Question: The coloring soap naturally class looks interesting, but I was wondering if the soaps were observed after they were cured to see if all these natural colors stayed or changed? (Essentially… are there any natural colors in CP soap that are fade-resistant?) Answer: Thanks for your interest in our Coloring Soap Naturally eClass! Ruth’s eBook, that comes with the eClass, mentions that all pics were taken with a fully cured bar of soap (at around 6 weeks). As you might have heard… colors can/will fade over time… especially natural ones. So, it’s a good question to ask which colors are ..read more

Did you know that gel phase can impact your natural colorants? One of the most exciting things Ruth did in her Natural Colorant Testing as part of the Coloring Soap Naturally eClass is test her colorants 6 ways: ~ Adding the colorant at trace ~ Adding the colorant at trace & gelling the soap ~ Using an oil infusion of the colorant ~ Using an oil infusion of the colorant & gelling the soap ~ Adding the colorant to the lye ~ Adding the colorant to the lye & gelling the soap Are you asking yourself – how much of a difference can gel phase really make? Ask no more! We just released an ..read more

We love highlighting the generous individuals who have helped make The Nova Studio what it is today. This month, join us in celebrating someone we truly admire! Someone who has poured (pun intended, lol) herself into helping fellow soapmakers achieve beautiful CP soap designs, through natural colors & decorative techniques, for the past decade & a half. Soapmaking teacher Ruth Esteves has been a part of The Nova Studio for 15 years! If you’ve had the pleasure of learning from Ruth, you know how skilled she is… not only at soapmaking, but also at teaching. Her relaxed, clear, and infor ..read more

David pours a BIG batch of CP soap into his custom mold! Legend David Critchfield has been our go-to expert on all things soapmaking for decades. He even used to have a “Critchfield’s Corner” segment in our newsletter… answering student questions about making cold process soap, from scratch. Most of it was loooong ago, so even if you were a Nova Studio email Newsletter Subscriber way back when, that info is probably lost in the dark recesses of your email purgatory. But, since we are Celebrating David’s 20 Years with The Nova Studio this month, we decided to revive them! See below for soapma ..read more

When you’ve been in business for awhile, like we have, big landmark events can sneak up on you. David made Lori a “Soap Cake” for our 4th Anniversary back in 2007! It’s hard to believe, but soap legend David Critchfield has taught for The Nova Studio for 20 years! Shortly after opening The Nova Studio in Point Richmond in 2003, I noticed someone else posting soapmaking classes nearby… in Fremont (also advertising on Craglist)! My initial thought… “Uh oh… I have competition!!” Afterall, the reason I started TNS is that I couldn’t find any classes near the SF Bay Area. But, instead of being wo ..read more

IF you make soap/bath/body products, the thought of creating fully compliant product labels is overwhelming. Most makers struggle with labeling… it is one of the trickiest parts of getting handmade products ready for sale. Even after purchasing Marie’s comprehensive book on labeling (which is an excellent reference guide!), for some reason I still struggled when I sat down to actually create my labels. I don’t think I’m alone in this feeling. If you can relate, we created this for you (and me, lol). Marie worked with us for months to create a very thorough, yet accessible for everyone Product ..read more

Want help getting organized to plan your next batch of CP Soap? Whether you’re a new student who has yet to make your first batch of Cold Process Soap (aka – a “newbie”) OR you’ve made CP soap before (but it’s “been a minute”) we want to offer support & guidance to help you feel more confident about making your next batch. Don’t fret… Lori is here to help with a new on-demand resource: Planning Session for CP Soapmakers! Here’s a Quick Intro (the first 2 mins): What does this “CP Soap Planning Session” Include? Our NEW on-demand resource includes the full 1 hour & 40 minute VIDEO whe ..read more

We are beyond THANKFUL to still be here & going strong, celebrating 20 years… sharing our experiences, information & knowledge, to help everyone succeed & grow our maker skills together! Our shared passion for making eco-friendly bath & body products connects us & keeps us thriving… so THANK YOU! Proud to be a trusted partner on your Maker Journey. Our THANKFUL Sale is Going on NOW! Get $10 off every SOAPMAKING resource linked below – no code needed: $10 Off  **Video** eClasses (video & printables): ~ Learn to Make Cold Process Soap from Scratch eClass (with Ruth ..read more

Did you miss Lori’s Live Webinar on “3 Types of Bar Soap”? Our goal with this Soap Webinar is to help soap-curious folks understand the different types of bar soap that everyone can learn to make (or craft) at home. The three bar soap types covered are: Cold Process Soap, Hot Process Soap, and Melt & Pour Soap. In the spirit of holiday giving… we decided to make the replay available for all to watch… for free! Watch it HERE for free (for a limited time). (Note: Use icons at bottom right of video to adjust volume, view full screen, turn on captions, etc.) Keep reading below to find helpfu ..read more

Thankful Sale (all currently $10 off): ~ Cold Process Soap from Scratch Video eClass (the original, with Ruth & Lori) ~ Cold Process Soap using an Oil Blend Video eClass (the newer one – with Lori) ~ Hot Process – Crockpot Method – Class Handout ~ Melt & Pour Soapcrafting – Class Handout Already learned to make soap? Here are some bonus topics that are also $10 off through the end of November! ~ Coloring Soap Naturally (eBook & Video) ~ Exfoliants in CP Soap ~ Soapmaking for Business ~ Formulating Soap Recipes Did you miss our webinar on “3 Types of Bar Soap” last Wednesday? The ..read more