"Featured Artist"
Hilary Goldman
Hilary Goldman:
Bonjour! My name is Hilary and I live in Berkeley, California. I’ve lived
in the bay area now for 29 years - YOWZAH. I came out here as a summer intern in
computer science with IBM in 1983 – and was smitten with California! So with
much luck and persuasion I managed to get hired on after graduation. During my
time at IBM I met my husband (that’s what you do sometimes when you work at the
same company ;+). After a decade at IBM I moved on to work for Charles Schwab
for 15 years, and, at the same time completed a Masters Degree in business, at
night. I really liked the integration and use of technology to streamline and
solve business related problems. When not needing to solve problems (although I
suppose that is a constant in life) – I enjoy bike riding and settling in with
a good book, drinking coffee, big zinfandels, and time with friends and family.
I’m a big "Francophile" and have traveled many times to France; avec mon mari
avants enfants et maitenent avec mes jemeaux identique. Our kids (identical
boys, age 11) attend a local French-American school in our city, and they have
reached a level of fluency that surpasses us. I’m still stuck in the basic
tenses of past, present, and future – but both my husband and I can slowly carry
on a French conversation. In 2011 (I had already left my corporate life behind
in 2009) – my husband’s company said he could leave for a one year non-paid
sabbatical and a job upon return. So our family uprooted and jumped at the
chance to live abroad. I closed A Slice of Delight and we took a life
sabbatical – moving to Dakar, the capital of Senegal, West Africa (where
French is spoken) to live for one year. You’d think it would have been France
but, the compass directed us to a new contient. Our goal was to just immerse
ourselves in the country, the language, the food, music, transportation,
culture and the people. Our kids attended a French/Senegalese school and my
husband and I both had volunteer projects. Me – teaching English to young
Senegalese women, and my husband revamping a schools special "one lap top per
child network". It was an exceptional experience and will always be, one life-altering event, that has grounded us in ways we never imagined. Since our return a year ago, I have re-opened A Slice of Delight, & resumed myself to making soap again.
SS: How did you get started in soapmaking?
HG: I’m kind of a crafty person and already enjoyed scrapbooking and
card making. I took a soap crafting 101 class at The Nova Studio, taught by Lori
Nova in Richmond, California in 2007 (an hour bike ride away from my house), and
I had a lot of fun. I found myself then taking another one, taught by Soapylove,
who was a guest instructor. One Soapylove class, always, leads to another. Top
that with Soap Queen TV episodes, and all of a sudden I found myself delving
into a new hobby.
Then in April of 2009, I took the opportunity to transition out
of my high technology profession after 25 years, with much support from my
husband, to "rest" and "rejuvenate". Frankly, I was just burnt out and needed a
break! My company, with whom I still have high regards, was going through layoffs
and I took a chance to put the message out there that I was ready and okay to
leave.
My husband had done the same thing at one time in his corporate
career, so I was confident that there would be an upside to the downtime. As a
technical project manager I was accustomed to overseeing things with a plan in
place. And now, for the first time, I was just going to "meander" a bit.
Not much time lapsed before the "resting" unleashed my creative
juices to begin, nurture and grow "A Slice of Delight". So I atteded another
Soapylove class, where I talked with Debbie about starting my online presence,
and she so, firmly, and sweetly stated - “So, what are you waiting for”…and that
was it - the transition from hobby to business began.
SS: Do you CP or MP, & why?
HG: I do MP mainly because that is the first class I took. And once I kept
building on all the techniques that can be applied to melt and pour, the
possibilities just seemed endless. Admitingly, I do enjoy the instant
gratification, turnaround, of the melt and pour process.
SS: What inspires you most?
HG: When a person finds my soaps
attractive, at a fair or online, and actually buys one (or more ;+}). It’s a
tingly happy feeling. And even, more so, when you see them return – because they
know exactly where your booth will be. Or, if online they write you a nice
feedback that just, gushes, with oodles of lathery delight
SS: Do you consider yourself an artist?
HG: I’ve never thought of myself that way directly, but I was referred to, at
a craft fair once, as “The Picasso of Soap”, even if my favorite painter is
Chagall. I guess, when you start to cut
and mold soap that is embedded inside of more soap, or you create patterns,
circles, waves, or diagonals with molds, which I do, then yes, I guess it is
artistry of another kind.
SS: How has soapmaking changed your life?
HG: One thing – it has introduced me to a whole new bath and body industry
(of which I’ve barely scratched the surface to understand), and the opportunity
to make personal connections that were, never, imaginable before taking on this
new path. Running my own business has allowed me to exercise all kinds of other
professional business skills that were hibernating. It’s refreshing to see some
MBA nuggets of learning coming to the forefront. But perhaps the most important
change was actually closing shop – letting it go for a year while in Senegal – staying
focused on that magical year – and finding the confidence to know that I would
preserve to get the momentum to start again. And here I am!
SS: How would you describe your creative process?
SS: What do you benefit the most from other artists in your craft?
HG: The willingness to share and learn from other
crafters who feel at ease in helping others. I’m very happy to have been
invited into this group and recognizing the names of soap crafters who I have
admired for so long. It’s nice to get help and guidance when I ask.
SS: Now for a little bit of fun.
Most soap artists seem to be all about their FO's & EO's, which of
course are an important part of soapmaking, & everyone knows that scent is
the major trigger sensory known for people. If you could explain which, FO or
EO, has triggered the biggest memory from childhood, or the most important time
in your life, which would it be & why? (this is optional of course).
You can find more information about Hilary & her soaps by visiting the links below:
A Slice of Delight -Hand Crafted Soaps - Lather Up and Treat Yourself!online shop - www.asliceofdelight.etsy.com
twitter - www.twitter.com/
facebook - www.facebook.com/
twitter - www.twitter.com/
facebook - www.facebook.com/
This interview was conducted &
edited by Misty Raines Clapp, Super Soapers Creator & Admin.
You can contact Misty @:
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