as i'm awaiting the arrival of new base oils (which in turn awaits the arrival of some much needed greenbacks)... i wanted to post about something that's very important to hand-made soap makers- and users- even if they don't realize it (yet)... soap dishes.
self-draining soap dishes are an important part of your hand-made soaps life because the longer your soap sits in a puddle of water, the short it's life span becomes. as a matter of fact, water- although extremely important in the use of soap, is very harmful to the longevity of any type of soap. especially hand-made soap because without all the added chemicals (think: commercial soaps) to prolong the life of the bar, your soaps will become a soggy, slimy mess. this is particularly disappointing if you have forked out the big bucks for some lovingly crafted bar of hand-made soap.
so! on that note, i want to show you a few beautiful examples of self-draining soap dishes that are handcrafted and rather inexpensive, that will aid in the extended life of your soap. some of my personal favorites, too. :)
1. splintsanddaisies makes this simple wood dish- and i think it's lovely! i especially appreciate how the rails on each side are slightly raised to keep your soap from sliding off the dish. at $4.99 each, you cannot miss with this little beauty. check out their shop on etsy.com.

2. dressgreen is another beautiful example of a simple wooden dish. i just love this one in particular. please check out their etsy shop.
3. the brick yard makes a cute ceramic dish. a bit pricer than it's wooden counterparts, but too cute not to mention! i love the innovative 2-piece design. looks very durable, too. check them out!4. granddar makes spectacular marble and flagstone dishes- i just love these!! and the prices are reasonable, too. check out her impeccable work(wo)manship! $10. each.
well, these are but a few examples... but hopefully it will give you a good idea how to elevate your soap above the water in a fashionable way. for many more beautiful handmade soap dishes, as well as all sorts of other hand-crafted goodies, search for yourself on etsy.com. :)


















