There’s nothing I love more than getting to drink coffee at a favorite local coffee shop and talk about creativity with awesome people from our community. So, I was extra delighted to sit down with someone I have truly admired for a long time.

I first met Laura Pipitone, owner of Oakley Soap Co. years ago at City Flea in Washington park selling her amazing bars of delicious smelling soap. I’m a big nature lover and had recently gone back to bars as a way to cut down on plastic and was delighted to get some of her wonderful vegan based bars with their awesome names based on Schitt’s Creek characters. Fun soap with a sense of humor? Yes, please! At times, Laura’s soap and new shampoo bars were the only reason my girls and I dragged ourselves out of bed on Saturdays to make it to the Flea.

So imagine my absolutely fan girl dream come to life when Laura agreed to collaborate with us for a Blue Together bar. The bar she created for us is a perfumed ocean scent. More specifically, it’s light floral with a hint of green earthy clean. We sat down with Laura over an iced mocha at Coffee Emporium in Hyde park and got to hear her sudsy origin story.

Laura says she started baking as a new hobby and quickly learned that soap is the science of baking but with a different end product. With a soap kit and blender in hand she made her first bar of Lemongrass Delight and was immediately hooked. She began making soap for friends and family and realized the potential for a blooming business.

As someone who faces the challenges of maintaining her own mental health, Laura found that making soap provided the right balance of creativity and mindfulness. She told us that “watching the swirls of soap form in the bars is memorizing”. When it comes to using the “artist” title, Laura said she sometimes has imposter syndrome due to it not being a traditional art form. Due to this Laura calls it accessible art- which we at Art Equals are all about.

Growing up her big form of creativity was writing. She never really went to art museums and her parents were creative in social ways, but not in formal settings. Laura was interested in being an artist, she saw them creating and wanted to be like them. A barrier for Laura, like most creatives, is the desire for perfection But Laura found that in making soap, there is so much room for playing and creating and less focus on perfectionism.

Laura’s parents came to see her studio and it really hit them- that she’s an artist and that her art is providing for her and her family. Laura’s creativity gets used in so many ways outside of the soap process as well- it extends to her running a business, writing blogs, newsletters and taking photos of finished products. Laura went on to say, “Being able to create something with my hands— that makes me happy. It’s helped level me out, I’m able to use my analytical brain and creative brain. Being able to see the finished product gives me such satisfaction.”

We asked Laura what she would say to someone who thinks they aren’t creative or aren’t an artist but they have a desire to be. Her insight is to try things. “Take a class. Go to a workshop, try little things. Figure out if there's something that's related. I got into soap because I was interested in baking and they're so similar. Just try something and see what comes out. Even if it's messy, who knows what can come of it. Art doesn't have to be going to school, getting a degree, getting a job. Art can be what you want it to be, if you're making it for you, that's worth it. Just to have something when you're done.”

Laura has built a loyal fan base over the years, not only through her wonderful products, but through her dedication to caring for her community. Her Born This Way Bar, a fun Pride rainbow with delightful scents of lemongrass, supports Transform, a fabulous local organization that provides support and resources for trans youth and their families. And now she has lent her creative spirit to designing this amazing bar for the Blue Together Celebration. So make sure to stop by her booth on May 10th and grab them while you can.

Art Equals Blue Together soaps in dark blue, light blue, and white

You can also check out her other incredible offerings at The Oakley Soap website, or find her on Facebook Instagram, or TckTok

And be sure to sign up for her email while your there. I always enjoy her witty humor and updates on what’s new from The Oakley Soap Co. Studio.

Coffee and Creators with Laura from Oakley Soap Co.

Creativity in Every Crumb