Inside The Soap Box (Hawaii)

Coffee & Yummy Treats with My Friend & Soap Buddy, Ghislaine

2010-04-10T19:15:03-10:00

Aloha everyone!

Recently a a special friend and former soap making student, Ghislaine Chock, invited me to her home for a "coffee hour". We began meeting for our coffee hours last year, and they are somewhat of regular "date" for us when time permits! I really look forward to these get togethers because it's relaxing, inspiring, and very enjoyable!

Ghislaine and I usually meet at a local Starbucks for coffee and sweets and chats. This particular time, we met at her home. What a pleasant surprise! Not only was there great coffee, but she baked a delectable coffee cake from scratch! Fresh strawberries grown in Hawaii, orange juice, and even some homemade kumquat preserves were at her beautiful table! Can't beat that! A great time was had by all (her hubby had to leave to teach a class, but got a piece of her heavenly coffee cake and coffee). My hubby just plain missed out!

Ghislaine has evolved into a great soap maker, and we love her soap! She shared a couple bars of her newly colored soaps with me, and I love them! We'll be taking them to our next class to share with our new students. A photo of her beautiful soaps does not do them justice. They SMELL wonderful, too.

Ghislaine used pigments in these soaps. Lovely, aren't they?

Ghislaine has another passion: weaving on great big looms (the size of a baby grand piano?). She recently won an award for a gorgeous weaving she made. I cannot even begin to describe her beautiful weavings so I'll just post some photos of her creative and exquisite work. Please enjoy!

Woven Bibs, handmade by Ghislaine

Look at the size of this loom and her work in progress!

Another work in progress!

These are breathtaking!

Ghislaine is a true artist filled with a passion for love and life, and I am so grateful to have her as a friend! Her work may be on display at different venues at different times, such as Linekona Art Center at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and various galleries (Mark's Center Gallery) in Honolulu.

Thank you, Ghislaine for the coffee, the sweets, and for being you!

Aloha,

JoAnn and Steve
The Soap Box (Hawaii)
www.soapboxhawaii.com

New! Advanced Soap Making Workshops at Linekona Art Center, Summer Session

2010-04-01T10:48:35-10:00

Good news! We are teaching two Advanced Soap Making workshops this summer at Honolulu Academy of Arts at Linekona Art Center, in addition to two more "Art of Soap Making" (for beginners) workshops. We're so excited to be able to share and teach more people this wonderful craft!The schedule is as follows:

*The Art of Soap Making Workshop Summer 2010

Steve Cromwell and Jo Ann Takushi
Saturday 6/19/10 or Saturday 7/17/10, 1-5pm, $85 (includes materials)

This is a hands-on soap making workshop. Each student, with the guidance of the instructor, will make 3 pounds of soap to take home. Class will include a lecture on the history of soap, the physical properties of soap, how soap cleans, equipment needs, ingredients, safety, and saponification. Each student will receive: safety goggles, rubber gloves, a wooden mold, a disposable apron and a booklet containing information about soap making. Students should wear old clothes and bring an old bath towel for transporting the soap home. Workshops are limited to eight students each. Steve and Jo Ann have been making soap for over 14 years; The Soap Box Hawaii customers include resort hotels, spas and stores throughout the islands and on the mainland.

Honolulu Academy of Arts handles the registration process. The schedule and registration forms are available on www.honoluluacademy.org (click the Adult Art Classes tab, and you may download the Summer 2010 Schedule and the Summer 2010 Registration Form). Classes are filling up so register early! See below for Advanced Soap Making workshops.

Students can also register in person at the Art Center Administration Office. Office hours are Tues-Friday, 9am-4pm, and Sat, 9am-3:30pm. Call 532-8741 or 284-6170 for more details.

See what Joyce M did with her very first batch of soap! Great job, Joyce! (Art of Soap Making Workshop)

*Advanced Soap Making Workshop Summer 2010

Steve Cromwell and Jo Ann Takushi

Saturday, 5/22/10 or Saturday, 8/14/10 1-5pm, $75 (includes materials)
Prerequisite: Art of Soap Making Workshop

Now that you’ve learned how to make your own cold process soap, you probably love how great it feels and smells. Want to learn how to be more creative with your soap making? We’ll teach you how to use colors and additives to layer, swirl, texturize and add some pzazz to the appearance of your soap! Get your creative juices flowing--you’ll be inspired with step-by-step demonstrations of different techniques to beautify your soap creations. Students will also learn to make goats milk soap in this class and experience its luxurious effects. Here’s a sample of what we will be covering:

Adding texture to the tops of bars

Color swirling that students will prepare in class

Embedding shapes

Layering colors

Students should bring their wooden molds to class (lined with stretch wrap), together with goggles, gloves, apron. Students should also wear old clothes and bring an old bath towel for transporting their soaps home. Workshops are limited to eight students each. Steve and JoAnn have been making soap for over 14 years; The Soap Box Hawaii customers include resort hotels, spas and stores throughout the islands and mainland.

Please call 532-8741 or 284-6170 for registration information.

More classes coming at Kapiolani Community College this summer! Stay tuned!

Happy Soaping!

Steve & JoAnn
The Soap Box (Hawaii)
www.soapboxhawaii.com

Spring Soap Making Classes Were Great Fun!

2010-03-23T17:23:46-10:00

Aloha everyone!

It's March, and we're done with Spring soap making classes at the Honolulu Academy of Arts at Linekona Art Center! We had great students, and both classes were fun, fun, fun!

Linekona Art Center

Everyone had such a great time that we're coming back for Summer classes to begin in May! We'll still be teaching the Art of Soap Making (beginners) workshop, but we're adding two Advanced Soap Making workshops to expand horizons and creativity. We're so excited! We'll keep you posted with upcoming dates and times.

In the advanced class, we'll be learning to use colors (pigments and dyes) and how to apply different techniques in soap making. We'll also learn how to use additives for texture. A demo of goat's milk soap making will also be included in this workshop. You'll be making your favors and gifts in no time!

A big Mahalo (thanks) to Bradley and Vince at the Honolulu Academy of Arts for helping us get started with our workshops by giving us this great opportunity to share our passion with our community! We'd be lost without them!

We also want to extend a big thank you to our patient students! We appreciated everyone who attended our workshops and hope we see you again soon.

The above photos were taken during different classes. Everyone's so intent on being safe and creative!

Kapiolani Community College, Diamondhead Campus

More great news: The Soap Box (that's Steve & JoAnn) will be teaching Beginning Soap Making workshops at Kapiolani Community College during the summer! We are so very excited at this brand new opportunity to reach out to our community. Stay tuned for dates and times...

Thanks for stopping by...stay tuned for MORE!

Regards,

Steve & JoAnn

Soap Making Classes Filling Up. . .

2010-01-24T17:50:55-10:00

Aloha all!

As we approach the end of the first month of the year (where did January go?), we're getting closer to the date of our first handmade soap making workshop at the Honolulu Academy of Arts at Linekona Art Center! The first class is filled up, and the second class has only a few spots left! We're excited that the Academy has suggested holding another workshop in March because our classes are popular!

So make a beeline to their website, click on Art Classes, Adult Art Classes, and from there, you may download the Spring 2010 brochure and registration form. You may also call 808-532-8741 or e-mail artschool@honoluluacademy.org. You can also e-mail us at info@soapboxhawaii.com or call us at 808-284-6170. Either way, please register soon to participate in the fun and creative art of soap making!

Here's a photo of the Linekona Art Center:

Get ready to learn and have fun . . . prepare for Valentine's Day gifts, wedding favors, birthday gifts, or whatever!

See you soon!

Professor Steve (the handsome soap instructor) and some former students.

Happy Soaping!

JoAnn

Fresh!

2010-01-05T12:42:49-10:00

Aloha all!

Just had to share with you our most recent find in Honolulu!

Yesterday, while on a mission to find gift basket materials, we passed a new addition to Kakaako, which is just outside of downtown Honolulu: Fresh Cafe! Fortunately, curiosity got the best of us . . . we stopped to see what this new cafe was all about. The owner, Tiffany, was very helpful as she described their unique menu to us. We decided to stay and have a bite for lunch!

Steve ordered the Turkey Pesto Bagel Sandwich, and I opted for the Chicken Pesto Penne Pasta Salad. Of course, we had to sample each other's dish. Our taste buds were delighted! The pesto sauce is AWESOME! Fresh and tasty, tasty, tasty!

Fresh Cafe also offers a great coffee bar, along with unique iced teas and Italian sodas. We also saw some pretty mouth-watering desserts...yummmy!

Next time you're in the neighborhood, don't pass this by! You'll be pleasantly surprised. They are open early and close late. Great spot to meet and hang out for a bit while enjoying their tasty treats. No, we don't work for them, we just are so happy to have found Fresh Cafe (831 Queen St., Honolulu, HI). For more info, here's a link to their website: http://www.freshcafehi.com

Oh, by the way, we did also find our gift basket supplies. We're donating for a silent auction to benefit the University of Hawaii School of Public Health Alumni Association!

Gotta get those gift baskets done!

See ya soon!

JoAnn & Steve
The Soap Box (Hawaii)
info@soapboxhawaii.com

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T15:52:32-10:00

Happy New Year to you all!

Here's wishing everyone a new year full of hope, good health, peace, and prosperity. 2009 was full of many changes and challenging adjustments for everyone, making us all think about what's really important in our lives besides money.

We believe that 2010 will bring us new-found faith in God, the universe, ourselves and our families/friends. So forge on and let's get movin' into a new year and a new decade!

The Soap Box (Hawaii) is on the move with new projects and new direction. Our primary focus is still on soaps and toiletries and all it entails, however, we are re-routing our energies just a little. Our focus this year will be on teaching people how to make and craft their own soaps so they can derive more enjoyment and fulfillment from this ancient craft. We will still be making soaps to sell to our wonderful customers, and want to share the wonderful experience of creating new experiences for everyone by teaching this fun and practical art.

In line with our new focus on teaching the art of soap making, we will also offer soap making supplies to everyone via our website. Makes learning and practicing your new craft much more convenient, especially for those of you who live in Hawaii. Learn how to make your own soaps for gifts, favors, or for your own personal use! Just think of the satisfaction you will feel and the money will ultimately save!

Join us on our new path and sign up for our new cold process soap making workshops at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Linekona Art Center in Honolulu. Here's the link to the schedule and registration form: http://www.honoluluacade my.org/cmshaa/academy/index.aspx?id=742

We look forward to seeing you in 2010 for some fun and excitement!

Aloha,

Steve & JoAnn
The Soap Box (Hawaii)

Soap Classes . . . Learn the Art of Soap Making in Hawaii

2009-12-09T15:41:14-10:00

Aloha everyone!

It is with great pleasure that The Soap Box (Hawaii) announces 2 new soap making workshops to be held at Honolulu Academy of Arts at Linekona Center in February and March 2010.

The schedule is as follows:

Sunday, February 28, 2010, 1-5pm

Saturday, March 20, 2010, 1-5pm

We're so excited about this great opportunity to share our craft with everyone! So let's start the year off with a bang and learn something that is not only FUN and CREATIVE, but CLEAN to boot!

Students may download the Spring Brochure and Registration Form here. Fee for workshop is $85 (includes all supplies and materials). No experience necessary.

Each student, with the guidance of the instructor, will make three pounds of soap to take home.
Class will include a lecture on the history of soap, the physical properties of soap, how soap cleans,
equipment needs, safety, fragrance oils, essential oils, base oils, humectants, and saponification. Each student will receive safety goggles, rubber gloves, a wooden mold, a disposable apron and a booklet about soap making. Students should wear old clothes and bring an old bath towel for transporting soap home. Workshops are limited to eight students each.

With your new skills, you can make your own beautiful gifts, favors, or your own personalized soaps. The possibilities are endless.

Students can also register in person at the Art Center Administration Office. Office hours are Tues-Friday, 9am-4pm, and Sat, 9am-3:30pm. Call 532-8741 or 284-6170 for more details.

Hope to see you there!

JoAnn and Steve
The Soap Box (Hawaii)

Excitement is in the air!

2009-12-09T14:57:54-10:00

Happy Holidays all!

Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season! This is the year where we will all learn the true meaning of the holiday spirit. We believe that through the thick and thin of it all, we still have our dear families, friends and . . . ourselves! Believe . . . in God, the Universe, our own spirituality . . . we are all blessed. We can all help each other out by giving each other love and support and by showing gratitude that we are all alive!

Here's wishing you are all warm, happy and tranquil during this time of the year. . . remember to BREATHE!

Seasons Greetings!

JoAnn and Steve

The Soap Box (Hawaii)
www.soapboxhawaii.com

The Holidaze are Upon Us!

2009-11-29T18:57:59-10:00

Hi everyone!

Don't know how we arrived at the end of the year so quickly . . . did this year seem like a blur to anyone else but me? Seems like 2009 just began not too long ago . . .

By the way, just for your information, the lovely young lady to your left is one of our granddaughters! Since the holidays are upon us, we'd like to share our family with all of you! This is Kiana Frederick, and she lives in Mesa, Arizona! Isn't she just the cat's meow? She 8 going on 21 and is as sweet as can be!

Last weekend, we visited with my Dad on the island of Maui and had a few days to relax with him. He's now doing pencil drawings and is so good at it. We watched him paint a scene of a church on Molokai. He is quite the artist, and of course, I forgot my camera. It's incredible how this passion just gushed out of him

like refreshing breaths of fresh air once he moved to Maui from Los Angeles. I'm always in awe of his artistic achievements. Here's a sample above. It's one of my favorites, the ulu (breadfruit) tree.

Steve and I got to relax after a hectic week, and it felt great! We were sitting gazing at the coconut trees that were just about everywhere, and we noticed how mightly strong they are, even though the trunks are so thin . . . they just bend with the breeze, no matter how gusty! Looks are deceiving, I guess, but it was great to gaze upon the trees as they just go wherever the wind takes them.

We love Maui and had a great time . . . now back to reality: the holidays are here. Are you ready?

Here's hoping you all didn't get crushed in the "Black Friday" shopping spree. We avoided any shopping on Black Friday because, frankly, it drives me crazy! Great deals and all, but is it really worth it if you have to get up at midnight and stand in line for hours? We'll have to focus on gifts from our hearts this year.

Be back soon with more news! In the meantime, take a look at our website for some great affordable gifts!

Look forward to hearing from you! Tell us your shopping stories or whatever!

Aloha,

JoAnn & Steve
The Soap Box (Hawaii)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T00:07:47-10:00

Aloha!

This will be a short post as we are on our way to Maui Wednesday early in the morning! Going to visit and spend some time with my Dad who is 84 years young! Maybe we'll even get some relaxation in between eating.

This week's been a blur as well as last week...I guess the holildays are here!

Here's wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Have a safe and happy holiday...happy shopping, too!

We give thanks for being so fortunate to have good friends and family...what would we do without them! We also thank our furry friends who keep us warm and cuddly and happy. We're so happy to be alive and living life.

See you all soon--have a wonderful holiday weekend.

Gobble, gobble,

Jo Ann and Steve
The Soap Box (Hawaii)

PS: Don't forget to stop by our website...we have some great and affordable gift items for the holidays!