the feto soap blog

If you live in the Houston area, you can now purchase Feto Soap products at Te House of Tea located at 1927 Fairview @ Woodhead in the Montrose area. They carry sandalwood vanilla, yuzu japanese citrus, white tea & ginger & lavender patchouli soap, bath salts, candles & dry oil sprays. They are the only place to get lavender patchouli candles - they are made custom just for them!

In addition to my soaps, they have dance nights on Friday - Tango and on most Saturday nights you’ll find me here dancing.  This teahouse also has nice dinner fare - the Chicken in a Blanket is my favorite!

Hey  Houston! I am back from Austin and ready to serve you up some freshly made soap! I’ll have 40 + kinds of soap to choose from at the Midtown Farmers Market on Saturday, November 1st from 8am - Noon. The Midtown Farmers Market is located in the front of Monica Pope’s T’afia. 3701 Travis Street @ W. Alabama directions here.

Brand new soaps are Rosemary Mint, Lavender Citrus Mint & Cool Water with Kelp.

If you can’t make it out this week, I’ll be back next week on the 8th, same time, same bat-channel.

I haven’t done a farmers market in ages! I took the month of August off and at my next scheduled market in September Hurricane Ike hit, but I’m back with 40 + kinds of soap to choose from.

I will be vending at the Midtown Farmers Market Local Crafts Spree on Saturday, October 11th from 8am - Noon. The Midtown Farmers Market is located in the front of Monica Pope’s T’afia. 3701 Travis Street @ W. Alabama directions here.

SECOND SATURDAY SHOPPING SPREE!! Lots of local craft vendors on the patio such as Houston Craft Mafia Members Eutectic Handcrafted Jewelry & A Punkin Card Company will be there! Shop Local and Shop Handmade!

Cheers!
Lisa Chouinard, Feto Soap

yellow clay added to lye water for Lemongrass Sage Shea Butter Soap

In Houston, instead of “How are you?” people are asking “Do you have power at your place yet?” I don’t. I don’t mind not having electricity personally (It’s been a week), but it’s hard to run an immersion blender (the thing I mix soap with) without power. I might have to move the soapmaking operation to another site, but I’m hoping it won’t come to that. 77006 is on the “might get power today” list. Yesterday I made a batch of lavender vanilla lotion bars on the stove. (double boiler) This afternoon I’ll be making chocolate bon bon soaps on the stove to restock the Indie Fixx Shop. Thankfully I have running water, gas and sunlight for a couple of hours when I get home from the hospital. My soapy intern Sarah doesn’t have power either (77098) at her house, but she’s coming in to work with me for a couple of hours. What a trooper! I am so thankful to have help in the shop.

As soon as I can, I will have pictures up of the new soaps I have made for you! Lemongrass Sage, Coconut Lemongrass, Oakmoss Sandalwood, Pearberry, Black Forest & Frasier Fir are just a few new soaps I have made that need pictures added to the site, but are in stock and ready to ship now.

Teresa at Hello Lucky took some pictures of my handmade soap with one of her models! Hello Lucky carries artist designed men’s women’s and kid’s t-shirts, jackets, skirts, jewelry for guys and gals, local honey, hot sauce, soaps, candles, vanilla sugar, cutting boards, cards and some vintage products like bags and buckles.

Photo Credit Teresa O'Connor

Photo Credit Teresa O'Connor

Hello Lucky is restocked with my handmade soaps and dry oil perfume sprays.  Check them out during White Linen Nights this weekend!

Hello Lucky
1025 Studewood Street
Houston, Texas 77008
713-86hello - 713-864-3556
http://www.hello-lucky.com

Hello Lucky will be part of White Linen in The Heights
Saturday August 2, 4 - 10pm
We will be open from 11 am - 10 pm
serving up some cool libations after 4

# 47 on the White Linen map
shuttle stop- # 10 on the shuttle stop index
So if you live close by, you may just want to walk to Hello Lucky
or park nearby us and catch a free shuttle from the shop to take you around The Heights

more about White Linen at: http://www.whitelinennightheights.com/

Road Trip on view now
Artists:
Jim Denk, Rachel Hewlett, Jillsbadcar, Melissa Lonchambon,
Mike Lonchambon, Whitney Riley,
Brooke Summers-Perry, Vagrca, David Waddell, Joanne Witt

Ongoing
work by Ryan Geiger, Woody Golden, JoAnn Park, Christine West
and a collaborative video by Elaine Bradford, Teresa O’Connor and David Waddell

July/August Monthly Challenge
Throughout the months of July and August
we will be a drop spot for plastic shopping/grocery bags as well as fabric remnants.
Itscool2care will use these items to create reusable shopping bags. http://www.itscool2care.org

This quarter Hello Lucky is happy to be working with Glasstire. A portion of in-store sells will be donated to the non-profit http://www.glasstire.com

Road Trip on view in store now!

Hello Lucky
http://www.hello-lucky.com

New Shop Hours
Thursday 11 - 5
Friday and Saturday 11 - 6
*Sunday Noon - 5*
We will happily stay later,
just call us before 5pm
xox

or by appt, just call

you are amazing, you are

After I teach my soapmaking class the students fill out a feedback form with their comments. These comments are from the latest soapmaking class held on Sunday.

“Thank you for sharing your info and knowledge. This is so cool!”
“Really enjoyed it. It was very laid-back & comfortable.”
“Enjoyed it! Very informative and educational!”
“Good Class - very informative.” “Great Class!”

If you have taken one of my classes and have not filled out a feedback form, feel free to respond to this blog post or email me - lisa at feto soap dot com. I’d love to hear what you have to say.

If you missed this class and would like to attend a basic soapmaking class in Houston, TX, here’s the signup link! Private classes are also available.

My next soapmaking class is coming up this Sunday, July 27th

Soapmaking 101 with Lisa Chouinard of Feto Soap

In this class I will cover the basics on how to create your own soap from scratch with lye, water and soapmaking oils. It is a hands on class and everyone will have an opportunity to participate. I will provide the protective gear (gloves and goggles).

Class Number: R1020D Sun 2-5pm July 27th
Location: Houston JCC 5601 S. Braeswood

To register, go to Leisure Learning Unlimited’s Website:
http://llu.com/sdc/regclass.html?class=42614

or call them at 713.529.4414 with the class number R1020D.

Feto Soap will be vending at the Midtown Farmers Market Local Crafts Spree on Saturday, June 14th from 8am - Noon. The Midtown Farmers Market is located in the front of Monica Pope’s T’afia. 3701 Travis Street @ W. Alabama directions here.

SECOND SATURDAY SHOPPING SPREE!! Lots of local craft vendors on the patio such as Houston Craft Mafia Members Mandorla Designs and Eutectic Handcrafted Jewelry will be there! Shop Local and Shop Handmade!

Cheers!
Lisa Chouinard, Feto Soap

…used my class listing to explain how to register for classes in their catalog! Oh, and my next Houston, TX Soapmaking class dates are July 27th and September 21st! You can register online at http://llu.com or by phone.

Scanned by Jessica Merrit of www.snaptacularphotos.com Thanks Jess!

Charley of Skunkwerks Soap Co. (formerly from MO) has started a new Houston Soapmakers Meetup Group that meets once a month. We had our first meeting on Sunday and I’m trying out his Pine Tar Soap in the shower now. He’s got a lot of great ideas for the group.  I can’t wait to see what he comes up with!

I’m going to be in Austin during the next meeting at the Texas Soapmakers Association Convention, going batty over soap July 18 - 20th.

I will be vending at the Midtown Farmers Market Local Crafts Spree on Saturday, June 14th from 8am - Noon. The Midtown Farmers Market is located in the front of Monica Pope’s T’afia. 3701 Travis Street @ W. Alabama directions here.

Don’t forget Dad! Father’s Day is June 15th! I will have many manly soaps for Dad such as Bay Rum, Man Smell, Cold Water & Pepperberry!

Soapmaking Party Packages are available, just ask! Please specify the number of attendees and I’ll send you a quote. We can make soap, perfume, lip balm, bath salts & solid perfume. These parties are great for birthdays, girl parties, bridal showers, mom’s night out, etc.

We provide all the materials and equipment - all you have to do is show up!

It’s a fun birthday party activity because everyone gets to take home a special soap they have created on their own!

If you are having a baby shower we can make baby shower themed soaps - like alphabet blocks in pastel colors. It’s a fun activity before or during a baby shower.

A soapmaking party is also a great idea for bachelorette parties - we can make bachelorette themed party favors!

Here’s an example of what’s provided at a soapmaking party for kids:

Clear Soap Base
Molds
Fragrances
Colorants
Glitter
Toys
Handmade by: tags

Here’s an example of what’s provided at a soapmaking party for adults:

Clear/Goat’s Milk Soap Base
Molds
Fragrances
Colorants
Exfoliants like pumice or ground apricot seeds
Glitter
Toys
Handmade by: tags

My next soapmaking class is coming up this Sunday, May 18th. Only four spots are left!

Soapmaking–Better than Store-Bought

Discover the benefits and fun of making and using handmade soap. Not only is it better for your skin but it also allows you to be creative since you select the ingredients, colors, fragrances and shapes. Learn to overcome your fear of working with lye (an essential ingredient in all soap) as well as important safety precautions as you learn to produce a batch of soap. NOTE: Each student will take home one bar of soap.

Class Number: R1020C Sun 2-5pm May 18

To register, go to Leisure Learning Unlimited’s Website:
http://llu.com/sdc/regclass.html?class=42614

or call them at 713.529.4414 with the class number R1020C.

I offer Soapmaking classes through Leisure Learning for adults.

One on one classes are also available. Please send an email describing what you’d like to create and I’ll send you a quote with the pricing.

Soapmaking Party Packages are also available, just ask! Please specify the number of attendees and I’ll send you a quote. We can make soap, perfume, lip balm, bath salts & solid perfume. These parties are great for birthdays, girl parties, bridal showers, etc. They start at $125 for a group of 10. That’s $12.50 per person, and each person gets to take two bars of custom soap they created.

You can also learn to make soap from scratch from my video here:

We are having a sale! All items at market will be a flat $5.00! Come and buy something for your mom!

t’afia
3701 Travis St.
8am - Noon

Feto Soap will be at the Midtown Farmer’s Market on Friday, December 24th from 8am - Noon. The Midtown Farmer’s Market is located in the front of Monica Pope’s new restaurant T’afia. 3701 Travis Street @ W. Alabama directions here

Lotion Bars in White Tea & Ginger, China Rain, Ginger Lime, Sparkling Citrus, Lavender, and Chocolate will be available!