flower shop - the dewy green leaves, the nectar of a fresh-cut stem, the lush sweet blossoms - it's mesmerizing and you'll want to luxuriate in it every day this spring. 

TULIP FIELDS – Once the tulip fields have opened their blooms, spring is officially here to stay. There is nothing more dramatic than the long rows of colorful tulip blossoms stretched out as far as the eye can see. They may not be known for their perfume, but they do have a lovely, fresh scent. This fragrance is the perfect blend of floral petal, delicate green grass, fresh breezes and a splash of spring rain. This pink bar is incredibly airy, dewy and fresh.

YOU'RE THE SOAP TO MY SUDS AND WE'RE A PERFECT PAIR!
 
If you’ve got a special someone on your mind for Valentine’s Day . . . or any other spring occasion, like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, or just making it through the week – we’ve got a gift to make the celebration perfect. Who doesn’t love a little something that smells good, feels good, and they can use every day?

In our Gifts section, we have charming sets of soap in boxes, soaps in bags, soaps paired with sprays or accessories, and totes filled chock full of goodies, all tied up with pretty spring ribbons. Add a frilly, fresh and flowery spring scented spray of Jasmine Lemon or Lilac Garden - the perfect antidote to an end of winter slump ($7 each).

Or why not show them you love them over and over, all year long. Gift them a Sudscription, our soap of the month club. They will receive 2 bars of fresh and seasonal soap at the beginning of every month – 3 months, 6 months, or a full year. It’s an everyday reminder that you want to pamper them, care for them, keep them healthy, safe, soft and lovely.
 
Sending you all my highest hopes that this spring showers you with radiant health, happy dreams, and bright ideas.

Heidi Risse

“The first real day of spring is like the first time a boy holds your hand. A flood of skin-tingling warmth consumes you, and everything shines with a fresh, colorful glow, making you forget that anything as cold and harsh as winter ever existed."

– Richelle E. Goodrich

Happy New Year bright shiny friends!

And HELLO to 2025. Were you around for that whole "Millennium" new year and the panic over Y2K? That was 25(!!) years ago already!  The passage of time is a tricky thing - both sooooo sloooow and then a blink of an eye. I guess you feel it more once you've gotten a couple of those '25 year' episodes under your belt.

Some of us are looking backwards at the year that just ended, doing reviews and writing lists of what worked, what didn't work. Others of us are looking forward to the brand new calendar, dreaming up plans, bucket lists and resolutions. At this very moment we feel like we have a new lease on life. A blank page and a clean slate give us the magical inspiration to create, to dream, to learn, to tackle a new project or adventure.

But before we can do any of that, the first step is a nice, hot shower. A clean, new, good-smelling YOU! Because it's hard to clear the decks in old sweats and grubby hair.

I won't go so far as to blurt out that old cheesy saying that 'cleanliness is next to godliness' because dirt and things that grow in the dirt are just as close to God as anything. But there's something to be said for 'clean living.'

"Clean Living" isn't just a catch phrase, it's meaningful in a real world way. Clean living involves making choices that prioritize the well-being of ourselves and the planet too. It's obvious little things like eating healthy, reducing stress, getting enough rest, connecting to the natural world. But in the bigger picture, it's using environmentally-friendly products and supporting companies that align with our values too. Clean living makes us happier and healthier, which in turn, creates a positive impact in the world around us. It doesn't have to be overwhelming, just tiny little decisions each day, like showering with a fresh bar of really good soap made from scratch by yours truly micro-business. After that, you can tackle breakfast, hi ho.

WINTER CLEARANCE SALE KICKS OFF TODAY!

As we do each year, all the remaining Fall and Winter Holiday scented soaps will be on sale this month, clearing out the studio to make room for the year ahead (regular size bars - $4 ea). Inspiration blooms and productivity happens more easily for me in an empty, organized space. Help me clear the decks and save a little moolah! (Oh, and don’t forget to check the Clearance Page too.)

May this new year ahead be vibrantly healthy and abundant in every possible way for all of us. We are creating our future with every thought, decision and action we take. Nourish yourself well, rest often, be kind to yourself and all beings. Together we can make this year brighter than the last.

Cheers to another year of clean living :)

“Let our New Year’s resolution be this: We will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word.” — Göran Persson

Salutations and best wishes friends!

It's December, the big finale, the wrap up to a really long, stressful year. We can finally snuggle into our own little hibernation caves. And we can poke our heads out here and there to celebrate whatever strikes our fancy with whoever makes us happy.

Winter gives us a chance to rest, reflect, put everything into a new perspective, and just take time for ourselves to breathe more deeply, nourish our souls and connect with what we love.

ARE YOU STILL GIFT SHOPPING?

I've said this often, but it's still true - handmade soap is the very epitome of the perfect gift.  It's everyday, much-loved, usable item taken to a higher standard of quality or uniqueness which your sweetie pie or honey bear might not splurge on for themselves. 

And like I always do at this time of year, I'm going to share the most important links to everything you need to know about soap gifting:

1. If you've wondered if giving soap as a gift might send a different (not so pleasant) message - I explain what giving the gift of soap really means. In a nutshelll:  It's not "you stink." It says "you're special and you're worth it. You enjoy the finer things in life on a daily basis. I love you and want to pamper you." All really good stuff.

2. Are you confused by which scents to choose for all your people? Click here for  how to decide which scent to choose for every Who in Whoville. There's lots of handy tips, but honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the new Winter Holiday seasonal scents. They are spicy and festive, a cheery way to start a winter morning in the shower.

3. And finally, now that you've got your pile ready and waiting for wrapping, you'll need to know how to store them to keep them at their freshest, not just this month, but beyond. Here's our cheat sheet of tips on storing soap. There's a science to this.

DO YOU NEED SOME ELVES OF YOUR OWN?

All this holiday-ing can be a LOT, and maybe you're overwhelmed and exhausted trying to come up with yet another gift. We got you. Leave the decisions, the wrapping, the prettying, even the packing, shipping and post office-ing to us. There are lots of new gift options available - from pretty little floral linen sacks for a single bar, to combos of items all wrapped up in boxes, bags and travel pouches, ready to be zipped off to your beloveds. 

All you have to do is come up with a cozy sentiment for the gift card. Then slouch over to the computer in your jammies, mug in hand, and jot off the details to us. We'll do the heavy lifting while you take a nap and have just one more cookie. (Find the full selection under the GIFTS tab on the site.)

SWEDISH DISH CLOTHS IN HOLIDAY PATTERNS

I've blabbed on and on about these super eco friendly, super cute, AND super efficient dish  and cleaning cloths many times. So I won’t repeat all that. (But if you haven’t heard the hoopla, click here.) Anyhoo, I'm fully stocked with charming winter and holiday designs.  Oh, did I mention they make amazing gifts? You can find them under the Accessories tab. ($5 ea)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - SALES AHEAD

My goodness, can we just put the whole “Black Friday” thing to rest? It’s been an entire month of every kind of lights flashing sale, bling bling discount and once in a lifetime specials that are not in the least bit special. The consumerism and sales pushiness are pushing us all away. We’re savvy enough to spot the fake sales a mile away - when the “regular” price suddenly jumps up 20% but they are shouting about their 25% off can’t miss deal. And don’t even start with the “Cyber” sales either. The internet wasn’t invented yesterday and nobody’s waiting to get back to the office on Monday to do their online shopping, lol. People are shopping with their phones all day long! Good grief.

In light of all that insanity, I’m going to do what I always do, sell my hand-crafted-with-love items at their regular fair price in December. And have a winter sale in January if there are any seasonal items left on the shelf after the holiday shopping season is over. 

Don't miss the CLEARANCE sale page now, though. Catch a few items at amazing discount prices right now before they are gone!

Because this can't be said often enough - thank you for all of your loyal business and support all year! After all these years you all are like family to me and I wouldn't be able to do this work without you. I am sincerely grateful for each and every one of you. 

I wish you the merriest of holiday seasons, whatever you celebrate - jam packed with happy memories, abundant feasting, and lots of laughter with the ones you love . May we show up for what we believe in, practice fierce kindness, and support one another.

With heartfelt love and appreciation -

Heidi Risse

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.” – Agnes M. Pahro

All I want for Christmas is suds . . .

Hello Friends,

 Brrrr. Hoo baby, it’s cold outside. A chilly nip in the air announces that the wheel of the year has turned once more, beginning the final chapter of seasons, Winter.

Darkness lingers longer into the morning, and begins earlier each evening, bringing us indoors to nest and hibernate. A blanket of snow settles around Mother Nature, tucking her in for a nap and the whole world follows. A quiet hush beckons us too, calling us to slow down, take time to pause and rest deeply.

In winter, the world is transformed into a realm of contrasts, where the stark beauty of snow and ice contrasts with the warmth of human connection. It's a season that urges us to seek comfort in the embrace of loved ones, to share stories and laughter, and to celebrate the simple joys of life.

Winter Holiday Seasonal Soaps

 One magical snowflake dances and twirls down from the sky, gently touching your nose - a teasing kiss from Jack Frost. Winter’s special magic is the inspiration for these new seasonal soap scents.

Making spirits bright, oh what fun to have a little stash of treats on the shelf waiting for you. Or share your favorites to indulge your special people too. ($6.00 each) 

Bay Rum – Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of rum! Bay Rum conjures up Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. This scent is a hallmark of the tropical islands, where the alluring blend of exotic bay leaves, clove, allspice, citrus and dark rum come together creating this timeless fragrance. You may remember this as a classic men’s cologne, marketed to rugged adventurers or modern-day explorers, but it’s spicy, herbal, leafiness, plus top notes of orange rind and apple peel, feel perfectly festive for the season. It’s a charming holiday addition to anyone’s cleansing routines.

 Christmas Cheer – If you could wrap up Christmas morning in a bar of soap, this would be it – all the holly jolly in one little package. The bright red color is a nod to Santa’s suit. And the fragrance is merry and bright – orange zest, brandied pear, cloves, nutmeg and juniper berries. It’s a celebration of fruits, spices and greens.

Jack Frost – Inspired by the crisp, icy touch of Jack Frost himself, this scent blends tingly peppermint with the clean freshness of woodsy fir needle. It’s a captivating combination that transports you to a wintry forest sparkling under a blanket of frost, awakening your senses like the invigorating chill of a winter’s day.

Three Kings – The precious gifts of the Wise Men, carrying ancient treasures of frankincense, myrrh, and gold to the new king is a holy symbol of the season. Sweet, warm and earthy, the sacred scents of frankincense, myrrh, and amber are blended with warm notes of cinnamon sticks, luxurious cashmere and tonka bean. This fragrance envelopes you in a cocoon of warmth, tranquility and opulence.

Vanilla Cardamom – Sweet, creamy and smooth, this blend of rich Madagascar vanilla combines with pretty, floral cardamom spice. Notes of bergamot, delicate jasmine, warm clove, and quiet sandalwood round out and deepen the soft, elegant fragrance. It’s a plush, comforting, snuggle in a cozy blanket on a frigid, blustery day.

Winter Moon – Wispy remnants of a lingering winter bonfire carry the woodland smells of a quiet winter night.  Sandalwood, tree moss and holy wood capture the serene beauty and tranquil elegance of a winter landscape bathed in moonlight.  Delicate woodland whispers and earthy, soft embers calm and ground you in the peace of the season.

Winter Holiday Home Fragrance Sprays

Add a little festive spirit to your home with one of our winter holiday home fragrance sprays. Mist your house and holiday decorations just before guests arrive, or spritz inside your gift boxes, cards and stockings – your family and friends will receive a whoosh of holiday cheer when they open their presents.

Holiday Spice has been our own tradition around here forever. Orange zest, tart red berries and mulling spices festooned with fresh evergreen garlands for that perfect scent of holiday magic and delight.

Winter Forest - evergreen boughs of balsam, spruce, fir needles, juniper and warm woods bring the peaceful scent of a walk in the winter woods and freshly-cut Christmas tree indoors.  (4 oz bottle $7.00)

Attention Holiday Shoppers! Gifts Galore!

It’s the gift-giving season and Soapworks Studio’s small gifts of soap and bath treats tick every box. Everything is handmade in small batches, reasonably priced, with a nice variety of gift ideas from small to grand.  You’ll find something for everyone on your list. The holiday elves have created a wide range of customizable gift packages all ready for shipping direct, or for stockpiling under your own tree. 

• Soaps in boxes and sweet little drawstring bags, individuals and more.

• Delightful sets of soaps with dishes, mitts, sprays or arrays of all of our products in lovely bags or totes

• Winter and holiday patterned Swedish dish cloths

• Soap of the Month subscriptions to enjoy fresh soap all year long

• ift certificates in small to big amounts – an instant gift

Shop handmade, support small makers, and get the very best gifts possible. Hand written holiday cards can be included too. Skip the long lines and crowded malls, and let us handle the post office while you have a peaceful night’s sleep.

My deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your friendship and support this past year. May there be PEACE ON EARTH and Good Will to All Beings.

Heidi Risse

" Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people's legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world.”  

- Sarah Addison Allen

Greetings Earthlings,

Happy Spook-tober! As we dust off our Witchie-Poo hats and spruce up the place with scary spiders and pumpkin decorations, we're also brewing up wickedly wonderful soaps and special deals. 

October is truly a magical month. It's peak leaf-peeping season with fall color at its best. The skies are a perfect, crisp blue, and the days are just long enough and warm enough for lovely outings -  to gaze in wonder at the fleeting beauty before the winds, rain and chill arrive. It's that perfect window of stillness and rest before the holiday rushing begins in earnest. We're counting down the days, hoarding candy, planning costumes, watching horror flicks, indulging in the all the goose-bumpy delights.

DON'T MISS OUR FALL SEASONAL MENU

The fall seasonal menu is always our shortest one, a quick "boo" between the long summer and the start of holiday shopping season. Order these cozy autumn scents while they're fresh and in stock. Or face the hair-raising scare of missing out. Grab your broomsticks and prepare for some spine-tingling delicious showers that will leave you howling with joy!

The new fall menu captures some of the best smells of the season: Autumn Equinox, Cranberry Apple, Moss + Cypress, Pumpkin Chai, and Vanilla Oak. Cozy, spicy, nostalgic - we could all use a warm hug in the hot shower on a brisk, nippy morning.

END OF SUMMER - ON SALE

I've got just a handful of soaps left in stock from the summer menu in two scents: White Linen and Lemon Balm + Olive Wood. I've put them on sale for $5 each to make room as I start to fill my studio with holiday stock. 

BACK IN STOCK - PUMICE

A local car-tinkering, wood-worker guy contacted me a couple of years ago and wondered about a pumice soap, something that would truly scrub off the residue of working with your hands. Could I make something like that? Me: More experiments? Heck yeah! Let me see what I can come up with.

So I scoured the internet first. Found all the maker's tips and recipes. And then created something new with my own flair. This soap has a bucket load of pumice sand in it, which feels sandy, but not sand-papery. It definitely exfoliates but with a really soft touch. And the lather is rich and creamy - an added bonus I did not expect. The scent is herbal fresh - a mix of herbs and earthy spice. I wanted to tempt not only handy guys, but crafters and gardeners too, and outdoorsy people who are looking for something to soften their winter-boot rough heels and feet, and even foodies in the kitchen too - pretty much everybody.

This soap is been in and out of rotation by request. There is limited supply for now.

WINTER HOLIDAY ON THE WAY

As you know, holiday shopping goes full tilt next month. Check your inbox November 1st for the Winter Holiday announcement. We've got some fun new soap scents on the way!

Stoking the fire, stirring my bubbling cauldron, and brewing up a batch of devilishly magical potions just for you, my pretties. 

Heidi Risse, Head Soap Witch

"Hope is the magic carpet that transports us from the present moment into the realm of infinite possibilities."

- H. Jackson Brown

Hello friends,

Probably it’s a holdover from my back-to-school days, but fall always brings a cornucopia of mixed emotions – reflection and nostalgia, plus twinges of anxiety and dread, all swirling around with bubbles of excitement, anticipation and joy. I suppose that’s true with all change, and this season is one of the most transformational.

As daylight dwindles and plant life winds down, nature explodes into a tapestry of vibrant colors. The cooler air, rain and storms gather us indoors, inviting us to slow down and savor the simple pleasures – fuzzy sweaters, steaming mugs, snuggling in front of the fireplace, slow cooking and feasts with friends. A deep sense of coziness and comfort brings us back to the peaceful, present moment.

As world events and election season ramps up to nail-biting nervousness, autumn balances our emotions with a quiet contentment. The return to scheduled routines and traditions gives us a foundation of order and calm that we can rely on. Dig deep into fall’s special magic as we sail the next few months of stormy seas.

AUTUMN SEASONAL SOAPS

Fall paints a canvas of sensory delights – the cozy aromas of spices and baked treats, the gentle patter of falling rain, and the colorful mosaic of leaves dashed across the trees. It's the season of harvest festivals, where the bounty of nature is celebrated with feasts that warm the soul. This year’s Autumn soaps are inspired by our favorite fruits, spices, and comforts, taking the best of the season and honoring its charms. ($6 ea)

AUTUMN EQUINOX: A cozy blend that captures the essence of fall - natural woods of sandalwood, cedar and birch, with bright, citrusy orange and bergamot, and warming clove spices. Sweater weather in a single sniff, this is a popular repeat of last year’s bar, but with a new color, dark eggplant.

CRANBERRY APPLE: In years past, this fragrance has been an all-time favorite. Tart cranberry and juicy red apple, a squeeze of sweet mandarin, with just a hint of cinnamon spice. A soft red colored bar, it’s bright and fruity – sunlit apple orchards, fresh baked treats, happy memories of all things fall.

 MOSS + CYPRESS: Clean, fresh and invigorating, this aroma starts with top notes of  cool, green moss and fresh dew. Hinoki cypress, cool mint, juniper, green musk, and dark woods transports you to a tranquil forest grove. It’s softly calming and peaceful – the stillness of verdant forest in your shower to begin the day. 

PUMPKIN CHAI: It’s pumpkin spice season and we adore a rich, creamy pumpkin soap. This fragrance evokes all the yummy, cozy, warmth of fall – lush, spiced pumpkin blended with the comforting aroma of creamy chai tea. A medley of spices including cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, softened with the sweetness of pumpkin pie and vanilla cream. Real pumpkin puree in the recipe gives it extra creamy lather, plus beautiful moisturizing benefits and skin nourishing vitamins.

VANILLA OAK: The essence of rustic elegance, this dark brown bar gently blankets you in warm, sweet vanilla. An earthy base of soft woods and white musk are lightened up with top notes of lemon, honey, apricot and jasmine. Classic and comforting as cashmere, it’s a dark vanilla bean colored bar that will become your favorite fall go-to.

AUTUMN AROMATIC SPRAYS

 A few of our aromatic sprays are perfectly suited to add an autumnal breath of fresh air to your home this month.  Unlike potpourri or candles, these sprays can be used to scent table linens, a quilt in a guest room, freshen bathrooms and closets, spritz a note card or gift box, and used a million other ways too. ($7.00 each)

SANDALWOOD ORANGE adds the inviting fragrance of woods and citrus to your snug hideaway. HOLIDAY SPICE is festivity in a bottle, a blend of cranberry, orange, spices and fresh greens. And WINTER FOREST brings the beautiful scent of snowy woodland evergreens indoors.

GIVING GIFTS BENEFITS ALL OF US

As unbelievable as it sounds right now, the holidays are right around the corner. But the “season of gift giving” is not just a pesky budget buster - it’s a way we take care of each other, show love, appreciation and kindness, yet also has bigger benefits for our own hearts and spirits.

Science has shown that the feeling of gratification we get when do something for someone else is the result of neurotransmitters in your brain activating and lighting up. This, in turn, releases oxytocin (the love hormone), giving us a sense of belonging and connection. This happiness and the bonds of relationship continue much longer than the few minutes it takes to rip open the wrapping.

Human beings are hard-wired to be generous and look after each other. Doing something kind, helping someone out, giving to charity, and yes, giving presents to somebody who needs a lift – these are the small acts that give us joy. Can something as simple as gifting a bar of beautiful handmade soap really make your day? Yes! If I’ve learned anything over the years from reading your notes, it’s that sharing your favorite things with family and friends is a win-win - everyone gets to feel good. And if it smells yummy and makes their skin feel great day after day – well, that’s the good stuff. A bottle of wine only lasts an evening, but a bar of soap lasts for weeks. Under the “Gifts” tab on the website, we have a thoughtful selection of soaps, sprays, totes and collections. You’ll find a special something for anyone there.

Let autumn’s magic allow you to pause and cherish the small moments, to linger a little longer, and to celebrate the beauty of change that's woven into the very fabric of the season. In the famous words from somebody’s mother – “All will be well!”

"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day,
"Come o'er the meadows with me and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
singing the glad little songs they knew.

"Cricket, goodbye, we've been friends so long;
Little brook, sing us your farewell song;
Say you are sorry to see us go;
Ah, you will miss us, right well we know.

"Dear little lambs in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
fondly we watched you in vale and glade;
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"

Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went;
Winter had called them, and they were content;
soon, fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow laid a coverlid over their heads.
 
- George Cooper

Heat domes are no match for cool suds 🧊

Hello shiny clean, good-smelling people! 

It's been the heat dome-iest summer ever for a lot of us, and August is usually the peak month of sweating it out. How are you holding up? 

It's never a bad idea to jump in a cool shower and take down the temperature. Heat waves, raging forest fires, hot political storms, and fierce Olympic battles have everyone in a lather, figuratively. But literally, we can lather away the stress with self care - relaxing, pretty soap suds in a soothing bath or shower.

Handmade soap is tops when it comes to sudsing up, and with a nice addition of shea butter in our bars, the suds are creamy dreamy, the scents are all kinds of beautiful, and you never have to worry if your skin is going to get dry, itchy and flaky just from showering. 

LAST CALL FOR SUMMER SEASONAL SOAPS

Which brings up the next subject - if you've fallen in love with one of our summer scents, you might want to grab the last few bars left this year. We've got just a bit left in stock and then it's onto something new. Day at the Beach, Lemon Balm + Olive Wood, Summer Cottage, Verbena + Coconut Milk, and White Linen are still available, and refreshing as can be for warm weather soaping.

MAIN MENU MAINSTAYS

With all the seasonal rotating menus, I realize it's sometimes hard to keep track of which scents are temporary and which ones are on the regular menu. During the last year or so, I've added 2 new scents to the permanent line-up because you all have let me know they are definite keepers. Lavender Woods and Sea Salt + Surf are available year round because yes, they are THAT good.

SUMMER FEET

Sandals, flip flops, bare feet and strolling sandy beaches or hot pavement can take a toll on your feet. If you've got dryness or rough spots, our Healing Salve and Shea Butter Balm can come to the rescue. The best way to bring them back from the brink:

1) Soak your feet for a bit (the Dead Sea Salts work wonders!)
2) Remove hardened areas using a pumice stone or callous remover
3) Moisturize with a rich balm or lotion

Personally, I like to use the Healing Salve with its bevy of herbs infused for disinfecting, killing bacteria and fungus, and all around skin healing and pampering. The Shea Butter Balm is a lovely, creamy moisturizer which absorbs and softens beautifully. Either one is a winner.  Your tired, hard working summer feet will thank you. (2 oz tin - $6)

CLEARANCE SALE PAGE

Have you checked it lately? These items are close-outs and won’t last long. Plus there are new organza fabric gift bags which hold just about any of our products - the perfect way to glam up a gift. Perfect time to shop early when gift giving season is just a few months away.

AUTUMN ON THE WAY

In the middle of a heat spell, sometimes the days feel like they go sooooo slooooowly. And yet the news  cycles are making my head spin - one week feels like at least a month of happenings. While I love the generally laid back vibes of summer, getting to the finish line of the election season  - and fall arriving sooner rather than later -  doesn't sound so bad to me.

With that in mind, I'm already working on my new fall soap menu, which will be revealed September 1st, just next month. I'm so excited to share my new fall soap scents with you, but they are under wraps for a few more weeks. Check your inbox (or Facebook or Instagram) at the beginning of September for my Autumn Newsletter.

Be well, stay cool, and hang tight. We're all in this crazy boat together. If we grab onto each other and hold hands hopefully we can ride out the waves together and make it through this storm intact. Keep your people close!

The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean —
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down —
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

-  Mary Oliver