Lori Nova, owner of The Nova Studio, 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 & teaching classes. Lori has taught similar classes for The Learning Annex of SF, Juniper Tree, The Native American Cultural Center, Foothill De Anza Community College & The Berkeley Ecology Center. Lori currently offers Private Lessons as well as 15 different Group Classes on how to make soap, candles and over 30 different bath & body products at The Nova Studio (see Private Lesson Page for a list of all Lori's classes or the Calendar Page for upcoming classes & descriptions). She also teaches 2 multiple-day intensives: 2-Day Soap Boot Camp and 4-Day 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.

David Critchfield, veteran Soapmaker and owner of Mission Peak Soap Products, began soapmaking in 1995 when his wife presented him with a beginning soapmaking book. From the early days of ugly soap and vanishing fragrances, David now makes a steady stream of fine, aromatic, handcrafted soap for fund raisers, local health food stores and specialty retailers. David teaches a Liquid Soap Making Class, Big Batch / Production CP Soap Making, a Brand New Transparent Soap Making and also participates in our widely popular 2-Day Soap Making Boot Camp at The Nova Studio. Click here to read comments from DAVID's students.

Alice Duvernell is an artist and gilder who recently moved to the Bay Area after living in the south of France for the past 8 years. There she started researching problematic and sensitive skin types and developed an interest in the amazing virtues of essential oils and hydrosols. Her interest in culture and her studies in anthropology led her to travel in South America where she expanded her passion and 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 currently teaches Herbal Extracts, Handmade Hydrosols, Healing Balms & Salves, Natural Spa Facial Products and Fresh Facial Masks & Exfolients, Lotions & Creams (101), Facial Creams (201), Luxury Facial Serums, Body Butters, and a NEW 3-day Natural Herbal Facial Care Product Making Boot Camp at The Nova Studio. Click here to read comments from ALICE's students.

Melanie Monteverde has been coming to The Nova Studio since 2006 and has taken (and been a teacher's assistant) for nearly every class taught by Lori Nova! She is an avid crafter who enjoys knitting, beading, pouring natural candles, and making bath and body products. Her kitchen gets more use from making bath and body products than it does from cooking! She has taught students of all ages, ranging from preschoolers to adults in a corporate setting. Melanie currently teaches Herbal Bath Salts and Exfoliating Body Scrubs, and Eco-Friendly Candle Making at The Nova Studio.

Debbie Chialtas is a self taught melt & pour soap artist who has been feverishly making soaps for almost 4 years. Her business, Soapylove, is famous for its unique "soapsicles", 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 has a melt & pour soap crafting book coming out next Fall. 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 to teach classes here at The Nova Studio. Debbie last taught a Melt & Pour Soapy Holidays Gift Workshop at The Nova Studio.

Karrie Welch is a professional makeup artist from Massachusetts, with over 11 years in the professional beauty industry. Her work has ranged from elaborate stage makeup, to modeling shoots, print photography, bridal, and salon, to private clients. Karrie started her makeup career out of necessity as a performer, and a love of makeup artistry grew into a new career. She was motivated to create a more natural line of cosmetics that would enhance not only the appearance of the skin, but it’s overall health as well. With the creation of her line, Fortunate Face Minerals, Karrie has achieved a balance of both performance & simplicity. The minerals had to meet exacting standards of working flawlessly for everything from photo shoots, stage performance, bridal, as well as everyday wear, all while adhering to the esthetic of being beneficial, rather than potentially harmful to the skin. Karrie teaches a 3-Day Ultimate Mineral Makeup Boot Camp at The Nova Studio.

Your face could be here!

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