This month my best friend Lela and I decided it was time for another creative adventure, sometimes it’s fun to step away from the glass studio and learn a completely different craft. Recently, my friend Lela and I spent the day at a local goat farm taking a goat milk soap-making workshop. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn something new, meet some adorable goats, and experience the process of creating handmade soap from start to finish.
When we arrived, we were introduced to several of the farm’s goats, including Diana, Domino, and Cecilia. The goats were friendly, curious, and more than happy to greet visitors. It was fun seeing the animals responsible for the milk that would eventually become the soap we were making. The farm owners clearly take great pride in both their animals and their products, and their enthusiasm was contagious.
One of the highlights of the day was spending time with the goats themselves. They were full of personality—friendly, curious, and always looking for attention. As we walked through the farm, several of them came right up to greet us, hoping for a scratch behind the ears or a tasty treat. It was fun matching the goats to the names on the soap labels and learning a little about each one’s unique personality. Seeing Diana, Domino, Cecilia, and the rest of the herd made the connection between the farm and the finished soap feel much more personal. By the end of the visit, I think we were all a little smitten with these adorable four-legged soap makers! 🐐💕
After the goats, we moved on to the soap-making portion of the workshop. We learned about the ingredients used in goat milk soap and how the process works. Each participant selected molds and added dried flowers and decorative elements to personalize their bars. I chose beautiful purple flowers for two of my soaps and a purple mica in the other two. I added fragrance to all four of the soaps. I placed all the ingredients in the molds before pouring the soap mixture. Watching the molds slowly fill and seeing the designs come together was one of my favorite parts of the day.
Once the soap had cooled and set, we were able to unmold our creations and admire the finished bars. The detailed goat molds were especially impressive, capturing every little feature from the animals’ faces to the surrounding scenery. Some soaps were left a natural creamy white while others had soft shades of pink, giving each bar its own unique appearance. The finished soaps were wrapped and labeled with custom stickers featuring the farm’s goats, adding a professional touch
One thing I enjoy about creative hobbies is that no matter the medium—glass, soap, resin, or painting—the process is always similar. You start with raw materials, learn a few techniques, add your own creativity, and end up with something uniquely yours. Spending the day with Lela, learning a new craft, and visiting such a charming farm made for a wonderful experience and plenty of inspiration. I’ve always wanted to make soap and this was a fun adventure at https://www.hancockfarmsco.com/soap-making-workshop While fused glass will always be my first creative love, it’s refreshing to occasionally try something completely different. The goat milk soap workshop was educational, relaxing, and a lot of fun. Between the adorable goats, beautiful handmade soaps, and time spent with a good friend, it was a day well spent. Who knows—there may be more creative adventures outside the glass studio in my future!
If you would like to see more of my fused glass work, please refer to my website Elegant Fused Glass by Karen. If you get a chance, check out all my site and my Elegant Fused Glass by Karen YouTube. If you would like to stay abreast of what I’m up-to and learn a little more about jewelry, check out our newsletter. It is published the last day of each month.
Keeping my kilns warm,
Karen
