Someone Asked Me Why I Do This

Hey friends. Stacie here.

Last week at our Carlisle Creative Vibes booth, a customer asked me a question I wasn’t expecting:

“So how long have you been doing this?”

“About eight years,” I told her.

“Wow! And do you… like, do this full-time?”

“Not full-time, no. This is… well, it’s hard to explain.”

She looked confused. “So is this just a hobby? Or a business?”

And I realized: I don’t have a simple answer to that.

Momma Bears Creations isn’t just a hobby - we sell our products, we have regular customers, we plan inventory and attend craft shows. But it’s not just a business either - we’re not trying to get rich, we have no employees, we make everything ourselves in our Enola home.

So what IS it?

After that conversation, I’ve been thinking about why I do this. Why I spend weekends making soap instead of relaxing. Why I research new recipes and ingredients. Why I keep coming back to this work even when it’s exhausting.

And I want to share that with you. Not the marketing version. The real version.

It Started with Curiosity (And It’s Still About Curiosity)

I didn’t start making soap because I saw a business opportunity. I started because I was curious.

“How hard can it be to make soap? What if I could make my own gifts instead of buying them? What goes INTO soap anyway?”

The idea that you could take oils, lye, and water - three totally separate things - and through a chemical reaction (saponification!) transform them into something completely new? That’s MAGIC.

The first time I made soap and it actually WORKED - when I cut into that first cured batch and held a real bar of soap that I MADE - I was hooked.

Not because I thought, “I can sell this!”

But because I thought, “Holy cow, I just DID that. I took raw ingredients and created something useful and beautiful.”

That feeling hasn’t gone away in eight years.

Every batch I make, I still get a little thrill when I unmold the soap and see how it turned out. Every time a bar cures perfectly and I cut it into smooth, even pieces, I feel proud.

I create because I’m still curious. Curious about what happens if I try a new essential oil blend. Curious if I can solve a customer’s skincare problem. Curious what color a new natural additive will turn the soap.

That curiosity - that “let’s see what happens” energy - keeps me creating even when it’s hard work.

There’s Joy in Making Things with Your Hands

We live in a world where almost everything is mass-produced. Manufactured in factories. Designed by algorithms. Shipped from warehouses.

There’s nothing wrong with that - I’m not anti-technology or anti-convenience. I use Amazon. I have a smartphone. I get it.

But there’s something deeply satisfying about making something with your own hands. Start to finish. Knowing every ingredient. Controlling every step.

When I make a batch of soap:

I measure the oils and butters
I carefully mix the lye solution (safely!)
I watch the saponification happen in real time
I pour the soap into molds
I unmold it after 24 hours
I cut it into bars
I let it cure for 4-6 weeks
I inspect every single bar
I package it
I hand it to a customer and tell them exactly what’s in it

I know that soap intimately. I was there for every step. I can tell you why I chose those specific oils, how long it cured, what the weather was like when I made it.

You can’t get that from a factory.

And honestly? In a world that often feels disconnected and impersonal, making things by hand grounds me. It reminds me that I can create. That my hands are capable. That I can take raw materials and transform them into something someone will use and love.

That’s powerful.

It’s About Solving Problems (The Nerdy Part)

Here’s something most people don’t know about me: I love solving problems.

Not in a “I’m a genius” way. In a “give me a puzzle and I’ll obsess over it until I figure it out” way.

Soapmaking is FULL of puzzles:

“How do I make a soap that’s moisturizing without being greasy?”
“What essential oil blend will help with congestion but won’t irritate sensitive skin?”
“How do I get this soap to cure faster without compromising quality?”
“A customer needs tattoo aftercare that doesn’t wipe away stencils - can I create that?”

Every product we make started as a problem I wanted to solve.

Honey Donkey soap → Problem: dry, sensitive skin needs gentle, unscented moisture
Vapor Bear Balm → Problem: kids need chest rub but many ingredients aren’t safe for children
Lotion bars → Problem: my hands were cracked from soapmaking and regular lotion wasn’t working
Tattoo Luv → Problem: tattoo artists needed glide that doesn’t wipe stencils + aftercare that actually works

I’m not a scientist. I don’t have a chemistry degree. But I research. I test. I experiment. I adjust recipes. I try again.

And when I solve the problem? When a customer comes back and says, “That Honey Donkey soap you recommended cleared up my eczema!” or “Vapor Bear Balm worked better than Vicks!”

THAT is incredibly rewarding.

It’s not about the sale. It’s about the fact that I identified a problem, worked to solve it, and created something that genuinely HELPS people.

That’s why I keep creating.

I Get to Do This WITH Maddi (The Best Part)

If I’m being completely honest, the #1 reason I still make soap is because I get to do it with my daughter.

Maddi isn’t just “helping out with the family business.” She’s my PARTNER in this. We brainstorm together. We make batches together. We problem-solve together. We set up at craft shows together.

Some of my favorite memories from the past eight years:

The first time Maddi successfully cut a batch of soap - her face was SO proud when all the bars came out even
Late nights before Pumpkinfest, making extra inventory, listening to music, laughing when things go wrong
The moment at our first Williams Grove booth when Maddi confidently explained cold process soapmaking to a customer who asked detailed questions
Creating Tattoo Luv together - that was OUR project, from concept to final product

It’s not just a business. It’s not just a creative outlet. It’s mother-daughter time. It’s building something together. It’s teaching her skills - chemistry, customer service, small business management, problem-solving.

And now my grandson is growing up watching us do this. Seeing his mom and his Nanny working side-by-side, creating things with their hands, running a booth at Pumpkinfest.

That legacy - that “this is what our family does” feeling - means more to me than any amount of profit.

I Don’t Want to Scale Up (And That’s Okay)

People ask me all the time: “Have you thought about scaling up? Hiring employees? Going wholesale? Getting into bigger stores?”

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: That would ruin everything I love about this.

If I scaled up, I’d need to:

Hire employees (managing people isn’t my passion)
Automate production (lose the hands-on part)
Focus on profit margins over quality (not who I am)
Make decisions based on growth metrics (sounds awful)

And worst of all: I’d lose the time with Maddi.

Instead of working side-by-side in our home, we’d be managing a facility. Instead of personally inspecting every bar of soap, we’d be overseeing workers. Instead of talking to customers face-to-face at Pumpkinfest, we’d be analyzing sales data.

That’s not why I started this.

I started this because I love creating. I love the chemistry. I love solving problems. I love doing it with my daughter. I love knowing our customers personally and hearing their stories.

Scaling up would mean giving up all of that.

Some people want to build empires. I want to build soap. Literally. By hand. In small batches. With people I love.

And I’m completely okay with that.

It’s Not About Money (But It’s Not Free, Either)

Let me be clear: We’re not independently wealthy. We have bills like everyone else. We price our products to cover costs and make a little profit.

But profit isn’t the GOAL.

If profit was the goal, I’d:

Use cheaper ingredients (we don’t)
Cut corners on cure time (we don’t)
Raise prices significantly (we don’t - we keep them fair for our community)
Prioritize fast sellers over quality (nope)

Our “profit” goes right back into supplies for the next batch. We’re not buying fancy cars or taking luxury vacations on soap money.

What we ARE doing:

Covering the cost of high-quality ingredients
Upgrading equipment when needed
Paying for craft show booth fees
Investing in better packaging and displays

The “profit” we care about isn’t financial - it’s:

A customer whose eczema cleared up
Time spent with Maddi making batches
The pride of creating something excellent
Connections with our Central PA community
Our grandson growing up seeing us build something together

That’s the currency that matters to me.

I Like Having Something That’s MINE

This might sound selfish, but hear me out.

I love my family. I love my day job (most days!). I love my community.

But Momma Bears Creations is something that’s MINE. (Well, ours - Maddi’s and mine and Scott’s.)

It’s not dictated by someone else’s schedule or priorities. It’s not something I have to do - it’s something I CHOOSE to do.

In a world where so much feels out of our control, having this creative outlet that I control feels empowering.

I decide what products to make. I decide what ingredients to use. I decide which craft shows to attend. I decide how we package our soap.

Nobody tells me:

“Make it cheaper” (we use the best ingredients we can)
“Make it faster” (we cure for the full 4-6 weeks, no shortcuts)
“Follow this formula” (we experiment and adjust based on what we learn)
“Scale up or shut down” (we stay exactly the size we want to be)

That autonomy is precious to me.

It’s not about being stubborn or difficult. It’s about having this one part of my life where I get to make the decisions based on what feels RIGHT, not what’s profitable or efficient or scalable.

And honestly? That freedom feeds my soul.

Customers Become Friends (And That’s Unexpected)

When we started selling at craft shows, I thought it would be transactional: they buy soap, I give them soap, done.

But it’s become so much more than that.

We have customers who:

Come to our booth at Pumpkinfest every single year
Message us on Facebook to ask for product recommendations
Tell us detailed stories about how our products helped their skin conditions
Bring their friends and family to meet us at craft shows
Remember our names and ask how Maddi is doing
Share their own soapmaking experiments with us

These aren’t just transactions. These are relationships.

I know which customers have sensitive skin. Which ones prefer unscented products. Which ones buy our Vapor Bear Balm every fall for their grandkids. Which ones are fellow makers who understand the craft.

And they know US. They know Maddi’s in the business with me. They know Scott builds our curing racks. They know our grandson took his first steps at our Pumpkinfest booth.

That personal connection - that sense of community - is something I never expected when I started making soap for teacher gifts.

But now? It’s one of the things I value most about what we do.

We’re not a faceless brand. We’re Stacie and Maddi from Enola. And our customers are neighbors, friends, and supporters who genuinely care about what we create.

That’s worth more than any profit margin.

Some Days Are Hard (But I Keep Going)

I don’t want to romanticize this too much. Soapmaking isn’t always fun.

Some days:

A batch doesn’t turn out right and I have to rebatch or throw it out
My back hurts from standing at the worktable for hours
I’m exhausted after a full day at my regular job but we have craft show inventory to prepare
A batch seizes (thickens too fast) and I have to frantically scoop it into molds before it’s unusable
The weather’s too humid and soap isn’t curing properly

Those days, I think: “Why am I doing this?”

And then:

I unmold a batch that turned out PERFECTLY and it’s gorgeous
A customer at Pumpkinfest tells me they won’t use any other soap now
I mix a new essential oil blend and it smells AMAZING

And I remember why.

I’m not doing this because it’s easy or always fun.

I’m doing it because it’s meaningful. Because it connects me to my daughter. Because I’m creating something with my own hands that genuinely helps people. Because I love the chemistry and the problem-solving and the community.

The hard days are worth it for the good days.

This Is Enough (And I’m Grateful)

Our culture tells us to always want MORE. More growth. More profit. More scale. More recognition.

But I’m learning that “enough” is actually… enough.

We have enough:

Enough customers who love our products
Enough craft shows to keep us busy but not overwhelmed
Enough income to cover costs and reinvest in supplies
Enough creative fulfillment to feed our souls
Enough mother-daughter time to strengthen our bond

We’re not trying to be the biggest soapmaker in Pennsylvania. We’re not trying to get featured in national magazines. We’re not trying to build an empire.

We’re just trying to:

Make excellent products with natural ingredients
Connect with our Central PA community
Do meaningful work with people we love
Create something we’re genuinely proud of

And we’re doing that. Right now. At the scale we’re at.

That’s enough.

In fact, it’s more than enough. It’s everything.

Why I’ll Keep Creating (As Long as I Can)

I don’t know what the future holds for Momma Bears Creations.

Maybe we’ll keep doing exactly what we’re doing - small batches, craft shows, our booth at Carlisle Creative Vibes.

Maybe Maddi will eventually take over more of the operations.

Maybe our grandson will want to join the business when he’s older (or maybe he’ll have zero interest - and that’s okay too!).

What I DO know: I’ll keep creating as long as it brings me joy.

As long as I’m still curious about new recipes. As long as I love the chemistry. As long as I get to work alongside my daughter. As long as customers tell me our products help them. As long as it feeds my soul to make things with my hands.

I’ll keep making soap.

Not because I have to. Not because it’s profitable. Not because I’m building some big business plan.

But because it makes me happy. And because happiness - real, genuine fulfillment from doing work you love with people you love - is worth more than anything money can buy.

Thank You for Being Part of This

If you’ve ever bought our soap, come to our booth at a craft show, messaged us with a question, or told a friend about our products - thank you.

You’re not just a customer. You’re part of why I keep creating.

Every time someone chooses our handmade soap over mass-produced alternatives, you’re saying: “I value this. I appreciate the care you put into it. I support what you’re doing.”

That means everything.

So thank you for letting us be part of your skincare routine. For supporting our small family business. For being part of our community.

From our family to yours - with gratitude and a whole lot of soap - thank you.

— Stacie, Maddi & Scott (Momma Bears Creations, Enola, PA)

Come Visit Us (We’d Love to Meet You)

At Carlisle Creative Vibes: 152 N Hanover St, Carlisle, PA 17013 www.carlislecreativevibes.com

At East Pennsboro Pumpkinfest (every fall - our favorite event!)

Shop Online: Momma Bears at Carlisle Creative Vibes

Connect on Social Media: Facebook @mommabearsus

Or just reach out: Contact page

P.S. - If you’re someone who makes things - soap, art, food, music, whatever - I’d love to hear your “why.” What keeps you creating even when it’s hard? What brings you joy in the process? Send me a message. I love connecting with fellow makers.

motivation soapmaking family business small batch Enola PA personal story artisan maker

Why I Make Soap (It's Not What You Think)