About the Soapmaker...

I started Atta Girl back in 2002 when I was working at dull temp job in a high rise in downtown Atlanta. Feeling stifled physically (I worked in a cubicle) and creatively (I disconnected phone service on delinquent accounts), I decided to start my own business selling the one thing I could make well - soap. I've been whipping up batches of soap for over 10 years now. It is actually sort of ironic that I make soap because I'm not always the cleanest girl in the world. I try to spend as much time as possible playing outside climbing, paddling, hiking or skiing. Located in Missoula, MT, Atta Girl is a way for me to share my handmade soaps and my obsession with bath products with anyone who's interested. My better half, Chris, and I moved out here in 2006 so I could attend grad school. We've fallen in love with the mountains and the west, and I'm now working in Missoula as a physical therapist.

My goal with Atta Girl is to create high quality handmade soaps using only vegetable oils, essential oils, high quality scents, and botanicals. I make each batch in my kitchen from scratch. I create my own recipes and essential oil blends. There are some synthetic scents here and there that people have requested over the years, but those are clearly marked in the ingredient list.

So what's with the name? "Atta girl" is what my dad used to say to me when he was really proud of something I had done or was excited by an accomplishment of mine. In 2000, he passed away from cancer, and I knew if I started a business I had to name it after that saying. He was always very encouraging of my creativity and I know he'd be happy that I've gone forward with starting my own business. I also like the name because it makes me think of him, and it drives me to work hard at creating the best items I can. I'm pretty sure he'd give me an "atta girl" if he were alive today.