How it all began...

I LOVE making soap!  I'm addicted to it!  I'm rather obsessed with it.  I read about it, dream about it and think about soap all the time.  Here's my story.

We've had goats now for near 9 years.  We first got the goats purely out of a desire for healthy, wholesome raw milk.  I honestly can't remember what led me to desire raw milk, but since a youth, being inspired by good nutrition from my parents--especially my mom-- I have been rather a health nut.  I read constantly and am always striving for optimal nutrition.  Somewhere along that path, I decided that my family needed raw milk.  I thought a goat might be easier to manage than a cow; so began our life with goats. 

We milked for many years and enjoyed many of the obvious benefits from the milk:  fresh of course for drinking, making all kinds of cheeses and yogurts, and sharing with friends.  One year, probably about 5 years ago, our good friends and neighbors, Nichole and Paul, gave us a small kit for making goat milk soap.  The kit included everything that I needed except the fresh milk and the lye.  Well the milk was easy, obviously.  But the lye intimidated me.  I pondered that kit for a long time...years in fact...not quite sure how to tackle the lye issues.  Where do I get it?  How do I handle it?  Where will I store it?  Yada, yada, yada...  But the kit stayed in the top of my pantry closet teasing me all that time. 

Then one day I met some new friends, Alyssa and Jen.  We met over the impending delivery of a goat in labor.  Goat conversations abounded.  They had been making soap with their fresh goat milk!  I was so excited to meet real live people that were on the other side!  I was invited to their home to make goat milk soap with them.  I was enthralled!  They made it look so easy. I could do this!

I immediately ordered the proper ingredients that I needed and plunged in head first!  I was in love.  I quickly started exploring many recipes and started developing my own preferences and recipes.  I came up with strategies and techniques that helped make things easy and interesting.  I read incessantly, both real books and online.  That first year, I made soaps for all our personal and holiday gift giving needs.  People seemed to love them.  There was only one problem:  I just couldn't stop!  A creative outlet had been unleashed and I was loving every minute. Throughout most of the following year, I dabbled (both seriously and jokingly) with the idea of starting my own soap making business. 

At one point, a great friend of mine, Erin, sent an email to me addressed to "Jangle".  I wasn't exactly sure what she meant by that, but just loved the ring of it.  It sounded happy and playful. I sent my reply and signed off with the name "Jangle".  We had a good laugh when she later explained that it had been a typo that she hadn't even realized she had made. I told her right then that if I ever started a business that I would name it to include my new name of Jangle.  

Around the first of October last year, again I was musing about the notion of selling some soaps and my ever inspiring friend Jill said "Get out your calendar and let's plan an open house!  I'll help you."  She did indeed help me.  She listened to me, gave me advice, listened to me, sampled soap, listened to me, and held my hand all the way through my open house.  And she still has to listen to me about soap!  I must also mention here, that my family--especially my husband, Scott--did an awful lot of listening, sampling and hand-holding too.  I made soap like a mad woman all through October, and then shifted to business details (website, Face Book page, labeling, etc... for all of November).  Early December, 2013,  I had my Grand Opening Open House that was a smashing success! 

So, with the start of some awesome fresh milk, and the support of some really great friends and family, Jangle Soapworks was born and has been going strong ever since.  The quest for a healthful, natural lifestyle is a perfect match for our business.  We use only the BEST ingredients possible.  The goats are fed organic food and tons of love.  We buy organic oils and other organic ingredients whenever possible.  We love our soap.  I love soap.  I love all things soapy! Thank you for loving and supporting our soaps too!