Soapnuts ~ January 2005

A new year and a new look!

I know, I know, you have all been holding your collective breaths, waiting for the next issue of In a Nutshell…well, here it is, so you can exhale now.  Due to that strange phenomenon known as "life", we have skipped a couple of months, but I think that all of the good articles and information in this issue should easily make up for that. 

First of all, though, we are really excited about our new look!  Jennifer Thompson donated the beautiful picture of her soaps…and before anyone else asks, no, that is not Jessica nor me in the tub.  Although, come to think of it, that would be a pretty good place to be right now… 

Anyway, thank you Jessica for taking the time and effort to redesign the newsletter for the new year, and thank you Jennifer for sending us the perfect picture for it! 

For instance…most of us are pretty passionate about making soap.  Different aspects of soapmaking appeal to different people, but there is something about it that keeps us surfing the web for fragrances, plugging new recipes into the lye calculators, and donning our gloves and glasses at the soap pot.  But everything has a high point and a low point- what happens when you get a little burned out with it all?  Sue K has written a very beneficial article on just that. 

Do you remember your first batch of soap?  Ride along with several members as they take you down memory lane and tell you about the first time they experienced the delight of saponification. 

We all know that Soapnuts is about more than soap- it is about community.  We are inviting you to a Soapnuts potluck in Food for Thought.  Pull up a rickety folding chair, tuck your napkin under your chin, and join us in sharing some of our members' favorite recipes.  Oh, and make sure you leave some on your plate for Bruno…. 

Besides this you can look forward to lots of good information in all of our regular columns, including a wonderful supplier profile (I wish I could participate in the contest, as the prize this issue is sooo nice)...and get a peek into the life of the Healing Hands swap hostess, Bobbie Eastman.  

It is good to be back….I want to especially thank all of you who contributed to this issue of In a Nutshell…we really and truly could not put this out without your help!! If you have any helpful suggestions or comments, or would like to contribute to future newsletters, please contact me directly at ummmujahid@hotmail.com. 

Enjoy!!!!!