It's Almost the End?

Wow! Another year gone! 10 years ago in 1998, I was poring over the internet trying to figure out how to make soap because my skin itched like crazy. Nothing I used helped. My doctor told me to try Dove or Ivory. Those soaps made my itching worse! I hit upon a wonderful site that told me all I needed was lye and some simple oils and gave me a recipe to try.

I tried that recipe and well, it killed a few plants because it just didn't work. So, I tried it again. And again, and again. After tweaking it a bit and finding a lye calculator and trying a different oil in the mix, I made my first loaf of soap. I watched that loaf like a baby. I kept peeking at it. When I cut off that first bar and set it out to cure, I don't know if it was my skin itching or just impatience itching to try it out!! My reaction at using it for the first time was awe, amazement and finally comfort. I made something that was soothing to my skin. It was so soft, the suds were fantastic and the scent was heavenly. It didn't smell like it came from the store. It was pure delight!

I was hooked! I couldn't wait to make more and more and more and more......well, you get the picture! My whole house filled up with bars of soap! It was on the counters, the shelves, in the bathroom! It was everywhere!!! In the year 2000, my dear husband, who encouraged me greatly, finally said, "Honey, we could die and generations upon generations of our family will have soap! Please, get out and sell this!"

And that, my friends is how After The Rayne came to be! From setting up shop at the local flea market, we have now flourished onto the internet and our soaps have gone worldwide!

So, as the year 2008 is quickly coming to a close, I want to thank all of you who have helped to make our journey where it is today!

I look forward to continuing and growing and constantly maintaining what started me out on this wonderful trip of the unexpected! What a long, strange trip it's been, but oh, what joy it has brought me in the meeting of such wonderful people in all of you!

I will strive to create more delectable delights for your skin and body in 2009!

A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year from all of us at After The Rayne!