Daily Inspiration: Meet Jana Hester

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jana Hester.

Hi Jana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.  
Mom made soap for as long as I can remember, so I grew up making cold process soap. It’s as familiar as baking cookies to me… As I got older, things like the internet came (wow, I’m dating myself), and a whole new world opened for supplies and ingredients!

Growing up, we had to shop at the herb shop downtown, and we always laughed at the looks we got going into that shop… for oils and botanicals and seeds and things that made our hearts happy as we soaped along.

Now, with the internet, of course, anything is at our fingertips, but Mom still tends to make a certain style. Very plain, never ornate. I have branched out a bit and enjoy some swirls and embeds, shapes, and things like using beer, tea, and different kinds of milk are definitely something I make regularly. How did I get where I am? I just haven’t stopped. Sometimes I want to, but I don’t.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. It’s been the bumpiest road ever… when seasons are slow, I want to close up shop. Right now, things have been quite slow; another move in our lives has slowed business, and I can’t ever figure out why. We’ve moved a few times over the past 10 years, and every time it affects business, even though my sales are all online, it makes no sense!

It makes me want to quit. I’m working a second job to make ends meet, and it’s sometimes thankless and exhausting. I keep a game face on and get up with enthusiasm and thanks in my heart each day. Keep on going, just don’t stop.

One of the struggles, it’s a sea of soap makers right now. It has become trendy, and everyone is doing it. I see folks not curing soap and getting it to customers when it’s just a few days old. It’s not a good pH for the skin at that point (hence there is a long cure time on cold process soap for it to become gentle and ideal for use). But they make cupcakes and crazy-looking stuff with glitter and get it out the door without concern for the actual person buying it.

I won’t use glitter, I care about your eyes and not getting glitter in them. I cure my soap for a minimum of 4-12 weeks; I care about your skin. Sometimes that is to my detriment; Maybe I’m old-fashioned because lining my pocket doesn’t come first…but I won’t change my priorities or morals. The end result is the most important after all these decades of soaping; I want my customer to have happy skin!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
You’ll see the season of life reflected in my work, the themes, names, colors, etc are a direct reflection of my heart. Something that sets me apart is the creation of In Memory Of Soaps. Something I do for animals and humans…the process has helped me through grieving the loss of my dogs over the years.

The creation of something tangible when what you mourn is no longer there, able to be touched or hugged, helps.  When a scent reminds you of someone, a time long ago or a time more recent – creating an In Memory Of soap helps the heart learn to smile again after grief.

For me, whether I’m going through or by someone’s side as they grieve, In Memory Of Soaps helps ease and focus the mind during the loss. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I adore custom work; I create beer soap for a handful of local breweries and would love to take on more. Beer is a wild and fun ingredient to work with; ya never know what to expect!

A unique ingredient I adore using- breastmilk. Very few of us soap makers use it but I’ve been blessed a few times over during the decades to receive excess milk from a new mom. What an amazing journey that is from start to finish. Breast milk soap is my number one recommendation for sensitive skin; it’s utterly luscious in a bar of soap!

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I have a few real books that I use regularly; they are all out of print now. Mine don’t even have the covers on them anymore! I’ve never heard a podcast before haha, I might be the only human on earth at this point… but I’m super not into screen time.

I am on social media, yes, but I sure don’t live on it. I try to have as little screen time as possible in my life; I don’t want to experience everything through a screen looking down. I prefer to live, experience, and be in the moment.

Pricing:

• $7.50 per bar

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.littlecabinsoaps.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlecabinsoaps/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleCabinSoap