Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Prince. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elizabeth, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I was flicking through content on YouTube and discovered a lady who made videos of her soap making business. I always found her videos very satisfying as she showed and explained the whole process of making cold pressed soap. She made these great “how to” videos and as the more I watched, the more I became convinced I could make my own soap.
I got my first opportunity when I hosted a birthday party for my sister. The theme was German market, so my plan was to make a bunch of soaps and display them like you would see at a market. They were a success with our friends and family, and from the posts I put up on Facebook it seemed others were very interested in them too. I decided I wanted to give the whole thing a go and put my own spin on it by combining my love of witchy things and the aspect of soap making that feels like you are whipping up a potion.
I wish I had jumped into this craft sooner but I was especially worried about working with a particular chemical that is required for making soap which is extremely caustic and can be dangerous to work with if not handled properly. However, I learnt all there was needed to know on how to handle the ingredients and use the right equipment correctly.
I think the skill that is most valuable in my craft is being prepared, having an organised and clean work area is essential. Also having a good understanding of the chemistry of soap and how to measure your ingredients precisely is very important.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was a terrible student! I had undiagnosed ADHD, something I have only discovered in my 30s, and this made learning and school environment very difficult for me. Even in my day to day life feels like living on hard mode as I tent to forget a lot important things and get distracted very easily. I also flick from one fad/hobby to another very frequently as my interest would just suddenly disappear after a while. This made sticking to something long enough for it to become a success feel impossible, and although many times I have heard people say “Elizabeth is very bright but needs to apply herself” I could never seem to do just that, and so I would have a string of jobs and qualifications ranging from lifeguarding to sports therapy that would go no where, I would just get bored and move on.
I was surprised I managed to stick with being a soap maker for so long but I suppose it works for me because I get to be my own boss, and my craft allows me to be extremely creative. I get to come up with new soap ideas whenever I feel like it and doing markets I get to be face to face with customers which I love doing. Meeting new people and forming new friends with not just the customers but also with other craft traders, which is an aspect of this journey I really do love.
Another big factor of my interest surviving is that I get to incorporate a lot of me and my style into my soaps. I love all things witchy and pagan, and enjoy giving my products a magical twist by making them look dramatic and colourful, even giving them a fantasy style name that also tells a story.
Having ADHD has posed a challenge when it comes to being organised, especially when it comes to booking markets. Luckily I have a really supportive family that have helped me greatly, in particular my sister who is also an artist that does markets so I’m always extremely grateful that she reminds me when I need to get something booked!
One thing that has surprised me is the amount of interest I have received from my customers and followers. I greatly appreciated the wonderful people I have had the opportunity to meet on this journey. I’m so grateful for their support and their feedback.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Doubt. Having self doubt is a huge obstacle for anyone, especially if you are trying to build a business and make an idea a reality.
I doubted I could do this because of my own limitations due to my neurodivergent tendencies. The fear of failure held me back from really committing to something I truly love doing. I believed this hobby would fizzle out just like everything else I had tried, so I build this expectation of myself of being a failure so what was the point in trying? I think what helped me persevere and continue this adventure is the affirmation and support I receive from family and friends and even complete strangers! This is why it is incredibly important to show local crafters and small businesses owners some love as it keeps them going. Keeping our creative markets diverse and alive.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Creative freedom is one of the most rewarding aspects of my craft. My mind is always racing with ideas and so the fact that I get to actually execute them is so amazing to me. If I feel like making a soap that looks like a rainbow I get to do just that, no asking for permission, it’s just a case of being limited by my own imagination.
But I would have to say the most rewarding aspect is when a customer comes back to tell me just how much they loved my product. Especially if that person has been suffering with a skin condition and my soaps has helped them. It’s very gratifying to know something I have created has made someone happy.

Contact Info:

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