Open Soapmaking Wiki

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of this Soapmaking or Crafting group,

 

I'd like to extend an invitation to visit Saponaceo.us, the recently

launched 'open source soapmaking wiki'. The aim of this wiki is to be

the most complete, comprehensive soapmaking resource on the internet:

" A compendium of soapmaking knowledge " . It is called the " open source

soapmaking wiki " because the information in it is licensed under the

Creative Commons License, making it owned by no one (or everyone

depending on how you look at it). It contains free, community-driven,

non-commercial information in the familiar Wikipedia format (the

software that runs Wikipedia also runs saponaceo.us). So if you are a

regular contributer to Wikipedia, you will be very comfortable with

the identical format of this site.

 

--> The definition of 'Saponaceous' is " resembling or having the

qualities of soap; " a soapy consistency " . http://saponaceo.us/

 

Saponaceo.us also contains a directory of soapmaker and commercial

soapmaking business links, acting as a kind of one-stop soapmaking

contact addressbook.

 

I have started this wiki for several reasons. A wiki is very

appropriate for building a cohesive community. It addresses the

problem of soapmaker activity being dispersed over several similar

groups. I noticed on alone, there are over 100

soapmaking-related groups. More if you include candlemaking, scenting

and crafts/business. Attempting to to all of these groups

is a management nightmare (I've tried). Plus, if one requires this

level of connectivity to a community, then having listservs, mailing

lists and room-view groups are probably the least efficient of formats

for this purpose.

 

Secondly, trying to learn soapmaking from the internet is hard for a

beginner. There is a wealth of information out there, because of

folks like you. Kudos to all of you, you make me and other soapmakers

proud. As one who learned the art of soapmakign from you, I

appreciate your nurturing.

 

I remember what it was like to be a beginner. As a beginner, it was

overwhelming. I found myself acting as more of an investigator, than

a soapmaking disciple or student. Hunting and collecting information.

Sometimes reassembling it incorrectly and unknowingly until bad

things happened (blender-soap ends up like chalk, oily-lye, beginner

errors). Bottom line is: Beginners do not know where to start, how to

start, or where to begin digging through the sites. They are forced

ultimately to buy a book or several. Sound familiar?

 

Now imagine this community of soapmakers, you, me, our friends and

families acting as mentors for people new to soapmaking.

Inexperienced soapmakers would then rely on the so-called " wisdom of

crowds " to give them the right answers all the time, nurturing them

from journeyman to master. I'd say that would be something worth

investing my time in. What do you think? Is it worth a look? Please

help me get behind this project. I think it will be a good

contribution to the world- and we can make it happen.

 

I want to reiterate that this wiki supports a commercial/business

index and business pages, as well as personal soapmaker pages. These

is a contact phonebook and all are encouraged to use this space. For

example, I have added the Lye Calculator provided by Majestic

Mountain Sage because I use it and think it is great. Be the first to

get your name out there- tell your friends and by all means, if you

support this project, please blog about it or link to from your blog

or webpage.

 

Thanks for your kind consideration.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael Chris Neglia

---

soapmaker::web.developer

mchrisneglia AT DOT com

(971) 678.7924