Daily Inspiration: Meet Shirley Knipp

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shirley Knipp.

Hi Shirley, 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?
After an extensive and successful career in interior design, I realized I wasn’t happy unless I was busy making something. I missed being creative. I wanted to find something I could do and enjoy well into my retirement years. I wish I had a really great story as to how I got started making soap, but the question has left me a bit blank. I’m not sure I know what compelled me. I don’t know anyone personally who makes soap. I have a sensitivity to strong scents, and have allergic reactions to a lot of chemicals, so I’m not sure how becoming a ‘soapologist’ made my bucket list.

Several years ago, a friend introduced me to essential oils. I knew essential oils were widely used in hand-made soap, and I thought that seemed like something I could make and use to educate others about the natural healing properties of oils. I then discovered there were a variety of soap bases on the market which were already saponified, which means the lye was already incorporated in them and I wouldn’t have to be working with a harsh chemical agent. That was my light bulb moment.

In 2019, I started making my first soap. I binge watched hundreds of soap-making videos on you-tube and consumed all things soap related on Pinterest, Etsy, Facebook and Instagram to feed my imagination and see what was possible. I then discovered an amazing local store, Arizona Soap Supply, that stocks soap bases, fragrance oils, colorants and many other soap and cosmetic related products. That was the tipping point. I now have a vast assortment of fragrance oils, and colorants, and molds that I’ve sourced from around the globe and learned that one can never have too many!

Three years later, I finally felt ready to share with the world. I now have an Etsy shop and a Facebook business page with Instagram coming soon. My next step will be reaching out to the retail and hospitality markets including bed and breakfasts, spas, air b&b’s, boutique hotels, and gift shops.

I’m grateful for my years in design which refined my sense of color and style. My perfectionist trait and my obsession with the details drives me to using the highest quality products, sourcing the best molds from around the world and, imho, making the most beautiful soaps on the planet. Making soap is now my creative therapy… my happy place!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Fortunately, it’s been a very smooth road so far. I’ve intentionally taken it slow, by learning about products, researching methods and materials, and sourcing the finest quality products, Following the slow road would probably be due to the perfectionist trait in me… which may be my biggest obstacle/challenge.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Simply put, I make handmade soap. To be more precise, I’m a designer, a chemist, a colorist, and photographer, a stylist, a marketer, a shipper, a social media contributor, a business owner, an entrepreneur, a bookkeeper, a purchasing agent, a quality control expert, an inventory clerk, a customer service person, and the clean-up crew.

I specialize in making unique hand-crafted soap. From the beginning, I had no interest in making swirls or cutting bars, although I admire those who do; that’s indeed a talent. I wanted to make soaps I didn’t see anywhere, something different, something unique, something custom.

I’m always searching for new molds that are unusual and finely detailed. Most of my soaps are 3-dimensional. I intentionally make soap that can easily be held in the hand, whether for a small child or someone who can’t easily grasp a soap, ones that feel good in the hand with no sharp edges or hard-to-hold shapes.

Someone referred to my soaps as soaps that ‘heal the body, soothe the soul’. I loved that! I make soaps that make you smile, soaps that recall a memory or make a new one, soaps worthy of giving as a special gift. The soap that was my biggest challenge and that intimidated me the most has become my favorite and a best seller. It is the Cactus Garden soap. I make it with a background layer of goats milk soap in either sunrise sky blue or sunset sky lavender. The middle layer is a tall cactus, a mini saguaro and a barrel cactus, topped with tiny blooms. The top layer is a crystal clear glycerin soap, which poses the biggest challenge. Making clear soap is based on the brand, the amount, the heating/melting time, and the temperature when poured. The second biggest challenge is waiting for the soaps to set before you can take them out of the molds!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
The name of my business is Palo Verde Soap Studio. I wanted a name that reflected the part of the country I live in without being overtly location specific. The Palo Verde tree is one of my favorite trees, especially when it bursts into full bloom hailing the beginning of spring and summer with endless days of sunshine and light.

Many of my soaps can be found on my etsy site: www.etsy.com/shop/paloverdesoapstudio. I’m adding new soaps to it regularly and am always willing to consider custom orders, colors, and scents. If you’re looking for something specific, please let me know.

Contact Info:

• Email: shirleyknipp@gmail.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/paloverdesoapstudio
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/paloverdesoapstudio