Soapmaking by Hand Classes

Basic Soapmaking Class - $60
In this hands-on, fully engaged class you make five pounds of vegetarian soap from scratch (not glycerine soap) using the traditional cold process mehtod and a special "zipper" recipe of coconut and California Olive Oil. This simple, but specially developed recipe is easily adaptable to your family's needs back at home. We have a treasure trove of tools, molds, toys, herbs, flowers, gramins, flours, books, and others' soap samples to inspire your creativity and thus customize your work.

Goddess Soap Molding - $60
Using the same recipe and process as the Basic class we pour the soap into a mold of the Venus of Willendorf, a 25,000-year-old goddess figure. You will make 10 goddesses, just over two pounds of soap.

Urban Pioneer Soapmaking - $60
This is really how it used to be done in pioneer days. Don't throw it away - save your cooking fats and oils and turn them into something useful! More of an art than a science, we always end up with a pleasant surprise!

All Classes include...
A discussion of chemistry, safety, recipe adaptations, french milling and glycerine soap, fillers, superfatting, decorating, packaging and presentation, as well as ecological and bioregional issues of small scale, local production for community health and vitality.

Registration
Send your name, address and telephone/fax number with a $30 deposit to assure your place. Balance is due on the day of the class. The deposit is transferable to another day/class, but generally not refundable. Modest work-study is sometimes available.

Call to confirm class dates. Classes are small to offer special attention and foster rapport. We only allow six people per class, so register early.

Private classes, with a minimum of three people, may be arranged by appointment.

Class fees include all materials (which are all natural). It also includes a basic "zipper" recipe, a resource list, books to reference, tricks of the trade, poetry, friendship and fun!

Send your registration to:
Artha Soaps, P.O. Box 20154, Oakland, CA 94620
510-420-0696