Judges:

Maria Gelnett - Hooked on Soap

Maria is the owner of AngelicGlow Handcrafted Soaps in the Greater Binghamton, NY area. She was
appointed to the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Board in July 2008 and has served as Programs and
Services Chair and currently HSMG Vice President, Social Media Chair and Policies, Procedures and
By-laws Chair.

Like many HSMG members and volunteers, Maria Gelnett's future as a soapmaker began from a
preference for handmade things and curiously attending a coapmaking class. Ten years ago, when
she wanted to give creative handmade items to use in gift baskets, Maria decided to attend
a local soapmaking class. The process and camaraderie of the class, coupled with the
aromatherapy and health benefits of using natural soap, was enough to capture her attention.
One decade later, and Marian is still hooked on soap.

Today, Maria and her family own and operate AngelicGlow Handcrafted Soaps (www.angelicglow.com)
in the Greater Binghamton, NY area. When she is not busy with her utility career and community
service, Maria teaches soapmaking classes throughout Upstate New York; and, in a weird twist of
fate, she now teaches the very same class she initially took back in 1998, expanding it from
introductory to advanced soapmkaing classes at three local community colleges.

One of the bes resources Maria says she came across as a new soapmaker was the Handcrafted
Soap Makers Guild (www.soapguild.org), which she learned about through the Central New York
Soapmakers Group. For soapmakers just starting out, Maria recommends joining a local
soapmaking group, reading books, taking classes and learning as much as possible before
experimenting with soapmaking. And, or course, joining the HSMG!

Maria joined teh HSMG because it provides valuable member benefits, like Certification, and
industry-focused information, liability insurance, and the networking that occurs at events like the
impressive Annual Conference at which she volunteered as ground crew in Vermont 2008. In
July of 2009, Maria was appointed to the Board of Directors, and is currently serving as the
Chairperson of the Programs and Services Committee.

Sr. Cathleen Timberlake

Cathleen Timberlake is the creator of Monastery Scents, Handcrafted Soap located in Clyde MO where she manages a thriving soap business for the Community of Benedictine Sisters of which she is a member. Cathleen has been a member of the Soap Guild since 2002 and was elected to the Board in 2008 for a two year term and is currently serving as the Programs & Services Members Chair.

2010 Products Reception