Studio Tour part 2

So last week you got to see the area that's for curing, restocking and shipping, today I will show you the main studio, known as the Rabbit Hole.

These are the extra curing shelves, my friend that owns the house put them up for me, they were sort of a Bonus Jonas, wasn't expecting them. Beneath that are my wooden molds. On the right are the ones I will use at the holidays, they will ALL be full! The ones on the left are the molds I use on a daily (almost) basis. I don't make soap on Tuesdays, that's when I am at the Concord Farmers Market.

You may have already seen this picture, the workbench made for me, with a cool light over the work area. If you have ever had to work in your own shadow you will apprecitae how awesome this is. The flamingoes are there to keep soap splatters off the wall. 

This is the little storage cubby, I use it for special molds etc that I don't use all the time. Excess packaging etc. 

This is my amazing hutch, it holds all the essential oils and fragrance oils. 

This is wehere the candles live until they go to market. I really love that it stays cool enough to do that. 

This is my bank of drawers beneath the work table, everything from gloves to stick blenders. Everything is labeled, can you say anal-retentive?! lol  My wonderful work table is  over 6 feet long to give you an idea of scale. I have been using this table for over 10 years, it's handmade. 

These are the cabinets where the measured out oils stay. I love that these hide the mess! 

One of my most favorite things is that it stays so cool, all the time! I used to have to get up at 5 a m when we were in Antioch, the studio got very hot so starting early was the only way it would work. The soap will actually get too hot and overheat, causing a big crack down the middle of the batch. Now I can make soap whenever I want to! I don't have to get up at 5 anymore, but so far, old habits die hard and I still do! 

And last but not least, my big 'ole double sink! I haven't had a sink for the last 3 years and it's rather a big deal when you make as much of a mess as I do ( or most soapmakers! ). I used to have to make a couple trips into the kitchen to wash everything in the tiny kitchen sink, this is such a blessing and I appreciate it so much! I even have windows! 

Now you know where the magic happens! 

Studio Tour Part 1

So we moved in July, what a crazy month THAT was! Anyhow, it's a much larger house and it comes with a huge basement for me to work in! The studio is actually divided into 2 parts, the former garage is where I do shipping, restocking and curing, I will share that today, and in part 2, I will show the basement, or, where the magic happens!

So, here we go!

The sideboard holds my hard working printer and all the binders full of label masters. You see the lil washi tape carousle too. The drawers have shipping supplies like tissue paper etc. The little pink drawers has all the bubble wrap, already sliced into 3" wide strips to wrap around the soap for online orders.

 

I have 3 bakers racks, the other one is full of all things lavender, these have come in handy over the years, especially when verticle space is all you have! 

My work table where I put the orders together. Up above, to the right is where I have the little kraft envelopes for smaller orders and also a wicker swan that holds the flat rate padded envelopes. 

My clock! His eyes and tail move and I couldn't resist Felix!

This was a bread rack in a grocery store once upon a time, it's perfect for my shipping boxes. You see Chica on the top step waiting to go in, and Murray the cat is just supervising. You know they are ready to go in when they sit that close to the door to inside! 

The Rabbit hole is the name of my studio, it's a very magical place for me. More on  that next week! Thank you for looking!