Workshop Outline

This is a fun and informative workshop suitable for adults that love to learn. This workshop will cover the basics of making soap at home. Participants will learn:

1. Safety procedures for making soap

2. Soapmaking History

3. The science of soapmaking

4. How to create their own recipes

5. How to make soap (hands on) including scenting and colouring the soap

6. Potential problems in soapmaking

7. Where to find information online to source ingredients, recipes or soapmaking tools

8. Health Canada requirements for soapmakers

9. THAT SOAPMAKING IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE!!!

Included with the workshop:

• All ingredients to make a 10 bar batch of soap including scent and natural colourants (optional)

• Take away mold

• Equipment for making soap

• Handouts including recipes and online sources

• Safety Gloves

Not included (Please bring or wear)

• Please wear pants and a long sleeved shirt as well as close toed shoes. We are working with oil and it can stain so please wear older clothes or bring an apron.

• Safety glasses or goggles

• A bag to take your soap home in (must be large enough to hold a 10”x3”x3” mold) or a towel to wrap the mold in

Meet the Artist

Gloria McDonald is a self-taught soapmaker that has been soaping since 1995.  She created SharGloMa Soapworks when she realized her “hobby” had turned into an obsession and she had more soap than she could use in a lifetime.     

SharGloMa is originally from Victoria, BC – but Gloria and her husband Randy realized that the Cariboo was the best place in Canada and they relocated to south Quesnel in September 2021.  They have been making soap for the Quesnel Farmers Market and Edgewood Farms (their first wholesale outlet) and enjoying everything the Cariboo has to offer.

Soapmaking is an art that has been bringing people together for centuries.  Similar to quilting bees, pioneers had soapmaking days where many people would get together to make soap for the  community.  Gloria believes that there is nothing better than using handmade soap and loves teaching those who are interested in how to make their own.  She also loves researching beneficial plants that can be used in soapmaking and is looking forward to learning more about the foraging opportunities in the Cariboo.

This workshop costs $30.00 which covers the materials used.

Reserve your spot here (you can only book one space at a time):

https://islandmountainarts.as.me/soap-making-101