FairyBalm

Aim

Our aim is to reintroduce soap making as our heritage into every day life and addressing environmental issues, and modern's society's issues

Fairybalm. The artisan, natural, vegan Soap Workshop

What Is the Fairybalm Mission?  

 - To value tradition, practice mindfulness, produce less plastic, offer soap making as a social activity as a means of building a community and social connections - 

We value craftmanship and mindfulness in our every day lives. We believe that small actions can change the world, and inspire others. In my way of seeing things, a fresh bar of soaps keeps the world greener and happier.

FairyBalm stands for reconnecting with nature, our traditions and our local community.

Through my project, I would like to address issues as, the use of too much plastic in our every day lives, the toxicity of synthetic ingredients in cosmetic products, mental health problems: anxiety, stress, depression, alienation.

Synthetic ingredients were introduced in the cosmetic industry in time of war, because it meant a cheaper manufacturing process, and it was easier to use in mass-production.   

Mass- production seemed necessary at that time, but it has moved us away from our collective / social activities and our ability to have a well-built connection with people around us.

Today's society suffers from stress, stress induced health and skin problems also mental health issues, and we lack a sense of belonging, because we do not have social activities anymore.

With reintroducing soap making as a social activity, I want to build a community around it, for those passionate about soap and the environment, and offer a possibility for fun and therapeutic courses.  Using this craftmanship as a tool for practicing mindfulness, it can become a means to heal the mind, body and soul. 

In addition to natural products, fun community projects, and relaxing courses we would also like to offer group meditations, group yoga sessions and healing sessions.

The Workshop

It is the concept of a vegan and natural soap making workshop, where people can buy their favourite soap, hang out, learn, create and heal. 

I would like to set up a workshop here in Reading, which, firstly, would be a place to make my soap, in small batches, that I can offer as an alternative for people who want to use natural products. Most importantly, it would be an interactive place: offering the possibility to see how soap is made, learn about its history, for people to make their own.

Soap is one of humanities oldest heritage, and in the past it offered a possibility for living independently (people were producing what they needed themselves), and to exist as a member of a group, as it was made collectively, this is why I will be offering programs of apprenticeship and volunteering, to build a network of people who are passionate about similar things and build fun projects that could help our community.

We want to be eco-friendly in everything that we do, this will be reflected in our shop design as well:

• We won’t be using any packaging for our products
• Our making process is eco-friendly, making soap doesn’t harm the environment.
• Our furniture will be recycled material
• We will make our soaps with our hands and we will put our hearts into it as well
• We will offer it to those who can’t afford it.

"Extracurricular activities" - Fun, Joy and Laughter

When we are done with the days work, we will be offering group yoga courses, alternative healing courses and meditations, to add to the toolset of the mission. For this purpose I want to bring other therapists to the team as well.

The Soap

Making soap to me represents empowerment, practicing mindfulness and belonging.  The manufacturing process does not harm the environment, and it will be made as local as possible, using local ingredients.

What is it made of?

Soap is made out of ash, a natural ingredient found in nature, you can find it in the shop as caustic soda, oils or animal fats, and water or other liquids such as milk, coffee, infusions.

Because I believe in not harming, I want my products to be vegan and natural, so I am and will be using only use sustainable oils, that are from local sources, and plants that I, or in the future "we" as a group, grow ourselves or buy them from local farmers. 

Why is soap my solution?

It inspires trust, because we have used it for so many thousands of years, it was first discovered by ancient civilizations, first recipe dates back to 2800 B.C. Ancient Babylon.

Giving it a fresh modern, playful design, it becomes fun to use, children love it. My biggest fan, Kayla, is 3 years old, and she loves soap, she even took it to nursery for show and tell. I was amazed! With soap making, our imagination is our limit, it gives us the possibility to add many beneficial ingredients, and give it any shape or form, becoming a multifunctional, creative product.

 It doesn't harm the environment, it is beneficial for our skin, specially skin conditions like psoriasis, dry skin, eczema. I found that my soaps reduce itchiness of dry and elderly skin, deeply moisturize the skin, and give back it's elasticity. Using aromatherapy essential oils it can help uplift our mood, calm or energize the mind. Not using packaging we don't harm our environment, so it gives an opportunity to make a difference, and feel better about ourselves. 

Because it is long lasting, it becomes economical, and have an effect on our budget. Also  because soap is multifaceted, 1 bar of soap, can replace at least 3 products, on our bathroom shelves, using it as a moisturizing body wash, as a scrub, or as a shampoo. 

Meaning 1 bar of soap equals 3 bottles of plastic that you do not buy.: 1 soap =  3 plastic bottles that you haven't used.

So why soap again?

It is a fun to use, we stop harming the environment, we can use it for all our personal hygiene and grooming needs, we can wash our clothes with it, and we can make a long lasting, fun, creative, beneficial product, that has no side effects what so ever.

Soaps also last a long time, so they are economical, as well as eco-friendly.

Who am I?

My name is Gabriella and I have inherited the craft of Soap making from my grandmother. I specialized in business, yoga, holistic therapies as Reiki and Reconnective Healing. 

I enjoy building and making things and I also enjoy nature. Soap making has brought me a new approach on living. I gained confidence, joy, self-esteem through learning and pursuing something I love, and also making something that is necessary. Soap is daunting to make at first, it holds many secrets, and it always has a will and life of it's own, but as a creating process it gives us many possibilities to play and express ourselves. Because it is a way of practicing mindfulness, it also gives us great emotional, mental strength and confidence.

Art. Science. Therapy. Learning. Making with Love

Soap making is a science but it's also an art. And by learning, trying, failing, experimenting, creating and succeeding we have the opportunity to know ourselves better, to become persistent, to learn not to give up in the face of difficulty, and to express our creative side as well.  

How will I make it happen? 

To set up my workshop I will have the following costs:

My first step is to gain cosmetic assessment for my recipes, insure my products, build my own professional website and go through the legal aspects of starting my activities: making a legal business, invest in equipment needed for setting -up the workshop, and find a suitable place to rent.

My furniture for the shop will be made from recycled material  or furniture - I love to give new life to furniture, it would add to the warm atmosphere of the shop, because they would have their own story to tell. 

These would be the most important aspects. 

They make a difference.

At first I didn't sell my soaps, I was too shy and I thought they were supposed to look perfect in order to make them an actual product. 

So I gave them away as gifts.

I was stunned to see how much joy they would bring to people, and the curiosity it would stir up. I was bombarded with questions: " How did you make it?" " How come it looks like a cake?" 

And their reaction after using them: "it doesn't dry the skin", "it smells lovely", "it helps me with my psoriasis", "it's amazing", "can you give me another one, my mom loved it so I gave it to her"

Some of my reviews on Etsy show that people do appreciate craftsmanship and handmade soaps are helpful for people

Product Reviews

 I love my Etsy shop, I have put so much energy and passion into it, I had my trial and errors as well, it was a learning process, I made real connections with people, I learnt about soap and about organizing and calculating, and now I want to have make my workshop a real place, because I know I could touch more people and bring more change. 

The Fairybalm Team

I started making the soaps by myself, I have my fiancée's full support, he also loves plants and has a broad understanding about them, he sometimes helps me in the process when I need extra hands. 

Also my friends and family root for me and support me, and I am very grateful for them.

In the future I wish to connect to local farmers to have the needed local ingredients. 

As I start the  activities of the workshop that are connected to ailments of the mind, body and soul: meditation, yoga, healing therapies, I will connect to other therapists that would like to be a part of the Fairybalm workshop.

How Can you Help me?

There is still a long path ahead of me, but I am enjoying every step, and this is what matters to me, living with joy and listening to my inner calling. 

If my project resonates with you in any way, or you live in Reading and you think I have a cool idea, please pledge for me, to help make it happen, choosing any of my rewards. They are unique, yummy, useful, hand made, and I sprinkle them with joy and Reiki energy as well. 

I appreciate everyone, who gives a helping hand, and I will mention everyone's name at the end of the project. 

Thank you,

Gabriella

This project successfully funded on 30th March 2020