Thank you for supporting my journey!
In early 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, I set out to bring a little joy to the world with a series of YouTube tutorials. Some of you have been following me since those early days of folding paper animals as many of us looked for ways to entertain our children with schools and other activities shuttered. You watched me laugh as my own son appear as Dr. Soapy sailing the Soapy Seas (his own creation) as we made soap together in one of my Fun and Son segments.
Those early tutorials led to blog posts and tutorials on soapmaking and candlemaking, and eventually my product line including the original Pandemic Candle Collection: Social Distance-zing, Flat-tin the Curve, and Marzipan-demic. Those were soon joined by Shell-ter in Place and Smells Like Quarantine Spirit. I loved knowing that my creations were spreading a little light into the world at a dark time.
Well, six years later, the time has come to move on. A Mandatory Activity was born of a time and a place: a world in a state of chaos, a job in flux, and a search for meaning. A few years ago, I started a new job, one that I absolutely love, but that keeps me very busy. That made it increasingly hard to manage production, shipping, and all of the other responsibilities that come with running a small business. It wasn't fair to you to keep it going if I couldn't continue with the same gusto and zeal that made it successful in the first place. So, earlier this year, I paused to reassess. Having taken a few months, I've decided that although it pains me, it is time to turn the page on A Mandatory Activity.
I do hope that you will continue to support artisan small-batch soap and candlemakers. I know their products often cost more, but it is the price of the quality, care, and time that goes into making those products by hand. I think it is worth it, and I hope you do too.
Again, all the best to you, and thank you for your support over the last six years. It has been an amazing journey, and I am so grateful that each of you was a part of it.
Those early tutorials led to blog posts and tutorials on soapmaking and candlemaking, and eventually my product line including the original Pandemic Candle Collection: Social Distance-zing, Flat-tin the Curve, and Marzipan-demic. Those were soon joined by Shell-ter in Place and Smells Like Quarantine Spirit. I loved knowing that my creations were spreading a little light into the world at a dark time.
Well, six years later, the time has come to move on. A Mandatory Activity was born of a time and a place: a world in a state of chaos, a job in flux, and a search for meaning. A few years ago, I started a new job, one that I absolutely love, but that keeps me very busy. That made it increasingly hard to manage production, shipping, and all of the other responsibilities that come with running a small business. It wasn't fair to you to keep it going if I couldn't continue with the same gusto and zeal that made it successful in the first place. So, earlier this year, I paused to reassess. Having taken a few months, I've decided that although it pains me, it is time to turn the page on A Mandatory Activity.
I do hope that you will continue to support artisan small-batch soap and candlemakers. I know their products often cost more, but it is the price of the quality, care, and time that goes into making those products by hand. I think it is worth it, and I hope you do too.
Again, all the best to you, and thank you for your support over the last six years. It has been an amazing journey, and I am so grateful that each of you was a part of it.