We recently connected with Amarise Lindauer and have shared our conversation below.

Amarise, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always been artistically inclined, but never really saw it as a viable way to make a living. I’m a musician, a seamstress, a baker, and also enjoy an art form called quilling (art made with strips of paper). But all those things were hobbies. Things I did after a long day at work or school. Well, I ended up working as the business manager for a Catholic school, and I love being able to share my faith and I love the environment. But I was missing being creative.

I’ve always tried to give handmade gifts where possible, and so last year I decided to try my hand at homemade soap. And I instantly fell in love. It’s a beautiful combination of art and baking and once I started, I just couldn’t stop! I quickly dove all in and started learning everything I could about the process. Eventually, I ended up with more soap than I knew what to do with! But I didn’t want to stop making it. So my boyfriend suggested I start a business. So after much prayer and deliberation, I agreed. And Suds and Saints Co was born. I didn’t know where it was going to go, but I knew that if I was going to try and start a business, it needed to be authentic to who I am. And that means incorporating my faith on every level of my business. And I’ve loved the journey. And while I still work my 9-5, having this company gives me so much life, joy, and hope that eventually I can pursue this full time.

Amarise, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Soap making started as a hobby, when I was looking for an unique gift to make for my family for Christmas. But it quickly became so much more and I started doing tons of research on the science behind it, and the various processes and methods. And the more I learned, the more I loved it.

I create products that are all natural and organic. As someone who has sensitive skin, I was having a hard time finding affordable quality skin care products. So when I started my business, I decided that would be my focus. All of our products have ingredients that anyone can pronounce, and you can count the ingredients on one hand! Our soap bars will last a lot longer than a bottle of body wash or a store bought bar of soap, and our lotion bars are stable at room temperature and will last the same amount of time as a bottle of lotion, if not longer. And our lip balms are a huge success, with people saying they prefer ours to other major retailers. All without preservatives, added ingredients, or artificial fragrances or colors. Since switching to my own soaps, my acne has virtually gone away, when before, even the special face washes and products didn’t work. I don’t sell anything I haven’t used myself, and do everything in my power to ensure the best possible product quality. Everything in my shop is safe for sensitive skin. So there’s no need to stress about whether something will irritate your skin or not!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention why my company is named what it is. I am Catholic. My faith is the most important thing in my life. So it naturally needed to be incorporated in my business. Each of our products is named after a different Saint, and the hope is that the bio cards that we include in every order help you learn more about the Saint your product is named after. And our products are very intentionally named. There is a reason every fragrance is called what it is. For example, our eucalyptus scent is St. Mary of the Cross. Eucalyptus is originally from Australia, and she was Australia’s first canonized Saint.

The Saints are our friends in heaven who we can ask to pray for us. Just like we ask our friends on earth to pray for us. The prayers of the Saints are powerful, because we know they are already face to face with God in heaven. My hope is that by incorporating the Saints in our everyday lives, we can grow closer to God, and help each other get to heaven. Because we are all called to be Saints.

Because I strive to run my business centered on faith, I believe in not charging an arm and a leg for my products. Are they worth more than I charge? Absolutely. But I keep my prices as low as possible because I care more for the people I serve than I do the money I make. That’s also something that sets me apart from other soap makers. This business is a ministry for me, and ministry involves making sacrifices. So that is the sacrifice I have chosen to make.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding part is that I get to use the gifts that God has given me. Nothing makes me happier than when I am creating something. And I’ve got many creative outlets, but this is one of my favorites because it combines visual art with baking. And that might sound strange, but soap making is truly a combination of skill sets. You have to have the knack for creating designs that are aesthetically pleasing, but also the knowledge about working in a kitchen setting and the skills for decorating baked goods in order to pull off the more intricate designs. While it’s not exactly the same, the skills are very similar. The most rewarding part of being a soap maker is just getting to be creative. Being able to take an idea in my head and make it reality is such a gift, and I am so thankful that God blessed me with that skill.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think sometimes people assume that those of us who are creative always have an idea or that these things come easily to us. For me, I can say that it isn’t always that way. I’ve had plenty of instances over the years where I’ve struggled to come up with an idea. Whether it’s for a birthday cake I’m decorating, or my latest batch of soap. Or I’ll go to sing something and I all of a sudden forget every single song I know. Sometimes you just can’t think of anything. Or worse yet, you have an idea but you don’t like it! But what I’ve learned is that you can’t stop creating when you have those periods of time. Because you then lose the joy you find in it. And so I go back to the basics. I make the things I KNOW work, and that I can trust will turn out well. And as I rediscover my love for my craft, then the ideas come back. Creativity isn’t just this flood of ideas that is constantly flowing. It comes and goes. And that’s ok! But you have to keep at it because the joy you find in it is what gives you the strength to get through those patches where you’re drawing a blank every time you sit down to work.

And sometimes, actually, often, I have an idea but I do not have the skills to make it happen. So just like anyone else, I have to sit down and learn how to do it. And I quite often fail at first. But eventually I will master it. No one is good at everything, but I believe that everyone has the capacity to learn anything. It just takes time, and being patient with yourself. Something I often hear is people telling me they don’t like to sing at church (or in public in general) because they don’t have a pretty voice. And that makes me sad, because scripture tells us to make a joyful noise. It doesn’t tell us to make a pretty noise! So whatever that looks like for you, just do it! Draw that picture, bake that cake, plant that garden, play that instrument. If it brings you joy, do it. You won’t regret it. Being creative is for you. It’s a way to take care of yourself. If you want to share that with those around you, please do, but first and foremost, it’s for you. To bring you joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sudsandsaintsco.com
• Instagram: sudsandsaintsco

Image Credits
Southern Oak Film Co – for the personal photo