We are incredibly proud and honoured to share this feature of Kellie from Blend Naturals. This heartfelt interview with Kellie was just one week before her tragic passing.
Kellie was a beautiful member of our Madeit community, and the loss of her deeply affected us all. She loved soaping, the people she met, the things she learnt, sharing her knowledge and being part of the wonderful soaping community. From her home studio in Kawarren, in the Otway Ranges of Victoria, Kellie created small-batch soaps, skincare and haircare using natural clays, plant infusions and pure essential oils.
So today, we’re honoured to share Kellie’s story, celebrate the beautiful work she created and remember a woman who brought so much passion, generosity and joy to the handmade community. ❤️
Kellie, you will be deeply missed.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
I make small batch soaps, skincare and haircare, using only natural clays and plant infusions for colour, and pure essential oils for scent. I love using quality ingredients to create all my handmade products and I am committed to promoting sustainability and reducing plastic waste.
Handmade soaps are one of the easiest plastic-free swaps we can make!
Wherever possible I use locally sourced ingredients, the less air miles the better for me. I am lucky to have recently moved to an area in Victoria that has an abundance of great quality produce and ingredients. It is so nice to be able to pop down the road to my local olive grove and buy the most wonderful extra virgin olive oil, which is the main base oil I use in my soap bars.
All my products are handcrafted with love and care and I am proud to be able to make products that are free from harmful chemicals and synthetic additives. All my soaps are consciously palm-oil free and are made using the cold-process method. Most of my range is also vegan-friendly.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
Years ago I made the switch back from shower gel to bar soap, to try and reduce plastic bottles in my bathroom. I wasn't happy with the commercial supermarket soap I was buying though, as many had synthetic and harsh ingredients in them.
When covid lockdowns came along, I finally had time to explore making my own soap, something I had been keen to give a go for years, but as a busy nurse, never had the time. I did lots of research, loved learning the science behind the soap making process, and had a go at making my first batch of soap.
I was blown away, firstly that it turned out so well using simple, natural ingredients, and secondly, how much better it felt on my skin! Everyone I shared a bar with loved them as well.
From that moment I was hooked on the process of soap making.
It set me on the path I'm now on, not just with soap, but natural skin and haircare as well, helping people make meaningful plastic-free swaps.
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
I love using natural ingredients in all that I make, and love learning about their many benefits and uses. I have found so much of my inspiration comes from the garden.
Discovering that I could use plants that were growing in my garden not just for their colour and their scent but also for their beneficial properties, inspires me every day to learn more about them and how I can let them shine in my products.
Friends and family now know I am always on the lookout for plants like calendula, and if I don't have any, will often give me flowers from their own garden, ready for me to dry and use in oil infusions.
How good that I can tell customers that the calendula in my soap is from my Mum's garden and the rosemary from my own!
Where did you learn your craft?
I am self-taught, having first watched some trusted Australian soap makers on YouTube as a reference point, and then graduating to studying reputable natural soap making and skincare books as I practised and gained confidence in what I was able to make. There is always so much more to learn, and I see this being a lifelong passion of mine.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
I just love the very uniqueness of handmade things. In our current world of AI, mass replication and digital enhancement everywhere, I love that handmade products are still so human and 'analog'. No two pieces will ever be exactly the same when you purchase from a handmade artisan.
That is why I think the handmade movement resonates with so many people at the moment.
Handmade pieces can tell such a story, often carrying on a tradition, or passed-down knowledge from family and friends. You can't pick up something mass-made in a factory and feel the love, the care or the human story behind it like you can with something that has been crafted by hand.
Kellie was a much-loved member of the Madeit community, and we know she will be deeply missed by the many people who knew her, followed her work and connected with her through her love of soaping.
Kellie’s work, passion and generosity will always be part of the Madeit community. ❤️
We hope you’ll take a moment to discover the beautiful creations Kellie left behind, and perhaps find something to remember her by.
