Lori Nova Endres began making natural bath & body products in her kitchen in 2000 as a way to make family & friends homemade, practical gifts. Shortly thereafter, she began sharing her passion by teaching classes. Lori has taught classes for The Handcrafted Soapmaker's Guild (HSMG), The Learning Annex of SF, Juniper Tree, The Native American Cultural Center, Foothill De Anza Community College & The Berkeley Ecology Center. Lori opened The Nova Studio in September of 2003. She offers Private Consultations on how to make soap, candles and over 30 different bath & body products (see Private Lesson Page for a list of all Lori's classes or the Calendar Page for upcoming classes & descriptions). She currently teaches the All-Natural Perfume Making Class, Making Mineral Makeup 101, Cold Process Soap Making and 2 multiple-day intensives: 2-Day Soap Boot Camp and 4-Day Original Bath & Body Boot Camp. Click here to read comments from LORI's students. Visit the About Page for more information on Lori and how The Nova Studio began.

Alice Duvernell is an artist & gilder who moved to the Bay Area after living in the south of France for 8 years. There she started researching problematic & sensitive skin types & developed an interest in the amazing virtues of essential oils & hydrosols. Her interest in culture & her studies in anthropology led her to travel in South America where she expanded her passion & awareness in native medicinal plants. During her last journey to Brazil, she set up a laboratory where she shared with the locals her homemade techniques for making hydrosols & other cosmetics, using only native plants. Alice teaches Botanical Extracts, Handmade Hydrosols, Healing Balms & Salves, Lotions & Creams (101), Nourishing Facial Creams (201), Luxury Facial Serums, Body Butters, The Complete 5-Step Facial, Formulating for Skin Conditions, Live Distillation, 3-Day Herbal Facial Care Product Making Boot Camp and participates in the 4-Day Original Bath and Body Boot Camp at The Nova Studio. Click here to read comments from ALICE's students.

Ruth Esteves started making handmade soap in 2006 as another in a long line of hobbies. Since then, she has gone from whipping up quick melt-and-pour soap gifts for her friends to designing and selling her own cold process soaps online through her company, Sirona Springs. Trained as a laboratory research scientist, Ruth finds that soapmaking is the perfect blending of chemistry and art. Ruth is also a certified soapmaker and a member of the Handcrafted Soapmaker's Guild. Ruth currently teaches Cold Process Soap Making 101, Semi-Private CP Soapmaking Session, Social Networking for Your Business 101 & 102, Advanced CP Soap Design (using Log Molds) Class as part of our 2-Day Soapmaking Boot Camp and Milk Soaps: 3 Types & Soaping with Alternative Liquids, which are part of the Brand NEW 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp (PART II) Ruth's newest class is the Cold Process Soap 201: "Make & Take" at The Nova Studio. Click here to read comments from RUTH's students.

Jen Grimes started her descent down the make-your-own cosmetic rabbit hole after stumbling over books with vintage cosmetic recipes in her local library. After picking up and putting down books on how to make soap (all those bizarre ingredients and safety measures!), she took the plunge, promptly became addicted, and was certified as a soapmaker through the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild (HSMG). Today, Jen is a proud member of and volunteer for HSMG & owns and operates Loft Soap. She has a passion for hot-processed soap, loves funny-looking soap and can often be found communing with other soapmakers at The Nova Studio. Jen teaches Cold Process Soap Making 101 & Hot Process Soap Making in the 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp at The Nova Studio.

Michele Steinert has a Lavender farm in Sonoma County, grows therapeutic plants and has a small apiary. She has a certificate in Aromatherapy from the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy in San Rafael, a certificate in Aromatherapy from the American College of Healthcare Sciences, a certificate in Sustainability Practices from Dominican University in San Rafael, is certified as an Ayurveda Practitioner and is educated in massage and the lymph system. She is a member of “Go Local”, the Sonoma County Beekeeper’s Association, Partners for Sustainable Pollination and the Sonoma County Herb Exchange. Michele currently teaches Lip Balm, Bath Melts, & Solid Salt Scrubs, and Aromatherapy 101 at The Nova Studio.

Debbie Chialtas is a self taught melt & pour soap artist who has been feverishly making soaps since 2005. Her business, SoapyLove, is famous for its unique Soapy Pops which have appeared in Glamour, People, Cosmogirl, and other magazines around the world. Debbie was a guest on the DIY Network's Craft Lab and is the author of the book “Soapylove: Squeaky Clean Projects Using Melt and Pour Soap.” She is also a mother of 2 and lives with her husband in San Diego. We are thrilled to have her as a "Guest Instructor" flying up from San Diego when her schedule allows. Currently, Debbie teaches two melt & pour soap classes: Cute "Candy" Confections and Electric "Pop" Colors at The Nova Studio. Take her two classes as part of a fun-filled full day and save $15! For more information, click HERE. We proudly sell Debbie's Melt & Pour eZines HERE. Click here to read comments from DEBBIE's students.

Erin Pikor is the owner of Naiad Soap Arts and a proud member of the handcrafted Soap Makers Guild. With a background in fine art and photography, she began making soap in 2006 with an attention to formulating soaps and bath products that suited her problematic and sensitive skin but also appealed to her sense of composition and color. She is best known for her award winning soap design, her dessert line of soaps including the French Macaron soap and her body sugar cubes, a no mess single use, cube shaped sugar scrub. Her soaps can be found online and in boutiques around the country. Erin teaches a 5 Simply Sweet Sugar Scrubs and a Mold Making: Custom Silicone Soap Molds at The Nova Studio. Click here to read comments from ERIN's students.

Robert Tisserand is an international speaker, educator, blogger and consultant. In 2010 he delivered presentations in the USA, Australia, Taiwan and Japan. Robert has 40 years of experience in essential oil blending and aromatherapy product development. He has produced more than 50 new functional fragrances by combining natural perfumery with the therapeutic, hygienic, and cosmeceutical properties of essential oils, and has an expert knowledge of essential oil safety. He has been instrumental in bringing widespread professional and public recognition to aromatherapy. During his 15 years as a massage therapist, he wrote one of the first books on aromatherapy in 1977. The Art of Aromatherapy is now published in twelve languages. In 1974 he established The Aromatic Oil Company (a predecessor of Tisserand Aromatherapy) and in 1988 he founded The Tisserand Institute, setting new standards for vocational aromatherapy education. Robert teaches an Essential Oils Seminar at The Nova Studio.

Marla Bosworth is the CEO & President of Back Porch Soap Company, a wholesaler & retailer of sea-inspired bath & body products. Her products are sold in Whole Foods & more than 200 retail boutiques & spas worldwide. She has an extensive background in marketing, market research & manufacturer consulting as a Market Research Analyst for the company now known as Forrester Research. Her clients included Hewlett-Packard, Canon, Xerox & IBM. She is currently an independent bath & body business consultant. After running her own retail store in the Boston area for a number of years, she decided to pursue wholesale & internet sales exclusively. Marla is a contributing author for The Saponifier Magazine, a moderator on Indie Beauty Network, & a speaker at the HSMG Conferences. She teaches natural skincare and business classes throughout the U.S. Marla is teaching a 3-Day Bath & Body BUSINESS Boot Camp & a NEW 3-Day Internet MARKETING Boot Camp at The Nova Studio. Click here to read comments from MARLA's students.

Donna Maria Coles Johnson is the founder and CEO of INDIE Business Media, a company offering personal development, leadership, and coaching for small and independent business owners. She is the leader of the INDIE Beauty Network (IBN), a nationwide trade organization, as well as an attorney, author, and award-winning small business advocate. (Note: The Nova Studio is a proud member of the IBN). Donna Maria teaches the AUDIO Business Boot Camp at The Nova Studio. Click here to read comments from DONNA MARIA's students.

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